Relish the artistry of a stone wall. The warmth of a wool sweater. The charm of a centuries-old footpath. The pleasure of an afternoon pint. The laughter of strangers. Discover that a beautiful day can be cloudy with a chance of rain. And that vacations don't need to be measured in tan lines. Find your bliss in Ireland.
Days 1-2 Take in Ireland’s spectacular natural beauty during country road rambles and coastal cliff walks | Hike along Caragh Lake with views of the striking glacier-carved Glencar Valley | From the top of aptly named Windy Gap, gaze at the inspiring panorama of Dingle Bay | Delight in the art of storytelling as a local seanachie spins enchanting tales.
Day 3 Our longtime friend and local guide Michael Murphy shares secrets of Muckross Estate, its ruined abbey and Torc Waterfall | Explore historic Killarney’s craft shops, boutiques and lively pubs | Stroll to 15th-century Ross Castle on the shore of Lower Lake and tour its restored tower.
Day 4 Alongside Michael Murphy, hike in wild Killarney National Park, with windswept mountains, deep lakes and gorges | Climb Torc Mountain for 360-degree views before arriving in charming Kenmare, where rows of houses sport cheerfully painted façades.
Days 5-6 On the rugged Beara Peninsula, trek over Mount Knockagarrane, taking in awe-inspiring views of lakes and mountains | The undeveloped Beara Peninsula probably looks today like it did to the ancient Celts | Join a private whiskey tasting with aficionado John Moriarty | Peaceful paths lead past old-growth trees and saltwater marshes to one of County Kerry’s largest stone circles, a Druid site dating from 2000 BC.
I loved it and fell in Love with Ireland and hope to come back again to visit. The added things like Gabriel singing a song to the visitors form Ohio was so special. Our guides Erin & Natalie were amazing. Mike Murphy was outstanding - the way he could tell a story explain history and get other hikers along the way to sing us a song is a true talent. I am still laughing at some of the things he said. The ending Irish dance was added treat.I still have a huge smile on my face when I look at the numerous pics I took. I think I have 1000 of sheep alone. LOL- Cincinnati, Oh
We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception. Read the Straight Talk
We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
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Accommodations may vary based on departure date. Any difference from what is listed below can be found by clicking on your desired date on the Dates & Prices tab.
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Enjoy the gracious hospitality of Mary and Frank Slattery at this restored Victorian gem—originally a hunting lodge—set on the world-renowned Ring of Kerry.
A handsome family-owned hotel, promising and delivering "warmth beyond the smile," in the heart of Killarney. (pool, spa)
It's just a short walk to the pubs and shops from this regal Victorian estate, nestled amid magnificent parkland on Kenmare Bay. A Relais & Châteaux member. (pool, spa)
There's no better way to find out about Backroads than by hearing it from the people who have traveled with us. For more about the Backroads Experience, read our Guest Testimonials.
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REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 10 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
100%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Reviewed by 10 customers
Displaying reviews 1-10
Comments about Ireland Walking & Hiking Tour:
I loved it and fell in Love with Ireland and hope to come back again to visit. The added things like Gabriel singing a song to the visitors form Ohio was so special. Our guides Erin & Natalie were amazing. Mike Murphy was outstanding - the way he could tell a story explain history and get other hikers along the way to sing us a song is a true talent. I am still laughing at some of the things he said. The ending Irish dance was added treat.
I still have a huge smile on my face when I look at the numerous pics I took. I think I have 1000 of sheep alone. LOL
Comments about Ireland Walking & Hiking Tour:
This trip was truly special. The food, guides, accommodations, hikes and people all exceeded my expectations!
Comments about Ireland Walking & Hiking Tour:
This was my 9th Backroads trip and it was an exceptional experience! Anyone who wants to truly experience the Irish culture and country side needs to go on this trip! In addition to the incredible accommodations, food and scenery, Backroads engaged several local partners to create a memorable experience. An Irish storyteller joined us one night before dinner and they arranged for a whiskey tasting on our last evening. The leaders coordinated a very special performance to cap off our entire trip-local Irish Dancers and folk singer! I'm already looking forward to planning my 10th trip!
