Wales Tours & Holidays

Wales is often associated with daffodils, leeks and sheep, but there’s much more to this small but mighty country than you may know. The Welsh are a very proud nation and are known to be some of the friendliest and most hospitable people in the world. The people of Wales are a mixture of Welsh, British and several minority immigrant groups.

English and Welsh are spoken across most of Wales, but Welsh is spoken by more than half a million people and is the primary language in some parts of the country, particularly in the north. The Welsh language and many Welsh traditions have roots in Celtic heritage and share similarities with Irish and Scottish culture.

Wales is famous for its vibrant arts culture and has born literary giants such as Dylan Thomas, Roald Dahl and Jan Morris. They also have a busy festival calendar including the Eisteddfod, the largest music and poetry festival in Europe. Rugby is the nations most loved sport and is entrenched in the culture, especially around the time of the Six Nations Rugby League.

Wales is located on the west coast of Britain next to England. The geography is diverse and the landscapes are brimming with natural beauty. In fact, a quarter of Wales is designated a national park or an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. South and West Wales are mostly flat coastal planes, but as you move inland you’ll discover rolling hills, valleys and mountains.

North Wales is the home of Snowdonia (the UK’s second-largest mountain after Ben Nevis in Scotland) which is full of craggy peaks, lakes, waterfalls and greenery. There are also 50 inhabited and uninhabited islands off Wales, many of which are home to an abundance of wildlife including gannets, puffins and Manx shearwater.

The climate in Wales is temperature, meaning it has distinct seasonal changes and diverse temperature ranges throughout the year. Winter is cold, damp and grey while summer sees warmer temperatures and less rain. 

The National Eisteddfod is one of the highlights of the Welsh festival calendar. Dating back to 1176, it’s a celebration of Welsh culture, language, poetry, music, dance, literature and just about every other creative outlet in between. It's held during the first week of August every year, and brings 150,000 people together from diverse communities and backgrounds. You don’t have to be Welsh to join in and have fun, and it's an amazing insight into the culture and history of this rich nation. 

Green Man Festival

Take a stunning stretch of Welsh countryside in the Brecon Beacons, add some top-notch musicians and performers, a zero corporate sponsorship ethos and a brilliant range of local suppliers and you have Green Man Festival. It’s grown from a fun field party to one of Europe’s most renowned festivals. The Mountain’s Foot stage is nestled at the foothills of the Black Mountains and works as a natural amphitheatre. There’s also a giant statue of a green man (hence the name). Enjoy communal barbeques, catch a comedy, take part in circus workshops or dance the days and nights away.  

Sŵn Festival

Sŵn Festival (sŵn meaning ‘sound’ in Welsh) in Cardiff is a multi-venue three-day music festival hosted by BBC Radio 1. It brings hundreds of bands, musicians and rising stars across Wales and the UK to the vibrant capital city. The great thing about Sŵn Festival is that you’ll discover loads of cool pubs, bars and music venues as you hop from different events. One minute you could be watching an indie-pop band in a converted antique centre, and the next you could be listening to rock jazz in a lively Irish pub. 

Abergavenny Food Festival

The Abergavenny Food Festival is a must for all foodies and culinary fanatics. Local farmers and food producers, famous chefs and food journalists gather every September to cook up a storm. You’ll find everything from freshly shucked oysters and cheese boards to Welsh-smoked meats and Indian street food. Not only can you sample your way through some superb dishes, but you can watch live cooking demos, do cookery workshops and listen to experts battle it out on topical debates on all things food. Fill your shopping bag with locally grown fruit n’ veg or treat yourself to some tasty artisan treats to take home with you.

The food scene in Wales is pumping, especially in the bigger towns and cities where you can find cuisines from around the world. But if you want to tuck into traditional Welsh fare, here are some dishes you can try.

Welsh rarebit 

Probably the most iconic national dish, Welsh rarebit has made a name for itself all over the world. It's essentially an upgrade of the classic cheese on toast. A mouthwatering mixture made of eggs, cheese, mustard, Worcestershire sauce and beer (trust us on this one, it’s delicious) is slathered on toasted bread and then grilled. It's guaranteed to go down a treat whether it's eaten as a tasty snack, light meal or base for other toppings such as ham, bacon, tomatoes, mushrooms or spinach.

