Below, we have compiled a list of answers to some of your most frequently asked questions about your travel to Ireland. Please remember to download the trip itinerary or request one from us if you can’t find the information you’re looking for on our website. If you have any other questions, do let us know as we are happy to help. We will continue to update this page with new information so it will be a useful resource for you.
If you are calling from North America we have a toll free number: 1-844-235-6240. If you are calling from Europe, please reach us at: +353 (0)91 457 898.
We are located in County Sligo on the West Coast of Ireland where our offices are open from 9-5.30pm local time or you can send us an email anytime on [email protected]. We also have a LiveChat feature on our website, found in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen.
Not sure if there’s still a spot on the trip you want? Just click on the trip you are interested in, then on that trip page scroll down to view prices and availability. Next to the departure date and price, you can see how many places are still available, and whether the trip is confirmed or not. All of our hiking trips confirm with just 2 clients – biking trips confirm with 3 clients – meaning you can book with confidence once your trip confirms.
At Wilderness Ireland, it’s important to keep our group sizes small so that you can get to know your fellow travelling companions and your guide. Therefore, we keep our group sizes a maximum of 8 people per trip.
All of our hiking trips confirm with just 2 clients – biking trips confirm with 3 clients – meaning you can book with confidence once your trip confirms.
Don’t be afraid to book on to an unconfirmed trip – it’s our experience that when one person books, it encourages more people to join.
Of course, just drop us a line on the phone or by email with the departure you’d like to join and we’ll make a note to contact you if space becomes available.
Unfortunately not. Our group sizes are planned in advance taking in to account our guiding ratio and spaces in our vehicles (max 8 passengers and your guide). We can either pop your names on the waiting list for this departure or we can help you have a look for another trip or departure that might work for you.
This is hard to answer because it is all relative. What’s challenging for one person might be easy for another. However, we’ve designed and graded our trips so there should be something for everyone. Please do remember that all our trips are activity based so you will need a fair level of fitness and an interest in active travel and the Great Outdoors!
Our grading works on a scale – Green 1 – 3 are easy trips, Blue 4 – 6 are moderate trips and challenging trips are Red 7 – 9. To understand this practical sense we suggest watching our grading videos. If you are still unsure give us a call and we’ll help find the right trip for you.
Single rooms are offered on most of our trips but these are limited so are allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. It’s no problem to book a single room as long as there is one available. Please not that single rooms do incur a single supplement. Find out more about the price for a single room in the trip dossier. After making your online booking, please contact our Sales Team in order to book your single room.
You can book our small group trips or private departures (both family trips and self drive trips) online or by telephone. If you are interested in a customised itinerary then fill out our Interactive Trip Builder to share your dream trip preferences with us. Or feel free to send us an email or give us a call and our Adventure Consultants will chat through the process with you. Once you have booked any trip, please wait for confirmation from the team before making any travel arrangements.
In order to join our small group trips, you do have to be at least 16 to join these trips and be accompanied by an adult if you are under 18. We have no upper age limit so as long as your fit, happy and able to join in the activities on the trip then we’d love to have you travel with us!
We have Family Adventures specially designed for active families travelling with children, and can be modified to fit your children’s ages. Find out more here.
As for Tailor Made trips, these are designed just for you, so we take into account all factors and preferences, including age. We can design your tailor made trip to suit you and your family no matter the age!
It really depends on the type of trip you’d like to do. If you are joining a group trip then unfortunately it’s not possible to bring your dog. However, we can accommodate dogs on a custom or private tour depending on the availability of accommodation. Give us a call if you want to bring your canine and our team of Adventure Consultants will work with you to design a trip with dog-friendly accommodations, walks and activities.
A 25% deposit will confirm your place on your trip and the balance is due 10 weeks before departure.
Yes! But don’t just take our word for it, check out the reviews from previous travellers. On each trip page, you can read the reviews of previous travellers on that specific trip.
Unfortunately, day trips are not something we arrange. We’d recommend contacting Tourism Ireland for advice.
This is a great question! It’s really important to have proper outdoor gear because our weather here in Ireland can be very changeable. We’ll send you a comprehensive equipment list based on the trip activity you’re doing, but if you have any questions about hiking or biking gear, please give us a call and we’ll be happy to chat through it.
In the meantime, feel free to check out a few of our blogs below:
– What to Wear While Hiking in Ireland
– What to Pack for a Biking Trip
– What Footwear Should You Bring? Hiking Boot vs Shoe
Absolutely. Please do let us know on booking: it helps if you are specific and provide as much detail as possible. If you have an allergy, please let us know how severe it is – for example, do you carry an Epi-Pen? If you are gluten-free, please clarify if you just avoid wheat or if you are coeliac and cannot eat anything that has come into contact with wheat. It’s really helpful for us to know this level of detail up front so we can alert the restaurants we visit. Vegetarian or vegan? No worries, but please be aware that you may have limited choices. We can usually cater for all dietary requirements if we know about them in advance. If you have any questions or want to chat through a requirement then get in touch.
