aran islands ireland tours

THE 10 BEST Aran Islands Tours & Excursions

Aran islands tours.

• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Cultural Tours
• Sightseeing Tours
• Multi-day Tours
• Scenic Railroads
• Coffee & Tea Tours
• Walking Tours
• Private Tours
• Ports of Call Tours
• Self-Guided Tours & Rentals
• Beer Tastings & Tours
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Likely to Sell Out
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher Cruise from Galway

2. From Galway: Aran Islands & Cliffs of Moher including Cliffs of Moher cruise.

3. Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher Day Cruise sailing from Galway City Docks

4. Small Group - Cliffs Cruise, Aran Islands AND Connemara in One Day from Galway

5. Cliffs of Moher walk with local farmer. Clare. Guided. 3 hours.

6. Aran Islands Bike Tour with Tea & Scones - Day Trip to Inisheer from Doolin

7. Aran Islands Bike Tour with Tea and Scones from Galway

8. Electric biking on Inishmore island. Aran island. Self-guided. Full day.

9. Cycling Inishmore Island. Aran Islands. Self-guided. Full day.

10. 6-day All Ireland & Northern Ireland Rail Tour from Dublin

11. History & cultural tour of Inishmore, Aran Islands. Galway. Private. 2 ½ hours

12. Wild Atlantic Way Tour in Ireland

13. 6- Day Wild West and Northern Ireland small group tour of Ireland

14. Food, heritage & cultural tour Inishmore, Aran Islands. Guided.

15. 7-Day Great Atlantic Adventure Small-Group Tour of Ireland from Dublin

16. 10-Day Ultimate Small-Group Tour of Ireland from Dublin

17. 7-Day Ireland to Island Small Group Tour from Dublin

18. Aran Islands Scenic Flight and Galway Rail Tour from Dublin

19. Full-Day Wild Atlantic Galway Guided Tour and Ferry Cruise

20. 3-Day Cliffs of Moher, Connemara and Aran Islands Rail Tour from Dublin

21. Cycling on Inisheer Island, Aran Islands. Self Guided. Full Day.

22. Island based Private Boat Charter for Fishing and Sea Tours

23. Scenic flight over Cliffs of Moher & Aran Islands.Guided. 35 mins

24. From Connemara to the Aran Islands A Day of Irish Wonders

25. Deep sea fishing from Inisheer, Aran Islands. Galway. Private guided. 5 hours.

26. Private cultural tour of Inisheer, Aran Islands with lunch, horse and trap tour

27. Aran islands pub tour from Galway. Inisheer/Inishmore. Guided.

What travelers are saying.

• From Galway: Aran Islands & Cliffs of Moher including Cliffs of Moher cruise.
• Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher Cruise from Galway
• Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher Day Cruise sailing from Galway City Docks
• Small Group - Cliffs Cruise, Aran Islands AND Connemara in One Day from Galway
• From Connemara to the Aran Islands A Day of Irish Wonders
• Aran Celtic Tours
• Aran Off-road Experience
• Wanderly Wagon
• InisMór Pony and Trap Tours
• Hernon Carriage Tours
• Failte Bus Tour
• Thomas Faherty Tours

Tour the Aran Islands

Discover two highlights of the Wild Atlantic Way in one tour

Take in the stunning scenery of the Cliffs of Moher and the Aran Islands in this one-day tour. Experience the magic of the Aran Islands with friendly tour guides to learn about the history, culture, people and their natural wonders. Depending on the tour you choose, you’ll visit either Inis Mór, Inis Meáin and Inis Oírr, the 3 islands which make up the Aran Islands archipelago, while also taking in a stop at the Cliffs of Moher.

A place like no other

Experience a place like no other at one of the Aran Islands, with their abundance of natural beauty, where the limestone walls, golden sandy beaches, crystal clear water and jagged sea cliffs are waiting to be explored. The islands have a special character all unto their own and there’s nowhere else on our beautiful planet quite like Inishmore (Inis Mór), Inishmaan (Inis Meáin) and Inisheer (Inis Oírr).

Aran Islands & the Cliffs of Moher Tour Highlights

Take a day excursion from Galway to see the stunning Cliffs of Moher and Aran Islands. Bus through the karst region known as “The Burren,” and then search for dolphins while crossing to Inis Oirr Island. Take your time on the return ferry and have some spare time while admiring the Cliffs of Moher.

Your trip from Galway to the Cliffs of Moher will take you past the lunar like scenery of The Burren. Stop in picturesque towns on the way to Doolin, like Kilcolgan and Ballyvaughan.

Hop on the ferry for the 30-minute ride to the Aran Islands, and keep an eye out for bottlenose dolphins along the way to the Aran Islands. Rent bikes or go wandering with a pony and trap with plenty of stop to give you a chance to explore interesting old sites at your leisure.

On the way back, while on the ferry, you can cruise under the Cliffs of Moher to get the most awe-inspiring views.

Aran Day Tours FAQs

Can you do aran islands on a day trip, how do i get around the aran islands, what is the best way to get to the aran islands, how long is the boat ride to the aran islands, what are the most unique ways to see the aran islands, popular tour for..., aran day trips, backpackers, ferries to aran, cliffs of moher, sightseeing tours, dun aonghusa, unusual attractions, island hopping, wild atlantic way, unique experiences, irish language, best rate hotels.

To provide the best experience, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting, may adversely affect certain features and functions.

The Aran Islands & The Cliffs Cruise

Tour availability, visit the aran islands & see the cliffs of moher like never before – our most comprehensive tour yet.

On this coach tour, Galway Tour Company will guide you south along the Wild Atlantic Way and into the lunar-like Burren region. From there we’ll head to the picturesque fishing village of Doolin where you’ll board the express ferry* to Inisheer (Inis Oirr) – the smallest and most vibrant of the Aran Islands.

Departing Doolin you will remain in the capable hands of The Doolin Ferry Company and your guide for the day.

Inisheer is only a short sailing from Doolin and attractions include ancient churches and castles, one of Ireland’s most beautiful beaches, a modern playground and several pubs and cafes, lighthouses and shipwrecks. Hire a pony and trap, or a bike or stroll the peaceful boreens. The return journey, a guided cruise alongside the foot of the Cliffs of Moher, is a spectacular journey which puts the 214m high, 8 km long cliffs into perspective.

We will stop for a hearty meal in one of the traditional local pubs before arriving at the Cliffs of Moher. As a guest of Galway Tour Company, you will receive free entry to the cliffs and the eco-sensitive visitor centre. Take a stroll along the cliff edge and consider how tiny everything looks from above.

Once we depart the Cliffs we will travel alongside the edge of Galway Bay which is perhaps the most beautiful coastline in Ireland and is part of the larger, world-renowned Wild Atlantic Way.

Return time in Galway is approx. 7:30 pm

Rates: Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher Tour including Cliffs Cruise Adult €75, Senior/Student/Child €70, running from 1st March to 31st October

This tour operates from 1st March till 31st October

* Sailings are weather dependent. In the unlikely event of a cancellation, you will receive a full refund/reschedule or you will have the option to take our 10:00 am Cliffs of Moher & Burren Tour instead. ** All times are approximate if you have connections to make please inform us in advance. Ferry tickets and admission to the Cliffs of Moher are Included. Activities on the island and lunch are not included.

Need some inspiration?

Subscribe now to receive our up-to-date tours, events, and travel tips!

• Let's Talk: +353(0)91 566 566
• Email Us: [email protected]
• Address: Ground Floor, Kinlay Hostel, Merchants Road, Galway, H91 F2KT

LEGAL | PRIVACY | TERMS OF BUSINESS

Get Our Brochure!

Top Tours in Aran Islands, Ireland

Aran islands tours.

• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Cultural Tours
• Sightseeing Tours
• Multi-day Tours
• Scenic Railroads
• Coffee & Tea Tours
• Walking Tours
• Private Tours
• Ports of Call Tours
• Self-Guided Tours & Rentals
• Beer Tastings & Tours
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Likely to Sell Out
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher Cruise from Galway

2. From Galway: Aran Islands & Cliffs of Moher including Cliffs of Moher cruise.

3. Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher Day Cruise sailing from Galway City Docks

4. Small Group - Cliffs Cruise, Aran Islands AND Connemara in One Day from Galway

5. Cliffs of Moher walk with local farmer. Clare. Guided. 3 hours.

6. Aran Islands Bike Tour with Tea & Scones - Day Trip to Inisheer from Doolin

7. Aran Islands Bike Tour with Tea and Scones from Galway

8. Electric biking on Inishmore island. Aran island. Self-guided. Full day.

9. Cycling Inishmore Island. Aran Islands. Self-guided. Full day.

10. 6-day All Ireland & Northern Ireland Rail Tour from Dublin

11. History & cultural tour of Inishmore, Aran Islands. Galway. Private. 2 ½ hours

12. Wild Atlantic Way Tour in Ireland

13. 6- Day Wild West and Northern Ireland small group tour of Ireland

14. Food, heritage & cultural tour Inishmore, Aran Islands. Guided.

15. 7-Day Great Atlantic Adventure Small-Group Tour of Ireland from Dublin

16. 10-Day Ultimate Small-Group Tour of Ireland from Dublin

17. 7-Day Ireland to Island Small Group Tour from Dublin

18. Aran Islands Scenic Flight and Galway Rail Tour from Dublin

19. Full-Day Wild Atlantic Galway Guided Tour and Ferry Cruise

20. 3-Day Cliffs of Moher, Connemara and Aran Islands Rail Tour from Dublin

21. Cycling on Inisheer Island, Aran Islands. Self Guided. Full Day.

22. Island based Private Boat Charter for Fishing and Sea Tours

23. Scenic flight over Cliffs of Moher & Aran Islands.Guided. 35 mins

24. From Connemara to the Aran Islands A Day of Irish Wonders

25. Deep sea fishing from Inisheer, Aran Islands. Galway. Private guided. 5 hours.

26. Private cultural tour of Inisheer, Aran Islands with lunch, horse and trap tour

27. Aran islands pub tour from Galway. Inisheer/Inishmore. Guided.

What travellers are saying.

