IRELAND 8 DAY TOUR

Duration: 8 days Cost: $3350 USD (plus 5% GST)

Join Into the Wild for an incredible adventure along the backroads of Ireland. From wild coastlines and majestic mountains to quaint Irish towns & villages, we will pedal through some of the most spectacular and diverse landscapes our little island has to offer. Experience this beautiful country along with it’s stories and songs with your knowledgeable and local guides, Paul and James. Meet the friendly locals and discover a land alive in history and culture. This eight-day tour has been carefully crafted to ensure visitors get a true taste of Ireland’s richness. Join the team at Into The Wild on a cycle that is cultural, adventurous, and totally unforgettable. Please note, for any of our more ambitious riders, we can add extra km's to any of scheduled day rides for you to enjoy!

Our guided Ireland cycling tour is an all-inclusive package and includes;
accommodation, snacks, dining out, transportation, bike rentals, scheduled activities and professional tour guides & drivers. (excluding alcohol and 1 dinner/lunch in Galway/Doolin city during scheduled free time.

Day 1: Dublin to Wickow (55 KM)

Céad míle fáilte - A hundred thousand welcomes! On our first morning, we will collect guests from Dublin city centre and begin our Irish adventure. From the city, we head out into the mountains and ride along quiet country roads surrounding Wicklow Mountains National Park. We begin our ride at Lough Tay, also known as Guinness Lake due to the dark peaty water and white sand, which create a striking similarity to a pint of Guinness. We will follow the Old Military Road over the Sally Gap and down into Bohernabreena. The views along this portion are simply stunning, the quintessential postcard Ireland! Admire the heather hills, bog and heathland as we cycle through the gentle rolling hills. At the top of the hill, we will stop for lunch at The Armoury Cafe and refuel the bodies for the second half of the bike ride. Following lunch, we will continue through the Wicklow hills finishing up in the valley of Glen of the Downs for our evening’s accommodation. That evening we have an incredible night’s entertainment and dinning planned at Johnny Foxes, the highest pub in Ireland. We will be treated to a good hearty meal along with traditional songs and dance or a céilí (Kaylee) as we say in Gaelic.

Day 2: Maynooth to Mullingar (56 KM)

Today we will follow the Royal Canal Greenway and cycle from Maynooth to Mullingar on this beautifully flat and picturesque route connecting the two communities. The green-way is a 3-metre-wide, dedicated cycling and walking trail, providing a safe route free from vehicular traffic for the entire day. We will be treated with views along the Royal Canal ranging from small country farms, rich woodlands, working locks and historic landmarks to vibrant and colorful towns. This 200-year-old path offers guests a relaxing ride in the countryside free from any car traffic. We will stop for lunch at Nanny Quinns Public house for a quick bite to eat, located right on the canal. Following lunch, we will jump back on the trail and onwards to our final destination of Bloomfield House Hotel on the outskirts of Mullingar. Tonight, we will enjoy dinner at the hotel, allowing guests to take in the lovely facilities and magnificent views of Lough Ennel

Day 3: Mullingar to Athlone (61 KM)

From Mullingar we continue our journey westward and into the heart of Ireland, the bustling town of Athlone. Today's bike ride will be along the old rail trail from Mullingar to Athlone. This trail is a converted stretch of the Midlands Great Western Railway, carved through rich and fertile farmland. We will pass through many areas of unique biodiversity and heritage along the way. In Moat, we will stop for lunch at a popular local cafe favored by locals and visitors alike. Following lunch, we will jump back on our trusty bikes and head towards Athlone, the final stop on todays cycle. Here we will stop off for a customary pint of Guinness at Sean's Bar, the oldest bars in Ireland dating back over 1000 years. Next, we will take a short vehicle transfer to the west coast of Ireland and the vibrant town of Doolin, the traditional music capital of Ireland! The west of Ireland is a magical place, an area where traditional Irish culture, music and language is still very much alive. Tonight, and tomorrow night's accommodation will be in a quaint B&B in town. Without a doubt guests will enjoy a seisiún ceol (music session) tonight with a pint or two of Guinness.

Day 4: Doolin & Burren cycling loop (60km)

Today’s cycle will incorporate the best of West Clare on quiet country roads and boreens, (small country lanes). We will bike a figure of eight loop from Doolin and out into the Burren, stopping off at some of the local highlights. Our cycle will offer wonderful views of the local countryside as well as stunning coastal panoramas. In the morning, we will visit the mighty Cliffs of Moher that rise over 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean. Here guests can explore the site and take in the spectacular coastal views and heritage sites. Afterwards we will bike along an ancient boreen, and through the peat bogs. Here you will see how the locals cut turf, the same way they have been for thousands of years to heat their homes in the cold winter months. Following lunch, we will bike out to the Burren National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The craggy terrain of the Burren in County Clare is almost lunar in its appearance, the cracked grey limestone stretches far across the horizon. Despite its barren appearance, the Burren is home to 70% of Ireland’s native plant species. - In the evening, we will enjoy dinner in town with more opportunities to catch traditional music in the local pubs.

