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
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
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
Sep 4, 2024
Incredible Memories - Norman and Paddy were amazing. Views were great and food was amazing . The train ride was so worry free. Bus driver was very gentle on the roads. Don’t forget it’s a long day.
Review provided by Viator
Aug 13, 2024
Great enjoyed it - The long train journey from Dublin to Killarney we were accompanied by our host, Andrew. A very charming host with a lot of information and enthusiasm, who spent much of the trip chatting. In Killarney changed to the bus with guide Batt. Batt shared information with us continuously throughout the bus ride (very nice that someone can chat continuously for so long). Beautiful stops made, Kerry Bog Village and Sneem, with many stops to take pictures of the beautiful landscape and the shepherd dog show was a lot of fun. Only the lunch spot could not please us, it came across as somewhat shabby and uninviting. At the end of the afternoon we arrived back in Killarney, where Andrew was waiting for us for the train journey back. Andrew also arranged for us to look around the luxurious Great Southern Killarney hotel before the train arrived. After the transfer in Mallow, Andrew arranged for us to upgrade to first class. Well-designed day tour with stops in the most beautiful places and a shoutout to the pleasant host Andrew.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Aug 4, 2024
Rail and bus excursions - This is a good company. The train escorts are friendly and helpful. The tour guides are knowledgeable, interesting and pleasant. We took several of tours from this company and recommend it highly.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Aug 2, 2024
Don't miss this one! - Absolutely the best tour in Ireland! Beautiful. Could have spent a lot more time exploring the Ring of Kerry. It was a very long day but taking the train made the trip more comfortable.
Review provided by Viator
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
Aug 24, 2024
Long tour, worth the time. - The views were beautiful and the tour guide was very knowledgeable about the scenery. Denis had a lot of stories about the region he was funny too. It is a LONG trip, so be prepared!
Review provided by Viator
Aug 9, 2024
Nice tour - My spouse and I participated in the Ring of Kerry tour in July. I must say that the tour was very professionally organized. Our guide on the train was John (I did not catch his last name, but I think he was from Australia) and our bus driver and guide in Kerry was Bat. John took good care of us during the train journey (there is a train change along the way, so it was good to have a guide with us at all times, plus there were other passengers in our reserved seats, so John also made sure that we got our seats). He also advised us right away at Heuston Station in Dublin that there would be two separate fee-required attractions along the way. At one, you could alternatively go for coffee, and at the other (a sheepdog show), you had to pay a cash participation fee (8€) if you wanted to watch the show.
Although both guides were good and the trip went well, I must point out that it would be great if it were openly communicated in advance that the tour includes additional fee-based activities. Participants may not necessarily have cash on hand, and it feels odd that the travel description mentions certain attractions but omits the fact that there is a separate admission fee. Lunch was also completely omitted from the travel description. Of course, it was nice that we stopped at a restaurant and had time allocated for lunch, but this could have been communicated in advance as well, including the fact that the meal was at our own expense. I don’t mind if there are separately paid parts included, but they absolutely must be communicated in advance.
So, Bat drove the bus and talked practically the entire Kerry tour about the history of the area and the people who lived there. Interesting stories, and often as a bonus, it was somehow related to his family and ancestors. He even shared details about his own mother’s childhood home, etc. They were quite nice to listen to. I somewhat closed my ears when it came to boxers from the early 20th century, whose names no one seemed to recognize on the bus. But that was, of course, my own choice.
Overall, it was a well-organized trip, but please do mention in advance in the tour presentation that it includes additional fee-based activities, so they don’t come as an unpleasant surprise to participants. I had read comments from those who had participated in similar tours on Tripadvisor before, so I was expecting these additional fees, but it’s really good manners to mention them. It’s a bit misleading when they are not mentioned in advance.
Review provided by Tripadvisor