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Ireland's County Cork & Kerry Bike Tour
Couples, Friends & Solos
Ireland's County Cork & Kerry Bike Tour
Couples, Friends & Solos
6 days
5 nights
Activity Levels 2-4
Casual Hotels
2025: May-Sep
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Charming Villages, Cozy Pubs & Celtic Coastline
There's only one way to discover what makes Ireland so special. You have to be here. To cruise cobbled streets and feel the depth of history. To be saddle-high in a charming sea of sheep. To gather at a neighborhood pub where humor and heritage abound. To take in emerald hills, sweeping views and breathtaking coastlines, gliding by on our Ireland bike tour.
Highlights
- Relish classic Irish scenery of centuries-old stone cottages and woolly sheep dotting rolling hills blanketed in emerald green
- Partake in a whiskey tasting with a local aficionado who shares insight into the Irish love affair with the "water of life"
- Bike in the land of ancient Celts on the rugged Beara Peninsula, where colorful seaside villages mingle with fascinating geology
- Explore riverside Kinsale in County Cork, an inviting fishing town and historic port nicknamed the "Gourmet Capital of Ireland"
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Start/End Cork
* Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.
Itinerary
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Days 1-2
Pedal through classic Irish landscapes of emerald hills, small farms, quaint cottages and woolly sheep • A gorgeous cycling route winds through Moll's Gap and along Blackwater Valley's tranquil roads • Taste local brews in charming Kenmare • Bike by pristine lakes, stately cliffs and glacier-carved mountains on the untamed Beara Peninsula • Browse Kenmare's craft shops, meander by the River Finnihy, check out the nearby prehistoric stone circle or kick back with a pint at a lively pub.
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Nights 1-2
It's just a short stroll to the center of Kenmare from this contemporary boutique hotel.
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Days 3-4
Savor deliciously fresh seafood, like mussels and hearty chowder • A gradual climb leads to magnificent Caha Pass, complete with tunnels and panoramic views of Bantry Bay • Ride through Glengarriff on your way to picturesque Bantry • Gather at a cozy pub, where an Irish troubadour regales us with songs and prose • Bike along quiet roads on the Sheep’s Head peninsula with sweeping vistas of Bantry Bay.
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Nights 3-4
Owner Ronan O'Sullivan pampers us at his country house on the shore of Bantry Bay. (spa)
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Days 5-6
Soak up fascinating history and lively village culture • Partake in a whiskey tasting in vibrant Clonakilty • Stunning coastal scenery lines the bike route to Courtmacsherry Bay and the remains of 13th-century Timoleague Abbey • Wander Kinsale's medieval alleys, shop or walk along the shoreline of this colorful port town • Cycle amid ancient battlefields and seaside vistas • A favorite local restaurant serves up classic Irish dishes with a modern twist.
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Night 5
A harborside haven with style and soul, this stylish boutique hotel is the oldest hotel in Kinsale and has helped shape the town’s reputation as a world-class destination.
What's Included
See moreHotels
Adventure-Ready Hotels
Ideally located with ready access to trip activities, our Casual hotels are also known for their character and charm.
Hotels may vary based on departure. Any variations will be displayed when selecting a departure under Dates & Prices.
Nights 1-2
Casual Hotel
It's just a short stroll to the center of Kenmare from this contemporary boutique hotel.
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Nights 3-4
Casual Hotel
Owner Ronan O'Sullivan pampers us at his country house on the shore of Bantry Bay. (spa)
Night 5
Casual Hotel
A harborside haven with style and soul, this stylish boutique hotel is the oldest hotel in Kinsale and has helped shape the town’s reputation as a world-class destination.
Gallery
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#MyBackroadsTrip
Bikes
Choose Your Perfect Bike
Our bikes are designed and built with specific cyclists and riding styles in mind, so we can always offer you a perfect ride. Please note that bike requests are subject to availability and prioritized based on the date they're submitted.