Day 5: Doolin to Galway

Today we will take a well-deserved break from the bikes and each other haha! Guests can enjoy a day at their own leisure and choose to march to the beat of their own drum. There are several opportunities to explore today so please feel free to enjoy what you would like to do.

• Explore the sights of Galway City on foot or bike (if your heart desires).

• Play a round of Golf at The Galway Bay Golf Resort

• A day Trip to the Aran Islands. Please note that visiting the Islands is a full day venture and will leave you with little time to do anything else that day.

  In Galway, you can wander through the city’s cobblestoned streets and feel yourself stepping back in time. Sit back on the front-row seats of a local restaurant or cafe and observe buskers entertain the masses.

  Enjoy a round of golf at Galway Bay Golf Resort, regarded among the very best golf courses in Ireland. The course has been masterfully designed with a stunning backdrop of Galway Bay and the rugged curves of the Atlantic coastline. (Course fees & club hire not included)

  Take the ferry to Inishmore, one of the Aran Islands, and enjoy a day riding around the island. Visit the ancient cliff-top fort of Dun Aenghus or the medieval Christian ruins scattered throughout the island. Tonight’s accommodation will be in Galway, allowing guests an opportunity to experience the city at night and enjoy a meal or drink in a local bar on their own schedule.

Day 6: Galway to Westport (65 KM)

We will continue our journey North, into the vast expanse of Connemara National Park. Today’s cycle will take us through some truly stunning scenery at Lough Inagh, Roundstone Bog, Clifden and the Sky Road. One can appreciate the majestic mountains, bogland, lakes and wild coastline. We begin our ride at Lough Inagh, a glacial lake located in the stunning Inagh Valley, nestled between the Maumturk and The Twelve Ben Mountains in the heart of Connemara. We take the road south into the Roundstone Bog, one of Ireland’s last great wild and natural areas. For lunch we will stop at Ballynahinch Castle and enjoy the beautiful grounds for a while. We then follow the rolling hills of the famous Bog Road back into the picturesque town of Clifden, the “Capital of Conemara“ for a quick rest stop before heading out on one the best cycling routes in Ireland, Sky Road on the Wild Atlantic Way. This is one of the most celebrated cycling routes in Ireland. Overlooking Clifden Bay to the South and Streamstown Bay to the North, this route rises more than 150 meters above sea level and has spectacular views of the Atlantic, the islands of Inishturk. En route to Westport, we will visit Kylemore Abbey, a Benedictine monastery founded in 1920 on the grounds of Kylemore Castle. Here we explore the grounds & enjoy one of their famous scones with a cup of tea or coffee of choice. Tonight’s accommodation will be in the colourful and bustling town of Westport, County Mayo.

Day 7 - Westport to Achil Island (45 km)

Overlooking Clew Bay, the seaside town of Westport is situated in the shadow of the famous Croagh Patrick mountain. Following breakfast, guests will have some free time to explore the town on their own or take a stroll down the beautiful tree lined boulevard known as The Mall, running parallel to the Carrowbeg River. Today’s bike along the Great Western Greenway is outstanding. The tranquil 42Km route from Westport to Achill Island is the longest walking and cycling trail in Ireland. The vehicle free route offers gentle gradients and some of the most idyllic scenery in the West of Ireland. We pass through the great towns of Newport and Mulranny along the coast of the picturesque and unique Clew Bay. We will stop for lunch at the pretty village of Mulranny and rest for a while in the fresh Atlantic breeze. We re-join the Great Western Greenway in the direction of Achill Island, the largest island in Ireland. Guests can marvel at Achill Island’s lofty peaks and breathtaking beaches, a paradise on Earth to those who visit. If you’re brave enough, why not jump into the refreshing Atlantic waters to rejuvenate the soul! Guests will have the option to continue riding along a quiet country coast road back to Mulranny or take some extra time to relax and explore Achill Island. Following the bike ride we will begin our journey east again in the direction of Dublin. Tonight’s accommodation will be in Mullingar, where we will celebrate our final evening together with a delicious meal

Day 8 Mullingar to Dublin (25km)

On our final day we start to make our way back to Dublin to conclude our epic adventure in Ireland. A later start to the morning allows guests time to enjoy a late breakfast or the spa facilities at the hotel. Our last ride together will be along the Royal Canal Way. Dating back to the late 1700’s, the Royal Canal connects Dublin to the River Shannon in the west. For a period, it was one of the main thoroughfares for passengers and freight traveling East and West. Today the tow paths of the Royal Canal have been converted into cycle ways and offer visitors a unique opportunity to ride through the Irish countryside uninterrupted by passing vehicle traffic. Lunch will be served at a wonderful little pub on the banks of the canal before we set off on our final stretch into the capital, Dublin. We will leave the tranquillity of the countryside behind and enter the bustling city of Dublin. After a fantastic week traveling through the backroads of Ireland, our trip must come to an end. We will say our goodbyes to each other and hopefully meet again for another adventure Into The Wild…..

Tour Dates 2023

June 11th to June 18th (4 places remaining)

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September 13th to 20th (Please email for enquiries - info@intothewild.ca)