Guided Custom Tours of Ireland

Tour the West of Ireland

Contact: +353873848485

Take luxurious guided custom tours of the West of Ireland in a limousine or luxury mini touring bus. VIP Taxis Galway offer the visitor a completely different and unique custom tour experience. Our focus is on luxury, comfort and knowledge. Our drivers live in the beautiful West of Ireland and have plenty of historical and cultural knowledge of the area.

    TOUR 1 - SELECT FROM 3 TOURS OF CONNEMARA

    North Connemara
    Starting from your local base we head north to the market town of Headford here we will visit Ross Errilly Friary a medieval Franciscan friary and National Monument.
    Next stop the village of Cong the home of Ashford Castle and location setting  of the 1952 Oscar winning movie The Quite Man.
    Leenane is next and here we will travel along the 16km of Killary fjord  towards Kylemore Abbey. The fjord is only one of three in Ireland and is up to 45m deep in places and contains some of Ireland most awe-inspiring and dramatic scenery.
    Kylemore Abbey is a Benedictine Abbey founded in 1920 on the grounds of Kylemore Castle (1867) by Benedictine nuns who fled Belgium in World war 1. The walled Victorian Gardens are a must see.
    The tour at this point would return to Galway via Maam Cross and the Leenane valley visiting the Quite Man replica traditions cottage at Maam Cross, then proceeding to Galway through the towns of Oughterard and Moycullen.
    We will also give you the option of extending your tour to visit the town of Clifden to take in the Sky Road.

    South Connemara

    Starting from your local base we head west through the villages of Gaeltacht (Gaelic Speaking) Barna,Furbo,Spiddal and Costelloe  along the Northern shore of Galway Bay.
    We will then go inland for a few miles where we hug the rugged and scenic coastline on our way to Carna and Roundstone before heading to Clifden via Ballyconneely where in June 1919 Alcock and Brown crash landed their converted Vickers Vimy bomber after crossing the Adlantic Ocean in less than 72hrs from St Johns Newfoundland. It was also near Ballyconneely that Guglielmo Marconi built his first high powered transatlantic long wave wireless station and transmitted the first point to point fixed wireless service connecting Europe to North America. Plenty of opportunities for photography on this route.
    In Clifden the drive of the Sky road is a must again a beautiful scenic and photogenic area with breathtaking views.
    The tour at this point would return to Galway via Maam Cross and the Leenane valley visiting the Quite Man replica traditions cottage at Maam Cross, then proceeding to Galway through the towns of Oughterard and Moycullen.

    Bespoke Connemara Tour

    This is where we  will let you decide the areas of Connemara you and your party wish to visit.

      TOUR 2 - SOUTH GALWAY AND THE BURREN

      South Galway and the Burren

      Starting from your local base we leave Galway and head south towards the World famous Oyster village of Clairnbridge turning west in Kilcolgan heading to Kinvara a small sea port village on the southern shores of Galway Bay and home to the 16th century Dunguaire Castle.
      After a short stop we leave Kinvara and head for the Burren.
      The next stop on the route is Poulnabrone (Hole of Sorrows) Dolmen a portal tomb dating back to the Neolithic period and older than the Pyramids at Giza.
      The village of Kilfenora also known as the “City of the Crosses” for it seven (now five) High Crosses which are situated in St Fachtnan Cathedral (1189)
      From here we will head to the World famous Cliffs of Moher passing by Leamaneh Castle parts of which date from 1480.
      The Cliffs themselves are awe inspiring and breathtaking rising 120m (390ft) above Hags Head to 214m (702ft) just north of O’Briens Tower. To the west you will be able to see the Aran Islands, from the top of O’Briens tower (1835) near the midpoint of cliffs on a clear day you can see the Maumturk and Twelve Pins Mountain Ranges in Connemara.
      Leaving the Cliffs we start to head back to Galway via the Coast Road via Doolin with its fantastic views of Galway Bay. The beaches on this road are popular with surfers from around the World and Rock climbers.

        TOUR 3 - THE HIDDEN GALWAY TOUR

        The Hidden Galway Tour

        Galway is the second largest County in Ireland and one of the most popular tourist destinations, however a large and interesting part of the county is not on the regular tourist trail. East Galway has a large amount of tower houses and castles worth visiting as is the battlefield of Aughrim (1691)
        Starting from your local base we le ave Galway and head to the market town of Athenry and it excellent Castle (1240) and well preserved walls around the town with its defensive towers.
        Loughrea is another East Galway town and is unique in that is old Moat is still functioning but only one of its towers is all that survives of the town walls.
        Leaving Loughrea we head to Portumna a small town on the river Shannon, Ireland’s Longest river. Portumna is the home of Portumna Castle (1618) and forest park.we will also visit the restored Portumna Workhouse build during the Great Famine.
        The battle of Aughrim (1691) was the most decisive battle of the Williamite War in Ireland and the bloodiest on Irish Soil, by the end of the day 7000 s
        Lay dead. During the summer an excellent interpretative centre is open in Aughrim Village, we will also drive around the battlefield before returning to Galway.

        Bespoke hidden Galway tour

        We also offer a bespoke tour of Galway visiting the many other Castles, Monasteries and Round Towers Galway county has to offer.
        homepage.eircom.net/~rookery/
        From the above page you select the castles you wish to Visit.
        The Roundtower at Kilmacduagh outside Gort is an excellent example of a 7th century monastic settlement.

        Walking Tours

        Walk with Brian Nolan one of Galways leading walking tour guides, call us to arrange this execellent tour of Medieval Galway or check out the website  www.galwaywalks.com/tour

        >See the Real Ireland with a Custom Guided Tour

        Along with the West of Ireland’s world renowned beauty spots, landmarks and historical sights, VIP Taxis Galway can bring you to the less traveled paths and reveal the real, hidden Ireland. Come with us on a journey through a land steeped in culture, tradition and story telling. Travel down winding roads flanked with sheep dotted farms that have been worked at the edge of the wild Atlantic for centuries, passed down through the generations. Our knowledgeable and local drivers will open the door to hidden gems off the beaten track. Tap your feet to a rousing traditional Irish music session in the rugged wilds of Connemara. After a fulfilling day’s sight seeing, stop off for a bowl of traditional seafood chowder, caught fresh from the Atlantic and washed down with a pint of creamy Guinness. With VIP Taxis guided custom tours the West of Ireland is your oyster, and you will leave with treasured memories and an experience of the real Ireland.

        Your tour guide John Carty has years of experience in the tourism.