Ireland Private Group Tour – May 2026
This explains the rules in clear language. The Legal Terms & Conditions govern.

This is a small, professionally guided private group tour. Because space is limited and arrangements are made well in advance, there are firm policies around payment, cancellations, insurance, behavior, and participation. Please read carefully.

1. How Booking Works

• Your place is reserved with a $1,000 USD non-refundable deposit per person

• The deposit holds your spot but is not payment in full

• Paying the deposit means you agree to the Terms & Conditions

2. Tour Pricing

• $7,200 USD per person (double occupancy)

• $8,700 USD per person (single occupancy, includes $1,500 single supplement)

3. Payment Schedule

• First half of the tour cost is due February 17, 2026

• Final balance is due no later than April 16, 2026

• You may pay earlier if you wish

• Missing a payment deadline may result in cancellation

4. Refunds & Cancellations (In Plain Terms)

• The deposit is always non-refundable

• Refunds, if any, depend on how far in advance you cancel

• Once the tour begins, there are no refunds for any reason

• If a reservation is cancelled for non-payment, services stop immediately

5. Reinstatement After Cancellation

• Reinstatement is not guaranteed

• If allowed, it requires:

  • Full payment of all outstanding balances

  • A $150 USD reinstatement fee

• No reinstatements are permitted within 14 days of departure

• If the tour is sold out or suppliers cannot accommodate reinstatement, the cancellation is final

6. Travel Insurance (Required)

• Comprehensive travel insurance is required for all participants

• Required coverage must include:

  • Trip cancellation

  • Trip interruption

  • Medical coverage

  • Baggage protection

• “Cancel For Any Reason” (CFAR) coverage is strongly recommended but not required

• Insurance is the only remedy for cancellations, interruptions, or issues after the tour begins

7. Group Size

• Maximum of 12 guests

• The host guide and professional driver do not count toward this number

• A minimum of 8 paid guests is required for the tour to operate

8. What’s Included (Highlights)

• 10 nights of quality accommodations

• Daily breakfast (with a few exceptions)

• Four group dinners (alcohol not included)

• Private coach transportation

• Guided experiences and entrance fees

• Professional host guide throughout

9. Alcohol & Conduct

• Alcohol is never included

• You pay for your own alcohol, if any

• Excessive drinking, unsafe behavior, or disruption of the group can result in removal from the tour with no refund

• The host guide and/or driver make that decision. It is final.

10. Physical Requirements

• Expect walking on uneven ground, stairs, hills, and cobblestones

• You must be able to walk independently

• No refunds for missed activities due to physical limitations

11. Weather & Itinerary Changes

• Ireland’s weather is unpredictable

• Activities or sites may change for safety or logistics

• The host guide and driver make final decisions

• No refunds for itinerary changes

12. Photography & Media Use

• Photos, video, and audio may be captured during the tour

• These may be used for promotional and marketing purposes without compensation

• If you prefer not to be individually photographed, you may notify us in writing before departure

• We will make reasonable efforts for individual photos, but exclusion from group or candid images cannot be guaranteed

Byways & Backroads – Ireland Private Group Tour (2026)

Please read these Terms & Conditions carefully. Booking this tour and/or submitting any payment constitutes your agreement to all terms outlined below.

1. Booking & Payment

A non-refundable deposit of $1,000.00 USD per person is required at the time of booking to secure a place on this tour.

By February 17, 2026, the first half of the total tour cost must be paid. Any remaining balance must be paid in full no later than April 16, 2026.

Payments may be made earlier than the stated due dates at the traveler’s discretion.

These payment terms apply regardless of room type selection.

Tour Pricing by Room Type:

• Double Occupancy: $7,200.00 USD per person
• Single Occupancy: $7,200.00 USD per person plus a single supplement of $1,500.00 USD, for a total of $8,700.00 USD

Failure to submit required payments by the stated deadlines may result in cancellation of the reservation and forfeiture of all payments made, including the deposit.

2. Tour Pricing

Tour pricing is based on current exchange rates, supplier contracts, and operating costs. Prices may be adjusted prior to final payment in the event of significant currency fluctuations, fuel surcharges, increased supplier costs, or other circumstances beyond our control. Travelers will be notified promptly should this occur.

