Ring of Kerry
This tour both starts and finishes in Killarney. This village is a popular stop on the Ring of Kerry route and sits, shadowed by the MacGillikuddy Reeks and adjacent to the famous Muckross National Park. The route will take you deep into the Iveragh Peninsula, along quiet backroads toward the villages of Sneem and Glenbeigh.
Later, you will head towards the Dingle Peninsula, the most westerly point in Europe. Here you will see the dramatic Slea Head coast and can ride among Neolithic ruins with wonderful views out to the Skelling and Blasket Islands. We will take a rest in the town of Dingle, where you will find a great array of local shops and restaurants to explore. The weary may pause for a well-earned pint in the famous Dick Macs pub, which doubles up as a cobbler!
You can give your legs a good stretch on Connor Pass and enjoy the stunning vistas of the peninsula from its lofty perch, before enjoying the well-earned, downhill glide to lunch. On the final day, you will ride through the Gap of Dunloe and Black Valley, a dramatic and fitting finish to a breathtaking tour. All too soon, you will find yourself back in Killarney, and at the end of the trip.
2027 launch offer: £50 per person off all 2027 departure dates!
Itinerary
On arrival in Killarney you should make your way to your accommodation. If you have time you could visit nearby Ross Castle a wonderfully restored 16th Century Norman Tower House overlooking Lough Leane. You can even hire a boat from here and row out to a 6th Century monastic site located on one of the nearby islands.
The tour starts off by following a cycle track into the beautiful grounds of Muckross House which you can visit, as well as a Franciscan Abbey founded in the 15th Century, now in ruins but beautifully situated with a large yew tree rising up through the cloisters. There follows a wonderful cycle between the Killarney lakes before a steady climb follows to your lunch stop at Molls Gap. You are rewarded with delicious food and beautiful views of the surrounding mountains. Our journey continues to the colourful village of Sneem.
Avoiding the main Ring of Kerry road you cycle across the peninsula. Cycling along quiet roads with stunning views, you climb up to the beautiful Gap of Ballaghbearna and descend into a valley with views of Carrauntoohil, Ireland’s highest mountain. After lunch, there is a wonderful cycle to Caragh Lake which you follow to the seaside village of Glenbeigh where you spend the night in a comfortable hotel.
You start the day with a short coach trip to Dingle where you are based for two nights. You follow the Slea Head Route around the tip of the Dingle peninsula. This is one of the highlights of the tour with a wide variety of archaeological sites to visit along the route and some of the most breathtaking coastal scenery in the country.
A variety of activities can be organised in the town. You can join an archaeological bus tour of the peninsula, or you can swap your bike saddle for a horse saddle and go horse riding. There are boat trips to the largest of the Blasket Islands with its wonderful walking trails. You can also simply potter around the town with its many shops and aquarium.
The morning starts with a long steady climb up to the Conor Pass with views of Mount Brandon and the coastline in the distance. There follows a wonderful descent and then along the coast to the village of Camp for lunch. In the afternoon back into the mountains to traverse the peninsula heading up over one side of the mountains to views of the other side of the peninsula with Dingle Bay and Ireland’s highest mountain range stretching out in front of you, to the final stretch to our night stop in Killorglin.
In the morning you cycle to Kate Kearney’s Cottage where you can stop for a cup of tea. You then enter the final highlight of the tour, the Gap of Dunloe, a place you will never forget. Coming out of the Gap you have an incredible view looking down the Black Valley, heading into a peaceful valley surrounded by green fields full of grazing sheep, to return to Molls Gap and on towards a wonderful freewheel back down to Killarney for a final night on the tour.
Departure from Killarney or spend extra nights in the surrounding region.
Arrival: Killarney
Departure: Killarney
Nearest Arrival airport: Kerry, Cork or Shannon
Nearest Departure airport: Kerry, Cork or Shannon
We also recommend travelling by train or ferry to all cycling holiday starting and departure points. We can help you plan your journey to Killarney 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: Killarney
End point: Killarney
Total cycling distance: approx. 280 km
Difficulty: Challenging
You will ride on mainly quiet roads. Although there are some steep climbs, mostly the landscape is rolling. Generally, there will be some climbing each day. But your efforts are well worth it for the views!
Bike hire options
This cycling holiday benefits from high-quality bike hire options carefully selected for the tour. Electric bikes are available on request.
Trek hybrid bike
In 2025, Trek bicycles will be available for tours starting in Killarney. 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 small hotels and guesthouses)
- Transfer from Glenbeigh to Dingle
- Luggage transfers
- 24-hour service hotline
- Set of maps and route details
- GPS tracks available (on request)
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: £579 PER PERSON
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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 Self-Guided cycling holidays
All prices shown are per person, based on sharing a double or twin room, and exclude flights and bike hire.
Special Offer: £50 per person off all 2027 departure dates!
Contact us for more information, a special price, or call 017687 71700. Offer valid on new bookings only.
NEW FOR 2027
To make a booking, simply use the filter to select the day of the week on which the tour operates. You’ll then see all available tour dates and prices. No payment is taken at this stage.
For all bookings, we require a 20% deposit, with the final balance due 56 days before arrival. An invoice and online payment link will be generated once the tour has been confirmed.
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