• From Galway: Aran Islands & Cliffs of Moher including Cliffs of Moher cruise.
• Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher Cruise from Galway
• Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher Day Cruise sailing from Galway City Docks
• Small Group - Cliffs Cruise, Aran Islands AND Connemara in One Day from Galway
• From Connemara to the Aran Islands A Day of Irish Wonders
• Aran Celtic Tours
• Aran Off-road Experience
• Wanderly Wagon
• InisMór Pony and Trap Tours
• Hernon Carriage Tours
• Failte Bus Tour
• Thomas Faherty Tours

Top Tours in Aran Islands, Ireland

Aran islands tours.

• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Cultural Tours
• Sightseeing Tours
• Multi-day Tours
• Scenic Railroads
• Coffee & Tea Tours
• Walking Tours
• Private Tours
• Ports of Call Tours
• Self-Guided Tours & Rentals
• Beer Tastings & Tours
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Likely to Sell Out
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher Cruise from Galway

2. From Galway: Aran Islands & Cliffs of Moher including Cliffs of Moher cruise.

3. Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher Day Cruise sailing from Galway City Docks

4. Small Group - Cliffs Cruise, Aran Islands AND Connemara in One Day from Galway

5. Cliffs of Moher walk with local farmer. Clare. Guided. 3 hours.

6. Aran Islands Bike Tour with Tea & Scones - Day Trip to Inisheer from Doolin

7. Aran Islands Bike Tour with Tea and Scones from Galway

8. Electric biking on Inishmore island. Aran island. Self-guided. Full day.

9. Cycling Inishmore Island. Aran Islands. Self-guided. Full day.

10. 6-day All Ireland & Northern Ireland Rail Tour from Dublin

11. History & cultural tour of Inishmore, Aran Islands. Galway. Private. 2 ½ hours

12. Wild Atlantic Way Tour in Ireland

13. 6- Day Wild West and Northern Ireland small group tour of Ireland

14. Food, heritage & cultural tour Inishmore, Aran Islands. Guided.

15. 7-Day Great Atlantic Adventure Small-Group Tour of Ireland from Dublin

16. 10-Day Ultimate Small-Group Tour of Ireland from Dublin

17. 7-Day Ireland to Island Small Group Tour from Dublin

18. Aran Islands Scenic Flight and Galway Rail Tour from Dublin

19. Full-Day Wild Atlantic Galway Guided Tour and Ferry Cruise

20. 3-Day Cliffs of Moher, Connemara and Aran Islands Rail Tour from Dublin

21. Cycling on Inisheer Island, Aran Islands. Self Guided. Full Day.

22. Island based Private Boat Charter for Fishing and Sea Tours

23. Scenic flight over Cliffs of Moher & Aran Islands.Guided. 35 mins

24. From Connemara to the Aran Islands A Day of Irish Wonders

25. Deep sea fishing from Inisheer, Aran Islands. Galway. Private guided. 5 hours.

26. Private cultural tour of Inisheer, Aran Islands with lunch, horse and trap tour

27. Aran islands pub tour from Galway. Inisheer/Inishmore. Guided.

What travellers are saying.

• From Galway: Aran Islands & Cliffs of Moher including Cliffs of Moher cruise.
• Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher Cruise from Galway
• Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher Day Cruise sailing from Galway City Docks
• Small Group - Cliffs Cruise, Aran Islands AND Connemara in One Day from Galway
• From Connemara to the Aran Islands A Day of Irish Wonders
• Aran Celtic Tours
• Aran Off-road Experience
• Wanderly Wagon
• InisMór Pony and Trap Tours
• Hernon Carriage Tours
• Failte Bus Tour
• Thomas Faherty Tours

🏆 750+ 5-star reviews 🏆

Award Winning Tours & Experiences on the Wild Atlantic Way

Join us for cliffs of moher tours, aran islands bike tours & more.

Best Cliffs of Moher and Aran Island Tours

• Meet the locals

Aran Island Tour – Day Trip to Inisheer From Doolin

This Day Trip to Inisheer is the best, stress-free way to experience the Aran Islands. Your ferry, bike rental, guided tour, and tea & scones with a local islander are all included.

• User All ages
• Hour Glass 5 hours

 OLLIE’S TOURS PROMISE TO YOU

Extraordinary experiences, always.

Unique Irish Experiences

We show you Ireland in a way that most will never experience.

Exceptional Local Guides

Our expert guides are central to everything we do at Ollie’s Tours. They’re the storytellers – the captivating characters who bring Co. Clare to life.

Small Group Tours in Ireland

Our tours are known for their intimate, exclusive feel. Our group size is small so you won’t feel like you’re just following the crowd on any of our carefully curated tours.

• Best Way To Experience Cliffs Of Moher
• User 8+ years old
• Hour Glass 3.5 hours

Cliffs Of Moher Tours From Doolin

Join us for a five mile (8km) hike along a route missed by over 97% of visitors to the Cliffs of Moher . Led by an expert guide, you’ll experience stunning views and hear fascinating stories. The hike takes approximately 3-4 hours and includes opportunities for rest and photos. Book online!

• ULTRA LUXURY

VIP Cliffs Of Moher Tour With Luxury Picnic

Explore the world-famous Cliffs of Moher in style. The experience begins with a private hike from Doolin to the top of the Cliffs of Moher exposing you to views that very few people see! Waiting for you at the top will be a privately reserved glass pod with a luxury candlelit picnic.

ABOUT OLLIE'S TOURS IN IRELAND

My name is Ollie. As a broke student, I started tour guiding whilst living in Germany.

I fell in love with the art of storytelling and knew this was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

When I returned back to Ireland, I started small in my hometown of Ennis, where the town’s history was brought to life on the Best of Ennis Walking Tour.

Today, I am proud to say that every day, a small team of hardworking guides provides extraordinary experiences in some of Ireland’s most visited spots!

Ollie’s Tours won  Best Tourism Experience Award . Come and see our tours on the Wild Atlantic Way!

What Visitors Say About Our Cliffs of Moher and Aran Island Tours!

Ollie’s tour of Inisheer was incredible! His passion for sharing the local history and lore makes this tour a must-do. He’ll teach you a few words of Gaelic too!

Ollie’s tour was a ton of fun! He’s a great storyteller and he seems to be known by all on Inisheer, having spent 4 Summers there learning Irish. As a result, you will receive heartfelt, personal welcomes from everyone that you meet along the way. Even if you are not a keen cyclist, this is a great way to see the island. Ollie will walk the steep hills with you and e-bikes are available at extra cost if you really need them (you shouldn’t). I highly recommend this trip!!!

If you are visiting Ireland, get yourself a car and drive to Doolin. It’s such a cute little town with a lot of sights to see. Only about 10 minutes from the cliffs. While you are there, take this tour of the small Aran island. Be prepared to bike, horse carriage, or walk to some amazing sights on the island. This was my favorite part of my trip and I could not recommend it more.

We had so much fun. The tour was so interesting and full of laughs!!! Clare is so picturesque, it's totally worth it. Ollie is great, we saw angles of the Cliffs I'd never seen before and never new I could capture. I would highly recommend it. I look forward to taking another tour again with Ollie's Tours in the future.

This tour was great craic! Ollie is so energetic and had lots of fun facts along the way. The views were out of this world! I would recommend and look forward to checking out his other tours. Thanks Ollie.

I had an absolutely amazing time on my cliffs of moher tour today! Even though it rained the whole duration of the tour, the views and experience were totally worth it! Ollie was a terrific guide, I had the best day with him. Could not recommend more.

Wow! This was absolutely amazing, Ollie was the perfect guide, so witty and funny the whole time and showed us the very best of what the Cliffs of Moher had to offer. Would absolutely recommend to anybody looking to experience the cliffs. Well done Ollie and the lads 👍🏼👍🏼

Lovely trip with Ollie. Very informative tour and saw the cliffs from lovely angles. Would highly recommend. Thanks Ollie

An amazing tour with breathtaking scenery from doolin all the way to the cliffs of moher. Ollie was a hilarious bag of knowledge throughout, I highly recommend his presence. Note - On the day we were lucky with the sunshine but I would recommend bringing wet gear just in case of typical Irish weather and also wear decent hiking shoes.

Our group did the the cliff walk and Doolin food tour with Ollie and it was such a nice experience! Ollie had so many interesting bits of info on the history of the cliffs and made the whole day very entertaining! The views of the cliffs were stunning and although I had passed through doolin before I had never seen all that it had to offer, very impressed with this little village and the surrounding area! Thanks so much Ollie! :)

Ollie is a local and knows the history of the area. He tells the stories with a good blend of fact and humor. Highly recommended!

Trip was such a great experience. We were able to be just a small group and see all the locations before all the giant tour groups which made everything so much more special. The personal touch at the end of the trip and meeting people on the island was amazing. Definitely worth the trip

Enjoyed every minute of the tour! Ollie was so friendly, interested and approachable. The Doolin Cliffwalk tour was really well researched and thought out.

Ollie was a fabulous tour guide! Funny and engaging and made history come alive! He has lots of information and was entertaining for our 10 year old as well as our teenagers and ourselves. Highly recommend!

The scenery, the views and fresh sea air were amazing but pale in comparison to the charm, wit and quality of our tour guide Ollie! His knowledge of the area and engaging story telling really made an amazing walk that much more incredible! We wouldn't usually do walking tours but after this wonderful experience, it will certainly be something we will look to doing more of in the future.

Ollie’s Walking tour was just what we hoped for. Ollie, having grown up in Ennis, is a wealth of local Ennis plus Irish plus world history as it all intertwines. Entertaining along with a short walk within 90 minutes leading us through the streets of Ennis, highly recommend Ollie’s tour.

