Ireland

CORK – THE REBELLIOUS ELEGANCE OF SOUTHERN IRELAND

Cork is not simply a city, it is a state of mind. Often described as the “real capital” by its inhabitants, it has a strong, warm, and independent identity.
Built on an island in the heart of the River Lee, Cork offers a harmonious blend of maritime heritage, student energy, and gastronomic culture.
Its colorful Georgian façades, lively streets, and elegant bridges give it a vibrant and authentic charm. There is a special sense of ease here—that of a human-scale city where people take time to stroll, talk, and enjoy the moment.

Atmosphere:
Lively, cultural, gourmet, and deeply Irish.
In the evening, traditional pubs come alive with the sound of Irish music, laughter fills the air, and you quickly understand that Ireland begins here—in this spirit of spontaneous conviviality.

Day 1 – Arrival & Gourmet Introduction

Arrival in Cork and pick-up of the vehicle.
Check-in at the hotel and first walk through the historic center.
Discovery of the English Market, an iconic covered market dating back to 1788, perfect for a first local immersion.
Stroll along the River Lee and through St. Patrick’s Street.
Dinner in a traditional pub with live music.

Day 2 – History & Wild Coast

• Blarney Castle & the Blarney Stone (kiss the stone to receive the gift of eloquence)
• St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral, a magnificent Neo-Gothic cathedral
• Walk through the estate gardens
• Drive to Kinsale, a charming colorful harbor town
• Old Head of Kinsale, spectacular cliffs overlooking the Atlantic
• Return to Cork in the late afternoon

Day 3 – Departure for Bantry

CORK → BANTRY

Distance: about 90 km – Scenic drive via the N71 (1h30 to 1h45).
With a stop at Gougane Barra, allow about 2h30 at a relaxed pace.

BANTRY – 2 nights

A spectacular gateway to the Wild Atlantic Way

As you leave Cork heading west, the landscapes become more wild, more expansive, and more dramatic.
Bantry lies at the end of a majestic bay, surrounded by green hills descending into the Atlantic Ocean. Here, the light changes constantly: clouds drift quickly, silver reflections dance on the water, and the wind brings a sense of absolute freedom.

This is a more intimate, less touristy, and more authentic Ireland.
The peaceful harbor, colorful houses, and small cafés give the village a gentle charm that contrasts with the power of the surrounding landscapes.

Atmosphere:
Contemplative, dramatic, and deeply natural.
It is here that the true feeling of being at the edge of the world begins.

Day 1 – Wild Atlantic Way

• Scenic drive to Bantry
• Stop at Gougane Barra Forest Park, famous for its romantic lakeside chapel
• Check-in at the hotel and walk along Bantry harbor
• Sunset over the bay

Day 2 – Beara Peninsula

• Spectacular drive along the Beara Peninsula, more untouched and less crowded than the Ring of Kerry
• Healy Pass, offering breathtaking mountain views
• Discovery of isolated villages, hidden coves, and preserved landscapes

Day 3 – Departure for Killarney

BANTRY → KILLARNEY

Distance: about 85 km – Beautiful scenic drive via Kenmare (about 1h30).
If driving via Healy Pass, allow around 2h30 with panoramic stops.

KILLARNEY – 2 nights

The Irish postcard brought to life

Killarney is undoubtedly one of the most iconic regions of Ireland—and for good reason.
Imagine shimmering lakes surrounded by ancient forests, majestic mountains reflected in the water, and morning mists drifting through the valleys… Here, nature feels romantic by essence.

Killarney National Park offers a succession of grand panoramas: from a peaceful lake to a tumbling waterfall, from a Victorian mansion to a spectacular scenic road.
The town center, lively yet charming, remains warm and welcoming with its traditional pubs and flower-filled storefronts.

Atmosphere:
Romantic, majestic, timeless.
This is Ireland as you imagine it… only bigger, richer, and more intense.

Day 1 – National Park

• Arrival and check-in in Killarney
• Muckross House & Gardens, elegant Victorian estate and gardens
• Torc Waterfall, a scenic waterfall in the forest
• Walk around Lough Leane, the largest of the Killarney lakes
• Evening in a lively traditional pub with live music

Day 2 – Ring of Kerry

• Drive along the legendary Ring of Kerry, one of Ireland’s most famous scenic routes
• Ladies View, iconic panorama over the lakes
• Discovery of wild beaches, cliffs, and Atlantic landscapes
• Stop in a typical village such as Sneem
• Return to Killarney

Day 3 – Departure for Spanish Point

KILLARNEY → SPANISH POINT (County Clare)

Distance: about 190 km – Scenic drive via Limerick (around 3h00 to 3h15).
If detouring to the Cliffs of Moher the same day, allow about 4h including visits.

SPANISH POINT – 2 nights

Facing the Infinite

Here, the Atlantic Ocean reigns supreme. Spanish Point is a place to breathe, an open stretch where the eye drifts between sky and sea.
Powerful waves crash against the shore, cliffs rise proudly, and the salty wind carries the scent of the ocean.

County Clare feels raw, almost mystical. The light is spectacular, especially at sunset, when the cliffs glow in golden tones.
Nearby, the almost lunar landscape of the Burren contrasts with the dramatic verticality of the Cliffs of Moher. Nature here seems shaped by time and the elements.

