Tours/Galway/From Galway: Guided tour of Connemara with 3 hour stop at Connemara National Pk.
Viator · group up to 37 pax

From Galway: Guided tour of Connemara with 3 hour stop at Connemara National Pk.

4.8(597)Galway1 hour
VIATOR4.7(203)TRIPADVISOR4.8(394)

Description

Our Connemara Day Tour from Galway offers a choice of 3 hour main stop: Option 1. - 3 hours in the Connemara National Park. Option 2. - 3 hours in the Kylemore Abbey and Victorian Walled Garden.

Tour Options

From Galway: Guided tour of Connemara with 3 hour stop at Connemara National Pk.

Itinerary

15 min

Tour vehicle departs Merchants Road, Galway, outside the Kinlay Hostel at 09:30. Please present 15 minutes prior to departure.

Pass by

Turning left into the Claddagh, St. Marys Church on your right, has been a Dominican Church for nearly 500 years. A romantic legacy of the former Claddagh fishing village is the Claddagh Ring, the traditional wedding ring of the villagers and ideal Galway gift or reminder of your visit to Galway.

Pass by

Salthill is a vibrant area overlooking Galway Bay, the breathtaking backdrop and stunning scenery includes the famous 4km long Galway Promenade offering views of Galway Bay and the Clare Hills with several small beaches separated by rocky outcrops along its length. A local ritual is to ‘kick the wall’ at the promenades end to signify completion of your prom walk.

Pass by

Set between timeless moorlands and the blue Atlantic Ocean, the coast road meanders westward through the picturesque villages of Barna and Furbo to the cheerful Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking) village of Spiddal (An Spideal).

Pass by

The village of Spiddal (An Spideal) on the shores of Galway Bay is a picturesque Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking) village. It is home to many traditional thatched roof homes, scenic coastlines, beautiful beaches and has a charming traditional appeal. Spiddal is an area which still manages to value the culture and traditions of Gaeltacht heritage.

Pass by

Once home to Bruce Ismay, CEO of White Star Lines and Titanic survivor.

10 min

The Connemara landscape along with the Wild Atlantic coastline has inspired many writers and musicians including French singer / songwriter, Michel Sandou’s popular hit ‘Les lacs du Connemara.’

10 min

Derryclare Lough is a freshwater lake at the entrance to the Inagh valley. This is a popular viewpoint for visitors to Connemara and a great place for photo opportunities of Pine Island.

Pass by

Connemara stretches from Galway Bay in the south to Killary Harbour in the north, taking in the rugged peaks of the Twelve Bens, the gentle waters of Lough Corrib and the wild beauty of the Inagh Valley. Connemara is home to some of Irelands’ finest beaches with wide stretches of pure white sand lapped by the Atlantic Ocean.

30 min

The unofficial residential and commercial capital of Connemara and the axis on which everything in the region turns. Founded in 1812, Clifden is positioned between the mountains and ocean and has historic links to Marconi, Alcock and Brown.

Pass by

This ruined manor house was built in early 19th century by John D'Arcy, founder of Clifden.

15 min

The Sky Road is one of the Discovery Points on the Wild Atlantic Way. A 16km circular route that starts in Clifden and rises high above the Atlantic Ocean, offering spectacular panoramic views. On a clear day the view from here has to be seen to be believed.

180 min

On todays tour you have a choice of main stop. Either 3 hours in the Connemara National Park or 3 hours at the Kylemore Abbey. Free, accessible and richly rewarding, the Connemara National Park is a gateway to a deeper level of intimacy with this unique landscape. The Diamond Hill trails are an idyllic hiking experience, one that climbs through wild uplands before rewarding you with jaw-dropping views across the region.

Admission not included180 min

For those of you who don’t wish to explore the Connemara National Park, your alternative main stop option is one of Ireland’s most iconic sights, Kylemore Abbey. Discounted admission available. Few buildings in Ireland or the world have such a dramatic setting or history as Kylemore Abbey. Built in the 1860’s by Mitchell Henry as a wedding gift to his wife Margaret, the magnificent castle at Kylemore is a must-see in Connemara. Your driver / guide will be able to source entry tickets at a discounted rate – cash only.

