Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way
At a Glance
Windswept Shores, Celtic Legends & Living Traditions
An Authentic Deep Dive into Western Ireland
Ireland is a country of myths and legends, of dancing and pub singing, of saucy women and scrumptiously dense bread, of islands that take you back in time and rolling green hills populated by sheep—and maybe elves?
To learn more about this trip, join us for a live trip preview Tuesday October 21st, at 6:30ET. RSVP here.
The best place to view these magical elements of the Emerald Island is the stunningly rugged Western Coast, along the Wild Atlantic Way. We will take you from the artistic town of Galway to the Cliffs of Moher and the Aran Islands to the lovely quaint town of Kenmare—that serves as a hub for culture and art in County Kerry.
We have easy, interest-free payment options.
We’ve specially curated this 9-day trip with a local writer and guide and based on feedback from two previous trips along this coastline. We are sure this well-calibrated itinerary offers you the best chance to embrace the history and traditions of this enchanted land.
Please note that this is a sample itinerary. Accommodations and activities may change but we will always replace them with something of equal or better value.
5 Reasons We Love This Trip
- Breathtaking coastal drama – Stand atop the Cliffs of Moher in morning light, when crowds are sparse and the Atlantic stretches endlessly before you.
- Step into living history – Explore the Aran Islands where The Banshees of Inisherin was filmed and wander Adare Village’s thatched-cottage streets frozen in time.
- Authentic local experiences – Learn whiskey tasting from Ireland’s most entertaining female pub owner, bake traditional scones in a local kitchen, and master Riverdance steps from a former performer.
- Ancient mysteries revealed – Uncover Celtic mythology in Galway, examine Neolithic monuments in the Burren, and hear local folklore while hiking the remote Beara Peninsula.
- The Irish spirit in full voice – From pub sessions to storytelling, experience the music and craic (good times) that define Irish culture.
About Your Guides: Joy Mills and Maria O'Loughlin
Joy Mills
A recent transplant to Austin, Joy is an avid traveler and hiker. Some of her favorite hikes include completing the Camino de Santiago Norte, Camino Portuguese and Camino Inca in addition to summiting Kilimanjaro, trekking to Everest Base Camp and the Jomolhari Trek in Bhutan. Joy is a retired elementary teacher and splits her time between her four grandchildren and experiencing all the places she used to just teach about. Her top bucket list item was not a journey but an opportunity: to sing along in an Irish Pub. Joy ticked that box while getting in touch with her roots on the inaugural NextTribe Wild Atlantic Way Tour.
Maria O’Loughlin
When she’s not swimming in the sea, hugging trees or guiding hikes, Maria is a screenwriter who specializes in animation – mostly working for Disney, Nickelodeon and BBC. A graduate of Trinity College in Dublin, she followed her degree in English & Psychology with a Masters in Cultural Theory before heading to L.A. to do the screenwriting program at the University of Southern California. She’s done every job imaginable, from psychiatric support worker to documentary director, and she’s lived all over the world, from Los Angeles and London to Paris and Barcelona. However, Ireland never stopped calling her home – and now there’s nowhere else she’d rather be. She loves the quiet mystery of the landscape, our bold Goddesses, and knowing that if you throw a rock around here, you’ll probably hit a Bronze Age Monument, Holy Well or Sacred Stone Circle. There is deep magic here and it’s her privilege to share it with you as a qualified Hiking Guide and Approved National Tour Guide of Ireland.
Photos
Map
Sample Itinerary
Itinerary Overview
To view the full itinerary and download a brochure, CLICK HERE.
Day 1: Galway’s Celtic Gateway
Day 2: Scones and Riverdance
Day 3: The Burren’s Ancient Landscape
Day 4: Aran Islands & the Whiskey Woman
Day 5: Cliff of Moher & Coastal Foraging
Day 6: Stones Circles & Fairy Trees
Day 7: Beara Peninsula Adventure
Day 8: Sheepdog Heaven
Day 9: Irish Goodbye
Logistics
You can fly into Shannon (SNN) Airport in Clare County Ireland.
Please arrive by 10:00 AM.
If you arrive in Shannon, there will be an 11 am shuttle from Shannon airport to Galway. Otherwise you have to arrange your own transportation.
If you are already in Ireland before the start of the trip, you can take a train to Galway and meet us at the hotel. If you want to stay later in Ireland after the trip is over, we can drop you at the train station in Kilarney to make your way to other parts of Ireland.
We require all international travelers to purchase travel insurance. We strongly recommend trip protection insurance to protect your investment.
You will be receiving periodic communications from us leading up to departure with other important details included. If you have any questions, you can contact our travel manager, Marcy, at travel@nexttribe.com
What's Included
- 8 Nights Hotel Lodging.
- 7 Dinners
- 5 Lunches
- 8 Breakfasts
- Ground Transportation
- All activities mentioned in the itinerary.
- One group pIck up and return to Shannon Airport. Must be according to the group schedule.
What's Not Included
- Alcohol (unless specifically mentioned in itinerary activity or purchased as an add-on)
- Roundtrip Airfare
- Travel Insurance
Gratuities to local guides, drivers, maids and hotel staff, travel insurance, round trip airfare, passport and visa fees, personal items such as phone calls, laundry, baggage fees and items not expressly listed as included.
Additional Add-Ons
Hotels
Our travelers love us (yay!)
Colleen M., California
What I love about the NextTribe trips is that there is so much camaraderie of other women that are like you, and then the fabulous things that the organizers puts together to give you that viewpoint, it’s awesome.
