Adventure Tours Driver-Guide
If you love Ireland and want to do more of the things you’re passionate about, why not consider an exciting new lifestyle and career change with Vagabond Tours?
- ✔️ Fresh air.
- ✔️ Exploring Ireland.
- ✔️ Outdoor activity and adventure.
- ✔️ New skills.
- ✔️ Being part of an awesome team within a company that strives to be a truly sustainable and rewarding employer.
Read on to find out why becoming a VagaGuide might be just the change you’re seeking.
An Adventurous New Career...
You’re not a tour guide with Vagabond, you’re a VagaGuide.
VagaGuides are the superheroes of every guest experience.
How do we know this? Because our 5-star TripAdvisor and TrustPilot reviewers keep on telling us how much they loved their guides.
What Is A VagaGuide?
Leader.
Storyteller.
Navigator.
Problem-solver.
As a VagaGuide, you’ll become all of the above while leading our 5-12 day small-group tours to Ireland's most beautiful and little-known corners.
Earn a competitive salary — plus tips! — explaining Irish history, culture and nature to guests while driving our fleet of customised 4x4 Mercedes tour vehicles.
Work With Purpose
We expect you to bring your values with you to work.
As Ireland’s first travel B Corp, we are committed to best practice as a business, environmentally, with our customers, our team and our suppliers around Ireland.
At VagaHQ in Ireland, we look for more sustainable ways of doing things every day.
That spirit runs from the sustainably-traded beans in our coffee machine to the solar panels on the roof and the EV charging point.
We exchange sustainability ideas with our guests on tour as well as via our blogs and social media.
How can we do better? We’ll expect your creative ideas from day one.
Happy Days
Forget about 9 to 5.
Flexibility and a healthy work-life balance are built-in to the package at Vagabond Tours.
Do more of the things you love — like connecting with new people from around the world — every day of your Vagabond career.
Here are just a few of the skills you’ll learn with Vagabond:
- ✔️ Leadership
- ✔️ Resilience
- ✔️ Organisation
- ✔️ Communication
There’s no such thing as a typical day. Our guests can be aged 8-88. Our tour itineraries and destinations are famously flexible.
We like to say, no two Vagabond tours are the same. The same goes for your working day!
You’re In Good Company
Becoming a VagaGuide means joining a community of friendly and experienced colleagues.
We pride ourselves at Vagabond Tours for pooling our knowledge, being accessible to each other, learning new skills together and improving Ireland (and the world).
At Vagabond Tours, we are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace. We embrace diversity and welcome applicants from all backgrounds, ensuring equal opportunities for every individual.
We all work hard but we also place genuine value on having fun.
The end-of-season get-togethers are legendary and the ping-pong table is always open!
A Windswept & Interesting Career
You’ll not only be representing us as a VagaGuide, you’ll be an ambassador for Ireland itself.
Give our guests the ultimate gift; golden memories and life-changing experiences.
It’s not unusual for guests to return to Ireland for a second, third or even fourth Vagabond tour, based largely on their positive experience with a VagaGuide.
Even better, your development as a VagaGuide could be the perfect launchpad for a rewarding career in tourism.
Meet our current team of VagaGuide tour guides
The Role
Our tours come in two distinct styles:
- 🛶 Vagabond Adventure Tours - Fast-paced, adrenaline-filled and active.
- 🌄 Driftwood Journeys of Discovery - A more relaxed pace with an emphasis on culture and sightseeing.
VagaGuides are expected to deliver both experiences to guests.
No matter which tour style you lead, we are passionate about the fantastic experience delivered to our guests, requiring the highest level of dedication and professionalism from all our team.
In return, we invest considerable time and effort into developing people into our guiding roles.
Our customers come from all over the world and across a wide spectrum of ages and backgrounds. But what they have in common is that they are all here to relax, unwind and enjoy Ireland.
Each Vagabond or Driftwood Tour lasts between 5-12 days. It is hard work and you will be away from home, but it is also great fun, a healthy way of life and very rewarding (you also get a great tan).
Plus the pay is OK too. (Season runs from mid-March to the end of October).
