Vacation Tours of IrelandRabbie's 5 Day Ireland Tour: The South West Loop
This 5 day Ireland tour from Dublin covers the classic south west loop: Galway, the Burren, the Cliffs of Moher, the Dingle Peninsula, Killarney, the Ring of Kerry, Blarney Castle and Kinsale. Rabbie's Small Group Tours Ireland runs it in a Mercedes mini-coach of up to 16 passengers with a driver-guide, and four nights of en-suite accommodation with breakfast are included. You choose a 3-star B&B or a 3-star hotel at booking, and each room type carries its own price. The listing is the pick among the vacation tours of Ireland we compare because it combines the small group, the Cliffs of Moher admission and a flexible room choice in one fare. This page sets out exactly what the price buys, what it does not, and who should look elsewhere.
About This Tour
Rabbie's runs this five-day loop from Dublin by Mercedes mini-coach, listing a maximum of 16 passengers (the booking system's field says 15). A single driver-guide handles the driving and the commentary for the whole trip. The route runs west through Kilbeggan and Clonmacnoise to Galway, down through Clare to the Cliffs of Moher, then spends three nights in Killarney for the Dingle Peninsula and the Ring of Kerry before returning via Blarney Castle, Kinsale and the Rock of Cashel.
Cliffs of Moher admission with reserved tickets and a tour of the Kilbeggan whiskey distillery are part of the trip. Breakfast is included on all four nights. Other meals, hotel pickup, gratuities and most other admissions are not. You pick the room type at booking, and cancellation is free up to 21 full days before departure.
From $1,464.67 per person with a B&B double or twin room. A hotel double or twin starts from $1,661.83, a B&B single from $1,929.96 and a hotel single from $2,125.88.
5 days, 4 nights. Four nights in en-suite rooms with breakfast, in a 3-star B&B or 3-star hotel of your choice, in double, twin or single occupancy.
Opposite the Kilkenny Shop, Nassau Street, Dublin. Arrive 15 minutes before departure to check in. The departure time is not stated on the listing.
Up to 16 passengers (the API field says 15) with a friendly driver-guide on a Mercedes mini-coach. English is the guide language.
Transport, the driver-guide, 4 nights en-suite with breakfast, Cliffs of Moher admission with reserved tickets, and the Kilbeggan distillery tour on the route.
Full refund if you cancel at least 21 full days before departure. Within 21 days the refund is 0%, so cancellation cover matters.
Check Dates and Availability
Prices vary by date and room type, and the room is added to the basket as a separate item for each room. Check live dates below.
You'll confirm the exact date and time on the secure booking page.
Quick answer Price, rooms and what is covered
This 5 day Ireland tour costs from $1,464.67 per person with a B&B double or twin room, rising to $2,125.88 for a hotel single. Four nights with breakfast, the Cliffs of Moher admission and a Kilbeggan distillery tour are in the price. Meals other than breakfast, hotel pickup and most other admissions are not. Cancellation is free up to 21 full days before departure and 0% inside that window.
Key takeaways
- See the full breakdown in What the Price Actually Covers.
- Compare it with the cheaper 4-day south west loop from $568.20 for a hostel dorm bed in a coach of up to 56.
- Prefer more days and more entries? The 10-day small-group tour includes admissions such as the Giant's Causeway, Blarney Castle and Kylemore Abbey.
- For the other half of the island, see the 5-day northern tour from the same operator.
What the Price Actually Covers
The listed price buys the transport, the guide, four nights with breakfast and two entries. Everything else on the road is your own cost, so budget for it.
The Four Room Choices
You choose the accommodation type at booking. A 3-star B&B double or twin is the from price at $1,464.67. A 3-star hotel double or twin starts from $1,661.83.
Solo travellers pick a single-occupancy room, from $1,929.96 in a B&B or $2,125.88 in a hotel. All rooms are en-suite with breakfast. If you book for three or more people, the operator can take up to 8 guests in a group and you add each room to the basket separately.
| Line | In the price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mercedes mini-coach and driver-guide | Yes | Group of up to 16 passengers (the API field says 15) |
| 4 nights en-suite room with breakfast | Yes | B&B or 3-star hotel, double, twin or single, chosen at booking |
| Cliffs of Moher admission | Yes | Tickets reserved for you by the operator |
| Kilbeggan whiskey distillery tour | On the route | Part of the day 1 stop |
| Lunch and dinner | No | You buy these yourself on all five days |
| Hotel pickup and drop-off | No | You make your own way to Nassau Street |
| Gratuities | No | €€€2 to €5 a day is a common guide rate on multi-day tours |
| Other admissions (Blarney Castle, Rock of Cashel and more) | No | Pay on the day unless specified |
| Cancellation inside 21 days | No refund | Buy cancellation cover with your booking |
What You Pay on the Way
Lunch and dinner are your cost every day, and the listing builds in a pub lunch on day 1 and a village lunch stop on day 2 and free time in Dingle, Portmagee and Kinsale for food. Admissions not covered include Blarney Castle, the Rock of Cashel, Derrynane House and the Skellig Experience, and Rock of Cashel admission is €8 for adults. Tipping is not included either, and a common norm for a driver-guide on a multi-day trip is €2 to €5 a day.