Atmosphere:
Dramatic, wild, and deeply soothing.
You don’t come here for the town—you come for the feeling of vastness.

Day 1 – Legendary Cliffs

• Drive to County Clare
• Visit the Cliffs of Moher, best explored early morning or late afternoon
• Check-in facing the Atlantic Ocean
• Sunset walk along Spanish Point

Day 2 – The Burren

• Exploration of the Burren, a unique karst landscape
• Poulnabrone Dolmen, an iconic Neolithic site
• Doolin, a village famous for traditional Irish music
• Optional: boat excursion at the base of the cliffs

Day 3 – Departure for Letterfrack

SPANISH POINT → LETTERFRACK (Connemara)

Distance: about 160 km – Beautiful coastal drive via Galway (around 2h30 to 2h45).
With a stop in Galway, allow about 3h30 at a relaxed pace.

LETTERFRACK – 2 nights

The Untamed Heart of Connemara

Connemara is an emotion. Letterfrack is a small gateway to one of the most poetic regions of Ireland.
Here, dark mountains meet peat bogs, lakes stretch like mirrors, and endless roads cross vast landscapes.

The ever-changing light, almost theatrical, can transform an entire valley into a living painting.
The scenery is vast, silent, sometimes melancholic. This is a more introspective, more spiritual Ireland.
Nearby villages such as Clifden preserve an artistic and bohemian spirit.

Atmosphere:
Mystical, wild, and deeply moving.
This is often travelers’ favorite stage of the journey.

Day 1 – Wild Connemara

• Drive to the Connemara region
• Kylemore Abbey, a romantic abbey with Victorian gardens
• Check-in in Letterfrack
• Sunset over a Connemara lake

Day 2 – Sky Road & Clifden

• Drive the Sky Road, one of Ireland’s most beautiful scenic routes
• Clifden, a village with a bohemian atmosphere
• Connemara National Park, easy hiking in spectacular landscapes
• Dog’s Bay, one of the most wild and preserved beaches

Day 3 – Departure for Ballina

LETTERFRACK → BALLINA

Distance: about 125 km – Wild and scenic drive (around 1h45 to 2h00).

BALLINA – 2 nights

Authentic and lesser-known Ireland

Ballina, located in County Mayo, reveals a more secret, more local side of Ireland, far from the busiest tourist routes.
The River Moy flows through the town and is world-famous for salmon fishing, while the nearby coastline offers dramatic Atlantic panoramas.

Nearby, Downpatrick Head gives the powerful sensation of standing before an ancient land, shaped by wind, waves, and time for thousands of years.
This stage reveals Ireland in its most raw and authentic form, far from the crowds, close to nature and tradition.

Atmosphere:
Historic, powerful, deeply authentic.

Day 1 – Dramatic Coastline

• Downpatrick Head, towering cliffs over the Atlantic
• Dun Briste Sea Stack, a striking isolated rock formation
• Check-in in Ballina
• Walk along the River Moy

Day 2 – Achill Island

• Excursion to Achill Island, one of Ireland’s most untouched landscapes
• Keem Bay, a spectacular beach with turquoise waters
• Atlantic Drive, a panoramic coastal route
• Return to Ballina in the evening

Day 3 – Departure for Dublin

BALLINA → DUBLIN

Distance: about 240 km – Drive of approximately 3h30 to 3h45.
Partial motorway after Mullingar, making this stage faster than previous drives.

DUBLIN – 2 nights

A capital with vibrant charm

After the vast landscapes, Dublin marks a return to urban energy.
Elegant without being pretentious, cultural without being rigid, the Irish capital blends history and modernity with ease.

Its colorful doors, Georgian squares, historic bookstores, and lively cafés create a literary and creative atmosphere.
In the evening, Temple Bar lights up, pubs fill with live music, and the mood becomes warm and festive.

Dublin is a perfect finale: vibrant, welcoming, and deeply human.

Atmosphere:
Cultural, lively, endearing.

Day 1 – History & Elegance

• Trinity College & the Book of Kells, one of Ireland’s greatest treasures
• Grafton Street, lively and artistic shopping street
• St Stephen’s Green, elegant city park
• Guinness Storehouse, with panoramic views over Dublin

Day 2 – Culture & Atmosphere

• Dublin Castle, historic landmark
• St Patrick’s Cathedral, iconic monument
• Temple Bar, vibrant cultural district
• Optional excursion to Howth, cliffs and fishing village
• Farewell dinner in a traditional pub with live music

Day 3 – Departure

Dublin → Airport
Transfer time: approximately 20 to 30 minutes, depending on traffic.a

Ireland is never truly left behind.
It leaves a lasting imprint.

In the ever-changing light over the hills.
In the power of the Atlantic.
In the warmth of a smile behind a wooden counter.

From Cork to Dublin, passing wind-swept cliffs and the endless moorlands of Connemara, this journey is a complete immersion into the Celtic soul.

A road trip of freedom, raw nature, and genuine emotions.

Ireland will have offered you far more than landscapes.
It will have offered you a feeling.

The feeling of being exactly where you were meant to be.