This was our first group tour, and our first visit to Ireland. The tour exceeded our expectations. There were a lot of wonderful stops, including some with more time to explore - that is obvious by looking at the itinerary. Our tour guide, Pat, really made the trip special which seemed to be the general consensus amongst our entire group. His knowledge and way of sharing the history both ancient and more recent really set the context around the sites we were visiting. I think we both came away with more knowledge and respect for the history of Ireland. We were well prepared thanks to the FAQ and tips provided by Vagabond. I would definitely go on another tour with Vagabond (including into Scotland should they expand).

Our recent 7-day Driftwood tour was incredible! The small bus tour is the way to go and I can't recommend Vagabond Tours highly enough. Many of the places you visit simply aren't feasible with a larger tour bus. It's so much better with just a dozen or so people. So many fascinating tour stops, so much history to absorb. Some major sites, of course, but many out-of-the-way places and roads where the scenery is non-stop. In addition, the quaint guesthouses are a perfect complement to the tour. We had two guides during our tour, Aisling and Pat. Both were excellent in their own right. Our first guide, Aisling, gave us info on pop culture and the vernacular lessons. Our second, Pat, was absolutely outstanding with his depth and detail on Irish history. He is the perfect soundtrack to fabulous tour; a true walking / talking encyclopedia. 'The folk' are definitely on his side as he managed to arrive at seemingly every destination just as the rain stopped!

A couple of Driftwood 7-day Treasure tour tips for future bookings -
1. Don't opt for a sit-down lunch if you want to see any of the small towns (Tralee, Kenmare, Bantry, etc.) as you have very limited time. Bring snacks and eat as you explore or find some quick take-away sandwiches.
2. Galway is superior to Dingle for general shopping, if you're into that.
3. The Fish Box in Dingle is outstanding! Order 1 starter and 1 main for 2 people (trust me).
4. If the weather is nice on your trip to Garnish Island, skip the house tour (40 min), plenty to see outside.
5. Take the optional driving tour around the peninsula on your Dingle day.
6. Most important - lean on the Vagabond folks prior to booking to find out which tour Pat is doing and book that one!!

Just got home from the most wonderful 11 day tour of Ireland with Vagabond! I echo a recent review from Sherpa... The route, the various town-specific tours selected for us, the amazing historic sites, and the incredible natural beauty of Ireland were all outstanding. Equally outstanding were some of our accommodations - I was scurrying around taking pictures of gardens at several of our hotels! The small tour and bus size allowed for exploring off the main highways and getting to know our guide and fellow travelers - normally I would say "what a hoot", but given we just got back from Ireland, I'll say "what great crack!" Our guide, Andrew Duggan, has set the gold standard. His knowledge and love of history and his country, love of amazing natural places, humor, and willingness to share all that generously with us took this trip over the top. If all of that isn't wonderful enough, we were told the company owner has a policy of offsetting the carbon footprint of each tour by planting native trees! I highly highly highly recommend this tour and company to anyone looking to visit Ireland! (Just read the tips for writing a great review (after the fact) - so I'll add this: What to bring - layers! The weather was great - everything from full sun to full rain and everything in between, sometimes in the same day. Layers!)