Book any of our wonderful self-drive vacation packages before the 31st of May 2024 to receive a 15% discount off your tour price!
This offer cannot be used in conjunction with other discounts or special event packages.
It has been a difficult time for all of us. I booked a self driving tour through Irish Tourism that was cancelled due to Covid issues with travel. The booking process was excellent and thorough. It wa Read more »
Stephanie was an amazing source of help, assistance and knowledge for our first trip to Ireland. She kept us informed of the every changing covid rules as well as adapted to our many - at least three- Read more »
Staff was extremely attentive and very flexible when it came to organizing our trip. All questions were answered quickly and in great detail. When some aspects of our selected trip had to be altered d Read more »
Stephanie at Irish Tourism booked our trip- she was wonderful to work with. I am picky about my rooms - when we booked the trip I requested more spacious accommodations and paid accordingly. We had Read more »
Every thing was as promised. B&B's were awesome and the proprietors very gracious. Big van with lots of space for the 6 of us as well as our luggage with room to spare. We will definitely use Irish ... Read more »
There is no question that the imagery of the West of Ireland will forever be imprinted on your mind after your visit to this dramatic landscape, with its rugged mountains, freshwater lakes and unspoilt miles of coastline and pristine sandy beaches.
When you picture yourself crossing bogs where ponies roam and rare heathers bloom; when you picture yourself conquering the summit of Errisbeg Hill or when you picture yourself strolling along a 5 mile stretch of beach and all the while, be it bogland, mountain, hill or shore, the only footprints that you see are your own.
What is hard to imagine is not that these places exist, but that they exist in the midst of warm and friendly communities. In the West of Ireland where the Gaelic culture thrives and half the population still speaks Irish as its first language, it is the people that might distract you from the wonderful sights to be seen. By day enjoy the magnificent scenery including, The Cliffs of Moher, The Aran Islands, Killary Harbour and the stark Burren Landscape of County Clare. By night rest your weary bones by a roaring turf fire, accompanied by superb traditional Irish music in one of a myriad of welcoming pubs. Galway City, the festival capital of the country awaits with its famous Horse Racing, Art and Oyster festivals to name but a few. Experience the true essence of Ireland - Way out West.
The cycling safari starts with a meeting of the group at 6:30pm in the Bar of the Killarney Royal Hotel 064 31853. This is just a meeting up point and not where you are actually staying. After an introductory talk from the guide, an evening meal is organised in the hotel, while your luggage is transported to our nearby guesthouse(s). If you get there early you can leave your luggage with the hotel reception and explore this bustling town. If you have time, you could visit Ross Castle, a wonderfully restored 16th Century Norman Tower House overlooking Lough Leane. You can even hire a boat from here and row out to a 6th Century monastic site located on one of the nearby islands. Ross Castle is about 1.5 miles from the town.
The tour starts off by following a cycle track into the beautiful grounds of Muckross House. Located on the grounds is a Franciscan Abbey founded in the 15th Century. It is now in ruins but is beautifully situated with a large yew tree rising up through the cloisters. After a stroll around the celebrated Muckross gardens there follows a wonderful cycle along a quiet cyclepath between two of the Killarney lakes before we return to the main road. A steady climb follows to our lunch stop at Molls Gap where you are rewarded with delicious food in the restaurant with its beautiful views of the surrounding mountains. In the afternoon we cycle to Sneem looking out over panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.
Avoiding the main Ring of Kerry road we cycle across the peninsula. Passing along quiet country roads with stunning views of the surrounding mountains, we climb up to the beautiful Gap of Ballaghbearna and descend the other side into another valley with views of Carrauntoohil, Ireland’s highest mountain. After lunch there is a wonderful cycle through quiet fields and over old stone bridges before coming to Caragh Lake. Following the lakeside we then head west to the seaside village of Glenbeigh where we spend the night in a comfortable hotel.
We start the day with a short coach trip to Dingle where we are basing ourselves for two nights. After getting back on the bikes we then follow the Slea Head Route around the tip of the Dingle peninsula. This is one of the highlights of the tour with a wide variety of archaeological sites to visit along the route and some of the most breathtaking coastal scenery in the country.
A variety of activities can be organised from the town. You can join an archaeological bus tour of the peninsula or you can swap your bike saddle for a horse saddle and go horse riding. There are boat trips to the largest of the Blasket Islands with its wonderful walking trails offering the most magnificent views of Dingle Bay. You can also take a boat trip to see "Fungi", the Dingle Dolphin or simply potter around the town with its many shops.
The morning starts with a long steady climb up to the Conor Pass with its stunning views of Mount Brandon and the coastline in the distance. There follows a wonderful descent and then a nice flat cycle along the coast to the village of Camp where we stop for lunch. In the afternoon we head straight into the mountains and traverse the peninsula heading up over one side of the mountains to magnificent views of the other side of the peninsula with Dingle Bay and Ireland’s highest mountain range stretching out in front of you. We then descend down the other side and cycle the final stretch to our night stop in Killorglin.
In the morning we cycle on quiet back roads to Kate Kearney’s Cottage where you can stop for a cup of tea. We then enter the final highlight of the tour, the Gap of Dungloe, a place you will never forget. Coming out of the gap you have an incredible view looking down the Black Valley before following a small quiet route through a peaceful valley surrounded by green fields full of grazing sheep. We climb out of the valley to return to Molls Gap where we had lunch on the first day. After lunch there is a wonderful freewheel back down to Killarney. That evening we have a final farewell night on the town together before heading our separate ways the following morning.
After breakfast you are free to head your separate ways
Book any of our wonderful self-drive vacation packages before the 31st of May 2024 to receive a 15% discount off your tour price!
This offer cannot be used in conjunction with other discounts or special event packages.
Below, you will find a price for this self drive tour including your car rental. Pricing for other accommodation and transport options is also available upon request. Please also note that all of our driving tours itineraries and sightseeing guides are available to those wishing to avail of one of our experienced driver guides.
Accommodation Type | B&B's | 3* Hotels | 4*Hotels & Manor Houses | Combination |
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Notes
Prices in other currencies are indicative only. Please note that we charge in Euro.
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