FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions About Our Tours Of Ireland

Choose your tour style:

• 🛶 Active pace and adrenalin on Vagabond Cultural Adventures

Vaccines against COVID-19 are not required for travel to Ireland.

Ireland is open to travellers regardless of your vaccination status and whether your journey originates in the USA, Canada, Australia or elsewhere in the world.

Travellers to the Republic of Ireland are no longer required to show proof of vaccination, proof of recovery or a negative PCR test result upon arrival.

Pre-entry tests are no longer required for fully vaccinated travellers entering the USA.

The requirement for a negative pre-departure COVID-19 test result was removed by the CDC, effective June 12th 2022.

This applies to all guests returning to the USA.

Read the official release from the CDC here

All of our tours leave from our pick-up/drop-off point at the Grand Canal Hotel in Dublin.

Our pick-up times from the Grand Canal Hotel vary by tour:

Travel in off-peak period to enjoy 10% discount off our peak season prices.

All tours departing in March, April and October are off-peak.

Peak season prices apply to departures from May to September, inclusive.

Check our 2023 tour prices

Vagabond Cultural Adventure Tours are centred around adventure activities.

We think you'll enjoy them if you're an active person with at least a moderate level of fitness.

Our tours do not include accommodation nor activities in Dublin, either before or after your tour.

You are free to book these elements of your Ireland trip.

We find that tastes and budgets differ significantly from guest to guest.

After you book with us, we'll recommend a list of hotels in Dublin that are close to your tour pick-up/drop-off point.

Read our blog about the best areas to stay in Dublin (includes our favourite hotels + prices)

We require a flat-rate deposit of €250 per person of the tour price to secure your booking.

You can choose to pay off your balance in bitesize chunks.

The remaining balance is due 60 days before departure.

If there is less than 60 days until departure when you book, full payment is required.

Get the full details on our Book A Tour page

One of the only non-flexible things about our tours are the departure days and times.

These are set in stone. So please, take note!

Yes we do operate a limit on luggage.

Owing to the compact nature of our small-group tour vehicles, your luggage limit is one suitcase per person (no bigger than 30” or 75cm along their longest side).

Tipping in Ireland can be confusing if you're visiting from the USA or Canada.

Don't worry! Our top tipping tip is: don't tip unless you really loved the service.

Daily life has returned to normal across the island of Ireland.

Virtually all restrictions have been removed and there are no internal travel restrictions in the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland.

😷 You are not required to wear masks in public spaces in Ireland except healthcare settings (including hospitals, doctors' surgeries and pharmacies).

Shops, pubs, restaurants, heritage sites, public transport, schools, colleges and virtually all other parts of daily life remain open and in normal operation.

Active Vagabond Tours that Visit Northern Ireland:

⛰️ 12 Day Vagabond Giant Irish Adventure Tour

🥾 7 Day Vagabond Magnetic North Adventure Tour

Relaxed Driftwood Tours that Visit Northern Ireland:

🐑 6 Day Driftwood Northern Island Tour

🚐 11 Day Driftwood Discover Ireland Tour*

*On your 11 Day Driftwood Discover Ireland Tour, you may travel around Northern Ireland in either clockwise or counter-clockwise direction.

Read our blog about Northern Ireland

Read more about the delights of Northern Ireland on our blog

A vaccine is not currently required to take either a Vagabond or Driftwood small-group tour of Ireland.

⚠️ IMPORTANT: We do require all guests to sign a pre-tour disclaimer affirming the lack of any COVID-19 symptoms.

Travellers to the Republic of Ireland are no longer required to show proof of vaccination, proof of recovery or a negative PCR test result upon arrival.

⚠️ IMPORTANT: A Passenger Locator Form is no longer required for arrivals to the Republic of Ireland nor Northern Ireland.

We do not require testing for COVID-19 before taking one of our small-group tours of Ireland.

However, we do require all guests to sign a pre-tour disclaimer affirming the lack of any COVID-19 symptoms.

No. There is no need to quarantine when arriving in Ireland.

Quarantine measures in Ireland related to COVID-19 have now ended.

Northern Ireland has relaxed its restrictions and is open for business in the same manner as the Republic of Ireland.

Passengers no longer have to complete a UK Passenger Locator Form and there is no longer a requirement to take a pre-arrival test, irrespective of vaccination status.

Dingle is one of our absolute favourites from the dozens of quaint Irish towns and villages we visit.

Our guests and VagaGuides love Dingle so much that we decided to spend 2 nights there on most tours.

Visas are required for many visitors to Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Check if your country requires a visa for the Republic of Ireland here

The minimum number for our tours is two people.

In normal times your departure is 100% guaranteed once you've booked your tour (as long as there is one other person booked). Prior to the pandemic we had never ever cancelled a tour.

The maximum group size is 13 for active Vagabond Tours.

The maximum group size is 15 for relaxed Driftwood Tours.

We welcome lots of solo travellers on tour. Take one of our small group tours for a hassle-free way to explore Ireland and meet new friends.

Read more about solo travel with us in Ireland

Anytime is a good time to visit Ireland!

All ages enjoy our tours.

However, there's a minimum age of 8 years old for a scheduled tour. Do you have younger children? Check out our private family tour page.

Our relaxed and easy-paced Driftwood Tours range in length from 6-11 days.

Our active and adventurous Vagabond Tours range in length from 5-12 days.