Ireland’s Forests – A Walk in the Woods
Ancient, Mystical Trees and Forests in Mid and Southern Ireland.
September 18 – 27, 2024 – 9 days – $2850 + Air
CLOSED
Book online now!Embrace the healing energy of trees in an ancient mystical landscape
Do you love trees? Do you talk to trees … listen to trees? Do you feel your level of consciousness rises when you’re in a forest? Do you sometimes see faces in the bark or leaf patterns? If you internally answer “yes” to any of these questions, you’re not alone. Forests are mystical because of the energy that trees emanate. This could be why the scariest places – think of Fairy Tale settings – are forests. But forests are also inspiring, moving, enlightening. Forests ignite the imagination. Think of the poetry associated with forests; Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost, Woods in the Winter by H.W.Longfellow, or Two Trees by W.B. Yeats.
The Irish and Their Affinity for Trees
But the Irish have an even deeper affinity for trees as a culture. The Druid class is said to have met in Oak groves for rituals. The pre-Christian Irish developed an entire alphabet based on trees called the Ogham alphabet. Each letter represents a species of tree. They even organized these trees and alphabet into a Celtic ritual calendar. There are five designated sacred trees in Irish mythology – the Oak, Yew, Ash, Holly, and Rowan.
One often hears or reads about how Ireland has no more trees because Queen Elizabeth I had heavy foresting done to build ships to fight the Spanish Armada. That may have some truth to it, but today the Irish are especially connected to trees and forests and not only has forestation taken place across the country, but Coillte Ireland (equivalent to a Forestry Board) has developed many forest parks in every region so local people can enjoy nature and feel the warm embrace of trees all around them. Some of these parks are on old Anglo-Irish estates, some are descended from remnants of old-growth forests. This tour will see ancient trees, old-growth forests, and newly developed forest parks.
ITINERARY & DETAILS
Explore Ireland’s forests and ancient sacred trees on the Walk in the Woods tour in 2024. The Walk in the Woods tour will take guests into ancient forest remnants that descend for old old trees that were present in pre-Christian times when trees were considered sacred. Guests will see (and touch) Ireland’s oldest tree – the Silken Thomas Yew which dates back to the time of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. Guests will be able to forest bathe, experience several guided meditations, and even participate in “wand making” with twigs found during the journey. The particular focus of this tour will be the healing energy of Ireland’s trees.
What’s Included:
Transportation each day, pick up from a set location in Dublin, 9 nights in 3 and 4-star rated hotels, all breakfasts, five dinners, one lunch. Supplies for wand making, 1-hour cruise on the River Shannon, Glendalough tour, Rock of Cashel, Muckross Abbey. Scenic tour of Killarney National Forest Park (pictured). Various day tours including Lough Gur, Grange Stone Circle, Tomnafinogue Ancient Forest, King Oak, Kincora site, Free day in Dingle (transportation only – nothing scheduled)
- Full-time tour guide / Private Coach – Mindie Burgoyne will be the full-time tour guide.
- All Accommodations in 3 or 4-star hotels
- 9 breakfasts
- 1 Lunch in County Wicklow
- 5 dinners – Welcome and Farewell dinners on the first and last nights
- All private tours/ guides & attraction admissions
What’s Not Included:
- Air Fare
- lunches and 4 dinners
- any alcoholic beverages with included meals
- shopping, incidentals, expenses incurred on free days
- tips for hotel staff, private guides, and driver
Other Includes:
Some Expert local guides will be with your group in some locations for a more in-depth visitor experience.
Ground Transportation – We enjoy the comfort of our own motorcoach for the entire 9 days. Guests can leave things they use daily (walking sticks, jackets, etc) on the bus.
DAY TRIP to Dingle – Guests will be transported to Dingle from their hotel in Killarney and after a brief morning scenic tour, will have the opportunity to spend the rest of the day through the dinner hour in Dingle. Read more about the scenic Drive Around Slea Head.
More Specifics:
TOUR START and END – The tour begins when the tour guide and coach driver meet the guests in Dublin at 10 am on September 18, 2024. Guests are responsible for getting to the set location – The Hilton Dublin Airport Hotel. There is free transportation to this hotel from Dublin Airport. The last night of the tour, guests will be booked into this same hotel, and on the morning of September 27th after breakfast, guests may take the free shuttle to Dublin Airport or extend their stays and continue touring.
NOTE: PRENIGHT RECOMMENDED – Because guests coming in from the USA and Canada have overnight flights, it is wise for guests to consider a PRENIGHT(s) on September 17th in Dublin for a little extra time to unwind, adjust to the time change, and visit some sites in Dublin. Arriving a day early would also protect against missing the first day of the tour if a flight is delayed or circumstances upset your scheduled arrival on September 18th. For guests who expect to spend a few extra days in Ireland, it is best to put those days on the front end of the tour.
COST – $2850 + AIR
Cost of $2850 (based on double occupancy) is for the land only. A deposit of $1000 per guest is due at registration and secures your space on the tour. The full cost of the tour includes lodging, all breakfasts, and five dinners, and one lunch. It also includes land transportation, admission costs to all attractions, and private guides. In addition to the cost of the tour, guests would be responsible for airfare, lunches, and dinners that are not included, plus any incidental expenses unrelated to the group tours and accommodations.
Single room supplement is $750, and is due with the registration deposit of $1000. There are a limited number of Single rooms available. Single supplement will go up when the limit (6) is reached. We will try to pair people who request a roommate but cannot guarantee a roommate.
Booking the Tour –Deposit of $1000 per guest (plus $750 single supplement if applicable) must be paid at registration to hold the spot. Deposit is refundable for 10 days. The tour balance is due by August 6, 2024.
