B = Breakfast included L = Lunch included D = Dinner included
Overview
Itinerary
Purpose
Arrangements
Price
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Journey Overview
Join us for a beautiful journey through Ireland and Scotland on our Spirit of Celts and Highlanders purposeful journey.
Your journey will offer you a truly unique opportunity to explore a fascinating spectrum of sights from natural ocean beauty to centuries of history and culture. Visit the spectacular Irish coast, the Scottish Highlands, cathedrals and castles, eclectic sights and scenes of rock and roll legends and traditional music, as well as tread the ground of Vikings and royalty. We will also enjoy diverse experiences that include the House of Waterford and Old St. Andrews, centuries-old establishments in Dublin and distilleries in the Highlands of Scotland. The highlights on this journey seem almost too numerous to adequately describe.
Your Host for Our Journey
Our host for The Spirit of Celts and Highlanders will be Pastor James Thomas. Following his love for travel and spiritual engagement, Pastor Thomas has led numerous overseas tours to destinations that include the Holy Land and Germany. The opportunity to explore Ireland and Scotland with you on our Spirit of Celts and Highlanders purposeful journey will be an unforgettable, even a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I am truly excited to serve as your journey host!
Before entering seminary, James worked 15 years (1996-2010) for the wholesale mortgage industry in St. Louis, specializing in FHA and VA residential lending. Pastor Thomas also served as a marketing representative for the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra in Midtown, St. Louis (1994-1996) a job that helped the symphony gain greater exposure and provided him much enjoyment.
Pastor James Thomas and his family are delighted to serve the Lord at Trinity Lutheran Church and School in St. Charles, Missouri. Pastor Thomas was born in Davenport, Iowa, but is a native of St. Louis at heart. He and his wife Melissa met in 1999 and were married at Ascension Lutheran in south St. Louis in 2001. They now enjoy the blessing of three amazing children: Mia, Ethan, and Matthew.
In addition to his role as pastor, James also serves as a Lieutenant in the United States Coast Guard Reserves, managing a Disaster Area Response Team whose primary mission includes Law Enforcement and Search/Rescue operations, which are critical during floods and other natural disasters.
James completed his M. Div. from Concordia Seminary, St Louis in 2015, his B.S. in Communications Management at Washington University in St. Louis and a 1993 graduate of Lutheran High South, in St. Louis, Missouri.
Rock and Roll to Wales Journey Extension
For fellow travelers who desire, our purpose journey will continue with our Rock and Roll to Wales journey extension. We will board a train for England where we will stay in the iconic city of Liverpool. In addition to enjoying Liverpool, we will take time for day excursions to Wales. This journey extension includes many highlights that include fascinating culture and famous sights, beautiful Welsh scenery, castles, and coasts.
Day 1 – Wheels up!
Monday, June 19, 2023
We depart for our overnight flight to Ireland.
Day 2 – Dublin, Welcome to the Emerald Isle
Tuesday, June 20, 2023
Upon our arrival in Ireland, we will travel to our beautiful four-star hotel where we will have time to unpack, relax, or explore a bit before our welcome dinner. D
Day 3 – Walk On for an Eclectic Tour of Dublin
Wednesday, June 21, 2023
This eclectic historical tour will take us through both the fascinating history of Dublin and the places that shaped the band U2 and their music. B, D
Day 4 – An Eclectic Juxtaposition of Vikings and Crystal
Thursday, June 22, 2023
Here we will explore the historical presence of Vikings in Ireland’s first city. We will visit an excellent Medieval Museum, the House of Crystal, and other highlights of this city founded by the Vikings in 914. B,D
Day 5 – The Best of Dublin
Friday, June 23, 2023
From hidden gems to iconic sights, we will enjoy the best of Dublin as part of a wonderful day in this fascinating, historic, culturally rich Irish city. B, D
Day 6 - There Once was a Visitor to Limerick
Saturday, June 24, 2023
Today, we transfer to the only city in Ireland to give its name to a form of poetry—the Limerick. B, D
Day 7 - Galway, Girl and the Famous Cliffs of Moher
Sunday, June 25, 2023
Our day promises to be filled with legends, folklore, and stunning natural beauty as we visit the Cliffs of Moher. After visiting the cliffs, we will venture to Galway, a city known for its eclectic mix of bohemian cool and traditional culture. B, D
Day 8 – Let’s Go Coastal
Monday, June 26, 2023
Prepare to have your breath taken away by the treasure trove of beauty that is the southwest coast of Ireland. We will be enamored by ocean views, jaw dropping cliffs, and bucolic scenes of grazing livestock on rolling green hills. B, D
Day 9 – Pucker Up for Some Real Blarney
Tuesday, June 27, 2023
We visit Blarney Castle where you will have the opportunity to kiss the famous Blarney Stone. According to legend, one who kisses the Blarney Stone will speak more persuasively and eloquently. This promises to be a fun day filled with great sights, history, and folklore. B, D
Day 10 – Halò Scotland
Wednesday, June 28, 2023
We say goodbye to Ireland and hello to Scotland as we travel by land and sea to Edinburgh from Limerick. Once in Edinburgh we will check into our hotel with time to relax a bit before dinner. B,D
Day 11 – Explore Fascinating Edinburgh
Thursday, June 29, 2023
Spend a day exploring the fascinating history and culture of Edinburgh. Highlights will include one of the most important castles in the United Kingdom. The castle of Edinburgh was the scene of sixteenth century parties and the home of Mary Queen of Scots. B,D
Day 12 – A Day on the Trail
Friday, June 30, 2023
Today, we will enjoy a beautiful ride on our way to the famous Speyside whiskey region. We will make stops at distilleries made famous by generations of craftsmen who are master producers of Scotland’s national drink.
