Dublin, Belfast and Edinburgh

This itinerary is the starting point for your tour, but it’s not set in stone. If there are days you would like to change, or specific places you’d like to go, we can work with you to create a personalized program that fits the needs of you and your students.

Day 1: Overnight Flight

Depart from the USA.

Day 2: Dublin

After arriving in Dublin, a former Viking settlement at the mouth of the River Liffey, you'll meet your ACIS Tour Manager. Then begin to explore Ireland's capital, a vibrant cultural center with a rich literary history, as evidenced by former residents ranging from Oscar Wilde and James Joyce to Samuel Beckett and George Bernard Shaw.

Day 3: Dublin

Begin the day with a guided sightseeing tour that takes you past some of Dublin's finest attractions, including the statue-filled O'Connell Street, and takes you inside majestic St. Patrick's Cathedral, built in the 13th century. In the afternoon, enjoy free time to explore the Temple Bar section of Dublin. Situated near the Liffey and the Ha'penny Bridge, Temple Bar boasts cafés, galleries and trendy shops. Or visit the quirky National Leprechaun Museum, which pays homage to Irish folklore and mythology. Or if you're feeling competitive, participate in an optional Gaelic Games activity. Meet a coach at a local sporting club and try traditional sports such as Gaelic football, handball and hurling.

Day 4: Belfast

This morning you'll drive into Northern Ireland and head for Belfast, where a visit to the Titanic Exhibition Centre awaits. The RMS Titanic was built in Belfast's shipyards and the locals love to say about the ship, “She was fine when she left here.” An afternoon guided sightseeing tour showcases this bustling city marked by a divided past and a hopeful future.

Day 5: Belfast

Today's activities center on a full-day excursion to the Giant's Causeway, a natural wonder that features some 40,000 basalt columns created eons ago by a volcanic eruption, and the brooding ruins of Dunluce Castle, sitting atop a dramatic ocean-side cliff. On the way back to Belfast, you'll stop for a great photo op: the heavily fortified Carrickfergus Castle.

Day 6: Edinburgh

A ferry ride from Larne to Cairnryan kicks off the morning, followed by a scenic drive through picturesque Robert Burns country towards Edinburgh. You'll stop en route for another intriguing photo opportunity—the dramatic Forth Road Suspension Bridge—before checking in to your hotel in Edinburgh. Later, enjoy a traditional haggis tasting and dinner. Haggis is Scotland's national dish—a savory pudding made from sheep's “pluck” and spices—and it's served with a side order of history that's as interesting as the dish itself.

Day 7: Edinburgh

The morning kicks off with a guided sightseeing tour that shows you Princes Street and Charlotte Square before a visit to Edinburgh Castle, perched high up in the old town. In your final afternoon, you're free to stroll the Royal Mile in search of woolens and tartans, visit J.K. Rowling's sources of inspiration for the Harry Potter franchise or snap pictures of the city and the Firth of Forth from atop Calton Hill.

Day 8: Departure

Depart for the USA.



Optional Extensions and Extra Nights:

Enhance your British Isles experience with a two-night extension to historic London via train from Edinburgh, with included sightseeing and Tower of London Opening Ceremony.