Duties
Duties include but are not limited to:
- Preparation of vehicle for trip including
- Ensure it is clean, has all required kit and equipment
- Performing and submitting morning and evening checks
- Ensuring vehicle is kept in a roadworthy condition throughout the tour and timely reporting of defects
- Safety (including safe driving) and contentment of your groups
- Excellent all round knowledge of Ireland - history, culture, education, economy and Irish life in general.
On tour:
- Embarking guests and their luggage each morning
- Full delivery of tour information throughout tour
- Organising activities, walks etc on tour
- Accompanying customers on walks and at attractions
- Checking in guests to accommodations at end of each day
- Ensuring all admin tasks are completed in a timely fashion (e.g., double checking accommodation allocation)
- Timely reporting of all incidents involving customers or which may impact on the company
- Cleaning of vehicles to expected standard
Post tour:
- Cleaning vehicle inside and out
- Ensuring all vehicle fluids are topped up (fuel, oil, water, additives, coolant and brake fluid)
- Post tour vehicle checks
- Other duties as required: These may vary, and activities outside the role of driver-guide would be optional.
Requirements
Class D or D1 Passenger Carrying Vehicle Licence - If you are looking for work for the 2026 season, don't yet have a D or D1 licence, but have begun the process, then feel free to apply. (Vagabond will also partially assist financially with the cost obtaining the D1 licence. This support is paid after the successful applicant’s first touring season).
Tourism or touring experience would be an advantage but not essential. Customer service experience is also handy.
A ‘People Person’- Patient, outgoing, independent, with initiative, reliable, punctual, personable. You don’t have to be the life and soul of the party, but good interpersonal skills are a must.
Languages: Fluent in English with an awareness and understanding of the Hiberno-English dialect. Some level of Irish is an advantage, though not necessary for the role.
A deep understanding and love of Irish life, culture, and history based on your own experience growing up and living in Ireland.
Training
- Successful candidates will be provided with extensive training including:
- 4-5 weeks in house training, including
- Team Training Week (great craic)
- On the road training (also great craic)
- Further training, if required:
- First aid training
- Manual Handling
- Lowland Leader Award walking qualification
We are an equal opportunities employer, and we welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, race or ethnicity, religion, disability, or any other characteristics protected under Irish equality and employment legislation.
Do you have the drive, enthusiasm, skills (and humour) we’re looking for?
If so, please email info@vagabond.ie with your cover letter and CV.
Transport & Operations Executive
If you love Ireland and want to do more of the things you’re passionate about, why not consider an exciting career with Vagabond Tours?
You’ll be joining a family-owned success story.
Vagabond Tours is an independent, Wicklow-based company that’s ranked among the world’s Top 15 Tour Operators in the Travel + Leisure Awards 2025, and was certified as Ireland’s Best Place to Work in the Great Place to Work mid-sized category in 2026.
Our 5 to 15-day small-group coach tours visit the most beautiful corners of Ireland in a fleet of customized Mercedes vehicles.
So, why should you should consider joining our Operations team?
An Adventurous New Career...
The Operations team are the behind-the-scenes heroes at Vagabond.
How do we know this? Because our team of tour guides couldn’t lead their tours without well-maintained vehicles and expert operational support.
That’s where you come in:
As a Transport & Operations Executive, here are just a few of the skills you’ll learn in addition to your day job:
- ✔️ Logistical planning
- ✔️ Fleet maintenance
✔️ Fleet telematics software
✔️ Vagabond and Driftwood tour delivery
✔️ Patience…
We like to say, no two Vagabond tours are the same. The same goes for your working day!
In the morning, you might be picking up a new addition to our fleet of Mercedes Sprinter tour vehicles from the coachbuilder and assisting the Transport Manager with related admin. In the afternoon, you might be responding to a question you’ve never heard before from one of our tour guides on the road, helping them navigate an emergency on tour, or even filling in on one of Vagabond or Driftwood Tours!
Work With Purpose
We expect you to bring your values with you to work.
As Ireland’s first travel B Corp, we are committed to sustainable best practice as a business, environmentally, and with our customers, our team and our suppliers around Ireland.
