Insight Vacations

Highlights

• Dublin: Embark on an interactive discovery of the 70 million people who claim Irish ancestry at EPIC - The Irish Emigration Museum. Throughout 20 rooms divided per topic, learn about the Irish experience and the timeline of Ireland’s history told through the personal stories of emigrants. The sights and insights range from learning a special Irish dance to reading the letters of past emigrants, to tracing your family name going back generations.
• Dublin: See Dublin's elegant Georgian squares, O'Connell Street and the Custom House with a Local Expert
• Strokestown: This Palladian mansion of Strokestown Park House will inspire the mind of any curious traveler. This time capsule reveals an atmosphere of grandeur from its original art collections to its gardens and woodlands where exotic plants and architectural gems delight garden-lovers. Learn how this Georgian style house served as the family home to the Mahons, a well-known military family, from the 1600s until 1981.
• Westport: Embark on an exploration of the town of Westport in a remote area of Ireland full of rugged beauty. Highlights of your walk may include Westport House - a heritage home museum celebrating 300 years of Irish heritage, a quaint stone bridge, Rockfleet Castle and Burrishoole Abbey tied to the 16th-century pirate queen Grace O’ Malley.
• Connemara: With a striking Victorian Walled Garden and turreted church, Neo-Gothic Kylemore Abbey is a sight to behold. Dig into the Abbey’s history, discovering how it was founded in 1920 for Benedictine Nuns who fled Belgium in World War I.

Highlights

• Niagara Falls: Get up close and personal with the mighty Falls. Experience the awesome power, thundering water and amazing mist from a state of the art eco-catamaran, making it a perfect and memorable way to experience this natural wonder. After the rush of excitement and rush of water, slow down and explore Niagara-on-the-Lake, a beautifully preserved 19th century village in the heart of Ontario wine country. The flower-filled, tree-lined town features old world architecture, boutique shopping and plenty of character allowing for a truly charming time.
• Montreal: Join a local Expert who will guide you around Old Montreal and Mont Royal. View the Notre-Dame Basilica, the colorful old port and Place Jacques-Cartier, both at the magnificent heart of the old city.
• Montreal: Discover the history of the first neo-gothic church in Canada, an important witness of Montréal's foundations and breathtaking architecture, gold leaves, infinite blue, thousands of stars and exceptional stained glass windows.
• Quebec City: Discover more of Quebec’s unique European charm with a Local Expert. Get an in-depth look at why Old Quebec is a UNESCO World Heritage site as you see the Latin Quarter, Plains of Abraham, City Hall, Palace Royale and views of the grand Chateau Frontenac.
• Ottawa: Join a cooking demonstration led by a renowned Ottawa cooking school and local non-profit organization focused on sustainable food and farming practices. Learn new culinary skills and discover more about local cuisine using staples from the Canadian terroir.

Highlights

• Cairo: Take a short scenic flight to Luxor where you will begin your Nile Cruise.
• Karnak: Stand amid a vast forest of columns in the largest temple complex known to man, as your Egyptologist explains the significance behind it. Walk the avenue of ram-headed sphinxes, see the of Rameses II and the Hypostyle Hall.
• Luxor: Visit the Luxor Museum and discover ancient artefacts.
• Colossi of Memnon: See the massive stone statues of the Colossi of Memnon.
• Valley of the Kings: Embark on an experience with an Egyptologist to visit the mortuary Temple Hatshepsut.

Highlights

• Dublin: See Custom House and travel along the River Liffey. See the Guinness Storehouse, Christchurch Cathedral and St. Patrick's Cathedral.
• Cahir: See one of the largest castles in Ireland dating back to the 13th century.
• Cork: Ireland's second city - "Rebel Cork" dates back to the 7th century. Your Travel Director will show you the Grand Parade and South Mall, along with City Hall and the Opera House on an insightful orientation tour encompassing the development of the religious settlement of St. Finbarr, to Viking raiding and settlement, to the creation of the Norman city and Merchant Princes. You’ll love learning the tales and history of this port city and enjoy hearing the lilt of the Cork accent.
• Ring of Kerry: Venture into a world of towering cliffs, lush lakelands, beaches, fields dotted with sheep, rocky coastline, remote villages and historical sites, as you journey the magical Ring of Kerry. This 111-mile circular route is the best place to admire Ireland's scenic beauty and truly one of the most beautiful drives in the world.
• Killarney: Enjoy hearing of the history of Killarney during your city orientation.

