Accommodation
We are very particular when selecting the Iron Donkey tour accommodations, since these play a crucial role in the overall enjoyment and “feel” of a tour. Factors (besides location) taken into consideration when choosing accommodations include convenience, comfort and service, atmosphere, and “bicycle friendliness”. The owners/managers and staff are another hugely important element – possibly the most important element. We\work closely with them and can guarantee that you will receive the warmest of welcomes, and that you will find all the accommodation providers without exception to be friendly, helpful and considerate… more…

Attractions
Your tour itinerary will include information about the en-route visitor sites. Brief details of each tour’s attractions can be found with the tour’s description on the website – this information can be useful in helping you to choose between tour itineraries.

Bicycles (bringing your own)
Experienced cyclists may well want to bring your own bicycles. All the Iron Donkey routes are on paved roads, with occasional opportunities to go off-road if you wish - so touring bikes, hybrids, mountain bikes and expedition bikes are all well suited to the tours. High performance road bikes with narrow tires are not ideal, as some of the more remote roads can be rough in stretches. A basic computer with odometer and distance functions is a useful navigation aid.

The trailhead and destination locations have been chosen to make the process of bringing your bike as hassle-free as possible. We can give you specific advice relating to your chosen tour and your arrival point in the country.

As another option for those bringing their own bicycles, the Iron Donkey will (subject to availability) provide an airport transfer for you and your boxed bike to the trailhead to start your tour, and back to the airport from the destination town at the end of the tour. (Airport transfers are available for tours in Ireland only).

Bicycle rental
If you choose not to bring your own bicycle, you will find one of the Iron Donkey’s rental bikes to be an excellent alternative! We also have tandems available for rental on all of our Ireland itineraries ... more...

Children
There are no hard and fast rules about bringing children on an Iron Donkey tour – you are best placed to decide whether the tours would be suitable for your children. Each individual case needs to be taken on its own merits – and we ask that you contact us for advice before you make any firm decisions. Children under 8 are eligible for a price reduction.

Emergencies
Your tour itinerary will list useful telephone numbers for emergencies. We also provide a round the clock helpline service that you can call for advice and assistance in the event of a problem.

En route services
Route cue sheets list en-route services such as shops, toilets, picnic sites, pubs etc.

Entertainment
Your itinerary will give information about entertainment in the region – including the best pubs.

Extensions & Shortcuts
On many of the routes there are optional extensions and/or shortcuts that allow you to further adapt the day’s biking as you go along. These are shown on your Iron Donkey route maps.

Getting to and from the tour
You will find details with the individual tour descriptions. We will be happy to help you with any particular queries you may have about this in the lead up to your tour.

Linking tours
Every tour can be easily linked with at least one other so that you can have the option to extend your vacation.

Honeymooning
Over the years, many newly married couples have entrusted their honeymoon to the Iron Donkey in the past few years. As far as we know, they are all still together!

Insurance
Insurance is your own responsibility. You must ensure that you are covered for medical treatment. It is also a very good idea to take out trip cancellation insurance, in case illness or injury forces you to pull out of your trip.

Luggage and luggage transfers
Luggage transfers between accommodations are offered as an option on the Iron Donkey self-guided tours. Transfers (for which we generally use local taxi firms) are a relatively expensive component of self-guided tours, particularly for solos or couples. However, two-night stopovers, which are a feature of the Iron Donkey tours, reduce the number of transfers needed. As group numbers rise, luggage transfer costs per person fall.

The alternative to having your baggage moved between accommodations is to limit it to what you really need and to carry it with you in panniers on the bike (you will need to do this on linear route days only). If you have never biked with panniers, you will be very pleasantly surprised at how easy it is, and how quickly you forget about the additional weight. There is also a certain amount of satisfaction and a liberating sense of independence to be gained from packing your own gear. If you do choose this option, and have extra baggage that you do not need for the biking trip, we can arrange to move this from your trailhead (starting) town to your destination (finishing) town.

Meals & Refreshments
Breakfast is provided at your accommodation and is included in the price of your tour. Your itinerary will indicate good lunch stops – both indoor (pubs, restaurants etc.) and outdoor (picnic sites) – and list other en-route refreshment opportunities. For your evening meal there will be several suggested possibilities, ranging from cheap and cheerful pubs and cafes to more up market hotels and restaurants.

Navigation
Your itinerary will include Ordnance Survey maps and detailed Iron Donkey route maps and route cue sheets giving directions, distances between turns, en route services, etc.

Northern Ireland
Some of the Iron Donkey self-guided itineraries take place partially or wholly within Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland, besides having some of the best scenery in the whole country, is a very safe, welcoming part of the island of Ireland. Lonely Planet picked out Northern Ireland as a “must see” destination for 2007. Visitors to the region are invariably surprised and delighted by their experiences.

Northern Ireland, besides having some of the best scenery in the whole country, is a very safe, welcoming part of the island of Ireland. Such problems as still exist are confined to a few well-defined areas of Belfast – and these areas are well away from the city centre and the normal tourist attractions. Visitors to the city are invariably surprised and delighted by their experiences.

The lure of Northern Ireland for the adventurous cyclist is that it is still very under-developed in the tourism sense – making it particularly attractive for travelers looking for a more 'genuine' experience. If you are considering a tour that includes Northern Ireland and have any doubts, we will be happy to put you in contact with riders from your country with experience of this part of Ireland – we promise that you will be reassured!

Options (non-biking)
If you have a particular interest you would like to indulge, or there is a particular activity in which you would like to participate during your tour, we can make the necessary arrangements. You may want to spend a day hiking, fishing, horseback riding, or on the golf course for example. Contact us with your request and we will do our best to build it into your tour.

Questions
If we have whetted your appetite and you are considering an Iron Donkey tour, you will almost certainly have some specific questions to ask. Please feel free to contact us as often as you like with your queries before you commit to a booking – we are here to help and advise! We are always happy to call you at a convenient time – you only have to ask!

Solo women
All Iron Donkey self-guided tours are perfectly safe for solo women travelers.

Trip preparation pack
A trip preparation pack will be sent to you when we receive your completed booking form and deposit payment. The pack will contain information that you will find very useful in preparing for your tour.

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