• Top 10 Things to do on the Aran Islands
• Dún Aonghasa
• Culture & History
• Aran Islands Landscape
• Property for sale
• The Worm Hole
• The Seal Colony
• Kilmurvey Beach
• Seven Churches
• Teampall Bheanain
• Rent a Bike
• Rent an E bike

Scuba Diving

• Bus Tours on Inishmore
• Pony Trap Tour
• Eat & Drink
• Getting Here

Getting Around

Accommodation

• Itineraries
• Leaba Chinnderig – Saint Kenderrig’s grave

Cathaoir Synge

• Dún Crocbhur (Conor’s Fort)
• Dún Fearbhaí (Ferboy’s Fort)
• Rent a Bicycle
• The Plassey

O’Briens Castle

• The Lighthouse
• Teampall Chaomhan
• Pony & Trap Tour
• Eat & Drink
• Getting to the Aran Islands

Plan your visit

Planning on visiting the Aran Islands?… Here you can find all the details you need to plan your trip.

Getting to Inis Mor

Passenger ferry or airplane are the two forms of transport to get to Inis Mor. There is no daily car ferry to the Aran Islands

Galway City – Inis Mor via Cliffs of Moher

• Awarded “Best Irish Experience 2021”
• Seasonal Sailings (April 15 th – September 15 th )
• Cost (round trip): Adult €49; Child €25

Rossaveel, Co. Galway – Inis Mor

• Sailings operates year round
• Cost (round trip): Adult €30; Child €15

Doolin, Co. Clare – Inis Mor

• Seasonal Sailings subject to weather conditions
• Cost (round trip): Adult €39; Child €20
• Book with Doolin Ferry Co.

Connemara Regional Airport – Inis Mor

• Flights operate year-round subject to weather conditions
• Cost (round trip): Adult €55; Child €27

Inis Mor has a great variety of accommodation types from Hotels, Glamping, Hostels, B&B and Camping.

For a more detailed look at the accommodation available on each Inis Mor click here.

There are a variety of ways to get around Inis Mor from cycling, ebike tours bus tours, pony & trap tours and walking. All of the tour operators are located by the ferry terminal upon arrival.

Renting a bike from Aran Bike Hire is one of the most popular ways of exploring the island.

Sights to See

Dun Aonghusa

Dun Aonghusa is the most popular attraction on Inis Mor. Located on edge of a 300ft cliff on the south side of the island, it is a semicircular stone fort overlooking the Atlantic with amazing views that stretch the length of the island.

Dun Aonghusa is the largest of the prehistoric stone forts on the Aran Islands. It is enclosed by three massive dry-stone walls and a “chevaux-de-frise” consisting of tall blocks of limestone set vertically into the ground to deter attackers.

The Wormhole

The Worm Hole or Poll na bpeist has become a very popular attraction on Inis Mor since the Red Bull Cliff Diving was held there in 2015 and 2017. The Worm Hole is a naturally formed rectangular shaped pool located on the South side of the island. It is strongly advised not to swim at the wormhole.

Seal Colony

The Seal Colony is located on the North side of Inis Mor along the coast road approximately 2 miles from the main village of Kilronan. Seals can be seen sun bathing on the rocks at low tide. Adjacent to the seal colony is a small lake that has wild swans, ducks lurking in the reeds as well as many rare birds.

Clochan na Carraige

Located in the village of Kilmurvy, Clochan na Carraige is an oval shaped stone hut sometimes referred to as a bee-hive hut. It has a corbelled roof and two opposite doorways. Clochan na Carraige has been considered to be one of the best preserved stone beehive huts in Ireland.

Dun Duchathair (The Black Fort)

Dun Duchathair is a hidden gem on Inis Mor. This fort is situated on the cliffs in Cill Éinne (Killeany), Inis Mór. Some visitors enjoy the solitude of it in contrast with the busyness of Dún Aonghasa. The fort consists of a terraced wall surrounding the remains of some early dwelling houses known as Clocháns (stone houses).

Teampall Bhenain

This is reputedly the smallest church in Ireland. It stands on a hilltop overlooking Cill Éinne Bay and is a landmark on the island for fishermen at sea. It dates from about the 7th century. The views from it are outstanding. Nearby are the remains of a cashel wall and a clochán.

Na Seacht dTeampaill (Seven Churches)

Located in the village of Eoghanacht in the west of Inis Mór, the seven churches was for centuries one of the biggest monastic foundations and centres of pilgrimage along the west coast of Ireland. Breacan is believed to have come here in the earliest period from Kilbrecan near Quin in County Clare. Tradition on the island has it that his foundation rivalled St Enda’s foundation in the east of the island. Indeed the two saints are held to have eventually agreed to divide the island between them.

Puffing Holes

The Puffing Holes are located on the Southeast corner of Inis Mor. On a stormy day water can be seen to shoot up through them.

Activities to do

Snorkeling with seals

Places to eat

Inis Mor has some great options when it comes to food.

SPAR Supermarket & Off-license

The Galley Chipper

Joe Watty’s

Teach Nan Phaidi

There are 4 pubs on Inis Mor.

Madigan’s Bar

All four pubs are located in the main village of Kilronan.

Getting to Inis Meain

Passenger ferry or airplane are the two forms of transport to get to Inis Meain. There is no daily car ferry to the Aran Islands

Rossaveel, Co. Galway – Inis Meain

Doolin, Co. Clare – Inis Meain

Connemara Regional Airport – Inis Meain

Inis Meain has a variety of accommodation types from Hotels, Suites, and B&B’s.

For a more detailed look at the accommodation available on each Inis Meain click here.

There are a variety of ways to get around Inis Meain from cycling, bus tours, pony & trap tours and walking.

Irish writer J.M. Synge very much made this island famous in modern culture.  He lived on Inis Meáin for considerable time between 1898 and 1902 and drew a lot of inspiration from the island culture.

Leaba Chinnderig

Located directly behind the priest’s house which is in the center of the island. The grave itself is dated from the 7th century although the exact date is not known. This is said to be the resting place of a Leinster Princess. Locals on Inis Meain gather for an annual mini-pilgrimage on the 15th of August and venture to the grave and Saint Kenderig’s Well in the field nextdoor.

Dun Fearbhai

What is intriguing about this fort is the condition it is in and its circular shape. This suggests that it predates christianity as forts tended to be more circular. Nonetheless, this fort is in very good condition and it really gives you an insight into ancient Ireland.

Dun Crocbhur

Dún Crocbhur is one of those forts that will simply bring an overwhelming sense of sheer beauty and dramatic scenery. It will also definitely be one of the best fort experiences you could have in Ireland because of an impressive intricate design and complete mystery surrounding who built it and its purpose. Classified as a National Monument also because of its design, Dún Crocbhur is the largest stone fort on all three Aran Islands and stands defiantly at the highest point of the island with protective nature and is in full view no matter where you are.

Inis Meain Restaurant & Suites

Tig Congaile

Siopa – local shop

There is one pub on Inis Meain called Teach Osta

Getting to Inis Oirr

Passenger ferry or airplane are the two forms of transport to get to Inis Oirr. There is no daily car ferry to the Aran Islands

Rossaveel, Co. Galway – Inis Oirr

Doolin, Co. Clare – Inis Oirr

• Cost (round trip): Adult €32; Child €16

Connemara Regional Airport – Inis Oirr

Inis Oirr has a great variety of accommodation types from Hotels, B&B and Camping.

For a more detailed look at the accommodation available on each Inis Oirr click here.

There are a variety of ways to get around Inis Oirr from cycling, bus tours, pony & trap tours and walking. All of the tour operators are located by the ferry terminal upon arrival.

Plassey Shipwreck

The Plassy is located on the most easterly point of the island. It is best known as the shipwreck on the foreshore of ‘Craggy Island’ in the TV comedy, Father Ted. The Plassey was formerly a cargo ship which ran onto some rocks near Inis Oirr in 1960. The ship was later moved up onto the rocks by heavy seas and this is where it now rests, much to the bewilderment and surprise of many visitors to the island.

O’Brien’s Castle, also called Furmina Castle, is an early 15th century tower house and National Monument that you can’t miss when you arrive. O’Brien’s Castle is located at one of the Island’s highest points, in the north of Inisheer. The castle was built by the Clann Teige, a branch of the powerful O’Brien (Uí Briain) family, in the early 15th century around 1400. It was taken by the Ó Flaithbheartaigh (O’Flahertys) around 1582. It was captured and slighted by Oliver Cromwell’s army in 1652, during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland.

Inis Oirr Lighthouse

The Inis Oírr or Fardurris Point Lighthouse, is an active 19th century lighthouse located adjacent to the Plassey Shipwreck. The two keeper’s houses are built close by, but the light is now maintained by an attendant living some distance away, who monitors the equipment via a radio link. You can get stunning views of the Cliffs of Moher from this point on the Island.

Teampall Chaomhain

St Caomhán’s church (10th -14th century) is located in the island’s graveyard.  Be sure to see these sunken ruins that are truly unique and not to be missed.  Until very recently the Island community used to dig out the sands that the Atlantic winds brought in, almost completely burying the church. The site would have been buried and possibly lost but for this tradition. This is the main burial site still used on the island today.

Inis Oirr Hotel

Teach an Tae

Seaweed Café

Tigh Ruairi

Saoirse na Mara

Inis Oirr has 3 pubs

Travel Safe

• Island Hopping
• 1 day Itinerary
• Solo Travel
• Group Travel
• Family Travel
• Health and Safety
• Useful Tips
• Planning a trip to Ireland?

#aranislands

Let's stay in touch, we'll help you find the real ireland.

• I consent to Aranislands.ie using my personal data in accordance with the Privacy Policy, and to share offers via email and advertising. I understand that I can withdraw my consent at any time, including by contacting Aranislands.ie

Are you sure you want to sure you want to leave the feed?

Oops... something went wrong!

Looking for inspiration? Planning a trip? Or just want to scroll yourself happy? We'll show you an Ireland that's tailor-made for you.

• #Landscapes
• #CultureandHeritage
• #OutdoorActivities

Oops, no internet connection

While offline, you can still add items to ‘My Board’. New travel reccomendations will only show up once you’re back online.

