Gap of Dunloe Tour (Boat & Bus)
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Bus Transport
- Parking
- Boat Transport
- Lunch
- Horse and Carriage transport payable on the day in cash
Itinerary
The bus which departs from the Old Weir Lodge will bring passengers to the world famous 'Kate Kearney's Cottage'. Here, passengers will make contact with the Horse and Carriage drivers. Note: Payment for the Horse and Carriage section of the tour is made to the drivers themselves and due to the mountainous nature of the area, cash is required. Unfortunately, the carriage drivers may not charge a children's rate due to limited seating.
The Carriage ride is roughly 1.5 hours through the Glacial Valley known as The Gap of Dunloe. The distance is 11 Kilometers. Passengers will then arrive at Lord Brandon's Cottage.
Lord Brandon's Cottage is an old hunting lodge which has been transformed into a cafe for those hiking and cycling in the area. After the walk or carriage ride through the Gap of Dunloe, Guests will have up to 1 hour to have lunch and enjoy this peaceful setting. Boats leave here at 2pm daily.
The boat tour by our experienced guides will bring you through the 3 lakes and 2 rivers of Killarney National Park. The trip is around 1.5 hrs depending on water levels and weather conditions. Guests will see The Meeting of the Waters, Dinis Cottage, the Old Weir Bridge, Brickeen Bridge and Innisfallen Island. Our experienced local guides will provide a full commentary throughout the tour and will answer any questions you may have.
Pass by: At the end of the boat tour is the famous Ross Castle. Built in the 15th century, Ross Castle was the seat of the Chieftain O'Donoghue. The bus will meet guests at the castle immediately after the boat tour so unfortunately the Castle isn't part of the tour. As the castle is less than 2km from Killarney, some guests opt to explore the area and walk to the town through the National Park afterwards. Please let the bus driver know if this is something you would like to do.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Stroller Accessible
- Service Animals Allowed
- Infants Required On Laps
Traveler reviews
Beautiful scenery
My husband walked and I took the horse cart. Beautiful sunny day, and our pictures are amazing. The boat ride was nice and relaxing. Definitely a worthwhile tour.
Two great experiences
This is a really great trip with a lot of unforgettable sights and experiences. It may help you to know what to expect though. It’s really a ride to two separate experiences. A bus driver takes you to the start of the gap and experience #1. There you either walk the gap or organize a pony trap cart. It wasn’t immediately clear to us how to hire a ride; we had to talk to an organizer who worked it out with the drivers. The drivers are just that: drivers - not guides. Don’t expect banter or history. Also, be aware that there may be places you need to walk to save the horses. We walked a steep part that was a strain on my older mother. The carts could also be jarring, small and uncomfortable. Perhaps best for kids. But the views were spectacular and the discomfort was temporary. We ended up at a spot for lunch before experience #2: a boat ride from the lunch place to Ross’ castle where the van was waiting. The boat ride was great. This driver was more of a guide on the boat and entertained us as we went. In one spot the water was low so most of the passengers walked around a very short part before getting back on. This was a little confusing at first but fine. It was great to take this tour, especially if you’ve seen some of these locations from on high. It helps to tie the geography together and to be inside the locations. Great tour
Lovely day on the lakes...
Lovely day on the lakes and rivers. We saw a pair of eagles and a juvenile. It was quite hot so we opted for the horse and cart instead of the 6 mile walk. Our boat guide was very knowledgeable and made sure we were well taken care of. The cart driver was local and shared lots of information. Brilliant day all around.
Beautiful Gap of Dunloe
A wonderful day both on the water and taking the jaunting cart …. such spectacular scenery and knowledgeable guides. We thoroughly enjoyed our day.
Wonders of Nature at every turn
Private trip with Rory was a wonderful experience and one I would recommend to any couple, family or group. If you’re in the area and don’t do this excursion you truly missed a lifetime memory.