Once the final balance is paid, pricing is locked and will not increase.

3. Group Size & Eligibility

This is a small-group journey, limited to a maximum of 12 guests, to preserve a personalized and connected travel experience.

The professional driver and host guide are not included in the guest count and do not count toward the maximum number of participants.

A minimum of 8 paid participants is required for the tour to operate.

If the minimum number of participants is not met by March 1, 2026, Byways & Backroads reserves the right to cancel the tour. In such event, all payments received will be refunded in full or, at the sole discretion of Byways & Backroads, applied as a credit toward a future tour.

The refund or credit described above shall constitute the sole and exclusive remedy available to participants in the event the minimum group size is not met. No additional compensation, reimbursement, or damages shall be owed.

4. What’s Included & What’s Not Included

Included in the Tour Price:

• 10 nights of 4-star accommodations or comparable
• Daily breakfast, except on arrival and departure days
• Four group dinners (alcoholic beverages not included)
• All listed site entrance fees
• Private coach transportation with professional driver
• Ferry transportation to Inis Mór
• Five guided walking tours
• Expert host guide throughout the program
• All applicable taxes and service charges

Not Included:

• International airfare
• Airport transfers on arrival day
• Meals not specifically listed as included
• Alcoholic beverages at any time
• Personal expenses of any kind
• Optional activities not listed in the itinerary
• Travel insurance (required)
• Gratuities for driver and local guides

5. Alcohol & Personal Expenses

Alcoholic beverages are not included at any time during this tour. Any alcohol purchased is the sole financial responsibility of the traveler.

Excessive alcohol consumption, disruptive behavior, unsafe conduct, or actions that negatively impact the group experience will not be tolerated. The host guide and/or professional driver have full authority to determine whether behavior is inappropriate or unsafe.

Participants removed from the tour due to alcohol-related misconduct or other egregious behavior will be dismissed immediately, at their own expense, with no refund of any kind.

6. Cancellations & Refunds (By Participant)

All cancellations must be submitted in writing.

• The $1,000.00 USD deposit is non-refundable
• 90 days or more prior to departure: Refund of payments made beyond the deposit
• 60–89 days prior to departure: 50% of total tour price refunded
• Less than 60 days prior to departure: No refund available

Refunds, when applicable, will be issued based on payments received and recoverable supplier costs. Non-recoverable expenses may reduce refund amounts.

Travel insurance is required. Failure to obtain required travel insurance does not alter cancellation or refund policies.

7. Cancellations, Non-Payment & Reinstatement

Byways & Backroads reserves the right to cancel a reservation for non-payment if required payments are not received by stated deadlines.

If a reservation is cancelled for non-payment, the following apply:

• The deposit remains non-refundable
• Any refunds beyond the deposit are governed by Section 6
• No services will be provided once cancellation is effective

Reinstatement Policy

If space remains available, a cancelled reservation may be reinstated only at the sole discretion of Byways & Backroads and only after full payment of all outstanding balances is received, plus a $150 USD reinstatement/administrative fee.

No reinstatements will be permitted within 14 days of the tour’s departure date.

Reinstatement is not guaranteed and may require rebooking under updated availability, pricing, and supplier terms. All reinstatements must be confirmed in writing by Byways & Backroads.

Reinstatement will not be permitted if the tour is sold out, if the cancellation occurs within 14 days of the tour’s departure date (i.e., fewer than 14 days remain before departure), or if suppliers are unable to accommodate reinstatement. In such cases, the cancellation will remain final.

8. Cancellations or Changes (By Tour Host)

Byways & Backroads reserves the right to cancel the tour prior to departure if the minimum group size is not met or if circumstances beyond our control make the tour impossible to operate.

In the event of force majeure, including but not limited to natural disasters, government actions, pandemics, strikes, illness, or other unforeseen events, refunds are not guaranteed. Where possible, rescheduling or future credit may be offered, subject to supplier policies.

Once the tour has begun, no refunds will be issued for cancellations, interruptions, early departures, or changes of any kind. Required travel insurance is the sole remedy after departure.