See what Ireland has in store for you

Items without a physical location are not shown in map view.

Looks like your board is empty

Look out for the little heart icon around Ireland.com, simply tap the icon to start adding items to your board!

Board settings

Collection cover image.

Visible to people you share your board with

Share Board

Share a link to your ‘My Ireland’ board and inspire friends, co-travellers and family. Only you can add or remove items from your board.

Forgot your password?

Create an account.

Access My Ireland across all of your devices by logging in.

Sign up Not got an account?

Terms of use | Privacy policy

Login Got an account?

Location access

• View offers and deals nearby you
• Get travel inspiration based on your location
• Local weather warnings and useful travel information

Enable location access

Location access on ios.

• 1 Open the website settings for this website in your browser
• 2 Select Location settings
• 3 Choose “Allow
• 1 Open the My Ireland website

• 2 Select the Icon below

• 3 Select “Website Settings

• 4 Change “Location” to “Allow”

Notifications

Travel times.

Tell us when you are going to be travelling Ireland, and we will show you tailored recommendations for the duration of your trip.

• Tips for events happening during your stay
• Helpful travel reminders and updates

You have unsaved changes. Save before leaving?

We take your privacy very serious and only ever process your data with your persmission. If possible this is handled anonymously and we will never store your data for longer than is required. For more information on how we handle your personal data please read our Privacy Policy.

Remove Data

To securely remove all data associated with your profile please contact our Data Protection Officer.

Reset your Board

This will remove all the items you have previously liked from your board. Please note, you can’t undo this action.

Are you sure you want to reset your board?

This will completely reset your board and all associated data permanently. This cannot be undone.

• Created date 19 July 2023

Delete account

Sorry you’re leaving. But you gotta do what you gotta do. Just a reminder, if you delete your account, you won’t be able to post in Community. And it’s permanent so you can’t “undo” it in the future.

Destination

The Aran Islands

Aran Islands

• #WildAtlanticWay
• #IrelandsIslands

The Aran Islands, County Galway

Ireland in your inbox

Sign up to receive free email newsletters from Tourism Ireland, including vacation ideas, insider tips, news, and events.

We will use your email address to send you personalised content straight to your inbox based on how you interact with this website and our advertisements on other websites.

Something went wrong...

Success! Thank you for subscribing to our Newsletter!

I understand that by signing up, I will receive personalised email content based on my use of Tourism Ireland’s website, emails and Tourism Ireland’s advertising on other websites, cookies and tracking pixels. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking 'unsubscribe' in our emails. Find out more information on "How we handle your personal data" in our privacy policy .

I would like to receive information and special offers by email from carefully selected travel partners. For more information please see our privacy policy .

The Wild West

Located 48km (30 miles) away from Galway  Bay are the Aran Islands – Inis Mór , Inis Meáin and Inis Oírr – the last lands to the west before you reach America. Famed for their wild landscapes, distinctive knitted jumpers and pretty cottages, the Irish-speaking Aran Islands never fail to wow. These three islands have maintained the culture and heritage of traditional Irish life, and fascinate the thousands of visitors who make the journey every year.

Images of the island are instantly recognisable due to their landscape, which is criss-crossed with stone walls, a traditional feature found in the west of Ireland. Having inspired countless writers, poets and artists over the centuries, many come to the Aran Islands on a retreat to connect with authentic and rural Ireland. The three are all Irish-speaking communities, but residents are bilingual and English is their second language.

This is the last outpost of ancient Europe, I am privileged to see it before it disappears forever JM Synge

L-R: Dún Aonghasa, Inis Mór; cycling on Inis Oírr; O'Brien's Castle, Inis Oírr; knitwear from Inis Meáin

Getting here

Getting to the island couldn’t be easier by ferry, which departs daily from Rossaveal (Ros a Mhíl) just outside Galway city  all year round, or from Doolin in County Clare , which operates from March  through to October.  You can also get there by air in just eight minutes with Aer Arann! Remember you’re at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean so always dress appropriately – it can get windy out there. Island-hop between the three, rent bicycles and explore the hidden corners, ancient sites and enduring traditions. Travel one, or make it your business to visit all three – the choice is yours.

Inis Mór, Aran Islands, County Galway

Inis Mór is the largest of the three islands (‘Mór’ means ‘big’ in Irish) and has a population of around 800. Considering it’s only 12km (7.4 miles) in length and 3km (1.8 miles) wide, there are plenty of historical sites to see, such as Dún Aonghasa (Dun Aengus), Na Seacht dTeampaíll (The Seven Churches), and a round tower.

The landscape of the island is distinctive, with miles of stone walls and fissured limestone that stretch out to massive cliffs on the western side of the island. Nature has provided a wave-sculpted coastline, a thriving seal colony, wild swans, ducks, and rare birds, all complementing the ancient ruins, buzzing nightlife and local cafés and restaurants that this island is famous for.

Inis Meáin, Aran Islands, County Galway

Inis Meáin translates as "the middle one" and prides itself on remaining quite traditional in modern times. It’s here that the world famous Aran jumpers are still made along with contemporary knitwear designs at the Inis Meáin Knitting Company .

Fishing was a huge part of life, and so these jumpers quickly became a staple of the Aran families. Folklore has it that the origin of the sweater came about when a fisherman and his family would add a unique pattern into the stitch. This was done so that if they were drowned and later found, maybe weeks later, his body could be identified by the stitching.

For a while, the Aran jumpers remained the Aran Islands’ little secret. However, the great literary revival of the 20th century brought visitors in search of authentic Irish language and folk traditions. The industrious Aran women took hold of this and began selling their designs to the mainland.

Inis Meáin has more to offer than world-famous jumpers. In the middle of the island you’ll find a landscape that you could gaze at for hours: ash-coloured rock etched with delicate flowers, green fields bordered with dry-stone walls, and the Atlantic Ocean crashing in the distance. Inis Meáin is the least visited of all the Aran Islands, and you can often find yourself almost alone here as you explore dramatic cliffs, deserted beaches, and car-free country lanes.

Inis Oírr, Aran Islands, County Galway

Inis Oírr

Cycling the roads lined with dry-stone walls and flecked with wildflowers is the best way to explore Inis Oírr. The smallest of the Aran Islands and the closest to the mainland, it’s less than 3km (1.8 miles) in length, and only 2km (1.2 miles) wide. Inis Oírr has a similar landscape to The Burren  in County Clare, and therefore, the flora is under conservation. The first thing you’ll notice is a powder-soft, white sandy beach lapped by crystal clear waters. It’s a wonderful introduction to an island that blends moments of fragile beauty with the rough, but solid, craggy limestone, typical of the area.

Want to see more?

Here are some great reads to get you started

Galway city

Inspiration

Wild Atlantic Way

Ireland’s islands quiz

6 cool crafts from the Wild Atlantic Way

Burren National Park

All around Ireland

10 reasons why Ireland is always in season

The Banshees of Inisherin

• #IrelandonScreen

Explore Ireland's west in 48 hours

Skellig islands highlights.

Don't miss these things to see and do

Rothaí Inis Oírr

Doolin2Aran Ferries - Aran Islands & Cliffs of Moher Cruise

Teach an Tae Aran Café & Tea Rooms

Aran Islands Tour - Railtours Ireland First Class!

Dún Aonghasa

Inishmore-Árainn

Doolin Ferry

Aran Island Ferries

Aran Sweater Market

Aran Pony & Trap

Dive Academy Scuba Diving School

The Creative Writer's Workshop

Situated on Inis Oírr, County Galway, Rothaí Inis Oírr bicycle hire is located beside the pier. Hiring a bike for the day gives visitors the luxury of exploring the island at their leisure.

Teach an Tae Aran Café & Tea Rooms offer traditional baking, light lunches and luxury ice cream in a welcoming, family friendly atmosphere, located just 100m from the beach on Inis Oírr.

The Aran Sweater Market is located at Shannon Airport Landside. It sells handmade Irish Aran sweate...

The Dive Academy is the first and only Dive Centre in Ireland to offer diving in an indoor Aquarium...

Inspire your writing spirit, invigorate your senses and create the story that’s in your heart at The Creative Writer's Workshop, at Inchydoney Island Lodge and Spa, Clonakilty, County Cork. Take a writing adventure to deepen your connection to story in the stunning landscape of the Wild Atlantic Way.

Getting to the Aran Islands

Fly to Ireland Airport West or Shannon and you’re just a drive away. Or head to Dublin and take the scenic cross-country route. Coming by ferry? Dublin, Cork or Rosslare are your closest ports.

Aran Sea Tours

Inishmore Aran Islands Co. Galway Ireland 53.11781 N - 9.66671 W

Welcome aboard, come and visit inis mór with aran sea tours. , explore inis mór from a new perspective.

Aran sea tours gives you the opportunity of experiencing the beauty of the Aran Islands in a completely new and unique way.

Whether you're looking for some Deep sea fishing , Scubadiving trips, Island hopping, or a bit of sightseeing , Aran sea tours offers it all. 

We can tailor your charter to suit you needs, so get in touch and book our 3 hour or 7 hour trips!

3 Hour Private Boat Hire

Full day Private Boat Hire

Custom Charter

Email or call us

Deep Sea Fishing from Rossaveal

Scuba Diving From Rossaveal

A Unique Adventure

Our skipper Niall has a wealth of knowledge at his disposal when it comes to the sea. Whether you experience this adventure with friends or family, you are sure to have a great time and an adventure you won't forget! Having the entire boat to yourselves for the entirety of the trip also helps make it that little bit more special.

Create memories that will last a lifetime.

Aran Island Tours

Guided Tours of Inishmore, Aran Islands

Guided Tours of Inishmore

Inishmore, the largest of the three Aran Islands is sat at the mouth of Galway Bay and faces the full force of the Atlantic Ocean.

