Packages and Options

DAY 1  GALWAY CITY
Meeting with the guide at 6.30pm in the bar of Jury’s Galway Inn Hotel at the bottom of Quay Street in the centre of Galway city.
This is a meeting point only and not where you are staying. If you get there early you can leave your bags in the left luggage room at the Hotel Reception and then go for a stroll around the town. Galway is a very historical city with a great atmosphere so you can spend the afternoon pottering around the many shops in the old town or calling into one of the many pubs to listen to some traditional music. After meeting the guide in Jury’s there is an introductory talk. and an evening meal is organised in the hotel while your luggage is transferred to our nearby guesthouses.
DAY 2 GALWAY / CONG TO WESTPORT 40 miles / 64 kms
In the morning we take a coach transfer to the village of Cong where the tour proper starts. We head north along the quiet backroads through rolling green fields full of grazing sheep, before descending down to Lough Mask and a wonderful cycle along the shores of the lake. After lunch we have our biggest climb of the week over the Partry Mountains and then cycle along a quiet back road with stunning views of the surrounding landscape all the way to colourful village of Westport.
DAY 3 WESTPORT TO LEENANE 33 miles / 52 kms
We cycle between Croagh Patrick and the beautiful Clew Bay with its many small islands, to the village of Louisburgh where we stop for lunch. In the afternoon we head south through one of the highlights of the week, the stunning Delphi Valley with its beautiful lakes overlooked by Ben Bury, the highest mountain in Connemara. That night we stay in the small village of Leenane which looks out over Killary Harbour, Ireland’s only fjord.
DAY 4 LEENANE TO ROUNDSTONE 45 miles / 72kms
We cycle into the heart of Connemara overlooked by the Twelve Bens mountain range and visit Kylemore Abbey, a wedding gift from a wealthy Liverpool businessman to his wife in 1868. We then cycle along quiet backroads past small fields with grazing cattle to the seaside village of Cleggan where we stop for lunch. In the afternoon we follow the scenic coast road to Clifden where you can watch cars travel across the beach to Omey Island only accessible when the tide is out! After a stop-off in Clifden, the capital of Connemara , we cycle along a quiet country bog road surrounded by small lakes and freshly cut peat with wonderful views of the Twelve Ben mountain range. That night we stay in the picturesque fishing village of Roundstone where we will spend the next two nights.
DAY 5 REST DAY IN ROUNDSTONE
The day can be spent in rest and relaxation or you can take part in a variety of activities, including a day sailing cruise, walking, and a game of golf or horse riding. You can also spend the day just relaxing on one of the two beautiful white sandy beaches just outside the village overlooking a clear blue sea. In the evening a ceili is typically organised in the hotel where we are staying.
DAY 6 ROUNDSTONE TO CARRAROE 32 miles / 51 kms
We cycle along beautiful waterways and another picturesque bog road with its freshly cut peat waiting to be harvested, both offering wonderful views of the surrounding countryside before cycling the final afternoon stretch to the Irish speaking village of Carraroe.
DAY 7  CARRAROE TO THE ARAN ISLANDS/GALWAY 22 miles / 35kms
In the morning we cycle to the port of Rossaveel to board the boat to Inis Mor the largest of the Aran Islands. The day can then be spent touring the unique landscape of the island with its wealth of ancient stone forts and monastic sights. In the late afternoon we return to the mainland and take a bus back to Galway city. The total cost of the boat and bus is ~€20. We have a final dinner and night on the town together before going our separate ways the following morning.
You have all day to cover the trip so you can take your time to stop at places of interest. With the exception of roads in and out of Galway the traffic on the route should be quite light. However you should cycle carefully at all times , especially when going downhill or during any rain showers.
DAY 8   Departure

The Group, Guide and Back-Up Support
The group size varies from 12 to 20 people . Each group is lead by a local guide driving a support van. She/He will  sweep during the day to check on cyclists. In the afternoon they will be gone for about two hours to leave the  luggage off at your accommodation therefore may not be on hand to give you a lift, but there is no rush; you have all day to complete the ride. As soon as the guide has delivered the luggage to your accommodation they will  sweep back to do a final check on cyclists.
Our aim is to allow you feel like an independent traveller, free to cycle each day at your own pace while at the same time having the security of knowing that a support van is nearby just in case you might need it.  Most importantly,  our guide is there to  help in whatever way possible so that  all you have to do is leave your worries behind and enjoy  the many wonderful experiences that this cycling holiday  has to offer.

*We would seriously recommend that you bring padded cycling shorts and / or a gel saddle cover that will definitely make your days cycling more comfortable.  Cycling gloves are also a good investment.  You can also bring your own saddle which we should be able to attach to our bikes.

*We provide small front handlebar pannier bags in which you can keep your day-to-day items.  Otherwise you may prefer to use a daypack and there are back carriers on each bike for this purpose.

*We do not provide rain gear so be sure to bring your own light weight waterproofs.

*Although it is not obligatory to wear a helmet we strongly recommend that you wear one.  If you own a bicycle helmet please bring it, otherwise there will be helmets available in the van.

*Don’t forget sun cream, sunglasses, sun hat as well as a bathing suit for that refreshing Atlantic Ocean.

*Finally if you wish to use toe clips please bring your own pedals with toe clips which we can attach to our bikes (the pedals on our bikes do not accommodate toe clips).

Please make an effort to pack lightly.  This will make your travels easier and will be much appreciated by the guide when he/she is carrying your bags up a long flight of stairs to your room!  Alternatively if you are travelling for a long time and do have a lot of luggage, maybe you could consider dividing your luggage into two bags, we could leave one in your first nights B&B to collect at the end of the week and the other bag to take with you on the tour. 

Tour Accommodation:    

Is on a twin sharing basis in a mixture of family run hotels and guest houses with breakfasts  included.  Upon booking we need to know whether sharing will be on a twin (two beds) or double (one big bed) basis.  Due to the isolated nature of several of the places we stay in, we cannot guarantee the availability of single room accommodation. For people coming on their own we will twin share them with another single person on the tour.  In exceptional cases we may be able to provide a single room at a supplement for the week.  
 

Extra Accommodation: 

We can arrange additional accommodation either before or after the tour for you -prices are on request.

Meals:  The guide will recommend a lunch stop each day where a snack lunch will cost between €8 and €12. A group evening meal is organised by the guide each night which costs between €20 and €30. One evening meal during the tour is included in the tour price

Passports
Passport valid for at least three months beyond length of stay required by all except:
(a) 1. persons born in the UK travelling direct from the UK (applicable to British passport holders only).
Note: Whilst UK citizens do not require a passport or visa to enter Ireland, most carriers by air or sea now require some form of identification with photograph, usually a passport or driving licence with photo. Visitors should check what form of ID is required with the individual airline, ferry company or travel agent before travelling.
(b) 2. EU nationals holding a valid national ID card.
Note: EU nationals are only required to produce evidence of their EU nationality and identity in order to be admitted to any EU Member State. This evidence can take the form of a valid national passport or national identity card. Either is acceptable. Possession of a return ticket, any length of validity on their document, sufficient funds for the length of their proposed visit should not be imposed.
Passport Note
3. Imposition of a return ticket as a condition of entry is at the discretion of the Immigration Officer at point of entry.

Visas
Not required by all nationals referred to in the chart above for the following durations:
(a) nationals of EU countries for an unlimited period (nationals of EU countries wishing to stay for longer than three months must register with the Garda National Immigration Bureau).
(b) nationals of Australia, Canada and the USA for stays of up to 90 days.
Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements