Wondering how to make the best of your holiday in Ireland, but don’t want to stress about the nuances of planning an adventurous, action-packed vacation? There are plenty of guided adventure tours in Ireland that will take that weight off of your shoulders and help you see and experience the wondrous Irish landscape.
Ireland is home to some stunning views — magnificent cliffs, piercing mountains, brilliant valleys, and awe-inspiring rivers and lakes. You might be overwhelmed with the possibility of trying to see them all on your next holiday. The adventure tour guides here in Ireland recognize your thirst for adventure along with your cramp for time, and they are here to help! Here are some of the best week-long adventure tours in Ireland.
1. Mystical Walking on the Kerry Way (8 days)
Price: €1005
The Kerry Way is Ireland’s longest trail, at 210km, and it offers fantastic views of the breathtaking landscapes. You will arrive in Killarney to check in to your B&B on the first day, and then you will spend the next seven days trekking the beautiful trail and being engulfed in 10,000 years of Celtic history.
Some highlights of this trip include the Torc Waterfall, Killarney National Park, Kilcrohane Church, Ballinskelligs Bay and Inch Beach. You will stay in a different hotel every night, booked for you through this agency. All breakfasts, luggage transfers, and walking transfers are included. Experience the south-west coast of Ireland as your trek through this historic and glorious land.
More info:Â Abbey Travel
2. Wild Atlantic Way Tour – North (6 days)
Price: €1100
The Wild Atlantic Way Tour will take you from Galway up to Donegal, and will have you Stand-Up Paddling, kayaking, swimming and hiking your way around the Irish coast and countryside. You will hike the famous Famine Walk, cycle along The Great Western Greenway, SUP along Ireland’s Amazon, gawk at the Slieve League Cliffs and take a swim in Keem Bay.
The rich history and great scenery of Ireland will be at your disposal on this once-in-a-lifetime, adventure-filled trip.
More info:Â Extreme Ireland
3. The Connemara Experience (7 days)
Price: €1299
This seven-day adventure tour will take you through the heart of Ireland and into Connemara, a county filled with coves, bays, mountains, bogs, parks and lakes. You will bike the village of Roundstone, hike around Inisbofin Island, ride horses along Connemara’s beautiful countryside, hike up Mt. Mweelrea (Connemara’s highest mountain), kayak along Killary Fjord and take a walk through the Maumturk Mountains. Strap on your hiking boots and grab the family, because this is an opportunity you don’t want to miss!
More info:Â Extreme Ireland
4. Into the Wild — Trail Running (8 days)
Price: €1195
This tour is all about trail running through the coastal cliff trails of the Wild Atlantic Way. You will explore some of Ireland’s hidden beaches, breathtaking abbeys, stunning castles and run up historic mountains. You will run along Ireland’s most spectacular hidden trails, running up to 20km per day. Travelling through places such as Carrowteige, Strandhill, Knocknarea, Achill Island, Belleek woods, you will witness Ireland’s golden sand beaches, Queen Maeve’s grave, Slieve League cliffs, Belleek woods and so much more.
More info: Rachel’s Irish Adventures
5. Guided Cycling Tours — Rachel’s Irish Adventures (8 days)
Price: €1550
This cycling tour will give you a scenic week of biking through Connemara, Mayo, and Sligo, where you will see golden beaches, spectacular coastline, shining lakes, and magnificent mountains. You will be immersed in the Irish culture by stopping at local fishing ports, taking walks through sheep farms and listening to traditional Irish music in the country’s pubs.
Some highlights of this tour include Ireland’s holy mountain Croagh Patrick, Aasleagh Falls – Mayo’s iconic waterfall, the Great Western Greenway, the Ballycroy National Park, Belleek castle and Down Patrick Head. On top of cycling, there will also be a few guided walks and extra activities, including cooking lessons and whisky tastings.
More info: Rachel’s Irish Tours
6. Survival Training Wicklow — Adventure.ie (1 Day)
Adventure.ie, along with the Bushcraft School, is hosting a one day training course on how to survive in the wilderness. From lighting fires, navigating without a compass, wildness first aid, shelter construction, and communication, this crash course will teach you everything that you need to know to hang on in the wild.
Held in Laragh, Glendalough, right near the Wicklow Mountains, this course would be perfect for day trip before a long hike on the Wicklow Way for holiday.
More info: Adventure.ie
7. Family Adventure Package — Delphi Resort (5 Night)
Delphi Resort is offering a week-long, action-packed, family adventure package at their luxury resort in Galway. Delphi offers thrilling activities such as kayaking, canoeing, coasteering, mountain biking, climbing, raft building, obstacle courses, and more! You will get 5 nights in the hotel with a complete Irish breakfast each morning and a family adventure flexi-pass, which gives you a full day of included adventures. Push yourself out of your comfort zone and take your kids on the ride of their lives.
More info: Delphi Resort
8. Epic Ireland — Make Your Own Adventure
If you and a few friends are looking for your next epic adventure tour, but nothing seems to fit your fancy, Epic Ireland is open to suggestions! Pick your dates and choose how many days you’d like to spend in the West Coast of Ireland, and they will work with you to plan your days filled with various activities (such as caving, coasteering, canoeing, mountain biking, and surfing).
More info:Â Epic Ireland
By Bri Doherty
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