Ireland's County Cork & Kerry Luxury Cycle 6D5N, Fully Guided

TWO BIKING OPTIONS:
Level 1, Approx. 14 km (9 miles), Elevation gain: 30 m (100 ft)
Level 2, Approx. 27 km (17 miles), Elevation gain: 244 m (800 ft)

Meet with your tour leaders today at 10:00 a.m. at Hayfield Manor Hotel, located off College Road in Cork City, Ireland. Please arrive dressed in your biking clothes. Bring your luggage and a daypack with your rain gear, and anything else you may want for today's ride (your luggage will be transported to our first night's accommodations).

Welcome to Ireland, where spectacular natural settings, fascinating history, and lively village culture combine for a terrific week of biking. Travelling from Cork City, we shuttle to the top of Coom which is the highest pub in Ireland at over 305 metres (1000 feet) elevation. Here, we enjoy lunch after which our tour guides fit your bike and give a short oration on various biking techniques and safety measures there is. Head out on two wheels through a windy downhill into the Roughty River Valley where we catch sight of local farms, small communities, and vistas of Kenmare Bay.

Continue to Park Hotel Kenmare, one of Ireland’s finest resorts and our home for the next three nights. Regarded as one of the world’s most revered hotels and set among established gardens that slope down to Kenmare Bay, the 5-star Park Hotel Kenmare offers the ultimate escape into one of Ireland’s special places.

Relax with a rejuvenating massage at the hotel spa, bask in the enchanting view of the glistering lake all from your spacious room, wander through its quiet garden, or take a dip in its pool. We reconvene this evening for a welcome reception followed by a mouthwatering meal in the hotel dining room.

THREE BIKING OPTIONS:
Level 2, Approx. 35 km (22 miles), Elevation gain: 457 m (1500 ft)
Level 3, Approx. 48 km (30 miles), Elevation gain: 640 m (2100 ft)
Level 4, Approx. 85 km (53 miles), Elevation gain: 1097 m (3600 ft)

Done with a hearty breakfast this morning, start the day cycling through the Roughty River Valley into Kilgarvan. Bike through hand-hewn tunnels on historic roads through remote Borlin Valley into County Cork, stopping for lunch in the bustling hamlet of Glengarriff. After eating lunch, we pedal through Glengarriff State Forest, a former hunting estate where we come across ancient oaks and perhaps hear the whisper of hobbits! A gradual climb through Caha Pass brings us to sweeping views of Bantry Bay before heading back into County Kerry, stopping for a treat at the award-winning Lorge Chocolatier in Bonane. Head back to Kenmare while taking in sights of old stones and ancient relics in an ancient valley along the way.

This evening, we are treated to a private whiskey tasting of Ireland’s finest with John Moriarty, our resident whiskey aficionado, and then a mouth-watering dinner afterwards.

THREE BIKING OPTIONS:
Level 2, Approx. 48 km (30 miles), Elevation gain: 640 m (2100 ft)
Level 4, Approx. 79 km (49 miles), Elevation gain: 945 m (3100 ft)
Level 5, Approx. 103 km (64 miles), Elevation gain: 1067 m (3500 ft)

Start today exploring the sparsely populated Beara Peninsula, named for a Spanish princess who fell in love with an Irish warrior. Revel in the breath-taking scenery as you cycle past quiet bays, and cliffs to one of Ireland’s five main fishing ports, Castletownbere. Enjoy lunch on your own this afternoon, and afterward continue on your bike up to Healy Pass at 335 metres (1100 feet), which offers views of the peninsula stretching out to the sea. Head downhill past glacier-carved peaks and lakes, including the sunken, sheer-sided Glanmore Lough.

Carry on to Kenmare town where you are free to explore as you like; check out Kenmare’s shops and coffeehouses, wander along the River Finnihy, or visit its prehistoric stone circle left by ancestors to mark the sites of burials, battles, or mythological events.

