Day 1 Welcome!
We will meet at 14.30 at Helsinki-Vantaa airport. Finnair’s direct flight from Helsinki to Dublin leaves at 16.15. We will arrive at 17.25, and the group will be met by a driver and bus. We drive towards the horse farm and on the way we stop at a shop to refuel our supplies.
Our party will be welcomed by cheerful staff in the beautiful countryside of Wicklow and accommodated in our carriages. The first night will be spent in the wagons at the base. This makes it easy to get used to the gas stove, oven, lights, etc. in the wagons and to settle in at your leisure. “A nomadic minority known as ‘Travellers’ have been touring Ireland in their wagons for nearly two hundred years, breeding a galloping, sturdy-legged wagon horse of which there are around 40 on the farm. For an additional fee, keen riders can also hire their own riding horse to take with them on their journey. At the stopping points, there are fine grounds where you can go for a ride. The horse-drawn caravans can accommodate a maximum of 4 people per caravan. The caravan is equipped with bedding, cooking facilities, all utensils and a water tank. Everyone is responsible for their own food according to their own taste. There is no fridge in the caravan, but we can borrow a cooler from the farm.
Day 2 Orientation and departure
In the morning we will start learning how to drive a cart, how to care for and feed the horse, and how to put on the harness and equipment. Even a complete novice can learn this in no time and all you need is an open mind and an attitude that is not afraid to get your hands dirty. Once everything is ready, the journey can begin.
In a day we travel 7-14 km and our first destination is Rathdrum. This small village is the closest of all to the farm and is our first camping and overnight stop. The village has pubs, restaurants and a shop where we can refresh our food stocks. Overnight stays are planned in advance and there are almost paradise-like pastures for the horses. Once the horse has been groomed and allowed to graze, there is free time to yourself. You can stay the evening in the wagons with food, drink and travelling companions, or head out to explore the nearby attractions, pubs to listen to Irish music, swim or even go horse riding. Bates Restaurant offers high quality dining, while Jacob’s Well offers good pub food in a relaxed atmosphere. On the outskirts of the village you can visit Avondale House, set in a large wooded parkland area with a variety of walking trails.
Day 3 The heart of the leafy countryside
Once you’ve eaten your wagon breakfast, it’s time to get ready to go. Pick up your own horses from the pasture and get them ready for the journey. A caravan ride through the countryside reveals the full splendour of the green island: the magnificent meadow landscapes with their ponds and charming little villages are guaranteed to leave a lasting impression. It’s hard to keep a smile off your lips as the caravan’s hooves pace a leisurely gait. Rarely is a holiday so carefree. The leisurely pace also makes it easy to get to know the locals, who are happy to chat with travellers. One by one, the stunning landscapes glide quietly by and whenever we want, we can stop for a break. If you wish, you can take your own fishing gear with you, as there are good fishmongers along the way. Our next overnight stop can be chosen in advance or we can make a spontaneous choice on the way, depending on what our group wants to see and experience.
Day 4: Return to the farm at Cronybyrne
After breakfast and after the horses have finished their oats, we head towards the base. The final leg of the Irish countryside is one of mysterious beauty. This stems from the country’s chequered history – after all, it was once believed to be inhabited by fairies and goblins. We spend our last night in a caravan at the farm, where we have plenty of time to pack up and prepare for the journey to Dublin.
Day 5 Farewell to the polled and the capital is calling
After breakfast, we are picked up from the farm and set off towards Dublin. We will stay at the Castle Hotel, one of the oldest hotels in Dublin and located about 5 minutes walk from Dublin’s main street, O’Connell Street. Henry street shopping street and the famous Temple Bar area are also just a few minutes walk away. This historic building has been carefully restored, retaining its old-world atmosphere. Each individual room has a private bathroom, telephone, Internet access, TV and tea/coffee making facilities. The hotel also offers a range of triple, quadruple and even quintuple rooms. Public areas include a bar, a favourite with locals, built into an old wine cellar, comfortable small living rooms and a large modern breakfast room.
The day and evening are free. Dublin city centre is easy to get around on foot. Public transport is easy to use and buses take you everywhere you can’t get to on foot. The city’s long and bloody history has left its mark on many of the city’s attractions, and its cultural heritage is also quite impressive. Universities and museums are all good attractions, many of which are free to visit. The attractions are also largely in the city centre, making them easy to walk to. Dublin has a lively nightlife and pubs are the hub of social life. The Temple bar area is a nightlife mecca, with lots of live music and great bands.
Day 6 Humid Dublin – splash and splash!
After an Irish breakfast, the bus will pick us up from the hotel for the Guinness Storehouse Brewery, which has been opened in one of the oldest buildings in the brewery: the buildings date back to 1759, when the production of Guinness beer in Dublin began. Not surprisingly, the Guinness Storehouse is the most popular tourist attraction in Ireland. The Guinness Storehouse brewery exhibition has seven floors and is shaped to resemble a Guinness barrel. The self-guided tour takes you through the process of making Guinness, how it is stored and transported, and the work of local Dublin brewery workers, including how Guinness casks are made and maintained. Those interested can also try their hand at filling a Guinness barrel correctly. The tour ends at the Gravity Bar, a glass viewing bar on the seventh floor, where anyone who wants to can have a pint of Guinness. Gravity Bar overlooks the whole of Dublin, so the views are spectacular. After the tour, you can shop in the official Guinness shop. The Guinness Storehouse brewery exhibition also offers lunch or meetings in meeting rooms of various sizes. The new tasting room will also give visitors a closer look at the different flavours of this dark drink. First, Guinness staff will explain a little about the different flavours of this beer, then everyone will be given a small tasting glass of Guinness and move on to the Velvet room; a dark Arthur Guinness-style room with old portraits on the walls. Here, everyone learns in person how to properly taste the beer.
With a shuttle, we continue on to the next hilarious and even corny tour where you’ll learn to roar like a Viking! The Viking Splash Tour is a truly unique and immersive guided tour that takes guests both on land and water. What makes the tour unique is that the old World War II-era army landing craft used on the tours take the Viking splash reels from land to water and back again, the best way to see Dublin’s main sights and places to visit. You’re sure to have a fun, unforgettable and information-packed experience that will appeal to all.
Day 6 Day off
Today you can spend your day in a way that interests you. Tips: a whisky distillery, a chocolate factory or the infamous and haunted former prison of historical significance, Kilmainham Gaol, where you can discover the gruesome stories of Ireland’s prison past and the struggle for independence from British rule. The prison is only accessible on a guided tour, which should be booked in advance.
Day 7 Towards home
After breakfast at the hotel, there is still some free time for shopping, for example. Transfer from the hotel to the airport, from where you take a Finnair direct flight home at 18.05. We arrive in Helsinki at 23.05. Our rewarding trip is over, have a safe journey home!
