We are doing a self-driving tour from Dublin to Galway, via Cork, Kinsale, Dingle, Doolin, and heard that it may be more interesting to take day tours of the Ring of Kerry, Dingle Pennisula, and the Aran Islands. I have looked at taking the boat across and seeing the island by horse cart. Bikes are not an option for us. Others have said it is worth the money to have someone else drive and tell stories about the history and sites we would go by. We are staying at BnB's and don't want a 'tour' trip, but day tours along the way. Has anyone had good experiences with this or other suggestions? We would be there late in May into early June, this year. Thanks!
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Colorado Springs
3041 posts
We've found the "things to do" pulldown menu on Trip Advisor to be helpful in sorting thru the various options for full and half day tours, and always found their reviews to be pretty trustworthy.
I don't think you need to book a pony trap tour of Inismore in advance. They'll be lined up on the pier when the ferry pulls in - just chat with the driver and be on your way. They're pretty good about customizing your ride to include anything you'd especially like to see.
Also, many here recommend flying over to Inismore rather than taking the ferry, which can be a rough and unpleasant ride if sea states are running high, and if the weather really turns sour there's the risk of outright cancellation.The company that operates the flights is Aer Arann Islands.
With a car you can easily tour both Slea Head and the Ring of Kerry independently and at your leisure, but if a guided tour is preferred then Trip Advisor will have a number of options. One day tour that's especially nice is an all-day excursion starting in Killarney that includes a boat trip across the lake, docking at a little restaurant called Lord Brandon's Cottage, then a pony trap ride thru the beautiful Gap of Dunloe to another tea room called Kate Kearney's, finishing with a bus ride from there back into Killarney town.