8-day Adventure Tour On Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way

Itinerary

Day 1: Begin in Cork city, visit Blarney Castle & Gardens, a scenic drive followed by lunch and a wonderful hike in West Cork.

Stop At: Blarney Castle & Gardens, Monacnapa, Blarney, Cork T23 Y598 Ireland
Day 1 - This tour begins in Cork City and the first port of call is a visit to the world famous Blarney Castle. Here you will explore the Castle, its wonderful grounds and gardens. You will of course get the opportunity to kiss the Blarney Stone. In the afternoon the tour travels into West Cork. The activity on day one is a hike on the spectacular Sheep's Head Peninsula. This is a really amazing hike with magnificent views. During the hike you will get your first glimpses of the Wild Atlantic Way, it is a perfect opening to the 8 Day Adventure Tour. On the first night of the tour the tour stays in a hotel located in scenic west cork.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Sheep's Head Peninsula, Bantry Ireland
In the afternoon the tour travels into West Cork. The activity on day one is a hike on the spectacular Sheep's Head Peninsula. This is a really amazing hike with magnificent views. During the hike you will get your first glimpses of the Wild Atlantic Way, it is a perfect opening to the 8 Day Adventure Tour. On the first night of the tour the tour stays in a hotel located in scenic west cork.
Duration: 3 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight in a West Cork Hotel / B&B.

Day 2: A Cycle on the Beara Peninsula followed by a spectacular drive to Killarney. En route the tour visits Kenmare.

Stop At: Castletownbere, Cametringane, Castletown-Bearhaven, Co. Cork, Ireland
On the second day the tour begins in the heart of West Cork. Today's activity is a cycle on the quiet roads on the western tip of the Beara peninsula. The roads here wind slowly along Ireland’s coastal edge, gently rising and falling revealing awesome views around each corner.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Moll's Gap, 3 Kenmare Innovation Centre N 71 Road, Killarney Ireland
After lunch the tour travels from Castletownbere to Killarney along one of Ireland's many scenic driving routes. Along the route the tour will visit the heritage town of Kenmare. This is a beautiful town at the head of Kenmare bay, Kenmare has some excellent cafes and boutique stores. On the second night the tour stays in Killarney.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Killarney National Park Cork Road, Killarney Ireland
The tour spends two nights in Killarney. The town is set on the edge of Killarney National Park which is a perfect place for an evening or morning stroll. The town has great eating options and excellent Irish Bars.
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Breakfast is included
Accommodation included: Overnight in Killarney.

Day 3: Boat trip on the lakes of Killarney followed by a Cycle in Killarney National Park.

Stop At: Killarney National Park Cork Road, Killarney Ireland
The third day of the tour is a real gem and today there is minimal time in the tour bus. There is both a fantastic boat trip through the lakes of Killarney and a cycle through the Gap of Dunloe. On the boat ride much of Kerry’s magnificent wildlife will be on view, the highlights being the native Red Deer and the recently reintroduced White-tailed Eagles. The cycle trough the Gap of Dunloe is one to remember. At the start of the cycle there is a 15-minute walk with the bikes up to the ‘Head of the Gap’ and after this it is pure joy as you cycle down through the spectacularly formed glaciated valley. The last section of the cycle is through the wonderful woodlands of Killarney National Park.
Duration: 6 hours

Stop At: Gap of Dunloe National School Gap of Dunloe National School Gap of Dunloe National School Off the R562 Road To Killorglin Killarney National Park, Killarney V93 YN52 Ireland
The Cycle today is through the breathtaking Gap of Dunloe.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Breakfast is included.
Accommodation included: Overnight in Killarney.

Day 4: A walk through Killarney National Park, a visit to Inch Beach and a Hike on the Dingle Peninsula.

Stop At: Muckross House, Gardens & Traditional Farms, The Killarney National Park, Killarney V93 EW28 Ireland
On the morning of day four the tour begins with a in the heart of Muckross National Park. Here you will walk around the park visiting Muckross Abbey and the grounds and gardens of Muckross House.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Inch Beach, Inch Ireland
The tour then travels west from Killarney to the salty fresh-air playground of Inch Beach. Here you can take a life affirming plunge in the Atlantic Ocean or try your hand at Ireland’s national sport ‘Hurling’.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Slea Head Drive, Ireland
The tour then continues with the breathtakingly beautiful drive around the wild and beautiful Slea Head. The tour stops on the Slea head for a hike on Ireland's western edge. This is a scenic hike along the rugged Atlantic coastline.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Dingle Peninsula, Ireland
The tour stays in Dingle on the fourth night. Dingle was once a quiet fishing village, today it is a vibrant town with much to offer, boasting excellent restaurants and lively bars with live traditional music.
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Breakfast is included.
Accommodation included: Overnight in Dingle.