Travel Insurance –We suggest guests purchase travel insurance on their own. Thin Places Mystical Tours does not sell Travel Insurance or represent any travel insurance vendor, though we can make recommendations based on what other guests have used.
Tour is limited to 20 guests.
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Itinerary
Day 1, September 18 – Kildare sites and Kinnitty Castle
Guests will meet Mindie Burgoyne, their tour guide in Dublin at 10 am From there a private motorcoach will take guests to visit the oldest tree in Ireland – the Silken Thomas Yew Tree at Maynooth University thought to be between 600 and 800 years old. Additional stops will be St. Brigids Holy Well and fairy tree and The King Oak in County Offaly – set in a magical grove of oaks. Then guests will head for Kinnitty Castle where they will have their welcome dinner and overnight stay.
Read about the history of Kinnitty Castle.
Welcome Dinner and overnight at Kinnitty Castle.
Day 2, September 19 – The King Oak, Kincora, and Cruise the River Shannon
Guest will visit “the mother tree” – a Yew tree in the Portumna Forest. There will be a guided meditation there. Then guests head west to Clonfert Cathedral – site of the first monastery founded by St. Brendan and where Brendan is said to be buried. Guests will also visit a ferry tree at the entrance of a Yew Walk near Clonfert Cathedral. That afternoon guests will head for the town of Killaloe and take a one-hour cruise on the River Shannon. Then head to the ancient site of Brian Boru’s home once known as Kincora.
Overnight and dinner at Killaloe Hotel and Spa.
Day 3, September 20– Glenstal Abbey Forest Walk – Ash Trees at the Grange
Guests will enjoy a morning walk through the Glenstal Abbey Forest led by the Forest Keeper, Benedictine Father Anthony Keane. Afterward they’ll head to the largest stone circle in Ireland which is bordered by Ash trees. Then guests will explore Lough Gur believed to be one of the most mystical landscapes in all of Ireland where a variety of species of Irish trees are featured on a walk around the lake. Then off to Killarney to spend the night.
Overnight at Castle Lodge Hotel in Killarney and group dinner
Day 4, September 21– Killarney Nation Park
Guests will enjoy a tour of one of Ireland’s most scenic spots – Killarney National Forest Park. Many trees will be a part of stops through the park… plus there will be a talk on “wand lore” and a wand-making session and walking meditation.
Overnight at Castle Lodge Hotel in Killarney
Day 5, September 22 – Dingle Trip
Guests will enjoy a scenic drive through the Dingle Peninsula seeing the magnificent sea coast around Slea Head with views out to the Blasket Islands. Then guests will be able to wander free through one of the most charming and artistic towns in all of Ireland. Dingle is an Irish-speaking town with a rich culture. Lunch and dinner in Dingle on your own.
Overnight at Castle Lodge Hotel in Killarney
Day 6, September 23 – Glen of Aherlow and the Rock of Cashel
Guests will take a scenic drive through the Glen of Aherlow in County Tipperary, then have lunch (on your own) near the Rock of Cashel, then have the opportunity to visit the historic site known as Cashel of the Kings and St. Patrick’s Rock. Guests will then head for the Medieval city of Kilkenny.
Overnight at River Court Hotel in Kilkenny
Day 7, September 24 – Free Day in Kilkenny
Guests have all day free in Ireland’s Medieval City. Possibilities are a tour of 12th century Kilkenny Castle or St. Canice’s Cathedral, Tour the Medieval Mile, take a ghost tour, and enjoy numerous opportunities for authentic Irish goods shopping and food.
Overnight at River Court Hotel in Kilkenny
Day 8, September 25– Tomnafinogue Forest, Shillelagh, and Tinahealy
Guests will visit the town of Shillelagh and see where the Irish walking stick of the same name originated. Guests will visit Old Shillelagh Stick Makers and meet Liam O’Caidhla who has been making sticks for years. The skill has been in Liam’s family since before the time of his great-grandfather Denis and has been passed down through the generations. Liam works with his own family, crafting these sticks and keeping the tradition alive. Liam will give guests a short commentary on the history of making these sticks. Then guests will head to Tomnafinogue Forest, a small forest park which is a remnant of one of Ireland’s oldest oak forests. Populated mostly with Beech trees now, there are still some descendants of the old oaks that once made this a sacred forest visited by druids. A delicious group lunch will be enjoyed at Tinahealy farm, then off to the sacred ruins of the monastic city at Glendalough . Dinner is on your own at the hotel restaurant.
Overnight at Woodenbridge Hotel, County Wicklow
Day 9, September 26– Avondale Forest Park Wicklow Mountain Drive
Guests will head for Avondale Forest Park with some of the greatest tree specimens in all of Ireland. Walkways through the park allow visitors to walk at the height of the treetops with spectacular views. Afterward, they’ll take a scenic tour through the Wicklow mountains then head to a Dublin hotel near the airport and enjoy a farewell dinner.
Overnight and Farewell dinner at the Hilton Doubletree Hotel – Dublin Airport
Day 10, September 27 – Depart
After breakfast at the Dublin Hotel, guests depart for Dublin Airport or extend their stay on their own
NOTE: The itinerary is subject to change based on availabilities at certain localities.
Download the Agreement of Understanding (required for registration)
Book online now!________________________________________________________
MAKE YOUR RESERVATION TODAY. CALL 301-648-2010
$1000 per person deposit (plus $750 single supplement if traveling as a single) is needed to reserve your spot Final balance is due by August 6, 2024.
Still have questions? Email contact @ thinplacestour.com or call Mindie at 301-648-2010