B, L
Day 13 – Fore! Andrews and Atholls
Saturday, July 1, 2023
We will join an expert guide to walk in the footsteps of golfing legends on one of the most famous golf courses in the world. We venture to Blair Castle, home to the Atholl family for over seven centuries. The castle spans Medieval, Georgian, and Victorian eras and stands as a concise expression of Scotland’s history that includes a nine-acre walled garden. B, D
Day 14 – The Formal End to our Purposeful Journey
Sunday, July 2, 2023
For fellow travelers who are not joining us on the Rock and Roll to Wales Extension, today marks the end of our purposeful journey. The memories and inspiration you take from this journey will indeed last a lifetime. We hope your conversation, and therefore your journey, will continue with your new friends. Our journey concludes, formally, with the departure of our flight home.
Day 1 – Rock and Roll to Wales: Chugga Chugga Woo Woo to England
Sunday, July 2, 2023
We will say our goodbyes to our fellow travelers before boarding our train to Manchester, England. Our deluxe coach will transfer us to Liverpool, England. In Liverpool, we will enjoy the legendary sights of rock and roll as well as the movies. Liverpool, of course, is famously associated with the Beatles. Liverpool is also associated with a dazzling number of movie and television shooting locations. We plan to see some of these locations. B, D
Day 2 – A Sweet Venture to Wales
Monday, July 3, 2023
We will venture to the coastal city of Llandudno where we will enjoy the destination of a chocolatey journey that took place over 5000 years as we enjoy a chocolate experience and time to explore in Llandudno, Wales. Will also enjoy a boat cruise before returning to Liverpool for dinner and time to enjoy the nightlife. B, D
Day 3 A Wales of an Adventure
Tuesday, July 4, 2023
Our day will take us to Llanberis, Wales where will enjoy an unforgettable mountain adventure on Snowdon Mountain Railway as we enjoy the stunning scenery and awe-inspiring views of North Wales. Our adventure will also take us to a royal fortress built on legends and bitter medieval conflict—Caernarfon Castle. After time to enjoy the area, we will return to Liverpool. B, D
Day 4 – The Formal End to our Purposeful Journey
Wednesday, July 5, 2023
The memories and inspiration you take from this journey will indeed last a lifetime. We hope your conversation, and therefore your journey, will continue with your new friends. Our journey concludes, formally, with the departure of our flight home.
Purpose
The Spirit of Celts and Highlanders promises to be the kind of life experience through travel with the potential to inspire and influence your perspective in life. In a balanced, relaxed way, we will no doubt delight in an eclectic array of sights and experiences that are sure to fascinate and inspire. We invite you to join us for a beautiful journey through Ireland and Scotland on our Spirit of Celts and Highlanders purposeful journey.
Your beautiful journey through Ireland and Scotland will offer you a truly unique opportunity to explore a fascinating spectrum of sights from natural ocean beauty to centuries of history and culture. Visit the spectacular Irish coast, the Scottish Highlands, cathedrals and castles, eclectic sights and scenes of rock and roll legends and traditional music, as well as tread the ground of Vikings and royalty. We will also enjoy diverse experiences that include the House of Waterford, one of the most famous golf courses in the world—Old St. Andrews, as well as centuries old establishments in Dublin and distilleries in the Highlands of Scotland. The highlights on this journey seem almost too numerous to adequately describe, but are sure to delight and inspire.
Our Philosophy
We hope you will measure the quality of your journey, not by the quantity of sights you see, but by the invaluable experiences you absorb.
Balance of stimulating experience, serious reflection… …and just plain fun.
One word describes our intention for your journey: balance. We believe each place we visit should relate to whole story, the arc of a narrative. We believe in creating journeys formed and shaped as narratives; journeys that are serious, purposeful, and fulfilling with time to reflect with fellow travelers or alone while providing opportunity for experiences that are just plain fun.
Expert interaction and rich personal encounters
Rather than a trip led by a tour guide trained to disseminate information from a script, we endeavor to seek experts to lead you on a journey who are available as a resource for as much depth as you desire or to leave you to your own reflection.
One beautiful base location
Too often, group travel can leave you feeling like you are part of a herd of a large group of strangers hustled from sight to sight, packing and unpacking everyday of your trip. With us you will stay in one beautiful base location that serves as a base for our excursions. Changing hotels as few times as possible during a journey allows greater opportunity to experience people and culture.
Meticulously planned; yet flexible journey
How does a trip become a journey? Carefully selected excursions that form a narrative, staying in one beautiful base location, with time and flexibility for reflection, and activities that are just plain fun.
