Couples, families or small groups who will use the flexibility of a private format.
private tours IrelandMe tour notes
The Original Award Winning Wild Wicklow Tour incl. Glendalough
A small-coach journey through the Wicklow Mountains to Sally Gap, Lough Tay, and Glendalough - with a free tot of whiskey to round off the day.
From €55 starting price · live price may vary
Check dates & prices ↗ Free cancellation on most dates · Booked securely with Viator
Duration8 hours 30 minutes
PriceFrom €55
Rating4.8 from 3,457 reviews
BookingSecurely via Viator
The IrelandMe take
What stands out about this one
Our practical read of the published itinerary, traveller feedback and local context—not the operator’s sales description.
What sets this tour apart is the coach itself - smaller than the standard tourist buses, it can take you down routes the big operators simply can't access. That means real Wicklow: secluded valleys, dramatic viewpoints, and the kind of scenery that makes you stop mid-sentence.
You'll travel Dublin's southern coast, climb Killiney Hill for sweeping views of Dublin Bay, then cut inland through Enniskerry and Glencree into the heart of the Wicklow Mountains. The Sally Gap section is where things get truly wild - open boglands, rolling heather, rugged peaks stretching out in every direction.
Private pricing makes most sense when the group will genuinely use the flexible pace and direct access to the guide.
One practical detail
Use your free time at Glendalough wisely. You get at least 60 minutes, sometimes 90. The flat Green Road from the visitor centre to the Upper Lake is 3 km return and takes about an hour - it passes nine of the main monastic ruins and ends at the boardwalk and beach at the Upper Lake. If you want to just sit somewhere quiet, the Upper Lake beach after the walk is the best seat in County Wicklow. The Round Tower doorway is three and a half metres off the ground - that detail tells you everything about why monks lived here.
How the experience works
Lough Tay, better known as the Guinness Lake for its dark waters and white sandy shore, is one of those places that's instantly recognisable if you've watched Braveheart, PS I Love You, or Vikings. It's been a film location more than once, and it's easy to see why.
Glendalough is the centrepiece of the day. Your guide will bring you through the history of this 6th-century monastic city founded by St. Kevin - the Round Tower, the ruins, the manuscripts that were once copied here. Then you get at least 60 minutes to explore on your own, walk through ancient forest to the Upper Lake, or just sit with the stillness that's drawn visitors here for centuries.
The day ends back on the coach with a complimentary tot of Glendalough Irish Whiskey - a fitting close to a long day in the mountains.
What the price covers
- Minimum 60 minutes free time to explore Glendalough and the lakes
- Complimentary taste of Glendalough Irish Whiskey
- Sally Gap and Lough Tay (Guinness Lake) stop
- Convenient pickup points in both north and south Dublin city
- Small-group tour by air-conditioned coach
- Professional Wild Wicklow guide
- Lunch - but there's a village pub stop where you can choose from a pub lunch or a deli sandwich (own expense)
The published itinerary
Use this to judge the pace and where your time actually goes. Operators can adjust stop order for traffic, weather or opening times.
- Meet your guide and coach at one of the central Dublin pickup points. You'll head out along the coast and stop at Killiney Hill for views of Dublin Bay before cutting away into the Wicklow Mountains. (40 min)
- Stop at Avoca Handweavers in Kilmacanogue - good for a coffee, a homemade scone, or a browse through the handmade goods. (25 min, own expense)
- Leave Avoca via Enniskerry and Glencree, taking routes the larger coaches can't reach, deep into the Wicklow Mountains and Sally Gap. (pass by)
- Take in the upper slopes of the Wicklow Mountains National Park - blanketed in heather and bog - before stopping at Lough Tay, the Guinness Lake. It's been a filming location for Braveheart, PS I Love You, and the Vikings TV series. (30 min)
- Lunch stop at a traditional Irish pub (own expense), with alternative options available if a pub lunch isn't your thing - ask your guide. (60 min)
- Arrive in Glendalough, the Valley of the Two Lakes. Your guide covers the monastic city founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century, including the Round Tower and the surrounding ruins. Then you have free time to explore, with the option to walk to the Upper Lake through ancient forest. (90 min)
- Back on the coach for a complimentary tot of Glendalough Whiskey on the return journey to Dublin. (pass by)
Meeting point: 9.15am, opposite the Grand Canal Hotel - go 30 metres up the hill, just before the car parking spaces.
Local tips that make the day better
The Avoca stop in Kilmacanogue is the flagship store, not the original mill. The 1723 Avoca weaving mill is an hour south, near Rathdrum - a different trip entirely. The Kilmacanogue café does proper soup and brown bread, and the food hall is worth a browse if you haven't eaten breakfast. It's not a tourist trap; it's a genuinely good pit stop.
Don't skip the Enniskerry leg. Passing through Enniskerry gives you a glimpse of Powerscourt estate - the gardens here are ranked third in the world by National Geographic, behind Versailles and Kew. You won't stop today, but it's worth knowing Enniskerry is worth a dedicated visit on another day if the gardens interest you.
Glendalough is busiest between 10am and 2pm. This tour arrives in the afternoon window, which is better. The valley has a different quality in the late afternoon - the coach crowds thin, the light changes on the Upper Lake, and the round tower does what it's been doing since the 10th century regardless of who is watching. If you have time before the coach leaves, the 1.5 km walk between the lakes is flat, buggy-friendly, and unmissable.
Good to know before booking
- Minimum age is 5 years; this tour is not suitable for infants
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller at the stops
- Suitable for all fitness levels
- Public transport options available nearby
- In winter months, minimum passenger numbers apply - if numbers aren't met, you'll be offered an alternative date or a full refund
- Group size is capped at 37.
- Tour operates in English
Make more of the area
- Glendalough - a 6th-century monastic city in a glacial valley, with two lakes and a round tower that's been standing since before the Normans arrived
- Enniskerry - Powerscourt Gardens and the highest continuous-flow waterfall in the Republic, 40 minutes from Dublin
- Kilmacanogue - the Great Sugar Loaf looms above the village, and the Avoca flagship store sits right on the N11
Questions before you book
How long is The Original Award Winning Wild Wicklow Tour incl. Glendalough?
The published duration is 8 hours 30 minutes. Allow extra time to reach the meeting point and for your onward plans.
How much does The Original Award Winning Wild Wicklow Tour incl. Glendalough cost?
The listed starting price is From €55. Live prices can change by date, group size and availability.
What should I know before booking?
Private pricing makes most sense when the group will genuinely use the flexible pace and direct access to the guide.
Ready to decide?
Check the live times before building the rest of your day.
From €55 · 8 hours 30 minutes Check dates & prices ↗
