It’s hard to believe this year is nearly at an end. What an incredible 12 months it has been.
This year, we welcomed 1000s of Vagabonds and Driftwooders to Ireland. Your incredible support continues to help our independent business grow better and stronger — THANK YOU!
Mark your diaries! Our first Ireland tours of 2025 depart in the first week of March.
Hopefully you can join us…
Read on to discover what's new for 2025 at Vagabond & Driftwood Tours of Ireland.
New Tours 🎶
Our 2025 small-group tours of Ireland are selling like pints on St Patrick’s Day!
In 22 seasons of exploring, we’ve never seen such demand.
To help you keep exploring off the beaten track, we’ve developed the following original itineraries for you:
Vagabond 5 Day Adventure East Tour
You asked for a new Vagabond tour, and we heard you loud and clear!
We are so excited about launching our first EVER Vagabond adventure tour in the east; the 5 Day Vagabond Adventure East Tour.
You’ll trek through granite mountain ranges, discover a hidden National Park, cycle off-road along a stunning coastal trail, explore a peninsula in the Celtic Sea and navigate Ireland’s most scenic river valley.
Add in craft ales, ancient castles and legendary Irish welcomes, and you’ve got an adventure to remember!
12 Day Coasts & Clover Tour
Dive into 4x relaxing double night stays around Ireland.
Explore vibrant towns like Westport, Lahinch, and Kinsale, plus the stunning Parknasilla Resort, all while enjoying less driving and more time to soak in Irish culture.
From boat trips to the Aran Islands to whiskey tastings, sheepdog demonstrations and free time in Galway, this tour is packed with unforgettable moments.
New Activities 🚴♀️
We are continually striving to make our 5-star rated small-group tour itineraries even better.
Each year, we hunt for new activities and exciting new suppliers.
Boat Trip To The Aran Islands 🍻
Journey from Doolin to Inis Oírr (Inisheer), one of the iconic Aran Islands, and immerse yourself in the true heart of Irish-speaking culture.
Once you arrive enjoy a scenic tour of the island by horse-drawn carriage, passing through stunning dry stone walls and discovering captivating shipwrecks along the way.
You won’t find anywhere more Irish than these isolated islands off the Galway coast.
See more about this experience on our 12 Day Coasts & Clover Tour.
Biking On The Waterford Greenway 🚲
Enjoy breathtaking views of rolling countryside and the beautiful Copper Coast while riding along Ireland’s longest off-road cycling route.
Whether you're a seasoned cyclist or a casual rider, this trail offers an unforgettable way to experience the best of Ireland’s southeast.
Enjoy this unique cycling experience on our 5 Day Adventure East Tour.
Take A Guided Canoeing Trip 🎨
Canoeing on the River Barrow is the perfect way to experience the beauty of this serene waterway.
Paddle through tranquil stretches of the river, surrounded by lush landscapes, charming villages, and local wildlife.
This chilled out experience is the perfect way to soak in the beauty of the Kilkenny countryside.
Enjoy this experience on our 5 Day Adventure East Tour.
😎 Meet Our New Team
As more and more guests are realising Vagabond is Ireland's No.1 small-group tour operator, our support team has grown too.
Meet some of the newest faces and roles who help bring your Ireland tour to life and keep our wheels moving.
Who's New for 2025?
Hollie joined our team as a Sales & Reservations Executive towards the end of 2024.
This Harry Potter mega-fan is a wizard when it comes to advising our guests about our magical tours.
Proud mother to two boxer dogs, Izzy and Chip, as well as her sausage dog Slinky, she has her hands full when she’s not on the phone with our guests.
New Trainee Transport Manager John is a man of many skills, which, no doubt, will all come in handy managing the Vaga-Fleet.
John is qualified to teach sailing, kayaking, windsurfing and powerboating.
If Vagabond ever takes to the water, we know we have the right person on board to keep us afloat!
Our new Head of Technology Mark has travelled all the way from New Zealand to join the Vagabond ranks.
Growing up on a dairy farm, this former rugby player believes in milking life for all it’s worth!
Nowadays, between family time and exploring the Wicklow Hills, he solves tech issues at Vagabond HQ!
New Hotels 🏨
We reckon that your small-group tour of Ireland is only be as good as the hotels you stay in.
For that reason, we are continually seeking new, high quality accommodation options around Ireland.
The following hotels will each add hospitality and comfort to our famous small-group Ireland itineraries.
New Hotels for 2025
Located on the River Suir Estuary, just ten minutes drive from Waterford City, the Faithlegg Hotel is a world unto itself.
This magnificently restored country mansion sits on a beuatiful 200-acre estate, providing the perfect backdrop for your visit to the southeast of Ireland.
Stay here on our 5 Day Adventure East Tour.
Located on a spectacular 500 acre estate with stunning coastal views the Parknasilla Resort & Spa is the perfect getaway.
Sit back, relax and be pampered at the spa and wellness centre, enjoy the thermal quite or dip in the infinity pool.
Stay here on our new 12 Day Coasts & Clover Tour.
After a day of exploring Kenmare’s stunning surroundings, you can unwind in style, enjoy warm hospitality and savour delicious meals at this beautifully restored landmark. The Lansdowne is the perfect place to experience the magic of Kenmare.
Stay here on our 11 Day Discover Ireland Tour.
Hydrogen Vegtable Oil To Replace Diesel ⛽
At Vagabond we are committed to our sustainability goals for the future. One of our commitments is to reduce our total carbon footprint of the company.
We’re thrilled to announce that we’re about to trial HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) biofuel in our buses over the winter months with the expectation to switch over as much as we can in 2025.
HVO is a low-carbon biofuel that serves as a direct replacement for regular diesel. It is a high quality biofuel produced from treating waste plant-matter with hydrogen, which means it does not release any additional carbon emissions into the atmosphere. The result? Cleaner air for everyone—people and wildlife alike. 🌬️💚
This is just one step in our journey to a more sustainable future. We are super excited to get this up and running for the 2025 season.
Hopefully We Will Win Another Award With T&L🏆
We’re passionate about creating unforgettable adventures and sharing the very best of Ireland with you. Our small group tours are powered by 100% local guides and staff and as a family-owned business, every vote of support means the world to us.
The 2025 Travel & Leisure World’s Best Awards are now open for voting. If Vagabond has made your trip to Ireland truly special, we’d be delighted if you took a few minutes to share your experience.
For our friends in the USA, there are some cracking prizes up for grabs – like $15,000 in cash or a luxury cruise for two to Australia and New Zealand.
Thanks for being part of the Vagabond story.
Exciting times at VagaHQ...
