Compare Wild West and North Tour by Overland Ireland vs 7 Day Connemara and Aran Islands by Hilltoptreks

Day 1: Sunday – Dublin to Belfast

Titanic Experience Belfast on your Wild West and North Tour of Ireland

We begin the first day of your adventure with a visit to the magical stone age passage tomb at Newgrange which is richly decorated by megalithic art. After exploring this Neolithic structure we will travel north to Belfast.

Next up this afternoon is the full Titanic experience at Titanic Belfast. This splendid interactive visitor centre was voted the world’s leading tourist attraction in 2016. Prepare to be moved by the wonderful stories told about the world’s most famous ship.

We will finish the day with an enthralling black cab tour of Belfast. This tour is optional but highly recommended. Alternatively, if you just need to take a breath and chill, you can spend some time exploring the city’s coolest pubs, shops and restaurants.

Total driving time: 2 hours 30 minutes

The Ultimate Tour of Ireland - Small Groups, Big Experiences on your Overland Ireland Ultimate Small Group Tour

Day 2: Monday – The Giant’s Causeway to Derry

Today will be both a test of mental strength and a celebration for your soul. The Giant’s Causeway is one of the most anticipated features of this tour and it never disappoints. The Causeway Coastal Route is breath-taking and while crossing Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge you will feel the exhilaration of the air beneath your feet while the anticipation builds.

Game of Thrones fans will have officially landed in their spiritual home as we take a sneak peak of one of its most famous filming locations, The Dark Hedges.

Our next stop is Londonderry, Northern Ireland’s second largest city, steeped in rich history. Explore the city by night and look forward to a tour of the walled city on day 3.

Total driving time: 3 hours

Carrick-a-Rede Bridge on your Wild West and North Tour of Ireland

Traditional Music Sessions and Local Craft Beers on your Ultimate Ireland Small Group Tour

Day 3: Tuesday – Derry to the Hills of Donegal

Londonderry on your Wild West and North Tour of Ireland

Before leaving Derry, let our friends take you on a walking tour of the city. Understand the struggles of our past and the long road to current peaceful times in the North.

Now it is time to venture into the wild northwest – The hills of Donegal. We continue our exploration of Northern Ireland and embark on a magnificent drive over the Glengesh Pass, on to Maghera Beach and by Assaranca Waterfall.

One of our highlights today will be the stunning views and a walk along one of the highest cliffs in Europe – Slieve League which stands over 600m above the Wild Atlantic Ocean. Our accommodation tonight is in the picturesque village of Ardara, County Donegal.

Total driving time: 3 hours 30 minutes

Comfortable Accommodation on your Overland Ireland Small Group Tour

Day 4: Wednesday – Westport to Connemara

Today’s road trip will take you through William Butler Yeat’s County – Sligo and down towards Ireland’s favourite town – Westport!

Our time in Westport begins with a wonderful walking tour of the town and a fabulous lunch to set yourself up for an unforgettable journey through Connemara National Park and the famous Famine Trail.

We will arrive at Kylemore Abbey in the heart of Connemara in the afternoon. You will have time to roam the abbey and Victorian Walled Garden on this 1000 acre estate overlooking Kylemore Lake and the majestic Connemara National Park.

Stay in Clifden and discover some great bars, restaurants and nightly music and have a chat with the locals over a pint of the Black Stuff!

This year we have added the option of staying in Ballynahinch Castle!

Total driving time: 4 hours

Experience Westport on your Wild West and North Tour of Ireland

Your Fully Guided Overland Ireland Small Group Tour Lets You Meet Friendly Locals

Day 5: Thursday – The Aran Islands

Aran Islands on your Wild West and North Tour of Ireland

After a short drive cross country to Rossaveal Pier on Galway Bay we take the ferry to the Aran Islands. We will land on rugged Inishmore, the largest of the three Aran Islands.

We explore the Island by bicycle or by special request jaunting. Our route will take in the stone fort of Dún Aonghasa, which lies 100m over the ocean before making our way back to the mainland. While you are there you might pick up a few words of “Gaelic” from the locals and maybe get an original Aran Sweater!

