Road trips and guided tours around Wales

Ten days isn’t enough to see every corner of Wales, but this tour by Cambrian Routes shows you far more than you might expect. Starting from the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct UNESCO World Heritage Site and Llangollen, the tour heads west to Conwy, through Snowdonia then down to St Davids Cathedral, before heading east towards Tintern and the Wye Valley. The route includes visits to some of our National Museums, as well as more subtle attractions such as Laugharne, the Pentre Ifan neolithic burial chamber and Nevern Church.

Dragon Tours include sights from many different phases of Welsh history and industry in their ten-day road trip, such as prehistoric sites in the Preseli Hills, Roman Caerleon, Medieval Tintern and Hay-on-Wye. You’ll also see the castles, mountains and villages of Snowdonia and North Wales. A six-day version is possible.

Welsh Dragon Tours offer an enjoyable guided road trip for groups of up to four people who are keen to find out more about Wales’ distinctive language, culture, history and myths while seeing the sights. Enjoy a seven day (six nights) Grand Tour of All Wales, starting North to South or vice versa, dependant on meeting points. Alternatively, people can book four days (three nights) in North or South Wales.

With Celticos, you can choose from tours lasting between one and 12 days to discover as much of Wales as your time allows. The most outstanding experience on offer is the five-day North Wales experience which takes you from the coast of Anglesey to the mountains of Snowdonia, the Llŷn Peninsula, and from the great castles like UNESCO World Heritage Site Conwy Castle to the Italianate village of Portmeirion, and on to Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, the bridge in the air, another World Heritage Site. Their experienced local guides ensure that you discover hidden gems, meet local people at work and play, and learn about the unique culture of this historic region.

With four days to explore, Welsh Dragon Tours can guide you on a loop up from Cardiff into the richly wooded Wye Valley and the wild, grassy hills of the Brecon Beacons National Park, then southwest into the urban and rural reaches of Dylan Thomas country – Swansea, Gower and Laugharne – before continuing west to Pembrokeshire and the Christian sites of St Davids and St Nons.

With two nights in a country house hotel in one of Snowdonia’s prettiest villages, Beddgelert, this guided mini-coach tour by Where When Wales starts in Cardiff, heads north via the Elan Valley and immerses you in some of the finest scenery in North Wales. You’ll see Portmeirion, Caernarfon and the best of Anglesey, including Plas Newydd House and Gardens, and South Stack lighthouse and nature reserve. In a break from the road, you’ll get to the summit of Snowdon with a trip on the Snowdon Mountain Railway.

South Wales Personal Tours drive you north from Cardiff via the Brecon Beacons to Snowdonia for a heritage-focused, small-group tour. The middle day of the three is absolutely packed. You’ll take a trip on the Snowdon Mountain Railway, visit Caernarfon Castle and cross the Menai Strait to Anglesey to see Llanfair PG and Bryn Celli Ddu Burial Chamber. Then you’ll finish off in the traditional seaside resort of Llandudno, ready for a scenic journey back through Mid Wales on the third day.

It’s amazing what you can cram into a two-day trip through Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion, since many of the best spots are close together. The journey by road from Cardiff to the pretty town of Tenby only takes a couple of hours, leaving plenty of time for sightseeing. Where When Wales will show you St Davids Cathedral, Pembroke Castle, the Preseli Hills and some of the pretty coastal spots which inspired Dylan Thomas.

In this overnight tour, South Wales Personal Tours seeks out some of the quirkier places of interest in Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire, such as the Dylan Thomas Boathouse in Laugharne, St Govan’s Chapel and St Non’s Well, Petrolheads can worship the hallowed ground at Pendine Sands, site of several successful attempts to break the world land speed record in the 1920s, and on the second day, you’ll have a chance to take a short walk on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path.

If you only have one day for a road trip through the countryside around Cardiff, Roam Wales will make sure you make the best of it. You could focus on Swansea’s Maritime Quarter and the Gower Peninsula, or explore South Wales’ industrial heritage and present day food and drink culture at Big Pit, Rhymney Brewery and Abergavenny. Another tour shows you a trio of castles – Cardiff, Castell Coch and Caerphilly – then whisks you into the rolling hills of Brecon Beacons National Park.

Sample food from all around the world with Loving Welsh Food on a Cosmopolitan Cardiff Food Tour. The public tour takes place on Fridays or a private food tour is available from Tuesday to Friday. Starting at Cardiff Castle, stroll around the capital city at a leisurely pace, trying a variety of cuisines, including Welsh dishes. There's time for shopping and enjoying the landmarks too.

Enjoy a walking tour around Cardiff city and the Bay with accredited guides. Cardiff Tours run 'A Walking Tour of Cardiff Bay'. This tour provides a fascinating insight into the history of Cardiff Docks, when it was called Tiger Bay, with its leading role in the coal and iron industries, through to the modern city of today. 

There is also 'A Walking Tour of Cardiff City’, which explores the nooks and crannies of Cardiff city centre, including the many arcades and alleyways. Discover the history of the city and learn some secrets too.

Fogo's Free Tours regularly take place in Cardiff city centre, Cardiff Bay and Swansea. As well as showcasing the history, architecture and characters of the cities, tour options include 'Dark Cardiff' and 'Doctor Who' filming locations. 

Discover Wales with the UK’s only licenced motorcycle and sidecar tour. This unique tour offers a view of the scenic landscapes of North and Mid Wales. Mid Wales Tours, run by a former police officer, has both four and eight hour tours.

Boutique Tours of Wales offer personal service and flexibly designed itineraries. Based in Conwy/Llandudno, this operator is one of the leading ones in Wales and offers tours across the country. Tours can be for a single day or multi day tours.

Knowdonia provide customised itinerary-free tours around Snowdonia and North Wales. With a maximum group size of eight, Knowdonia offer single and multi-day tours. Clients select a speciality experience or location, and complete a questionnaire, which will determine factors for the tour, including fitness levels. Tours are then tailored to requirements, with the details provided on the day.

Shân's Wales Tours provide guided tours from the award winning Twr y Felin, Wales’ first contemporary art hotel, and also Roch Castle and Penrhiw Priory. Shân Eastwood has been been a guide for over eight years and offers exclusive tours of Wales, including St Davids, elsewhere in Pembrokeshire as well as across Wales. She offers a bespoke service and tailors the tours to specific interests. Guests travel in a seven seater leather seated minibus that has a glass roof. 

Find a guide to suit your tour on the Wales Best Guides website. Many of the guides have the prestigious blue badge guide qualification and all go through extensive training. Tours can be tailored to suit different timescales and budgets and can be offered in many languages.

The Wales Way is our family of touring routes that lead you to discover Wales on a self-guided tour. The three main routes take you along the wild shores and seaside towns of our Coastal Way, through The Cambrian Way snaking through the heart of Wales and The North Wales Way coastline. Here are a couple of short road trip ideas to inspire you!

Saints and sea views is a two day trip between St Davids and Aberystwyth, exploring historical sites, hidden beaches and coastal castles. If you have more time, a five day trip along The Cambrian Way takes you from our vibrant capital city Cardiff to the Victorian resort town of Llandudno. On the way you’ll discover our industrial heritage, beautiful countryside and outdoor activities, boutique craft centres and stunning gardens.

The North Wales Way takes you across the top of Wales. This four day itinerary takes you from the foodie heaven of Mold through Victorian seaside resorts to mighty castles on the coast, via spectacular scenery. The tour finishes on the beautiful island of Anglesey.