Ah midges, it’s amazing that these tiny creatures can cause so much annoyance! Midges really shouldn’t have a big impact on your time in Ireland and you certainly shouldn’t worry about planning a trip to try and avoid them but do give us a call if you would like to chat about it further.
Do keep in mind that the stories about midges are generally much worse than the reality. Yes, they may be annoying but luckily they don’t carry any diseases so the worst case scenario is an itchy red bite. The best thing is to just be prepared with some preventative measures. We recommend Smidge insect repellant, which is DEET-free and was developed in Scotland – where the midges are particularly present – to repel these little bugs. We also recommend wearing long sleeves and trousers to cover up against insect bites.
As an extra precaution, you may want to bring along a supply of antihistamine to avoid itching. If you are looking for extra reassurance check out our reviews – hardly any of them even mention midges!
This is not usually possible as our itineraries are carefully planned. Occasionally clients may join a trip just for the first few days of it or leave a day early. However, this is subject to availability and you will still pay for the full trip. All onward travel arrangements are undertaken at your own cost. Please note that it is not possible to join a trip midway through.
Our main airport is Dublin Airport which is how the majority of our travellers arrive. The two other main entry points are Shannon Airport (near Limerick in the southwest – this one has good connections to some US cities particularly on the East Coast) and Belfast International Airport.
If you’re planning to fly from the UK or Europe, there are a number of smaller airports servicing other regions, such as: Belfast City Airport, Derry Airport, Donegal Airport, Ireland West (Knock) Airport, Kerry Airport and Cork Airport. Keep in mind these are small and often rural airports.
We have a network of trains and buses throughout Ireland. Read more about travel to and within Europe here.
One of the great things about Ireland is that you never know what the weather will be like tomorrow – or even in 5 minutes from now! It’s true that we do indeed get plenty of rain in Ireland – the lush greenness of the Emerald Isle has to come from somewhere! On a typical week in Ireland, you may encounter some showers but some beautiful sunshine as well. It’s best to come prepared for various weather conditions.
Rain tends to be light and misty and rarely lasts more than a few minutes up to an hour or two. Ireland can be breezy too, with the freshest air in Europe moving in from the Atlantic and keeping the midges at bay.
Late spring and early summer (April, May and June) tend to be the driest months of the year, with average temperatures of between 12 °C (54 °F) and 18 °C (64.5 °F). Our northern latitude during the summer months means we get up to 18 hours of daylight at the end of June! It is at this time of year that Ireland is at its greenest, as fresh leaves appear and grasslands come to life. It is also a great time for wild flowers, birds and butterflies.
The Autumn months (August to October) tend to be mild and September is considered to be a particularly temperate month. October is punctuated by dramatic Atlantic storms and high winds and rain that usually blow over quickly and are rarely bad enough to stop normal (and outdoor) life carrying on as usual. This is also the best time of year for surfing!
Winter (November- January) air temperatures only occasionally drop below freezing, and aside from the odd cold snap, it rarely snows on low ground with occasional snow fall at higher levels. Occasional Atlantic storms mean winter in Ireland can be invigorating and dramatic and make for some memorable outside experiences. Even if you aren’t outside a turf fire and a pint of Guinness feel all the more cosy.
Early spring (February and March), highest average temperatures range from 7 °C (46 °F) to 12 °C (54 °F) but it is at this time of year that signs of spring start to appear and Ireland’s famous green starts to creep back into the landscape.
Learn more about Irish weather here.
On average our travellers are aged 45 to 70. However, it varies from departure to departure and lots of younger and older people travel with us too. For details of a specific departure, give us a call.
Yes we do! You can rent bikes from us for any of the bike trips. We don’t include bike rental in the trip price as some guests prefer to bring their own. Check out the trip itinerary or trip page for bike details and prices and let us know if you have any questions.
We offer the choice between road bikes, hybrid bikes and eBikes. Learn more about bike rental, the bikes and their specifications here.
Although it does depend on the trip the answer is usually yes you will need hiking boots in Ireland. Even our green graded trips will require you to walk on rough and boggy ground. Your shoes will need to provide you with good ankle support and be waterproof. Gaiters are also an essential bit of kit to keep you dry. We’ll send you a full equipment list when you book or let us know if you would like us to send it to you beforehand. It’s also a good idea to have a look at our grading videos so you can get an idea of the type of terrain you will be hiking.
We also have an article about footwear that provides a detailed answer to the boot vs shoe question. Read it here.
