Gap of Dunloe Tour (Boat & Bus)
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Killarney, Ireland
- 5 to 6 hours (approx.)
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Experience Ireland’s stunning Gap of Dunloe mountain pass and beautiful Killarney National Park by bus and boat on this tour from Killarney. Skip the planning involved in exploring independently, and admire the scenery on a bus to Kate Kearney’s Cottage at the gap entrance. Then, choose to walk or take a horse-drawn carriage ride (own expense) through the pass before enjoying a guided boat tour around Killarney's lakes and rivers.
- Scenic tour of Gap of Dunloe and Killarney National Park from Killarney
- No planning needed: get to and from the gap by pre-arranged bus and boat
- Opt to hire horse-drawn carriage (own cost) or to trek the spectacular gap
- Return to Killarney on a lake boat tour with guided commentary
What's Included
- Parking
- Bus Transport
- Boat Transport
- Lunch
- Horse and Carriage transport payable on the day in cash
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Old Weir LodgeMuckross Rd, Scrahane, Killarney, Co. Kerry, Ireland
The Old Weir Lodge is 1 Kilometer from the centre of Killarney town. We offer free parking, Tea/Coffee is also available for purchase here prior to departure.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Operating hours.10:15 am
Ticket Redemption Point
Old Weir Lodge, Muckross Rd, Scrahane, Killarney, Co. Kerry, Ireland
Itinerary
1
Kate Kearney's Cottage
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Gap of Dunloe
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
3
Lord Brandon's Cottage
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
4
Killarney National Park
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Ross Castle (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Infants must sit on laps
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 48 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Brett_J
The views from all along this journey were spectacular. Our boat and carriage guide were both very informative. Unless you can hike miles uphill at a quick pace, get a carriage
Reviews
4.5
based on 72 reviews
Pamela_B, May 2026
Wonderful experience! Amazing scenery! Fantastic guides! Be warned, however, that although indicated for most accessibility levels, there is some walking/hiking events if you choose the jaunty cart option.
James_G, Apr 2026
This was great fun and a good day out activity. Just remember that the walk rolls straight into the boat ride so make sure you pack appropriate clothing. It’s a good 11km walk and then you sit on the boat so carry some extra warm kit if the weather isn’t great. Also everything on the tour is cash only.
Amber_E, Apr 2026
Great tour but be prepared! The gap of dunloe is a 7 mile road hike including hills or a cash pay per person horse carriage ride. Bring water! The most stunning views!
pat_g, Sep 2025
Really a fantastic tour. But be aware it’s a small boat also the trek back from the end of the boat ride is 7 mile trip. You can have the option of a walk of 7 miles that is up and down Hill areas and you’re only given about three hours to make that walk or you can opt for a horse and buggy ride, which is really fun. however it has to be paid in cash and they don’t tell you the price when you book . It’s thirty-five euros a person. it’s worth it believe me. All in all it was just a wonderful scenic experience that was fabulous.
Patty_h, Aug 2025
The horse and buggy ride through the gap was great. The boat ride was wonderful. Both tour guides were friendly and very knowledgeable.
jackie_R, Aug 2025
You need to be able to do some incline walking, and be able to navigate some slippery stones and even terrain, going back down to the boat. Great tour saw alot!
Mary_V, Aug 2025
Great tour and guide. Wasn’t aware that the walk thru the gap is 7 miles! Also, the boat company really needs to clean the life jackets- quite smelly:(
Jill_S, Jul 2025
The scenery was absolutely spectacular. Somehow I didn’t see the part about the extra fee of EU35 per person to take the horse drawn carriage through the Gap of Dunloe. The other option was to hike the 11KM to where we picked up the boat tour. It was a fun experience overall.
Dawn_L, Jul 2025
This tour is 5-6 hours of which you only have a tour guide speaking to you for 20 minutes max. The rest is an amazing boat ride (where the talking happens) and a LONG walk (think 3 hours). We were told the walk was easy and in my opinion it was not. We started the opposite of what the map showed (tour operators decision) and had to walk uphill in full sun for at least 1 hour straight. You have an opportunity to rent the horse carriage to take you the whole way instead ($35/per person) and I wish we would have done that. Once you decide to walk there is no going back and you are stuck following through so choose carefully. The second half of the walk was lovely and we took some wonderful pictures. Just wish this is more of an informative tour and not just get you from point A to B.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Hi Dawn,
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review and thank you for your honesty. We really do try to explain the walk as best we can and even provide a map of the route with markers along the way to indicate how far is left to go.
We always would suggest that if you're not sure about the walk then definitely it's recommended to take the carriage ride.
Regarding the tour not being informative, as you so kindly said, the boat tour was guided and a commentary is provided by our wonderful drivers for the 1.5hr duration. Should you have taken the carriage ride you would have had a similar experience with one of the amazing characters that drives the Traps. You also would have arrived in plenty of time for the bus and even had time for a beer before getting on the way from Kate Kearney's Cottage.
Kind regards,
Rory O'Donoghue
Jen_O, Jun 2025
We loved this, our favorite day trip so far. Highly recommend! Would do it again for sure. Great stories and great views.
