Connemara Only ground transport Tours & Trip Packages

Connemara Only ground transport Tours & Trips

33 Connemara trips. Tours from 30 tour companies. 73 reviews. 4.7/5 avg rating.

15 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
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Only ground transport
Ireland: Galway & Connemara Coast
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4.9/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Group Tour
Why we love them
Their unique emphasis on immersive cultural experiences combined with active exploration with personalized cycling experiences.
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Extreme
Trip pace
Full schedule

Visits

Connemara, Cork, Dublin, Galway

Highlights

  • Delight in the lilt of an Irish brogue as a local expert leads you on a guided tour of The Burren.
  • Explore the medieval churches, Neolithic tombs, and sacred sites of Noughaval.
  • Marvel at the rugged and magical countryside of Connemara, whose mountains, lakes, and peat bogs have inspired poets for centuries.
  • View Kylemore Abbey, the oldest Benedictine abbey in Ireland.
  • Listen to crashing surf as you trace the coastline of the unspoiled, tranquil Renvyle Peninsula.

Themes

Cultural, Cycling & Biking, Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"This was the first organized tour my husband and I have ever joined, so we were not sure what to expect , but it turned out to be the best vacation we've ever had. The scenery and food were amazing. We stayed in beautiful hotels. Most of the riding was on paved bike paths so we hardly ever had to deal with car traffic. Our leaders, Andrea and Martin, were funny, informative , and so helpful. We are already planning to go back to Italy with VBT this summer."

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8 Day Independent Irish Spirit
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4.5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Self-Guided / Independent Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Dingle Peninsula, Dublin, Galway, Killarney National Park

Highlights

  • Explore Connemara, a region of unspoiled open scenery with misty mountains and sparkling lakes
  • Pleasant two-hight Stays in Killarney & Galway
  • Enjoy Independent Dublin tour
  • You have opportunity to create your own daily Itinerary
  • Visits Cobh Heritage Centre, Titanic Experience and Blarney Castle

Themes

50 plus, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"I waited 20 years for my dream trip to Scotland and Ireland and splurged $7000 on this tour. The second half of touring Ireland was great, the first portion in Scotland was horrendous. The tour guide for Scotland made sexual advances and inappropriate comments to me and I had to cautiously avoid him and stay with the group to not have any interaction with him. I also sustained an injury on the bus, caused by the driver, which I had to report to CIE myself. I filed a complaint with a CIE customer service manager when I returned and learned that another woman also filed a complaint regarding the tour guide (2 women from the same tour!) CIE has not responded from the initial report over a month ago and have DONE NOTHING!!! This sexual predator is still working as a tour guide for them which is a screaming indicator regarding the sexual harassment investigations and policy enforcement for this company. Beware if you are a single woman and are looking to book with CIE, there are better options and I strongly recommend you avoid this company!!"

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16 Day Scotland & Ireland
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3.7/5 Great
100+ reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Belfast, Connemara, Derry, Dublin, Edinburgh, Galway, Glasgow, Loch Ness, Stirling Castle

Highlights

  • View the Scottish Crown Jewels at Edinburgh Castle, perched high above the city Visit stately Scone Palace, ancient residence of Scottish kings where Charles II was crowned At a whisky distillery, learn the art of Scotch whisky making and enjoy a tasting Travel to Loch Ness, one of Scotland’s most storied sites, home of the Loch Ness monster Cruise on the "bonnie banks" of Loch Lomond, with gorgeous vistas of tranquil scenery Explore Glasgow's George Square with its impressive collection of statues and monuments Ferry to Belfast, one of Europe's true Renaissance cities Tour the interactive Titanic Experience Museum that reveals the story of the ill-fated ship Excursion to Connemara National Park, a wonderland of scenic mountains and grasslands Discover Galway, a seafaring town, now one of the fastest growing cities in Europe View the dramatic Cliffs of Moher, a wall of rock towering over the Atlantic Ocean A breathtaking day of magnificent vistas as you drive around the renowned "Ring of Kerry" At Blarney Castle, kiss the legendary Blarney Stone, promising you the "gift of gab" Enjoy spirited Dublin, with its thousand year history, immortalized by James Joyce †Transfers are available for purchase for land only or on alternative flight dates

