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Ring of Kerry Day Trip: Coastal Scenery from Dublin
4.2
260 Ratings
Dublin Heuston
Take a day trip from Dublin to the Ring of Kerry and soak up some of Ireland’s most stunning vistas. You’ll marvel at Ireland’s beautiful coastal scenery including Dingle Bay and the Lakes of Killarney.
Take a day trip from Dublin to the Ring of Kerry and soak up some of Ireland’s most stunning vistas. You’ll marvel at Ireland’s beautiful coastal scenery including Dingle Bay and the Lakes of Killarney.
Duration:
15 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Ring of Kerry - We take the train from Dublin to Killarney where we onto the coach to do the Ring of Kerry. There are plenty of stops along the Ring of Kerry for morning tea, lunch and photo stops, etc. Ireland’s highest mountains are located in Kerry, and Carrantuohill – which can be seen en route – is the highest, standing at 1041 metres high….
- Ring of Kerry - We take the train from Dublin to Killarney where we onto the coach to do the Ring of Kerry. There are plenty of stops along the Ring of Kerry for morning tea, lunch and photo stops, etc. Ireland’s highest mountains are located in Kerry, and Carrantuohill – which can be seen en route – is the highest, standing at 1041 metres high.
An essential part of any visit to Ireland, this tour circles the magnificent MacGillycuddy Reeks and runs through its many passes and valleys along the shores of Dingle Bay and Kenmare Bay.
The natural beauty of the Ring of Kerry provides many photo opportunities, as it passes through the many picturesque villages such as Glenbeigh, Waterville and Sneem. We return via Ladies View, the famous Lakes of Killarney and through the Oakwoods of Killarney’s magnificent National Park.
What's Included
- Qualified driver-guide on coaches
- Information pack
- Reserved seats on trains
- Host on trains
- All travel by rail and coach from Dublin Heuston Station
- Qualified driver-guide on coaches
- Information pack
- Reserved seats on trains
- Host on trains
- All travel by rail and coach from Dublin Heuston Station
What's Not Included
- Gratuities
- Food and drinks, unless specified
- Gratuities
- Food and drinks, unless specified
Additional Information
- Check in at 6:40AM! Train departs at 7am & it does not wait. Our yellow check-in stand is located close to the Customer Service Desk at Heuston Station where our representative will be waiting for you in their BRIGHT yellow jacket!
- Due to operational reasons it may, on occasion, be necessary to alter certain itineraries.
- Children U16 cannot book…
- Check in at 6:40AM! Train departs at 7am & it does not wait. Our yellow check-in stand is located close to the Customer Service Desk at Heuston Station where our representative will be waiting for you in their BRIGHT yellow jacket!
- Due to operational reasons it may, on occasion, be necessary to alter certain itineraries.
- Children U16 cannot book independently. They must be accompanied by a parent/guardian at all times.
- WHEELCHAIR POLICY: Our tours are a combination of train and luxury coach and include a moderate level of physical activity, such as short walks to meeting points etc. Unfortunately even the most modern luxury coaches (buses) are not wheelchair friendly, thus our tours are not suitable for those with mobility issues, and regretfully walkers, wheelchairs and mobility scooters cannot be accommodated on our tours.
- This tour offers stops en route for photographs, shopping, etc.
Location
Dublin Heuston
Check in is 20 minutes prior to the departure time (6:40AM). Our yellow check-in stand is located close to the Customer Service Desk at Heuston Station where our representative will be waiting for you in their BRIGHT yellow jacket!
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.2
(260 Ratings)
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Susanna_v
Sep 17, 2024
Breathtaking views in the Ring of Kerry! - We thoroughly enjoyed this scenic Ring of Kerry Tour! The combination of a train and bus ride was a good choice for us. We were so impressed that a guide, Paddy, travelled with us on the trains from Dublin to Killarney and back to Dublin again. He was so accommodating and prepared us well for the trip - we felt very safe and well cared for by him. The transitions between the train and bus coach went very smoothly. Our bus tour guide/driver Bat (Bartholomew) was wonderful! He was so incredibly funny and knowledgeable, with wonderful anecdotes about everything on the tour and and the interesting history of Ireland! The beauty of this part of Ireland is epic! The lunch stop was not our favorite, but the view was stunning. We especially enjoyed the Kerry Bog Village Museum and the Kells Sheepdog Demonstrations - the admission fees are not included with this tour but are well worth the extra cost. Sneem village was another hidden gem - I could have spent several hours there! Unfortunately we didn't have any time left to explore the town of Killarney because of a traffic jam. It was a long day, and we were exhausted by the time the train arrived back in Dublin, but we saw so much beauty and had an amazing experience!
Review provided by Viator
Peterlacey2640
Sep 14, 2024
A fabulous day around the Ring of Kerry!! - We were so impressed that a guide, John travelled with us on the early train to Killarney. What a dear man, we enjoyed his company and it was lovely to see him at the train station to return us back to Dublin. What an awesome service!
The Ring of Kerry coach tour was super too. I’m so happy we listened to folks about this was a tour not to miss in Ireland!
Review provided by Viator
J_r
Sep 11, 2024
A thoroughly enjoyable experience. - The combination of train and bus ride was a good choice for us. We thoroughly enjoyed the Ring of Kerry Tour . It was very scenic inspite of it being overcast that day.
Changes between the guides and trains & Coaches went pretty smoothly. Except for a small hiccup on our train return we had a comfortable trip.
