From Galway: Guided tour of Connemara with 3 hour stop in Kylemore Abbey
4.8
98 Ratings
Galway

The special Connemara Day Tour originating from Galway incorporates a 3-hour halt, offering guests the leisurely opportunity to delve into and appreciate the splendid Kylemore Abbey and Victorian Walled Garden. This stop forms part of the highlights of Connemara situated along the Wild Atlantic Way.

Duration: 9 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • The Claddagh - Departing Galway we head out via The Claddagh, home of the famous Claddagh Ring.
  • Salthill Promenade - On our left, the Salthill Promenade and Galway Bay.
  • Barna - First little village on our tour, Barna. Once a thriving fishing village.
  • Spiddal - ‘An Spidéal’ meaning ‘The Hospital’ in Irish, Spiddal marks the start of the ‘Gaeltacht’ or Irish speaking area.
  • Costelloe - Once home to Bruce Ismay, CEO of White Star Lines and Titanic survivor.
  • Screebe - A quick photostop at the picturesque little waterfall.
  • Connemara - We travel through the bog land of Connemara, formed over millions of years.
  • Clifden - A 30 minute stop to wander around the town of Clifden.
  • Clifden Castle - Built by John Darcy, founder of Clifden.
  • Sky Road - Renowned worldwide for heart stopping twists and turns, the Sky Road swoops and soars above the Atlantic Ocean. One of the ‘Discovery Points’ on the Wild Atlantic Way.
  • Connemara National Park & Visitor Centre - The national park covers 3000+ hectares of Connemara.
  • Kylemore Abbey & Victorian Walled Garden - Our main stop on this tour, you now have 3 hours to explore Kylemore Abbey. Built in the 1860’s by Mitchell Henry as a wedding gift to wife Margaret.
  • Quiet Man Bridge - A photo on the Quiet Man Bridge, used in the 1960’s movie of the same name, is a must for all John Wayne fans
What's Included
  • Local guide
  • Driver / guide
  • In-vehicle air conditioning
  • Live commentary on board
What's Not Included
  • Food and drinks
  • Gratuities
  • Entry to Kylemore Abbey - Tickets can be purchased from the driver at discounted rates, cash only.
  • Hotel Pickup
Additional Information
  • Children must be accompanied by an adult
Location
Merchants Road
Tour departs: Merchants Road, Galway outside the Kinlay Hostel, H91 F2KT at 09:30. Tour vehicle will have 'Wild Atlantic Way Day Tours' branding. Please present 15 minutes prior to departure. Tour returns: Merchants Road, Galway at 18:30
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(98 Ratings)
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Julie_e
May 14, 2024
Wonderful tour and tour guide - Mike was an amazing tour guide. I loved this tour. There were stops in Clifton and along the way to take pictures as well as a stop to feed sheep! He took us off the beaten path to the top of a tall hill to view the convergence of a river into the Atlantic ocean. Shared a lot of history of Ireland as well.
Review provided by Viator
Saul_k
May 6, 2024
Sometimes the Journey is as Important as the Destination - Our full day bus tour to Connemara & the Kylemore Abbey was made special by Mike, our driver/guide. A thoughtful and excellent tour guide, his history was informative, geographic narrative helpful and frequent photo stops wonderful. You can’t plan on the weather, so we were lucky to have mild temperature and frequent sunshine🌞. Mike took advantage of the clear skies and drove along the Sky Road, which provided spectacular views of the coastline. While the Gardens at the Abbey were between seasons and portions of the Historic Church were under renovation, the overall Kylemore site was worth the visit and the restaurant provided a reasonable place for lunch before our drive home. Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed the trip to Connemara & the Kylemore Abbey .
Review provided by Viator
Tyler_m
Apr 9, 2024
Incredible countryside and excellent tour guide - One of the highlights of our trip to Galway. Damien was an incredible tour guide! We can't wait to book through Wild Atlantic Way tours again.
Review provided by Viator
Valschull
Apr 8, 2024
Lovely visit - Lovely place, especially the enormous walled garden. There's a shuttle bus to the gardens to save time if that's needed. House is lovely, and there is a cafe and shop.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lisa_s
Apr 8, 2024
Great tour! - Mike, our guide and driver, was knowledgeable, fun, and helpful. The scenery was magnificent! I enjoyed hanging out with the other five people on my tour. All and all, a terrific tour!
Review provided by Viator
Amanda_m
Apr 6, 2024
Wonderful - Even with all the rain it was still wonderful. A beautiful drive, and our guide was very informative and I learned much about Irish history.
Review provided by Viator
Grace_s
Mar 10, 2024
Amazing tour - Really great tour! Mike was an excellent tour guide, very informative, and friendly. Beautiful sites, and a great way to see the Irish countryside.
Review provided by Viator
Sthiessen123
Feb 20, 2024
Great day! - Great stops! I came with my dad and we both enjoyed ourselves very much! Gave reduced price tickets into the abbey or you could hike into the national park! The abbey and grounds around were amazing! Our guide Damien was very knowledgeable and was very personable! Only warning, if you get car sick, you are on curving roads all day and might be something to think about!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sue_b
Oct 6, 2023
Great trip in Connemara - Despite the weather the beauty of Connemara and Kylemore Abbey were worth getting wet. Mike did an excellent job of share locale knowledge. His driving was very safe too
Review provided by Viator
Chlo_mr6910ft
Feb 22, 2024
Attention ⚠️ - Attention ⚠ We paid for things we didn't do because the driver was in a hurry: - terrible and dangerous driving. - the 10 minute "breaks"/stops, specified and included in the itinerary, only lasted 3 minutes, clock in hand. The driver left the engine running, not giving us time to appreciate the landscape and those famous stops for which we had paid. - moreover, at one of these stops the driver took the opportunity to urinate in front of the door of the mini bus, letting us get back on while avoiding the big puddle... - the 30 minute stop at Clifden never happened. The driver claimed it wasn't worth it because of the rain. At the end of this excursion, we are back in Galway 1h30 before the scheduled time. The driver/guide clearly did not respect what was included in the tour and therefore in its price.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 9 guests
1 Adult
June 2024
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