Our departure from Rossaveal is the start of our Galway adventure. We will hug the coastline into bustling bohemian Galway. Expect a great atmosphere, entertaining street performers and plenty of craic in this much celebrated town.

Total driving time: 2 hours

Its Your Holiday, Do It Your Way - Your Ultimate Ireland Small Group Tour

Day 6: Friday – Galway to Dublin

Galway is a city that has its Medieval history at its very heart.

Now that you have a “feel” for Galway, our guide will take you down the narrow medieval streets where you can duck in and out of brightly coloured shops.

Try on Claddagh Rings, Galway shawls and pass through The Spanish Arch to take in the famous Claddagh fishing village.

Transportation is provided with the GoBus, a direct bus from Galway to Dublin city centre or Dublin Airport in case you need to catch a flight home.

Total driving time: 2 hours 30 minutes

Day 1: Pick up and travel to Galway for onward travel by ferry from Rossaveal to Inish Mor.live irish music

Morning: Your adventure starts with a pickup in Dublin where you will meet your guide. Then it’s off to County Galway, where you will catch the ferry to Inis Mor. 

Afternoon; A short journey by sea and after settling into your accommodation we will take a walk from Kilronan to see a few of the many sites on the islands, such as Lub an Currach and Teampaill Chiarain.

Evening: After a long day of travelling and walking, we will all have dinner and relax in one of the local pubs or restaurants. Traditional music is available most evenings on the island and Inis Mor is famous for it.

Day 2: Full day walking Inish Mor; Lub an Cill Mhuirbhigh , Dún Aonghasa  and Poll na bPeist.

Overnight Inish Mor (Aran Island)

Walk: Easy - moderate Distance 16km, Ascent 180m

Morning & Afternoon; Inish Mor is well known for its monuments dating to Christian, pre Christian and Celtic times. You won’t go far without seeing something of historical interest.

Today after breakfast, we will start from Kilronan village, in the direction of Teampaill Chiarain, in the village of Mainistir (meaning monastery). It is said to have been founded by St Ciarán of Clonmacnoise in the 12th century, on the old site of Mainistir Chonnacht. Several cross-decorated slabs stand near the church.

We will pass a viewing poiAran Islands - Irelandnt for the seal colony on our way and Cill Mhuirbhigh Beach, a sandy beach located on the northern coast of Inishmore Island. This whole area is rich in habitats. Several rare plant species listed as endangered are found here and the birdlife is considered of international significance. You will see many ancient monuments today, the most impressive of which is to Dún Aonghasa, located at the top of 300ft cliffs.  The fort covers 14 acres and has a tri-vallate structure, meaning three concentric walls. The fort was inhabited as far back as approx 1,500. We take a slight detour on our return journey to Kilronan via The Worm Hole or Poll na peist, a really impressive structure cut out of the limestone slabs at the base of the cliffs.

Evening: Once back to our accommodation you will have some free time to possibly explore the craft shops and see the knitwear the Aran islands are famous for. Dinner and some music will end a fantastic day on Inis Mor.

Day 3: Morning ferry from Inish Mor to Rossaveal, Cycle in Connemara - Clifden

Overnight Clifden

Morning; After the journey by ferry from Inis Mor to Rossaveal we will travel to Clifden, where we will settle into our accommodation and have somcycling in Connemaraething light to eat. The journey from Rossaveal , is something to be savoured, taking in parts of the Wild atlantic Way and passing under the spectacular twelve bens Mountains.

Afternoon; After settling in and having a snack to keep you going, our cycle route from Clifden takes us across Roundstone bog, an area scoured by glaciers with hundreds of tiny lakes, and into Roundstone village. Roundstone village has the rugged, glacially sculpted backdrop of Errisbeg Mountain, and a visit to Connemara would not be complete without a visit to the harbour village of Roundstone.

