DUBLIN & DONEGAL
The capital is a colorful small city that’s the ideal starting point for any Irish adventure. Experience the island’s incredible cultural heritage with a visit to Trinity College—Ireland’s oldest university—and one of its oldest manuscripts: the extraordinary Book of Kells.
In this city of James Joyce, stroll across the author’s namesake bridge as you explore Dublin’s lively cobbled lanes. Ahead of an evening of revelry among the pubs and spontaneous gigs of the Temple Bar district, sit down to the contrasting sophistication of a Michelin-starred meal.
You’ll drive through Ireland’s leafy, hilly hinterland until you reach Donegal—the starting point of the Wild Atlantic Way. Take in some of the continent’s tallest sea cliffs at Sliabh Liag while waves thunder below and the gales off the Atlantic snatch your breath. Traverse the sea by powerboat to oyster and mussel farms to handpick your dinner for the evening.
WILD ATLANTIC WAY
Due south on this rugged, ever-picturesque route, you’ll stop to explore coastal paths and fill your lungs with sea-fresh air. Spot otters, dolphins, and whales at deep inlets, and enter County Galway to trek across Connemara National Park’s Highlands-esque landscape.
Take a private Pelorus helicopter tour over the gorgeous, heath-covered mountains and undulating valley below with the blue immensity of the Atlantic beyond.
The next stop is Galway City, renowned for its burgeoning fine dining scene as much as its snug pubs lit by the strains of ‘trad’ fiddles and pipes.
Take a boat to the Irish-speaking Aran Islands. After appreciating the stark beauty and incredible history of Inis Meáin and its archipelago, return to the mainland for a spectacular sunset from the sheer sandstone Cliffs of Moher.
Take the road south to County Clare. Pause to explore the natural wonder of the Aillwee Cave system and its many bird-of-prey inhabitants. Step onto the sand at one of Ireland’s best surf spots—Aileens and Laurens—with Pelorus guiding you to the best breaks (whatever your ability).
On to County Kerry’s jagged coastline with its many scenic bays sandwiched between verdant headlands. See the town of Dingle—a slice of authentic Ireland—and sit down to some fresh seafood to fuel you for a climb up Ireland’s highest mountains, the MacGillycuddy Reeks.
As a less challenging alternative, a Pelorus guide will take you through a hidden route of streams and emerald slopes to the Gap of Dunloe mountain pass. Saddle up for a horse trek along the trails here, cantering along the coastal trails with the wide sandy beaches and crashing waves below.
