Compare Ireland Your Way: B&B Vacation by Great Value Vacations vs Walking Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way by Exodus Travels

Day 1 Welcome to Shannon!

Arrive at Shannon International Airport and pick up your rental car which you will have for the remainder of your vacation. Drive to your first destination in County Clare and settle into your hotel. Enjoy your first pint of Irish beer as you prepare for the next few days of sightseeing

Day 2 Ireland Bed & Breakfast

After breakfast, it's time to travel to your next destination. The remaining nights of your vacation will be spent at the Irish Bed & Breakfast of your choice! Be sure to book your stay prior to your departure date to ensure you are accommodated at your first choice Bed & Breakfast. Your local hosts can also help you with directions, or suggest different places to visit around their home!

Consider a visit to Galway, a city in Western Ireland bursting with culture and incredible coastal cuisine! Once a small fishing village, Galway has transformed into a vibrant metropolis with annual festivals, bohemian cafe culture, and colorful shop fronts. 

Day 3 Ireland Bed & Breakfast

From your B&B in Galway, make your way down south to County Clare, home to the rugged Cliffs of Moher. Encounter nature in its wildest, purest form as you drive along the Wild Atlantic Way to Ireland’s most spectacular natural wonder. 

On a clear day, you will be able to see the Aran Islands, Galway Bay, the Twelve Pins and the Maum Turk mountains in Connemara as well as the Dingle Peninsula and Blasket Islands in Kerr. 

After you've soaked in the beauty of the Cliffs of Moher, check into a B&B in Clare.

Day 4 Ireland Bed & Breakfast

Leave your B&B in the morning and drive to Bunratty Castle & Folk Park. Built in 1425, Bunratty Castle is the most complete and authentic medieval castle in Ireland. Explore 15th and 16th century furnishings, tapestries, and works of art that capture the mood of the times. Then get a taste of medieval life at Bunratty Folk Park, complete with a school, post office, doctors house, hardware shop, printers and pub!

From Bunratty, continue your drive south to Killarney. Check into a B&B then explore this lively city.

Day 5 Ireland Bed & Breakfast

Today, drive to the Ring of Kerry, a road taking you through 10,000 years of Irish history! On this 111-mile route, you will pass landmarks like Skellig Michael, Muckross House, Derrynane Beach, the stone forts of Cahergal & Leacanabuaile, and more. 

Once you've completed the circular route, check into a B&B near Kenmare and rest up for your next day of adventure. 

Day 6 Ireland Bed & Breakfast

In the morning, drive east to Blarney Castle near Cork. Explore the grounds of this famous medieval castle dating back to 1446 and don't forget to kiss the Blarney Stone, which is said to give each kisser the gift of eloquence. 

Then make your way to the city of Cork, considered Ireland's third city after Dublin and Belfast. Walk the compact city center and make stops at the English Market, St Fin Barre's Cathedral, and Cork City Gaol. 

Make your way toward Kilkenny for your final evening in Ireland.

Day 7 Depart Ireland

Say goodbye to Ireland as you drive to Dublin airport. Drop off your rental car then transfer to your departure gate for your flight home.

Day 1 Start Dublin; afternoon walking tour

We meet at the group hotel in Dublin at 3pm and then enjoy a guided walking tour of the city highlights plus many areas that are often missed. In the evening, the guide briefs the group on the week’s activities, before we enjoy a delicious evening meal in a local restaurant. Our hotel is not far from the city centre, so those who wish can explore the capital after dinner. Dublin is famous for its nightlife and many of the bars have live traditional Irish music. Accommodation: Ashling Hotel or The Hendrick Hotel (or similar)