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Courtney M., Texas
What I love about NextTribe trips is that you get the experience from an insider’s perspective—someone that has ties to the community and focused on building relationships from the start. I’ve been on a trip with another women’s travel group that dropped a guide in, not personally knowing anything about the locale, traditions, or culture. She was there to make sure you showed up on time, got on the bus, etc. With NextTribe, you feel like you’re having a personalized experience with your best girlfriends.
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Donna B., Washington
I didn't know anyone going on the trip but that didn't stop me from signing up. I have learned that some of my life's greatest adventures have come from taking a risk and jumping in feet first. So glad I did with NextTribe! I may not have known anybody at the start, but now I feel like I know everybody.
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Connie B., Pennsylvania
I love to meet and interact with strong, mature women from across the country as we learn together.
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Leslie M., Georgia
I always come by myself on NextTribe trips because I like to meet super fun and interesting women. We're always doing fun and interesting things in great cities that you couldn't do on your own because you wouldn't know the people or places or the insiders.
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Teresa S., Kentucky
NextTribe fills the need I have to travel with older interesting women who are curious about the world and want to share the journey.
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Travel Insurance – Do You Need it?
Short Answer: Yes, we require trip protection insurance for all international trips. For domestic trips, we strongly suggest it. Protect your investment if things go wrong.
Frequently asked questions
What’s different about your trips?
We curate trips specifically for curious, engaged women over 45. You’re pretty well assured that your fellow travelers will be a lot like you–since you’ve all responded to the idea of “aging boldly.”. That means built-in compatibility in your small group, including the woman who is leading the adventure.. In addition to specializing in group travel for people who don’t normally like group travel, we also pride ourselves on creating experiences that allow you to interact with local women or get deeper into the culture than you would if you planned the trip yourself.
Where do you go?
We have a wide range of weekend jaunts here in the U.S. for those who want a quick getaway. We also love taking women to Mexico, where founder Jeannie Ralston used to live. We’re always talking about pushing boundaries, and we’re doing that in the geographic sense too. For those with more time, we offer trips all over Europe, to India, Vietnam, Peru (for a hike on the inca Trail to Machu Picchu). Soon, our travelers will be getting passport stamps in even more countries on six continents. Be saving those frequent flier miles!
What do you mean by transformational travel?
NextTribe is affiliated with the Transformational Travel Council, an international group of travel professionals dedicated to making the world a better place, one trip and one traveler at a time. We recognize that travelers, especially post-pandemic, are looking for more than just a date and a destination. They can shop for that anywhere online. Our community honors the intention behind a traveler’s investment in a trip. Our travelers want to have fun (we do too!) and to travel with a sense of purpose and belonging. That’s why we go to great lengths to provide ways for women to self-select by reading the articles in our magazine and the content of our website. If you like what you see, you’re likely to be a NextTribe traveler, and we look forward to seeing you on a trip soon!
What if I travel solo?
If you really prefer to book your travel yourself and go it alone, we applaud you. That’s brave and bold and we would never try to talk you out of it. But our trips are designed so that even a woman who’s used to traveling alone, or someone shy about meeting new people, will feel comfortable in our group. Our trip leaders are there to “read the room” and make sure everyone feels included and respected.
What if I don’t like group travel?
We don’t either! Not the way most groups do it. If you feel like doing what the group is doing, great! Join us for dinner or just some of the activities. All the benefits of solo travel and the comfort of being with a group. Our groups are small (normally around 12 to 14 women) and in most situations, you are free to opt out of an activity. We figure you’re grown-ass women who know what’s best for you.
What’s the price range of your trips?
We are committed to providing what we call “affordable-luxury” travel. Don’t expect
the Four Seasons, but who wants to stay in a gilded bubble anyhow? We always look for good value and offer wonderful hotels and memorable experiences that won’t break the bank and will get you closer to how locals live. Our prices depend on the length of the
trip and the destination. We offer domestic trips for under $2,000 for a shared room, which we encourage. If you don’t have a roommate we will match you with someone. Sometimes this has resulted in lasting friendships with new travel buddies., Some of
our longer trips–two weeks in India or Vietnam, for example–will cost between
$4,800 and $6,000.
What’s included in the price?
Our trips cover most everything you’ll need to dive into a destination. Hotels and most meals, plus special experiences such as hands-on classes and sessions with local artists, writers or entrepreneurs are almost always included, but each trip is different so please be sure to read The Experience and the itinerary. We occasionally have an add-on for an extra price, but those are clearly designated. What’s not covered as a rule are airfare, alcohol and tips.
Do you have payment plans?
We sure do. It’s easy to pay for our trips by setting up automatic credit card charges at regular intervals, interest free. Think of it as the layaway plan to feed your soul.
How do I get trip discounts?
Our NextTribe members get a discount on every trip. Plus, members are the first to hear about new trips and receive upgrades on rooms if they’re available. Check out our three different membership levels here.
What’s the average age of women on the trips?
We welcome all women over 45, but most of our travelers are in the 50 to 65 age range. More important than age is the spirit of the traveler–her curiosity about the world, and her eagerness to embrace new opportunities. We’ve found women of any age with those qualities fit in well with our groups.
What’s the activity level of the trips?
Most of our trips are geared for active travelers who like to walk–a rating of 3 on our 1-5 rating scale. Here are some examples of how we rate. A designation of 1 would be our beach trips, where it’s up to you if you’d like to stroll down the beach, or play in the waves or walk around the small town. Trips where we have dedicated transportation for much of the time (such as India) are a 2; Paris is a 3 because we believe the best way to appreciate a city is to view it on foot. San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, is a 4, because you’ll be walking up some hills (at 6,000 feet altitude) and occasionally on cobblestone sidewalks. Our Inca trail trip is a 5, as are our more adventurous outdoor trips.
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