Bike and Sail Northern Ireland

Day 1 (Sunday): Embarkation in Bangor
Day 2 (Monday): Bangor - Glenarm - Cushendall (6-14 miles/9-21 km)
Day 3 (Tuesday): Cushendall - Cushendun - Rathlin Island - Ballycastle (14 + 6 miles/23 + 9 km)
Day 4 (Wednesday): Ballycastle - Londonderry (Sailing Day)
Day 5 (Thursday): Londonderry - Greencastle (Round-Trip) (42 miles/66 km)
Day 6 (Friday): Portstewart - Ballycastle (30 miles/48 km)
Day 7 (Saturday): Ballycastle - Cushendun - Bangor (14 miles/22 km)
Day 8 (Sunday): Disembarkation in Bangor

Our local agent reserves the right to make changes to the planned itinerary due to changing wind and weather conditions as well as organizational requirements.

Day 1 (Sunday): Embarkation in Bangor
Arrival to Belfast is organised individually, followed by a taxi ride to the boat in Bangor. An early arrival will give you time to visit the lively harbor town. The first evening meal will give you the opportunity to get to know your travel group and guides, who will accompany you for the duration of the week. Meals included: Dinner

Day 2 (Monday): Bangor - Glenarm - Cushendall (6-14 miles/9-21 km) (130 + 660 ft/ 40 + 200 m of elevation)
After breakfast we will take a guided tour around multifaceted Bangor on our bikes. Afterwards we leave the harbour of Bangor on board the Thalassa. The first crossing by boat will bring us to Glenarm, the oldest town in the region. We have the opportunity to cycle along one of the most scenic coastal stretches in Northern Ireland on our way to Cushendall, where we spend the night on anchor. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3 (Tuesday): Cushendall - Cushendun - Rathlin Island - Ballycastle (Morning: 5 miles/8 km; Afternoon: 9 + 6 miles/15 + 9 km) (860 + 230 ft/260 + 70 m of elevation)In the morning a short first bike ride leads us from Cushendall to the nearby little coastal town of Cushendun. Here, we will pass by a cave, which was once a filming spot in the popular series Game of Thrones. After a coffee break we board the boat and take a majestic crossing to the nearby nature reserve, Rathlin Island. The small, rugged island is well known for its picturesque coastal landscapes as well as it’s extraordinary birdlife in the Kebble Cliffs National Nature Reserve on the western point of the island; our first stop on today’s island cycle tour. Thousands of brooding birds of all varieties settle here, amongst them the guillmots, kittiwakes, razorbills and puffins. Those who wish can also explore the southern point of the island by bike, inhabited by hundreds of seals. We cross over to the mainland and enjoy the evening in one of the cosy pubs of Ballycastle. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 4 (Wednesday): Ballycastle - Londonderry (Sailing Day)
Today we enjoy a day sailing on the Thalassa. Enthusiasts can seize their chance to hoist the sails, and tie the knots, whilst those looking to relax can find a quite space to read a book or gaze dreamily over the horizon. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5 (Thursday): Londonderry - Greencastle (Round-Trip) (42 miles/66 km) (3,000 ft/900 m of elevation)
On today’s cycle tour we will leave Northern Ireland behind and will explore a small part of Donegal County. Numerous migratory and endemic bird species share this peninsula as a place of refuge and living space. Enjoy a marvelous 360° degree view from an old fortress, where you can look until Derry on one side and far up to Ireland and Northern Ireland on the other one. Back in Derry we go for a stroll on the well-maintaned city wall of the old town and visit some of the most important places of the long-lasting conflict in Northern Ireland. After an eventful day we board the Thalassa for a crossing to Greencastle. With a bit of luck we will have the chance to witness members of the local seal colony as they poke their heads out from under the water close to Greencastle. Meals included: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner

Day 6 (Friday): Portstewart - Ballycastle (30 miles/48 km) (1,350 ft/400 m of elevation)
Crossing to Portstewart, where we start our bike tour to Ballycastle. A couple of great highlights await us on today’s tour. A visit to the Bushmills distillery, Ireland’s oldest licensed distillery, gives us the chance to taste the famous whiskey produced here, as well as an education of the various whiskey types of Northern Island. After our visit we immerse ourselves in Irish mythology on a stroll to the ‘’Gi-ant's Causeway’’, following in the footsteps of the giant, Fionn Mac-Cumhaill. This UNSECO World Heritage site features 37,000 fascinating basalt columns thought to have been formed by lava flows more than 60 million years ago. Our cycling tour continues along rolling hills all the way to Ballycastle, where the Thalassa is already waiting. Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 7 (Saturday): Ballycastle - Cushendun - Bangor (14 miles/22 km) (1,350 ft/400 m of elevation)
Today we take part on our last bike tour along the Torr Head Scenic Road which offers incredible views along the way. Once more we find ourselves in Cushendun, the small holiday destination. A short stroll leads us past impressive caves and looming cliffs, along small coastal walkways to an idyllic sandy beach. Afterwards we board the Thalassa which takes us back to Bangor, where we spend a celebrative last evening meal on board together with guests, crew and guides. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8 (Sunday): Disembarkation in Bangor
After breakfast disembarkation and individual trip home or extended stay. Meals included: Breakfast

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On board the standard plus class sailing vessel, the Thalassa.