10 min

The Inagh valley is one of the most scenic valleys not just in Connemara but in the whole of Ireland. This romantic valley offers breathtaking views of peatlands, mountains, lakes and glorious countryside where sheep graze freely.

10 min

The tiny village of Recess (Sraith Salach – riverside meadow of willows) is situated on the edge of the beautiful fishing lake of Glendalough and is home to the Connemara Giant or Con MacNamara, a statue overlooking the village car park.

Pass by

The Quiet Man is a 1952 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by John Ford. It Stars John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara. The film is notable for its lush photography of the Irish countryside and a long climatic semi-comic fist fight.

Highlights

Local guide
Driver/guide
Air-conditioned vehicle
Live commentary on board

What's included

Included
Local guide
Driver/guide
Air-conditioned vehicle
Live commentary on board
Not included
Food and drinks
Gratuities
Entry to Kylemore Abbey - tickets can be purchased from the driver at discounted rates, cash only.
Hotel Pickup

Traveller Ratings

4.8
597 reviews
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517
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Important Information

  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Children must be accompanied by an adult

Reviews(597)

A
Alexhance810
August 18, 2026
Great tour with Vincent

Great full day tour! Vincent is very knowledgeable and such a kind person. I went to the Kylemore Abbey with my 3 hours and had enough time to see everything.

Operator response

Thank you.

A
ANTONIO_F
August 9, 2026
Highly recommended.

The tour shows you the Connemara landscape well, it makes several stops and the driver Paul explains the things to see well. Highly recommended, the Connemara landscape is wonderful.

Operator response

Thank you.

M
Melanie_S
August 7, 2026
Dreamy Connemara tour with Mike! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Unforgettable Connemara tour with Mike!

This trip through Connemara was definitely more than worth it! It was a fantastic excursion and an all-around successful day. ​A very big compliment goes to our driver Mike! He was absolutely great, in a good mood throughout, and it was just huge fun to be on the road with him. Mike told and explained an incredible amount. Especially great: Even if you don't speak perfect English, he makes a great effort to speak clearly and understandably so that you can follow all the information effortlessly. ​Mike was extremely attentive during the entire trip. I really liked that he emphasized again on the way that you can decide spontaneously until the end whether you would rather visit Kylemore Abbey or explore Diamond Hill in the national park. ​What should you know about this trip? ​Perfect bus size: The tour was conducted in a minibus. This has the huge advantage that narrower and more remote roads can also be traveled, which allows you to see truly spectacular landscapes and dreamlike viewpoints. ​Good organization & breaks: Sufficient stops are made. You have the opportunity at any time to go to the restroom or to get snacks and refreshments. ​Punctual & safe: Great emphasis is placed on all guests returning to the bus on time, which makes the schedule extremely relaxed and reliable. ​Conclusion: A perfectly led tour with an outstanding atmosphere. Anyone who wants to experience Connemara should definitely book this trip! ------------------------------- ​This trip through Connemara was more than worth it! It was a fantastic excursion and an all-around perfect day. ​A huge shout-out to our driver, Mike! He was absolutely amazing, in a great mood throughout the entire journey, and a real pleasure to drive with. Mike shared so much interesting information and history along the way. A special touch: even if your English isn't perfect, he makes a huge effort to speak clearly and at a great pace so you can easily understand most of it. ​Mike was extremely attentive from start to finish. I especially appreciated that he reminded us during the drive that we could decide at the last minute whether we wanted to visit Kylemore Abbey or head into the National Park to hike Diamond Hill. ​What you should know about this tour: ​Ideal bus size: The tour was conducted in a minibus. This is a massive advantage as it allows the driver to navigate narrower, off-the-beaten-path roads, leading to truly spectacular landscapes and incredible viewpoints. ​Well-organized with plenty of stops: There are frequent stops along the route, so you always have opportunities to use the restroom or grab a bite to eat. ​Punctual & smooth: Great emphasis is placed on everyone returning to the bus on time, which made the whole day run smoothly and stress-free. ​Bottom line: A flawlessly guided tour with a fantastic atmosphere. If you want to experience Connemara, you should definitely book this trip!

Operator response

Thank you.

F
FionaF507
August 4, 2026
Kylemore Abbey

What a fantastic experience. It was a pretty wet day and I had I initially planned to do the Connemara National Park walk however changed my mind at the last minute due to the weather. The Abbey did not disappoint! I easily filled in the 3 hours we were there wandering around the Abbey, Church and Walled Gardens. Highly recommend.