Pack within the luggage limit of 20 kg per person, one carry-on-sized bag of about 55 x 45 x 25 cm plus a small day bag.
- Lunch and dinner on every day of the trip
- Blarney Castle and Rock of Cashel entries, paid on the day
- Tips for the driver-guide if the service earns them
Sources: Ireland.com, Met Éireann
Rowing boats on the shore at Kinsale harbour with yachts moored beyond. Photo: David Hawgood, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Day by Day
The listing lays out five days from Dublin and back, with three nights based in Killarney.
Day 1: Dublin to Kilbeggan Distillery to Clonmacnoise to Galway
The tour leaves from opposite the Kilkenny Shop on Nassau Street, with check-in 15 minutes before departure. The first stop is the Kilbeggan Distillery, where the listing gives time to relax with a glass of the house whiskey. From there the route runs to Clonmacnoise on the banks of the River Shannon, a ruined abbey with stone crosses, ancient churches and round towers.
After a pub lunch in a local village you continue to Galway for the first night. Dublin to Galway is roughly two to two and a half hours by car on the M4 and M6.
- Overnight: Galway
Day 2: Galway to the Burren to Cliffs of Moher to Killarney
A short drive down the coast brings you to the Burren, about 530 km2 of karst limestone roughly 325 million years old. The listing gives time to explore before a stop at Kilfenora, the town of the crosses, and a village lunch. The afternoon is at the Cliffs of Moher, which run for about 14 km and reach 214 m just north of O'Brien's Tower.
Your admission is in the price, with tickets reserved. The day ends with a Shannon ferry crossing and an arrival in Killarney, your base for three nights.
- Overnight: Killarney
Day 3: Killarney to the Dingle Peninsula
The day explores the Dingle Peninsula, starting at Inch Beach and running through Dingle town towards Slea Head, an area of ancient forts and prehistoric dwellings with views of the Blasket Islands. The Blaskets have been uninhabited since the 1950s and Dingle sits in a Gaeltacht, an Irish-speaking area. The listing allows an afternoon back in Dingle for seafood before the return to Killarney, with time for an evening stroll in the National Park that wraps the town.
- Overnight: Killarney
Day 4: Killarney to Portmagee to Torc Waterfall
This is the Ring of Kerry day, a 179 km circular route through County Kerry. The listing stops first at Carrauntoohil, Ireland's highest mountain, then follows the coast through Glenbeigh, Kells and Cahersiveen to lunch in Portmagee, with an optional Skellig Experience visit on Valentia Island. Afternoon stops take in Waterville, Coomakista pass, Derrynane House, Moll's Gap, Ladies View and Torc Waterfall.
Note the listing's warning that on some departures days three and four are switched.
- Overnight: Killarney
Day 5: Killarney to Blarney Castle to Kinsale to Dublin
The return leg starts with Blarney Castle, whose keep dates from 1446, where you can climb to kiss the Blarney Stone and walk the grounds, including the poison garden. Lunch follows in Kinsale, a port town of about 5,991 residents that marks the southern end of the Wild Atlantic Way. The final stop is the Rock of Cashel, a cluster of medieval buildings on a limestone outcrop, where a typical visit runs 1 to 1.5 hours.
The tour reaches Dublin in the early evening.
- Tour ends: Dublin, early evening
Who This Tour Rules Out
This listing is a strong all-rounder, but several common traveller profiles will do better on a different tour.
Tight Budgets
At from $1,464.67 with breakfast-only catering this is a mid-to-premium fare. If the budget is the deciding factor, the 4-day south west tour from Paddywagon covers a similar loop from $568.20 for a hostel dorm bed, though in a coach of up to 56 with no admissions listed as included and no refund at all once booked.
- Cheaper alternative: 4-Day South West Ireland Tour
Travellers Who Want Everything Included
Only the Cliffs of Moher and the Kilbeggan distillery tour are covered here. Blarney Castle, the Rock of Cashel and every other site is paid on the day. The 7-day Overland trip for 12 guests bundles Rock of Cashel, Blarney Castle, cycling, kayaking and a Cliffs of Moher cruise into the price, for a higher fare of $2,823.90 and no refund after booking.
- Inclusive alternative: 7-Day Ireland Tour
Young Children, Solo Guests and Anyone Wanting Flexibility
Children under 5 are refused travel without a refund, and the tour is priced for ages 16 to 99 as adults. Solo travellers pay a real premium: the cheapest single room is $1,929.96 against $1,464.67 for a shared B&B double. And the cancellation terms are hard, a full refund only to 21 full days before departure and 0% inside that, so buy cancellation cover when you book.
If a full refund closer to departure matters, the 3-day rail tour offers free cancellation to 6 days.
- Flexible alternative: 3-Day Ireland Rail Tour
Long Days and Walking
Five days on a mini-coach means full days on the road, and the fitness note says suitable for all levels but the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren involve walking on uneven ground in weather that turns fast, with Valentia Observatory in Kerry recording 1,646.5 mm of rain a year, about twice Dublin. Bad weather can change what a day looks like. Bring layers, waterproofs and food for the road, since lunch is not included.
