Get Active On Our Ireland Adventure Tours!

We do our utmost to ensure that the tour style you choose matches your needs. Our team offer honest and professional customer service from the moment you first get in touch.

Read the following physical requirements to understand if your tour choice matches your abilities.

Is Driftwood Right For Me?

If you've chosen an easy-paced Driftwood Journey of Discovery, you should be able to:

• 🧍🏽 STAND FOR 45-60 MINUTES. You'll get more from the trip if you can stand for 45-60 minutes at a time.
• 👣 WALK APPROX 10k DAILY STEPS. On a Driftwood Journey of Discovery, guests can clock up to 10,000 steps daily. You'll enjoy your tour more if you can comfortably walk distances of 0.25 to 0.5 miles (0.4 to 0.8 km) at a time.
• 🚐 ACCESS THE BUS UNAIDED. You should be able to step in and out of the Drifter tour vehicle unaided. The step height is approx. 10 inches (25 cm) from ground level.
• 🏨 NAVIGATE HOTEL STAIRS. Most Driftwood hotels feature elevators. But access to your room will likely require the ability to walk up and down staircases.
• 🧳 CARRY YOUR LUGGAGE. Your VagaGuide will help with loading and unloading baggage from your tour vehicle. However, you carry your own luggage to your hotel room. We recommend choosing a compact suitcase and packing lightly.

Is Vagabond Right For Me?

If you've chosen an active Vagabond Cultural Adventures, you should be able to:

• 🚴 BE MODERATELY FIT. Vagabonders have the choice of various adventure activities. Typically, you will be an active person with at least a moderate level of fitness.
• 👣 WALK UP TO 30k DAILY STEPS. On a Vagabond Cultural Adventure, guests can clock up to 30,000 steps daily. The minimum, on a lower activity day, would be around 10,000 daily steps.
• 🥾 HIKE ON UNEVEN TERRAIN. Hikes on Vagabond Adventure can last up to 2.5 hours. Terrain may be steep and loose. The Irish climate is changeable. The marked trails where you’ll hike are often remote; there is usually no alternative activity if you choose to sit out a hike.
• 🧳 CARRY YOUR LUGGAGE. Your VagaGuide will help with loading and unloading baggage from your tour vehicle. However, you carry your own luggage to your hotel room. We recommend choosing a compact suitcase and packing lightly.

You'll need basic mobility to enjoy any of our small group tours of Ireland. Standing and walking for extended periods is required on both tour styles.

For Vagabond Cultural Adventures, the fitness requirement is considerably higher than on a Driftwood Journey of Discovery.

☘️ Driftwood - Basic Fitness & Mobility Required

On a Driftwood tour, the pace is easy. Driftwooders don't hike — they stroll!

Mobility is essential. Mobility aids must be pre-booked with our team. If you are planning to bring a foldable wheelchair or mobility aids, please email us using enquiries@vagabond.ie

We think you'll enjoy Driftwood Journeys of Discovery more if you match the following requirements:

• ✅ I CAN STAND UNAIDED FOR 45-60 MINUTES. Driftwood tours make lots of stops and offer guided tours of heritage sites. You'll get more from the trip if you can stand for 45-60 minutes at a time.
• ✅ I CAN WALK 10,000 DAILY STEPS. On a Driftwood Journey of Discovery, guests can clock up to 10,000 steps daily. You'll enjoy your tour more if you can comfortably walk distances of 0.25 to 0.5 miles (0.4 to 0.8 km) at a time.
• ✅ I CAN ACCESS THE VEHICLE UNAIDED. You should be able to step in and out of the Drifter tour vehicle unaided. The step height is approx. 10 inches (25 cm) from ground level.
• ✅ I CAN CLIMB STAIRS. Most Driftwood hotels feature elevators. However, access to your room is still likely require the ability to walk up and down staircases.
• ✅ I CAN CARRY MY OWN LUGGAGE. While your VagaGuide will help with loading and unloading baggage from your tour vehicle, porterage at our hotels is not guaranteed. You will be asked to carry your own luggage at some point on tour. We recommend choosing a compact suitcase and packing lightly.
• ✅ I HAVE GIVEN ADVANCE NOTICE OF ANY MOBILITY AIDS. Vagabond must be informed in advance if you plan to travel with a wheelchair or other mobility aid. In the interests of safety, our booking terms reserve the right to turn guests away if this condition is not adhered to. Space on Drifter tour vehicles is limited. All mobility aids must be foldable and safely fit into the rear luggage compartment after all all other guest luggage has been stowed. Mobility aids cannot be stored in the passenger area of the vehicle.
• ✅ I HAVE STAMINA FOR MY TOUR. Our longest Driftwood itinerary is 15 days long and our most popular itinerary is 11 days long. Althought Driftwood features a relaxed pace, each day is full of variety and activity. You will be checking out of a hotel on most mornings. Please consider this carefully and select one of our shorter itineraries if it would better suit your needs.

