Day 1: Fly overnight to Ireland
Day 2: Dublin
Meet your Field Director at the airportTake a walking tour of Dublin
With your Field Director you will see:
- Grafton Street, a brick-lined street known as the center of commerce
- Temple Bar district, Dublin's iconic hip neighborhood
Enjoy dinner in Dublin
Day 3: Dublin
Take a guided tour of Dublin
With your expert local guide you will see:
- Dublin's five iconic Georgian squares, which span the north and south sides of Dublin and are surrounded by homes with colorful doors
- O’Connell Street, a bustling street filled with monuments
- St. Stephen’s Green, the largest of the five Georgian squares
- Phoenix Park and the presidential residence
Visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral, whose presence honors the patron saint of Ireland
🔹 Independent exploration: Spend time exploring Dublin on your own
Day 4: Dublin
🔹 Independent exploration: Spend time exploring Dublin on your own
Add this in-depth excursion:
🔹 Cultural engagement: Giant's Causeway
Touted as the eighth wonder of the world, the Giant’s Causeway is a fascinating, one-of-a-kind geological phenomenon. These ancient rock formations are comprised of thousands of 55-million-year-old hexagonal basalt columns, and you’ll get to climb the stunning honeycomb pathway to the sea.
Day 5: Dublin • London
Fly to London
Take a walking tour of London
With your Field Director you will see:
- The Strand, London's major thoroughfare
- Trafalgar Square, a bustling central square
- Leicester Square, a square lined with theaters and other events
- Covent Garden, a vibrant and charming shopping area
Enjoy a fish and chips dinner in London
Day 6: London
Take a guided tour of London
With your expert local guide you will see:
- Big Ben, an iconic London bell at the Palace of Westminster
- Houses of Parliament, home to England's governing body
- Piccadilly Circus, a five-way intersection
- St. Paul’s Cathedral, a domed church which has hosted many royal events
- Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace (if scheduled)
🔹 Guided learning: Take a guided tour of Windsor
With your expert local guide you will see
- Windsor Castle, and see State Apartments objects like paintings by Rubens and Holbein
- St. George’s Chapel, the final resting place of many monarchs
- Queen Mary's Dolls' House, where castle items are replicated in 1/12th scale
Day 7: London
Add this in-depth excursion:
Bath and Stonehenge
This full-day excursion takes you to two historical sites that together span 4,000 years of English history! First, you’ll visit the town of Bath, famous for its Georgian architecture, a lasting reminder of the world described in so many Jane Austen novels. This was a favorite vacation destination of early Romans and 18th-century English aristocracy alike; former residents include Emperor Claudius and Queen Victoria. Along with your guide, you will visit the acclaimed Roman baths, built in the 1st century to enjoy the hot springs. Today, these baths remain the finest Roman ruins in Britain. You’ll also enjoy free time to visit the museum. Then, continue on to Stonehenge, England’s most mysterious landmark. The origin and purpose of this ring of stones, which dates from the Neolithic period, is unknown, though most believe it to have been a temple and observatory, while others claim that it was a sacred site for the burial of high-ranking citizens from societies of long ago.
Day 8: London • Edinburgh
Travel by train to Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital city
Take a guided tour of Edinburgh
With an expert local guide you will see:
- Edinburgh’s New Town, which was constructed in the 1800s and remains a shining example of city planning today
- Calton Hill, where you can take in views of the Lomond Hills of Fife
- Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Royal Family’s official residence in Scotland
- Royal Mile and Old Town, a jumble of medieval buildings
Visit Edinburgh Castle, the enduring symbol of Scotland’s capital where Mary Queen of Scots gave birth to James VI, who would later rule England
Enjoy dinner in Edinburgh
Day 9: Edinburgh
🔹 Independent exploration: Spend a half day exploring Edinburgh on your own
Add this in-depth excursion:
🔹 Cultural engagement: University of St Andrews
Take a guided walk through the Gaelic beauty of St Andrews University, one of the oldest Universities in the English-speaking world—and the site where a young Kate Middleton and Prince William started a world-famous romance. This prestigious and beautiful campus is like a real-life Hogwarts, complete with cursed cobblestones and John Cleese alumnus.
Day 10: Depart for home
Add 2 more days
Day 10: Edinburgh • Scottish Highlands
Travel to the Highlands region, known for its stunning greenery and rolling hills
Enjoy a Jacobite Loch Ness Cruise and visit Urquhart Castle
Enjoy dinner in the Highlands region
Day 11: Scottish Highlands • Edinburgh
Travel via the Glencoe Visitor Centre to Edinburgh
Visit the Glencoe visitor's centre
Day 12: Depart for home