Explore the Rugged Beauty of the Ireland with Boundless Journeys

You will meet the group in Dublin today and enjoy a group lunch together where you will get to know your guides and fellow adventurers a little better before leaving the city. After lunch we embark on a two and a half hour drive, heading west through the centre of Ireland.

Along the way we will stop in the heart of Ireland's rolling green midlands at the Hill of Uisneach, one of Ireland's ancient royal sites. Here you will learn a little of Ireland's mythology and history, courtesy of a local historian, that will help to set the scene for travels ahead.

Onwards to Sligo where you will join the group for our first dinner together. As you savor a delicious meal in one of Sligo's fantastic restaurants, you'll have the opportunity to bond with your fellow adventurers, building camaraderie for the exciting journey ahead.

Accommodations

Sligo City Hotel
Sligo, Ireland

Ideally situated in the city centre of Sligo, the Sligo City Hotel offers 61 newly renovated rooms next to the city’s famous O’Connell Street, which offers extensive shopping, riverside restaurants and cosy bars.

Sligo's landscapes have provided inspiration to generations of writers and artists and today's destination is one of the most iconic landmarks in the region. Ben Bulben cuts an impressive silhouette on the horizon and it's here we will head on our hike today, passing the ruins of old farming huts along the way.

Reaching the flat summit, you'll be rewarded with awe-inspiring panoramic views that stretch across the picturesque countryside and the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean. Strandhill, nestled along the Irish coast, is a premier surf destination boasting a charming seaside village atmosphere and breathtaking ocean view is where we will spend this evening. You will have the opportunity to enjoy dinner on your own before heading back to town.

Accommodations

Sligo City Hotel
Sligo, Ireland

Ideally situated in the city centre of Sligo, the Sligo City Hotel offers 61 newly renovated rooms next to the city’s famous O’Connell Street, which offers extensive shopping, riverside restaurants and cosy bars.

Oscar Wilde described Connemara as 'a savage beauty' and heading south for today's hike, it's easy to understand why.

Granite peaks give way to heathery bogland and wild valleys open out to sea vistas. Today's hike starts in Connemara National Park and takes in the best that the landscape has to offer. Along the way your guide will introduce you to the flora of the blanket bog ecosystem that characterises this part of Ireland's west coast.

We will stop at a local sheep farm to watch the sheepdogs at work and learn a little about farming life on Ireland's west coast. You will spend this evening in a country house hotel nestled amidst the enchanting landscapes of Connemara, enjoying a captivating ambiance of refined beauty and warm hospitality.

After dinner, those who wish can seek out any of a number of "trad" music sessions taking place nearby. In Dingle, it is still common for talented musicians to spend their evenings playing together in a local pub, and it is delightful to witness this Irish tradition.

Accommodations

Rosleaggue Manor
Connemara, Ireland

Resting on the quiet shores of Ballinakill Bay on its own private woodland, Rosleague Manor in Connemara has been discreetly converted in to a first class hotel with 19th Century charm and character intact.

This morning we will meet a historian and traditional musician in Galway where your introduction to the city will be by way of his local knowledge. Galway City is a vibrant and cultural hub on Ireland's west coast that captivates visitors with its colorful streets, lively atmosphere, rich history, and an abundance of arts, music, and culinary delights.

You will have the chance to browse the galleries and boutiques that line the colorful cobblestone streets of the city before continuing our journey southwards. Here we will enjoy an afternoon hike on the iconic Cliffs of Moher.

The Cliffs of Moher are a majestic natural wonder on the western coast of Ireland, that showcase dramatic cliffs plunging into the Atlantic Ocean, offering awe-inspiring vistas and a breathtaking experience of raw, coastal beauty. Away from the visitor center crowds your guide will introduce you to the many nesting seabirds that inhabit the sheer rock face.

Accommodations

The Doolin Inn
Doolin, Ireland

Resting on the quiet shores of Ballinakill Bay on its own private woodland, Rosleague Manor in Connemara has been discreetly converted in to a first class hotel with 19th Century charm and character intact.

The Burren region is geologically unique, formed by glacial actions millions of years ago the exposed limestone that characterizes the region hosts an incredible array of wildflowers, including dozens of species of orchids. Millennia of human interaction with the landscape cultivate optimal growing conditions for the unique flora of the region.

We will meet with The Burren Beo Trust, a charity working tirelessly to conserve and protect the unique landscape of the Burren region in Ireland while promoting sustainable farming practices and fostering community engagement and appreciation for its natural heritage.

Next, we will hike near the hill of Slieve Carran, in the Burren's otherworldly limestone terrain, encountering diverse flora, captivating rock formations, and breathtaking vistas of the surrounding landscape.

