Itinerary

Day 1: August 23, 2025 – Touchdown in Dublin

Welcome to Dublin! Fly in on your preferred carrier or join us, if you arrive early, at the cozy Ashling Hotel. Take advantage of your day in Dublin to explore at your leisure before checking in to the hotel at 3 pm. After a chance to rest up, meet your fellow travelers over a welcome drink- Cheers to a great time in Ireland!

Day 2: August 24, 2025 – Culture & Dance

Start your day with the best breakfast in Dublin—an epic spread of options to fuel your adventure. Next, dive into Irish culture with a private session led by Mollie Guidera, the sensational social media star behind @IrishWithMollie. Not only will you get insider tips on Irish culture and language, but you’ll also bust some moves in an Irish dance-inspired Zumba class. After a refresh, enjoy the afternoon at your leisure or join us for an optional visit to the historic Kilmainham Gaol**.  Then get ready for an evening of culinary delights. We have an unforgettable food tour through Dublin’s vibrant streets, featuring a delectable three-course meal, local craft beers & ciders, and an Irish Coffee-making session to cap off the night. 

Day 3: August 25, 2025 – Westward Bound

Wave goodbye to Dublin as we embark on a scenic journey west. We’ll break up the four-hour drive with a few stops including Limerick for the iconic King John’s Castle*. Arrive in Dingle by late afternoon and check into the Dingle Skellig Hotel. Your evening is free—take in the harbor views, indulge in a spa session, or hit up one of Dingle’s legendary pubs.

Day 4: August 26, 2025 – Scenic Splendor

Get ready for a scenic extravaganza as we tackle the stunning Sea Head Loop on the Dingle Peninsula. This lesser-known route offers breathtaking views and a chance to meet some friendly baby lambs. After a picturesque morning, we’ll swing by Dingle Distillery* for a taste of local spirits. The rest of the day is yours—either dive deeper into Dingle’s charm or relax and soak in the vibes.

Day 5: August 27, 2025 – Jigs, Swigs & Cliffs

Gear up for a northward jaunt to Doolin, famous for its traditional music and views of the Cliffs of Moher. Enjoy our lively Jigs and Swigs® event—get your groove on with a jig class and savor a delicious “swig” with lunch post class. After lunch, get in a short hike, view the Cliffs of Moher, do some souvenir shopping, or just chill out before we head to our charming accommodation at Old Ground Hotel in Ennis, where dinner is included.

Day 6: August 28, 2025 – Galway Vibes

Sleep in or explore Ennis at your own pace this morning. After check-out, we’ll journey to Galway for a unique GAA (Gaelic Athletic League) Experience*. Learn the ropes of Ireland’s favorite sports from those who know best before checking into the Victoria Hotel for a two-night stay. Freshen up and enjoy an included dinner at the hotel, gearing up for your Galway exploration.

Day 7: August 29, 2025 – Free Day in Galway

Take this day to explore Galway at your leisure! Galway is brimming with culture, music, and fantastic food, so let the day unfold as you wish.

Day 8: August 30, 2025 – Seaside Farewell

We’re heading back east to the Bracken Court Hotel in Balbriggan, just north of Dublin. But first, a must-do—visit Sean’s Bar, the oldest pub in Ireland, dating back to 900 AD. Enjoy the rich history and a perfect pint. This afternoon we’ll arrive at our seaside hotel, where you can stroll to the beach before our farewell dinner. It’s the perfect end to an incredible journey.

Day 9: August 31, 2025 – Slán Abhaile! (Safe home!)

For those not extending their stay, today is the day you’ll make your way at your leisure to Dublin airport—just a short 20-minute taxi ride away. Until next time, Ireland!

This isn’t just a trip; it’s an experience that blends culture, adventure, friendship, and unforgettable moments. Pack your bags and get ready for a Jigs and Swigs® Irish escapade! 🌍☘️✨

*Planning for these events has been started but bookings are not able to be made until early next year. We will do our very best to book these exact inclusions, and if we are not able to we will find something else fun of equal or greater value to include as a substitute.

**This is a pre-paid option only- meaning you’ll have to sign up at time of registration. Due to demand for this tour, tickets are very difficult to purchase, particularly last minute.

Included:

• 8 Nights of hotel stays (all but one of the hotels are 4-star properties)

• 13 Meals (8 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 4 dinners)

• 1 Jigs and Swigs® Event

• Luxury motor coach transportation to all itinerary items with professional driver

• Tour Director

• Admission to all activities listed (or similar if the above cannot be booked for reasons outside of our control)

• Gratuities for activities listed, meals, as well as for local guides and coach driver

• Processing fees for payment

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💵 Cost: $2,850 per person sharing a double-occupancy room. If you prefer a single room the cost is $3,850.
A non-refundable deposit of $350 is required to register (in the event that this trip does not run due to lack of interest, your deposit WILL be refunded)
Payments are broken down with due dates of 12/15/24, 2/15/25, and final payment due 5/15/25.

💻 Registration: You’ll be asked to create a profile when you register. This will give you access to your own portal where you’ll make payments either using a credit card or bank transfer. A payment plan is available for those wanting to take advantage. You can also make additional payments if you’d like to break up the payment schedule further.

🤗 Who: Everyone is welcome, no need to have prior Jigs and Swigs® experience or interest. There will be one Jigs and Swigs event during the trip which we welcome you to join, but it’s not a requirement. So spread the word to friends, family, and partners.

🏨 Hotels: Hotel space in Ireland these days is a hot commodity for a variety of reasons. Many of the hotels we looked into were already sold out for groups, even though we were inquiring over a year in advance. We were still able to score great hotels (Four of them are 4-Star properties, one is a 3-star).

👩🏽‍🤝‍👩🏼Roommates: If you’re registering for a double occupancy room, it will be helpful to know your roomies at time of registration. If you’re interested in double-occupancy room but don’t have a roomie yet, reach out to us at info@steppingstonestours.com

‼️ Space: There will be a limit to the number of people who can sign up due to restricted hotel space. Once those limits are reached you’ll automatically be placed on a waitlist if you register- if hotel rooms open up, or if there are cancellations on the trip you’ll be notified and next up on dock!

✈️ Flights: Please note that flights aren’t included, so start scouting those deals!

✏️ Itinerary: We do everything in our power to deliver the itinerary as published, but sometimes things are outside of our control and it may change slightly.

🏥 Trip Protection: We highly recommend obtaining trip protection/travel insurance. For convenience you will be offered trip protection when registering, but there are numerous travel insurance providers. Make sure you read your policy to ensure that it covers what you need it to, whichever provider you choose.