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Trip Itinerary
Discover the raw beauty of western Ireland on our self-guided bike tour and explore vibrant Westport and Connemara's mountain ranges.
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Where to Arrive
Airport:
Dublin Airport (DUB)
Pick-up location:
Westport Plaza Hotel in Westport
Pick-up time:
11:00 AM
Where to Depart
Airport:
Dublin Airport (DUB)
Drop-off location:
Westport Plaza Hotel in Westport
Drop-off time:
12:00 PM Noon
Additional Arrival Information
We suggest that you arrive at least one day prior to the trip start, which will enable you to adjust to the time zone and minimize the risk of missing the trip start due to flight-related delays. We recommend that you fly into Dublin airport (DUB) and then take a train to Westport. Make sure you book the intercity train from Dublin, which is direct without any changes, and takes approximately three hours. Train schedules can be found at Irish Rail.
Your Trek Travel host will meet you at the trip hotel at 11:00 AM on the first day of the trip. Depending on the number of guests booked for your departure date, it is possible we will ask you to shift your meeting time by approximately 30 minutes. Please have your riding gear readily accessible to avoid having to unpack your luggage. After a trip overview, you may change into your cycling gear where you will then be fitted to your Trek bike ensuring you will be comfortable for the week. Following a safety talk and a review of the details of the route, you can set off at your own pace along the roads of Ireland.
If you will be late for the meeting or are going to miss it altogether, please inform your host. If you cannot reach them, please call our hotel, The Westport Plaza (+353 98 51166), and leave a message with your expected arrival time and contact details. A taxi from Dublin to the trip hotel will cost approximately $400.
Additional Departure Information
Your Trek Travel host will meet you at the trip hotel at 12:00 PM to take your bike and equipment before your departure. We recommend spending some time in Galway and then fly out of Dublin (DUB) or Shannon airport (SNN). There are no international flights into or out of Galway.
We recommend that you take a train from Westport to Galway. If you prefer to transfer by private shuttle the service will cost approximately $180 and will take around one and a half hours. We suggest you contact our local driver ahead of time to arrange the transfer. Our Trip Consultant can provide you with our recommended local contact information.
From Galway to Dublin there are frequent direct trains. The trip takes approximately two and a half hours and costs about $25. Train schedules and tickets can be found at Irish Rail.
Welcome to the Wild Atlantic Way
Overview
Meet your Trek Travel host at 12:00 PM in the hotel lobby in bustling Westport, an utterly charming coastal inlet town, near to countless wildlife wonders including seals and humpback whales. After familiarizing you with your upcoming itinerary, your host will fit you to your Trek bike, ensuring the best comfort on your bike for the week. Then you'll start your Ireland Self-Guided Bike Tour with a ride through the rolling, green Mayo countryside, along a traffic-free bike path that follows the route of a converted Victorian railway. After tracking between hills and sea, you will turn inland toward the quaint riverside village of Newport and circle back to your hotel in Westport town. If you want to experience some great live music, don't miss the opportunity to visit one of the many local pubs and mingle with the locals over a pint of Guinness! For dinner we recommend trying a traditional Irish meal chosen from the list of our favorite places in town.
Hotel
Westport Plaza Hotel
Meals included
Highlight of the Day
Ride through the rolling, green Mayo countryside
Kick off your bike tour with a spin into the rolling, green Mayo countryside along a traffic-free bike path that follows the route of a converted Victorian railway.
Ride Options
Ride Option 1
TODAY'S RIDE:
Westport to Newport Loop - Approximately 18 mi | 29 km and 1,038 ft | 316 m
Ride Option 2
AVID RIDE:
Westport to Newport to Lough Feeagh Loop - Approximately 31 mi | 50 km and 1,907 ft | 581 m
Climb to the top of Windy Gap, taking in the spectacular views of the iconic Nephin Mountain
Overview
This morning, savor your first hearty Irish breakfast at the hotel and get ready for a tour through the sweeping hills, bogs, and lakes that make up this little known corner of Ireland. Heading out from your hotel by bike, you'll pedal past the shores of Lough Beltra before turning south and approaching the classic local climb known as Windy Gap. From the top of the gap you have spectacular views of the iconic Nephin, the highest standalone mountain in Ireland. From there it’s a long gentle descent all the way to the Museum of Country Life where a permanent exhibition on the history of the bicycle in Ireland is just one of the many windows into the rural history of this part of the world. The return journey is a more leisurely ride on the Greenway that runs along the banks of the Castlebar River. At the hotel take some time to relax with some spa treatments if you wish. Tonight, make good use of our hand-selected recommendations by our local experts when choosing the restaurant that best suits your palate.
