Make Chocolate - Experiences to Savor on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way

Out at the very edge of Europe, the Wild Atlantic Way stretches 1500 miles along Ireland's western seaboard. From Malin Head in Co Donegal to Kinsale in Co Cork, through regions like Connemara, Galway Bay and Kerry, it's the longest defined coastal drive in the world!

Here is just one of the experiences to savor on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way:

Make Chocolate in St. Finian's Bay: Europe's most westerly chocolate factory is right on the Atlantic at St. Finian's Bay - where the monks embarked en route for Skellig Michael. Ebullient owner, Colm Healy and his team, run workshops where you can learn more about choclate and get hands-on experience in decorating, making and designing your own chocolate masterpiece. While surf crashes onto the tiny beach outside, you are enveloped in the warm smells of chocolate-making, inside the family-run Skelligs Chocolate factory, at the edge of the world. Heavenly!

Travel to Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way with Celtic Tours World Vacations.

Experience the World With Your Favorite Group of People!

Group Travel is an exciting and rewarding way for like-minded people to experience the world together. With so many different types of groups and so many destinations to choose from, the possibilities are endless for Group Travel. A group could be your friends and family, your local church or school group or an organization you belong to - to name a few. Destinations can range anywhere from Australia and New Zealand to Europe and Ireland - and anywhere in between. Activities and sightseeing can be arranged based on where your group is traveling to and what type of group is traveling.

Here are a couple of our favorite Group Tours:

Celtic Dream - Travel to Ireland with your favorite group of people. Our Celtic Dream vacation to Ireland continues to bring you the best of Ireland, with an updated itinerary for 2012! This tour travels around the entire island of Ireland, in 12 or 13 days, featuring most of the major historic and scenic attractions of Ireland. The Celtic Dream is acknowledged by visitors and Travel Agents as being the best value tour offered to Ireland.

Irish Harmony- Your group can experience the best of Ireland on this extra value tour. Your Irish Harmony tour of Ireland combines all the comforts of a more expensive tour at fantastic savings. Sightseeing includes Killarney, the crystal city of Waterford, Cork, Blarney and Dublin. Enjoy the traditional music of Ireland at renowned Irish pubs and visit the famed Guinness Storehouse.

Tuscan Experience - Tuscany will enchant your group because it holds a special link between traditions of the past and present. Villa Casagrande, a wine-producing villa constructed in 1392, will serve as your group's host for six nights. Located in Figline Valdarno, a medieval village, in the middle of the triangle made up of Siena, Arezzo and Florence. Enjoy the local delicacies and the Tuscan lifestyle. Your group will find your selves strolling down quiet lanes bound by stone walls, cypress trees and cream-colored villas. A true Tuscan Experience!

Bavarian Spirit - A unique group experience with the opportunity to visit the Home of the Pope. This group itinerary can be customized to suit your groups travel needs.

Experience Spain - This group travel itinerary brings your group a leisurely itinerary, and a Fabulous European experience at a great pace. Visit Madrid and Barcelona on this group trip.

Tulips and Chocolate - A unique travel experience for your group to visit Amsterdam and Brussels. Your group will enjoy the flowers, gardens and chocolates of these European cities.

Experience France - Explore Paris and Nice on this leisurely group vacation to France.

Experience Portugal - Your group will love this small group itinerary taking in two of Portugal's most famous cities - Lisbon and Porto.

French Wine Country - This fantastic group travel itinerary is great for the wine enthusiasts. Your group will enjoy the wine regions of France and tasted some of the best wines in the world on this once in a lifetime group travel experience.

Customized Group Tours - As always, Celtic Tours World Vacations can customize the perfect itinerary for your group travel. Whether you are looking for a family trip to Ireland, a River Cruise through Europe's waterways, a fantastic trip to Australia and New Zealand or a cultural discovery in any of Europe's fascinating cities, give us a call 1-800-833-4373 to speak to our highly experienced group travel planners.

Irish Chocolate Shops

Mmmm Chocolate! A little moment of happiness. Whether your traveling with children, friends or your hubby; who can resist the sweet temptation of handmade chocolate? Try these Irish Chocolate Shops:

Wilde Irish Chocolates
Tuamgraney | Clare
Chocolate is probably the one food that’s practically irresistible. Even the exotic names of the Wilde products are a temptation – Hazelnut Duet, Mocha Mocha, Truffle Temptation. Wilde is the only Irish maker of Organic Fairtrade chocolate, certified by the Organic Trust. There’s also a range of conventional and sugar free hand-decorated products. All the chocolates are handmade by the ‘Wilde Team’ in a small artisan outlet in Tuamgraney.

Skelligs and Cocoa Bean Chocolate Company
Ballinskelligs | Kerry
The Skelligs Chocolate Company and Cocoa Bean Chocolate Company have their production factory and shop on the tip of the Ring of Kerry Peninsula, right by St Finian’s Bay. Skelligs chocolates were created for the luxury market. These truffles use best chocolate from France and Switzerland, married with superb quality ingredients in the flavoured centres. Regulars on the choccie tasting menu include Vanilla Ganache, Strawberry and Champagne and Cognac and Cappucino.

Chez Emily Fine Handmade Chocolates
Ashbourne | Meath
Magical would seem to be the appropriate word for the Chez Emily Chocolate Boutique on Ashbourne’s Main Street. The shop front design with its two large windows offer a tantalising glimpse of the treasures inside, and oh what treasures! With a selection of over 30 different types, the counter is chock-a-block with the most delicious-looking individual chocolates – rum and raisin, cognac, vanilla, crème caramel are just some of the tempting names. Flake truffle supreme, amandine, (truffle coated in roasted almond flakes), cocoa delights, chocolate Florentines, candied orange segments, cherry liqueurs – even the names conjure up images of delights to come.

Marlenes Chocolate Haven
Westport | Mayo
Tucked away in a lovely little courtyard off James Street in Westport is the delightful shop that is Marlene’s Chocolate Haven. Not only a haven but also an absolute heaven for chocolate lovers. How can you choose between 30 varieties of chocolates and truffles? Especially when they have enticing names such as Love Potion or Rose Cream?

Planning a vacation to Ireland? Let Celtic Tours World Vacations help you plan the perfect Irish Vacation.