Cuisine as a delectable complement to culture and conversation
Cuisine, and the wonderful dining experiences we share in an eclectic array of venues, provide a delectable complement to your rich encounters with the culture and the delightful conversation you enjoy with fellow travelers.
Arrangements
All journeys require the same basic arrangements in the operation of a journey. The specific format of this section will need to be determined. The concept here will be to create a page as a template that will apply, with changes of course, that includes the arrangements under headings such as:
Flight Information
As a fellow traveler, you will have the flexibility to choose how you will join your cohort to formally begin your journey. Purposeful Journeys marks the formal beginning of your journey with the welcome reception and dinner at our destination hotel. On most journeys, you will have three options to join your cohort. Below are the options for joining your cohort with the primary advantage for each option:
- Join Your Cohort on Our Group Flight: On most journeys, Purposeful Journeys will arrange a group flight from a major airport in closest proximity and convenience for the majority of the cohort. The group flight will include a transfer from the destination airport to the hotel.
Advantage: This is often the most cost effective and certainly the most convenient option. - Meet Your Cohort at the Destination Airport: For a number of reasons, you may want to choose a flight other than the group flight and still meet your cohort in time to transfer from the destination airport to the hotel. Fellow travelers who choose this option will incur an additional cost for the transfer from the destination airport to the destination hotel.
Advantage: Fellow travelers may find a balance between the convenience of choosing their own flight from an origination airport other than the airport where the group flight will depart while still taking advantage of the group transfer to the destination hotel. - Meet Your Cohort at the Destination Hotel: As a fellow traveler, you may want to choose to meet your cohort at the destination hotel in time for the formal beginning of your journey with the welcome reception and dinner.
Advantage: This option offers fellow travelers the most flexibility. Fellow travelers will need to weigh the flexibility of this option with what will likely be additional costs.
Group flights will usually be announced between 90 and 180 days prior to departure of your purposeful journey. Fellow travelers will be kindly requested to choose the option for meeting their cohort to formally begin their journey soon after group flight arrangements are announced.
Hotel Accommodations
Arrangements have been made for fellow travelers at four or five star hotels in Dublin, Limerick, and Edinburgh.
Meals
Most meals are included in this purposeful journey. Dining in Europe tends to be as much of a leisurely event as a means of taking sustenance. Meals provide time for us to relax, taken in the culture, and discuss all that we have seen and experienced as fellow travelers that day. See the current, tentative itinerary for details.
Ground Transportation
Transfers to and from the arrival flight into and departing flight from Europe will be provided. Other ground transportation will be provided throughout the journey.
Sightseeing and Events
This purposeful journey includes several premium sight seeing opportunities and tours. As details emerge, specific information will be shared with fellow travelers.
The Spirit of Celts and Highlanders Land Only Cost—$5,150
(Save up to $800 if you apply by November 1)
Rock and Roll to Wales Extension
Rock and Roll to Wales Journey Extension—$1,100
(includes transportation to England and Wales)
Current Incentives:
- Save $300 with a special journey host discount code
- Save $200 if you apply to travel by November 1, 2022
- Save $150 if you choose to settle your balance prior to the due date of your first payment
- Make payments by check instead of credit card and receive a discount of $150.
Your journey includes:
- Taxes and airline surcharges
- Deluxe coach transportation throughout your itinerary
- Double occupancy hotel room ($500 single supplement)
- Meals as specified in the final itinerary
- Admission fees as specified in the final itinerary
- Only goods, services, or activities as explicitly included in the General Terms and Conditions.
Your journey does not include:
- Round trip airfare
- Gratuities for service staff, coach driver(s) and guides
- Alcoholic beverages, bottled water, after dinner drinks
- Travel insurance
- Any goods, services, or activities expressly excluded in the General Terms and Conditions.
Remittance Schedule:
- Deposit of $150 is due with your application.
- Once your application is approved, you will receive an invoice/statement that reflects your choice for settling your balance. Your first payment will be due approximately 60 days after your application has been approved.
- If you choose to avail yourself of the Pay-in-Full discount, you must settle your balance in full before your first payment is due as reflected on your invoice/statement.
- If you choose to make payments, your payments will be divided into monthly payments with a final payment due as specified on your invoice/statement.
- Payments will become due as specified in your remittance schedule.
- Final payment must be received no later than the date specified on your invoice/statement and remittance schedule.
When approved as a fellow traveler…
…you will receive an invoice and a remittance schedule from Malone Clan Expeditions, LLC along with a link to a password protected page on our website that will offer details and updates about your journey.
General Terms and Conditions
Malone Clan Expeditions, LLC will administer your journey. You must accept the General Terms and Conditions at the time you submit your application. Please refer to the General Terms and Conditions for any applicable additional fees that may apply in certain situations and circumstances such as any deviation from the group flight itinerary or your requirement of a single room.
We cordially invite you to apply to join us as a fellow traveler
Please complete the application form. You will be prompted to submit a payment deposit of $150 (regularly $300) with your application once your form is complete with all required fields. We are delighted you are taking the step of submitting your application to become a member of a journey with us. We look forward to notifying you of your acceptance as a fellow traveler.
