Have you ever thought of taking alpacas for a walk? We hadn’t either. Once you have an encounter with them, we think you will be smitten. Alpaca trekking isn’t new. South Americans domesticated alpacas some 5000 years ago and have been working with them ever since.
Our treks start at the alpaca’s barn where Simon and I will put on head collars and leads (on the alpacas, not us). We usually take anywhere between two and ten alpacas at a time. Our boys are trained to walk in a line and not to stop for some grass along the way, however they do when they think they can get away with it. After a brief health and safely chat, we then head up into the forest behind our land. It is a magical place and virtually untouched with emerald green moss and clovers covering every surface.
About half-way through the trail, we will stop in an area that is set aside for breaks. The boys have an enclosure where they are given a well deserved snack and can graze. The humans can also take a break with a snack. There are plenty of logs and benches around to sit on, but you might get a wet bum! Throughout the trek, there are no end of photo opportunities. The views overlooking Kenmare bay is my personal favourite. When we arrive back at the farm, some of the alpacas may have a little treat in store for us…
Alpaca Trekking
A unique experience awaits you
Check out our latest video featuring Pluto, Roosevelt, and Walnut. Many thanks to Milica for filming the video footage along with her sister Jovana. Turn up the volume at the end, it is hilarious!
Have you ever thought of taking alpacas for a walk? We hadn’t either. Once you have an encounter with them, we think you will be smitten. Alpaca trekking isn’t new. South Americans domesticated alpacas some 5000 years ago and have been working with them ever since.
Our treks start at the alpaca’s barn where Simon and I will put on head collars and leads (on the alpacas, not us). We usually take anywhere between two and ten alpacas at a time. Our boys are trained to walk in a line and not to stop for some grass along the way, however they do when they think they can get away with it. After a brief health and safely chat, we then head up into the forest behind our land. It is a magical place and virtually untouched with emerald green moss and clovers covering every surface.
About half-way through the trail, we will stop in an area that is set aside for breaks. The boys have an enclosure where they are given a well deserved snack and can graze. The humans can also take a break with a snack. There are plenty of logs and benches around to sit on, but you might get a wet bum! Throughout the trek, there are no end of photo opportunities. The views overlooking Kenmare bay is my personal favourite. When we arrive back at the farm, some of the alpacas may have a little treat in store for us…
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A unique experience awaits you
Meet the boys
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We hope you enjoy our photo album of the boys!
Simon and I had never heard of alpacas. It wasn’t until I ran across someone who had an alpaca farm that I became totally in love with them. Simon wasn’t so smitten at first. However, within two weeks of that first meeting we bought two. Two shortly became four. Well then four grew to 12 and Simon developed his fondness for them. We now have 17 alpacas and two llamas!
We started with Rufus and Tully who both lived to be 20 years old. Dizzy, one of the original boys passed away last year at age 22. Cusco, our original llama lived to be 20 and passed away this year.
We only keep boys so we don’t have to keep chasing them away from girls. Male alpacas are happy to breed all year round, the girls would rather not.
Alpacas are quite curious and gentle. They stay close together in their group and have a definite hierarchy. Alpacas can spit, but they usually do it when provoked or when another alpaca tries to steal someone else’s food at dinner time
PRICE:
- €45 per person (12yr min.)
- Gift Vouchers available (phone or email for more info)
- One Daily Trek at 10:30am
Booking in advance is essential.
This is Ireland, so the weather can be a very wet and unpredictable. We will still trek in light rain, the forest does provide great cover. Treks may be cancelled due to heavy rain, wind, or icy conditions.
Anyone attending must be age 12 and older, all under 18’s must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. All guests must be fluent in English for safety whilst handling the animals.
WHAT YOU GET:
- The trekking experience usually lasts for two hours
- Meet and greet with the alpacas
- A guided walk through the beautiful forest with the alpacas
- Unlimited photo opportunities with the alpacas and the stunning views overlooking the Cloonee Lakes, Kenmare Bay, and the Ring of Kerry mountain range
- Snack break with the alpacas in the forest (feel free to bring your own snack)
- Spinning & fibre demonstration
THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND:
The forest has been kept as natural as possible, therefore the trail can be uneven and muddy at times with rocks and tree roots underfoot. The terrain has a few inclines/declines. Appropriate footwear is essential.
We are not able to have dogs on site please. Our alpacas see them as predators and get quite nervous around them. Besides, Walnut the cat will fly up the nearest tree and it will take us a week to get him down…
Lastly, you may have such a great time you may not want to go home! How about staying over in our B&B the Alpaca Lodge?
