Bus, Boat & Jaunting Cart Tour (Jaunting Cart Paid Separately)
4.5

Bus, Boat & Jaunting Cart Tour (Jaunting Cart Paid Separately)

By Gap of Dunloe Tours
Recommended by 92% of travellers
92% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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Ages 2-70, max of 60 per group
Duration: 5h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket


  • Air-conditioned vehicle
What's not included
  • The price of the Jaunting Cart is not included. The cost is €35 pp, max 4 people paid in cash.


Start:Multiple pickup locations offered.
  • O'Connors Traditional Pub, 7 High Street, Killarney, Co. Kerry, V93 DV26, Ireland
    Next door to QUILLS shop
Hotel pickup offered
During checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels.
    End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

      • Not wheelchair accessible
      • Pushchair accessible
      • Service animals allowed
      • Near public transportation
      • Infants must sit on laps
      If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 136699P3

      • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
      • Not recommended for travellers with back problems
      • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
      • Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
      • This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
      • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 60 travellers

      • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

      If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 136699P3

      From
      ₹5,409.98
      per adult
      Select date and travellers

      Similar experiences

      Itinerary
      • 1
        Discover the beautiful Lakes of Killarney and the breath-taking Gap of Dunloe with our Bus, Boat & Jaunting Cart Tour. The tour includes full bus transfers (in the morning and return in the afternoon) and a boat journey through the three Lakes of Killarney (approximately 90 minutes in length). Please note the Jaunting cart price is not included in this tour. The journey through the Gap of Dunloe (approximately 7mile/11km) takes the Jaunting cart's approximately 1.5 to 2 hours to make the journey. The cost for the jaunting cart is €100, with max 4 people to a cart and this is paid directly to the driver in cash. This price is increasing to €120 for the 2023 season. Jaunting Cars can be hired at Kate Kearney's Cottage or Lord Brandon's Cottage.
        Pass by
        Ross Castle
        Old Weir Bridge
      About the operator
      Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
      • Gap of Dunloe Tours
        256
        Ireland
        Joined in June 2014
      • melaniehL5682MO
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Great outing
        Beautiful boat ride up to the top of the lakes. Our guide was friendly and informative. We rented bikes and rode the gap and back to Killarney and the scenery was breath-taking. Definitely a must-do for anyone in Killarney!
        Written 5 October 2024
      • Merrickvillian
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Highly recommended tour!
        The bus ride from O'Connor's Pub left on time with the driver giving us a bit of the history of the town. The walk was strenuous in one part, but very scenic. It took me two hours and twenty minutes of steady going so I had plenty of time to get something to eat and drink at Lord Brandon's Cottage. It is not a full service restaurant, but you can certainly get a light lunch. Service with a smile. The boat ride through the three lakes was just beautiful with our guide stopping in a few places to let us know about some points of interest. The weather meant the boat ride was a little rough in parts, but I was never concerned at any time. I think this is one of the most beautiful tours I've been on and definitely recommend it.
        Written 30 September 2024
      • X8094JOtrishc
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Great day and took the bikes too!
        We had a great trip. Weather was in our favour too! The Guide/Captain was lovely, information and humourous! And Bailey the Ship's Dog kept us all company. Took bikes across with us and cycled back (pedal power not e-bikes). We would highly recommend doing this if you're fit enough.
        Written 26 September 2024
      • Alison M
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Fantastic scenery and wonderful boat journey
        Very well organised trip. We were picked up at our hotel by mini bus. The driver gave us interesting commentary on the way to the start of the walk. We chose to walk to Lord Brandon’s cottage rather than take a jaunting car. We were blessed with glorious weather. The boat trip down through the lakes was fabulous. Again great commentary from our guide. Would highly recommend.
        Written 4 September 2024
      • H9091WRrobynh
        0 contributions
        4.0 of 5 bubbles
        Boat ride and drivers were fantastic. Catered for a rainy ride in the boat. Found the Dunhoe story interesting .
        The actual experience was good but found the booking process confusing. Thought I was booking a boat ride but discovered when I had paid that it involved an 11k walk
        Written 30 August 2024
      • ColleenP933