Dawn_B, Sep 2024
This was a fabulous day. I loved the boat trip through the lakes and the jaunty cart ride through the Gap of Dunloe. Both were spectacular. My boat guide and my jaunty cart driver were so nice, informative and personable. It was a memorable day!
Jill_M, Aug 2024
It was a must do trip. Boat guide, David, was informative and funny. Buggy ride was fun but wouldn't recommend for anyone with back problems
Ronald_L, Aug 2024
A spectacular day! Beautiful scenery and background on what we were seeing made this a great tour. Highly recommend!
Shaw_O, May 2024
The horse wagon ride and the boat ride were the best way to experience the Gap of Dunloe. The boat captain was hilarious and an amazing story teller. The boat was the best way to explore the rivers and lakes
Greg_S, May 2024
The scenery and fresh mountain air were great. The boat ride through the lakes was the highlight. The walk is 7 miles up and down hills. You can take a horse and carriage but it’s $35 per person and perfect for 2 but veeery crowded for 4.
Kimberly_L, Apr 2024
The Gap is gorgeous! I highly recommend this tour. The driver was friendly and accommodating. Our boat guide was funny and knowledgeable. Everything went as scheduled. We decided to walk the Gap and it took us 3 hrs to do. We had about and hour to rest and eat at Lord Brandon’s Cottage before the boat tour.
Cathy_C, Oct 2023
Excellent boat and jaunting car drivers! We had a wonderful time and again the weather was great. Thanks!!!
Shelagh_H, Oct 2023
We loved this excursion. We decided to take the jaunting carts through the gap, which was truly an amazing experience. We stopped for lunch for an hour or so & then got our boats to Ross Castle which really is a wonderful part of the trip.
We would highly recommend this excursion as it is great fun.
Jamie_W, Oct 2023
One of the highlights of our trip to Ireland. Breathtaking view with great guides. Tour ran with professionalism.
Mary_D, Sep 2023
Scenery was amazing and our guide on the boat was great. Overall though the tour was poorly organised, we were left waiting around a lot, and the driver of our jaunting carts was extremely rude. Would recommend using a different tour guide to see the gap of Dunloe.
Darcy_H, Sep 2023
Wet but wonderful A little of everything walk pony boat. Full day guides very entertaining and informative
Julie_N, Sep 2023
The views , they were spectacular, Our young driver Liam was very nice, even when he was verbally abused by an irrate rude driver who threatened him for holding him up behind us..
The boat trip was so lovely, calm waters , beautiful sunshine, what more could you ask for..
Saida_C, Aug 2023
Traveling the lakes by boat, with a man whose done so all his life, with breathtaking views. It ended up raining and storming a bit, which only added to the adventure. 10/10 would do again.
HeleneA_L, Jul 2023
Words do not due justice to this day. A magnificent experience both the jaunting cart through the mountains and the beautiful boat ride. This day is etched in my memory forever.
Kara_B, Jul 2023
This was one of our favorites days on our entire trip to Ireland and Scotland! The boat part of this tour was amazing--we couldn't believe the views we had from our boat and we appreciated the commentary from our guide on some of the local history. We enjoyed a quick lunch before hoping aboard a carriage and allowing our horse, Rosie, to take us through the Gap of Dunloe. There were stunning views on every part of the trip, we couldn't stop taking pictures! Our guide was local to the mountain and shared local history and stories that kept us entertained for the entire two hour trip. Rosie was amazing and we were sad to say goodbye. Could not recommend this tour more highly, a MUST see!!
Valerie_G, Jul 2023
Trip can cancelled due to inclement weather , safety first which I agree with
No notification of cancellation until arrived at the start point and still awaiting refund
beverlycrylen, Jun 2023
We love this tour the boat rides were amazing. The scenery was beautiful. We enjoyed the carriage ride through the gap of Dunloe. The only negative would be that they miscalculated how many carts were needed and then had to put too many adults, 5 plus guide in our cart which was uncomfortable and the the horse had trouble going through the paths up through the gap so some of the passengers had to walk part of the time.
Alejandro_R, Apr 2023
The cart and horse ride was unique. Lunch was good and the boats were great. We did not find anyone to pick us up but got a ride from one of the other riders.
kerry_c, Sep 2022
A beautiful day with wonderful story telling Irish guides. The Gap is well worth the visit. Spent the day meeting new people and sharing our Ireland experiences.
Patrick_D, Jul 2022
This was a very enjoyable combination boat and horse and trap excursion, covering the major lakes and rivers of Killarney. We reversed the usual itinerary order, beginning with a short bus ride to Ross Castle. The outboard motor boats, which were low to the surface and held no more than 15 souls was perfect for sight-seeing, even though it rained just a bit. The boatman, with 30 years of experience on the lakes (and never having learned to swim!) was hilarious, but also cautious about making sure no one developed motion sickness. Then we had a lunch break at a former cottage, now a cafe. Participants had a choice of hiking the actual Gap, which I'd only recommend for very fit, very strong hikers, or paying an additional fee to ride in a horse and two-wheeled cart. My driver was well versed in the history of the region. The Gap of Dunloe is a fairly steep and winding road, with spectacular views on both sides. This excursion gives the "full" Killarney National Park experience, except for the usual and most popular Muckross House and Abbey stops.
From $83.36
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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