This tour is categorised as 5 out of 5
Challenging hikes and unforgettable experiences: Embark on a physically demanding adventure with hikes and activities designed for experienced and fit travellers. A medical declaration may be required.
As a general requirement across all of our trips, you may be required to walk up and down stairs, get on and off transportation, handle your own luggage, and participate in all scheduled sightseeing that may be conducted on uneven ground and terrain. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability and where required, supporting documentation may be requested to ensure that we are comfortable that you will enjoy your trip.
This tour features a combination of escorted and independent travel. Part of your journey will be enjoyed as a group experience, led by expert tour leaders or local guides. The remainder is self-guided—whether by rail, cruise, or overland—allowing you the freedom to travel between destinations independently and explore at your own pace.
Experience a superior level of comfort. Our Small Group tours have been crafted for Inspiring Vacations travellers exclusively, with personal and unique experiences in mind. Travel with no more than 26 people, allowing for a more personalised and immersive experience. Please see the Important Information on your selected tour for the exact group size.
✓ Travel with Intrepid Travel
✓ Enjoy the best of Ireland’s oldest long distance trail adventure from Dublin
✓ Pass through open moorland and forested heaths
✓ Stop by small towns along the way for a welcome dose of Irish hospitality
✓ Explore a monastic settlement full of folklore in Glendalough
✓ Peer over the Lough Tay as you stop by Luggala
✓ Consider some summit treks for some extraordinary vistas
✓ Join a group of likeminded active adventurers and a certified mountain hiking guide
✓ 5 breakfasts
Travel with the experts for a carefully curated, value-packed discovery of the world's most iconic destinations. Our tours are bursting with must-see sights, rich experiences and quality inclusions, all at an unbeatable price. Bucket list dreams are ticked off on these all-encompassing journeys.
Welcome to Dublin! Meet your group leader and fellow travel crew at the city’s Connolly Station, where you’ll hop on a train bound for the southern foothills of the Wicklow Mountains. Further details and exact times can be found in the ‘Joining Point Instructions’ of your Essential Trip Information. This train takes the coastal route, so you’ll start the scenic discovery from the very first moment. On arrival, take part in an all-important welcome briefing, then taxi to a remote valley ¬– colloquially known as the ‘Iron Bridge’ – where you’ll join the trail. Have your daypack ready today, as your main luggage will be transferred direct to tonight’s accommodation. All that aside – the trek starts now! You’ll begin winding through tall pine forests and along undulating tracks, giving you a taste of what’s to come along the way.
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After breakfast, you and your group are off to head deep into the Wicklow Mountains. The foothills give way to mountainous terrain, and while your trail will keep mainly to the valleys, you’ll begin to feel the changing elevations as the day progresses. One of the best things along the way is when the trail opens up to sweeping mountain vistas, so be sure to have a camera ready. Pass by the serene Poulanass Waterfall as the trail descends into the Glendalough Valley towards the village of Laragh. Here, meet a local folklorist who will fill you in on the history and mythology of the Glendalough region. You’ll learn of how this monastery was one of the largest and busiest scholarly centres of Ireland in the Middle Ages. Fascinating! Afterwards, spend the night in Laragh, perhaps cosy-ing up at a local pub.
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Insider tip on the Wicklow route – you’ll want to spend some extra time in Glendalough to take advantage of the incredible walking loops in this part of the valley. Luckily for you, we’ve got you covered. Without the need to pack up this morning, get back on the trail and understand why Glendalough means the ‘valley of two lakes’ on a guided hike. You’ll also step away from the trail at some point in the day for a challenging loop, taking in the Derrybawn and Mullcor summits. The incredible scenery at the top makes the difficulty of today’s hike totally worth it. If that doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, not to worry – you are more than welcome to continue your explorations in town.
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After an included breakfast, jump back on the Way for your hike to Roundwood. Until the Great Famine swept the region and most of Ireland in the 1840s, this part of Wicklow was a heavily populated farming area. Along the trail today, keep an eye out for the remains of cottages and ridges of potato fields once dotted along the verdant countryside. Today sees the group hike through the heart of the Wicklow uplands region, passing by the junction of four glacial valleys. Your knowledgeable guide may opt to detour along a more scenic route today so you maximise your time up high on the peaks, taking in the panoramic landscapes below. Keep the trek going on a section of road as you journey into the rural village of Roundwood. After a few solid days of hiking, a welcome pint of Guinness won’t go astray this evening.
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Open up the hike today as your guide takes the group into open country on undulating terrain, through lush green valleys that give way to incredible mountainside. Take a mid-morning rest stop at Luggala Peak, overlooking the rolling green countryside down to Lough Tay – known as the ‘Guinness Lake’ for its deep brown colour. Continue to hike the shoulder of Djouce Mountain, and if the group is feeling up to it, head to its summit. Your leader will bring you up to speed with the modern folklore of Djouce, stemming from a plane crash in the area in the 1940s. On your way into town this evening, stop by the Powerscourt Distillery for a group tasting of the local Irish whiskeys available. It’s well deserved after a steady day trekking! Afterwards, either choose to explore the Estate further, or join the group and transfer into town for the evening.
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Today sees you bound for Ireland’s bustling capital, but the forested scenery definitely has not passed you yet! This morning, continue through forests and open moorland towards Dublin county. The countryside blends seamlessly into the city’s edge as you approach and descend into suburban Dublin at Marley Park. Arrive in town around 3 or 4 pm, and toast your Wicklow Mountains adventure with your leader and hiking crew at one of the stone-clad cafes nearby the park in the afternoon. With no activities planned after this, you are free to leave the group and continue your own adventure in Dublin and beyond.
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Deposit & Payments
Booking Process
Booking On Request
COVID-19
Due to COVID there maybe disruptions to standard operating schedules of particular components of this itinerary. Should a component be effected a substitute will be confirmed prior to departure.
Fitness Requirements
While the tour itinerary should give you some guidance and overview to the expected requirements, to determine if this tour is right for you we categorise each of our tours in terms of their intensity. These guidelines are to ensure that each tour group is conducted as expected and to ensure the overall satisfaction of all Inspiring Vacations customers.
As a general rule, porterage is not included, therefore at all times you are expected to handle your own luggage where help may not be available.
Accommodation
The accommodation listed is subject to change. Any changes will be of an equal or higher standard.
Single Supplement
Please follow the 'book now' prompts and select 1 passenger to view the single supplement cost
Triple Share
Not Available
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is required to protect yourself against the unexpected.
Tour Documentation
Final documentation including, e-tickets and hotel details, will be provided approximately 30 days prior to travel.
Group Size
Group size varies from package to package. Depending on the services provided, the group size might range from private 2 person experiences up to coaches of 50 people depending on your selected holiday.
Tour Type - Independant
On these packages you will travel from city to city on your own, exploring at your own pace. We have arranged transportation in most cases and day tours for you to see the destination. Enjoy the time and flexibility to linger longer or pick up the pace and see as much as possible. The choice is yours.
Children
Children must share a room with parents at all times and are charged the same price as adults.
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