Comments about Ireland Walking & Hiking Tour:
Every BR trip seems to get better and better. How is that possible!!!! This one in Ireland was just perfect due to a wonderful variety of routes, so many sheep and cows, outstanding guides (Mo and Chelsea), and the local leprachaun, Mike Murphy.
We especially loved the Carrig Country House, Torc Mountain, picnics, and the precious town of Kelmare.
Thx, Backroads...for a trip of a lifetime.
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
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Comments about Ireland Walking & Hiking Tour:
This trip exceeded expectations in so many ways. The guides were knowledgeable, attentive, and just fun to be around. Of course, Ireland is a fabulous destination any way you look at it. BackRoads made it even more spectacular by selecting premier inns that were more than comfortable- each also expressed the best of the local community and culture. Every detail is attended to, from transportation to food to entertainment, to daily activity at various levels. We will definitely explore other trips.
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
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Muckross Castle Tour
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Kenmare, Ring of Kerry
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Fun!
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Comments about Ireland Walking & Hiking Tour:
Our leaders were wonderful, food was great, hotels were all 5 stars!!!
Comments about Ireland Walking & Hiking Tour:
Leaders were outstanding and accommodations were lovely. Hiking was challenging enough because there were options that suited everyone's abilities. There was sufficient staff for such a large group -- we were 20- but it never felt too large. The group was primarily people over 60 but all were very fit. A great trio for fit seniors. Highly recommend it if you are interested in Ireland.
Comments about Ireland Walking & Hiking Tour:
I consider this trip to be exceptional, the magical and beautiful scenery, the history and the wonderful company of our group. Our informed guides were supportive and genuinely took the time to find out what was important to us. Their humour and overall friendly personalities made them a great team which certainly added to the overall fantastic experience.
Comments about Ireland Walking & Hiking Tour:
From the moment I landed in Cork, I was in awe! The beauty, the friendliness and helpfulness of the local people was just like everyone had told me I would experience in Ireland. Backroads had this trip of a lifetime so perfectly planned out, the accomodations , the food, the walking tours, our guides who could not do enough for us was a dream come true for me. They made sure your trip was all and more than you expected. The countryside and walking trails with the views, the history and yes even some goats was awesome.
Comments about Ireland Walking & Hiking Tour:
Our trip in Ireland was the trip a lifetime share with 7 friends. It was fabulous in every way and in every detail. The hikes were amazing, the food was wonderful, and the places we stay in were amazing. I loved it!
Displaying reviews 1-10
The earlier you book, the more choice you'll have and the lower your price. And you can always change your mind—you won't be charged to transfer to a different trip before your final payment is due.
Please click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.
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AVAILABLE TO BOOKi GOING FASTi CONTACT USi PRIVATE TRIP - RESERVEDi
Interested in a Private Trip? Check out the Make It Private tab for private dates available, or call us at 800-462-2848.
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next—and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
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| Daily Route Options | ||||||||||
| Day | EASYGOING | ACTIVE | AVID | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | ||||||
| miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | |
| 1 | 4* | 300 | 8 | 600 | ||||||
| 2 | 6 | 1200 | 10* | 2000 | ||||||
| 3 | 3* | 0 | 6* | 0 | ||||||
| 4 | 7* | 1500 | 13 | 2400 | ||||||
| 5 | 5* | 700 | 7 | 1400 | ||||||
| 6 | 2 | 0 | ||||||||
Note: The terrain on this trip includes a mix of level to rolling garden pathways, paved country lanes and peat-covered mountain trails, with some moderate climbs and descents.
* Includes shuttle.
Learn more about how we determine our activity levels and fully support a range of abilities and interests.
Please note that our distance and elevation figures come from Ride with GPS. Other sources (such as Map My Ride and Garmin devices) may give differing elevation figures due to different GPS and mapping technologies. Readings from a Garmin or a smart phone are influenced by other factors such as air pressure.
Only Backroads offers an Irish walking and hiking trip with an exclusive stay at Carrig Country House, set on the rugged shore of Lough Caragh. You're treated like family at this elegantly comfortable manor house – the perfect place to unwind after a day on the trail, and ideally situated for our hikes around the famed Ring of Kerry.
In Ireland you head off each morning after choosing among several expertly designed routes—all with detailed directions, mileage and shuttle options. Unlike trips with one fixed daily route (or worse, one guide that everyone's obliged to follow), you're free to enjoy the best of the region at your pace, stopping wherever you want to explore further.