Themes

50 plus, Cultural

What travelers are saying

"We have loved Gate 1 and always sing their praises. We've been on 7 tours with another one booked for fall. We were supposed to leave for Ecuador this week, however the country is in a 60 day state of emergency with the escape of 2 infamous gang members. Tourists are advised to stay indoors and there is a daily curfew from 11pm-5am. (our flight was to land at 11:15pm). Our trip included stays in 2 of the main cities of unrest. There have been shootings, car bombings, hostage taking, closing of embassies, and other countries issuing do not travel warnings. Other tour companies have cancelled tours or offered refunds or rescheduling. Travel insurance does not cover wars or civil unrest, but we are clearly afraid to go there. Both we and our travel agent have reached out multiple times with our concerns and asked if we could reschedule or get some sort of credit. We continue to get the same reply either in person or via email...Gate 1 has your safety as our highest priority and we feel you are safe ("they are not targeting tourists") and your itinerary should not be impacted. What? Their highest priority is $ and not our safety. There is no way that's the tour we anticipated. We cancelled the trip and took a 90% penalty, loss of deposit, and $276 airline penalty. It's a LOT of money, but we would have been terrified, and it's not worth getting hurt or worse. Sorry, but it's not the company I want to do business with in the future."

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16 Day Scotland & Ireland
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3.7/5 Great
100+ reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Belfast, Connemara, Derry, Dublin, Edinburgh, Galway, Glasgow, Loch Ness, Ring of Kerry, Stirling Castle

Highlights

  • View the Scottish Crown Jewels at Edinburgh Castle, perched high above the city Visit stately Scone Palace, ancient residence of Scottish kings where Charles II was crowned At a whisky distillery, learn the art of Scotch whisky making and enjoy a tasting Travel to Loch Ness, one of Scotland’s most storied sites, home of the Loch Ness monster Cruise on the "bonnie banks" of Loch Lomond, with gorgeous vistas of tranquil scenery Explore Glasgow's George Square with its impressive collection of statues and monuments Ferry to Belfast, one of Europe's true Renaissance cities Tour the interactive Titanic Experience Museum that reveals the story of the ill-fated ship Excursion to Connemara National Park, a wonderland of scenic mountains and grasslands Discover Galway, a seafaring town, now one of the fastest growing cities in Europe View the dramatic Cliffs of Moher, a wall of rock towering over the Atlantic Ocean A breathtaking day of magnificent vistas as you drive around the renowned "Ring of Kerry" At Blarney Castle, kiss the legendary Blarney Stone, promising you the "gift of gab" Enjoy spirited Dublin, with its thousand year history, immortalized by James Joyce †Transfers are available for purchase for land only or on alternative flight dates

Themes

50 plus, Cultural

What travelers are saying

"We have loved Gate 1 and always sing their praises. We've been on 7 tours with another one booked for fall. We were supposed to leave for Ecuador this week, however the country is in a 60 day state of emergency with the escape of 2 infamous gang members. Tourists are advised to stay indoors and there is a daily curfew from 11pm-5am. (our flight was to land at 11:15pm). Our trip included stays in 2 of the main cities of unrest. There have been shootings, car bombings, hostage taking, closing of embassies, and other countries issuing do not travel warnings. Other tour companies have cancelled tours or offered refunds or rescheduling. Travel insurance does not cover wars or civil unrest, but we are clearly afraid to go there. Both we and our travel agent have reached out multiple times with our concerns and asked if we could reschedule or get some sort of credit. We continue to get the same reply either in person or via email...Gate 1 has your safety as our highest priority and we feel you are safe ("they are not targeting tourists") and your itinerary should not be impacted. What? Their highest priority is $ and not our safety. There is no way that's the tour we anticipated. We cancelled the trip and took a 90% penalty, loss of deposit, and $276 airline penalty. It's a LOT of money, but we would have been terrified, and it's not worth getting hurt or worse. Sorry, but it's not the company I want to do business with in the future."