9. Travel Insurance (Required)

Comprehensive travel insurance is required for all participants and must include, at a minimum, coverage for trip cancellation, trip interruption, medical expenses, and baggage loss or delay.

“Cancel For Any Reason” (CFAR) coverage is strongly recommended but not required. Eligibility rules, coverage limitations, and purchase deadlines for CFAR policies are determined by the insurance provider and are the traveler’s responsibility.

Failure to obtain required travel insurance does not alter these Terms & Conditions and does not entitle any participant to a refund, credit, or exception to cancellation or payment policies.

10. Mobility & Physical Requirements

This tour involves moderate to strenuous walking over uneven terrain, stairs, inclines, and cobblestones. Some locations involve steep or exposed terrain.

This itinerary is not suitable for travelers requiring mobility aids. Participants must be able to walk unaided for extended periods.

No refunds will be issued for missed activities due to physical limitations.

11. Luggage

Each traveler is limited to one medium-sized suitcase and one carry-on item.

Due to limited coach storage and frequent hotel changes, packing light is strongly recommended. Oversized or excess luggage may not be accommodated.

12. Weather, Site Access & Itinerary Changes

Ireland’s weather can be unpredictable. Outdoor activities and site visits may be modified, delayed, or cancelled due to weather, safety, or operational conditions.

Final decisions regarding itinerary changes rest with the host guide in cooperation with the professional driver, with safety and group experience as the primary considerations.

No refunds will be issued for itinerary changes.

13. Tour Leader Authority

The host guide has absolute authority over all operational, safety, and behavioral matters during the tour. The professional driver shares authority related to transportation safety.

Participants agree to follow all instructions issued by the host guide or professional driver. Decisions are final and not subject to negotiation.

Failure to comply may result in immediate removal from the tour at the participant’s expense, with no refund.

14. Photography, Video, and Likeness Release

Participation in this tour constitutes irrevocable consent to the capture and use of a traveler’s image, likeness, voice, name, and appearance in photographs, video, audio recordings, or other media created during the tour.

Byways & Backroads may use such materials for promotional, marketing, educational, commercial, and informational purposes, in any format and medium now known or later developed, worldwide and in perpetuity, without further consent, notice, approval, or compensation.

Travelers expressly waive any claims related to the use of such materials, including but not limited to claims for compensation, invasion of privacy, or misappropriation.

Photography Opt-Out Acknowledgment (Limited Practicality)

While participation in this tour constitutes consent to photography and media use as described above, travelers who prefer not to be individually photographed or recorded may notify Byways & Backroads in writing prior to departure.

Byways & Backroads will make reasonable efforts to accommodate such requests when practicable, particularly in situations involving posed or individual photography. However, travelers acknowledge and agree that it is not possible to guarantee exclusion from photographs, video, or audio recordings captured during group activities, public settings, or candid moments where multiple participants are present.

By participating in group activities, travelers understand and accept that their image, likeness, or appearance may be incidentally included in group or background media and that such inclusion does not constitute a violation of this agreement.

15. Responsibility & Liability Disclaimer

Byways & Backroads acts solely as an agent for independent third-party suppliers and does not own, operate, manage, supervise, or control them.

Byways & Backroads is not liable for injury, illness, death, loss, damage, delay, inconvenience, expense, or disruption arising from third-party acts or circumstances beyond our control.

Travel involves inherent risks. Participants knowingly and voluntarily assume all such risks.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Byways & Backroads disclaims liability for all claims except where required by law.

16. Promotional Pricing

Any promotional, discounted, or special pricing is offered at the sole discretion of Byways & Backroads, is time-limited, and applies only to the specific proposal in which it is documented. Promotional pricing does not alter, replace, or override these Terms & Conditions and is not available retroactively or beyond the stated acceptance period.

17. Acceptance of Terms

By booking this tour, submitting payment, or participating in any portion of the itinerary, you expressly acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to be legally bound by these Terms & Conditions.

This agreement applies to all travelers on the booking and is enforceable whether or not a separate document has been signed. Submission of payment constitutes acceptance on behalf of all travelers included in the booking.

Failure to review these Terms & Conditions does not relieve any traveler of their obligations.