Self-Launched: Dublin & Ireland's South West (5 Days)
5 days · Ireland
Rabbie's Small Group Tours charges £980
No-markup version: ~£632 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A do-it-yourself version of Rabbie's 5-day small-group loop from Dublin to Galway, Killarney, the Dingle Peninsula, the Ring of Kerry and back via Blarney, Kinsale and the Rock of Cashel. Instead of a driver-guide minibus, you'll use Ireland's reliable intercity coaches and trains (Bus Éireann, Citylink/Gobus, Irish Rail) plus day tours from local bases in Galway and Killarney. You'll still hit Kilbeggan Distillery, Clonmacnoise, the Burren, the Cliffs of Moher, Dingle/Slea Head, the Ring of Kerry and Blarney Castle — just on your own schedule and budget. Costs are rough backpacker estimates in GBP and will vary with season and how far ahead you book.
Day-by-day
Dublin to Galway via Kilbeggan & Clonmacnoise
Dublin → Galway
Get an early start: take the 07:35 Irish Rail train from Dublin Heuston to Tullamore (approx. £10-14, ~1h10m), then a local bus or short taxi to Kilbeggan Distillery for the self-guided/guided tour and whiskey tasting (approx. £15-18, book ahead online). Return to the main road and pick up a Bus Éireann service towards Athlone, hopping off at Clonmacnoise for the monastic ruins and round towers (£5 entry). Then continue by bus to Galway city (Athlone–Galway ~£9-12). Alternatively, book a one-day GetYourGuide day tour that combines Kilbeggan/Clonmacnoise if you prefer not to juggle buses. Settle into a Galway hostel/guesthouse near Eyre Square and eat in the Latin Quarter.
🚌Irish Rail Dublin Heuston–Tullamore ~£12 + Bus Éireann connections ~£18 total
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse near Eyre Square, Galway (~£30/night)
- →Kilbeggan Distillery tour with whiskey tasting (~£16)
- →Clonmacnoise monastic site (~£5)
- →Evening walk through Galway's Latin Quarter
The Burren, Kilfenora & Cliffs of Moher
Galway → Killarney (via Burren/Cliffs)
Take a full-day small-group Cliffs of Moher & Burren tour from Galway booked via GetYourGuide/Klook (approx. £35-45, includes cliff entrance). This covers the grey limestone Burren landscape, Kilfenora Cathedral with its high crosses, the Cliffs of Moher visitor centre and a short time at Lahinch Beach. If you'd rather do it independently: Bus Éireann 350 runs Galway–Doolin–Cliffs of Moher–Ennis (~£10 each way), and you pay Cliffs admission (~£8) separately. On return to Galway, catch an evening Citylink/Gobus coach to Killarney (approx. £18-22, ~2h45m) and check into your Killarney hostel for three nights.
🚌GetYourGuide day tour from Galway ~£40 + Gobus/Citylink Galway–Killarney ~£20
🛏Killarney hostel dorm or B&B (~£32/night, 3 nights)
- →The Burren limestone landscape
- →Kilfenora Cathedral and high crosses
- →Cliffs of Moher visitor centre & exhibition
- →Lahinch Beach stop
Dingle Peninsula & Slea Head Drive
Killarney (Dingle day trip)
Join a Dingle Peninsula & Slea Head day tour departing Killarney (approx. £40-50 via GetYourGuide or local operators like Dingle Peninsula Tours). You'll stop at Inch Beach, explore Dingle town's colourful harbour, and drive the Slea Head loop with views across to the Blasket Islands and early Christian beehive huts. Independently, Bus Éireann 275 goes Killarney–Tralee–Dingle (~£8 each way, ~1h45m), but you'd then need a local Slea Head tour from Dingle (~£25) or a rented bike. Back in Killarney, grab seafood in town and take an evening stroll into Killarney National Park to see Ross Castle at dusk.
🚌Dingle/Slea Head day tour from Killarney ~£45
🛏Killarney hostel dorm or B&B (~£32/night)
- →Inch Beach
- →Dingle town harbour
- →Slea Head drive and Blasket Islands viewpoint
- →Evening walk in Killarney National Park
Ring of Kerry Loop
Killarney (Ring of Kerry day trip)
Book a Ring of Kerry day tour from Killarney (approx. £35-45 via GetYourGuide/Klook). The loop typically covers Killorglin, Glenbeigh, Cahersiveen, Portmagee and the Skellig Experience centre, Waterville for photos, the Coomakista Pass, Derrynane House and gardens, Moll's Gap, Ladies View and often Torc Waterfall. Self-drive/cycling isn't realistic on a short trip, and public buses don't circle the route, so a coach day tour is the practical independent equivalent. Return to Killarney in the evening for a pub dinner with trad music.
🚌Ring of Kerry day tour from Killarney ~£40
🛏Killarney hostel dorm or B&B (~£32/night)
- →Ring of Kerry scenic drive
- →Portmagee fishing village and Skellig Experience
- →Waterville photo stop
- →Derrynane House gardens & beach
- →Moll's Gap and Ladies View
- →Torc Waterfall walk
Blarney Castle, Kinsale & Rock of Cashel to Dublin
Killarney → Blarney/Kinsale/Cashel → Dublin
Take an early Bus Éireann/Expressway coach from Killarney to Cork (approx. £10, ~1h30m), then local bus 215 to Blarney for the castle grounds and the Blarney Stone (adult ticket ~£18-20, book online). Continue by bus 226 to Kinsale (~£6-8) for a harbour lunch, then take a coach to Cashel (Cork–Cashel via Expressway, ~£10-12) to walk the Rock of Cashel grounds and cathedral ruins (~£8). Finish with an evening Expressway coach or Irish Rail train Cashel/Limerick Junction back to Dublin Heuston (~£15-20, arriving around 20:00-21:00).
🚌Killarney–Cork ~£10, Cork–Blarney/Kinsale local buses ~£10, Cork–Cashel ~£11, Cashel–Dublin ~£18
🛏Not included — Dublin hostel separate (dorm ~£30/night)
- →Blarney Castle grounds & Blarney Stone (~£19)
- →Kinsale harbour & town lunch
- →Rock of Cashel ruins (~£8)
Self-launched vs. Rabbie's Small Group Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Rabbie's Small Group Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£632 | £980 |
| Duration | 5 days | 5 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £348 per person (36%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Rabbie's Small Group Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£632
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched: Dublin & Ireland's South West (5 Days) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £632 per person for 5 days in Ireland. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Rabbie's Small Group Tours?+
Yes — Rabbie's Small Group Tours charges around £980 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £632 — a saving of roughly £348 (36%) per person.
How long is the Ireland trip?+
This itinerary runs 5 days, covering 5 day-by-day stops through Ireland.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, adventure, hiking trip through Ireland, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.