Mobile: 00353 87 6171520

Email: [email protected]

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @aran.islandtours

• Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
• Subscribe Subscribed
• Copy shortlink
• Report this content
• View post in Reader
• Manage subscriptions
• Collapse this bar

Aran Islands Tour: A 3-Day Road Trip That’ll Take You Around Each Island (Full Itinerary)

By Author Keith O'Hara

Posted on Last updated: January 2, 2024

If you fancy heading off on a self-guided Aran Islands tour / road trip, you’ve landed in the right place!

There’s heaps of things to do on the Aran Islands , but it can be tricky to figure out how best to get around them on your own.

In the guide below, you’ll find a detailed self-guided Aran Islands tour itinerary that contains everything from how to get between each island to what to do when you’re there.

There’s also info on where to eat, where to stay and where to kick-back with a post-adventure pint.

At the end of the guide, we’ve also popped in some recommendations on Aran Islands tour from Galway, if you’d rather someone else do the work for you!

Our self-guided Aran Islands tour: Some quick need-to-knows

Photo by The Drone Guys on Shutterstock

As this Aran Islands tour is self-guided, you’ll need to plan out your trip carefully, as you’ll be using ferries to get between each of the islands.

Now, a trip to the Aran Islands is fairly straightforward, but these 4 ‘need-to-knows’ are worth understanding in advance of your visit.

1. The different islands

There’s 3 Aran Islands – Inis Oírr (the smallest island), Inis Meáin (the middle Island) and Inis Mór (the largest island).

2. Where to find them

You’ll find the Aran Islands at the mouth of Galway Bay, off Ireland’s west coast. They’re part of Galway and the beautiful Burren region that spans both Clare and Galway.

3. Getting to the islands

You can reach the Aran Islands via ferry or by plane. Ferries leave from Doolin, in Clare (see our guide to getting from Doolin to the Aran Islands ), or from Rossaveal, in Galway. The flights leave from Inverin.

4. Ferry times

The ferry times listed below are accurate at the time of writing, but we can not guarantee that they will still be accurate when ever you happen to stumble upon this guide. Please make sure to check the ferry times in advance for the most up-to-date information.

An overview of our Aran Islands tour

Photo by Chris Hill via Failte Ireland

Here’s a quick breakdown of our Aran Islands tour. Unlike our Galway road trip guide – this itinerary stays on the islands for the entire 3 days.

Day 1 (Inis Mór)

• Ferry from Doolin to the island
• Rent a bike for transport
• Head off in search of seals
• Kilmurvey Beach
• Soup, Ice Cream, Fudge and the Man of Aran Cottage
• Dún Aonghasa
• The Wormhole
• The Black Fort
• Post-adventure pints (or a tea/coffee)
• A bed for the night

Day 2 (Inis Meáin + Inis Oírr )

• Ferry from Inis Mór to Inis Meáin
• Rent a bike at the pier if you fancy
• The Lúb Dún Fearbhaí Looped Walk
• Cathaoir Synge and the cliffs
• Dún Fearbhaí
• Leaba Dhiarmada agus Ghrainne/The Bed of Diarmuid and Grainne
• Teach Synge
• Conor’s Fort (Dun Chonchuir)
• Synge’s Chair
• Back to the pier for the ferry to Inis Oírr
• Inis Oírr for the night

Day 3 (Inis Oírr)

• Deciding how you’ll get around
• Another stop that isn’t reallly a stop
• Cnoc Raithní
• Teampall Caomhán
• O’Brien’s Castle (Caislean Ui Bhriain)
• MV Plassey Shipwreck
• Inis Oírr Lighthouse
• On the look-out for a dolphin
• Back to the mainland or spend a night on the island

Aran Islands tour day 1: Saying ‘Howaya’ to Inis Mór

The first day of our Aran Islands tour takes us onto Inis Mór. Now, you need to decide 1, how you’re going to get there and 2, what time you’re going to arrive.

For the ‘getting there’ bit, you can either take a ferry from Doolin Pier in Clare or a ferry from Rossaveal in Galway (or you can fly from Inverin).

In terms of when you’ll arrive, the earlier the better. However, arrive whenever you can and then, when you do, start on day on of our Aran Islands tour itinerary below.

Stop 1: Grab a bike

Photo by MNStudio/shutterstock.com

The best way to explore any of the Aran Islands, in my opinion, is by bike. You can rent a bike from the pier on Inis Mór, which is grand and handy.

Price wise (again – double check this in advance), you can rent a mountain bike for a day for €20, a kids bike for €10 or an electric bike for €40.

It really is hard to bate spinning along the seemingly endless stone walls on Inis Mór with the wind whipping against your face as you explore the island.

Stop 2: Seal Colony Viewpoint

Photo by Sviluppo/shutterstock.com

Our first stop on our Aran Islands tour takes us to ‘Seal Colony Viewpoint’, as it’s marked on Google Maps – this is a handy 13-minute cycle from the bike rental near the pier.

When you arrive here, you can find up to 20 fine-looking seals chilling on the rocks, basking in the fresh ocean air (some of these lads weigh up to 230kg!).

Now, pleeeeeeease don’t be one of those tools that try to get close to them – there’s no need. Admire them from afar and enjoy the experience. 

Stop 3: One of the finest beaches in the land

Photo by Maria_Janus/shutterstock.com

Our second stop takes us on an 8-minute cycle out to Kilmurvey Beach. This gorgeous sandy beach has Blue Flag status, which means that it’s safe to swim on as there are no strong currents.

However, as should be the case any time you’re considering entering the water, proper care and common sense are needed.

The water here is beautiful and crystal clear – if you’d rather keep yer toes dry, saunter along the sand and gulp down a lungful of salty sea air. 

Stop 4: Soup, Ice Cream, Fudge and the Man of Aran Cottage

Photo by the Gastro Gays

Next up is your chance to fuel up with a hearty feed or some sweet stuff. There are several different spots for a bite to eat near stop 3, depending on what you fancy.

You can’t go wrong with Teach Nan Phaidi – this is a gorgeous thatched cafe (pictured above) that’ll make your belly very happy.

If you fancy something sweet, you can nip into the Man of Aran Fudge, or, our personal favourite, ice cream from Paudy’s.

If you fancy having a nosey at another gorgeous old thatched cottage, take the 3-minute cycle to the Man of Aran Cottage.

This is an old thatched cottage that was built in 1930 for use in the movie ‘The Man of Aran’. It’s now a B&B, which should appeal to those of you looking for unique places to stay during your visit.

Stop 5: Dún Aonghasa

Photo by Timaldo/shutterstock.com

You can safely park your bike at a dedicated parking station just down the road from Paudy’s and the cafe and use it as your starting point for your walk to Dún Aonghasa .

If you’re not familiar with Dún Aonghasa, you’re in for a treat. Few places boast a location as dramatic as Dún Aonghasa. Eagle-eyed film lovers will recognize this location from the film The Banshees of Inisherin .

This is the largest of a number of stone forts scattered across the Aran Islands. Standing at Dún Aonghasa makes you feel like you’re perched at the point where Ireland ends.

Stop 6: Poll na bPeist

photos by Stefano_Valeri + Timaldo (shutterstock.com)

Poll na bPeist is one of the more unique places that we’ll be visiting on this Aran Islands tour. Also known as ‘ the Wormhole ‘, this is a naturally formed hole in the limestone that connects to the sea.

Yes, naturally formed! Mad stuff! To get here from Dún Aonghasa, follow the signs for Gort na gCapall (or just walk east along the cliffs from the fort).

Be careful and don’t get too near the cliff edge! The views you’ll be able to soak up from here are sensational. 

Stop 7: The often-missed Black Fort

Our final stop of day 1 of our Aran Islands tour takes us out to the Black Fort – another cliffside ruin (and it’s one that some visitors tend to miss).

You’ll find it on the southern side of the island, not far from where you picked up your bike, near the pier.

Known as ‘Dún Dúchathair’ in Irish, the fort is now situated on a rocky promontory that juts out into the Atlantic (thanks to erosion over the years).

This is our last stop of the day before heading off for a bite to eat, a post-adventure pint and a kip before another day of adventure!

Stop 8: Chill time

Photo by Gareth McCormack via Tourism Ireland

We’re going to wrap up day 1 of our Aran Islands tour with a pint (or a tea/coffee) in one of the best pubs in Galway.

I’m talking, of course, about Joe Watty’s pub. You’ll find live music playing away here seven nights per week during the summer and at the weekends during the rest of the year.

Get in, grab some food and kick back for the evening after your day of exploring. We’ve a great day ahead on day two.

Stop 9: A bed for the night

Photo left via Aran Islands Camping Glamping on Facebook. Photo right via Airbnb

We’ve created an Inis Mór accommodation guide to help you decide where to kip on the first night of your Aran Islands tour.

The link above contains everything from traditional thatch cottages to Airbnbs and B&Bs, each of which boasts great reviews.

Aran Islands tour day 2: Having the buzz on Inis Meáin and Inis Oírr

Photo © The Irish Road Trip

On day 2 we’re going to take the 11:00 ferry with The Doolin Ferry Co to Inis Meáin, float about for a bit, and then grab the 16:15 ferry across to Inis Oírr (note: these times can change, so double check their inter-island ferry timetable ).

Now, this isn’t a huge amount of time to explore Inis Meáin – ideally, you’d need 1 – 2 days, but we’re working with the time that we have on this road trip.

If you had a late night in Joe Watty’s, you can enjoy a lie-in or head for an early morning swim to banish any lingering cobwebs. 

The ferry from Inis Mór to Inis Meáin takes around 15 minutes or so, which means you should arrive around 11:30. You have just over 4 hours to head off for a ramble.

Stop 1: Deciding how you’ll get around

Photo by celticpostcards/shutterstock.com

When you arrive on Inis Meáin, it’s time to decide how you’re going to explore the island. If, as was the case with Inis Oírr, you fancy exploring by bike, you’re in luck.

There’s a couple of places to rent bikes on the island. Now, I’ve had some trouble finding websites for the bike rental places, so you’re best bet is to ask on the ferry.

