Aran Islands Pre-Tour

Before the main Ireland tour begins, spend two unforgettable days on the Aran Islands — one of the most remote and culturally rich corners of Ireland. Walk to the dramatic cliff-edge fort of Dún Aengus on Inis Mór, explore the island's stone-walled fields and ancient monastic sites, and experience a way of life that has barely changed in centuries. The Irish language is still spoken daily here, and the landscape is raw, windswept, and profoundly beautiful.

📄Want the full picture? Download our brochure with the complete day-by-day itinerary, pricing, and trip details.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Walk Rating Key

Incline

Gentle — gain < 200 ft

Moderate — gain 200–1,000 ft

Steep — gain 1,000–2,000 ft

Terrain

🏙️ PavedAlmost entirely on pavement

🥾 TrailsWell-groomed trails, few obstacles

⛰️ RuggedRocky, rooted paths, or soft sand

Day 1

Arrive Limerick, Ireland · Welcome Orientation

▾

Travelers arrive throughout the day into Shannon International Airport on the west side of Ireland, about a 30-minute taxi ride to our hotel in Limerick. The only group activity is our Welcome Orientation and dinner this evening in anticipation of an unforgettable pre-tour to explore the Aran Islands, Galway, and the stunning Cliffs of Moher.

Day 2

Cliffs of Moher · Ferry to Inishmore · Aran Islands

1 walk · 2 km

▾

Our coach takes us into County Clare to marvel at vistas along the stupendous Cliffs of Moher, 600-foot tall sandstone cliffs rising boldly out of the North Atlantic. A bonus walk is available to bring you closer to this geological wonder. Cliffs of Moher Walk — 2 km, rated 1A. Lunch is available at the visitor centre café. From Doolin, we board a ferry crossing Galway Bay to visit Inishmore, the largest of the remote and rugged Aran Islands. Minibus transportation provides a guided tour to the island's highest point, where we see the Bronze Age Dun Aengus Fortress. We check into our hotel in Kilronan, the main settlement on an island of fewer than 900 souls.

Cliffs of Moher Walk2 km🏙️ Paved

Day 3

Dun Aengus Fortress Walk · Galway Walking Tour · Limerick

2 walks · 7 km

▾

An early start leads to a memorable walk on an ancient trail winding between picturesque stone walls to Dun Aengus Fortress, a prehistoric fortification over 3,000 years old, perched atop 300-foot sea cliffs. Inishmore Dun Aengus Fortress Walk — 5 km, rated 2B. The ferry returns us to the mainland where we rejoin our coach and drive to the storied city of Galway, named European Capital of Culture for 2020. An afternoon walking tour introduces this charming town of pedestrianized lanes and stories of the "tribes" — Anglo-Norman merchant families who dominated the city from the 15th century. Galway Walking Tour — 2 km, unrated. We motor south to Limerick to rendezvous for dinner with travelers arriving for the main tour.

Inishmore Dun Aengus Fortress Walk5 km🥾 Trails

Galway Walking Tour2 km🏙️ Paved

What's Included

Included

2 nights accommodation
2 breakfasts
1 dinner
ferry crossing
guided walks
Dún Aengus admission. Based on double occupancy.

Not Included

International airfare
lunches
travel insurance
single supplement
personal expenses

Ready to Explore Aran Islands Pre-Tour?

Reserve Your Spot

Questions? Call 360.260.9393 · Mon–Fri, 7–10am Pacific

Enhance Your Trip

Make your adventure even richer with these optional additions. Pre-nights and activities can be added at any time — before booking, during registration, or later via your trip advisor.

Single Supplement — Pre-Night

Single room supplement for the July 27 pre-night in Shannon.

$109

Single Supplement — Aran Islands

Single room supplement for the Aran Islands pre-tour.

$274

Pre-Tour Pre-Night in Shannon

Arrive on July 27 for an extra night before the Aran Islands pre-tour begins.

$269/night

Available to add during registration or by calling 360.260.9393.