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Get out of your car and into a boat for the best views!
        We did a bike and boat tour and it was fantastic! We used their recommendation for e-bike rental from Killarney-Rent-a-Bike and were very pleased. We picked the bikes up at 9 am and had time to your Ross Castle before the boat ride started at 11 am. The ride was in an open boat and luckily we were prepared with rain gear as we did have a downpour. I highly recommend!
        Written 25 August 2024
      • AlbertoC135
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Awesome
        It was a great walk to the top of the gap. Beautiful views and an awesome environment. Low traffic. The tour in the boat was fantastic, a must. Even if it was raining, we could enjoy very much passing through the 3 lakes.
        Written 23 August 2024
      • lauramelody
        0 contributions
        3.0 of 5 bubbles
        Double confirm pick up time
        The boat tour and walk through the gap were amazing.The boat driver was friendly and helpful. We arrived at Kate Kearneys 45 minutes before our pick up time which we were told twice was 4.30 . We got a drink and waited ,however the bus didn't show up. When we eventually rang we were told to get a lift or a taxi back into town as we had missed the bus. A taxi back to town cost us 40 euro as traffic was heavy. From reviews here I can see this has happened to other people so be careful when booking this tour.
        Written 17 August 2024
      • MerseyChris
        0 contributions
        4.0 of 5 bubbles
        The Gap of Dunloe by boat
        This was a most unusual boat trip to Lord Brandon's Cottage from Ross Castle. Half way through the trip you get to the river which becomes so shallow that the boat has to empty its passengers and you have to walk along the river to deeper water where you get back on the boat. The scenery is beautiful though unfortunately it was quite wet which meant that the white tailed eagle didn't appear. When you get to Lord Brandon's Cottage you can buy snacks and drinks. Some people then walk to pick up a jaunting trap to go along the beautiful Gap of Dunloe whereas others use a bicycle and others walk. We returned by boat. The boat was good value for the length of the trip
        Written 10 August 2024
      • Odyssey37931934014
        0 contributions
        1.0 of 5 bubbles
        A company to avoid!
        If I had read all the comments here I would never have chosen this company! Like many customers, we were back on time for the return bus but the driver, who was also very unpleasant and had not made any interesting comments, decided to leave 15 minutes early, leaving us there with children, more than 2.5 hours of walking from the city on a dangerous road, while I am convinced that several members of the group with whom we had talked all day and during the 3 hours of "hiking" on a concrete road where cars and carts speed without worrying about pedestrians, told him that we were at the toilets opposite (which he had a view of). The contact number was wrong, no response on Facebook and by email I was told 1 hour later to take a taxi which of course was never reimbursed. This company is a disgrace and takes advantage of having the same name as another company which is very concerned about its customers. Better to do this tour by yourself.
        Written 5 August 2024
      • progers22
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Beautiful Gap of Dunloe!
        Walking the Gap of Dunloe was a fantastic way to spend our day. I recommend starting at Kate Kearney!s cottage and walking to Lord Brandon’s cottage…..it’s a prettier walk this way. Pick up the boat there and have a fun ride back to Ross Castle. the walk is steep at times but so lovely. Be aware: I was dreaming of a post-walk pint at Lord Brandon’s before we boarded the boat and there was none to be had. They did have great soup and hot chocolate! Walking the gap took us about 2 hours.
        Written 5 August 2024
      • Relax23695589816
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Gap tour was Memorable
        Going into this totally unexpected, one of my friends booked this tour and it turned out to be one of the most amazing experiences i will forever remember
        Written 27 July 2024
      • SusanM156
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Excellent boat trip
        Excellent trip. Boat easy to find and last on time. Fun and interesting commentary. Great views on boat and when walking. Took almost three hours… hadn’t booked bus at other end but we managed to get it back to Ross castle.
        Written 14 July 2024
      • John I
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Amazing customer service
        A great day out. Highly recommended. We had to postpone and rearrange at short notice. They accommodated us . Amazing customer service.
        Written 14 July 2024
      • thefootballmanfrom
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Loved when the captain splashed us.
        It was great. We were the only people on the boat who spoke English other than the captain. Pretty fun. I loved it when the captain splashed us all.
        Written 12 July 2024
      See all 256 reviews
      These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

      Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

      Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

      Popular mentions

      4.5
      4.5 of 5 bubbles77 reviews
      Excellent
      63
      Very good
      8
      Average
      5
      Poor
      1
      Terrible
      0

      Ann V
      Silver Spring, MD8 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Jul 2022
      After a very long 2 year wait due to the pandemic, we were excited to finally arrive in Ireland in July of 2022. While the primary purpose of our trip was to play golf, we wanted to take in all of the beautiful area around Killarney. "Gap of Dunloe Tours" exceeded all of our expectations. The jitney from the center of town was on time and well organized. Although we had to wait a short time for our horse and jaunting cart, we were please with the ride through the Gap. Due to the extreme (and rare) heat of the day, we had to get out the cart for a short walk up a steep hill to save the horse from overheating. Once we got the the lake, we were met by yet another pleasant guide who took us through the lake pointing out places of interest along with way and giving us a brief history of what we were seeing. This day was worth every Euro spent and I would highly recommend it to anyone wanting to see the beauty of this area in a more relaxed way.
      Written 20 November 2022
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

      Lorraine & Michael McHugh
      Ashford, UK6 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      May 2023 • Couples
      Nobody to greet at the start, just followed other people to minibus, fortunately it was the correct tour, not the advertised old fashioned bus just an everyday minibus, this did not set high hopes for the remainder of the trip, however on reaching the jaunting car start it was pick a driver, fortunately our Driver Dermot and Mickey( the pony) lifted the feeling of dread to exceptional heights along with the views all thoughts of what may have been were quickly dispelled. The stop at Lord Byrons Cottage came all too soon for us, after paying Dermot, and thanking Mickey we had time for food, big sandwiches at a reasonable price, then on to the boat trip across the lakes of Killarnie with glorious scenes and a knowledgeable boatman, as the water level was very low, there was a short walk required where the lake was at its lowest, all added to the adventure and enjoyment of the day. Then back to Killarnie in the mini bus.
      Written 1 June 2023
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

      Jan N
      2 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Sept 2024 • Friends
      Call it the luck of the Irish, but when Mike and Crazy Tom the Horse offered to take three of my girlfriends and me through the Gap of Dunloe in his jaunting cart, I knew we were in for a great experience. It was better than I could have imagined! Mike entertained us the entire way with stories, tales, insights and observations about the Gap and the area. Our conversation started when I asked how long he'd been doing this. "My first day...my first day on the job. 007 license to kill." I knew then we were in for a treat and I was right. Mike stopped at several prime spots along the way -- including one that offered a beautiful echo -- to allow us to take photos and took several for us, as well as getting in on a few himself. Mike's frequent "Come on, Toooom" and "Come up, come ouuuut" sprinkled throughout our conversation only added to the absolute "Irishness" of the journey. We learned a little about Tom (he likes Guinness, Mike says), who is 7 and will pull the cart until he is about 18, at which time he'll "retire" to giving children rides in a park in a nearby town. Mike also pointed out trail hikes accessible along the Gap path, including one leading to MacGillyCuddy's Reeks and Ireland's tallest mountain. Next time...next time! I'm not sure how the experience could have been any better. Thank you, Mike, for a memorable, entertaining journey through the Gap.
      Written 8 October 2024
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

      SB1114
      Irvine, CA969 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      May 2024 • Couples
      This was a really fun excursion! From the meeting point, you are bussed out to where the jaunting carts congregate. The drivers are very organized, four people to a jaunting cart (cash only), so our party of two was paired with another couple.Liam and his dad were great guides; very entertaining:). Be warned that there is a portion of the ride where everyone gets out and walks up a couple of steep hills. I had a walking boot on at the time, so was able to stay in the cart, which made this a pretty good activity to get out and see a lot of things even with limited mobility. There is a nice restaurant (cash only) where are you take a break for a while before the boats take off back to Killarney. The boats are small, open boats, and you go across the lakes until you get back to town. Very scenic!
      Written 22 May 2024
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

