• Ross Castle - The initial stop for the bus is the renowned Ross Castle. Passengers will disembark here to explore the castle’s exterior and its surroundings. Boats will leave at 10:30 am, so a guided tour of the Castle will not be available before departure. The boats depart from the stone pier on the lakeside of Ross Castle. Please check in with Rory at the pier.
• Innisfallen Island - The first stop on the boat tour is the 7th-century monastic settlement on Innisfallen Island. Passengers will have 15 minutes to explore the area. The boat driver will share the history of the local area as part of the tour, providing context to this tranquil setting.
• Lough Leane - Lough Leane is the largest of the two lakes the boats will travel on. The boats will head towards the shore of Tomies Mountain, where our resident White Tailed Eagles have been nesting for the past 18 years since their reintroduction.
• Brickeen Bridge - As the boats exit Lough Leane, they will pass under the Gothic-inspired Brickeen Bridge. This bridge serves as the gateway into Muckross Lake.
• Meeting of the Waters - The boat tour concludes at Dinis Cottage and the Meeting of the Waters. Dinis Cottage is an early 19th-century hunting lodge that is now a delightful café in the heart of the National Park.

After exploring the area and enjoying a coffee, the next activity is a walk to Muckross House. The walk is 5 km and will take approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. The road is fully paved, so no special footwear is needed. The walk is relatively flat and is closed to vehicles.

• Muckross House, Gardens & Traditional Farms - At the end of the walk is Muckross House and Gardens. There are numerous departures of the Big Red Bus, which will meet passengers in the main car park next to the public toilets. Departure times are as follows: 1:02 pm, 2:02 pm, 3:02 pm, 4:40 pm, 5:30 pm. This allows passengers plenty of time to explore the area, take a tour of the House, or enjoy lunch in the charming Garden Restaurant.

• Bus and Boat transport

• Lunch
• The tours of either Ross Castle or Muckross House are not included in the tour price.

The Park Explorer Tour is the exclusive half-day tour of Killarney National Park. It offers a wonderful opportunity for families or those with limited time to explore parts of the Park they might otherwise miss.

The tour consists of three components: a bus tour, a boat tour, and a 5km walk through the National Park. Participants will visit the monastic ruins on Innisfallen Island, enjoy the charming café at Dinis Cottage, and have the chance to spot Europe’s largest bird of prey, the White Tailed Eagle.

The walk through the National Park takes place on a road closed to motor traffic, offering scenic lake views on both sides. The path is a sealed, flat road, and there’s no need to hurry as the bus departs from Muckross House at various times.

After the walk, visitors can explore Muckross House and Gardens, enjoy a meal at the delightful restaurant, and then take the bus back to Killarney (a 15-minute journey). Departure times are: 1:02 pm, 2:02 pm, 3:02 pm, 4:40 pm, and 5:30 pm.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.