If you’d rather explore by foot, head off on your merry way. We’ve two options for you to choose from when you get to Inis Meáin .

Option 1: Do the Lúb Dún Fearbhaí Looped Walk

Photo by Niall Dunne/shutterstock.com

If you’re after a decent walk, the Lúb Dún Fearbhaí Walk is a 4 to 5-hour looped walk that takes in plenty of sights on Inis Meáin.

There are two different routes you can follow: the longest route is the purple route and the shorter routes are the blue and green routes.

Each route is marked by arrows (you’ll see them from the pier) and, over the course of your stroll, you’ll see everything from Dun Fearbhal Fort to Synge’s Chair.

Option 2: Walk to Cathaoir Synge and the cliffs

Photo by Chris Hill via Tourism Ireland

If you’d rather try a different route, you can always just walk to the islands main attractions, and explore them at your leisure.

I’ll go into each of the main attractions in detail. If you don’t have a map, pop them into Google Maps and use it to direct you.

Keep an eye out for the Church and the Holy well as you saunter along. There are also a couple of spots to grab a bite to eat (more on this below).

Stop 1: Dún Fearbhaí

Photo by giuseppe.schiavone-h47d/shutterstock

Stop one, Dún Fearbhaí, is a short distance from the pier (the photo above isn’t Dún Fearbhaí – I couldn’t for the life of me find a picture for it).

Dún Fearbhaí fort is finely plonked on a steep incline overlooking the breath-taking Galway Bay. It’s believed that the fort was constructed sometime during the first millennium.

If you arrive at Dún Fearbhaí on a clear day you’ll be treated to gorgeous views of the ocean, the surrounding island and the faraway coast.

Stop 2: Leaba Dhiarmada agus Ghrainne/The Bed of Diarmuid and Grainne

Our next stop is a 10-15 minute walk from Dún Fearbhaí and it’s steeped in a fine bit of legend and folklore. 

Leaba Dhiarmada agus Ghrainne/The Bed of Diarmuid and Grainne is a wedge tomb that’s linked to the legend of Diarmuid and Grainne .

This is an ancient burial place that was originally covered by a mound of soil. According to legend, Diarmuid and Grainne slept at this site while they travelled around Ireland on their quest to escape Fionn mac Cumhaill and the Fianna.

Stop 3: John Millington Synge’s Cottage and Museum

The next stop on our Aran Islands tour is John Millington Synge’s Cottage and Museum, and it’s only 3 minutes away from The Bed of Diarmuid and Grainne.

Teach Synge is a 300-year-old cottage that was carefully restored and is now home to a museum showcasing the works of John Millington Synge.

Synge first visited the island (and the house) in 1898, and he returned many times over the years. The house is open during the summer months and boasts photos, drawings and letters along with publications about and by Synge.

Stop 4: Conor’s Fort (Dún Chonchúir)

Next up is Dún Chonchúir (AKA Conor’s Fort). You’ll find it 3 minutes from our last stop. This is the largest stone fort on the Aran Islands.

It measures a whopping 70 by 35 metres and it’s just under 7 metres in height. You’ll find it at the island’s point where it’s been since it’s construction during the first or second millennium.

If you look at the top-left section of the photo above, you’ll be able to see the fort. You’ll get a nice view of the island and beyond from here!

Stop 5: Synge’s Chair

Our final stop on Inis Meain is Synge’s Chair, located at the western end of the island, 15 minutes from Dún Chonchúir.

This is a little lookout point situated right on the edge of a cliff that’s  often nicely sheltered from the wind.

Like Teach Synge, Synge’s Chair takes its name from the Irish poet who spent several summers on the Aran Islands.

Stop 6: The ferry to Inis Oirr

Now, you can absolutely spend the night on Inis Meain if you fancy it – we’ve even created an Inis Meain accommodation guide for you to find a great place to stay.

However, in this Aran Islands tour itinerary, we’re going to mooch along to Inis Oirr. You’ll need to make your way back the way you came to catch the ferry to Inis Oírr at 16:15.

Again, check the times in advance, as they may change. If you’ve some time to spare, there’s plenty of places to grab a feed on Inis Meáin.

I’ve heard a lot of good things about the food from An Dun Guest House and Restaurant and Teach Osta, as well! Get in, get fed and get down to the pier to grab the ferry.

Stop 7: A post-adventure pint (or tea/coffee) on Inis Oírr

I’ve loved Inis Oírr since the moment I first set foot on it many years ago. We spent the day cycling around and then, somehow, had two hours to kill before the ferry left.

We strolled up to the hotel and had a pint while sitting outside. It’s 5 or 6 years later, and I can safely say that this was the finest pint I’ve ever supped.

If pints and the likes aren’t your thing, I’ve heard a lot of positive chatter about Teach an Tae (apparently the rhubarb crumble is only gooooorgeous!)

If you fancy staying on the island, we’ve rounded up some solid places to stay in our Inis Oirr accommodation guide.

Aran Islands tour day 3: Floating around Inis Oírr

Inis Oírr is one of my favourite places in Ireland . When you visit just before or just after peak season, you’ll often find the place nice and quiet.

There’s a load of things to do on Inis Oírr, so try and get up early enough so that you’ve got a decent bit of time to explore.

Stop 1: Foot, jaunty or bike

OK, so this isn’t really a stop, but the first thing that you need to do when you arrive on Inis Oírr is to decide how you’ll get around the island. I’ve been here twice over the years. On our first visit, we rented a bike near the pier and spun around the island.

The wind was insane, and it probably took us twice as long to get around the island as it would if we had visited on a less stormy day. Regardless of the wind, it was a good buzz floating around the island by bike and stopping off whenever we fancied.

On the second occasion, we’d been out in Doolin the night before, and we were feeling a little worse for wear, so we decided to use one of the horse and cart/jauntys. This was brilliant.

The chap that was guiding us around had a million different tales to tell, we were going at a nice relaxed place and we got a good insight into the island’s past, its many colourful stories and its present struggles.

The final way to get around is on foot. If you fancy a stroll or if you’re on a tight budget, go with this one. There are some steep-ish inclines at times, but it shouldn’t prove to be much of a struggle if you’ve a half-decent level of fitness.

Stop 2: An Tra

Photo by Andrea Sirri/shutterstock.com

The first stop on day 3 of your Aran Islands tour is An Tra (the beach, in Irish). This is, in my opinion, one of the best beaches in Galway .

You’ll reach it not long after leaving the pier and, if you arrive when the sun is shining, especially during the warmer summer months, you should see people swimming.

Stop 3: Island views

One of the best parts of exploring Inis Oírr (regardless of whether you’re on the back of a horse or just strolling along) is the mile after mile of hand-built stone walls that you encounter.

They stretch as far as the eye can see, and there’s just something wonderfully impressive about the craftsmanship and perseverance that went into building them. 

When you reach a point of elevation (there’s a good spot up near the castle), you’ll start to appreciate the scale of the walls that wind around the island.

Stop 4: Cnoc Raithní

Photo by Alasabyss/shutterstock.com

The next stop on our Aran Islands tour is Cnoc Raithní. This is a Bronze Age burial ground that, over many years, was covered with sand.

It was only many years later, during a storm in 1885, that Cnoc Raithní was uncovered after lying hidden in plain sight for so long.

Although this isn’t the most impressive of the historic sites on the Aran Islands, it’s one of the most historically significant.

It’s believed that it dates back to before Dún Aoghasa was constructed, which is incredible when you think about it.

The area around Cnoc Raithní was excavated in 1886, and artefacts dating back to 1500 BC were discovered here.

Stop 5: Teampall Caomhán

Churches don’t get much more unique than St Caomhán’s church, as you’ll see from the photo above! You’ll find it in the island’s graveyard, where it’s been since the 10th century.

The church is named after the island’s Patron Saint – St. Caomhán, the brother of St. Kevin of Glendalough.

The sunken ruins of St Caomhán’s church look a little surreal, and they’re well worth a visit while you explore the island.

Stop 7: O’Brien’s Castle

Photo by Lisandro Luis Trarbach/shutterstock.com

O’Brien’s Castle is one of the more popular castles in Galway . It was built in the 14th century within a ringfort called Dun Formna that dates back to 400 BC.

O’Brien’s Castle was once an impressive 3-story castle that was constructed by the O’Brien clan, who ruled the Aran Islands up until the late 1500s.

One of the biggest draws of O’Brien’s Castle is the views – you’ll be able to see everything from the Cliffs of Moher to the Burren from here on a clear day.

Stop 8: MV Plassey Shipwreck

Fans of the now iconic Father Ted series will recognise the weathered ship above – the MV Plassey Shipwreck. 

During its heyday (the mid-1900s), the Plassey was a cargo vessel that operated in the Irish Merchant Service. 

The ship washed ashore during a stormy night in 1960, and it has sat on the island ever since. All of those onboard were rescued by the islanders, thankfully. 

Stop 9: Inis Oírr Lighthouse

We’re off to the Inis Oírr Lighthouse next! You’ll find it at the southernmost extremity of the island, so get ready to peddle!

The first light on Inis Oírr was ignited in 1818. It operated successfully until 1857 when the current structure was opened.

Peddle over to the lighthouse and have a little nosey around from the outside. When you finish up, head back around to the pier.

Stop 10: In search of Dusty

We’re going to attempt to round off our Aran Islands tour with a bit of dolphin watching, but a sighting is impossible to time.

If you arrive back to the pier and see a ferry arriving, head on over to it, as it tends to attract Dusty, Inis Oírr’s dolphin.

The last time we were here, he was nipping up out of the water near the end of the boat, near the stone steps that lead from the water.

Update: Apparently, Dusty can no longer be seen in the waters around Inis Oírr.

Stop 11: Back to the mainland or spend a night on the island

How you round off the third day of your Aran Islands road trip is entirely up to you. If you need to get home or back to somewhere on the mainland, take a ferry back to Doolin or Galway.

