The Burren Express Cycling Tour | Green Marble Tours

The Burren Express

A short self-guided Ireland cycling tour through The Burren

The rocky Burren is a national park and one of the most unique landscape types in the world where there is much to discover for people of all ages. The karst limestone bedrock, blanketing the countryside, is full of rare flora and fauna. The land is criss-crossed with an ancient network of roads and small laneways making it an ideal place to explore by bike.

The tour includes cycling through the limestone landscape of the Burren and continues on to the Cliffs of Moher.

The Burren has been inhabited by humans for millennia with some historic sites, such as Poulnabrone Dolmen dated to 2,500BC. The area is dotted with hundreds of archaeological sites of interest spanning the Bronze, Iron, Early Christian, Viking and medieval ages. This cycling tour takes you to small traditional Irish villages full of culture and tradition. The village of Doolin is a stronghold for traditional Irish music. In the long summer evenings, the pubs come alive with nightly music and storytelling.

Starting Dates

April – October

Tour Itinerary

DAY 1 - Arrival: Galway, Cycle: Kinvara - Ballyvaughan

38km (24mls) Gradient +416m/-409m

Arrive in Galway and we will meet you at our bike shop for a personal introduction to your bicycles and the days ahead. We will drive you to Kinvara, a colourful village situated on Galway Bay, where the cycling begins. Today’s route leads you from the charming seaside village of Kinvara into the heart of the Burren, a striking limestone landscape rich in natural beauty and ancient history. You will cycle past the renowned Burren Perfumery, visit the iconic Poulnabrone Dolmen, and explore the impressive Caherconnell Stone Fort. The day concludes with a scenic descent into the lively harbour village of Ballyvaughan, where you’ll spend the night.

DAY 2 - Ballyvaughan - Doolin

30km (18mls) Gradient +269m/-278m - longer option available

One of the highlights of the trip, today you will cycle the coast road via Fanore beach. The journey offers awesome views of the Galway bay and the rugged rocky Atlantic coast. The ride via Blackhead lighthouse in particular will live long in your memory. You will stay the next 2 nights in Doolin, renowned across Ireland for traditional Irish music and many musicians from all over Ireland visit to play in the local pubs.

DAY 3 - Doolin (Cliffs of Moher)

15km (10mls) Gradient +236m/-233m - longer option available

Today you can visit the Unesco World heritage site that is the Cliffs of Moher, a magnificent natural feature spanning 14km of the Irish coast. The cliffs rise to over 700 feet above the Atlantic and there is a cliff side path that can be walked to enjoy the vista. The cliffs get their name from the word Mothar, which means ruined fort in ancient gaelic and there are a number of historic forts located along the cliff path.

DAY 4 - Doolin - Galway

DAY 4 - Depart - Doolin

Breakfast and departure for your onward journey - you can catch a bus to Galway or Ennis

Tour Details

Included

Accommodation & Meals

3 nights ensuite guesthouses/B&Bs/hotels inclusive of 3 breakfasts

The accommodations included on your tour may be small hotels, guesthouses or B&Bs. They are clean, comfortable, family run businesses that we have been using for many years. They are all very highly rated and are well set up to cater for cycling holiday guests.

Each room will have its own private bathroom and shower. Breakfast is included in the package. Sometimes the small hotels will have a small restaurant and bar too. All the venues are located in the centre, or very close to the centre of a small village or town with local bars, cafes and restaurants all within easy walking distance.

In some locations, accommodation can be upgraded to 4/5 star on request.

Meet & greet

Meet and greet with one of our local experienced guides on day 1 for bike fitting and tour briefing

Bicycles & Equipment

Trek FX2 Hybrid Touring Bike – Included in tour price

The FX2 is strong, stable, fun and perfectly suited for Irish roads. Customised for our tours with puncture resistant tyres, mudguards and rear rack. Also available with ladies specific frame.

Includes: Helmet, bike lock, pannier, repair kit.

Upgrade Option 1: Trek Checkpoint Gravel Bikes + €90

For riders seeking performance, versatility, and comfort on mixed terrain, the Trek Checkpoint is a superb upgrade. This lightweight gravel bike features drop handlebars, wider tires for extra stability, and a responsive frame ideal for Ireland’s quiet country roads and occasional gravel paths. It's perfect for guests who want a faster, sportier ride without sacrificing comfort on longer days in the saddle

Upgrade Option 2: Trek AL3 Road Bike + €90

The Trek AL3 is a sleek, lightweight aluminum road bike designed for speed and efficiency on paved roads. With drop handlebars and a smooth-shifting Shimano drivetrain, it's ideal for cyclists who prefer a more aerodynamic riding position and want to cover longer distances with ease. A great choice for guests seeking a faster, road-focused experience while exploring the west of Ireland.

Upgrade Option 3: Trek Electric Bikes + €160

We use the best quality E-bikes on the market. These bikes are pedal assist meaning they travel a lot further when you push the pedal compared to a regular bike.

Comfortable, strong and stable bikes combined with a quiet, powerful Bosch motor and a fully integrated high-capacity battery ensure many miles of care-free cycling. On a full charge they are good for 80km+.

Luggage Transfers

We provide you with our luggage tags at the beginning of the tour and we transfer the bags from accommodation to accommodation each day. Guests usually bring 1 or 2 bags per person.

Roadside Assistance

Local support & roadside assistance in the unlikely event of a breakdown

Tour pack

Detailed daily route notes, maps, gpx files & local countryside info booklet Recommendations for the best places to visit, eat and drink along the way

Arrival Location

Galway – there are regular busses from Dublin, Shannon and Ireland West Airports and trains from Dublin City

Departure Location

Doolin from where there are regular buses to Ennis or back to Galway. From Ennis there are trains to Dublin

Tour Accommodations

This self-guided cycling tour is designed to stay in comfortable, friendly, wonderful guesthouses and small hotels such as underneath. Accommodations could be upgraded if you prefer.

Fallons B&B

This comfortable, family-run B&B is centrally located on Kinvara's main street, just a short walk from the harbour, Dunguaire Castle, and local pubs featuring live traditional music. The hosts are known for their warm hospitality and local knowledge.

Churchfield B&B

A charming, family-run guesthouse located in the heart of Doolin, it's just a short walk from renowned pubs like McDermott’s and McGann’s, where traditional Irish music is played nightly. The B&B features bright, comfortable rooms equipped with en-suite bathrooms, tea and coffee facilities, and electric blankets for cooler nights . Guests can relax in the spacious sitting room, which offers views of the countryside and distant Cliffs of Moher.