Before You Book

Start by browsing our tour calendar and finding the adventure that fits your interests, dates, and walking level. There are two ways to secure your spot. You can pre-register for $200 per person to express interest before full details are released — pre-registered travelers receive a Priority Booking Invitation with one week to register before remaining space opens to the general public. Full registration requires a non-refundable $500 deposit ($200 pre-registration + $300 additional, or $500 if registering directly). Final payment is due 90 days before departure and can be made online or mailed by check for a 1% discount. Final payment is non-refundable and non-transferable. You'll receive reminders before each deadline. About 2-3 weeks before departure, you'll receive a final email packet with hotel names, contact information, a list of fellow travelers, and a detailed daily schedule. All registrations are subject to our General Terms & Conditions. Questions? Call us at 360.260.9393 or email hello@walkingadventures.fun.

The Aran Islands Pre-Tour runs for 3 days immediately before the main Ireland: The Emerald Isle tour. Both start and end in Limerick, so the handoff is seamless — you'll already be at the hotel when the main tour begins. It's a wonderful way to ease into Ireland with a dramatic Atlantic coast experience before the full tour starts. You can book the pre-tour only if you're also registered for the main Ireland tour.

Airfare is generally not included in the tour price. The starting point for each tour is the arrival airport or first hotel. We recommend booking your own flights so you can use your preferred airline, frequent flyer miles, or travel credit. When air travel is necessary within an itinerary (such as inter-island flights in the Azores), it is usually included in the tour price. We recommend contacting Laura Pfahler, the travel agent we work with, to help book your flight arrangements. Detailed arrival and departure airport information is provided on each tour page and in your registration materials.

The Aran Islands are three rocky limestone islands off Ireland's west coast where Irish (Gaelic) is still the daily language. Inishmore, the largest, is home to Dun Aengus — a 3,000-year-old cliff-edge stone fort that is one of Europe's most dramatic prehistoric sites. The islands feel like stepping back in time. Transport is by ferry (included), and on the island you'll walk and ride in local minibuses. Weather is Atlantic maritime — expect wind, possible rain, and spectacular light.

Once paid, your registration deposit is non-refundable. Final payment is due before departure — your tour page has the specific dates — and is non-refundable after the due date. We'll send you a reminder a week or two before each deadline so nothing sneaks up on you. If a tour doesn't reach the minimum number of participants needed to run, WAI may cancel the departure — and if that happens, you'll receive a full refund of everything you've paid. It's rare, but we want you to know where you stand. See our General Tour Conditions for complete cancellation and refund details.

WAI believes strongly in the importance of travel insurance for financial and medical protection from unforeseen circumstances before departure or during your adventure. We recommend a policy covering trip cancellation, medical evacuation, and emergency medical expenses. Be aware that some policies contain time-sensitive provisions — benefits like coverage of pre-existing conditions may only be available if the policy is purchased within a certain number of days of booking. Airfare is generally not covered by tour travel insurance. Using SquareMouth.com is a good way to compare pricing. Other options include Allianz, Travel Guard, and Travel Insured International. WAI bears no responsibility for travel insurance benefits advertised by credit card companies — verify coverage types and limits before relying on them.

Every WAI walk uses a two-part rating: a number (1–3) for incline and a letter (A–C) for terrain. Here’s what they look like:

1 — Gentle (gain < 200 ft)

2 — Moderate (gain 200–1,000 ft)

3 — Steep (gain 1,000–2,000 ft)

🏙️ PavedA — Paved (almost entirely on pavement)

🥾 TrailsB — Trails (well-groomed trails, few obstacles)

⛰️ RuggedC — Rugged (rocky, rooted paths, or soft sand)

Quick Reference

	🏙️ Paved	🥾 Trails	⛰️ Rugged
Gentle	🏙️ Paved	🥾 Trails	⛰️ Rugged
Moderate	🏙️ Paved	🥾 Trails	⛰️ Rugged
Steep	🏙️ Paved	🥾 Trails	⛰️ Rugged

Each tour page also has a Tour Pace rating (1–5) and a Walk Challenge rating (1–5) that summarize the overall difficulty. Use these to compare tours at a glance — then check the day-by-day itinerary for the full picture.

