Trip created by Patricia Doe
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Region: West – Connemara, Burren & Aran Islands
Trip Type: Biking
Comfort: Classic
Confirmed: When 3 Traveller(s) Book
Deposit From €550.00
Difficulty:
All you need to know about your trip, this essential document is a must for all adventures.
Download ItineraryFollow the wild Atlantic coast to explore Connemara’s quiet moors, hop from one Aran Island to another before heading to the Cliffs of Moher biking the ‘secret’ way to the famous cliffs.
Imagine biking through the dramatic windswept boglands of Connemara on a mountainous backdrop, the steep cliffs of the Aran Islands, the lunar-like limestone landscape of the Burren and the white sand beaches of Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way.
Remote and wild, Ireland’s west coast has its own distinct culture and traditions – places like the Aran Islands are the last holdouts of the Irish Gaelic language. The Burren is one of Ireland’s most intriguing natural phenomenon. On your Connemara and Cliffs of Moher biking trip, hop from coast to island to explore a landscape infused with the folklore, traditions, charm and spirit of the people by bike.
Get the best of both worlds: Avoid the crowds by visiting these beautiful and iconic places on two wheels. This intermediate level trip is a perfect fit for your first-time bike tour in Ireland.*
*This itinerary is subject to changes and improvements for 2019 departures.
Need a bike? See our bike rental page for details.
After meeting in Galway, a short transfer takes us to Clifden, a small and charming village in the heart of Connemara. We’ll start with a warm-up ride along the aptly-named Sky Road. Enjoy rewarding, bird’s eye views over the spectacular Connemara coastline before returning to Clifden for a hearty Irish dinner. (L,D)
Distance: 16 km/10 miles
We begin our day at a local sheep farmer’s place in northern Connemara where we watch his talented dogs round up sheep against a backdrop of the northern Connemara wilderness. After, we enjoy another classic ride through Connemara today: a loop route around the wild Twelve Bens mountain range in Connemara National Park. Today, we’ll visit iconic landmarks like the elegant Kylemore Abby, following the wild shores of Lough Inagh. Dine at a traditional fishing lodge before biking the undulating ‘Bog Road’ that sweeps through Connemara’s lowlands. (B, L,D)
Distance: 4o km/25 miles
A bike route around Connemara’s most picturesque coastline awaits as we pedal along the beautiful Coral Beach and Dog’s Bay and into the wee fishing village of Roundstone. Stretch your legs with a stroll around Roundstone’s lovely centre before hopping on to a ferry across Galway Bay to Inis Mór. The largest of the Aran Islands, Inis Mór will be our cosy island retreat for the next two nights. Leaving our road bikes on the mainlands, we’ll pick up rental bikes once on Inis Mór – ideal for tackling the rough island roads. (B,L,D)
Distance: 23 km/14 miles
Waking up in our quaint island home, we hop on our bikes to visit the impressive Dun Aonghasa fort, balanced precariously on the edge of a sheer sea-cliff. On the southwest edge of the island, those with a head for heights can descend onto a limestone shelf edge of the island to view the worm-hole, an enormous rectangular blow-hole where the Red Bull World Cliff Diving Championship was recently held. After lunch, we have free time to explore the fascinating Inis Mór island by bike or on foot, perhaps digging deeper into its history or learning a bit of Gaelic from a local in an island pub. Sláinte! (B,L,D)
Distance: 28 km/17 miles
Returning to the mainland at Doolin village, our first stop is the famous Cliffs of Moher, following a narrow hiking trail along the clifftops to gaze out across the Atlantic and the Aran Islands. Back on our bikes, we set out on a beautiful coastal route. On the edge of the Burren region, the road zips through beautiful craggy terrain, sloping into the wild Atlantic. Feel the fresh, salty breeze off the ocean and listen to the tune of crashing waves below as you bike along this scenic headland. (B, L,D)
Distance: 18 km/11 miles
The lesser-known Burren National Park is the jewel in the crown of West Ireland. The otherworldly exposed limestone landscape contains a fascinating mix of wildflowers, wildlife, geology and ancient tombs. We’ll bike some short climbs and rolling terrain full of history and folklore as we pass sights such as Poulnabrone Dolmen, an enormous megalithic monument and tomb. We save the best for last: descending aptly-named Corkscrew Hill back to Ballyvaughan. This twisting descent provides panoramic views across the Burren and Galway Bay – a perfect end to this biking trip. The perfect way to end the trip? A whiskey tasting in a cosy local pub of course! Meet a connoisseur to learn all about Irish whiskey. Then off to a celebratory dinner to end the trip in style! (B, L, D)
Distance: 50 km/31 miles
After breakfast, we say goodbye to Connemara and start making our way back to Galway. On the way, we’ll have the chance to stop at the ruins of a lovely 13th century Cistercian abbey or perhaps stretch our legs on the fascinating Flaggy Shore, home to rocks left behind by the Ice Age and a 19th century Martello tower. (B)
To download a PDF copy of our Trip Itinerary, containing full details about this vacation, please complete the form below:
This trip features local accommodations chosen for their excellent location, service and comfort. All accommodations provide breakfast. Relax by the fire in comfortable, countryside hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses snuggled into some of Ireland’s most beautiful scenery surrounding famous Connemara National Park, the craggy Burren National Park and the rugged Aran Islands.