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Ireland
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5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Full schedule

Visits

Connemara, Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny

Highlights

  • Three Irish cities: Kilkenny, Galway, & Dublin
  • The picturesque fishing village of Howth
  • Hike Diamond Hill in Connemara National Park
  • Pints in a local pubs, listen to live Irish music and chat with the locals
  • Bike tour the medieval town of Kilkenny
Show more

Themes

18 - 30's, Cultural, Eco, Sustainable & Green Travel, Local Immersion & Homestays, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"I had an amazing time on the Costa Rica starter trip. This was my first time traveling solo and U30X was a great way for me to safely see another part of the world and meet new people. Our trip leaders were Adrian and Delphine; they were very knowledgeable and fun. It felt more like we were just hanging out with our friends who happened to know a lot about the country rather than following around tour guides."

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The Ultimate Tour
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5/5 Excellent
76 reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Belfast, Connemara, Cork, Derry, Dingle Peninsula, Dublin, Galway, Giant’s Causeway, Ring of Kerry

Highlights

  • Kiss the Blarney Stone and enjoy the splendid Ring of Kerry
  • Kayak with dolphins and Explore the mighty Cliffs of Moher
  • Enjoy Bohemian Galway and venture to the ancient Aran Islands
  • Learn about the history of the Troubles in Derry and Belfast
  • Giants Causeway, Dingle Peninsula, Killarney national Park

Themes

Culinary & Wine, Family Friendly, High Adventure, Hiking & Walking, Local Immersion & Homestays, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"My wife and I chose to the 10 day tour of Ireland for our Honeymoon and we had just the best time. We saw much of the small villages and some of the big cities with all the greenery and food in between. My favorite place personally was Galway with a great food and drink scene and a cute college-town vibe. The best tour definitely was Newgrange site which shows ancient tombs from 4000 years ago. Our tour guide Mark was amazing! He made the tour with interesting insights and knowledge of where ever we were going. He was always willing to accommodate requests from us for quick extra stops and sight seeing. Mark even went the extra mile planning a small party for my birthday on the tour as well. I cannot speak highly enough of Mark as a tour guide."

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Wild Atlantic Way Tour North
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5/5 Excellent
45 reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Connemara, Dublin, Galway

Highlights

  • Visit Galway and Dublin City
  • Discover Connemara
  • Visit Ballycroy National Park and Connemara National Park
  • Experience the nature in Cliffs Of Moher

Themes

National Parks, Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"We did a tour with them to Blarney Castle with a few other castle stops put in (Cashel Rock and Cahair) and it was wonderful! Great experience and we had the best guide ever, Jim. Jim was wonderful with a great sense of humor! Very knowledgeable, or at least blessed with the gift of gab. If you’re thinking about one of these tours do it! You’ll be glad you did, like me. We will definitely be booking another tour with them, especially with Jim!"

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Enchanting Ireland
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5/5 Excellent
50 reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Belfast, Connemara, Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny

Highlights

  • Dublin touring, including Trinity College and St. Patrick’s Cathedral
  • Magnificent natural scenery of counties Galway and Kerry: Cliffs of Moher, the Burren, Connemara
  • Irish sheepdog demonstration
  • Beautiful Kylemore Abbey
  • Dramatic Aran Islands
Show more

Themes

Cultural

What travelers are saying

"We just finished our Tanzanian Adventure tour to Tanzania and Zanzibar. It was a dream come true trip! On safari, our guide Augustine, was stellar, and our driver, Meshak was wonderful! The lodges on safari were wonderful, food excellent. The Breezes resort on Zanzibar was lovely and the Indian Ocean is sooooo warm! Thank you, Odyssey, for delivering on all counts!"

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15 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
My selections:
Only ground transport

Connemara Reviews & Ratings

4.7/5  Excellent
73  Reviews
See all Connemara tour reviews
Excellent
30
Great
10
Average
0
Disappointing
0
Terrible
1
B

Bradley

Oct 2017

Provided byTrafalgar

Castles and Manors

The tour was very well laid out

M

Mary

Oct 2017

Provided byTrafalgar

Castles and Manors

Loved the castles and manor tour.