If you’ve time to spare, you could always spend another night kicking back on Inis Oírr and soaking up the buzz.

Aran Island tours from Galway

If you’d rather just do a day trip to one of the islands, there’ are several reputable Aran Island tours from Galway that you can join.

The three most popular Aran Island tours from Galway on GetYourGuide are (note: if you book via a link below we’ll make a tiny commission which we greatly appreciate):

• From Galway: Aran Islands & Cliffs of Moher Tour with Cruise
• Cliffs of Moher & Aran Islands Day Tour from Galway
• The Aran Islands & The Cliffs Cruise

If you know of another Aran Island tours from Galway that you’d like to recommend, please shout away in the comments below.

FAQs about our Aran Islands road trip

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from the best Aran Islands tour for first-timers to which islands is most worth visiting.

In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.

What is the best way to explore the 3 Aran Islands over 3 days?

The itinerary above was carefully put together to ensure that you see the best the islands have to offer on a 3-day road trip. If you follow the itinerary as it’s laid out, you’ll get to see and do a lot in a short space of time.

If you had to just see one of the islands, which would it be?

I’m biased towards Inis Oirr, as I’ve visited the island often and have loved it each and every time. However, a lot of people love Inis Mor, as there’s so much to see and do on it.

What is the best Aran Islands tour from Galway?

There are many different providers offering Aran Islands tours from Galway. I’ve mentioned three above from GetYourGuide that have great review scores.

Keith O’Hara has lived in Ireland for 35 years and has spent most of the last 10 creating what is now The Irish Road Trip guide. Over the years, the website has published thousands of meticulously researched Ireland travel guides, welcoming 30 million+ visitors along the way. In 2022, the Irish Road Trip team published the world’s largest collection of Irish Road Trip itineraries . Keith lives in Dublin with his dog Toby and finds writing in the 3rd person minus craic altogether.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Evelyn McKeown

Friday 27th of August 2021

Thanks Keith how long would it take to walk arround Inish Oirr. Thanks Evelyn

Keith O'Hara

Monday 30th of August 2021

Hey Evelyn! I'm not sure to be completely honest. The last 2 times I've been over we've either rented bikes or taken the horse and cart around. I'd say you'd need a good few hours, though, if you're exploring on foot! Enjoy the trip!

Please see our flexible refund policy here . All customers will receive a full refund when cancelling a booking 24 hours prior to travel time. Be first to know what's happening on the Aran Islands by signing up to our newsletter .

ARAN ISLANDS & CLIFFS OF MOHER CRUISE

Call +353 (0) 91 568903 or email info@aranislandferries.com

Sailing year-round to all islands from galway.

The Aran Islands

The Aran Islands offer visitors a glimpse into a way of life that has long since disappeared from most of the world. Filled with traditional Irish culture, the islands offer breath-taking scenery, ecclesiastical ruins and world-renowned stone forts. Depending on which island you visit, the ferry journey is approximately 40-minutes from Rossaveel, Connemara and 90-minutes from Galway City.

The best way to get to the Aran Islands is on our Aran Islands Ferry from Rossaveel, Connemara or Galway City. The fastest ferry from Galway is our sailing from Rossaveel, Connemara to Inis Mór. These three rocky limestone outcrops are a bastion of traditional language, culture, music and history on the edge of Europe. Regular music sessions, lively dances, traditional crafts, sea-going currachs and the wonderfully warm and welcoming Atlantic spirit, are inimitable parts of Aran.

Prepare for a warm Irish welcome onboard our Aran Islands Ferry, and admire the rugged landscape and views of Galway Bay. Passengers can enjoy tea, coffee, snacks and full bar facilities during their 40-minute journey with Aran Island Ferries.

Shuttle bus.

Enjoy the convenience of our daily shuttle bus service, departing from Galway city (Victoria Place)  or travel by car and take a leisurely 1-hour drive along the Wild Atlantic Way to our ferry terminal in Rossaveel.

Ferry Terminal

Ferries to the Aran Islands depart year-round from Rossaveel port in Connemara, 37 kilometres west of Galway City centre. Parking is available at the pier at a cost of €7 for 24 hours. Seasonal ferries also depart from Galway City.

Sign up to our newsletter and learn about upcoming offers and promotions.

For more information on our sailings, please call or visit one of our offices in Galway City or Rossaveel.

All our Experiences feature scenic locations from the movie The Banshees Of Inisherin!

The ONLY Tour Operator to access these locations!

What to expect..., padraig & aonghus bring you off the beaten track to places on the island that only their 4x4 jeep can reach., this is us. .

Aran Off Road Experience is a guided tour company, set up by brothers and native Islanders Pádraig and Aonghus Hernon. The Hernon family go back three generations of horse and cart tours on the Island and Aonghus and Pádraig have over 20 years’ experience in the business.

The brothers decided to change it from one horsepower to 50HP in their bespoke Land Rover Defender 4x4 jeep and take you on the road less travelled!

We provide personalised, small group experiences that take you off the beaten track to the local landmarks and unique sites of this ancient Island. Get ready to explore Inis Mór, Galway, Ireland!

Why are we different? ​ ​

Off-road | Explore parts of the island that can ONLY be reached by our jeeps

Landscape | Experience the iconic scenery of Ireland and the Wild Atlantic Ocean

Language | Learn about the history of the Irish language from native speakers

Travel |Travel in a uniquely customised, leather seated 4x4 Land Rover Defender Jeep

Culture | Learn about the culture and traditions of the local people

History | Hear the history of the world-famous Aran Islands

Nature | See the native flora and fauna, the blue flag beach and natural landmarks.

Guides | Experience provided by native Islanders who are passionate about their home

 Our Experiences

Perfect for day trippers - our bestselling experiences.

The Wild Atlantic Experience 11.30am

Loading days...

The Wild Atlantic PRIVATE Experience

Tour Groups

Contact us for rates

The Evening Experience

Surprise Experience

Contact us for price

Not sure which to choose? Get in touch with us here

Aran Islands Tour – Tips and Guide For First-Time Travelers

Categories Galway , Where To Go

Aran Islands are a group of three rocky islands located in Galway Bay. The islands include Inishmore ( Inis Mór – the largest island) , Inishmaan ( Inis Meáin – the second largest) , and Inisheer ( Inis Oírr – the smallest) .

On the islands, you can explore ancient stone forts and churches, awesome cliffs, and flora and fauna. The islands are considered the soul of Gaelic culture and it’s considered one of the top island destinations by National Geographic.

If you are looking for Aran Islands tips, this article covers everything that you need to know about the Aran Islands tour.

Things you'll find in this article

What does Inishmore mean?

What does inishmaan mean, what does inisheer mean, 1.dun aonghasa, 2.the wormhole, 3. o’brien’s castle, 4. seal colony, 5. dun eoghanachta, 6. kilronan village, 7. the cliffs of aran, 8. kilmurvey beach, 9. teampall chiaráin, 10. inishmore blowholes, how to get to aran islands from galway, how to get to aran islands from cork, how to get to aran islands from limerick, how to get to aran islands from dublin, how to get to aran islands from doolin, aran islands tour from galway, aran islands tours from doolin, recommended hours for the day trip to aran islands, tips for visiting aran islands, the aran islands.

Inishmore or Inis Mór means big island. It is because Inis Mór is the largest island among Aran Islands at 31 km2 in size.

Inishmaan or Inis Meáin means the middle island. It is the second largest island among Aran Islands with an area covering 9 km2.

Inisheer or Inis Oírr means “the east island”. The island is the most eastern and smallest island of the three Aran islands.

Things To Do On Aran Islands

Dún Aonghasa or Dun Aengus is a pre-historic fort in Inishmore. It is located at the edge of a 100-meter cliff and it’s an important archeological site.

Located in a 14-acre site, Dún Aonghasa features three terraced walls and a series of four concentric walls. The ancient fort is famous to archaeologists and historians. It is unknown when Dún Aonghasa was built but based on the records from the excavations done on the site, the fort was built as far as 1100 BC.

            View this post on Instagram                         A post shared by Alexandra Turner (@allyyygat0r) on Mar 27, 2019 at 1:08pm PDT

The Wormhole is a natural rectangular shaped pool located at the bottom of a limestone cliff. It can be found at the south of Dun Aonghasa and can be only be accessed by foot. This tourist destination in Inishmore is popular due to the amazing effect that sea waves do in the natural pool. The waves crashing in fills up the pool and then it starts to drain if it’s low tide and the process repeats again. The Wormhole is also a popular cliff diving destinations.

Located at Inisheer, the smallest island in Aran is once an imposing castle of O’Brien’s. The castle used to be a tower house and a stronghold for the O’Brien’s clan. Surrounding the castle ruin is low stone walls. Although there’s not much left on the castle, the ruins offer one of the best panoramic views in the Aran islands.

One of the most popular attractions in Inishmore is the seal colony. The seals in the island made the shores of this Aran island their home for years. If you are looking for things to do in Aran islands for kids, this is the best activity that you can do on the island.

The seal colony is just around 10 minutes away from Kilmurvey beach .

Dun Eoghanachta is an ancient fort in the town of Eoghanacht and is named after the Eoghanacht tribe of Munster. It is unknown when the fort was built but according to some evidence, it might have been built during Iron Age.

The fort features a circular fort with remains of clochan or beehive huts that were common during the ancient south-western Irish seaboard.

Kilronan village is the main village on the island of Inis Mor. It is a charming fishing village that is also the center of commercial establishments on the island. Aside from colorful homes, you can also check out world-class seafood restaurants and traditional bars in the area.

Most of the ferry companies dock to Kilronan village so you won’t miss it.

The 8-kilometer stretch of Cliffs of Aran is one of the most spectacular sights in the western side of Inishmore. The dramatic landscape is also blessed with a view of the Cliffs of Moher . If you want to escape the crowd of Cliffs of Moher, the Cliffs of Aran is a good alternative.

Dun Aonghasa, the Wormhole, and some ancient forts can be found in this area.