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Included in your trip price
- Ideal for avid cyclists
- Redesigned for 2024
- Next gen titanium frame with carbon wheels
- Responsive, efficient and comfortable
- Drop handlebars only
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Included in your trip price
- Suited for a wide range of cyclists
- Comfortable ergonomic seat
- Long wheel base adds to the bike's control and stability
- Upright handlebars only
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Included in your trip price
- One of the lightest e-bikes available
- Provides plenty of power and more than enough battery
- Lower top tubes for easier mounting and dismounting
- Upright handlebars only
- Limited availability on Unplugged Bike Tours; learn more
Min. age to ride e-bike: 16+
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- $400 rental fee
- Hand-built frame features Co-Motion's custom-designed Cro-Moly steel tubeset, powerful Avid disc brakes, Shimano Ultegra drive train
- Custom upgraded wheelset
- Best for riders with some tandem experience.
Review Snapshot
by PowerReviews
Reviewed by 28 customers
Exceeded my expectations!
Great trip leaders, beautiful scenery and routes and great food!
Beautiful country
Beautiful country with amazing leaders, delicious food, friendly encounters, but with some challenging and occasionally rough roads.
Backroads never disappoints!
Just returned from an Ireland bike trip and as always is the case on their trips, the scenery, culture, food, accommodations and guides are 5 star! The company is called backroads for a reason. They truly find unique, off the beaten track areas to discover by bike. Rain or shine, the guides make every moment of the trip memorable and leave you hating to say goodbye!
Excellent, SO FUN!!
I can't say enough about Backroads and how they do their trips! Amazing! Wonderful guides! Great accommodations! Excellent food and great support with lots of humor and laughter. They made the gray skies and rain of Ireland still such a wonderful adventure!! It rained almost everyday but it didn't damper the trip one bit! If you were disappointed because of the rain, you didn't read the advertisements. Expect the rain, but expect more laughter and cheer!
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Trip of a lifetime
The Irish countryside, satisfied my soul in Waze I couldn't have imagined… The Irish people are welcoming, boisterous and so down to earth!! Backroads thinks of every single detail… They arrange incredible excursions in the different towns that we are in
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Every day was more amazing than the day before
We were blown away by the scenery, there were so many different colors of green, it was surreal. Our guides Chris and Pierre were extremely experienced and knowledgeable. We loved all of the extra experiences Backroads offers after each of the rides, we learned so much history and had so much fun!
Ireland bucket list item - this trip did not dissapoint!
What an amazing experience! I wanted to visit Ireland for many years but wanted to get away from any regular tourist type venues. This Backroads trip fit the bill. My husband and I used the e-bikes (wonderful bikes) which allowed us to easily access the routes including the elevations. The ability to have daily route options made it easy to adjust your personal level or activity - was it a day to rest and take it easy or to do each leg of routes to make it more challenging. Wonderful group with like-minded individuals in the group and such knowledgeable trip leaders Isabel, Colm, and Caru. Ireland is a joyous place and I would love to go again - and probably will.
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Wonderful trip, such a great way to experience Ireland
This was a fantastic bike trip through County Cork & County Kerry. The routes took us through varied landscapes from the beach to the mountains, to the rolling hills of Irish farmland. The food was incredible with nearly every restaurant serving locally grown meats & vegetables or freshly caught seafood. The hotels had the right mix of charm and modern amenities. Finally, our leaders, Lee & Nat, were great! They were encouraging, professional, and supportive. Their knowledge of local culture (including mythology) and locations was terrific and really added to my enjoyment of the trip.
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This trip far exceeded my expectations
Ireland is a really beautiful country with some of the nicest people and a rich history. They provide bikes with upscale components that is confidence boosting. The leaders on our trip really made the whole experience that much better. With some moderate conditioning this can prove to be a very exciting trip.
A GREAT experience ! The biking was exceptional
Bike routes and views were EXCEPTIONAL, Breath taking and way beyond expectations!! Our 3 group leaders executed all logistics seamlessly which made the trip even more enjoyable !! The 3 leaers for this ride were great representatives for your company and we were lucky to have to them escort us through Ireland !
Dates & Prices
Dates & Prices
Click on dates for pricing, itinerary variations (if any) and to book your trip. Price is per person, double occupancy in USD.
Please Select a Group Size
Group size is required to show per-person pricing. Your group size can be approximate and can change.