Hotel
Westport Plaza Hotel
Meals included
Breakfast
Highlight of the Day
Nephin Mountain
Nephin’s striking conical shape, standing at 2,644 feet (806 m), dominates County Mayo's landscape. Steeped in local lore and natural beauty, it's a must-see landmark.
Ride Options
Ride Option 1
TODAY'S RIDE:
Westport to Windy Gap - Approximately 48 mi | 77 km and 2,395 ft | 730 m
Ride Option 2
SHORT OPTION:
Westport to Country Life Museum - Approximately 35 mi | 56 km and 1,430 ft | 436 m
Ride Option 3
AVID OPTION:
Westport to Windy Gap and Nephin Mountain - Approximately 59 mi | 95 km and 2,930 ft | 893 m
Activities
Activity 1
TODAY’S OPTIONAL ACTIVITY:
Country Life Museum
Cycle through Connemara’s heather-clad Maamturks and Twelve Bens mountains
Overview
Today, get ready to explore Connemara’s breathtaking landscapes, where rugged peaks and rocky hillsides create one of the most spectacular settings in the country. Head south toward the heather-covered Maamturks, one of two striking ranges that, along with the Twelve Bens, shape Connemara’s iconic skyline. It’s the biggest day in the saddle and the most varied with the initial bogland giving way to rising peaks as the day wears on. There’s a perfect stop halfway at the picturesque village of Leenane on the shores of the Killary fjord. Here you can enjoy lunch at your leisure, taking in the dramatic scenery of the mountains plunging into the sea. You might also consider joining a wool-spinning demonstration at the Sheep and Wool Centre. Learn the history of the local woollen industry and observe how the sheep's wool is made into yarn and cloth. In the afternoon you'll skirt the banks of Lough Nafooey before turning north again through the remote village of Tourmakeady with its beautiful waterfall tucked away in a cleft in the hills.
Hotel
Westport Plaza Hotel
Meals included
Breakfast
Highlight of the Day
Connemara's stunning mountain ranges
Explore one of Ireland’s most dramatic landscapes, where sweeping wild peaks and rocky hillsides define the terrain. The heather-covered Maamturks and Twelve Bens shape Connemara’s iconic skyline.
Ride Options
Ride Option 1
TODAY'S RIDE:
Westport to Leenane Loop - Approximately 58 mi | 93 km and 3,704 ft | 1,129 m
Ride Option 2
SHORT OPTION:
Westport to Toormakeady Loop - Approximately 32 mi | 51 km and 1,937 ft | 590 m
Activities
Activity 1
TODAY’S OPTIONAL ACTIVITY:
Wool-spinning demonstration at the Sheep and Wool Centre in Leenane
Pedal through the magical Delphi Valley and famed Sheefrey Pass
Overview
Don’t forget your camera today as you embark on one of the most scenic rides surrounded by unspoiled nature! Today’s ride takes you in a south-westerly direction into Delphi Valley and along the Doo Lough, a lake with a tragic history from the 19th Century Great Famine in Ireland. You'll ride past Glen Keen Farm where you can schedule a sheepdog demo and watch the incredible work of sheepdogs as they help farmers round up and direct sheep or learn about an historical farm tour, all by calling in advance. After this optional visit you will reach the small settlement of Delphi, shadowed by the Mweelrea Mountains. Don’t miss the opportunity of stopping at the Delphi Adventure Resort, one of Ireland’s oldest adventure hubs. This is a great place to grab lunch and a coffee and get your bearings amid the mountainous terrain. The afternoon ride will have you go over the famed Sheefrey Pass, a dramatic mountain pass well known to Irish cyclists for its breathtaking views and twisting descent. Tonight, celebrate with one last dinner of your choosing in Westport and toast to an incredible self-guided Ireland bike tour in this understated yet incredible part of the world!
Hotel
Westport Plaza Hotel
Meals included
Breakfast
Highlight of the Day
Delphi Valley and Killary Fjord
Delphi Valley’s three lakes flow into the Bundorragh River before reaching Killary Harbour, Ireland’s only true fjord. This stunning waterway is surrounded by some of the country’s most breathtaking landscapes, including Mweelrea, the highest mountain in Connacht, one of Ireland’s four provinces.
