Aran Island, Cliffs of Moher & Cruise tour from Galway

Explore Aran Island, Cliffs of Moher & Cruise from Galway. Discover medieval ruins, ancient castles, and breathtaking landscapes. Book your guided tour now!

Duration: 1 day
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Cliffs of Moher - Begin your day in Galway with a morning departure, accompanied by a knowledgeable local driver-guide. Your journey will take you along the Wild Atlantic Way, through the unique, moon-like terrain of the Burren, and onward to the Cliffs of Moher. As you head towards the ferry departure point in the quaint fishing village of Doolin, you’ll pass through the charming villages of Clarenbridge, Kilcolgan, Ballindereen, Kinvara, and Ballyvaughan.

On this route, you’ll encounter medieval ruins, 16th-century tower house castles, churches, graveyards, dry stone walls, quays, harbors, and a variety of farm animals including ponies, horses, calves, cows, lambs, and sheep. You might even spot a leprechaun or two.

At Ballyvaughan, your driver-guide will turn south, following the Wild Atlantic Way along Clare’s coastline. You’ll pass Black Head (a Wild Atlantic Way Discovery Point), Fanore Strand (another Discovery Point), and the smaller cliffs of Ballyreen.

Here, you can witness the raw power of the Atlantic Ocean as it crashes against Ireland’s coastline—this is the essence of the Wild Atlantic Way.

Around 11am, you’ll arrive in Doolin to catch the ferry to Inisheer, the smallest and closest of the Aran Islands in the Gaeltacht region. The Aran Islands—Inishmore (Inis Mor), Inishmaan (Inis Meain), and Inisheer (Inis Oirr)—are limestone outcrops that enclose Galway Bay.

During the 30-minute ferry ride, keep an eye out for a local bottlenose dolphin that sometimes follows the ferry. Once on Inisheer, you’ll have free time to explore ancient castles and churches, wander narrow lanes between stone walls, and relax on deserted white sand beaches. You can easily explore the entire island by renting a bicycle or a pony and trap.

The return ferry to Doolin includes a guided scenic cruise beneath the stunning Cliffs of Moher. From this vantage point, you’ll get a breathtaking view of the 214-meter high, 8-kilometer long Cliffs of Moher (a Wild Atlantic Way Signature Point). As the locals say, “From the Cliffs you see the sea, but from the sea you see the Cliffs.”

Afterward, you’ll head to the top of the Cliffs of Moher. Re-board the coach and your driver-guide will take you to the summit for at least a one-hour stop. The entry fee to the Cliffs and the eco-friendly visitor center, the Atlantic Edge, is included. Take a walk along the cliff tops and soak in the expansive views of the ocean and sky.

Departing from the Cliffs of Moher, you’ll return to Galway via Lisdoonvarna, known for its world-famous matchmaking festival held every September. You’ll once again traverse the limestone, glacio-karst landscape of the Burren.

You’ll arrive back in Galway city at approximately 6:30pm, returning to your original departure point.

What's Included
  • Driver/guide
What's Not Included
  • Food and drinks
Additional Information

Embark on this amazing journey along the stunningly beautiful Wild Atlantic Way, passing through the otherworldly landscape of the Burren to the renowned Cliffs of Moher. Discover medieval remains, 16th century tower house fortresses, sacred places, burial grounds, handcrafted stone walls, ports, ponies, calves, cows, lambs, sheep and maybe even encounter a mythical leprechaun!

As you drive down the Clare coast, feel the might of the Atlantic Ocean as it clashes against the shoreline. Hop on the ferry at Doolin to reach Inisheer, the smallest and nearest of the Gaelic-speaking Aran Islands. Be on the lookout for native bottlenose dolphins that are sometimes seen around the ferry. On Inisheer, delve into the rich past of the island’s castles, churches, narrow byways, stone barriers, and untouched sandy beaches.

The ferry back offers a guided pictorial sail under the awe-inspiring Cliffs of Moher. On arriving back at Doolin, head to the summit of the Cliffs of Moher for a leisurely walk along the Cliffs edge. Wrapping up the tour at the Cliffs, you return to Galway.

  • Children must be accompanied by an adult
  • Island visit part of the tour is weather dependant.
  • Meet point is in Galway City centre, outside Kinlay Hostel, Merchants Rd, Eyre Square, Galway, H91 F2KT, Ireland
Location
Kinlay Hostel Galway
Merchants Road
Bus will be waiting outside the entrance to Kinlay Hostel, Merchants Road, Galway. Please arrive 10 minutes before departure time.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(83 Ratings)
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Brian_s
Aug 31, 2024
Get rocks along all the other stacks of rocks you will see along the way! Cheers - Gerry is absolutely the best. He is an amazing guide and just overall great person. He will have you laughing the entire way until your s sleeping on the way back to Galway! Gerry is the best.
Review provided by Viator
Jefferson_b
Aug 27, 2024
Alan is awesome! - Alan our driver and guide was amazing. Talked the right amount with facts and jokes built in. Very professional. He was able to arrange bikes, horse n trap rides, and a great place for lunch on the island. The cliffs were amazing as well as the island Inisheer. Learning the history of the Buren area and all the little towns was great. We would highly recommend this activity.
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Sean_c
Aug 27, 2024
A day on the rocks - Breathtaking views and Allan was a fantastic guide. The whole trip, even the rough waves, was memorable and fun
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Erik_l
Aug 21, 2024
Lots to see! - Had a great time on this tour! This was a long day but had a lot of things to see. This was a nice trip to get as much as possible in a day!
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Lane_b
Aug 13, 2024
An Incredible Day - We loved our driver, Phil. He was great as a guide but especially when we had time to chat with him one on one. His passion for Ireland was very obvious and added an element of authenticity that was appreciated. The boat tour was amazing, and being able to see the Cliffs of Moher from the ocean and from atop the cliffs themselves was just stunning. Finally, seeing the Aran Islands thriving beyond just a place for tourists was just inspiring and it made for an amazing day.
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Marcel_h
Jul 30, 2024
High light of our trip - The bus ride was very informative. Bus driver had good sense of humour and explained everything very well. Very good job on his part. The boat ride along the cliffs was amazing and explained well
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Emily_y
Jul 12, 2024
Our guide/driver, Alan,... - Our guide/driver, Alan, was a gem! We enjoyed his historic and humorous commentary very much. The sights speak for themselves - just stunning! The people on the island were very friendly. We’d recommend this tour to visitors and locals alike!
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Garth_b
Jul 9, 2024
Beautiful way to explore Ireland! - Incredible tour, with extremely engaging and informative guides. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone who wants to see the cliffs from the top and the water. Also, we really enjoyed the tour and time on the island.
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Domenica_b
Jul 5, 2024
Adventurous day on Aran Isalnd. Inisheer - Super exciting bot ride! Excellent tour guide and expert driver. Alan. He made the day so perfect for us!
Review provided by Viator
Sarah_c
Jul 4, 2024
Best day yet! - Fantastic views of the cliffs, beautiful island, and a great tour guide (Gerry)!! Highly recommended this tour.
Review provided by Viator
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up to 9 guests
1 Adult
September 2024
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