Book A Tour

Ireland Walking Tours: 5 Of The Best

Hike in pristine scenery on Vagabond's fully guided Ireland walking tours. Join expert mountaineer, Tim to discover 5 of the best hiking and trekking tours in Ireland.

IRELAND WALKING TOURS AT A GLANCE

🥾 Immersive All Ireland Walking Tour

🧭 1 Week of Hiking in Northern Ireland

⛰️ 5 Day Southwest Hiking & Multi-Activity Tour

🚐 Wild Atlantic Way 8 Day Ireland Trekking Tour

⭐️ Guided 7 Day West & Southwest Hiking Trip


By Tim

Tim Orr is Training & Guide Liaison at Vagabond. He worked as a mountaineering instructor all over the world for 20 years and has been a Vagaguide for over a decade.

Hi, I'm Tim 👋🏻

Ireland is a walker's dream. Many of our best hiking trails are yet to be tapped into by international adventure seekers — that means you!

I have led training of Vagabond tour guides and worked as a mountain trekking guide in Ireland for more years than I care to remember!

Now it's high time that I shared some of that experience with people hunting for the best Ireland walking tours.

Myself and the rest of the VagaGuides pick the best trails for our guests. We hike daily, modifying each walk to suit the group and the weather — not forgetting the consideration of how late your group were in the pub last night!

Read on, intrepid trekker, to get an idea of what to expect from hikes on an active small-group Vagabond tour of Ireland.

Ireland walking tours can bring you to the very edge of Europe, as shown by these hikers near scenic cliffs on Bray Head in Kerry

🥾 Immersive All Ireland Walking Tour

Duration: 12 Days

Difficulty Level: Challenging

Gateway City: Dublin

"I just did the 12 Day Vagabond Tour and would recommend this trip for anyone wanting to see as much of Ireland as you can. Explore ancient ruins, forests, hike the cliffs, mountains and valleys ... The trip was NEVER boring!"

TripAdvisor Review [May 2025]

The 12 Day Giant Irish Adventure Tour is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore Ireland's best walking trails.

The tour itinerary features guided hikes in some of Ireland’s most breathtaking regions, including the Wild Atlantic Way and Northern Ireland.

These hikes give you the chance to enjoy everything from scenic headlands on dramatic coastlines to hidden farm trails through rolling hills.

In addition to hiking, the tour itinerary will give you the chance to take part in various adventure activities, including bike tours, horseback-riding and sea kayaking.

If you love combining trekking with culture and active exploration, the 12 Day Giant Irish Adventure Tour is an excellent choice.Immerse yourself in Ireland’s natural beauty and have fun!

FIND OUT MORE: 12 Day Vagabond Giant Irish Adventure Tour

Hikers in Glenveagh National Park Ireland

🧭 1 Week of Hiking in Northern Ireland

Duration: 7 Days

Difficulty Level: Challenging

Gateway City: Dublin

"Just finished a 7 Day Magnetic North Tour with Vagabond ... A small enough group to get to know each other and make new travel friends and Eamoon was fantastic with his stories and keeping us on track. My favorite day was the rope bridge hike and the Giant's Causeway hike."

TripAdvisor Review [May 2025]

Most of the time, trekking trails in Ireland are blissfully quiet.

That is even more true when you embark on the 7 Day Vagabond Magnetic North Adventure Tour. It's ideal for those who enjoy trekking and outdoor activities but who value off the beaten track destinations too.

You’ll get to hike the stunning Northern Ireland coastline all the way to the Giant’s Causeway. Along your trek, you’ll encounter dramatic sea stacks, chalk cliffs, and hidden coves.

There’s an opportunity to conquer the summit of Slieve Gullion in Armagh, where you can discover an ancient mountaintop passage tomb and hear fascinating local myths.

Later in the tour, watch out for eagles flying overhead in Glenveagh National Park, Donegal. You'll also be given the opportunity to climb the holy hill of Croagh Patrick, Ireland's most famous pilgrimage route.

