South-West Ireland Walk (Kerry Way, Killarney National Park & Celtic History) 8D7N, Self Guided

From $1,385.68 Per Person, Twin Share

At a Glance

Travel back in time on foot through the Celtic's enrapturing history on this 8-day south-west Ireland walk traversing Kerry Way and Killarney National Park. Give into its unspoilt nature and be absorbed by its contrastingly picturesque landscapes from rugged cliffs and golden beaches to green fields and charming villages as you follow the spectacular Wild Atlantic Way.

Your expedition begins in Killarney, where the stunning 'Three Lakes of Killarney' add to the area's allure. Explore the landscape sculpted by the last ice age and take in the sights of Iron Age forts and religious sites. The walk is quite beautiful, what with all the fluffy sheep, peaceful blue loughs, and ethereal waterfalls. Everywhere you look, from the crashing of waves on rocky shores to the quiet grazing of deer in the ...

Trip Highlights

  • Take a break from the hustle and bustle of modern life as you take in the awe-inspiring natural beauty of Ireland's most stunning regions
  • Marvel at the breathtaking panoramic views of glistening lakes and rugged mountains that stretch out as far as the eye can see
  • Get lost in 10,000 years of dramatic Celtic history and immerse yourself in the rich cultural heritage that has helped shape the Irish way of life
  • Walk along tranquil forest trails where the only sounds you hear are the gentle rustle of leaves and birdsong echoing through the trees
  • Explore the fascinating Killarney National Park, Ireland's oldest protected wilderness that boasts Ireland's only wild red deer herd
  • Discover sprawling vistas that will take your breath away as you journey through wild and untamed landscapes

What's Included

  • 7 nights accommodation in a mix of friendly bed and breakfasts on a twin share basis
  • All breakfasts
  • Walking transfers to the start of the walks on days 2/3/6 to ensure you see the best of the area 
  • Luggage transfers between hotels
  • Route directions and maps

Itinerary

DAY 1 ARRIVE IN KILLARNEY
Abbey Lodge, Killarney
None
DAY 2 EXPLORE THE STAGE COACH ROUTE & BEACHES OF DINGLE PENINSULA
San Antoine B&B, Cahersiveen
Breakfast
DAY 3 UNVEILING THE IRISH WONDERLAND FROM CAHERSIVEEN TO WATERVILLE
Seaclusion B&B, Waterville
Breakfast
DAY 4 JOURNEY FROM WATERVILLE TO CAHERDANIEL
Derrymane Bay House, Caherdaniel
Breakfast
DAY 5 WALK THROUGH IRELAND'S RICH PAST FROM CAHERDANIEL TO SNEEM
Coomassig View, Sneem
Breakfast
DAY 6 TRAVERSING THE SCENIC KENMARE BAY: A HIKE TO REMEMBER
Rockcrest House, Kenmare
Breakfast
DAY 7 EXPLORE KILLARNEY NATIONAL PARK AND MUCKROSS HOUSE & GARDENS
Abbey Lodge, Dromhale
Breakfast
DAY 8 BID FAREWELL TO KILLARNEY!
None
Breakfast

Dates & Prices

Please contact us for private departures and group bookings. Single Supplement is available on request.

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How To Get There

-The departure and finish point is Basecamp Killarney.
- Major commercial flights provide convenient access to Killarney. The nearest major airport is Kerry Airport and has international and domestic flights from Tralee, Ireland and is 18 km from the center of Killarney.
- Transfers are to and from Killarney station are available to book for an additional cost. Alternatively, transfers can be arranged from Killarney Airport or Cork Airport for an additional cost. Please contact us to book.

Weather & Climate

The climate on the South West Coast of Ireland is mild due to its location and the influence of the Gulf Stream. The weather, however, is temperamental and proves quite hard to predict, therefore it is important to be prepared for all weather. The warmer months tend to be the summer months, July and August, with an average temperature of 20 degrees Celsius. Temperatures rarely fall below 0 during the year. The wettest months tend to be from October through to March. April is often the driest month. Rain can be expected at any time of the year.

