Killarney Highlight Half Day Tour -National Park-Muckross House
Description
This half day tour will give you a comprehensive overview of the Highlights of Killarney which will uncover the best sights to see with a personalizes experience. All Driver/Guides are local and will give an amazing tour of their town and environs. This tour will be a small group. Perfect for tourists who only have a few hours to spare on their day When in the area, it is imperative that you visit Killarney National Park. *An exceptional value! . An excellent way to get the scoop on all the top attractions. * Award Winning Tours & Driver/Guides. *Travel with the experts who know the local knowledge and how to avoid irritating traffic jams which might waste your time if you rent a car. *Enjoy a personal tour in a small group. * Meet,chat and explore Killarney with a local. * Visit Highlights of Killarney in a limited time that fits with your schedule.
Tour Options
Itinerary
This 19th Victorian mansion is set in Killarney National Park. The house stands close to the shores of Muckross Lake, one of Killarney's three lakes, famed world wide for their beauty.Within the Park, Muckross House is the ideal base from which to explore this landscape. The House was built for Henry Arthur Herbert and his wife, Mary Balfour Herbert. This was actually the fourth house that successive generations of the Herbert family had occupied at Muckross over a period of almost two hundred years. William Burn, the Scottish architect, was responsible for its design. Building commenced in 1839 and was completed in 1843. During the 1850s, the Herberts undertook extensive garden works in preparation for Queen Victoria's visit in 1861. Later, the Bourn Vincent family continued this gardening tradition. They purchased the estate from Lord and Lady Ardilaun early in the twentieth century. It was at this time that the Sunken Garden, Rock Garden and the Stream Garden were developed.
Ross Castle sits on the edge of Killarney’s lower lake and was built by O’Donoghue Mór in the 15th century. The Castle came into the hands of the Brownes who became the Earls of Kenmare and owned an extensive portion of the lands that are now part of Killarney National Park . Legend has it that O’Donoghue still exists in a deep slumber under the waters of Lough Leane. On the first morning of May every seven years he rises from the lake on his magnificent white horse and circles the lake. Anyone catching a glimpse of him is said to be assured of good fortune for the rest of their lives. The large rock at the entrance to the bay is known as O’Donoghue’s prison. Ross Castle was the last stronghold in Munster to hold out against Cromwell. It was eventually taken by General Ludlow in 1652. We can arrange a Cruise on the Lakes of Killarney for one hour on The Lily of Killarney (extra Cost)
Torc Waterfall is a 20 metres high, 110 metres long cascade waterfall formed by the Owengarriff River as it drains from the Devil's Punchbowl corrie lake at Mangerton Mountain. The waterfall, which lies at the base of Torc Mountain, in the Killarney National Park, is 4.3 miles from Killarney in Kerry, Ireland.
Killarney National Park stretching across 10,000 hectares with its unforgettable combination of mountains, lakes, woodland and waterfalls. Killarney National Park incorporates the lakes as well as Muckross Estate, including Bourn Vincent Memorial Park, presented to the State in 1932 as Ireland’s first National Park.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- This tour is ideal for Travelers with very limited time in Killarney.
- Deros Tours reserves the right to cancel tours if insufficient numbers book.
Reviews(7)
Since the tour was cancelled, we were upset. The cancellation was due to only two registrations. We travelled all the way from Canada to experience Ireland and now we have had 2 out of 3 pre booked tours cancelled due to low registrations. This is bad for the reputation of Irish tourism. We would not recommend that Viator continue with these tour companies. We have taken cooking classes in Italy and Laos when we were the only students but they served us anyway. While it may not be financially viable, losing money occasionally is necessary to sustain a good reputation.
Thank you for your one star rating on a tour you did not experience! Firstly, I would like to clarify that you were only booked with this company for one tour and not two as you mention. As part of the terms and conditions on all our tours stating clearly that tours maybe cancelled if insufficient numbers are booked. You did not mention that a text was sent to you at 5.30pm on the previous evening to advise you of a possible cancellation and offering you an option of joining two others tours. Although these other trips are more costly, you were given the opportunity to participate for the same rate. I am sorry you had had this experience but hopefully if you return to Killarney I will certainly arrange a tour at a discounted rate for you.