D

Donald

Oct 2017

Provided byTrafalgar

Castles and Manors

Length of time on a bus between stops

M

Marianne

Oct 2017

Provided byTrafalgar

Castles and Manors

We wish there was more time in Killarney but we can always return to see it again. Some local gems felt rushed but every local guide answered questions and added gre...

E

Edward

Oct 2017

Provided byTrafalgar

Castles and Manors

Locations, Locations< Locations!

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Connemara Tour Selection Trips

  • Connemara, and Western Ireland, is typically experienced in one of two ways: either it is done in a couple of days, and a tour bus is used to make sure you make it to all of the key attractions, or it is experienced slowly over a longer trip, the “soak it in” approach. These two types of travel are very different so be sure to take your options into consideration when deciding on your Ireland tour.
  • While there are plenty of luxury accommodation options in Connemara, lower-end housing options can be very charming and are sometimes even preferred by travelers. If you stay at a local B&B, for example, your host will likely be a local and be able to tell you about the area, and maybe even teach you a few words in Irish Gaelic!
  • If you prefer outdoors activity and like to fully embrace the natural landscape you are traveling to, consider going on a cycling tour or even a hiking themed tour.

Additional details

Weather in Connemara

Connemara is located in Western Ireland, and as a result its weather patterns are usually similar to the rest of the region. Weather in Connemara never gets too hot or too cold, with summer temperatures maxing out in the mid-70’s, and winter temperatures only dropping below freezing some nights, and usually staying above it during the day. No matter the season, weather in Western Ireland is always unpredictable, and can be rainy, so you’re always better off packing layers and being prepared for anything.

The main difference between winter and summer is sunlight. In the dead of summer, Connemara can receive more than 18 hours of sunlight. In the heart of winter, some days can have less than eight hours a day. For these reasons, summer is the most popular time to visit Connemara, and its the best time to visit. Connemara is not heavily populated by tourists, and as a result, you don’t have to worry about fighting off crowds at any time of year.

What is Connemara Whiskey?

Like in most of Ireland, visiting Connemara will not deprive you of good whiskey. However, there aren’t actually any distilleries in Connemara. If you have heard of Connemara whiskey, you are perhaps thinking of the whiskey brand Connemara.

“Connemara” the name of a whiskey brand brewed by Kilbeggan Distillery (and in their own words, the most decorated Irish whiskey of all time).

Best Hikes in Connemara

Oscar Wilde once described Connemara as a “wild and mountainous place,” and this description has not changed today. Connemara’s diversity of terrain and lack of development makes it a great place to go hiking and explore the Irish wilderness. Here are some of the top hikes to go on when in Connemara:

  • Omey Island Walk. This island is made even more interesting to visit by the fact that it’s a tidal island, and can only be accessed certain times of the day. On your 2-hour walk, you will see beautiful sea cliffs, early Christian monastic sites, pristine beaches, and a series of abandoned farms from when the island was home to a large population in the 19th century. 
  • Ballynahinch Estate. This trail takes place inland, and showcases some of Connemara’s beautiful forest, lakes, and rivers. With multiple trails and clear signage, you can decide how long you plan to walk for -- and how long you intend to visit the impressive Ballynahinch Castle (now a high end hotel which you can stay at on a Connemara luxury tour) for!
  • Sky Road Walk. This walk can take up to two hours, but is still quite physically easy. The Sky Road walk affords beautiful views of the city of Clifden on sunny days, and takes you past the John D’Arcy monument. It will also take you by the ruins of Clifden Castle, and along the rocky shores of Clifden beach.  
  • Bog Road. This path will take you past the acclaimed Roundstone Bog conservation area, so you can see Ireland’s famous marshland up close and personal. Not only will you get scenic nature views on this hike, but you will also get to pass through several cute towns, including Roundstone, where the traditional Irish goatskin drum is made.

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