A highlight of our recent trip to Ireland was a half-day visit to the Great Blasket Island. Located off the coast of the Dingle Peninsula in western Ireland, the Great Blasket Island is the largest of an archipelago that includes Beiginish, Inishtooskert, The Tearaght, Inishabro, and Inihvickilane, forming the aptly named Blasket Islands. While none of the islands are currently inhabited, the Great Blasket Island was inhabited up until 1953 and is steeped in culture, nature, and history, making it a fascinating place to explore. Furthermore, a visit to the Great Blasket Island invites you to get off the beaten path and find the true heart and soul of this magical country without overtourism or large crowds. For me, that is the most enriching way to travel.
Why visit the Great Blasket Island as opposed to the over-touristed places in Ireland
In 2025, over 1.5 million people visited the Cliffs of Moher, one of Ireland’s most iconic and visited places. While the Cliffs of Moher are exceptionally beautiful, it can be argued that there are many other equally if not more, majestic and beautiful places in Ireland that are nearby and without the crowds.
As a sustainable travel writer, I ask: Is visiting the Cliffs of Moher even a good experience anymore? Is it good for the fragile ecosystem, or the masses of tourists arriving on buses (up to a couple hundred buses make the stop each day), cramming together to get the one photo for their memories and check off an item on their bucket list? This kind of mass tourism quite frankly is terrible and does no one any good. Instead, it is important to seek alternative places to visit without the crowds, which is how we found the Great Blasket Island Experience and tour.
