Tours,

We have made it easy for you to experience Ireland by booking one of many exciting tours.

Aran Islands

Located in the heart of Galway Bay, the Aran Islands offer visitors a glimpse into a way of life that has long since disappeared from most of the county. The Islands’ raw beauty and charm leaves visitors longing to return again and again. While the South –West coast of the island battles with the Atlantic, the North- East coast offers smooth passage for visitors between the mainland at Ros a' Mhíl and the Islands.


The Islands’ seems to defy their size by all they have to offer: breath-taking scenery, ecclesiastic ruins from early Christian times, medieval castles, cliffs, prehistoric stone forts (including the famous Dún Aonghasa ring fort), sandy beaches, clean air, unique flora and fauna, and a rich folklore that the islanders are proud to recount.


Island Ferries is owned and operated by the O’Brien family from near-by Carraroe. Their ancestors have been involved in the passenger - cargo service to the Aran Islands for generations. The original service was provided by one of the traditional Galway Hookers, ‘An Tónaí’, still treasured by the family but now only used to compete in the famous ‘Galway Hooker Races’. There is still huge interest in Hooker racing among both young and old and four of these races (and their accompanying festivals) take place on the islands every year; two on Inis Mór and one each on Inis Meáin and Inis Oírr.


Aran Island Ferries staff are happy to advise visitors on any aspect of their trip from accommodation, bike hire or mini-bus tours to evening meals. Sail in comfort and luxury with Aran Island Ferries and let us help you experience the Magic that is Aran.

Connemara Day Tour

Our conducted tour of Connemara leaves Galway along the leafy road to the village of Moycullen with glimpses of the Corrib river, on our right, as it winds its way to the sea in Galway Bay. From Moycullen the road rises and falls towards the lovely village of Oughterard on the shores of Lough Corrib, traditionally regarded as Irelands premier angling centre. Now the gateway to Connemara opens and the breathtaking colours of this unspoilt countryside are revealed in all there natural splendour. At Maam Cross, the Connemara "crossroads", there is a replica of the cottage used in the 1950's John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara film "The quiet man", which was filmed here locally.

From Maam Cross our tour heads out to Leenane, Kylemore Abbey and Letterfrack, in the shadow of purple mountains rolling down to blue, green rocky valleys sprinkled here and there with tiny lakes and pools shining like little pieces of broken mirror, reflecting the rich and varied colours of Connemara.

There is a lunch break at Kylemore Abbey - an 18th century castle now owned by the Benedictine nuns who run an excellent pottery, giftshop and restaurant here. Letterfrack is one of Irelands major national parks. The colourful town of Clifden has been one of Irelands leading holiday resorts for generations.
It is an excellent touring centre beloved by the walker, the biker, the hiker or the fisherman. It was here too, at Derrygimlagh Bog, near Clifden that aviation history was made when Alcock and Brown crash landed after their historic transatlantic flight in 1919

On the road out of Clifden the Dan O'Hara pre-famine farm (circa 1840) is on your left, fronted by a replica of an ancient Irish Crannog or lake dwelling. Further on is the fully integrated Clifden Glen Holiday Village. Back at Maam Cross again and the road turns southwards now through the Screeb, Costello and Rossaveal.

We are now in the Gaeltacht or Irish speaking area of Connemara where Gaelic or Irish is still the everyday spoken language of a bi lingual people. Rossaveal is the departure point for ferryboats to the Aran Islands and is also a major fishing port.

Our tour of Connemara heads homewards towards Galway City now, along the shores of Galway bay, through the Gaeltacht villages of Inverin and Spiddal and looking out across the blue waters of the Atlantic at the unique limestone of the Burren and the hills of Clare. In Spiddal there is a craft village and the Standun sweater shop.

The Cliffs of Moher and the Burren

The Burren is unexpectedly beautiful, rich in the beliefs of old ways and a megalithic people who were renouned as some of the finest handlers of stone in the world. The guided tour includes the Cliffs of Moher one of the highest sea cliffs in Europe,The Burren with its expanse of limestone and home to rare plants,
Kinvara, Ballyvaughan and Lisdoonvarna.

In many ways this fascinating tour takes us through parts of "the hidden Ireland," the mysterious Ireland of the poet Yeats and the moon-like land of the Burren. It is also home to many rare species of plants. Accompanied by a Lally Tour professional guide the tour leaves Galway through the village of Oranmore, where the of Galway Bay unfolds and then heads slightly inland for a while, passing through the oyster famous village of Clarinbridge before heading seawards again at Kilcolgan.

From here, the tour takes the dramatic southern coastline of Galway Bay, through the pretty fishing village of Kinvara and the Medieval Banqueting castle of Dunguaire. With the broad expanse of the great Atlantic on the right hand side and the white-faced limestone rock of the Burren on the left, this is a truly striking panorama, a botanists paradise. This is a treasure house for geologists and lovers of the great outdoors.

A short climb provides a view of the 12th century Cistercian Abbey of Corcomroe before heading towards Galway Bay again via Bell Harbour. Beyond the village of Ballyvaughan, the winding coast road turns seaward again passing Black Head lighthouse. Out beyond in the blue Atlantic are the three Aran Islands of Inishmor, Inish Mean and Inisheer and the outline of the Connemara coast. Our tour now takes us through the village of Doolin, a wellspring of all that is best in Irish traditional music and song, home of the late Miko Russell.

Now we are at the awesome cliffs of Moher, rising a sheer 210 meters from the ocean below. After a sightseeing trip at the cliffs of Moher, the road winds down to Lisdoonvarna for a welcome lunch-break and an opportunity to visit a local pub.

Lisdoonvarna is the home of Ireland's annual match-making festival in September and was once a famous spa where its sulphuric waters were said to have curative and other benificial properties!Our journey back to Galway takes us along the main roadand we arrive at the tourist office at 4.45 pm approx.

The Cliffs of Moher Express Tour

This is a new service, straight there "2 hours on the cliffs" and straight back again. this tour has been developed for the traveller in a hurry to see it all. leave the details to us.

You can book your tour by:

Making a reservation.

Calling +353 91 529537

Email: info@amberbaybb.ie

Or simply book upon arrival.