Compare Walking Tour Southern Gem by Extreme Ireland vs Taste of Scotland & Ireland by Travel for All
Compare details and see what other travelers are saying.
| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 7 days | 10 days |
| Price From | $ 1,407 | $ 4,423 |
| Price Per Day | $ 201 | $ 442 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour | Self-guided tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Premium |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
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| Meals Included | N/A | N/A |
| Description |
Explore the Southern counties and for many some of the most beautiful and spectacular landscapes in Ireland on our Southern Gem 7 day walking tour. From the wild beauty of county Wicklow just south of the capital you will experience a monastic site like no other; complete with round tower and church from the 6th century. From there your tour will take you to one of the most magical places in Ireland, if not the world - the town of Dingle. Situated on the most south westerly point on the island, it really is a world away from everywhere. |
A taste of Scotland & Ireland will loop you from one beautiful country to another. You'll enjoy 4* accommodations and transportation with a private driver! |
Day 1: Wicklow Mountains & Glendalough Monastic Site
Accommodation: Laragh Village - Wicklow
Our Adventure Begins!
After leaving Dublin, you will travel through the Dublin/Wicklow Mountains, over the Sally Gap, and view Guinness Lake (where a member of the Guinness family lives). We will make our way to our guest house in Glendalough. Once we get booked in, we'll get our gear ready for our first walk! Glendalough is a majestic place, a previously important religious centre in ancient Ireland where St. Kevin resided and lived with his fellow Christians. It might have been a happy time here before the Vikings were marauding around their monasteries! After your walk, which is about three hours and brings you all around the valley, you will come back to relax at the guest house.
Highlight of the day: Visit the 6th Century Glendalough Monastic Site
Restaurant Suggestion: The Wicklow Heather Restauran
Day 2: Dingle Village & The South Pole Inn
Accommodation: Dingle Town
Today we will travel to the south west of Ireland to the kingdom of Kerry. En route we will stop in the cute Irish village of Adare before we head directly for Dingle. On our approach we will drive through Annascaul Village and make a stop for a quick drink in the South Pole Inn. This pub was owned by the great Anarctic explorer, Tom Crean, who was an important member of both the Scott and Shackleton South Pole expeditions. You can enjoy a drink here before your guide will stop at Beenbane beach and you can take the cliff walk into Dingle Village - a wonderful way to arrive to this magical little corner of Ireland!
Highlight of the day: Cliff walk into Dingle
Restaurant Suggestion: An Canteen
Day 3: Mount Brandon & Connors Pass
Accommodation: Dingle Town
Today we get ourselves ready for an amazing walk up Mount Brandon. On the way to the start of our trek, we will drive over the famous Conor Pass where you will enjoy amazing views of the Dingle Peninsula and Mt Brandon. From the top you can see down to the Blasket Islands on one side and all the way to Tralee on the other. It is one of the most scenic mountains in Ireland. This walk is not difficult and has an easy slope to the top. The summit is 1000m and should take no longer than 4 hours. After our great adventure, we will head back to Dingle and you will have the option to see, swim or kayak with Fungi, a wild dolphin that calls Dingle his home.
Highlight of the day: Climbing up Mt Brandon
Restaurant Suggestion : Walkers Bar & Restaurant
Day 4: Slea Head Walk
Accommodation: Dingle Town
Slea Head lies ahead of us today, a peninsula that the National Geographic has put in the top 10 drives in the world. I would put it in the top 3! We will meander slowly through the gorgeous fuchsia lined roads of Slea Head and follow the cliffs around to our view point of Great Blasket Island. There are more megalithic relics on this peninsula than on the rest of the island - it is an archaeologist’s heaven. Our walk is nice and easy today, with spectacular views out to the Atlantic and Dead Man’s Island. Right on Ireland's rugged west coast, this is the closest you can get to the United States from Europe. Your walk will finish in the village of Ballyferriter, a Gaeltacht area, where all the locals speak in Ireland’s native tongue.
Highlight of the day: Hike Slea Head
Restaurant Suggestion: The Chart House
Day 5: The Gap of Dunloe & Killarney National Park
Accommodation: Overnight : Killarney
Today you will experience one of the most beautiful walks you will find in all of Ireland through The Gap of Dunloe. The 'Gap' stretches through the highest mountain range in Ireland called the MacGuillicuddy Reeks. This spectacular glacial valley simply must be experienced to be fully appreciated. The walk will take you through the gap and you will finish on the far side. From there, a river boat will take you on an hour long boat ride through the lakes of Killarney finishing at Ross Castle a short walk from Killarney village.
Highlight of the day: The Gap of Dunloe & the lakes of Killarney
Restaurant Suggestion: Bricin Restaurant
Day 6: The Cliffs Of Moher Walk
Accommodation: Lahinch
We now make our way up the west coast and cross the river Shannon by ferry at Tarbert. The river Shannon is the spine of Ireland, dividing the land in two. It won’t be long before arriving in the Burren and getting to see the Cliffs of Moher. Heading just up the road, we may stop at Brigid’s Well before we get a start on our walk along the amazing Cliffs Of Moher. Living on the edge is fantastic but at these cliffs, it is advisable to stay away from the 214m high cliff edges. Enjoy the mesmerising scenery a safe distance from the edge and marvel at the rugged cliffs, views and the ocean below. This walk is truly amazing!
Highlight of the day: Cliffs Of Moher
Restaurant Suggestion: The Cornerstone
Day 7: The Burren Walk & Galway City
This morning we will walk through this karst limestone region that covers 250 square miles. Because limestone is one of the most permeable rocks, there are many subterranean caverns in the area. You can walk these rocky pavements and feel like you are walking on the moon! After leaving Lahinch early in the morning, we will follow the coast all the way to Galway. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end and with heavy hearts we will bid farewell to some wonderful friends made along this 'Southern Gem tour'. Until we meet again on our next Extreme Ireland Adventure!
Highlight of the day: Walk through The Burren
End of Services : Thank You!
Day 1: Arrive in Glasgow
Meet with your driver and transfer to the city, panoramic tour of Glasgow, Overnight Glasgow
Day 2: Scenic Scotland
Meet with your driver, scenic drive through Loch Lomond, Glencoe, followed by a Jacobite Loch Ness Cruise, Overnight Nairn.
Day 3: Edinburgh
Visit Blair Atholl Distillery, Pitlochry followed by a transfer to Edinburgh, private transfer to Scottish Evening, Overnight Edinburgh.
Day 4: Edinburgh
Day of sightseeing at leisure, visit Edinburgh Castle, Overnight Edinburgh.
Day 5: Dublin
Transfer to Cairn and board a ferry to Belfast, visit to Titanic Museum followed by a transfer to Dublin, Overnight Dublin.
Day 6: Dublin
Day at leisure followed by an evening canal cruise dinner, Overnight Dublin.
Day 7: Killarney
Visit Rock of Cashel, Blarney Castle, Overnight Killarney.
Day 8: Killarney
Day of sightseeing around Ring of Kerry, Overnight Killarney.
Day 9: Bunratty
Visit Cliffs of Moher followed by a Medieval castle banquet, Overnight Bunratty.
Day 10: Departure
Private transfer to Shannon Airport.