WHAT TREKKERS SAID:
Use the button below to see reviews from our Airbnb Experiences:
Diolmhain and Gigi 12th May 2020
“I never thought walking with Alpacas would be a thing but it is. My God what an experience! Way better than I expected, the hosts were lovely the Alpacas were like clouds bouncing around the place and you get to feed the bouncing clouds Apples in a forest during a hike. Unreal!”
Jacob 14th February 2020
Right away, this location is spectacular, and that is only the beginning. Simon and Mia were kind and welcoming as we arrived a bit early. We got to explore the shop and workspace and get a look at the alpacas before the rest of our group arrived. The safety talk and tips on handling alpacas made us feel confident right away, and all they shared ahead of time helped us make the very most of our time with the animals. Our guides took special care to assign us with alpacas they thought we would enjoy, which was a thoughtful touch that we greatly appreciated. The alpacas are clearly well cared for and attended to. Listening to Simon and Mia share the various quirks of the alpacas was a joy, they are passionate experts. During the walk, you very much get a close and hands-on experience, much more than I was expecting. Honestly, I would pay to just walk the woods- the path gently takes you through a moss-carpeted wood full of green lichen-coated trees and scenery that can only be described as magical. The air was clean and fresh and the views straight out of a storybook. Plenty of opportunities for pictures the entire way. The alpaca companions made it an uncommon joy, and I really felt like I bonded with my camelid friend. Before looping back and admiring the many sweeping views of the bay below, the alpacas spend some time in a paddock and we had a chance to feed them apples and really bond with the animals. The entire time, Simon and Mia were available for questions and helpful tips. After the walk, the spinning demonstration and fiber discussion was informative and lively. I loved learning this aspect of what they do, and it really brought the experience full circle over a cup of tea. All in all, this magical and unique experience was truly beyond description. Excellently planned and executed by the hosts. I would heartily recommend it to anyone visiting the area. And tell Nibbles (Donovan) I said, “Hello!”
Emily 16th March 2020
An absolutely magical, can’t miss experience! Mia and Simon are delightful people and their alpacas are magnificent creatures that are easy to walk and fun to interact with. Would recommend this to anyone looking for a relaxing experience with incredible surroundings. I would most definitely book this trek again when back in Ireland.
Conor 15th March 2020
This is a very special experience hosted by people who really know what they’re talking about! A truly unique and enjoyable day out!
Pamela 13th March 2020
Anyone considering this trek should absolutely go for it. My boyfriend and I had a great time. The hosts we very friendly and welcoming. The alpaca were everything I hoped for. I also suggest booking the Airbnb as well.
Sarah 13th March 2020
Pure happiness. Hosts were very welcoming and thoughtful, they explained the activity carefully and how to interact with the animals, their different personalities etc. The alpacas were absolutely lovely and fascinating, we even got to cuddle them! We finished the activity by having tea and biscuits while sharing thoughts on the activity, the animals, the environment and much more. The hosts gave some great tips and shared lots of interesting information on alpacas, their wool and more! Also, all of our friends were so jealous when they saw our pictures! 🙂
Rob & Family 31st July 2020
“Myself, my wife and two sons recently visited The Naked Sheep for their Alpaca Forest Trek. The experience was truly amazing, from beginning to end! Our youngest son is alpaca-mad, so this was a surprise for him. We arrived at the location without telling the kids what we were about to do. When they saw the sign, there was such excitement in the car! (I must admit though, we were all super-excited with this opportunity!). The location is in an amazing part of Kerry, with fantastic views. Mia and Simon (our experience-hosts) were very welcoming and warm. They took a lot of time to ensure that we all knew the health and safety aspects before we started our trek. I really liked that they matched their alpacas to each of us, based on the personalities involved… needless to say, our youngest boy fell in love with his alpaca, Cappuccino. The alpacas are really beautiful animals, and you can see that they are cared-for and loved. I won’t ruin the experience for others by giving too many details, but let’s just say that it was fantastic fun, and we got to walk through an amazing forest, with our alpaca friends. We had tons of opportunities to take alpaca-selfies and some video, and we even got to cuddle and feed them. Tour numbers are small, so you have tons of time to ask questions and to get to know all about these lovely animals. We shared our tour with a lovely young couple, so there were 6 of us in total. Everyone had a blast! At the end of each holiday, I ask every member of the family for their Top 3 highlights of the trip… every single one of us had this experience as our No. 1 on our list! That says it all really! Thank you Mia, Simon, Monkey, Pluto, Herbie and, of course, Cappuccino! Wishing you continued success in everything you do! Rob & Family31