Connemara, Galway and Mayo
Connemara stands as one of Ireland’s premier destinations for cycling enthusiasts, and it’s easy to see why. Recognised by Lonely Planet as one of Europe’s must-do cycling trips, the Connemara Safari offers a perfect mix of adventure, culture, and stunning scenery, making it an unforgettable experience for riders of all levels.
These tours are expertly designed to showcase the area’s diverse landscapes, rich heritage, and exceptional cycling routes, ensuring an immersive journey for every participant.
Cyclists can look forward to exploring iconic destinations such as Westport, Croagh Patrick, Delphi Valley, Killary Harbour, Kylemore Abbey, and the renowned Sky Road near Clifden. Along the way, the routes traverse expansive boglands, serene coastlines, and secluded beaches, all while offering panoramic views of the rugged mountains and shimmering waters that define Connemara’s natural beauty.
The adventure doesn’t end there. A highlight of the tour is the ferry ride to the Aran Islands, where visitors can explore the dramatic hill fort of Dún Aengus, perched high above the Atlantic. Spending the night on the island allows for a deeper appreciation of its tranquil charm and unique culture before returning to the mainland.
Connemara is a land steeped in myth and poetry, celebrated for its rugged granite landscapes, crystal-clear lakes, and meandering rivers. Each day of the tour offers fresh scenery, from coastal rides in the morning to quiet bog roads with mountain vistas in the afternoon.
£70 per person off all September and October dates!
Itinerary
Once you have arrived in Galway, make your way to your accommodation. Check-in is available anytime after 3.00 pm. Afterwards, you can enjoy an afternoon of exploring in this bustling medieval city. We will send your full accommodation details and the necessary contact details for the tour closer to your departure date. A folder containing your route details will be waiting for you at the guesthouse, and any rental bikes will be waiting for you in a local bike shop.
The first ride on the tour will take you north, along quiet back roads and through rolling green fields full of grazing sheep, before descending and leading you to Lough Mask, where a pleasant cycle ride along the shores of the lake awaits you.
After lunch, and still will fairly fresh legs, you will take on the biggest climb of the week that will take you over the Partry Mountains. Afterwards, you will cycle along a quiet back road, with stunning views of the surrounding landscape, all the way to the colourful village of Westport.
This ride will take you between Croagh Patrick and the beautiful Clew Bay, with its many small islands. Later, you will continue to the village of Louisburgh, where we will stop for lunch. In the afternoon, you head south. Now you can drink in one of the highlights of the week, the stunning Delphi Valley with its beautiful lakes overlooked by Ben Bury, the highest mountain in Connemara.
Tonight we stay in the small village of Leenane, which looks out over Killary Harbour, Ireland’s only fjord.
Today, you cycle into the heart of Connemara, a stunning setting where you will find yourself overlooked by the Twelve Bens mountain range and visit Kylemore Abbey, a wedding gift from a wealthy Liverpool businessman to his wife in 1868.
You then cycle along quiet backroads past small fields with grazing cattle to the seaside village of Cleggan, where you can stop for lunch. In the afternoon, you follow the scenic coast road to Clifden, where you can watch cars travel across the beach to Omey Island, only accessible when the tide is out! Clifden, the capital of Connemara, where you spend the next two nights, is a pretty and bustling town of art galleries, cafes, pub,s and restaurants established 200 years ago at the whim of John D’Arcy
The day can be spent in rest or you can take part in a variety of activities, including walking, golf or horse riding.
The town itself is a nice place to spend time visiting the museum, art galleries and book shops and cafes. In the evening, there are a number of bars which have traditional music sessions.
You cycle out of Clifden along beautiful waterside roads crossing extensive wild bogs with freshly cut peat waiting to be harvested against a backdrop of the Twelve Benns Mountains.
The afternoon cycle takes you through Gaelic-speaking areas to the ferry in Rossaveel which will bring you to Inis Mor, the largest of the Aran Islands, where you will spend the night.
The day can then be spent touring the unique landscape of the island with its wealth of ancient stone forts and monastic sights.
In the late afternoon, you return to the mainland and take a transfer back to Galway City for a final night on the town together before going our separate ways the following morning.
Departure from Galway or spend extra nights in the city or the surrounding region.
Arrival: Galway City
Departure: Galway City
Nearest Arrival airport: Shannon, Dublin or Cork
Nearest Departure airport: Shannon, Dublin or Cork
We also recommend travelling by train or ferry to all cycling holiday starting and departure points. We can help you plan your journey to Galway by rail and ferry. Car parking is available on all tours at the first hotel or a nearby public parking location. Full details are available on request. Please do not book travel until an official invoice confirms the cycling holiday.
Route overview
Starting point: Galway City
End point: Galway City
Total cycling distance: approx. 265 km
Difficulty: Challenging
The roads are all tarmac, and the route is designed to ensure that you spend most of the week on quiet back roads, away from the main tourist routes. The emphasis of our cycling holidays is to give you the freedom to fully enjoy Connemara and its beautiful landscape at your own pace, whilst having the security of knowing there is a support van there if you ever need it. During the day, you can be an independent traveller, genuinely experiencing all the sights and sounds of hidden Ireland on routes most tourists never get to see, while in the evening, over a delicious meal, you can share your day’s experience with a group of like-minded people from all over the world.
Bike hire options
This cycling holiday benefits from high-quality bike hire options carefully selected for the tour. Electric bikes are available on request.
Cannondale hybrid bike
In 2025, Cannondale bicycles will be available for tours starting in Galway. Bike hire includes a water bottle cage, lock, helmet and a small pannier bag.
Sizes: Various sizes available. Full details will be provided at the time of booking.
What’s included
- 7 nights accommodation with breakfast mix of 3-star hotels & guesthouses
- Luggage transfer
- Ferry ticket to the Aran Islands
- GPS tracks
- One printed set of route details and maps per booking
- Private transfer from Galway to Cong at the tour start
- Private transfer from Rossaveal Harbour to Galway at the tour end
- 24-hour service hotline
Not included
- Travel to/from the start and finish (Flights/Trains)
- Evening meals (unless stated)
- Local daily taxes (Payable at the hotel)
- Helmets (Please bring your own cycle helmet with you)
- Water bottles
- Travel insurance
- Bike hire (Rental bike insurance included)
- Bike insurance (unless stated)
- Welcome meetings (unless stated)
- Transfers (unless included)
- SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT: £429 PER PERSON
-
Bike Hire Options
- 21/24/27-gear unisex/men’s inc. rental bike insurance: £129
- 21/24/27-gear unisex/men’s inc. rental bike insurance: £129
- Electric bike inc. rental bike insurance: £259
You can select your bike hire options in the ‘Book Now’ section.
Check Availability
2026/27 cycling holidays
All prices shown are per person, sharing a double/twin room and exclude flights/bike hire.
Special Offer: £70 per person off all September AND ocTOBER prices!
Contact us for more information, a price match, or call 017687 71700. Offer valid on new bookings only and until the 31st August 2026.
NEW FOR 2027
To make a booking, simply use the filter and select the day of the week that the tour operates on. You’ll then see all of the tour dates and prices easily. No payment is taken at this stage. For all bookings, we take a 20% deposit, and the final balance is due 56 days before arrival. An invoice and online payment link are generated after the tour is confirmed.
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