Day 5: Scenic drive, ferry crossing, a hike to the spectacular Cliffs of Moher and a visit to the Burren.

Stop At: Cliffs of Moher, Lislorkan North, Liscannor Ireland
Today the tour travels north through county Kerry. The tour crosses the Shannon estuary by ferry into the Banner County of Clare. Today there is hike from Liscannor along an awe-inspiring path perched high above the Sea. On the hike fantastic views open up out to sea towards the Aran Islands. This is an amazing and less traveled way to reach the spectacular Cliffs of Moher. After a visit to the Cliffs of Moher interpretive Centre followed by lunch.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: The Burren House Farm County Clare, Ireland Ireland
After lunch the tour visits the Burren, a spectacular lunar like karst limestone landscape and a World Heritage Site. Here you will have time to explore this unique landscape and maybe you will find an ancient fossil embedded in the rock or a rare flower growing here.
Duration: 40 minutes

Stop At: Galway Bay, Galway Ireland
The tour then marches from the Banner County of Clare into the City of the Tribes, Galway. The tour stays in Galway on the fifth night
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Breakfast is Included.
Accommodation included: Overnight in Galway.

Day 6: Drive through Connemara, visit Inis Mor and Dun Aengus.

Stop At: Aran Island Ferries Ros a' Mhíl Terminal, Ros a' Mhíl, Galway, Ireland
After what will surely be a memorable night in Galway City day 6 will be another very special treat. From Galway, the tour travels deep into Connemara to catch the ferry and we sail the short distance to Inis Mór- the largest of the Aran Islands.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Dun Aonghasa, Cill Mhuirbhigh, Province of Connacht Ireland
The majority of day 6 is spent exploring the island. There is a cycle on the quiet country roads passing field after field enclosed by dry stone walls creating a masterful tapestry for the eyes to feast on. Your breath will be taken away by the Iron Age ring fort of Dun Aengus, perched on the edge of a 300-foot high cliff. Returning to the mainland you will snake slowly through scenic Connemara - a place of fantastic colours, wilderness and warm welcomes.
Duration: 5 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Breakfast is included
Accommodation included: Overnight in Connemara Hotel.

Day 7: Explore Connemara National Park, 3 hour hike, Kylemore abbey and Doo lough.

Stop At: Connemara National Park & Visitor Centre, Connemara National Park Connemara National Park Connemara, Co Galway Near the village of Letterfrack, Galway Ireland
On day seven the tour further explores the magic of Connemara. The land here is made up of blanket bogs, countless lakes, sandy beaches and mountain ranges. Today's activity is a hike in Killarney National Park. From the top of the hike there are spectacular views out over Connemara's spectacular landscape.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Kylemore Abbey & Victorian Walled Garden, Connemara On the N59 between Clifden and Westport, Kylemore Ireland
After lunch the tour will visit Kylemore Abbey. Here the group will have time to explore the magnificent grounds and gardens
Duration: 2 hours

Pass By: Killary Fjord, Leenane Ireland
After the visit to Kylemore the tour will travel under the Maumturk Mountains, the Twelve Ben Mountains and pass along the spectacular Killary fjord. We will pass through the picturesque village of Leenane.

Stop At: Doo Lough Valley, Galway Ireland
In the evening the tour enters County Mayo and travels along the banks of Doo Lough, here we will take a breather and perhaps remember the unfortunate famine victims who walked the same route over 170 years hence. From Doo Lough the tour continues north to meet Clew bay and Westport where the tour spends the night.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: National Famine Monument, Murrisk Ireland
From Doo Lough the tour continues north to meet Clew bay and on to Westport where the tour spends the night. On the way into Westport we stop to visit the national Famine Monument.
Duration: 20 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Breakfast is included
Accommodation included: Overnight in Westport.

Day 8: Cycle on the Great Western Greenway to Achill Island.

Stop At: Atlantic Drive on Achill Island, Westport Ireland
The adventure continues on the final day of the tour. In the morning the tour travels the short distance from Westport to Newport. In Newport the tour again takes to the bikes for a cycle along Ireland’s original Greenway cycle path. The route travels from Newport out past Mulranny to Achill island. This is a fantastic cycle and a great activity to complete the adventure tour. After the Cycle there is lunch in a local Newport Café before the tour begins its journey back to Cork city. There is the option to choose Dublin as the finishing point.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Breakfast is included.
No accommodation included on this day.