We love Ireland no matter what, all year round! To answer this question, it depends what you are looking for. April, May and June are a great time for wildflowers and plants bursting into life after the winter, it’s also a good time to see lots of different bird life, notably the puffins that inhabit Ireland’s coasts and islands.
July and August are great months to see a variety of different wildlife including marine animals – these also tend to be the warmest months. We get up to 18 hours of sunlight around the Summer Solstice! August is the month for breath-taking purple heather.
The weather in September and October is generally , and the light is beautiful, particularly as the leaves and bracken are starting to turn golden. This is the time of year when the biggest waves hit the west coast. There is something special about every month so you really just need to decide when works best for you.
Please wait until we have confirmed your trip before booking any travel. If in doubt please do email or call us just to check if it’s okay to book your flights and other travel arrangements.
Yes we do and you can sign up for them via any of our blog pages or Under the News and Offers section at the bottom of any page.
We have a Conservation Contribution Scheme which is an optional charitable donation collected from each traveller on each trip.
Each year we channel these donations towards charities and community initiatives that we truly care about and that genuinely make a difference in the wild places our trips visit.
For instance, this year’s contribution was used for drystone walling and path restoration in the Burren region of County Clare.
We appreciate every donation. Want to learn more? Visit our Conservation Contribution Scheme page.
No, we do not include car rental or car hire in self drive trips – we leave this up to you as some people prefer to bring their own cars if travelling from the UK or Europe. Our sales team Adventure Consultants can point you in the right direction of what companies operate in Ireland.
Self drive trips include your itinerary, accommodations, guides, daily activities, some meals, recommended stops, and a 24-hour support phone in case of need.
Just send us an email at [email protected] or give us a call and we’ll do our best to help you. You’ll find our telephone number in the footer of the website.
Or keep scrolling down to our other FAQ sections to see if your question is there.
No problem at all. There is no supplement for solo travellers as long as you are happy to share a room with someone of the same gender. If you’d prefer to have your own room there will be a charge. This charge will be noted on both your itinerary and on the individual trip page, or feel free to contact us to confirm price when checking single room availability.
Single rooms are offered on most of our trips but these are limited so are allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. It’s no problem to book a single room as long as there is one available. Please not that single rooms do incur a single supplement. Find out more about the price for a single room in the trip dossier. After making your online booking, please contact our Sales Team in order to book your single room.
It’s impossible to know in advance what the make-up of a particular trip will be but in general, the majority of people that join our group trips are solo travellers. This means that there most likely will be a few solo travellers on each trip. If you have questions about who you will be travelling with then give us a call and we can give you a quick overview.
Chances are if you are booking one of these trips, you have already been chatting with one of our team members. If not, one of our sales team members will get in touch with you to confirm the details of your trip.
Once we have taken your deposit, we’ll get to work booking the accommodations, guides and activities. Once that has been done, we’ll let you know so you can make any travel arrangements.
Generally the latest we’ll confirm a trip is 8 weeks out, and we’ll let you know as soon as another traveller books onto your trip and you trip is confirmed so you can start making your travel arrangements.
It’s unusual for our trips to still be unconfirmed as we near the trip start date but occasionally we may cancel an unconfirmed trip 4 weeks before the trip is due to start. In the rare instance that we have to cancel a trip, last minute, then we will offer you an alternative trip. Of course, if nothing else suits, we’ll offer you a full refund.
If your trip is unconfirmed and due to depart within a couple of months then do give us a call and we’ll chat through the options.
Yes! We don’t ask to see proof of this but we strongly recommend you have travel insurance. It should cover last minute trip cancellation, repatriation or unexpected charges if flights are delayed or cancelled.
Please note that we are not insurance agents and cannot advise you on travel insurance or the level of cover you require. Please contact your preferred insurance company for any questions or advice.
Yes, just send us an email and we’ll send them across.
If you can pack a soft duffle bag it makes life easier packing up our vans. Please avoid hard suitcases. Size-wise, if you can check it on a plane with no extra fees it will be fine! During your trip, your luggage will either be kept at your accommodation or if you are moving on that night, it will be stored in the van. Please note that in addition to your luggage, you will need a small daypack to carry your lunch, water and extra layers.
Just send us an email at [email protected] or give us a call and we’ll do our best to help you. You’ll find our telephone number in the footer of the website.
Or keep scrolling down to our other FAQ sections to see if your question is there.
Most of our trips start and finish at train stations such as Dublin, Belfast, Galway or Killarney train stations to make it easy for you to travel by train or bus, and also to encourage environmental sustainability of travelling by public transport.
Check out our Travel to Ireland section for more details or give us a call.
Generally yes, although both signal and WIFI can be spotty and a bit slow in places. Some accommodations will offer WIFI in public areas but not in individual rooms.
