Glendalough, Powerscourt & the Wicklow Mountains
1 day tour

  • Glendalough Monastic Site
  • Powerscourt House
  • Glendalough
  • Glendalough

Take a break from the hustle and bustle of Dublin and discover the soul-quenching sights of Glendalough, Powerscourt, and the Wicklow Mountains.

Tour map

Tour Highlights

Places you explore


Glendalough - Discover a hidden-away abbey in a soul-stirringly beautiful valley.

Wicklow Mountains - These majestic mountains are as beautiful as they are historically fascinating.

Powerscourt House and Gardens - You’ll be green with envy at these gardens that were once voted the third best in the world by National Geographic Magazine.

Avoca Historic village - Over the years, this scenic village has hosted miners, inspired writers, and attracted film makers.

Sally Gap - Ireland's best-known mountain pass offers inspiring views over Wicklow Mountain National Park.

Lough Tay - They call this the Guinness Lake. It doesn’t taste like the black stuff, but the circular shape, dark peat water, and frothy white sand shoreline looks like it.

Enniskerry Village - This village is as cute as a bag of sleeping kittens. It was built for the people who worked at Powerscourt House.

 

Your journey


Dublin is a lively city.

You pace around practicing poetry, dart in and out of museums, and drink and dance until you think you can play the fiddle yourself.

But, after a while, you may want to escape the hustle and bustle to a more scenic and spiritual realm.

And this trip takes you to such a place in under an hour. It whisks you away to an oasis of heavenly beauty and geological wonders.

You get time to relax at a riverside monastic city in Glendalough. You’re treated to a saunter around the gorgeous gardens and marvellous mansion at Powerscourt. And you can peruse the local craft shops in the charming village of Avoca.

So, take this tour and contrast the song and dance of the city with the peace and beauty of Glendalough, Powerscourt, and the Wicklow Mountains.

 

Tour Details

Starts
Check-in closes at 23:45 (tour departs at ) - ,
Finishes (approx.)
- ,
Luggage
You're restricted to kg (0lbs) of luggage per person. This should be one piece of luggage similar to an airline carry-on bag (approximately 55cm x 45cm x 25cm / 22in x 17in x 10in) and a small bag for onboard personal items.
Discounts

Students, seniors over 60, and children between 5 and 15 (unfortunately, we don't carry children under 5 years old)

Important information
  • Pack your waterproof clothing and walking shoes
Tour inclusions
  • Transport in a 16 seat Mercedes mini-coach
  • Air conditioning as standard
  • The stories and services of an English-speaking driver-guide
Tour exclusions
  • Entry fees to visitor attractions
  • Tour accommodation

Itinerary

Heading south of Dublin, your first stop of the day is at the Powerscourt House and Gardens. You can wander through the manicured lawns, explore an ornate Japanese garden, and gaze into the rooms of a masterly mansion. It’s a house that rivals the finest manors in England.

From here, we journey south to Avoca village, a place made famous in song by Irish Poet, Thomas Moore. The rivers here were the source of power for mills that exported woven goods throughout Europe. Avoca is known for fine food and is a great spot for you to enjoy a bite to eat at a local café or shop for traditionally crafted goods.

Heading back into the Wicklow Mountains, your next stop is at the famous Glendalough. Here you have time take a pilgrimage up to the lovely lakes, praise the history at a visitor centre, and bask in the serenity of the monastic city ruins.

Next, you can grab a picture of Ireland’s ‘Guinness Lake’. But don’t expect a lake full of creamy beer. It’s a scenic lake on the land the Guinness family own that looks a little like a pint.

On the way a back to Dublin, you stop at Sally Gap for a beautiful view, and take in the quaint and cute village of Enniskerry.


Weather in Ireland is unpredictable. When there’s snow, ice, and fog, we occasionally avoid the route via Sally Gap and Lough Tay and give you extra time to enjoy Glendalough and Enniskerry.

FAQs

Do you offer hotel pickups in the departure cities?

The UK and Ireland's historic city centres are full of narrow streets and winding roads. So, to speed up your departure, we only pick up from our central meeting points. What's more is leaving the city using the most direct route also reduces the carbon footprint of our tours.

Is there parking close to the departure point?

We don't recommend bringing your car into the centre of our departure cities. It can be hard to find parking, and there are excellent public transportation services.

When should I get to the departure point?

Arrive 15 minutes before your departure time. Due to waiting restrictions, we can't wait for you if you're late.

What happens if I'm late or miss the tour?

If you're late for your tour, our cancellation policy applies. 100% charges are applicable, and you will not be entitled to a refund or alternative.

What are your cancellation policies?

We have a cancellation period of 48 hours for our one day tours, 15 days for two to nine day tours, and 21 days for 10+ day tours. If cancelled outside this period, we'll give you a full refund minus a 10% admin charge. If you cancel inside this period, refunds are at our discretion. Click here to view full terms and conditions.

Can Itineraries change?

Your tour will always follow the itinerary as closely as possible. Your driver-guide will keep you up to date on the road, and we'll try to get in touch about any large changes prior to your departure.

Can I pre-book a specific seat?

Due to logistical reasons, we're unable to let you pre-book a seat on the bus. But our comfortable 16-seat mini-coaches have huge windows. So, you'll always get a good view.

Are there toilets on the bus?

Unfortunately, we have no on-board toilet facilities, but you'll have regular comfort breaks.

How do you cater for people with accessibility needs?

We aim to accommodate everyone. To read more information on how we do this, click here to go to our accessibility guide.

Do you take children on your tours?

We regret we don't carry children under the age of five on our scheduled tours.

You can ask us about the tours we recommend for younger children. And if your child is less than 1.35m tall, you should let us know, so we can provide them with a suitable booster seat.

How much time do I get off the bus?

We want you to enjoy Britain and Ireland. And we believe the best way to do this is to get you off the mini-coach and out exploring. So, we give you plenty of time to take photos, go walking, and explore ancient ruins.

Why do you exclude visitor attractions?

We exclude visitor attractions in your tour price because it lets you travel your way. It means you can pamper yourself with a luxury lunch or skip an attraction whenever you feel like it.

Do we need to bring our own lunch?

You don't need to. We stop in small towns, villages, and rural eateries where you can choose whatever meal pleases both your taste buds and your budget.

Should I tip the driver-guide?

Let's be honest, our driver-guides would never refuse a cheeky bonus. But it's up to you, and the amount is entirely at your discretion.

What about travel insurance?

We advise you take out travel insurance.

What is ABTOT?

You're protected by ABTOT when you chose to let us reserve your accommodation on a multi-day tour. This means you can claim back anything you've paid us if we become bankrupt. Read our terms and conditions for more information.

I have more questions, who can help me?

If you have any more questions, call us on +44(0)131 226 3133, email tours@rabbies.com , or check out our full FAQs .