Kerry 8 Days -

One of the most famous counties in Ireland and deservedly so with spectacular mountains, lakes, charming towns and village, and archaeological sites that date to 5000BC.

This tour will take you from the lively town of Killarney around the full Ring of Kerry or circle of the Iveragh peninsula staying in little villages and visiting the Skellig Islands a world heritage site that was inhabited by our monks in the 6th century. Two islands that are beside each other that are like pyramids sticking out of the sea. Little Skellig is home to over 40,000 gannets. Make sure you wear a good hat or you may get blessed while visiting this place!

DATES FOR 2012:  March 12th  /  April 9th  /  May 14th  /  June 11th  /  July 16th  /  August 13th  /  September 10th

Day 1: 8:00 a.m.

Pick up the city centre Dublin - Dublin Tourism Office. This is where your journey will begin. All people will be introduced to each other on the bus. I like to get each person to sing a song from their country to start things off! Your national anthem will do! You will have the option to be picked up from Shannon Airport this day or Limerick city at 12 pm if this is more suitable.

The first day will be spent in the town of Killarney area, the gateway to the peninsula. We will arrive down there by early afternoon and you will get to walk around the town and visit some of its beautiful parks. We will go for a walk around the part of the National park that is closest to town. No need for big boots this day as all flat and on trail. Overnight in Killarney for 2 nights.

Day 2:

Wake up to a great Irish breakfast for your first day of walking. Today we will be walking up a mountain called Mangerton, view the Devils Punch bowl and do a circular walk around the Horses Glen and if time is with us we will go over to Stoompa before making our way back via Loch Garagarry. Overnight in Killarney again.

Day 3:

We begin our day by driving to the village of Sneem via Kenmare and Molls Gap. You will get to walk along the Kerry Way from Galway's bridge to Kenmare village. It is only a couple of hours walk so we will have lunch in Kenmare before travelling to the village of Sneem where more adventures begin later that day. Sneem is a wonderful little village that was made famous when Charles De Gaulle picked it as one of his favourite holiday destinations and now there is a square named after him there. It is a charming little village which I know you will all love very much. On arrival we can take a short stroll along the Sneem River and visit some pyramids made by Irish people!

Day 4:

This is a brilliant day of walking where we go up Knocknagantee, Knockmoyle and back via Eagles Lough and Louth Coomnacronra. Today you will really get to see what the Iveragh peninsula is about with beautiful lakes, views of the sea all around you and sheer drops down to bottomless lakes. The mountains of Kerry are some of the most mysterious in Ireland and not many people venture into this part of the peninsula so you will be guaranteed solitude today, just you and your group!

Day 5:

Leaving Sneem this morning we enjoy a wonderful morning walk around the historic Derrynane National Park and Abbey Island with great coastal vistas. This was once the home of Daniel O'Connell, The Liberator. You will learn all about this amazing man on the tour and what he did for Ireland, its people and the Catholic religion in Ireland. It is a nice relaxing days walking today before we head towards Waterville, a favourite holiday location of Charlie Chaplin! From there we will be travelling to Caherciveen where we will be staying for 2 nights

Day 6:

On your 6th day with Extreme Ireland you will get to visit Skellig Michael, that world heritage site off the coast of the Iveragh peninsula. If weather permits we will take the boat from Portmagee and doing a short trip to the islands we will take a walk and learn about the people that lived here and why they decided to live on such a remote and inhospitable place! If God forbids that we don't make it here today, we will be visiting Valentia Island, accessible by bridge! We will take short walks or indeed cycle around this island from Knightstown the main town of the island. Full of history this is a lovely place to visit. Overnight again in Caherciveen.

Day 7:

On your pulmultimate day we will visit the Glenbeigh region of the peninsula and walk around Seefin Mountain looking down onto Lough Caragh. You will be on the Kerry way for some of the day but also we will be heading off the beaten track to get to the top of Seefin and down to the Caragh river. We will be having our farewell dinner in the picturesque village of Glenbeigh. Our guide usually brings you down to the lovely beach the following morning before heading home.

Day 8:

Unfortunately you will have to depart the tour today and make our way back to Dublin or Shannon. Say farewell to everyone on the tour and exchange email addresses and lots of tears! We will make a couple of stops on the way back but you can expect to arrive back in Dublin by 5 at the latest on this day.