We do not charge single person supplements to people booking on their own. However, you will be expected to share a room with another person of the same sex. If you specifically require a single room you will have to pay the single supplement charge of €250 but this is subject to availability.
Breakfast is provided each morning, and all lunches and snacks are provided throughout the trip. Dinner is provided every night except one night when you have a free evening to dine where you choose.
All meals are included in the price of this trip with the exception of dinner on one night. Local pubs and restaurants offer a wide choice of local dishes.
On this trip, we generally eat dinner as a group however if you would like to make alternative arrangements you are free to do so. Your guide will have an evening off during this trip where they do not eat with the group. They will recommend options for dinner that evening and will help you make any necessary reservations.
You will be met by your Wilderness Ireland guide at Galway Ceannt Railway Station at 12 pm on Day 1 of your trip. We will drop you off at Galway Ceannt Railway Station by 1 pm on the last day of the trip. For details on how to get to Galway, please see the travel section of our website.
| Trip Dates for 2020 | Availability | Status | Price | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22nd Aug - 28th Aug 2020 | Trip Full | FULLY BOOKED | €2,200 | |
| Trip Dates for 2021 | Availability | Status | Price | Book |
| 15th May - 21st May 2021 | 8 place(s) left | UNCONFIRMED | €2,200 | Book Now |
| 29th May - 4th Jun 2021 | Trip Full | FULLY BOOKED | €2,200 | |
| 3rd Jul - 9th Jul 2021 | 8 place(s) left | UNCONFIRMED | €2,200 | Book Now |
| 11th Sep - 17th Sep 2021 | 8 place(s) left | UNCONFIRMED | €2,200 | Book Now |
Sometimes it's nice to get family and friends together and travel privately for some quality time. This means you benefit from all the features of the group departure, including hand-picked accommodation and expert local guides and we'll take care of it all. Then you can make your choice of departures dates and we'll get back to you to finalise the details.
An avid cyclist and hiker, Patricia enjoys exploring Ireland’s wild landscapes every chance she gets – she particularly loves the under-appreciated regions of Mayo, Connemara, Sligo and Donegal. Having spent nearly a decade in the hospitality industry, Patricia is an expert on Ireland’s luxury and unique accommodations. As Wilderness Ireland’s General Manager and head of the sales team, Patricia is ready to help make your Irish adventure spectacular!
- Patricia Doe
Ask Patricia a QuestionGreen Grades 1-3
The road cycling trips that we offer are graded to take into account a combination of the general level of fitness required and the number of miles cover as well as the daily ascent and estimated saddle time.
Our green graded trips would usually include shorter days, with less ascents and more stops along the way.
The green graded trips have been designed to be accessible so that they appeal both to active people who enjoy road cycling but prefer flatter terrain and to people new to cycle touring but want a new way to experience the country.
On most days the itinerary is a relaxed combination of saddle time, scenic lunch stops and time to explore the natural and cultural history.
As with all of our road cycling trips, we have a guide riding with you on the road but also have a dedicated support vehicle, so if you need a break at any time, you can jump in the minivan and give your legs a rest.
Distances typically range from 25-35 miles each day with possibly one or two slightly longer days between key stages of the itinerary. The terrain is generally flat with one or two short climbs. Before joining this trip, the questions you should be asking yourself are:
Are you generally active and enjoy riding a road or hybrid bike?
Are you up for a challenge, cycling each day in a small group, and having a lot of fun?
Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 1 review(s) of Bike Tour – Connemara and the Aran Islands
Every client receives a feedback survey when they return from their guided, self guided or tailor made vacation with us. Once completed the review is published on our website just as soon as our database updates. The little touches and details are important to us and where issues are raised we make positive changes to our trips to improve your experience.
That’s why we read each of our client’s reviews and although we don’t respond to all of them, if it’s glowing feedback then we get the satisfaction of helping to make your vacations truly memorable.
Anne Hede
Reviewed on 10/06/2019
Age: 60 - 70
Country: Australia
Trip Date: 01/06/2019
Trips Taken: 1
The Bottom Line
Although the weather was not really on our side it was a riding experience that exceeded my expectations. Beautiful countryside by day and loads of fun at night, all due to our wonderful guides Warner and Andrew. Thanks Wilderness Ireland.
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