Review provided by Viator
Starlessfurball
Nov 26, 2024
Wish we got to see more, but shout out to Paddy! - We met Paddy at the Heuston train station in the wee hours of the morning. He gave us an itinerary and two return rail tickets.
We then walked to the train. It was standard seating, but a trolley with sandwiches, danishes, and drinks came around. Everything we ordered was great. The first leg is long - probably close to three hours. You’ll want to bring a charger or something to do. We then switched at Mallow to go to Killarney.
Unfortunately, our rail had a terrible accident and we were delayed three hours. Paddy was constantly giving us updates and trying to make it work, but as the delays got longer, it just wasn’t. It’s November and it gets dark early. They promised to give a full refund.
Anyways, when we finally got off the train in Killarney, Paddy found out when the next train would be, led us to restaurants in Killarney. Later, when the next train arrived, he never left our side and guided us back to Dublin. It wasn’t the tour’s fault, but it was so kind of him to not just abandon us when the tour was cancelled. These things happen and it was out of the control. Wish we got to finish the tour though. Next time!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Matthewmd1913xa
Oct 8, 2024
A good choice - The tour was a great way to see the Ring of Kerry. Our tour guide, John T, was very prepared and gave everyone individual attention. When one of our group was having a minor health problem both the guide and driver were calm and helpful.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Amcspadden11
Oct 1, 2024
Beautiful scenery, friendly Irishmen! - Beautiful scenery. Great tour guides with lots of local knowledge and very helpful information. The sheep dog trial was a highlight for us. The description of the tour needs to be updated to note that breakfast is not included. We didn't pack any snacks, so the only meal was lunch. Be prepared for a long day, but well worth it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mohandoze
Nov 10, 2024
Slow down please - The tour consists of a train ride to Killarney and a bus tour around the Ring of Kerry. Our first guide John T escorted us on the train where he gave a comprehensive overview of what to expect in Kerry. He also enhanced our experience with anecdotes of Irish culture and local history. The bus tour with another guide ended an hour earlier than we expected as we spent little time at most viewpoints. The bus driver sped to each destination making photos out the window difficult. On past tours the driver would often slow when we passed significant points so the guide could narrate while we absorbed the view and took photos.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Emily
Nov 5, 2024
The Coach Rollercoaster Ride - Really liked our rail escort John. He was really friendly and helpful with navigating the stations. The history lessons on the train were insightful and we loved the map he gave us at the end.
But Norman and Mike… Mike was driving the coach like he was mad at us. Flying down the roads at what seemed to be too fast of speeds for the tiny winding roads. We almost got into two accidents (totally would’ve been his fault) and he was definitely not afraid of his horn or using the brakes. It was supposed to be a nice scenic drive and even with seat belts on, he was throwing us all around.
Norman mumbled half of what he said and not sure if it was his fault or Mike’s but by the time he said what to look at and what side of the bus, we were already too far past it to actually see it!
Most of the photo stops we got maybe five minutes and on other tours we got 10-15 minutes. And Norman was sure to start herding us back on as soon as the last passenger was off! Again, supposed to be a scenic drive and we couldn’t even stand long enough to really take in the view.
We got back into Killarney right before 4 and John was absolutely shocked to see our group on the sidewalk, the coach already a distant dot on the horizon. We should’ve gotten back in right after 5 and it’s disappointing that we got cheated out of an hour plus of time that we could’ve spent actually taking in the beautiful scenery that the area is known for.
Again, loved John Todd but Mike and Norman were not it! We stopped in Sneem I think and even the owners of the shop we were at knew of how bad they are. That’s pretty bad if you have a reputation with people that don’t even use your service.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Michellelm997ux
Oct 6, 2024
Its a typical "economy" type tour (big bus, standard seats) - To be clear, this review is for the Ring of Kerry from Dublin tour from Irish Rail Tours First Class. Don't let the name/description "first class" fool you. Its not. Just a very standard train/big bus tour. The train seats were standard seats and the motor coach seats were very tiny and jam packed in.
They also nickel and dime you to death. Nothing aside from the train and bus seats are included. No food. No admission at any stops. Nothing. It was hard to even know what the stops would be since the itinerary was vague aside from being Ring of Kerry. The host, Paddy, did (early in the train tour) come and show us a map and tell us what the stops would be that day. They all sounded interesting! But he failed to mention that we had to pay at each stop. That was an unwanted surprise! Want to actually SEE the bog farm, or the Irish Wolfhounds, or the Irish coffee tastes, or the Sheepdog demonstrations? Oh, pay up or sit on the bus.
At the first stop, the driver moved the bus and there were 6 other buses there that looked identical. We were all confused about which bus to get on. A few words about this would have been nice. That is sort of how the day went. Beautiful country side, and I don't regret going, but I've done hundreds of tours at all price points. This was an economy tour, not first class.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Landshark72
Nov 5, 2024
The Good and the Bad….Ring of Kerry - Mixed review…John was our Yellow Jacket for the day. Gave us incredible insight and history on the areas we were to visit. Upon arrival back at the station he walked with us and shared a great experience at the church. One of the best (with Paddy, Jerry, and Joe). 5 stars.
Now for the actual tour…we felt extremely rushed. Liked herded cattle. Our photo stops were extremely brief. Our guide and driver had little personality and acted like they did not want to be there with us. Many passengers made comments that they feared being left behind. I did as well.
Our driver exceeded the speed zones and nearly put us in an accident. Did not feel safe at times.
We arrived at approximately 16:00. We were not scheduled to be back until 17:10. We were shorted over an hour of our tour we spent good money for.
The high points were the National Park and lunch.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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