Operator response

Thank you.

D
Didier_I
July 29, 2026
The weather is fickle

Very good logistical organization: punctual bus, professional driver-guide. Several stops to take photos and stretch your legs. Very interesting visit to the abbey. However, terrible weather with rain and fog: zero visibility. Too bad

Operator response

You should have booked our 'Sunny Day Tour.'

E
emmalG8611CJ
July 17, 2026
Pavel - the best guide and highlight of Galway!

This is the trip to book! This trip has it all — a medium sized van (24 people), a knowledgeable and funny driver who adds information and humor when possible, a beautiful scenic drive with stops to stretch, walk and take photos, a 30-min grocery/townbreak, and a three hour stop at the abbey or national park. The hike was challenging in the heat wave, but so worth the rocky climb. Amazing views all around. We did it in 2.5 hours and had 30 minutes for ice cream, vistors center and enjoying the view. The ride back had a stop for sheep, but made it back into Galway around 6pm (but I wouldn’t make dinner reservations just in case!) Our driver, Pavel, was incredibly safe even on the treacherous roads. The commentary, facts and jokes really made the trip! We learned some Gaelic, history of the area and culture facts. We even took Pavel’s dinner and pub recommendations and met up with several other people from our tour afterwards! Thank you Pavel, looking forward to having you for tea on the sheep farm in the future! For more reviews on this tour, the Google reviews for Wild Atlantic Way Tours is who this trip is with!

Operator response

Thank you.

W
W2027LAab
July 15, 2026
A breathtaking day!

We had a fantastic day thanks to our guide Vincent! The journey was magnificent with barely believable landscapes! This day will remain a very beautiful memory of our stay in Ireland. The value for money is excellent, just like the organization, and the time spent with our guide was rich in anecdotes and educational. Vincent is a charming and calm guide. We highly recommend this excursion if you are not familiar with this region. The multiple stops are superb and the 3 hours of free time in Connemara allowed us to climb Diamond Hill without any issues + the guide allowed us to stop for 10 minutes at Kylemore Abbey to take some photos. Connemara National Park offers several walks with different levels of difficulty, allowing everyone to enjoy the wonderful landscapes. It was perfect!

Operator response

Thank you.

D
Deactivated
July 15, 2026
The driver Mike was...

The driver Mike was great! Detailed explanations throughout the trip. We chose to stop at the national park. Small regret for us… The park offers 3 hiking trails: 2h30, 1h00, 30 mins Since the time on site is 3 hours, we figured that doing the big loop is risky, especially given the indications given as "difficult trail." In the end, we completed the small loop in very little time, maybe 30 mins, and there is not much else to do nearby. Making a stop at the park and then at the abbey could be more sensible!

Operator response

Thank you.

M
Margaret_B
July 14, 2026
A lovely way to spend the day....

First of all, our driver, Mike was great! Full of information, humor but still low key. The drive was not as winding as I feared. I took a motion sickness pill before we went and I was fine. This is the only tour that gets to use the route we took!! It's exceptional! Mike called out history and information for all the villages,towns,lakes,etc we passed by. We had several photo stops. The landscape is gorgeous and ever changing. We had a 30 min stop in Clifden, which is a charming town. Beware! 30 minutes goes by faster than you think! Set an alarm for 25 min so you have time to get back to the bus! ( I admit, I was 1 and 3 min late back to the bus on both major stops, Mike was sweet about it, but a couple passengers threw daggers! Lol) I guess I was the Black Sheep of the bus! We went to Kylemore Abbey. It's a wonder! The view of the castle across the lake is the shot to beat! We had 3 hours there. Again, set your alarm for 2.5 hours to allow you time to get back to the bus. You are covering a lot of ground there! I'll keep details out so you can discover the beauty for yourself. All in all...this trip was well worth it! Highly recommend!!!

Operator response

Thank you.

L
Laurie_S
July 10, 2026
Well worth the effort!

The history and back story of Ireland and specifically Commemara is fascinating and told through our guide, Paddy, was outstanding. Loved every bit of it! The stopovers were well timed and relevant

Operator response

Thank you.

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