      Kathy F
      Murfreesboro, TN452 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Aug 2021
      Did the tour yesterday and loved it! We met at 10am at O’Connors on High Street and departed in the cute little bus about 10:15, arriving at Ross Castle at 10:30 (this was reverse order of what I expected). He told us we could explore the castle for a few minutes and then pointed where we should meet our little boat at 11am, which we did. Bus driver then joined us at small pier with the boat captain and we climbed on. There were 7 passengers (2 with bikes) and the captain on the outboard motor boat. I’m guessing you could maybe fit 4 more passengers if needed. We each were given a life jacket to wear and we were off. Captain was very good about pointing out places as we travelled from the largest lake to Lord Brendons Cottage and provided history, wildlife, vegetation and fun facts. Water level was low so at Old Weir bridge 5 had to get out at a small rock landing to walk 100 yards to another landing just beyond the bridge, while the captain and 2 passengers had to pull the boat through the low water area. Also had to get about 100 yards before usual docking point at Lord Brendon’s Cottage because of low water level, but it again was no problem to walk the last little bit. It really was beautiful and so peaceful.
      We ate lunch at Lord Brendon’s Cottage (arrived about 12:30), where they sold a selection of premade sandwiches, soup, chips, assorted desserts and beverages. For 2 sandwiches, 2 bottles of water, and a bag of chips total was about 15 euros.
      About 1:30 our boat captain matched us up with our jaunting car driver and we were quickly on the road. Such a fun and unique thing to do. I will say the cart is tight with driver facing you on one side and the 2 of us were on the other, facing him. Also, I guess partly because there are only two wheels and thus less stability, you are jolted around quite a bit, although we were none the worse for wear when we completed ride. The driver was very pleasant and informative and happy to take any of our questions.
      We arrived Kate Kearney’s cottage about 2:45 and jaunting driver said bus would pick us up there at 4 to return to town. Kate’s didn’t have their inside open for visitors and instead had assorted tables set up outside. Across the road was Coffee Pot Cafe which had indoor and outside deck seating, and we decided to get a snack there. Bus arrived promptly at 4 and even dropped each of us off at our respective hotels.
      I highly recommended this tour and company for the uniqueness of these activities, the beauty of the scenery, and excellent service and attitude of the drivers/guides.
      Written 1 September 2021
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      Thank you for your amazing review . So delighted you enjoyed it
      Written 23 September 2021
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

      gulf-to-gulf
      Houston, TX205 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Jun 2023 • Friends
      The Gap of Dunloe came in second on our list of amazing things to see in Ireland. One of the ways we saw the gap was by staying at an amazing AirBnb in the gap. This meant that before we even did this tour, we had driven in and out of the gap. Unless you have a reason to drive it, don't. During touring hours, the gap is filled with hikers, runners and jaunting carts. Anyway, as far as this tour went it was really enjoyable. We had a group of six. For the gap portion, you can walk/run or ride a jaunting cart. Of our group of six, three started in jaunting carts (and two finished in the cart), one ran, two hiked the entire path. When you buy the tour ticket, you do not pay for the jaunting cart, that is handled separately so you can change your mind based on your walking endurance, weather, etc. I was the one who started in the jaunting cart but changed to hiking. The jaunting carts are cool and a worthy experience. I wish I had hired one just for myself. As it was, I rode with two others in my group. The space in back is tight for four people when you include the jaunting cart driver. I am a tall person and squeezing into the leftover space was not comfortable. The carts are horse powered and our horse did not quite have the giddy-up as the other horses. This meant that our cart of three people had to (for the horse's benefit walk the steep parts of the road. This was mildly disappointing though I was capable of hiking it and did not want to see the horse suffer. Anyway, I walked over half of the7 miles or so. It was beautiful and I have no regrets. The mix of walkers, runners and jaunting cart riders meant that we had a staggered arrival time at Lord Brandon's Cottage. This is mostly ok because you have time to sit, eat, relax and explore. Next step, we all did the boat ride. The boat ride was nice and the weather cooperated. We saw some local deer on the ride which was cool. We caught the last boat our of Lord Brandon's cottage (2:30pm) which meant pretty much no time to explore Ross Castle. This was maybe my only real disappointment. Anyway, highly recommend visiting the Gap of Dunloe.
      Written 17 June 2023
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

