Hi, I'm Danielle π
One of the most frequently asked questions we hear is, 'Which of your tour styles are right for me?'.
If you're having the same dilemma, this blog is for you!
As part of Vagabond & Driftwood Tours Reservations team, my mission is to help you choose the right tour style and itinerary.
Read on to find out what tour style is best suited to you.
Fitness First π
Do you fancy a hike?
Without a doubt, Vagabond Cultural Adventures are more physically vigorous than Driftwood Journeys of Discovery.
A certain level of fitness is required to get the most from your tour.
- Hiking π₯Ύ
- Biking π΅
- Horseback-Riding π΄
- Rowing / Sea-Kayaking π£ββοΈ
- Surfing (and other Watersports) π
These are just a sample of the activity options which you may be offered as part of a Vagbaond Cultural Adventure itinerary.
While you don't need to take part in all activities, you can expect to hike for at least 2.5 hours on undulating and often rough ground.
Your VagaGuide may drop your group at the trailhead and pick you up at its end. As a result, turning back on a hike may not always be an option.
If you feel that this is too much of a challenge, it's probably best to go with Driftwood Journeys of Discovery.
Step It Up! π
Step counts are a a useful way to visualise the level of activity and fitness required to enjoy our tours.
Even though Driftwood Journeys of Discovery do feature a relaxed pace, you can still expect to clock up between 5,000 and 15,000 daily steps on tour. Of course, this will depend on your individual abilities and the preferences of your group.
Expect to put in a minimum daily step count of 10,000 on Vagabond Cultural Adventures. This figure will be significantly higher if your tour group are eager to challenge themselves. The busiest Vagabond groups can hit 15,000 to 30,000 steps daily.
The difference between the step count and the estimated distances for hikes on a Vagabond Cultural Adventure is that the step count is EVERYTHING you do during the day on tour, from the minute you leave the hotel to the minute you get back again in the evening. It may include you browsing shops and similarly chilled activities. It's not all adventure, you know!
Read about some typical guided Vagabond hikes
Quality Time & Gentle Pace β
Maybe you're the kind of person who prefers to stroll around stately homes, gardens and explore quaint towns?
A gentler pace is the distinguishing feature of Driftwood Journeys of Discovery.
Driftwooders generally reach their hotels earlier in the day than their Vagabond counterparts.
Multi-Night Stays π
Various tour itineraries β both Vagabond and Driftwood β spend two nights in Dingle.
However, onlty Driftwood Journeys of Discovery spend multiple nights in other Irish towns and cities:
- β The 15 Day Driftwood All Ireland Tour spends two nights in both Westport and Dingle
- β The 11 Day Driftwood Discover Ireland Tour spends two nights in both Clifden and Dingle
- β The 11 Day Driftwood Ring of Ireland Tour spends two nights in both Clifden and Kenmare
- β The 7 Day Driftwood Castles & Kingdoms spends two nights in Kinsale
If staying longer in each destination and getting to know the locals a little better sounds good to you, choose Driftwood.
Comfortable/Rugged Vehicles π
FadΓ³, fado...
In the beginning, our tour vehicles were repurposed military Land Rovers.
Fast-forward 22 years and our fleet is 100% Mercedes.
Every single tour vehicle boasts comfortable seats and is decked out to meet every conceivable guest need.
That said, some of our tour vehicles are still quite rugged! Your trusty steed on a Vagabond Cultural Adventure will be one of our uniquely customised 4x4 Mercedes minibuses.
So if you like the chunky and adventurous look, go Vagabond!
If you are more of a comfort-seeker who likes a larger seat with room to stretch your legs, our slick 15-seater Driftwood Mercedes tour vehicles may appeal more to you.
Skellig Michael & Boat Tripsπ₯οΈ
Only our 12 Day Vagabond Giant Irish Adventure Tour gives you the chance to land on Skellig Michael Island.
We are dedicated to helping protect this beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site. Because of this, we have restricted the option to land here to only this special tour itinerary.
Other tour guests can still take a boat trip around both Skellig Islands.
And there are a myriad of other boat trip options across all of our itineraries, both Driftwood and Vagabond.
Decisions, Decisions...π€
I hope my quick guide to the differences between our tour styles has helped you make your decision.
Rest assured, no matter which Vagabond or Driftwood tour you choose, you'll still get an amazing experience of Ireland.
We guarantee highly-trained tour guides, beautiful scenery, friendly local experiences and tasty food served along a generous helping of culture and history.
Maybe you're still on the fence? Email me via enquiries@vagabond.ie
Myself or another member of our helpful reservations team will answer any questions you might have and help you decide what tour is best suited to your needs.
