Northern Ireland Explorer - duration: 5 Days / 4 Nights

Day 1: Dublin

Arrive at Dublin and transfer to your city centre hotel. Spend the remainder of the day soaking up the atmosphere of this exciting city which includes statue lined O'Connell Street, with the "Spire" at its centre and the General Post Office, scene of the 1916 Easter uprising and many elegant Georgian squares. Why not visit some of its many attractions such as the Guinness Storehouse, Book of Kells at Trinity College or Old Jameson Distillery? Overnight.

Day 2: Dublin – The Mourne Region & Belfast

Breakfast. Depart Dublin this morning and travel north towards Belfast. From Newry, travel east through the scenic Mourne Region and on to Downpatrick to visit the Saint Patrick Centre. The Saint Patrick Centre, one of Northern Ireland's major Millennium Projects, is the first permanent exhibition to tell the story of Ireland's Patron Saint. Following the visit to the Centre, also visit Down Cathedral, in whose churchyard. St. Patrick is reputed to be buried. Continuing from Downpatrick, arrive at Castle Ward, a beautiful 300-ha (750-acre) walled estate in a stunning location overlooking Strangford Lough.

Continue on to Belfast, check into your hotel and explore the city on your own. You can wander around the city centre to admire exquisite examples of Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian architecture, dominated by the magnificently domed City Hall - a Renaissance style building of Portland stone completed in 1906. Half a mile from this area is Queens University, with its mellow brickwork and Tudor cloister. Overnight.

Day 3: Belfast – The Antrim Coast & Giant's Causeway

Breakfast. This morning, travel by road through the "Nine Glens of Antrim" before arriving in Ballycastle, where a memorial to Guglielmo Marconi, the inventor of wireless technology, commemorates his first successful cross-water transmissions between Ballycastle and Rathlin Island. Continue along the impressive north Antrim coastline where you can visit the magnificent Giant's Causeway. Visit the nearby Dunluce Castle, dramatically close to the edge of a headland. Surrounded by wonderful coastal scenery, this medieval castle stands where an early Irish fort was once built and where its history can be traced back to early Christians and Vikings. Visit Bushmills Distillery, the world's oldest whisky distillery having received its license in 1608. Observe the craft and skill of making Irish whisky. Return to Belfast. Overnight.

Day 4: Belfast – The Boyne Valley & Dublin

Breakfast. Return to Dublin, travelling through the Boyne Valley region whose banks are lined with landmarks from almost every phase of Ireland's past – from the prehistoric passage tombs at Newgrange, to the legendary Hill of Tara, seat of the Irish High Kings as well as monuments from the early days of Christianity. Visit Old Bridge House whose visitor centre tells the story of the Battle of the Boyne, fought between King William III and his father-in-law, King James II, on 1 July 1690 (11 July according to our modern calendar). Visit the nearby Bruna Boinne Visitor Centre which tells the history of the region and either Newgrange or Knowth burial passages. Overnight.

Day 5: Dublin

Breakfast and transfer to Dublin Airport.