At VagaHQ in Ireland, we look for more sustainable ways of doing things every day.
That spirit runs from the sustainably traded beans in our coffee machine, to the solar panels on the roof and the EV charging point.
How can we do better? We’ll expect your creative ideas from day one.
We expect you to bring your values with you to work.
You’re In Good Company
Joining Vagabond Tours means joining a community of friendly and experienced colleagues.
We're proud to be a Certified Great Place to Work, 2023-2026, and were thrilled to accept the award for Ireland’s Best Place to Work in the mid-sized category, as well as Failte Ireland's Best Workplace in the Travel Company category, in 2026.
We pride ourselves on pooling our knowledge, being accessible to each other, learning new skills together and improving Ireland (and the world).
We work hard but also place genuine value on having fun (it’s one of our core company values!).
Flexibility and a healthy work-life balance are built-in to the package at Vagabond Tours.
The end-of-season get-togethers are legendary, and a lunch-time dip in the sea is never off the table!
Who we’re looking for
For Vagabond we believe the person is key; if you have the potential, we can train and develop you into this role (and beyond). We’re looking for someone who is:
An excellent team player with a proven record of such.
- ✔️ Technically savvy - both with vehicles and IT systems.
- ✔️ Self-motivated, dependable and proactive, with a willingness to take initiative and support the wider team.
- ✔️ Able to remain calm under pressure and respond to changing work priorities in a dynamic operational environment.
- ✔️ Able to communicate clearly with a variety of personalities to ensure appropriate resolutions are found.
- ✔️ Well organised with an eye for detail.
- ✔️ Willing and able to work flexible hours. During the tour season, Vagabond operates 24/7 support for the on-road team, and the Operations team must be on-call to respond when help is required.
- ✔️ As committed to the Vagabond ethos and culture as we are.
What we’re looking for
- ✔️ A valid D1 license, Driver CPC, and Driver Card (tachograph) with a clean driving history are required.
- ✔️ A strong interest in Irish tourism and high-quality tour operations is essential.
- ✔️ Strong computer skills, with the ability to learn and confidently use operational systems and digital tools.
- ✔️ Proficiency in the Microsoft suite, particularly Word and Excel, is essential.
- ✔️ Excellent communication, organisational, and problem-solving skills.
- ✔️ Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
- ✔️ Previous experience in an operations, transport, tourism, or logistics role is highly desirable.
- ✔️ Good working knowledge of Irish road transport, fleet support, or tour operations is an advantage.
What you’ll do day to day
- ✔️ Assist with moving and maintaining our fleet of tour vehicles, including driving, cleaning, stocking, and checking vehicles between tours.
- ✔️ Ensure tour & fleet paperwork is accurate and up to date throughout the season.
- ✔️ Support our on-the-road Guide team with whatever they need so they can continue delivering world class tours for our guests, even when things go wrong.
- ✔️ Lead tours as a Driver Guide when emergency cover is required (full tour delivery training will be provided).
- ✔️ Support Operations department projects and continuous improvement initiatives relating to transport & operations.
- ✔️ Respond and adapt to dynamic operational demands as they develop, ensuring that service quality is maintained at all times.
What you’ll receive in return:
- ✔️ An annual salary review in line with company performance.
- ✔️ An annual bonus on achievement of team-based KPIs and Company sales targets.
- ✔️ Training in company systems and outdoor adventure tourism, where relevant.
- ✔️ Occupational pension scheme with 3% employer contribution matching.
- ✔️ Private Health Insurance with Laya Healthcare (optional).
- ✔️ 20 days Annual Leave + additional paid time off between Christmas and New Year’s at the discretion of Management.
How your work will be structured:
Reporting to the Head of Operations this full-time, permanent role, is based at our offices at Newtownmountkennedy, Wicklow.
Hours: 35 hours per week. Our standard day is normally 9.00am to 5.00pm but flexibility is a must and role is mostly office-based. For the role, you must live within 1 hour of our office (Newtownmountkennedy) / yard (Greystones).
Do you have the drive, enthusiasm, skills, and sense of humour we’re looking for?
If so, please email russ@vagabond.ie enclosing a cover letter and your CV.