Alternatively, for those in pursue for a more relaxing pace can indulge in a spa treatment at the hotel, venture in a golf game at the nearby Kenmare Golf Club or go on a fishing excursion on idyllic Kenmare Bay (activities at own expense).

This evening, we make merry over a pint or two of Guinness with our friend and local guide, Mike Murphy as he gives us some pointers on how to speak like an Irishman. Engage your palates with out-of-the-world dishes as you enjoy dinner on your own with lots of restaurants to select from.

THREE BIKING OPTIONS:
Level 2, Approx. 45 km (28 miles), Elevation gain: 610 m (2000 ft)
Level 3, Approx. 61 km (38 miles), Elevation gain: 762 m (2500 ft)
Level 5, Approx. 90 km (56 miles), Elevation gain: 1097 m (3600 ft)

Begin today with a delightful breakfast followed by a joyous ride up Moll’s Gap. While at the top, behold the breathtaking views of Killarney National Park and the iconic Gap of Dunloe. Descend and into the secluded valleys along narrow back roads in one of the most remote parts of Kerry. Bike the well-worn lane over Ballaghbeama Pass while relishing in the stunning views of Glencar Valley.

Take a break to enjoy a picnic at Blackstones House set on the shore of the Upper Caragh River beside Blackstones Bridge. After lunch, pedal winding roads past quiet bogs and lakes to Killorglin, home to Ireland's oldest festival, Puck Fair. Finally, ride along Caragh Lake to our home for the next two nights, Ard na Sidhe.

Translated as ‘The Hill of the Fairies’, Ard na Sidhe is an enchanting hotel situated on 32 acres of natural woodland on the shores of Caragh Lake. Built-in 1913 by Lady Gordon, this country house immerses you in the unique natural beauty of Ireland as it combines graceful elegance with modern comfort while retaining its old-world enchantment. Relax in your room overlooking the rustic courtyard, follow your feet on walks around its alluring gardens, and relish the serenity of Caragh Lake.

Witness legend comes to life tonight as we are entertained with stories from a well-known Irish seanachie (Irish storyteller), thereafter we savour a pleasant dinner.

TWO BIKING OPTIONS:
Level 2, Approx. 42 km (26 miles), Elevation gain: 518 m (1700 ft)
Level 3, Approx. 60 km (37 miles), Elevation gain: 701 m (2300 ft)

Relax leisurely this morning at the hotel amid the serene scenery all around you, or come along on a spin through the countryside, immersing yourself in an Irish postcard, sometimes wild and rugged, sometimes still and subtle, but always marvellous. Our ride leads us through some of the dazzling areas of the extraordinary Ring of Kerry, which traces the coastline of the Iveragh Peninsula and offers magnificent views of Dingle Bay.

Arriving in Cahersiveen, we set sail on a ferry to one of the largest islands off the southwest coast of Kerry, the Valentia Island. After disembarking, we make a stop at O'Neill's The Point Seafood Bar for a hot cup of soup or the renowned locally caught crab sandwich! After lunch, continue exploring this fascinating island, and hopefully catch a glimpse of Skellig Michael, a World Heritage Site, whose 700-foot cliffs Saint Patrick drove the last poisonous snake from Ireland.

Back at the hotel, we sit down for our final evening together, indulging in an unforgettable dinner and toasting to a wonderful week in Ireland. Sláinte!

Level 1, Approx. 26 km (16 miles), Elevation gain: 183 m (600 ft)

Bring an end to this mind-blowing adventure with one last early spin through the farmlands of Killorglin, in the shadow of the MacGillycuddy Reeks' high peaks and possibly a fresh-baked scone in town.

For those in search for a slower pace can relax and take pleasure in the picturesque scenery around you, afterwards we gather for one last meal, and then shuttle to Cork on a private coach where we say our goodbyes bringing an end to this tour.

NOTE: This itinerary is provided as an example only – prevailing conditions and local arrangements may cause variation.