Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Explore the Emerald Isle with Adventures by Disney, National Geographic Expeditions

Are you wearing green today? I hope so, or else be on the watch for those mischievous leprechauns!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! This fun, clover-covered holiday is a great time to celebrate Irish culture, lush, green hills and dales, and the gracious people who welcome us to their beautiful country.

The Irish are known for more than luck. Their tradition of storytelling has kept history and lore alive for centuries. So it’s fitting that today Adventures by Disney and National Geographic Expeditions — with their focus on storytelling from Adventure Guides and National Geographic Experts, respectively — invite guests to write their own stories when traveling with us. 

Whether you’re looking forward to exploring seldom-seen corners of the island or enjoying bustling city life in Dublin, Adventures by Disney and National Geographic Expeditions have plenty of trip options. Let’s look at a few of these exciting Irish itineraries where guests can explore time-honored traditions, trace the paths of the Vikings and Celts, visit amazing sites and even take an Irish dance lesson.

There are more than 30,000 castles in Ireland, and we’re going exploring! The architectural marvels across the country’s iconic landscape are a must on any trip (we tried to fit in all 30,000 castles but we couldn’t find that four-leaf clover to make it happen). Centuries of history are housed in these incredible stone castles, transporting travelers back in time. Here are just a few stops we’ll experience:

Not only does the Adventures by Disney Ireland itinerary include a private tour of the grounds at Dromoland Castle, but we will also spend three incredible nights at this 15th-century marvel. Surrounded by rolling hills, the castle’s ivy-covered stone towers, pristine gardens and picturesque lake create an ideal backdrop for exploring the property’s regal history.

The beautiful Kilkenny Castle was built in the 12^th century and served as the seat of the Butlers of Ormonde, a notable family that lived there for 600 years. As we travel with the National Geographic Expeditions Tales and Traditions of the Emerald Isle Signature Land trip, we will explore the historic castle with the help of a knowledgeable National Geographic Expert. Not only that, a visit to the National Craft Gallery, which is Ireland’s leading center for contemporary craft and design, located on the site of Kilkenny Castle’s former stables will be another fascinating stop on the tour.

Ireland’s capital is full of exciting culture and history with so much to experience, but don’t worry, there will be ample time dedicated to exploring this port city.

What better way to dive into Irish culture than to dine like a local? On both the Adventures by Disney’s Ireland and the British Isles trips, guests will enjoy delicious Irish food and lively music during a private lunch in a traditional Irish pub. Afterward, there will be a chance to explore all the excitement that the city has to offer.

A private tour of the world’s first fully digital museum, the “Epic – The Irish Emigration Museum” is one of our first stops in Dublin on the Adventures by Disney’s Ireland and British Isles itinerary. During this interactive and one-of-a-kind experience, we will learn about Irish culture through the lens of emigration to discover the great global impact of this nation and its people.

With expedition cruise options, we’ll explore Ireland’s gorgeous coastline with stops in exciting spots along the way.

Expedition cruising offers an entirely different perspective and viewpoint of the Emerald Isle. The Voyage to Scotland’s Wild Isles Expedition Cruise with National Geographic Expeditions mainly focuses on exploring Scotland but makes an exciting stop on a rugged island off Ireland’s northern coast called Rathlin Island. It’s home to only 200 humans, but it’s one of Ireland’s largest puffin communities! An Expert will guide our exploration of the island’s historic significance by highlighting important stories and bringing us to the century-old Rathlin West Light (aka the “upside-down lighthouse”).

History and maritime enthusiasts will be fascinated while exploring the colorful and historic port city of Cobh during the Ancient Isles Expedition Cruise with National Geographic Expeditions. During a visit to the Cobh Heritage Center, we will experience exhibits about the town’s maritime history, Irish emigration, the potato famine, and even The Titanic. Cobh was the vessel’s final port of call, and, as a notable site in this piece of global history, shares unique insight and artifacts from the ship.

Guests on the British Isles itinerary with Adventures by Disney also experience a piece of Titanic history while exploring Belfast, the city where the ship was built. Uncover the sights, sounds, smells and stories of the ship and journey through the shipyard where the liners were built during an immersive self-guided tour.

Thanks for joining us as we explore stops on the Emerald Isle. Whether you’re traveling solo or with friends and family, there’s so much to explore and learn in this beautiful country! And, if you travel alongside the expert storytellers with National Geographic Expeditions and Adventures by Disney, you won’t miss a thing.

To learn more about travels to Ireland and other exciting itineraries around the world, visit AdventuresbyDisney.com or call 833-ABD-0103, visit NationalGeographicExpeditions.com or call 888-732-2379, or contact your travel agent.