Day 2 Transfer to County Kerry, hike Torc Mountain in Killarney National Park

We drive south (3hr 30min) to the hiker-loved town of Killarney in County Kerry. It sits on the edge of Killarney National Park, which has three beautiful lakes and the highest mountain range in Ireland. A treat for those who love the outdoors. Upon arrival in Killarney, we have time for lunch before a fabulous hike in the national park. Torc Mountain (1,755ft/535m) is steeped in history and mythology. As we hike to the summit, our guide brings those stories to life as we enjoy majestic views of the national park and the three lakes. Descending from the mountain, we pass the rushing Torc Waterfall before heading to the 19th-century estate house whose owners donated the land to enable the national park to be created in 1932. Enjoy a leisurely stroll around the gardens before transferring to our Killarney accommodation. Accommodation: Abbey Lodge (or similar)

Day 3 Walk the Ring of Kerry and learn the secrets of the coast with a specialist guide

Enjoy a scenic drive (1hr 30min) to the western tip of the Ring of Kerry and immerse in the idyllic landscapes around Derrynane National Park. Discover pristine beaches, lush woodlands, ancient abbey ruins and Daniel O’Connell, one of Ireland’s most prominent historic figures, who lived here. During our hike, we meet a local seaweed forager who takes the group for a seashore walk and introduces us to the secrets of the Derrynane Beach region. Following our hike, we continue our scenic drive around the Ring of Kerry with a few stops along the way before returning to Killarney in the late afternoon. Accommodation: Abbey Lodge (or similar)

Day 4 Take a boat ride through the three lakes of Killarney National Park and then hike the ancient woodlands

We take a magical boat ride (one hour) from the 15th-century Ross Castle, which sits on the shores of Lough Leane, through the three lakes of Killarney, providing a unique perspective of Killarney National Park. We depart the boat and hike through ancient woodlands to Galway’s Bridge, which spans the Galway River. From here, our hike takes us south, following an old route through the hills, which has been used for hundreds of years by people travelling on foot or driving animals to market. Enjoy views across the Beara Peninsula as we descend to the colourful heritage town of Kenmare. We then transfer back to Killarney, stopping along the way at the Killarney Brewing & Distillery company for a tour and tasting. It is the largest independently owned brewery, distillery and visitor centre in Ireland and is enveloped by the MacGillycuddy’s Reeks mountains and the Killarney lakes. Accommodation: Abbey Lodge (or similar)

Day 5 Transfer to County Clare; walk the Cliffs of Moher and take a boat ride along the coast

Day 6 Hike the largest of the Aran Islands: Inishmore

We walk to Doolin pier, where a one-hour ferry ride takes us to the largest of the Aran Islands, Inishmore. On reaching the island, a guide who grew up here joins us for a wonderful hike, on which we discover the glories of Inishmore. Following a lovely old trail, we are brought across limestone pavements to reach the fascinating coastal blowhole called Poll na bPeist (Serpents Lair). This natural tidal rock pool is a wonderful location to learn more about this ancient landscape. We continue our hike to reach the stone fortress of Dun Aonghasa, which is magnificently located at the top of a sheer stone cliff. We then hike the northern shores of the island to reach a seal sanctuary. With time to enjoy this coastline and visit some of the older churches, we complete our hike back at the harbour. We return to the mainland on the ferry in the late afternoon and walk to our accommodation in Doolin. Accommodation: The Lodge Doolin (or similar)

Day 7 Black Head trail hike

This morning, before our hike, we visit the ancient burial site of Poulnabrone Dolmen (transfer time: 30 minutes). Our guide explains how these pagan sites are intertwined with the Irish Christian history. We transfer (20 minutes) to the start of our walk, just south of Ballyvaughan village. From here, we follow a rural route – known locally as a green road – into the heart of the Black Head hills, with wonderful limestone pavements and stone walls all around. There are fantastic views over Galway Bay and the Aran Islands as we continue around Gleninagh Mountain. Finishing our walk in Fanore village, we are transported (20 minutes) back to our accommodation for our overnight and farewell dinner. Accommodation: The Lodge Doolin (or similar)

Day 8 End Doolin

Enjoy another delicious breakfast before starting your journey home. There is a group transfer back to Dublin, so if you wish to extend your stay in the capital please speak to your sales representative about booking extra nights.