Gap of Dunloe Tour: Boat & Bus through Killarney National Park

Three valleys, three lakes, one day: the full sweep of Killarney National Park

A guided day tour of Killarney National Park that moves through the landscape in three stages: bus to the Gap of Dunloe, carriage or walk through the glacial valley, then a boat through the lakes and rivers with a local guide. Bus transport and parking are included. The carriage ride through the Gap is paid separately in cash on the day. Boats depart at 2pm daily, and the full tour runs five to six hours depending on water levels and weather.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Gap of Dunloe1h
2. Killarney National Park1h 30m · entry included
3. Ross Castlepassing by

Gap of Dunloe tour and boat ride

• Bus from Old Weir Lodge to Kate Kearney's Cottage
• Horse and carriage ride through Gap of Dunloe
• Lunch break at Lord Brandon's Cottage
• Boat tour through Killarney National Park lakes and rivers
• End tour at Ross Castle with optional walk to town

The experience

The day starts with a bus ride from the Old Weir Lodge on Muckross Road to Kate Kearney's Cottage at the mouth of the Gap of Dunloe. Once there, you choose how to cross the glacial valley: rent a horse and carriage for roughly 1.5 hours (cash payment to the driver on arrival), or walk the 11-kilometer route at your own pace. Either way, you end at Lord Brandon's Cottage, an old hunting lodge now a café, where you have up to an hour to rest and eat before the boat departs at 2pm.

The boat tour is where the guide takes over. For around 1.5 hours, you travel through three lakes and two rivers (the Meeting of the Waters, past Dinis Cottage, the Old Weir Bridge, Brickeen Bridge and Innisfallen Island), while the local guide fills the journey with folklore and history. Depending on water levels, a moderate walk through uneven wooded ground may be needed at some point. The boat brings you to Ross Castle, a 15th-century stronghold built by the Chieftain O'Donoghue. The bus meets you there immediately after, though some guests choose to walk back into Killarney town through the park instead.

What makes this tour work is the sequence itself. You see the park from three different angles (ground level through the valley, then water level through the lakes), and the timing is locked in, so the day holds together without anyone building it. The carriage is optional and costs extra, payable in cash to the drivers. If you walk instead, the pace is yours. Infants can travel in a pram or stroller, and service animals are welcome.

What’s included

• Bus transport from the Old Weir Lodge and parking.
• boat tour through the three lakes and two rivers with an experienced guide.
• the option to walk or ride through the Gap of Dunloe (carriage paid separately in cash on the day).

Before you book

Days and timesFriday and SaturdayDeparts at 10:15

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 48

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomeInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Killarney Day Tour

Is this one for you?Choose the carriage if you want to rest your legs and move faster through the valley. Choose to walk if you prefer to set your own pace and save the carriage cost. Either way, the boat tour and the timing are the same, so the day holds together without you planning the connections.

Traveler reviews

4.58★★★★★★★★★★

83 verified traveler reviews

5 ★67

4 ★6

3 ★4

2 ★3

1 ★3

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Can I walk through the Gap of Dunloe instead of taking the carriage?

Yes. The carriage ride is optional and costs extra, paid in cash to the driver when you arrive at Kate Kearney's Cottage. You can walk the 11 kilometers through the glacial valley at your own pace instead, and you'll still have time for lunch at Lord Brandon's Cottage before the 2pm boat departure.

What is the Gap of Dunloe?

The Gap of Dunloe is a glacial valley carved through the mountains, roughly 11 kilometers long. You travel through it either by horse and carriage or on foot, moving from Kate Kearney's Cottage at one end to Lord Brandon's Cottage at the other, where the boat tour begins.

What will I see on the boat tour?

The boat moves through three lakes and two rivers of Killarney National Park, passing the Meeting of the Waters, Dinis Cottage, the Old Weir Bridge, Brickeen Bridge and Innisfallen Island. Your guide provides commentary and folklore throughout the roughly 1.5-hour journey, which ends at Ross Castle.

Is lunch included?

Lunch is not included, but you have up to an hour at Lord Brandon's Cottage, an old hunting lodge turned café, between the carriage or walk and the boat departure at 2pm. You can eat there or bring your own food.

How long is the whole tour?

The tour runs five to six hours total, depending on water levels and weather. The carriage ride through the Gap takes roughly 1.5 hours, you have up to an hour at Lord Brandon's Cottage, and the boat tour is around 1.5 hours.

Do I need to be fit for this tour?

The tour suits all fitness levels. If you choose the carriage instead of walking, you avoid the 11-kilometer walk through the valley. A moderate walk through uneven wooded ground may be required at some point during the boat section, depending on water levels.