← All Wicklow tours via Viator · From €995 · 6-8 hours 
Wicklow and Glendalough Private Chauffeured Sightseeing Tour
Free cancellation 17 traveller reviews Booked securely via Viator
Check availability & prices →
From €995 per person
County Wicklow has earned the name “Garden of Ireland” for good reason. The landscape here shifts constantly - from mountain passes and glacial valleys to ancient woodland, waterfall-fed rivers and the kind of quiet that’s hard to find close to a capital city. This private chauffeured tour lets you take it all in at your own pace, with an English-speaking guide who knows the area well.
You’ll visit Glendalough, a monastic settlement founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century and still one of the most atmospheric places in Ireland. You’ll take in Powerscourt Waterfall, Ireland’s highest at 121 metres, set in ancient woodland with oak, beech, larch and pine - some of them planted over 200 years ago. And you’ll stop at Lough Tay, the dark glacial lake known locally as the Guinness Lake for its striking resemblance to a pint.
The tour is completely flexible. Come with a wishlist of spots or hand it over and let your guide plan the day - either works well.
Lough Tay (Guinness Lake) - One of Wicklow’s most photographed spots, this glacial lake in the Wicklow Mountains National Park genuinely does look like a pint of Guinness - dark water, white sandy shoreline. A short stop for photos and a breath of mountain air. (15 min)
Powerscourt Waterfall - At 121 metres, Powerscourt is Ireland’s highest waterfall, located about 5km from the main Powerscourt Estate near Enniskerry. The drive in takes you through beech, oak, larch and pine woodland, with giant redwoods planted after 1860 towering over the path. It’s been drawing visitors for over 200 years and it’s easy to see why. (60 min)
Glendalough - The monastic settlement here was founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century and grew into one of Ireland’s great centres of learning. Most of the surviving buildings date from the 10th to 12th centuries. Despite raids by Vikings and eventual destruction by the Normans in 1214, the site is remarkably well preserved. The interactive visitor centre has an audiovisual presentation and a model of the original monastic city, with knowledgeable staff on hand to answer questions. Glendalough is one of the headline attractions on Ireland’s Ancient East trail. (60 min)
County Wicklow - Time to take in the wider landscape - the mountain trails, panoramic views over the two Glendalough lakes and the rolling scenery that makes Wicklow one of the most rewarding day trips from Dublin. This section is flexible and can be adjusted to whatever you’d most like to see. (60 min)
At Glendalough, the Lower Lake to Upper Lake walk (about 3km return on flat ground, an hour with stops) is the one walk you don’t want to miss. It runs along the Green Road from the visitor centre, past the round tower and the seven churches, out to the boardwalk at the Upper Lake. If the day is fine, the Spinc boardwalk up the south side of the valley gives you the whole glacial landscape from above - allow four hours for that one and bring proper footwear. Your guide can adjust timing to take in whichever suits best.
At Enniskerry, Powerscourt Waterfall is a separate drive and a separate entry from the main estate gardens - follow the signs from the village about 6km. The waterfall pool has a short walking loop around it (twenty minutes) and the surrounding woodland is genuinely impressive. Poppies café on the village square, open since 1982, is the locals’ choice for a proper soup and sandwich if you need a lunch stop before heading for the mountains.
A word on timing at Glendalough: the coach traffic arrives around half ten and clears by early afternoon. This private tour gives you the flexibility to arrive at the right moment. If your guide suggests going to Glendalough first, before Powerscourt, take that advice - the monastic site at eight in the morning or late afternoon has a completely different quality to the midday rush.