Accommodations

The Doolin Inn
Doolin, Ireland

Resting on the quiet shores of Ballinakill Bay on its own private woodland, Rosleague Manor in Connemara has been discreetly converted in to a first class hotel with 19th Century charm and character intact.

This morning we continue our adventure along the Wild Atlantic Way. We will head to Ireland's westernmost peninsula, The Dingle Peninsula where our first hike will start from one of Ireland's highest mountain passes, The Conor Pass, offering incredible views of the surrounding countryside, mountains and corrie lakes as well as Atlantic islands.

Our home for the next two nights is Dingle town, a charming coastal settlement in Ireland's Dingle Peninsula, known for its vibrant atmosphere, colorful streets, traditional music scene, and picturesque waterfront. This evening offers another opportunity to explore the pubs and traditional music scene of Ireland in Dingle town where some of the country's best musicians play.

Accommodations

Benners Hotel
Dingle, Ireland

Centrally located on the main street in the colorful town of Dingle, Benners offers traditional Irish warmth and comfort, coupled with modern facilities.  Relax in Mrs. Benner’s bar, and sample the best in Irish cuisine. Afterwards, retire to the comfort of your well-appointed guestroom, or enjoy the lively atmosphere in town. Benners reflects the history and uniqueness of this special part of Ireland.

Today we'll explore the narrow sheep paths that weave across the largest of the Blasket Islands, the Great Blasket. We will head out on a small boat from the picturesque Dunquin Pier and spend the day exploring this small island.

Inhabited until the 1950s by a community who left behind a strong literary legacy, today the islands are eerily silent, with abandoned cottages still huddled on the island's slopes. The Blasket Islands have a rich literary heritage, as the community that inhabited the islands until the 1950s left behind a remarkable legacy of Irish-language literature, including memoirs, novels, and poetry that capture the unique island life, language, and folklore of the Blaskets. The islands are home to a myriad of seabirds, and whales, dolphins and seals are regular maritime visitors.
This evening, we will dine at Manning's Emporium, a founder of the "Slow Food" movement, where they specialize in locally-produced and grown artisan meats and cheeses.

Accommodations

Benners Hotel
Dingle, Ireland

Centrally located on the main street in the colorful town of Dingle, Benners offers traditional Irish warmth and comfort, coupled with modern facilities.  Relax in Mrs. Benner’s bar, and sample the best in Irish cuisine. Afterwards, retire to the comfort of your well-appointed guestroom, or enjoy the lively atmosphere in town. Benners reflects the history and uniqueness of this special part of Ireland.

We leave Dingle behind this morning, heading into Kerry's interior and yet another of this region's lovely peninsulas. Boating out on the Lakes of Killarney today, you will get a view of some of Ireland's highest peaks from the water.

We will have the opportunity to explore Ross Castle, a medieval tower house overlooking the lakeshore before hiking a section of The Kerry Way long distance trail. From Muckross House, we follow the trail past a tumbling waterfall and into the hills, taking in the lush, leafy valleys of Ireland's oldest National Park and the heathery open expanse of the foothills of the Macgillycuddy Reeks mountain range.

Accommodations

Killarney International Hotel
Killarney, Ireland

Nestled in the heart of the old town, with a location just moments from Killarney National Park, the 4-star International Hotel Killarney has been welcoming guests with our blend of traditional hospitality and comfort for more than a century. It is one of the best family-owned hotels in Killarney.

For a last blast of Atlantic air we head into the southern part of the Iveragh Peninsula, also known as the Ring of Kerry. Here we leave the main tourist track behind, the landscape becoming increasingly wild and windswept and head into the Skellig Ring for a cliff top hike on a remote peninsula.

Experience the rugged beauty of Kerry's coastline on a captivating coastal hike, where dramatic cliffs meet the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean.The silhouette of the majestic Skellig Islands will be our constant companion as we walk. We will enjoy a final night celebratory dinner in town this evening where we will celebrate our time together with a final pint of Guinness.

Accommodations

Killarney International Hotel
Killarney, Ireland

Nestled in the heart of the old town, with a location just moments from Killarney National Park, the 4-star International Hotel Killarney has been welcoming guests with our blend of traditional hospitality and comfort for more than a century. It is one of the best family-owned hotels in Killarney.

After breakfast this morning we will transfer back to Dublin, stopping en route at The Rock of Cashel. The Rock of Cashel is a historic site perched atop a limestone outcrop, showcasing a magnificent collection of medieval buildings, including a striking Gothic cathedral and a round tower. Its dramatic silhouette against the Irish sky and its rich architectural heritage make it an iconic and awe-inspiring landmark.. We will have lunch in its shadow before making our way back to Dublin by mid-afternoon.