Learn more about mobility requirements and wheelchair users

🥾 Vagabond - Moderate Fitness Required

Vagabond Cultural Adventures are centred around outdoor adventure activities. Extended hikes on hilly terrain are integral to the experience.

We think you'll enjoy Vagabond Cultural Adventures the most if you match the following abilities:

• 🚴 BE MODERATELY FIT. Vagabonders have the choice of various adventure activities. Typically, you will be an active person with at least a moderate level of fitness.
• 👣 WALK UP TO 30k DAILY STEPS. On a Vagabond Cultural Adventure, guests can clock up to 30,000 steps daily. The minimum, on a lower activity day, would be around 10,000 daily steps.
• 🥾 HIKE ON UNEVEN TERRAIN. Hikes on Vagabond Adventure can last up to 2.5 hours. Terrain may be steep and loose. The Irish climate is changeable. The marked trails where you’ll hike are often remote; there is usually no alternative activity if you choose to sit out a hike.
• 🧳 CARRY YOUR LUGGAGE. Your VagaGuide will help with loading and unloading baggage from your tour vehicle. However, not all of our hotels have elevators and porterage is generally not available. You will be carrying your own luggage to your room. We recommend choosing a compact suitcase and packing lightly.
• 🔋 ON THE MOVE. Our longest Vagabond Cultural Adventure itinerary is 12 days in duration. This tour style features an upbeat pace and each day is full of variety and activity. You will be checking out of a hotel on most mornings. Please consider this carefully and select one of our shorter itineraries if it would better suit your needs.

What Are Vagabond Hikes Like?

• Hikes can happen each day on some departures.
• The degree of difficulty and frequency of hikes will depend on your tour group's abilities and preferences.
• Hikes can last up to 2.5 hours.
• The terrain that you hike on can be rough, steep, wet or uneven. On rare occasions, the ground underfoot is all of the above!
• Hikes always happen on marked trails.
• You’ll frequently hike in remote and mountainous locations; there is usually no alternative activity if you choose to sit out a hike.
• Our VagaGuides will generally hike at a pace to suit the group.
• A typical day on a Vagabond adventure tour can clock up to 30,000 steps.

What Other Activity Options Are Available?

The following adventure activities are optional — you can choose to partake or simply opt-out:

• 🛶 Both sea kayaking and rowing can last for up to 3 hours. Expect to get wet! Waves, wind and rain are distinctly possible.
• 🚴‍♀️ Guided bike tours happen on traffic-free trails and roads with undulating — but rarely steep — terrain. They can last for up to 2.5 hours. E-bikes are not always available.
• 🐴 Both horseback-riding and sea kayaking carry personal weight limits. Please check the weight limits ahead of your tour to avoid embarrassment.

😎 KNOW YOUR PERSONAL TRAVEL STYLE. How do you want to travel? If it’s at an upbeat pace, with lots of fresh air and outdoor activities, Vagabond is for you. If you want to move at a more relaxed pace and enjoy free time strolling through gardens and villages, Driftwood Journeys of Discovery are for you.

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:

Vagabond Tours

12 Day Vagabond Giant Irish Adventure: Monday at 08.20am

8 Day Vagabond Wild Irish Rover: Sunday at 08.30am

7 Day Vagabond World Tour of Ireland: Sunday at 08.20am

7 Day Vagabond Magnetic North Adventure: Sunday at 08.20am

6 Day Vagabond Epic Ireland Food Tour: Sunday at 08.10am

5 Day Vagabond Edge of the World Tour: Monday at 08.10am

Driftwood Tours

11 Day Driftwood Discover Ireland: Tuesday at 08.10am

8 Day Driftwood Wild Atlantic Way Tour: Sunday at 08.30am

7 Day Driftwood Treasure Ireland: Monday at 08.10am

7 Day Driftwood Castles and Kingdoms: Sunday at 08.20am

6 Day Driftwood Ancient Ireland: Sunday at 08.10am

6 Day Driftwood Northern Island: Sunday at 08.10am

Booking Suitable Flight Times

We strongly advise that you book your flights arrive at least the night before your scheduled tour departure.

We aim to have you back in Dublin between 5-6pm on the final day of your tour. If you're planning to fly out on the last night of your tour, please do not book a flight that departs Dublin Airport before 10pm.

Find out more about how to get to Dublin from Dublin Airport.

