Final-year school trip to Ireland: Dublin, Wicklow, Kilkenny, Galway and the Cliffs of Moher (9 days)

Day 1: Departure from your school and drive to England

• Departure from your school very early in the morning, at the agreed time, and daytime drive to Calais (about 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours 30 minutes depending on the school's region).
• Ferry crossing of the Channel to Dover (about 1 hour 30 minutes); the UK and Ireland are one hour behind.
• Our drivers drive for a maximum of 3 hours, then take a 30-minute break, day and night; two drivers take turns at the wheel.
• Drive to the Midlands (about 320 km, 4 hours), free lunch on the way.
• Overnight stop in the Birmingham area, dinner and quiet evening.

Day 2: Wales and the crossing to Dublin

• Departure after breakfast and drive to Holyhead through North Wales (about 250 km, 3 hours 30 minutes).
• Daytime ferry crossing of the Irish Sea from Holyhead to Dublin (about 3 hours 15 minutes), free lunch on board.
• Arrival in Dublin in the late afternoon and check-in at the accommodation for two nights.
• Dinner, then a first walk over the Ha'penny Bridge and through the Temple Bar district.

Day 3: Dublin, between learning and independence

• Visit to Trinity College and the Book of Kells, a ninth-century illuminated manuscript (on request).
• Visit to the National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology and its Celtic treasures (free).
• Free lunch, then Grafton Street and St Stephen's Green.
• Guided tour of Kilmainham Gaol, a key site in the history of Irish independence (on request).
• Dinner and supervised evening.

Day 4: The Wicklow Mountains, Glendalough and Kilkenny

• Check-out after breakfast and crossing of the Wicklow Mountains, the "Garden of Ireland".
• Walk around the monastic site of Glendalough, its round tower and its two lakes (free access).
• Free lunch, then drive to Kilkenny (about 100 km, 1 hour 45 minutes).
• Visit to Kilkenny Castle (on request) and a walk along the Medieval Mile.
• Check-in at the accommodation in Kilkenny, dinner and supervised evening.

Day 5: The Rock of Cashel and Galway

• Drive to Cashel after breakfast (about 55 km, 1 hour).
• Visit to the Rock of Cashel, the former stronghold of the kings of Munster (on request).
• Free lunch, then drive to Galway (about 200 km, 2 hours 45 minutes).
• Check-in at the accommodation in Galway for two nights and a walk through the Latin Quarter to the Spanish Arch.
• Dinner and supervised evening.

Day 6: The Burren and the Cliffs of Moher

• Drive to the Burren and its limestone landscapes, with a stop at the Poulnabrone dolmen (free access).
• Visit to the Cliffs of Moher, more than 200 m above the Atlantic, and a walk along the marked coastal path.
• Free lunch in the village of Doolin, the home of traditional music.
• Return to Galway along the coast of Galway Bay and a walk along the Salthill promenade.
• Dinner and supervised evening.

Day 7: Clonmacnoise and return to Dublin

• Check-out after breakfast, visit to Galway Cathedral (free access), then drive east.
• Visit to the monastic site of Clonmacnoise, on the banks of the Shannon (on request).
• Free lunch, then drive to Dublin (about 150 km, 2 hours).
• Check-in at the accommodation in the Dublin area, near the port, dinner and supervised evening.

Day 8: Crossing to Wales and overnight stop in England

• Early departure after breakfast and daytime ferry crossing from Dublin to Holyhead (about 3 hours 15 minutes), free lunch on board.
• Drive to the Midlands through North Wales (about 250 km, 3 hours 30 minutes).
• Overnight stop in the Birmingham area, dinner and quiet evening.

Day 9: Return to your school

• Departure after breakfast and drive to Dover (about 320 km, 4 hours), with two drivers taking turns.
• Ferry crossing of the Channel to Calais, free lunch on board or on the way.
• Daytime drive to Belgium, with regular breaks, and arrival at your school in the evening.