Trip Details at-a-Glance
| Cost From: | $4595 |
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| Length: | 9 days |
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| Activity: | Hiking / Trekking, Cultural Adventures |
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| Difficulty: |
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Ireland’s Wild West Coast
History and Hikes in County Galway, Mayo, Connemara, and Donegal
A Significant Discount on 2009 Departures is Available, Due to the Rebound in the Dollar. See Details Below Tour Costs.*
The wild northwestern coast of Ireland has some of the most intensely beautiful scenery in Europe—a spectacular meeting of golden beaches pounded by Atlantic rollers, dramatic headlands of towering sea cliffs, rugged green mountains, and storybook glens. Traditional ways remain strong here, and the Gaelic language is still widely spoken. Wild Connemara, beautiful Sligo—Yeats country—and lovely Donegal all welcome us into a true experience of Ireland’s incomparable landscapes and rich culture. Our trails lead past Celtic crosses, through Bronze Age forts, island?monasteries, historic castles, and to traditional villages set by the untamed sea. Throughout our journey, Ireland’s long and fascinating history is brought to life for us, while evenings at the pub are enlivened with traditional music and song.
Highlights
- Climb Ireland’s holiest mountain, walk the dramatic headlands of the wild west coast
- Discover ancient stone circles, Iron Age forts, Celtic crosses, historic castles
- Experience traditional Irish culture in the company of our expert guides
- Savor fine cuisine in lakeside lodges and country houses
- Explore white-sand beaches and ancient ruins on Omey Island
- Hike along the stunning cliffs of Slieve League and beside serene Killary Harbor
Details
- 9-day trip begins in Galway and ends in Donegal
- 8 nights in hotels and country houses
- All meals included except 1 dinner
- Moderate to strenuous hiking, 4-6 hours a day
Tour Costs
$4595 (13-15 guests)
$4795 (10-12 guests)
$4995 (6-9 guests)
Single supplement: $595
Prices are for 2009 dates
Departures & Leaders
Jul 11-19, 2009 Ann Curran
Aug 15-23, 2009 Ann Curran
*Significant Savings Available on 2009 Departures!
The US Dollar has strengthened against the Euro, and Wilderness Travel would like to pass the savings along to you! Here's how it works: we will purchase the Euros for your trip when you sign up, which lets us lock in the current exchange rate, and guarantee your savings. To receive the discount, the first deposit on the trip ($500 per person) is non-refundable. If you prefer to have your deposit be fully refundable up to 90 days before departure, you can sign up at the regular published rate for the trip.
To find out the current discount available at today’s rate, please call us at 1-800-368-2794 or send us an email.
Suggested Reading
Reading list, click here.
Itinerary at a Glance
Days 1-2
Galway / Connemara
From Galway, capital of traditional Irish culture, we head north through bog and lakeland into the heart of Connemara and the mountainous area of the Twelve Bens. Hiking on an ancient pilgrim route through a pass in the Maumturk Mountains, we reach lovely Inagh Valley. The next day, we explore Omey Island, site of an early monastery and numerous ancient standing stones and circles, and enjoy beautiful seascapes as we stroll along its powdery white-sand beaches. At Killary Harbour, a dramatic deep-cut fjord, we hike a trail along the water’s edge to an abandoned village with a haunting “famine graveyard.”
Days 3-4
County Mayo / Croagh Patrick / Achill Head
Heading north into rugged County Mayo, a region rich in history and folklore, we follow a pilgrims’ path to the summit of Croagh Patrick (2,500'), a sacred peak that is a vast archaeological landscape of relics dating to the Stone Age. From the north shore of Clew Bay we reach Achill Island for a dramatic hike over Achill Head, an enormous headland with incredible views of mountain and ocean.
Days 5-6
Southwest Donegal / Ardara
Not far in miles but a world away is County Donegal, a scenic landscape of golden beaches, huge sea cliffs, rugged mountains, historic castles, and lush valleys. We hike to Queen Maeve’s grave, a huge unexcavated Stone Age cairn overlooking the landscapes of County Sligo, and along incredible 2,000-foot-high Slieve League, the highest sea cliffs of Western Europe. This is the land of famous Donegal Tweed, and we visit a local weaver in his home.
Days 7-9
Gaoth Dobhair / Horn Head / Glen Veagh National Park / Depart
In Donegal’s wild northwest, we hike past Stone Age dolmens and Iron Age forts, through lovely Glen Veagh National Park, and along the headlands at Gaoth Dobhair for sunset walks along spectacular beaches. This part of Donegal holds the greatest number of native Irish speakers and boasts an incredible richness of folk music, which we enjoy over a pint in the local pubs at days’ end. On Day 9 we depart from Donegal or Shannon.