Our Trip Leaders combine deep local expertise with a firm grasp of North American expectations around quality of service. By the same token, we pair experienced Backroads leaders with local guides who know how to cater to your needs while cracking open the culture or natural history in ways that are meaningful, memorable and often magical.
On this trip featuring Premiere Hotels, you can count on the best lodgings Ireland has to offer. In fact, the hotels we've chosen in this region have higher retail room rates than those offered by any other active travel company—even when their trips cost more.
We design and support our Ireland trips to suit mixed abilities and varied interests—so you can set your own pace, then change things up as the day unfolds. And all guests are free to do the same, traveling together or apart, with no one cramping anyone else's style. Which sounds easy in theory, but it's hard to pull off. Here's more on how we do it.
Under our Book with Confidence policy, your Backroads trip will run even for one or two people (or a family of three or four), subject to a nominal extra fee. Or transfer to another trip, and we'll give you a credit. It's all part of our trademark commitment to treating guests with integrity, transparency and total accountability. Read all the details.
Thanks to our extensive connections in Ireland, Backroads takes you off the beaten track and deep into the region's culture in ways that traditional travel can never hope to do. We know the people and their customs, the legacy of art and architecture, the complex history and politic—and if we're not sure, our amazing local experts can fill in the blanks.
Backroads has the best-qualified people to lead your trip in Ireland, and our guests back that up, rating our Trip Leaders an average of 9.75 out of 10 for all-around quality of performance. Get the facts (and no fluff) on how we recruit and develop the very best people for your trip.
Guests rave about our picnic spreads. Enjoy a welcome break in a scenic spot, or a quick refuel stop if you don't want to lose momentum. And because we have two vans, one can host lunch while the other is out providing support along the route.
Our Trip Leaders in Ireland live in the area and are deeply engaged in their communities, giving them unique inside knowledge they're happy to share in making your experience that much richer. They'll introduce you to people, customs and parts of town you'd likely never encounter on your own—and teach you a few local phrases to help break the ice.
For nearly four decades we've worked to earn and maintain our right to call Backroads the world's #1 active travel company. In pursuing that vision on behalf of our guests, we believe we've set the standard for our industry—captured in the Backroads Quality Guide, which clearly sets out the benchmarks of excellence, choice and support that we live by
Backroads has been welcoming active travelers to Europe since before the Berlin Wall came down. Today it's virtually our second home. We know the perfect roads and trails, the most scenic valleys and hilltop towns, the hidden churches and gem-like museums, the up-and-coming vintners and celebrated chefs—and, of course, all the best places to stay.
Tom Hale has been keeping Backroads on track, with one eye on the horizon, since 1979. His passion for active travel, and for ensuring the highest-quality travel experience, is evident in every detail we add to make a guest's trip unforgettable—and the fact he's right there in the office, making it happen. To hear Tom describe his vision, watch our video.
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Gather your favorite people to share a Backroads adventure on a ready-to-book Private Trip - featuring all the legendary Backroads hallmarks from expert leaders to unforgettable activities. You can pick from the selection of dates below for your group; some dates are only available for 16 or more guests while other dates are available for 8 or more guests. If your party has fewer than 8 guests, or your preferred date is not available, we'll create a departure just for you. Call or email us to reserve your date.
Click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.
8 AVAILABLE TO BOOK FOR 8 OR MORE GUESTS 16 AVAILABLE TO BOOK FOR 16 OR MORE GUESTS RESERVED
Don't see your ideal travel date? Make a Date! i
Invite your family and friends on an adventure that's entirely your own - for your group of 8 or more. Find out more
I simply can't imagine a better way to immerse yourself in the life of a region, to explore hidden corners and appreciate nuances while enjoying the benefits and enormous satisfaction of traveling under your own power. These are experiences you cannot have behind the wheel of a car, or on a train or a tour bus. Active travel is, at its heart, a way of connecting more authentically with the world. Sure, Backroads provides amazing leaders, superb accommodations and meals, and opportunities you could never arrange on your own. But all of our comprehensive planning and support is aimed at something far simpler: bringing you the immediate, highly personal satisfaction of discovering a new world on your own terms.
— Tom Hale, Founder & President