You'll receive a detailed packing list and final email packet about 2-3 weeks before departure, including hotel names, contact information, a list of fellow travelers, and a more detailed daily schedule. Key items for every WAI tour: well broken-in walking shoes (not new ones), layers for variable weather, a lightweight waterproof rain jacket, a small daypack for daily walks, sunscreen, and a hat. For international tours, check your tour page for destination-specific recommendations. Comfortable, modest clothing works for most group dinners — WAI tours are relaxed, not formal.

Most days begin with a group breakfast, followed by a morning walk or cultural visit. Midday includes a lunch stop — sometimes included, sometimes on your own at a local restaurant. Afternoons blend walking with sightseeing, and evenings are usually free with periodic group dinners. You'll never feel rushed, and there's always time to rest, explore on your own, or sit in a café and watch the world go by. Your guides will share a detailed daily schedule before the trip so you'll know exactly what to expect.

You don't need to be an athlete. WAI tours range from gentle strolls through city streets to more adventurous walks on hills and trails — and most walking days offer a shorter or easier alternative so you can choose your level. If you enjoy walking regularly and can handle a couple of miles at a comfortable pace, you'll find tours that fit. More experienced walkers will find plenty to challenge them too. The best preparation is to walk regularly in the weeks before your trip, gradually building up distance. Every tour page shows walk-by-walk ratings so you can see exactly what's involved — and if you're unsure, give us a call. We love helping people find the right fit.

WAI groups are small by design — every group is kept intentionally small so you're never just a face in the crowd. Two WAI guides accompany every trip (plus local national guides on international tours), which means more personal attention, better access to local experiences, and the kind of camaraderie that turns fellow travelers into lasting friends. Check your tour page for specific group size details.

Absolutely — and you won't be alone for long. Many of our travelers come solo and quickly find themselves part of the group. We offer a roommate matching service at no extra charge, or you can book a single room for a supplement (amount varies by tour). Solo travelers consistently tell us that the community feel of a WAI trip is one of the best parts.

Meal inclusions vary by tour — check your specific tour page for details. Most tours include daily breakfast, several group dinners, and select lunches. On free-meal days, your guides will recommend local restaurants that match the group's tastes and budget. Group dinners are a highlight — they're often at locally owned restaurants where the food tells a story about the place you're visiting.

With help from local experts and walking guides, Classic Curated itineraries are crafted with extensive on-site planning by WAI tour planners. Our objective is to capture the essence of a destination by weaving together its culture, history, natural beauty, and culinary traditions into a walking-centric adventure. Think of it as a fully planned trip where each day is thoughtfully designed — not a self-guided hike, not a resort stay, but an immersive journey with a small group led by experienced WAI guides.

After you register, we'll send you an Adventure Advice email with everything you need to plan your trip — recommended flights, arrival airports, timing tips, and important steps to take before departure. One big thing: please don't buy your flights until you've seen this email. It'll save you headaches and help you find the best options. Closer to departure, you'll get a final packet with hotel details, a list of your fellow travelers, and a day-by-day schedule.

If a tour departure doesn't reach the minimum enrollment needed to run, WAI reserves the right to cancel it. If that happens, registered participants receive a 100% refund of all payments made to WAI. Most tours reach minimum enrollment well in advance, and cancellations are rare — but we want you to know we stand behind our commitment if it ever happens. In cases where supplier non-refundable deposits limit what WAI can recover, we'll do our best to apply unrecovered amounts as credit toward a future tour.

Our approach to wellness on tour encourages travelers to: focus on health before the tour so you start healthy; pace yourself while on tour, as travel is inherently stimulating and can mask energy drain; stay hydrated and rested, especially on long-haul travel days and at altitude; and speak up if you're not feeling well — our guides are trained to help and would rather know early. We travel in small groups where everyone looks out for each other, and our guides carry first aid supplies and know local medical resources at every stop. Read our full Wellness on Tour Policy for details.

Aran Islands Pre-Tour

Tour Pace

Walk Challenge