      Grancy06
      St. Petersburg, FL156 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Almost 5 stars, but like reviews in the past, directions for the day were unclear. That being said, it was well worth the trip. The jaunting car ride through the gap of Dunlow was amazing! The scenery was spectacular! Sean, our cart driver was young and somewhat inexperienced, but we had a fabulous time anyway.
      The boat ride was beautiful and our captain was full of information. The only downside to the boat ride was the lake was too low for us to be on the boat for the entire trip and we had to walk through the forest for some distance. If you are not in good physical shape, this could be a problem. I think they should have forewarned us Before we got there
      Taking all of this into consideration, I would do it again .
      Written 11 July 2024
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

      Laura A
      3 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Aug 2023 • Family
      I was looking forward to this but was in no way prepared for the incredible scenery! This was an amazing experience!! Seeing the lakes and their surroundings from such a small boat was thrilling, and our pilot Diarmuid was so kind and informative about the area.

      I was traveling with a group and we had opted for the jaunting cart rides as well through the pass. I felt spoiled being driven over the hills as others walked and biked beside us, but what an honor it was to have ridden with Brian (the horse) and Derry (the driver) through that gorgeous terrain. It felt like the experience of a lifetime. Highly recommended!
      Written 14 August 2023
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

      marchy62
      Port Kennedy, Australia31 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Jun 2023 • Couples
      We did this tour today and both enjoyed it immensely we were picked up from our hotel and driven to Kate Kearney cottage where we shared a jaunting car with another couple for the 7 mile ride to lord Brandon’s cottage for lunch. Our horseman was Michael and the horse was Theo Yes you have to get out on the very steep parts of the journey because it’s way too hard for the horse but it gives you a chance to stretch your legs.For lunch there is a very good choice of food just make sure you have cash and the wi fi is limited and cards do not work so cash only. The boat ride back across the three lakes is a lovely finish to a very enjoyed day. The horse man and the boat men give you information all the way, with a little Irish humour thrown in. Definitely recommend this tour
      Written 28 June 2023
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

      RiaDublin
      Dublin, Ireland20 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Aug 2021 • Family
      I cannot recommend this tour enough! I’m sure the fantastic sunshine we had helped :-) Had the most special day. Got the bus from O’Connors on the high street at about 10.15am. We were early as we wanted to ensure we had enough time to get parked so we had time for cuppas in the cafe down the Lane.
      Got the bus to Ross Castle and then the boat to Lord Brandon’s cottage. We had our 9month old and 3.5 year old with us and it was no hassle. I was a little apprehensive about how it would work with the baby for 1.5 hours but We were able to keep him in his pushchair for the entire boat ride which really helped. It was an open boat and felt really spacious and safe. I much preferred it to the bigger closed boats we had taken earlier this week on a trip round the lakes. Our sailor ( I wish I could remember his name) was brilliant, really helpful with getting in and out of the boat, pointed out all the main sights and had a great sense of humour and storytelling. He had a lovely dog with him which was also adorable. The boat trip was a real highlight
      The boat dropped us off at Lord Brandon’s cottage about 12.30 where we had lunch and our baby could have his nap. We then got the horse and cart about 1.30pm. This was also fabulous. We had already driven the gap of Dunloe last week but you don’t get the true sense of how amazing it is so I would highly recommend doing this. Our driver Gerald was very friendly and good craic. He was also clearly experienced so we felt safe at all times. The views are truly spectacular and it was an incredible experience. We got to Kate Kearney’s cottage about 3pm ish where there was a selection of people laces to get food, drinks, ice creams etc. The bus picked us up again at 4 ish and brought us back to Killarney where we headed for an early dinner at the TanYard restaurant at the Killarney Plaza before heading back to Kenmare. Highly recommend this restaurant. Food is fabulous, restaurant is lovely and staff were great

      All in all a fabulous memorable day and worked brilliantly well with our 2 kids
      Written 25 August 2021
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      Thank you for your amazing review ..... hopefully we will see ye all on board again soon
      Written 23 September 2021
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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      *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

      Bus, Boat & Jaunting Cart Tour (Jaunting Cart Paid Separately) provided by Gap of Dunloe Tours

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