The tour takes you off the beaten track, with guided walking tours and hikes, so you’ll experience a range of landscapes — from dramatic cliffs to rolling hills.

Hike to the max on our 7 Day Vagabond Magnetic North Adventure Tour

A Vagabond tour vehicle with group in a remote and scenic spot in Cork, Ireland

⛰️ 5 Day Southwest Hiking & Multi-Activity Tour

Duration: 5 Days

Difficulty Level: Medium

Gateway City: Dublin

"My wife and I did the 5 Day Edge of the World tour and have raved about the experience with any of our friends who have asked ... The views, hikes and cities we visited were outstanding. Can't recommend Vagabond Tours enough if you're looking for an off-the-beaten path trip to Ireland."

TripAdvisor Review [March 2025]

The 5 Day Edge of the World Tour is a wonderfully compact itinerary for those who are time-poor, but passionate about hiking and trekking.

Arrive in Ireland at the weekend, pull on your waterproof pants, spend 5 days exploring Ireland's best walking trails and adventure suppliers, then zip home again; all within a week!

You’ll experience a wonderful mix of accessible and more challenging hikes, so there’s truly something for everyone—whether you’re a casual walker or a mountain enthusiast.

Kerry is the standout destination here. You’ll have the chance to hike beside isolated lakes on the Dingle peninsula, through native oak forests in Killarney National Park as well as over the Old Kenmare Road.

And because you're with Vagabond, rest assured that all the trekking is fully guided and the trails will take you through some of Ireland’s most scenic countryside.

Couple walking in Ireland on the summit of Diamond Hill, Connemara

🚐 Wild Atlantic Way 8 Day Ireland Trekking Tour

Duration: 8 Days

Difficulty Level:

Gateway City: Dublin

"The destinations, the hiking and optional activities, and the accommodations all exceeded my expectations. Our guide, Vaughan, was great, effectively navigating windy, wild narrow roads as well as he did all the 10 different personalities on the tour. From someone who has travelled to Ireland on her own a few times before, this is an excellent value."

TripAdvisor Review [May 2025]

The 8 Day Wild Irish Rover Tour is one of our classic active adventure itineraries, including walking and trekking.

Your guide will be focused on delivering a variety of hikes and activities in some of Ireland’s wildest and most scenic areas.

You’ll experience hikes in beautiful regions like Kerry and Galway, including time in wild, western and wonderful Connemara.

Expect to traverse a mix of terrains, from coastal paths to forest trails and possibly even some steeper or uneven ground.

Lightweight hiking boots are recommended for this itinerary, to deliver better grip and comfort.

Hiking group in a scenic coastal location in Cork, Ireland

⭐️ Guided 7 Day West & Southwest Hiking Trip

Duration: 7 Days

Difficulty Level: Challenging

Gateway City: Dublin

"The length of the tour was just right; it offered plenty of physical activity (with options for less strenuous activities); had the right balance of learning historical context and having fun; featured plenty of good eating and drinking; and was all knitted together by a top notch guide..​​​​​​​"

TripAdvisor Review [June 2025]

The 7 Day World Tour of Ireland visits a combination of Ireland's best known hiking hotspots — like Kerry — as well as some less-visited gems — like the isolated Beara Peninsula in Cork.
 
As it's a Vagabond active adventure tour, renowned for flexible itineraries, the degree of difficulty and frequency of hikes can be adjusted to suit your group, making each tour unique and tailored to the guests’ abilities and preferences.
 
Border between sections
Border between sections
X
Cookies on our website:
We use cookies to collect information about web visitors to analyse site usage and assist in marketing, including advertising personalisation. By clicking "I'm OK with cookies", you agree to the storing of cookies on your device. Choose "Cookie Settings" to pick specific cookies or change your preferences.
I'm OK With Cookies Cookie Settings ?

💰☘️ SAVE UP TO €355 — Pay 2025 prices for your 2026 tour. LEARN MORE

X