You don't have to pre-book activities until you join your tour. While on tour, your VagaGuide will advise you when you need to book an optional extra.

⚠️ IMPORTANT: The only exception is the Skellig Michael Island landing option. This optional extra is only available on the 12 Day Vagabond Giant Irish Adventure Tour. It requires prior booking at least 45 days before you arrive in Ireland.

For all other optional activities, your VagaGuide tour guide will discuss what's available on Day 1 of your tour. They will gauge interest from the group for each experience and keep you informed as you tour about when you need to book and which activities require cash.

You can also check what optional activities are available on your itinerary.

Read more about the Skellig Michael Landing

Yes, our Ireland tour itineraries are flexible.

Our scheduled departures feature set itineraries. While hotel stops each evening are fixed, daily activities are flexible.

Why Focus On Flexibility?

Flexibility allows your VagaGuide tour guide to change your tour to suit the preferences of the group.

Or the famously changeable Irish weather.

But the other reason to offer flexible itineraries of Ireland is that it makes your experience more magical.

Your tour will feature surprise stops and unlisted destinations that you won't find on the itinerary (or in any guidebook).

We're proud that no Vagabond or Driftwood Tour is ever the same.

Itinerary Alterations

Flexibility also means that some items on our listed itinerary may not be included on your tour. Do let us know — by email (enquiries@vagabond.ie) — if you are particularly interested in a certain stop or activity.

Please be aware that, in isolated circumstances, there may be unscheduled alterations to the hotels listed on our itineraries. We will inform you as soon as possible if this happens. Rest assured that any alternate hotels will match or be superior to the standard of our listed accommodation.

Can Activities Be Adjusted or Swapped?

Our VagaGuides strive to ensure every guest has an unforgettable experience and will do their best to accommodate individual preferences. However, our tours do follow a set itinerary with a time frame to maintain.

While small adjustments may be possible, particularly if the group is in agreement, major changes or substitutions aren't always feasible.

If you have specific concerns about an activity, feel free to reach out to us in advance and we'll do our best to assist.

Pre-Booking Activities

Aside from the Skellig Michael landing on our 12 Day Vagabond Giant Irish Adventure Tour, there's no need to pre-book activities. We'll arrange everything for you while on tour.

For those seeking even more flexibility, be sure to explore our private tours where you can tailor the itinerary and make adjustments to suit your preferences.

Our regular touring season in 2025 runs from March 9^th until October 21^st.

Some activities and attractions do not operate year-round. March and October departures are particularly affected. Where possible, we will offer a suitable replacement activity.

Mid-May to Mid-September Only

• 🛥️ Skellig Michael Landing (Only Available on the 12 Day Giant Irish Adventure)
• 🐬 Skellig Islands Cruise (Available on the Following Tours)

April to October Only

• 🌼 Garnish Island Boat Trip - The gardens on Garnish Island are closed each March. For the tours featuring Garnish Island as an Optional Extra that depart during the month of March, a boat tour of Glengarriff Bay is available instead of the Garnish Island Gardens trip.

Rest assured, you can count on us for fair pricing, fantastic service and flexible booking terms.

Here's our 2025 price list:

🛶 Active Vagabond Cultural Adventures

🏰 Driftwood Journeys of Discovery

🤗 Single Supplement Rates

If you are travelling solo, we charge a single supplement to cover additional hotel charges.

Find out how much each tour single supplement is on this FAQ

Simple answer = Lots!

All of our tours are packed with great scenery, local Irish culture and loads of laughs.

Active Vagabond Tours feature optional adventure activities such as:

• Sea Kayaking
• Surfing
• Rowing
• Horseback-riding

Your options on easy-paced Driftwood Tours are more relaxed:

• Horse-drawn Carriage Rides
• Guided Castle Tours
• Boat Trips

For a full list of optional activities and prices, check out the What's Included tab on each tour page:

🏰 Driftwood Journeys of Discovery

• 💚 11 Day Driftwood Discover Ireland Tour
• 🌊 8 Day Driftwood Wild Atlantic Way Tour
• 🌊 7 Day Driftwood Treasure Ireland Tour
• 🏰 7 Day Driftwood Castles & Kingdoms Tour
• ⚔️ 6 Day Driftwood Great Southern Ireland Tour
• 🐑 6 Day Driftwood Northern Island Tour

🥾 Vagabond Cultural Adventures

• ☘️ 12 Day Vagabond Giant Irish Adventure Tour
• 🌄 8 Day Vagabond Wild Irish Rover Tour
• 🌍 7 Day Vagabond World Tour of Ireland
• 🛶 7 Day Vagabond Magnetic North Tour
• 🏴‍☠️ 5 Day Vagabond Edge of the World Tour