Cliffs of Moher and Wild Atlantic Way Luxury Private Tour

About This Tour

This private 10-hour tour travels the Wild Atlantic Way from Dublin in a Mercedes-Benz, with a local chauffeur-guide who knows the route, the history, and the best places to stop along the way.

The day covers some genuinely varied ground - Dunguaire Castle on Galway Bay, the charming village of Kinvara, the artisan chocolate factory at Hazel Mountain in the Burren, Caherconnell Stone Fort (optional, seasonal), and 90 minutes at the Cliffs of Moher. There’s also a photo stop at Bunratty Castle on the return leg. The itinerary is flexible - your guide can suggest detours for wildlife, a scenic side road, or lunch at a local pub.

What’s Included

• Private transportation
• WiFi on board
• Bottled water
• Air-conditioned vehicle

What’s Not Included

• Gratuities
• Admissions

Itinerary

1. Dunguaire Castle - A picturesque 16th-century tower house on the shores of Galway Bay, near Kinvara. Named after the legendary King Guaire of Connacht, it’s one of the most photographed castles in Ireland. The restored interior gives a real sense of medieval life, and the views from the battlements over Galway Bay are worth it. (pass by)
2. Kinvara - A coastal village on the southern shores of Galway Bay with a relaxed, authentic pace. Once a busy trading port, it’s now a quiet fishing village with colourful shopfronts and a good pub or two. The Merriman Hotel is home to Ireland’s largest thatched roof. (pass by)
3. Hazel Mountain Chocolate - An award-winning bean-to-bar chocolate factory and café in the Burren hills of County Clare. You can watch the chocolate-making process, try handcrafted treats made from ethically sourced cacao, and have a proper hot chocolate or coffee at the on-site café. (30 min)
4. Burren National Park - A vast limestone landscape that’s genuinely unlike anywhere else in Ireland. The terrain looks stark, but in spring and summer it’s full of rare Alpine, Mediterranean, and Arctic wildflowers growing side by side - an ecological rarity. Ancient megalithic tombs dot the area, and the walking is good if you want to get out of the vehicle. (60 min)
5. Caherconnell Stone Fort - A well-preserved 1,000-year-old ringfort in the heart of the Burren. The sheepdog demonstrations here, run by trainer John Davoren and his border collies, are worth seeing. Guided tours of the fort cover the archaeology and rural traditions of the site. This stop is optional, available seasonally and subject to time allowances. (60 min)
6. Cliffs of Moher - The cliffs tower over the County Clare coastline and stretch along the Atlantic for kilometres. They’re a Special Protection Area for birds, with significant seabird colonies including puffins. Your guide will point out the best viewpoints and share the stories behind the landscape. (90 min)
7. Bunratty Castle - A photo stop at this well-known medieval castle on the return to Dublin. (20 min)

Good to Know

• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Specialised infant seats are available
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

This is a private tour. Available in English.

Local Tips

Kinvara is worth the pause, even just passing through. Kinvara sits where the Burren limestone meets Galway Bay, and Dunguaire Castle on the water’s edge is one of the most photographed spots in the west for good reason - the red stone against the bay light is genuinely striking. The village itself has a handful of pubs along the harbour; Winkle’s runs trad sessions most nights in summer if your day runs to an evening stop on the return.

The Burren in May is different from any other month. The limestone plateau between Kinvara and the Cliffs holds more than 70% of Ireland’s native flowering plant species. In May, gentians come up blue and the orchids follow through June - rare Alpine, Arctic, and Mediterranean species growing side by side because the rock holds heat in winter and moisture in summer. If you’re travelling in spring, tell your guide you’d like to walk a stretch of pavement.

At Bunratty, go at the right time of day. The photo stop at Bunratty Castle makes most sense early or late in the day - before the coach buses arrive in the morning, or after 4pm when they’ve cleared out. The castle is a genuinely well-restored 15th-century tower house, bought as a ruin in 1954 and put back together with original furniture sourced from across Europe. If you have 20 minutes, Durty Nelly’s pub across the road has been at that spot since (they say) 1620. A quick drink is worth it for the room alone.

Tell your guide you want a lunch stop, not a car-park stop. The itinerary is described as flexible. Between Kinvara and the cliffs, the Burren runs through some of the best scenery in Ireland. Your guide can suggest a local pub in Ballyvaughan or Lisdoonvarna for a proper sit-down lunch - the chowder in this part of Clare is the right lunch for this kind of day.

Nearby on IrelandMe

• Kinvara - Dunguaire Castle catches the last light on Galway Bay, and the village’s harbourside pubs run trad sessions most nights of the summer - the Galway hooker boats tie up below the castle
• Bunratty - The best-restored tower house in Ireland, bought as a ruin in 1954 and put back together with 15th and 16th-century furniture - Durty Nelly’s pub at the castle gate claims 1620 and is worth five minutes of your photo stop