Welsh cake

The humble Welsh cake is the nation’s favourite teatime treat. It’s made from a mixture of flour, butter, sugar, eggs, sultanas, raisins and currants that is then shaped into patties and fried on a bakestone. Slightly crisp on the outside with a buttery, melt-in-the-mouth inside, you’ll be reaching for another as soon as you’ve finished your last bite. Welsh cakes are best served straight out of the oven with a piping hot cuppa.

Glamorgan sausage 

A Glamorgan sausage is a traditional vegetarian sausage made from leek, Caerphilly cheese and breadcrumbs. With a crunchy breadcrumb layer and gooey, cheesy centre, Glamorgan sausages are satiating and packed with flavour. They make a great savoury snack dipped in mustard mayo or they can be served as a main with salad and potatoes.

Cawl

Cawl is a Welsh classic that feels like a warm hug after every spoonful. It’s a hearty stew made from Welsh lamb and seasonal veggies including swede, carrots, parsnips and potatoes. It’s a simple and healthy dish that is perfect to warm up on a cold winter’s day. Cawl is best served with a dollop of Caerphilly cheese and a wedge of crusty bread slathered with butter.

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).

However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

Learn more about Intrepid’s COVID-19 policy

Visas in the UK are granted on a UK wide basis, so if you’re coming from overseas and have been given a visa it will be valid for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Visa regulations are always subject to change, which is more likely after Britain's exit from the European Union (EU), It's essential to check before leaving home on GOV.UK. Citizens of the EU, Australia, Canada and the United States have visa-free access to Wales provided you meet the immigration rules.

Tipping isn’t customary in Wales, but you’re welcome to round up the bill or leave some spare change if you’re happy with a service. This is common in cafes, restaurants, bars and taxis. It's never usually more than 10% of the bill. Some restaurants add a service charge of 10% or 12.5% to the bill, so there’s no need to tip in this case. For taxis, it’s quite normal to round up the fare to the nearest pound.

• “Alright?” = Hello, how are you?

• “Cwtch” = a hug/cuddle 

• “Where you to?” = Where are you?

• “Lush” =  (from luscious) meaning very nice, amazing, gorgeous 

• “Tamping” = a term used to describe your anger or frustration at something 

• “Drive” = bus or taxi driver, e.g. when you get off the bus it’s common to say “Cheers, drive”

• “Chopsing” = arguing or getting mouthy 

• “What’s occurin’?” a term meaning “Hello, what’s happening?” that was popularised in BBC sitcom Gavin and Stacey 

• “I’m not being funny” = a term used before someone says something serious and perhaps offensive

You’ll have reliable Wi-Fi and mobile data in Wales’ cities, towns and villages. Internet access can be patchy in rural and remote areas such as Snowdonia National Park.

You’ll have mobile coverage across most of Wales, except for some rural and remote areas. Remember to activate global roaming with your provider if you’re travelling from overseas and wish to use your mobile while travelling.

Cup of coffee = £2.50

Pint of beer = £3.50

Glass of wine = £4.00

Cafe or pub lunch = £10-12

Dinner at a mid-range restaurant = £25-30

Major credit cards are widely accepted in shops and hotels in the UK. Smaller shops may not accept credit cards and it’s never a bad idea to carry some cash for smaller purchases like a coffee or if you’re splitting bills with your group.

ATMs are called cash machines or cashpoints in the UK. You’ll see plenty of them around on main streets and shopping centres. You can use Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, Plus, Amex and Cirrus at most Welsh cash machines, as well as international bank cash machines in big cities like Cardiff and Swansea.

Absolutely. Your travel insurance details will be recorded by your leader on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is very much an essential and necessary part of every trip.

Please speak to your Adventure Consultant at the time of booking if you need assistance arranging insurance. Learn more about travel insurance.

Wales is an LGBTQI+ friendly destination and there are many social meeting places for the LGBTQI+ in major cities like Cardiff. For more detailed and up-to-date advice, we recommend visiting Equaldex or Smartraveller before you travel.

Intrepid is committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. That’s why we do our best to help as many people see the world as possible, regardless of any physical or mental limitations they might have. We’re always happy to talk to travellers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them towards the most suitable itinerary for their needs and where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.

Learn more about Accessible Travel with Intrepid

Read more on how to travel to Wales

Read more on the best time to visit Wales