Active Journeys Ireland Guided Hiking tour
Tour descriptions Day 1 Arrive Lisdoonvarna
Day 2 7 km Cliffs of Moher Connemara, Aran Islands & the Burren Day 3 13 km The Burren The essence and variety of the West of Ireland is captured on this three centre-walking trip Day 4 13 km visi ng the Burren, Aran Islands, Connemara and Galway city. You will be based in hotels Maumeen and guesthouses in loca ons that provide the richest variety of geology, scenery and walk- Day 5 16 km ing condi ons that could be desired. Connemara Coast The Burren is a remarkable area of more than 100 square miles of limestone landscape, Day 6 Rest Galway day where a rich variety of plants thrive in the cracks and crevices. Enjoy the bird’s eye view of the drama c west coast of Ireland on the short flight to the Aran Islands, where Gaelic is Day 7 21 km s ll spoken. Explore the many archaeological sites of the island, including the pre-historic Aran Islands fort Dun Aonghasa. Old pilgrimage sites and bog lands rich in flowers are the treats of Con- Day 8 nemara. Tour ends
Tour Details 2015
Dates: May 23 June 20 July 11 August 15 September 12
Cost: $2095 per person
Length: 8 days / 7 nights Single Room Upgrade: $395 Fast Facts Grade: Moderate Starts: Lisdoonvarna Includes: Highlights:
Ends: Galway City • 7 nights hotels with breakfasts • Cliffs of Moher 6 picnic lunches & 6 dinners • Flight over west coast to Aran Islands • Guide services, local support and back up • Prehistoric fort of Dun Aegus service, transfers to/from walks each day • Vibrant city of Galway • Return flight to the Aran Islands • Irish pubs, music & dance
Ac ve Journeys Contact: 1-800-597-5594 or 416-236-5011 Email: info@ac vejourneys.com I nerary
Day 1 Arrival Arrival at accommoda on in Lisdoonvarna, renowned for tradi onal Irish music. Dinner and briefing. Overnight in Lisdoonvarna (3 nights).
Day 2 The Cliffs of Moher & Atlan c Coast 6.5 km A gentle walk by the Atlan c Coast will be offered, to allow you to ex- plore the countryside while introducing yourself to Irish walking.
Day 3 The Burren 13km Ascent: 275m/900 The Burren is a unique interna onally important habitat. You can ex- plore it through a combina on of walking on green roads and traversing of the karst limestone pavements, interspersed with rare arc c and al- pine flowers.
Day 4 Maumeen Distance: 13km Ascent: 350m/ 1,150 Enjoy a walk through the beau ful Maumeen Mountains on the pilgrim- age route up to St. Patrick’s Welland bed before con nuing along the Western Way to Keanes Pub. Overnight in Connemara (2 nights).
Day 5 The Connemara Coast 16km Ascent: li le or none Walk along the shore of Killary Harbour – Ireland’s only ord. A ten-mile walk on the ‘Famine Trail’ through Connemara mountain scenery – lake do ed bog land rich in flora.
Day 6 Free Day Transfer to the vibrant city of Galway – the capital city of the west of Ireland. If you are on the shorter trip then we sadly must say good bye once we arrive in Galway City.
Day 7 The Aran Islands – Dún Aonghusa Distance: up to 21km Ascent: li le or none Short flight over the drama c west coast of Ireland to the Gaelic (Irish) speaking Aran Islands. Visit archaeological sites including the pre- historic fort, Dún Aonghasa and Poll na bPéist (worm hole), all set in a stony landscape from which a living was laboriously wrenched.
Day 8 Departure Tour ends a er breakfast. What to Expect Getting There What will the weather be like? The day me temperature will be around 15 to mid-20 degrees C ( 60’s to 70’s F), • Fly to Shannon airport ( if flying to with moderate rainfall. It o en rains in Ireland, making the countryside lush and Dublin, you can take a bus or train green. It is usually misty and not torren al downpours, but rain gear is s ll neces- to Shannon sary, both a jacket and a pair of pants. • From Shannon airport we have a
standard transfer at 11:00 for €35 How many hours of hiking a day? per person Be prepared to hike between 4 to 6 hours daily. This is a supported tour, so there is • Private transfers can also be ar- back up service throughout the holiday. If you need to take a day off and rest, you ranged for a small fee. can easily do so. • Bus info: www.citylink.ie How fit do I need to be? The fi er the be er, so you will be able to enjoy this ac ve holiday. There are some hills and some level terrain, rolling hills rather than any steep pitches. Good waterproof hiking boots are a MUST.
What is the food like? We have included a full Irish breakfast each day. There will be packed lunches on some days, and organized dinners on some nights as well. Please advise in advance of any dietary requirements.
What are the proper es like? You will stay at high quality lodges, guesthouses and B&B’s. All the rooms have private facili es. They are chosen for their charm and hospitality. How to book your holiday
• Contact our office to make sure there is space available. One of our travel planners will walk you through the entire pro- cess.
• Download the reservation form from our site and send in the completed form by fax or email. Once this is done, your space is confirmed and pre-departure packet will be sent.
• A deposit is required immediately, and final payment is re- quired 60 days prior to the trip departure. Terms & condi- Extra Services tions are outlined in our Reservation Form.
This tour can be combined with Donegal or • Plan your air travel as soon as possible. Kerry for a wonderful two week break.
• We encourage you to purchase travel insurance, either We have a selection of hotels available for you, both before and after the tour. through us or a travel insurance provider directly.
Hotels in Dublin and Shannon can be ar- • Ensure you are in proper health for the trip chosen. Contact ranged for you, ranging from B&B’s to us for more information on vaccinations, inoculations, and deluxe accommodation. fitness requirements. Contact us for details.