7-Day Emerald Explorer Small Group Tour

Leaving Dublin’s Fair City, you’ll travel back in time to Clonmacnoise, a 6th centuary Monastery city on the banks of the River Shannon. This holy place became a beacon for learning and boasts excellent examples of Celtic stonework. From there, it’s off to Co. Galway and greenfields that roll straight to the rocky sea. Arrive into Galway City with an appetite as you'll be whisked away on our lovely 'Walkin', Talkin', Tastin' tour of the city! Have our located bring you along to all of his favourite spots and point out where the best place to grab a coffee in the morning is!  At the end of the day, it's time to indulge in the city on your own. Check out some of the places your guide mentioned or find one of the many pubs with tunes spilling out their doors. This City of Tribes has eclectiv nightlife, award winning restaurants and even the odd streeet performer entertaining you with Irish music and dance.  Total driving time: 3 hours Excluding stops 

Fed and watered, it’s off to catch the ferry to Inis Mor (literally ‘big island’), the largest of the Aran Islands.  Here you can explore the 6km by 2km island by bike or by special request, a jaunting cart with your very own driver and pony. It’s off to Dún Aonghasa, a prehistoric hill fort which dominates the edge of a vertical cliff, 300 ft above the choppy waters of the Atlantic.  Refresh "le cupán tae" (with a cup of tea) and island porter cake and shop for an original Aran Sweater. Then we’re headed back to Galway, and met with views of the Cliffs of Moher from the sea! The City of the Tribes and the home of the Claddagh Ring to chase down the ceol agus craic, (music and fun), street performers, artists, buskers and the last of the Bohemians. Total driving time: NULL! 

Then it’s Southwest to The Burren national park, 125 square miles of limestone rock and The Burren Centre where you’ll see dolmens and megalithic tombs, some older than the Egyptian pyramids.   We’ll also take in the 12th century Corcomroe Abbey and Dunguaire Castle, a 16th century tower house which sits on a rocky outcrop on Galway Bay before heading for Kinvara, a colourful fishing village full of cafes and curiosities. The Cliffs of Moher is next; 14 km of dramatic coastline standing 300 metres above the churning Atlantic.  As evening draws in, we’ll spend it in Doolin, The home of Irish music and between the music and the foot-tapping, the blackstuff and the company, ‘the craic will be ninety’! Total driving time: 2 Hours Excluding stops