The Ring of Kerry is one of the world's great scenic drives - a 179-kilometre circuit of the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry, taking in mountain passes, Atlantic coves, stone villages, and views that appear on postcards and bucket lists in equal measure. Shannon Transfers operates private Ring of Kerry tours departing from Killarney or directly from Shannon Airport. You travel in a private Mercedes V-Class with a driver who knows every stop worth making - and the freedom to linger where you want rather than being hurried back onto a coach.
What's Included
Ring of Kerry: The Route
The Ring of Kerry circuit starts and ends in Killarney and runs counter-clockwise around the Iveragh Peninsula. Key stops on the route include:
- Killarney National Park: the natural starting point, with three lakes, Ross Castle, and the Gap of Dunloe nearby
- Ladies View: a famous viewpoint above the Upper Lake, named for Queen Victoria's ladies-in-waiting who admired it in 1861
- Sneem: a colourful village on the Kenmare River estuary, excellent for a coffee stop
- Waterville: a small town on the Atlantic coast, famous for Charlie Chaplin's connection and one of Ireland's finest golf links
- Cahersiveen: birthplace of Daniel O'Connell; the ruins of Ballycarbery Castle and two ancient stone forts are nearby
- Portmagee and the Skellig Ring: a quieter alternative route with views toward the Skellig Islands
- Kenmare: an elegant market town at the southern end of the ring, worth a longer stop for lunch
Your driver will suggest the best order and timing based on conditions and your group's preferences. No two tours run exactly the same way.
Departing from Shannon Airport?
The Ring of Kerry is approximately 1 hour 45 minutes from Shannon Airport via Limerick and into County Kerry. The most practical approach is to arrange a Shannon Airport to Killarney transfer on arrival day, spend the night in Killarney, and do the Ring of Kerry tour the following morning. Shannon Transfers can arrange both - the transfer and the tour - with a single booking.
Private Tour vs. Bus Tour: What's the Difference?
The Ring of Kerry is one of the most coach-heavy routes in Ireland during summer. A private tour is a fundamentally different experience:
- No fixed departure time: we work around your schedule and your hotel
- No designated stops: you decide where to linger, where to rush, and where to turn off the main road entirely
- No strangers: your vehicle is exclusively for your group
- Local knowledge: your driver has done this route hundreds of times and knows the stops the tour buses skip
- No rushing back for the coach: your day ends when you are ready
For families, couples, or small groups visiting Kerry for the first time, the difference in experience is significant.
Tour Overview
Tour Details & Pricing
- Departure: Killarney hotel or Shannon Airport
- Duration: Full day - typically 8 to 9 hours for the full circuit
- Vehicle: Private Mercedes V-Class - up to 6 passengers
- Pricing: From EUR 650 per vehicle from Killarney; from EUR 650 from Shannon Airport
- What's included: Driver/guide throughout, all transfers, flexible routing
- What's not included: Killarney National Park jaunting car (optional), meals, any entry fees
Frequently Asked Questions
A full Ring of Kerry circuit takes approximately 7 to 9 hours including stops. The drive alone is 3.5 hours without stopping. We recommend a full day to do it properly.
For most visitors, private is significantly better - especially on a once-in-a-trip visit. A private tour means no fixed stops, no crowds, no rushing, and a driver who can take you off the main route to the viewpoints and villages that bus tours bypass. The price difference for a group of 3 or more is usually modest.
It is possible but very long - approximately 7 hours of travel and touring from Shannon. We recommend travelling to Killarney on arrival day and doing the Ring of Kerry tour the following morning. Shannon Transfers can arrange both.
May to September offers the best weather and longest days. July and August are busiest - but a private tour insulates you from coach congestion. October is quiet, often beautiful, and the autumn colours on the mountains are exceptional.
Not comfortably in a single day - both deserve a full day. If you have two days in Kerry, we recommend Ring of Kerry on day one and Dingle Peninsula on day two.
Book your private Ring of Kerry tour
Your vehicle, your pace, your driver. From Killarney or Shannon Airport. Fixed price, fully accompanied.