Itinerary

This itinerary is subject to change.

September 8th - September 19th, 2023

DAY 1 - September 8th - Arrival in Dublin

Arrive and settle in our Dublin hotel.

In the evening we will have a brief talk about what the trip holds in store.

The Grafton Hotel, Dublin

DAY 2 - September 9th -

To give some context for the tour, we begin with a trip to the National Museum of Ireland to see their wonderful exhibition of the country's prehistory.

We can take advantage of any spare time to enjoy Ireland's liveliest city.

The Grafton Hotel, Dublin

DAY 3 - September 10th -

Heading through the Wicklow Mountains, we visit Castleruddery stone circle, a site with a history far more complex than appears on the surface.

Then on to Brownshill Dolmen, home to the largest capstone in Europe.

Our last stop for the day will be the Knockroe passage tomb, the only site in Ireland with chambers aligned on both the rising and setting midwinter sun.

From here we head to our hotel in Clonmel for a relaxing evening.

Talbot Hotel, Clonmel

DAY 4 - September 11th -

Heading southeast, we visit the stunning site of Labbacallee, Ireland's largest wedge tomb.

Then a slight shift from prehistory, to visit Blarney Castle, home to the famous Blarney Stone.

Oriel House Hotel, Cork

DAY 5 - September 12th -

Our first stop this morning is Drombeg Stone Circle, one of the best known and most impressive axial circles in Ireland.

Then on to the imposing Gurranes Stone Row. Only three stones remain standing. One lies fallen nearby and a fifth was removed in the 19th century.

From here we head back towards Cork, stopping at Bohonagh, our second axial circle, then on to Reanascreena, the third axial circle of the day. If we have time, the last stop of the day will be the stone row at Castlenalacht before returning to our hotel in Cork.

Oriel House Hotel, Cork

DAY 6 - September 13th -

Leaving Cork, we head north, stopping in County Limerick to visit the Lough Gur settlement and grove stone circle.

Then on to County Clare to visit one of the most iconic of Ireland's Portal Dolmens, Poulnabrone, standing proudly on the Burren's Limestone pavement.

Then to Parknabinnia, where alongside the tombs are the remains of a Neolithic capstone factory. Then on to our hotel in Sligo.

Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Sligo

DAY 7 - September 14th -

Our first visit will be to the impressive court tomb of Creevykeel, then on to visit some of the many tombs in the Carrowmore megalithic cemetery.

After lunch we will climb one of the most imposing of all sites in Ireland, Queen Maeve's Cairn.

Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Sligo

DAY 8 - September 15th -

Heading east, we will visit the Rathcroghan, then on to the stunning Neolithic passage tombs at Loughcrew.

Then we proceed into Northern Ireland to our Hotel in Armagh.

Armagh City Hotel, Armagh

DAY 9 - September 16th -

Today we travel north to the Ring of Gullion, to visit a cluster of imposing sites, all fairly close together: Clontygora Court Tomb, Ballymacdermot, Court Tomb, the Ballykeel Dolmen and Annaghmare Court Tomb.

In the afternoon we will visit the famous and important site of Navan Fort.

Armagh City Hotel, Armagh

DAY 10 - September 17th -

Our final day - First stop is the magical Hill of Tara, a place steeped in Irish history and folklore.

Then on to the wonderful Four Knocks passage grave before heading to visit the forge of blacksmith Tom King, giving us a glimpse of Bronze Age and Iron Age metalworking.

Then back to our Hotel in Drogheda for our relaxing last dinner.

The d Hotel Drogheda, Drogheda

DAY 11 - September 18th -

Our final day -We head first to the ruined passage tomb of Dowth. From here we can get a sense of the Bru Na Boinne landscape and see Newgrange, glistening in the distance.

Then we travel the short distance to Knowth, one of the most remarkable sites in the whole of Ireland, and finally a visit to Newgrange itself, to experience the remarkable feat of engineering built over 5,000 years ago.

The d Hotel Drogheda, Drogheda

DAY 12 - September 19th -

Saying our Goodbyes. Transfers by bus to the Dublin airport.

About

The Archaeology Channel Tours: The Megalithic Ireland Experience

An Educational Tour Designed for ALI and Led by Standing With Stones Filmmakers Michael Bott and Rupert Soskin!


Beginning in the largest Irish city and circumnavigating the country, this 11-day adventure includes ancient wooded mountains, verdant valleys, rugged coastline, and picturesque villages. All hiding some of the finest examples of Ireland’s long and complex prehistoric past.

Our journey begins in Dublin, where we spend two nights and visit Ireland's National Museum and take some time to enjoy Ireland's liveliest city!

Driving southward through the Wicklow Mountains, we visit a diverse assemblage of sites and spend three nights in Cork, from which we take day trips. The array of sites includes circles, a dolmen, a passage tomb, a wedge tomb, stone rows, and the historic city of Waterford with its glass-blowing industry

Moving northward in western Ireland, on the way to Sligo and around it, we stop in County Clare to see Poulnabrone, Ireland's most iconic portal dolmen, and climb Queen Maeve's Cairn, one of the most imposing Irish sites. Those are just the highlights!

We make our way eastward to Drogheda, our base for the rest of the tour. It keeps getting even better, with the stunning Neolithic passage tombs at Loughcrew, a cluster of imposing sites at the Ring of Gullion, the magical Hill of Tara, the eye-popping engineering feat that is Newgrange, and much more.

Over a decade ago, our tour guides Michael Bott and Rupert Soskin released Standing with Stones, the only comprehensive film overview of the megalithic monuments of the British Isles. This remarkable feature-length documentary film and book take the viewer on a journey of discovery, revealing the true extent and variety of megalithic Ireland and Britain.


The price for this tour is fixed, as we have a cap of 17 participants and expect to have that number.

Total Price: $5300 (double occupancy). Add $946 for the tour if you are traveling as a single.

Registration fee: $1300 to ALI. This amount is included in the total price above. Spots are limited, so register today!

Included costs: All lodging, meals, private ground transportation, all entry fees, tour guides (Michael Bott and Rupert Soskin).

Costs not included: alcoholic beverages, gratuities for service providers (guides, waiters, drivers, maids), personal travel insurance, and airfare to and from Ireland.

Dates: September 8 - 19, 2023

No Longer Accepting Reservations!

Contact us directly at: tours@archaeologychannel.org