Ride Options
Ride Option 1
TODAY'S RIDE:
Westport to Delphi Loop - Approximately 44 mi | 71 km and 2,466 ft | 752 m
Ride Option 2
AVID OPTION:
Westport to Delphi Loop (with Silver Strand add-on) - Approximately 60 mi | 97 km and 3,233 ft | 985 m
Activities
Activity 1
TODAY’S OPTIONAL ACTIVITY:
Glen Keen Farm sheep dog demo and farm tour
A final spin along the County Mayo coast
Overview
Take this morning to sleep in and relax, savoring a long breakfast, or choose to have a final blast of Atlantic air as you ride past tiny and lively harbors, headlands and inlets that make up the Mayo coast overlooking Clew Bay. Back in Westport, your Trek Travel host will meet you at the hotel at 12:00 PM to take your bike and say farewell before you make your way to Galway or other wonderful Irish destinations.
Hotel
Westport Plaza Hotel
Meals included
Breakfast
Highlight of the Day
Ride Options
Ride Option 1
TODAY'S RIDE:
Westport to Mayo Coast Loop - Approximately 17 mi | 27 km and 875 ft | 267 m
If a date is marked as Private, it is reserved for a private group.
Don’t see exactly what you are looking for or looking for a custom date?
Call our trip consultants at 866-464-8735
Savor some of the most spectacular, 5-star properties in the world. Exuding luxury and elegance, these one-of-a-kind accommodations offer the chance to rejuvenate at award-winning spas, dine at Michelin-starred restaurants, and more.
Enjoy luxurious accommodations handpicked for a refined experience. From signature spa treatments to delicious local cuisine, you’ll be more than provided for; you’ll be pampered.
These handpicked hotels provide relaxation and fun in a casual and comfortable environment. Delicious cuisine and great service mix perfectly for a memorable stay.
On select cycling vacations, you’ll stay at a mix of Explorer and Luxury hotels. Rest assured, no matter which hotel level you’re at, our trip designers carefully select every accommodation.
Road: 1-3 hours of riding. Up to 25 mi (40 km). Up to 1,000 ft (300 m).
Gravel: 1-3 hours of riding. Up to 20 mi (35 km). Up to 1,000 ft (300 m).
Hiking: 1-3 hours of hiking. Up to 5 mi (8 km). Up to 1,000 ft (300 m).
Road: 2-4 hours of riding. 20-35 mi (35-60 km). Up to 2,500 ft (750 m).
Gravel: 2-4 hours of riding. 15-30 mi (25-45 km). Up to 2,000 ft (300 m).
Hiking: 2-4 hours of hiking. 4-8 mi (6-12 km). Up to 1,500 ft (450 m).
Road: 3-5 hours of riding. 25-55 mi (40-85 km). Up to 4,500 ft (1,500 m).
Gravel: 3-5 hours of riding. 20-40 mi (35-60 km). Up to 3,000 ft (900 m).
Hiking: 3-5 hours of hiking. 6-10 mi (9-16 km). Up to 2,000 ft (600 m).
Road: 4+ hours of riding. 40-70 mi (60-110 km). Up to 8,000 ft (2,400 m).
Gravel: 4+ hours of riding. 30-50 mi (45-80 km). Up to 4,000 ft (1,200 m).
Hiking: 4+ hours of hiking. 7-15 mi (11-24 km). Up to 4,000 ft (1,200 m).
Classic:
Explore beautiful destinations with a curated blend of guided activities, local cuisine, handpicked accommodations, and itineraries to suit every traveler, from laid-back adventures to luxurious escapes.
Gravel:
Venture off the beaten path to unforgettable places, with fully-supported routes that combine gravel and paved roads in classic Trek Travel style.
Cross Country:
Tackle an epic adventure that takes you point-to-point across mountains, countryside, and more.
Pro Race:
See the pros in action at the biggest cycling events of the year.
Hiking & Walking:
Step into adventure with carefully designed routes, unparalleled hospitality, and deep-routed local connections.
Ride Camp:
Train like the pros in some of their favorite riding destinations.
Self-Guided:
Enjoy a bike tour on your schedule with just your chosen travel companions.
Enjoy a casual vacation with fantastic routes and comfortable accommodations.
Sometimes it’s more convenient and comfortable to have your own room while on vacation. We understand and that’s why we offer a Single Occupancy option. The additional price guarantees a private room all to yourself