If you have a North American SIM card, we recommend that you chat with your service provider about your options for the best way to use your phone while travelling abroad. If you’re travelling with a European SIM, your phone will automatically work as if you’re at home.
Most meals are included in our trips but you can see the full list of what’s included in your trip itinerary. The meals that are included are recorded against each day as follows B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner.
We don’t always include dinner each night to give the group a bit more flexibility over the menu. When dinner isn’t included we’ll usually still book restaurants for dinner each evening for the group. Generally, the group eats together but if you want to go somewhere else, feel free to speak to your guide about options. Don’t feel obliged to eat with the group if you don’t want to or simply need a bit of me-time! Do note that in more remote places, there may be very few other options.
Breakfast is included every day on our self drive trips. You can either order a packed lunch from your accommodation, eat in a local café or pick up some lunch from a local shop. If you are ordering a packed lunch, please do this the night before so the accommodations have time to make it up for you. Dinner can be taken either in your accommodation or in a local restaurant. We are happy to provide you with some suggestions for dinner.
There should be enough phone signal or WIFI to stay in touch but we can provide accommodation details to pass on to them as well as our office number and email. We have a 24-hour emergency number. This is reserved for important and urgent calls but sometimes families do need to get in touch. Our guides carry special DeLorme inReach devices so there are always able to reach the support team no matter the circumstances.
We have a 24-hour emergency number which we’ll provide you with in your final info after you book your trip. This is reserved for important and urgent calls such as a flight being delayed or cancelled. The person manning this number will help you to make alternative arrangements so that you can still meet up with your group.
We recommend that you wear or pack into your carry-on your most important gear such as your hiking boots (for hiking trips) or cycling pedals/shoes (for bike trips), and at least one hiking/biking outfit.
It’s rare enough that luggage is lost, but if this does happen, do let us know so we can coordinate with the guide. Feel free to ring our 24-hour support number if this occurs out of office hours. Once meeting up with your guide, they can help you do a bit of shopping as well as coordinate where to deliver your luggage once the airline sends it onwards.
Just send us an email at [email protected] or give us a call and we’ll do our best to help you. You’ll find our telephone number in the footer of the website.
Or keep scrolling down to our other FAQ sections to see if your question is there.
A 25% deposit will confirm your place on your trip and the balance is due 8 weeks before departure.
Oh no, we’re really sorry to hear that! There are a few things you should do or consider listed below:
Tipping in Ireland is generally expected and always appreciated. It is a lovely way to show you really enjoyed your experience. Tipping is discretionary, however on average we recommend about €15-€30 per person per guide per day. It is completely up to you however the tip you choose to give your guide should reflect the quality of the guiding service you felt you received.
Usually a 10-15% tip for a meal is typical. No tipping is necessary if ordering drinks at the bar, however if you order drinks from a server who brings them to your table (table service), a small tip may be expected.
Please note that gratuities for activity, transport and accommodation providers featured on your tour are included and will be looked after by your Wilderness guide.
Most places in Ireland do take Visa or Master Card although there may be a minimum spend of €5 to €10 to take a card payment. Bear in mind that there are also some smaller spots such as rural pubs or small village shops that may only take cash so it’s worth having some cash on you as well. It is unusual for small cafes or restaurants to take American Express.
If you are travelling from abroad (particularly from North America), please alert your card company that you are travelling to Ireland (and any other country you may be visiting on the same trip) so they don’t automatically block your card.
Ah, well trick question – that depends! The island of Ireland is actually made up of 2 countries: the Republic of Ireland as well as Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom. In the Republic of Ireland, we use Euros (€€), while in Northern Ireland, we use Pounds Sterling (£££). If you are planning to travel to both parts of Ireland, you’ll need both Euros and Pounds as they won’t accept the opposite currency. If you’re only going to visit the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland, be sure you get the right currency.
Yes! We don’t ask to see proof of this but we strongly recommend you have travel insurance. It should cover last minute trip cancellation, repatriation or unexpected charges if flights are delayed or cancelled.
Please note that we are not insurance agents and cannot advise you on travel insurance or the level of cover you require. Please contact your preferred insurance company for any questions or advice.
Just send us an email at [email protected] or give us a call and we’ll do our best to help you. You’ll find our telephone number in the footer of the website.
The trip was well planned and well executed. It was beautiful! The thing I was most amazed about and most appreciative of was the "wilderness" aspect. We hiked without trails and without seeing other hikers. You really felt like it was just you and nature. Spectacular!!
Barbara Bourgault
Hiking - The Mountains of Connemara and Mayo
Reviewed on 03/10/2022
Rated 4.95 out of 5 based on 594 reviews
Read More ReviewsYou'll be in good company on a Wilderness Ireland Trip. Some of the biggest and best known names in the business have recommended us.
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