- Pack a waterproof and snacks, the west coast is wet
Ross Castle stands on the edge of Lough Leane in Killarney National Park. Photo: Dumphasizer, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Getting to the Start and Making a Trip of It
The tour starts in central Dublin, so most arrivals can reach it without a car.
Getting to Nassau Street
From Dublin Airport, 7 km north of the centre, the Dublin Bus 16 and 41 cost €2 to €3.30 and take 30 to 50 minutes, with route 41 running around the clock. Aircoach route 700 costs about €8 to €10 for 30 to 40 minutes, Dublin Express runs 4am to 12:30am for about €9, and a taxi is roughly €30 to €45 for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Arrive 15 minutes before departure to check in
Days Before and After
The tour returns to Dublin in the early evening of day 5, so plan any same-evening connection generously. Before or after, a day tour of the Wicklow Mountains, Glendalough and Kilkenny from $50 fills a spare day without a car, or the Cliffs of Moher day tour repeats day 2 at $87 if you want a second look. The route never crosses the border into Northern Ireland, so pounds sterling and the UK ETA rule do not apply here.
For that side of the island, see the 5-day northern tour by the same operator.
- Add-on day: Glendalough and Kilkenny Tour
Itinerary at a Glance
Five days from Dublin through four counties, with three nights in Killarney.
-
Day 1
Dublin to Galway
Kilbeggan Distillery, Clonmacnoise on the Shannon, a pub lunch, then Galway for the night.
-
Day 2
Galway to Killarney
The Burren's limestone pavements, Kilfenora, the Cliffs of Moher with included entry, a Shannon ferry, then Killarney for three nights.
-
Day 3
Dingle Peninsula
Inch Beach, Dingle town, Slea Head and views of the Blasket Islands, back to Killarney by evening.
-
Day 4
Ring of Kerry
Carrauntoohil, Glenbeigh, Cahersiveen, Portmagee, Waterville, Derrynane House, Moll's Gap, Ladies View and Torc Waterfall. On some departures days 3 and 4 are switched.
-
Day 5
Killarney to Dublin
Blarney Castle, lunch in Kinsale, the Rock of Cashel, and arrival in Dublin in the early evening.
Pros and Cons
An honest read of this listing against the others we track.
What we genuinely like
- Small group of up to 16 on a Mercedes mini-coach, against 53 to 56 on the coach rivals
- Cliffs of Moher admission with reserved tickets is in the fare
- Four room price points from B&B twin to hotel single, chosen at booking
- Three nights in one Killarney base means less packing and unpacking
- Free cancellation to 21 full days before departure, longer than most rivals allow
- Rating of 4.8 from 176 verified reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor
The honest downsides
- Only two entries are covered, Blarney Castle and the Rock of Cashel are extra
- Lunch and dinner are self-paid on all five days
- A 0% refund inside 21 days means cancellation cover is essential
- Solo travellers pay a heavy supplement, the cheapest single is $1,929.96
- Children under 5 are refused travel without a refund
- Full days on the road, and days 3 and 4 can switch
Who it's NOT for: Not for travellers under a tight budget, with children under 5, or who need a refund inside three weeks of departure.
Questions About This Tour
How much does the 5 day Ireland tour cost?
From $1,464.67 per person with a B&B double or twin room. A hotel double or twin is from $1,661.83, a B&B single from $1,929.96 and a hotel single from $2,125.88. Compare it with other vacation tours of Ireland on the homepage table.
Is accommodation included?
Yes, four nights in en-suite rooms with breakfast, in a 3-star B&B or 3-star hotel you choose at booking, in double, twin or single occupancy. Each room is added to the basket separately. See how this matches the 6-day all Ireland tour, which also includes five nights of accommodation.
What is not included in the price?
Lunch and dinner, hotel pickup and drop-off, gratuities, and all admissions except the Cliffs of Moher, which comes with reserved tickets. The Kilbeggan distillery tour is part of the day 1 route. Admissions on other routes are covered on the Blarney Castle day tour page.
Can I cancel if my plans change?
You get a full refund if you cancel at least 21 full days before departure. Within 21 days the refund is 0%, so buy cancellation cover when you book. The 3-day rail tour allows free cancellation to 6 days if you need more flexibility.
How big is the group?
The listing caps it at 16 passengers on a Mercedes mini-coach, though the booking system's field says 15. Either way it is far smaller than the 56-seat coaches on the 4-day south west tour.
Is this tour suitable for children?
Children from 5 years are welcome, but the operator refuses travel to under 5s without a refund, and the fare is priced for ages 16 to 99 as adults. Families with younger children may prefer a day tour from Dublin instead.
Which other Rabbie's route is there from Dublin?
The same operator runs a 5-day northern loop to Belfast, the Giant's Causeway and Derry, from $1,486.20 with the same room structure and 21-day cancellation. Read the 5-day northern Ireland tour page for that route.
Prices, availability and terms are set by the operator and confirmed at checkout.
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