Private Burren and Cliffs of Moher tour from Galway: Full day
Eight hours through the Burren: dolmens, cliffs, and sheepdog trials
A full-day private tour from Galway explores the Cliffs of Moher, Poulnabrone Dolmen (Ireland's oldest dated megalithic monument), and the Burren's ancient ring forts, with hotel pickup included and an English-speaking guide. The route takes in a sheepdog demonstration, a stop in Doolin for lunch at a traditional music pub, and a return drive along the Atlantic coast through limestone villages.
Step-by-step itinerary
Explore Burren and Cliffs of Moher
- Visit Dunguire Castle
- Stop at small chocolate factory
- Watch sheepdog demonstrations
- See Poulnabrone Dolmen
- Explore Cliffs of Moher
- Lunch at Gus O'Connor's Pub
- Drive home via Burren Coast road
- Poulnabrone Dolmen 15m
- Cliffs of Moher 1h 30m
- Doolin 1h
What’s included
- Private transportation from your Galway hotel.
- an air-conditioned vehicle.
- bottled water.
- and a guided tour led by an English-speaking guide throughout the day.
Times
- Every day No fixed time
Before you book
Operated by Galway West Chauffeurs
Prices and times updated 3 days ago
Traveler reviews
The experience
The drive from Galway to the Cliffs of Moher takes around four hours each way, so most of the day is spent moving through the landscape and stopping at specific sites rather than lingering in one place. Your guide picks you up from your hotel and heads south toward the Burren, a high limestone plateau where the terrain shifts from green fields to bare, craggy rock. Along the way you'll pass Dunguire Castle, a restored 16th-century tower house on Galway Bay, and stop at a small family-run chocolate factory and coffee shop.
The Burren itself is where the tour's main attractions cluster. You'll see ancient ring forts and watch live sheepdog demonstrations (closed November through February) that draw visitors from across the globe. Poulnabrone Dolmen sits on the high plateau. It's the oldest dated megalithic monument in Ireland and the second most visited site in the Burren after the Cliffs themselves. The Cliffs of Moher are the centerpiece: towering heights with crashing waves below and seabirds overhead. You stop for photographs along the craggy Atlantic coast, and the guide can arrange additional stops if you want them.
Lunch happens in Doolin at Gus O'Connor's Pub, known worldwide as a hub for Irish traditional music. The return to Galway follows the Burren Coast road, where the landscape shifts between the lunar-like limestone on one side and the wild Atlantic on the other, passing through villages like Fanore and Ballyvaughan. The air-conditioned vehicle, bottled water, and private setup mean you're not coordinating with other groups or managing your own transport.
Is this one for you?Book this if you want a private driver and vehicle for the day rather than navigating yourself, and you're comfortable spending significant time in the car between stops rather than hiking-focused exploration.
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Top questions
What is Poulnabrone Dolmen and why is it significant?
Poulnabrone Dolmen is the oldest dated megalithic monument in Ireland, situated on the high Burren limestone plateau. It's the second most visited location in the Burren after the Cliffs of Moher and stands as one of Ireland's most iconic archaeological monuments.
Can I see the sheepdog demonstrations on every tour?
The sheepdog demonstrations run year-round except between November and February, when they're closed. If you're traveling in those months, you'll still visit the ancient ring forts but won't see the trials.
Where do we stop for lunch?
Lunch is at Gus O'Connor's Pub in Doolin, a venue known throughout the world as the home of Irish traditional music. You'll have time there to eat and experience the pub's atmosphere.
Is the Cliffs of Moher visitor center included?
Entry to the Cliffs of Moher Visitors Centre experience is not included in the tour price. You'll visit the cliffs themselves and have time for photographs, but the center's paid attractions are separate.
Private Burren and Cliffs of Moher tour from Galway: Full day
8h–9h · EN
from € 575 per group
≈ US$ 660 in your currency
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