Walking Levels

The walking level on this trip is rated Level 3 Moderate

Level 1 Leisurely: Experience is not necessary, anyone fit and healthy enough to complete a weekend walk will thrive. Walks are often optional. Trails are seldom flat, so expect a reasonable number of ascents and descents. You normally walk for two to five hours per day, daily ascents will likely be around 985ft to 1,840ft (300m to 500m), perhaps with the odd day around 1,970ft (800m).

Level 3 Moderate: Expect easy, medium-length walks or harder, shorter walks. Some experience is useful, but not essential. Good health and reasonable fitness are important. There will be walks at higher altitudes and some longer, harder days. Generally, though, the underfoot conditions will be fair. A walking day is normally five to seven hours; daily ascents will likely be around 1,640ft to 2.625ft (500m to 800m), perhaps with the odd day around 2,955ft to 3,280ft (900m to 1,000m).

Level 5 Challenging: Fitness is vital with extended walking in mountainous terrain. You might also experience high altitude, challenging climates and remote locations. Trakking experience is desirable, but not vital if you are confident in your physical condition. Walking days are usually between six and eight hours, although they may be longer for passes or peaks. Daily ascents can be around 2,955 to 3,280 (900m to 1,000m), perhaps with the odd day around 3,610ft to 3940ft (1,100m to 1,200m)

Level 7 Tough: Trekking experience is essential and preferably at altitude. You need complete confidence in your ability to trek for many days over difficult terrain. You may encounter extreme altitude and weather conditions and may need to use ice axes and crampons. Stamina is essential as walking days last six to nine hours (sometimes more on occasions). Daily ascents will likely be around 2,955ft to 3,280ft (900m to 1,000m), perhaps with the odd day around 3,610ft to 3,940ft (1,100m to 1,200m).

Split and optional grades: Where a trip falls between two grades, an intermediate or ‘split’ grade is used. For example, Level 2 (Leisurely/Moderate). Occasionally there are optional ascents available; in this case, the grade will be highlighted.

Activity Information

Terrain and route: The walking is on wall marked trails, the terrain at times can be a little muddy underfoot and some rocky sections. There are some coastal paths which are wide but do have drops. Walking boots are essential and poles are highly recommended.

Vehicle Support: This is a self-guided trip for those who prefer to walk independently, but with our assistance to take out the stress of the logistics and planning. We arrange your accommodations, provide you with a map and route notes so that you can walk at your own pace, while your bags are transported from one hotel to the next. A representative will be there to meet you and will be on call throughout the trip should you need.

It is important that you are happy reading maps and following route notes, we make these as accurate as possible and they are regularly checked. As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. There maybe others on the same departure date as you, but you will not be organised together. The route notes contain a 24-hour emergency assistance telephone number should you need it and in emergencies. the local representative is normally able to dispatch a taxi or pick you up themselves. They may wish to charge for this service.

As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. A local representative is on hand to assist you and will meet you at the beginning of the week to go through the route notes and point out particular places of interest. Your luggage is transferred and route notes and maps are provided. Please note: the walking and luggage transfers included in this tour are subject to a minimum of 2 people (in total) booked on the departure. A supplement (payable in advance) to cover these transfers and sole occupancy of a room will apply if only 1 person travelling on a departure date.

Other Information

Onlyluxe Travel acts as travel agency and work with different tour operators.

Payment Detail
All pricing is in Australian dollars and are quoted on a per person twin share basis. A supplementary price is available (see below). Bookings are not confirmed until full payment and the signed Booking Form has been received by Onlyluxe Travel.

A non-refundable 30% deposit is payable within 7 days of your booking, with the final balance due 90 days prior to departure. If a booking is made 90 days or less before departure, the full payment is payable immediately. Last minute bookings are payable before arrival. Failure to pay on time may result in automatic cancellation of a booking with cancellation penalties payable to Onlyluxe Travel. If you pay by credit card or PayPal a surcharge will be added to the total price.

Single Supplement
All accommodation is twin share. Single guests will share with someone of the same gender. If a single room is demanded, a supplementary price of will apply. The supplementary price refers to our quotation and needs to be stipulated at the time of booking.