Highly recommend. Perfect amount of time. Beautiful sites and Darrin went out of his way to accommodate us. We had a wonderful day. Love the town of Killarney.
A bus with very tired shock absorbers with a driver/guide who thinks he is doing a rally. Very few stops to enjoy the beautiful landscapes or take pictures. Few comments during the visit. This is well below the other excursions we have made and is especially expensive for the Service rendered.
Please advise what date you are supposed to have joined this tour so that a further investigation can take place.
Very convenient trip that takes about 4 hours. The vehicle was good and our driver showed us all the key spots. We landed from Dublin around 11 and took this tour at 2pm same day
Thank you for making the time to post this up on trip advisor after your Killarney highlights tour. We very much appreciate you doing this and hope you enjoy the rest of your Irish holidays.
My friend and I booked a last-minute tour when we arrived in Killarney, and it turned out to be one of the best decisions of our entire trip! When we showed up at the tour office, we were told we were the only ones booked for that time slot. I jokingly said, “So it’s a private tour then?” and to our surprise, they genuinely did upgrade us to a private tour—no hesitation. Dareen was our driver and guide, but by the end of the tour, he felt more like an old friend showing us around his hometown than someone we’d just met. The original tour included Ross Castle, Torc Waterfall, and Muckross House, but since it was just the two of us, Dareen said we’d likely have some extra time and asked if we’d like to see a few bonus sights. Of course we said yes! At each stop, he gave us a bit of history or interesting info, then offered to take our photo—without us even having to ask. He truly went above and beyond to make sure we had great memories and great pictures to remember them by. At Ross Castle, he waited patiently while we explored, and at Torc Waterfall, he actually hiked up with us, sharing insights about the plant life and how rainfall affects the waterfall. The whole time, we felt so well taken care of and genuinely enjoyed the conversations we had with him—everything from life in Killarney to Irish history and fun local trivia. One of the bonus stops he added was Ladies View, where he explained the story behind the name and how it connects to Muckross House. Again, he came with us to the top and snapped some more pictures for us with the gorgeous view behind us. After we toured Muckross House on our own, Dareen took us to one of his favorite spots on the property—a quiet little beach that’s not on the typical tourist path. There, he shared a bit about Ireland’s golden eagle population and how conservation efforts are underway to reintroduce another eagle species. From the beach, we could even see a tree in the distance where a nest had been spotted. On the drive back, he gave us great suggestions for where to eat, grab a pint, and continue enjoying Killarney. This tour was so much more than we expected. Dareen clearly loves his hometown and takes such pride in sharing it with others. We felt lucky to have had such a personal, meaningful experience. Highly, highly recommend!
What a super Headline and review up here on trip advisor we are very thankful to you for it. Darren was delighted that he played a small part in giving you some happy memories of your recent Irish holiday in Killarney. Now that you've discovered the delights of the Kingdom of Kerry , we look forward to welcoming you back to us in the not -too distant future possibly on another tour.
I booked this tour just one hour before it started, not expecting much on such short notice. When we arrived, we were told we were the only two people signed up. Instead of canceling or rescheduling, we were generously offered a private tour! That gesture alone speaks volumes about how accommodating and professional this family owned tour company is. From the start, our guide, Darren made us feel completely safe and cared for. He was kind, funny, and such a great conversationalist! It felt like spending the day with an old friend. His love and passion for Killarney is obvious and made us fall even more in love with this wonderful town. He filled our tour with fun facts and historical insights. He even took us to a few of his own favorite secret spots off the beaten path. Everything aboutbthe day felt deeply personal and incredibly special. This wasn’t just a tour, it was a heartfelt, one-of-a-kind experience. If you’re lucky enough to find yourself in Killarney, do not miss an adventure with Deros Coach Tours. It's the kind of experience that reminds you why travel matters... connection, authenticity, and unforgettable memories.
What a sparkling review Christy and thank you most sincerely for taking the time to write it and post it up on trip advisor - we genuinely do appreciate it. Darren was thrilled to read your very detailed review and very kind words. To merely say thank you for such a glowing review seems insufficient . However THANK YOU . We hope and trust that the rest of your Irish adventure went off just as well.
A wonderful small family owned company in Killarny. We had a great tour with our driver Donie. Great stories Great laughs and a fabulous recommendation for dinner... Cronins
