7 Day Standard Tour
7 day / 6 night Tour
Maximum 10 people
Days 1-6
Days 1-6
From €3,550 per person sharing incl. all meals, 6 nights accommodation, entrance fees to our hand picked cultural and sightseeing tours, comfortable travel on our luxury coach during your tour.
Luxury private coach
Our standard 7-day fully guided horse-riding vacation, in the rugged wilderness of Connemara, Co. Galway is a truly unique trail-riding experience that will take your breath away.
As well as experiencing the stunning natural beauty that’s home to the ‘Quiet Man’, you’ll live and breathe the cultures and traditions of the Connemara people – all in the company of your fun-loving Connemara Pony or friendly-faced Irish Draught Horse.
From savoring the freshest Atlantic catch of the day followed by traditional Irish music in the local pub to experiencing the ancient centuries-old stone walls as the spray from the wild Atlantic blows fresh into your face, this horse trekking tour is one you that will live forever in your memory.
Key Tour Facts
- Season: May through October. Trips commence with pickup each Saturday and finish drop-off on Friday.
- Accommodation: 3 nights at Curra Farm, 3 nights at The Station House Hotel, Clifden.
- Riding Level: Walk, trot, canter (optional). We NEVER push riders out of their comfort zone.
- Type Of Tack: Very comfortable English-style saddles. Don’t worry if you only ride Western. You will fit like a glove!
- Guides: Professional riding instructors and guides.
- Horse Breeds: Our surefooted, kind-hearted, fun-loving Connemara Ponies, along with our two beautiful friendly-faced Irish Draughts for those seeking a little extra height.
- Non-riders: Always most welcome! If you don’t ride, come and join us on the sightseeing and cultural tours.
- Solo travelers: Always welcome – contact us for details.
- Private group bookings: Again, always welcome; if you’d like a private group tour, get in touch for details.
- Single rooms: Limited availability with a single supplement. Please confirm single room availability with us before booking your trip!
- Tour Transport: Luxury Private Coach including luggage transfers between accommodations.
- Meeting/Dropoff Point: The Park House Hotel, Galway.
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all included.
(*All dietary requirements catered for, please advise in advance). - Pricing: From €3,550 per person sharing.
(*Price does not include flights or compulsory travel Insurance).
The tasty little Extras
- Airport transfers: Private transfers can be arranged. Public coach services operate regularly from Dublin/Shannon.
- Single supplement: From €79 per night. Limited single rooms are available and must be confirmed before booking.
7-Day Standard Tour Itinerary
Getting here…
You’ll need to arrive in Galway before 1 pm (local time) on Day 1 of your tour. But, with 7 exhilarating action-packed days ahead of you, we highly recommend that you stay one night in Galway City before Day 1 of your tour, to help you get over any jetlag issues, so you arrive rested, relaxed, and raring to go.
Day 1 – From Galway City to Curra Farm, with the moon reflecting on the lake ‘neath the stars
Picking up from The Park House Hotel in Galway City at 1pm, we’ll travel onwards to Moycullen, a village at the mouth of Connemara, before arriving at Curra Farm, our homestead and your home from home, for the next 7 nights! Before your riding adventure begins, you’ll have an opportunity to settle in, relax in your room, or take a walk around the farm to meet our herd of Connemara ponies, which we breed right here on the farm. Once you’ve settled in and enjoyed a wholesome, home-cooked Irish lunch, it’s time for a talk to familiarise you with both our tack and the English style of riding before being paired up with the Connemara Pony that will be your buddy for the duration of your trip. After an initial assessment in the outdoor arena, you’ll be all set to enjoy a short trail ride around the farm while our chef cooks a traditional Irish meal in the comfort of your home away from home. After dinner, relax on our boat-shaped deck with a glass of bubbly, taking in the blissful sound of silence before your first night of country air deep sleep.
Day 2 – From Curra Farmhouse to the meandering forest trails, an afternoon of adventure at wildlands with dinner at the olive tree kitchen
Today our ride takes us on a quiet country road from the farmhouse at Curra, to a local forest that can only be described as a scene from a Harry Potter movie. As we weave our way through the narrow passages through the trees, we pass through the remains of a famine village deserted in the late 1800s. Continuing to a sand track, we have an opportunity to up the pace for a while to feel the fresh Connemara breeze blowing in your hair. We will pass the remains of Moycullen Castle and learn a little bit about the local history and culture, before returning to the enchanting woods where we’ll stop for a picnic. After returning to the farm and grooming the ponies down after the long ride, you will have a chance have lunch, relax, unwind, shower and change, before we start on our afternoon activities. Join Cáit on the Cáit Coach for a visit to Wildlands, a local outdoor and indoor activity centre. Choose from the challenging Zip N’Trek or the Celtic Challenge Rooms before dining at the wonderful Olive Tree Kitchen award winning restaurant.