General Cancellation Policies
- Outside of 90 days monies will be refunded less 30% of full fee
- Within 90 days prior to arrival all monies will be forfeited
- No refunds will be given in the event of non-arrival, any unused services or unused nights due to flight or weather disruption
- We strongly recommend guests protect themselves with travel insurance and medical insurance

Please Note: Cancellations must be advised in email and will take effect from the date they are received.

Liability
The participant agrees to indemnify Onlyluxe Travel, and its servant, tour operator and agents, in relation to any liability, loss and damage which the tour operator, or its servants and/or agents may incur as a result of the participants, negligence or misconduct during the tour.

Smoking is not permitted on the bus, or in tents or in other accommodation being used by tour operator at the time that a trip is being conducted.

Child Policy
Please consult travel consultant on age limit.

Changes to Itineraries
Local conditions may necessitate changes to sightseeing, walking and driving routes, camping and accommodation locations. While every effort will be made to provide the services and experiences as offered in our brochure, on our website, and in our trip letters, we reserve the right to vary your itinerary. In the event that we are forced to change your arrangements, substitute arrangements of a similar standard will be provided. The tour operator will not be liable where interruptions to itineraries are caused by weather conditions, technical problems to transport used by the tour operator, industrial action, political or civil commotion or other circumstances beyond our control. We refer you to the conditions regarding travel insurance.

Changes in Prices
While we will do its utmost to honour its pricing unforeseen circumstances may mean that prices may be subject to change without notice.

Pre-Existing Medical Conditions and Age Limits
You need to advise Onlyluxe travel and the tour operator on any pre-existing medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability that might reasonably be expected to increase the risk of your requiring medical attention, or that might affect the normal conduct of a trip and the enjoyment of other trip members. Onlyluxe Travel and the tour operator may require an assessment of your medical condition from a qualified medical practitioner. If you fail to adequately notify the tour operator of any pre-existing medical conditions and/or disability, the tour operator reserves the right, at its reasonable discretion, to cancel your participation in a trip at any time, including after the commencement of your trip, with no right of refund if your medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability could be reasonably expected to affect the normal conduct of the trip and the enjoyment of other trip members.

Cancellation by The Tour Operator
The tour operator is at the mercy of nature in all her beauty and all her fury. The tour operator will under no circumstance knowingly place at risk the health and well-being of our guests and guides. In the case of natural threats, acts of God and the like (e.g. bushfires, impassable snow, etc) the tour operator may need to cancel a tour with very little notice. In some cases, this can occur after the tour has commenced. The tour operator reserves the right to cancel any tour up to 60 days prior to departure if the minimum number requirement of 2 is unable to meet for a tour. If the tour operator needs to cancel for any reason, the cost of the tour or any other costs associated with travel to the designated pick up point, overnight accommodation, meals, etc will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore we strongly recommend travel insurance be taken out prior to travel.

Force Majeure
'Force Majeure' means (without restriction) any event which Onlyluxe Travel or its third party providers could not, even with due care, foresee or avoid. Force Majeure covers events such as, but not limited to, adverse weather conditions, fire and all similar events beyond our control. In the case of Force Majeure Onlyluxe Travel will not accept liability, and reserves the right to change and cancel trips.

Evacuations
In rare circumstances, due to injury or unforeseen illness, the tour operator may need to evacuate you from a remote part of the walk. Helicopter evacuations are expensive and in most cases will be at a cost to the customer.
In the genuine spirit of expedition travel, we encourage exploration and adventure offering flexibility in challenging environments. This itinerary is only a guide and is subject to change due to weather, sea and other conditions beyond our control.
For Australian residents, under the Australian Government Medicare Act, it is prohibited for any domestic travel insurance product to provide any financial reimbursement with regard to ambulance or air ambulance services. We therefore strongly advise our customers to take specific ambulance cover through their health insurance provider. Evacuation cost will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore it is also strongly recommended that our customers take out travel insurance to cover (amongst other things) the costs associated with evacuation.

Travel Insurance
In view of the heavy cancellation penalties applied to cancelled reservations in certain circumstances, we strongly recommends suitable travel insurance be purchased at the time the holding deposit is paid. We recommend insurance cover that covers any loss which may be suffered due to cancellation. We also strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance against loss of baggage and medical expenses.

Product Code : EIEKIRSIW08