South of the village the crescent-shaped beaches of Gurteen and Dog’s Bay and the beautiful headland between them, reminiscent of the Burren landscape, is a perfect place to stop and have a picnic lunch. After a well deserved rest and picnic at Dogs bay, the route leads us back to Clifden through Ballconeely, along the Wild Atlantic Way.

Evening; Clifden is a lively, traditional west of Ireland town. There are many options here for food, drink, miusic and dance. The town has a huge variety of craft shops also with many local traditional crafts for sale.

Day 4: Kayaking, SUP or Coasteering - Ballynakill Bay

Overnight Clifden

Morning; After a hkayaking in Connemaraearty Irish breakfast you will get to spend a half day Kayaking, stand up paddle boarding or coasteering from Bundouglas, a tiny golden beach on Ballynakill Bay. This headland is carved out with tiny inlets, rich in sea caves and sea stacks .This section of coast will give you the chance to explore them all, up close.

Afternoon / evening; Back on dry land again, we will make our way back to Clifden, along the edge of Streamstown Bay, along the Wild Atlantic Way, for a well deserved rest. A late lunch, and maybe even a few pints.  Clifden is famous for its seafood, so maybe some mussels or oysters and a pint of the black stuff would end a seafaring day on the right note.

Day 5: Inishboffin Island - Walk on white beaches

Overnight Inishboffin

Walk: easy Distance 8km, ascent 80 mDogs Bay - Connemara

Morning; A short drive to Cleggan from Leenane and we will catch the 11am ferry to Inishboffin.

Afternoon; After the short twenty minute ferry journey and settling into your accommodation on Inishboffin , we will do a walk of the Westquarter loop , which takes us along ancient bogroads and white gold beaches. This trail provides spectacular views south to Inishark and the Galway mainland and eventually joins the ‘Low’ road along Bofin Harbour. Along this trail you will have views of the Island’s blow holes and sea arch, sea stags where the Island seal colony can be seen, the Dún More Cliffs and Iron Age promontory fort ruins, picturesque Trá Gheal beach and famine road.

Evening; Inishboffin is world renowned for its traditional Irish music and there will be a choice of pubs to listen to music and possibly even dance.

Day 6: Full day walking Inishboffin; Cloonamore & Middlequarter Loop

Overnight Inishboffin

Walk easy - moderate Distance 12km, Ascent 200m

Morning & Afternoon; The Cloonamore Loop follows bog roads and along the beautiful East End Beach, visiting St Colman’s 14th Century Chapel and Church Lough. This is a very fertile valley sitable for reed beds and other vegetation, which in turn provide cover, food and nest sites for a huge variety of birds. Todays walk also goes over Inishbofin’s second highest point, which on a clear day offers panoramic views of Achill Island , Inishturk  Island and Clare Island, the Twelve Bens, the Maumturk Mountains and Croagh Patrick, the trail visits some of Inishbofin’s historic sites from the Iron and Bronze Age.

Afternoon /Evening;

The Blueway is a network of water trails at which you can to experience a variety of water based activities, including kayaking and snorkelling, in a safe controlled environment. These activities are not included in your tour but can be organised for the afternoon of your full day on Innishboffin. Walking near clifden connemara

Snorkel Trail.

The rocky coastline hosts a large variety of sea life including beadlet, anemones, starfish, limpet, mussels, barnacles, starfish, spider crabs and hermit crabs.

Kayak Trail

Inishbofin harbour is sheltered from most winds other those from the south west, however the inner harbour beyond the old pier remains sheltered at all times.  It is possible to land on the beaches to the east of the fort and also to loop back across the harbour, paying attention to boat movements in the area. This round trip is approx. 2 km in length. Your guide will be able to advise you on providers and perhaps even help you price and book activities.

Day 7: Ferry Inishboffin to Cleggan; 8.15am or 9am depending on day of week.

Depart for Dublin

Today unfortunately is our last day in the west of Ireland on this trip and we will make a stop as make their way back to Dublin.

Slan agus beannacht (Goodbye and blessings) You will be dropped back to Dublin.