Guided Burren, Aran & Connemara Walking Tours of Ireland

The Burren and Connemara face each other across Galway Bay, with the glorious Aran Islands strategically placed in between. It is hard to imagine two more contrasting landscapes. ‘Burren’ is derived from the Irish word boireann meaning ‘place of stone’, and the name could not be more apt. There is no part of Ireland where rock so obviously dominates the landscape as it does in the Northwest corner of County Clare.

The Burren covers an area of some 260 square kilometers and is famous for its bare limestone pavements dissected by deep crevices and traversed by countless stone walls. Surprisingly, this bizarre and apparently hostile environment is a botanist’s paradise as around ¾ of Ireland’s plant species are found in the Burren (more than any other region).

By contrast – Connemara is an imposing landscape of lakes, moorland and rugged mountains. It has some of the most extensive areas of blanket bog in Europe and is home to many heathland and bogland plants such as the insectivorous sundew and butterwort and a rich variety of heaths and heathers. The two main mountain groups – the Twelve Bens of Connemara and the Maamturk Mountains – are separated by the deep valley in which Lough Inagh lies. One of the most typical Connemara scenes is to see the jagged peaks glistening with quartz reflected in the still waters of a bogland pool.

In between these 2 contrasting landscapes lie the Aran Islands, Inisheer (near island), Inishmaan (Middle Island) and Inishmore (big island). Although the Aran Islands belong to Co. Galway, geologically they are similar to the Burren in Co. Clare with many of the fields consisting of little more than bare limestone. The islanders have eked out a living by improving the soil over generations with sand and seaweed. Aran is also a bastion of Irish culture with the Irish language still the everyday language of most islanders, making it the strongest Gaeltacht in the country.

Highlights
Inis Mór
Cliffs of Moher
The Burren
Connemara National Park
Killary Fiord
Whats Included?
7 nights stay in an en-suite room at our premium hand-picked accommodations.
Delicious Irish breakfast each morning.
6 Picnic Lunches (on hike days only).
3 sumptuous evening meals in the region’s top restaurants.
6 days hiking with our local, expert guide who will accompany the group for the duration of the holiday
Boat trip to/from Inishmor
Courtesy transfers to and from each day’s walking locations and all transport as outlines in the itinerary.
Prices are per person sharing.
Not Included: Personal drinks, medical expenses or gratuities.

Arrival Details:

It is a tremendous benefit if you let us know how, when and where you plan to arrive into Ireland before you start your holiday with us.  We are happy to advise the best way to get to the starting point of your holiday, the most convenient airport & how to make any necessary connections.  We are also happy to arrange a transfer for you if you require and keep your travel as cost effective as possible for you. If we do not hear from you within two weeks of the start date of the tour, we will assume that you will make your own way to the first night’s accommodation.  Your guide will meet you at 18.00 hrs. for a briefing session followed by dinner with the group at 19.00 hrs.

One Week Escorted Ireland Walking Tour

All dates shown are the starting dates in Ireland. Flights leave the US the day prior.
There is NO additional supplement or those willing to share a two-bedded room with someone of the same sex. However, if you wish to have your own room, a single supplement applies.
Children: Not suitable for children under 16

Call 1-800-221-2474 9AM - 5PM Mon-Fri Eastern Time Please Email Us For Information

ITINERARIES: Our walking tours of Ireland are limited to a max of 8 persons.

8-Day Guided Wild Atlantic, Westport & Islands Walk

8-Day Guided Wild Atlantic, Westport & Islands Walk
Immerse yourself in the West of Ireland for an idyllic holiday as you discover this part of Ireland with a “local” on the Wild Atlantic Way. From delicious food, to outdoor activities, to local Irish culture and heritage, you will be amazed at how much you will discover as you uncover all that makes this region so unique. You’ll feel at one with nature during the day and the friendly Irish people will help you feel right at home as you embrace rural life. And by the time you leave, you’ll have had a taste of Irish life that is guaranteed to leaving you wanting more.
Mayo is still a relatively untouched & undiscovered part of Ireland. It treasures many of our iconic landscapes & continues to be a photographer’s haven for those promoting Ireland. It is here that you can still find so many of our more typical stone houses, untouched landscapes & traditional farming habits. It is best known for Ireland’s most sacred pilgrim mountain – Croagh Patrick – that iconic “cone” that dominates so much of the landscape in this region and is still one of our most climbed & popular “pilgrim days” – especially on “Reek” Sunday!! Mayo’s maritime history is long & fascinating, its ancient habitations date back to the time of the Egyptian Pyramids & everywhere you turn – there is more to discover, stories to hear & more beauty to be enthralled by.
Achill Island is Ireland’s largest island & was first inhabited 5,000 years ago. Now accessible by a bridge from the mainland, it is simply oozing with great walks, amazing scenery & history in abundance. Famous for its soaring mountains and dramatic cliffs and seascapes you will relax into island life before you realise you are doing so as you explore the hidden treasures of this place.
5-Day options available on request.