Highlights

• Kilkenny: Take in the sights of the medieval city of Kilkenny with its majestic castle and river walk.
• Killarney: Enjoy hearing of the history of Killarney during your city orientation.
• Ring of Kerry: Venture into a world of towering cliffs, lush lakelands, beaches, fields dotted with sheep, rocky coastline, remote villages and historical sites, as you journey the magical Ring of Kerry. This 111-mile circular route is the best place to admire Ireland's scenic beauty and truly one of the most beautiful drives in the world.
• Cliffs of Moher: Towering cliffs and the dramatic sea, the Cliffs of Moher has inspired countless travelers. Visit the Exhibition Center and look out over the Wild Atlantic Way from these majestic cliffs that rise over 700 feet high. Gain insights from your Travel Director into the cliffs’ geology, history and the species that find sanctuary in its nooks and crannies.
• Galway: Fascinating stories and interesting locals take center stage on your orientation of the historic heart of Galway. Visit the Lynch Memorial Window. Then make your way to the Church of St. Nicholas - the largest medieval parish church in Ireland in continuous use, Spanish Arch and Eyre Square.

Highlights

• Machu Picchu: Transfer to the station for your 360° IncaRail train ride. This train ride offers an unforgettable experience journeying through the Andes Mountains in style with large panoramic views allowing guests to enjoy the amazing scenery of the lush mountains and the Urubamba River en route to Machu Piccu Pueblo.
• Sacred Valley: On the way, visit the Ollantaytambo ruins, consisting of a large fortress built in the 1400s, a stepped terrace, and an area known as the Princess Baths, where ceremonial bathing took place. Later, stop by a a local house in the village and meet the family living there.
• Aguas Calientes: Peru’s Incan history and archaeology will inspire the mind of any curious traveler. With a full day, you have the option to return to Machu Picchu for a different circuit. Or, take advantage of a day at leisure in Aguas Caliente – the town of Machu Picchu of 3,400 residents - to stroll along the river, go shopping for that perfect local souvenir or grab a coffee all midst the cloud forest.
• Cusco: Once you arrive, head on a walking tour of Cusco with a Local Expert. Explore what's known as the "historic capital" of Peru as you discover its ancestral magic through visits to the cathedral and the Qorikancha temple.
• Cusco: Start your day with a walking tour of Cusco, before heading to Sacsayhuaman.

Highlights

• Baddeck: Experience warm hospitality and Cape Breton-style home cooking with traditional music. Join local musicians and engage in an evening of song, dance and storytelling for a unique insight into Acadian culture.
• Halifax: Immerse yourself in Nova Scotia's rich maritime heritage at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. Discover history, including the Halifax Explosion and the sinking of the Titanic through an immersive visit. History comes alive as you sit in a replica Titanic deck chair or climb aboard the CSS Acadia. Learn about Halifax’s connection to the Titanic: When ship owners in New York heard the ship hit an iceberg, they thought it would travel to Halifax. In the end, 150 of the 1518 lives lost were buried in Halifax. You’ll appreciate gaining insights into history exploring exhibits from a small craft boat building to World War Convoys, the Titanic to the Halifax Explosion, events and people who have defined Nova Scotia and its relationship with the sea.
• Halifax: Embark an exploration of this cosmopolitan, eclectic port city of Halifax with your Local Expert. Travel to the local cemetery where many of the Titanic victims were laid to rest before a visit to the Victorian-era inspired Halifax Public Gardens and bustling harbor front. Learn how the growth of this maritime hub can be attributed to its economic ties with the fishing industry, shipbuilding and trade, fostering a maritime culture that persists today. Your in-depth city tour will end at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic for a docent-led tour.
• Lunenburg: The hand-picked UNESCO World Heritage Site of Lunenburg invites you to discover its storied streets. Experience one of the best surviving examples of a planned British Colonial settlement in North America before meeting a Local Expert for a walking tour. Your guided tour will make sites come alive with cultural wonders like superstitions, folklore and local facts. All will be woven together with unique personal stories as you stroll past its brightly painted houses.
• Peggy's Cove: Visit scenic Peggy's Cove, a small rural community located on the eastern shore of St. Margarets Bay southwest of downtown Halifax. Take in the breathtaking coastal scenery, including its iconic Peggy's Cove Lighthouse perched on rugged granite rocks. Embrace this area's serene beauty, fishing village and artistic community that make it one of Nova Scotia's most favorite destinations.

Highlights

• Amsterdam: Cruise along the waterways, discovering the architectural gems of the old city, including mansions dating from the Golden Age of the 17th Century.
• Wurzburg: Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Würzburg Residence.
• Wurzburg: Stand on the statue-lined Alte Mainbrucke and see the Marienburg fortress.
• Rothenburg ob der Tauber: Picturesque Rothenburg ob der Tauber isthe best-preserved medieval town in Germany and a truly enchanting destination. Step back in time and explore the city walls, towers, and gates around the old town as well as the old town itself.
• Salzburg: Join your Local Expert to visit the formal gardens of Mirabell Palace and Residence Square - both locations used in 'The Sound of Music.' You will also see the imposing fortress, the immense cathedral and Mozart's birthplace on the lively Getreidegasse.