Day 3 –The art of dressage, winding forest trails, and breathtaking views of Lough Corrib
Now that your pony/rider relationship has developed, today you’ll have a chance to improve your English riding skills in the arena, under the guidance of one of our expert instructors. We’ll get to practice our dressage skills and the grand finale will be our musical group ride. You’ll get to choose the music and you’ll be amazed at how synchronized the ride will look when we play it back later on the TV! Alternatively, we truck the horses to another local forest for another forest trail with lots of winding and hilly paths; the perfect place to test your balance and the trust you and your equine partner have in each other. After lunch at St. Brigit’s Garden, you’ll enjoy a tour and some time to relax in the cleverly landscaped representation of the ‘Four Celtic Seasons of the Year’. This evening, we’ll get the BBQ going and enjoy a relaxing evening on the boat-shaped deck in our garden area, surrounded by the wonderful views of Lough Corrib. Finally, our favorite equine artist will offer an optional sip-and-paint class after dinner, where you’ll get to create your very own Connemara Scene on canvas; your very own hand-made souvenir to remind you of Connemara.
Day 4 – Glengowna Mines, the Twelve Bens, and design your very own Blacksmith art
Today we pack our bags, horses, and tack, and make the onward transfer to our second accommodation, the wonderful Clifden Station House Hotel. En route, we’ll visit the hidden treasure of Glengowla Silver Mines, where we descend over 120ft into the mine shaft to witness the hardship of the mining industry that many locals endured centuries ago. The owner, Keith, will take you on a tour of the onsite “Klondike” film set before he gives us a fascinating working sheepdog and turf-cutting demonstration. From here, we’ll stop at Peacocke’s Hotel, situated right at the central crossroads of Connemara, for some lunch and a visit to the gift shop. Each October, a street fair is held here, giving Connemara natives the last chance, before the long winter sets in, to sell their livestock: ponies, donkeys, chickens, ducks, geese, goats, you name it, it’s there! Next, we’ll travel on through the spectacular scenery between the Twelve Bens and Maamturk mountain ranges, before checking in at the Clifden Station House Hotel. We’ll pay a visit to the old-style Blacksmith’s Forge in Lettermullen, on the south coast of Connemara, where our master farrier will give us a taste of times gone by, as he keeps the traditional craft of the blacksmith alive. We’ll even get to try it out for ourselves and create our own piece of blacksmith art to take home. As we travel back to our hotel, you’ll get to savour the spectacular evening Connemara views and soak up the breathe in the wild Atlantic sea air; what better way to work up your appetite for a beautiful evening meal?
Day 5 – Delicious Connemara oysters, the Connemara National Park, and the wonders of Kylemore.
After being spoilt by choice with the extensive “cooked to order” breakfast menu, remember to leave a little room for some Wild Atlantic Way Oysters which you’ll get to savour during our tour at the Connemara Oyster Farm. If oysters aren’t your thing, don’t worry, the tour itself is fascinating, and we’ll learn all about the difficult process involved in growing an oyster from seed to market. We travel on through the Quaker village of Letterfrack, the home of Connemara National Park, to the grounds of the wonderful Kylemore Abbey. We normally allow 3-hours for this tour, taking in the spectacular Abbey itself, the spectacular Gothic Church (modeled on some of Europe’s biggest cathedrals), and the spectacular Walled Gardens. Our trail ride today takes us all around the magnificent Renvyle Peninsula, where we soak up the scenery in the company of our local historian friend who allows us to envisage the life and traditions of the generations gone before us. Later, back at the hotel, take a dip in the ocean, relax at the indoor heated swimming pool, or spoil yourself with a blissful spa treatment at the hotel spa, before joining us for dinner.
Day 6 – The beauty of Clifden, Omey Island, and the taste of local seafood
Today we’ll load up the horses for our trip through Clifden town, where you’ll have an opportunity to stroll around the town, pay a visit to the Connemara Pony Museum, and drop into some of the local Gift shops and Art Galleries, before enjoying another beautiful ride at the wonderful Omey Island, a tidal island situated near Claddaghduff, right along the western edge of Connemara. From the mainland, the island is inconspicuous and almost hidden but at low tide, it’s possible to ride, drive, or walk across the large sandy strand to the island, following the arrowed signs. Again, you’ll get to choose the pace of this ride and if you’re feeling brave enough, you can even swim with your horse, before stopping at the local pub to enjoy spectacular views of the island and enjoy a delicious bowl of chowder, or some freshly caught crab claws. Dinner on our final evening will be served at the hotel.
Day 7 – Time to bid our fond farewells
After a hearty breakfast and 7 awe-inspiring days of activity, it’s time to say goodbye to the ponies and horses and Curra Farm, your home for the past 7 days, as you board your private coach from the Station House Hotel back to The Park House Hotel in Galway City for your onward journey.
Client Reviews
Mary Beth Ruby
Erica Dicterow