Highlights

• Croagh Patrick
• Clew Bay
• Inish Boffin
• Killary Fiord

Whats Included?

• 7 nights stay in an en-suite room at our premium hand-picked accommodations.
• Delicious Irish breakfast each morning.6 Picnic Lunches (on hike days only).
• 3 sumptuous evening meals in the region’s top restaurants.
• 6 days hiking with our local, expert guide who will accompany the group for the duration of the holiday.
• Courtesy transfers to and from each day’s walking locations and all transport as outlines in the itinerary.

Not Included: Personal drinks, medical expenses or gratuities.

Call 1-800-221-2474 9AM - 5PM Mon-Fri Eastern Time
Please Email Us For Information

Dingle Peninsula and Killarney

Our Tour of the Dingle Peninsula begins in the Slieve Mish mountains once home to a mythological Celtic princess. Here you will enjoy panoramic views of Tralee Bay before arriving in the bustling cosmopolitan, seaside town of Dingle. Gaily painted houses lead to a busy harbour where artisan cafes and craft shops vie with traditional pubs humming to the sound of Irish music and song.

In sharp contrast, the weather-sculpted lands beyond Dingle on the famous Slea Head seem to have regressed in time, isolated by mountain and ocean. This is particularly true of the ancient pilgrim route that winds through stone-clad fields and fuchsia-rich lanes from Ventry Beach to the majestic summit of the holy mountain - Mount Brandon.

This holiday combines the best of the Ring of Kerry and the Dingle Peninsula – the two most popular regions we offer and now in one amazing holiday.
So many of you know or have heard of “Kerry Gold” & this holiday will introduce you to this land that is truly golden – spreading out in front of you in all directions with it’s amazing beauty, panorama’s, culture & friendly people – it is truly a place apart. County Kerry consists of a series of spectacular mountainous peninsula’s which are divided by deep-sea inlets. Weaving around the coast of these peninsulas are a network of ancient trading routes that are nearly as old as the land itself, many of which form part of the walks that you will be doing during your holiday.
The name ‘Kerry’ comes from the Old Irish word Ciarraige meaning the people of Ciar, an early Celtic tribe that settled in the area around 300 BC. In fact, Kerry has an outstanding collection of historical and archaeological sites that date back over 7,000 years, with several ancient forts and numerous early Christian churches. Impossibly green pastures stretch as far as the eye can see, completely empty except for small herds of sheep or goats, and at almost every turn there are spectacular views of mist-covered mountains and wild stretches of uninhabitable coastline where deep fissures have been carved, over the eons, by the pounding waves of the Atlantic Ocean.
5-Day options available on request.

Highlights

• Walk along the Skellig Coast
• Derrynane Bay
• Slea Head
• Ancient Monastic Sites

Whats Included?

• 7 nights stay in an en-suite room at our premium hand-picked accommodations.
• Delicious Irish breakfast each morning.
• 6 Picnic Lunches (on hike days only).
• 3 sumptuous evening meals in the region’s top restaurants.
• 6 days hiking with an expert Irish guide who will accompany the group for the duration of the holiday.
• Courtesy transfers to and from each day’s walking locations and all transport as outlined in the itinerary.

Not Included: Personal drinks, medical expenses or gratuities.

Traveling alone?
Some people do not take an active vacation because they find themselves in the position of having to travel alone. What they usually don't know is that many active people travel alone. Our walkers may be tired at the end of the day but they will never be alone. The people in your group share your sense of adventure and exploration - they are as interested in meeting you, as you are interested in meeting them. Call 1-800-221-2474 9AM - 5PM Mon-Fri Eastern Time Please Email Us For Information