            View this post on Instagram                         A post shared by Marie Carroll (@justbeingmawee) on May 29, 2017 at 2:46am PDT

One of the best beaches in Ireland, Kilmurvey Beach is a Blue Flag Status beach situated in a cove in Inishmore. This beautiful white sand beach is located between Kilronan and Dun Aengus. It’s also one of the most popular attractions in the Aran Islands, especially during summer.

Teampall Chiaráin is a monastery ruin located in the island of Inishmore and was founded by St. Ciaran of Clonmacnoise during the 12th century. There are several crosses dotted around the area and an ancient graveyard nearby. The place is popular for traditional locals who believe that putting a scarf or handkerchief in the hole on the east side of the old church can bring luck and fertility.

Because of the dramatic sea cliffs in Inishmore, the waves crashing at the bottom of these cliffs cause to blow water like rockets to the air – creating a spectacular view and experience for the visitors.

These are the famous Inishmore Blowholes and it’s one of the fun things to do on the Aran Islands.

How to get to Aran Islands

Take a bus (#524) from Galway Bus Station in Eyre Square to Rossaveal Port. The journey is about an hour and it costs between €8-11 one way or €16-22 for a round-trip fare. Then take a ferry from the port to Inis Mór. The ferry journey is about half an hour but make sure to check in half an hour before sailing time. Return ferry fare is €25. For sailing schedule, click here .

Or you can also take a bus to Doolin and take a ferry from there. Although the ferry in Doolin is just season compare to Rossaveal where they have ferries all throughout the year. To get to Doolin, take a bus (#350) from Galway Bus Station to Doolin. The bus ride takes about 2 hours and it costs €15-18 one way or €30-36 for a round-trip fare. From Doolin port, take a ferry to any of the islands. Return ferry fare is €30-40. For sailing schedule, click here .

Or you can also take this day tour from Galway which is cheaper by a lot.

This tour to the Aran Islands is a leisurely guided day tour from Galway that includes Inis Oirr and Cliffs of Moher. It’s € 50 per person. To book, click here .

Take a Citilink bus (#251, #251-X) from St. Patricks Quay in Cork City to Galway Coach Station. The journey is almost 3 hours and it costs between €12-20 one way or €24-40 for a round-trip fare and bus leaves every 4 hours. Then walk to Eyre Square, Galway Bus Station to take Bus Eireann bus (#424) to Rossaveal.  

The journey is about an hour and it costs between €8-11 one way or €16-22 for a round-trip fare. Then take a ferry from the port to Inis Mór. The ferry journey is about half an hour but make sure to check in half an hour before sailing time. Return ferry fare is €25.

Take a Citilink bus (#251) from Henry St in Limerick City to Galway Coach Station. The journey is almost 3 hours and it costs between €8-15 one way or €16-30 for a round-trip fare and bus leaves 5 times a day so plan accordingly.

Then walk to Eyre Square, Galway Bus Station to take Bus Eireann bus (#424) to Rossaveal.   The journey is about an hour and it costs between €8-11 one way or €16-22 for a round-trip fare. Then take a ferry from the port to Inis Mór. The ferry journey is about half an hour but make sure to check in half an hour before sailing time. Return ferry fare is €25.

Take a Citilink bus (#761, #763, #660) from Temple Bar , Crampton Quay in Dublin to Galway Coach Station. The journey is almost 2.5 hours and it costs between €12-21 one way or €24-42 for a round-trip fare and bus leaves every hour. Then walk to Eyre Square, Galway Bus Station to take Bus Eireann bus (#424) to Rossaveal.

From Doolin port, take a ferry to any of the islands. Return ferry fare is €30-40. Please note that the ferry leaving from Doolin is just seasonal so always double check before booking any trip.

Aran Islands Tours

This Aran Islands tour from Galway includes a round-trip ferry trip to Aran Islands and an entrance fee to Cliffs of Moher and Atlantic Edge. The tour includes a dramatic cruise below the cliffs as well and for €60, it is a steal. To book, click here .

This Aran Islands tour day from Galway includes a round-trip ferry trip to Inis Oirr and a dramatic cruise below the cliffs for just €50. To book, click here .

This Aran Islands day tour from Doolin includes a round-trip ferry trip to Inis Oírr. The tour includes a dramatic cruise below the cliffs as well and for €20, it is a steal. To book, click here .

This Aran Islands day tour from Doolin includes a round-trip ferry trip to Inis Meáin Island. It also includes a Cliffs of Moher cruise for €35. To book, click here .

Allocate at least 10 hours to enjoy one of the islands.

1. Aran Islands are known for its wild landscapes so if you take the bike tour, make sure to be extra careful as some trails can be really rough.

2. The blowholes are fun to look at but exercise extreme caution. The water occasionally hit people and it can cause an accident like falling off the rocks.

3. The cliffs don’t have a barrier so avoid walking on the edge of the cliffs and exercise extreme caution when walking towards the edge.

4. The weather can play a big part in enjoying the Aran Islands. Make sure to check the schedule of the ferry first before booking any trip to the island. And always layer up as it can very windy on the islands. Here are our packing list tips for all seasons to guide you on what to wear in Ireland.

5. Some of the attractions can be really remote and isolated and although Ireland is safe generally, accidents do happen. Make sure to always have a fully charged phone with you just in case of emergency.

6. As mentioned, some areas are really remote and if you decide to explore the Aran islands on your own, make sure to pack water, sunblock, and snacks just in case you get lost or lost track of time.

Like It? Pin It!

Hi, I’m Christine – a full-time traveler and career woman. Although I’m from the Philippines, my location independent career took me to over 40 countries for the past 8 years. I also lived in 3 continents – from the Caribbean, South East Asia to Africa. But despite living in several countries, my love for Ireland remains the same. A country that had been a part of my life since I was 14 because of my love for Irish music and bands. Ireland Travel Guides was born because of this passion and hopefully, in some little ways, this website will be able to help you on your next trip to Ireland.

Ways To Say Good Morning In Irish Gaelic - Ireland Travel Guides

Friday 27th of August 2021

[…] Irish language is maintained alive on the island of Inisheer, one of the vast Aran Islands off Ireland’s west coast, by the approximately 300 people who reside […]

7 Best Hotels In Athenry, Ireland - Ireland Travel Guides

Monday 26th of July 2021

[…] at the McDonaugh’s love the homey atmosphere, and its accessibility to the airport, the Inis Meain, and other points of […]

The Cliffs of Moher Guide - Travel Tips For First Time Visitors - Ireland Travel Guides

[…] atop the watchtower, visitors can see the Aran Islands and Galway Bay, the Maum Turk Mountains and the Twelve Bens to the north in Connemara, and Loop […]

7 Best Hotels In Lahinch, Ireland - Ireland Travel Guides

[…] golf course is about 100 meters away if you enjoy golf. The hotel is also close to the pier for Aran Island Ferries. Guests can visit Aillwee Caves, which are only 10 kilometers away from the […]

15 Things To Do in Shannon, Ireland - Ireland Travel Guides

Friday 25th of June 2021

[…] you can cruise to Inisheer, one of the Aran Islands. It is the smallest and the most eastern of the three Aran Islands located in Galway Bay. Most of the tourists come during the day and leaves before five in the […]

Hernon Carriage Tours

Click the button below to see a list of our tours of the island of inishmore

A Family Tradition going back over 70 years

Find out below why we are the best option for your tour of the island

OUR TOURS Hernon carriage tours offers a variety of tours for all to explore Inis Mor. We can customise any tour option to suit the requirements of all clients

INISHMORE, ARAN ISLANDS

Inishmore is the largest and most popular island of the three Aran Islands. It is home to a population of around 800 people who predominantly speak Irish as their first language.

HAVE SOME QUESTIONS?

We are more than happy to answer any of your questions. Chat on facebook messenger now or view our faq below 

 Bike Hire on Inis Mor island

Welcome to Aran Islands Bike Hire on Inis Mor Island

Aran Bike Hire is located on Inis Mor, The Aran Islands, Co Galway. It is a family-run business (est since 1969) with bike and ebike rental services catering to the needs of people of all ages. Rest assured this will be one of the best days you will have in Ireland.

More information on Our Selection of Bikes

Aran Islands Bike Hire Services

– Free Beautiful Map of Inis Mor Island for your self guided tour. – Free helmets provided. – Free roadside assistance. We have a large selection of quality bikes & ebikes, & have Friendly, helpful staff.

Contact Aran Bike Hire

Inis Mor Island and Dun Aonghasa. The Beautiful Aran Islands

With Dun Aonghasa 30 minutes (4 miles) away and all the main attractions within easy reach, cycling is the way to experience island life at your own pace.

Learn about Inis Mor Island and the Aran Islands

Choose to cycle Aran Bike Hire and cycle to Dun Aonghasa Fort & Cliffs, the Beach, Worm Hole, or just peruse the island

Our rates for a full self guided one day tour are extremely competitive, view our range of bikes for hire , and go on a self guided tour of Inis Mor today!

Holiday on the Aran Islands

The Rugged  Aran Islands lie Just Outside Galway Bay and just miles from the Clare coast and the Cliffs of Moher on the West coast of Ireland, Co Galway. Take a day trip but a longer stay is recommended for you to really experience to heritage and culture of the Aran Islands . Loved by every visitor, the Aran Islands are 3 of the most unspoilt Islands in the Atlantic. Each of the Islands, Inis Oírr , Inis Meain and the largest Inis Mór has its own individual character and is a favourite for cycling and Glamping . All natives speak Irish. You’ll find ancient forts, churches and monuments on all 3 Islands. The flora and fauna is also different on each. Use this website to find out more about this unique destination. The Islands are easily reached by passenger ferry from Doolin in Co. Clare or Rossaveal in Co. Galway. Flights are available from Inverin in Co. Galway. The Aran Islands has a lot of high standard accommodation options such as B & B, Hotels, Hostels, Self Catering, and Ireland’s newest Luxury Glamping venue .

Aran Islands Gallery