Your Tour of Wales

Wow! Stop scrolling for guides and book John directly! I was fortunate to find John who expertly put together a custom first time visit to Wales tour with a special emphasis on my family ancestry. I was short on time (just one day), and John not only brought the local knowledge, language and expertise, but the energy to cover over 200 miles to visit a wide variety of spots from castles, to cultural icons, to natural wonders, cute villages and local food specialties. John also squeezed in sites relevant to my ancestry, even texting along the way a genealogy colleague who provided a missing piece to the puzzle! John is charismatic, funny and an excellent guide. Flexible and imaginative all along the way. He was still sending me ideas of things to do the next day! I couldn't have been more thrilled with the experience in John's capable hands.

Entrusting someone out of the blue with such an important experience can be stressful - but I will be back one day and John is my first call. Don't hesitate!

Thank you John for making my trip so memorable!

Deciding to allocate a portion of your travel budget to a tour guide is a big decision with consequences. Pick the wrong one, and you’re not only out the money, but you can never get back the time you spent on an unsatisfactory experience. A tour guide can either make or break your trip.

After doing my research, I reached out to John Pritchard of Celticos to discuss my group’s upcoming trip to North Wales. From our very first encounter, I knew this was a guy who paid attention to details and was a great listener. Over the course of six months, we had numerous email exchanges along with Zoom calls to customize our experience. John even helped us problem-solve some of our challenging travel logistics. We were so impressed with him through the planning process that we added a fourth day to our tour before ever meeting him in person!

John made our trip to North Wales one of the most memorable, enjoyable, and informative trips we have ever taken. His genuine warmth and sense of humor just added to the charm of this stunning place. His love for his country and its people was contagious. On the day we said goodbye to him, every one of us felt like we were leaving a dear friend. That’s how John makes you feel.

Don’t hesitate to book a tour of Wales with John Pritchard of Celticos. He gave us an exceptional experience, and we can’t recommend him highly enough.

Second time touring with John and like a fine wine - or some of the Welsh cheese he brought along for sampling - he's getting better with age, if that's even possible. Consummate professional, taking the things you want to do and see and expanding to make your experience as layered and rich as you could ever want. His knowledge and passion are both considerable and obvious. He's always looking out for new and interesting things, all the while showing maximum concern for your comfort and safety. He clearly cares about his clients and strives to give them the best time for their investment. And hands-down one of the best drivers I've ever seen!

This is one of those situations where you come in as a customer and truly leave as a friend, but I understand that may not be what people really want... when you're paying for a bespoke tour, you probably want to leave with memories of a good time more than a new buddy. Be assured in that case, John and Celticos are definitely your ticket to the Welsh experience of a lifetime. When we first toured with him two years ago, I knew nothing about Wales and came out of it with a hunger to go back, to see and hear more about this beautiful country and intriguing culture. I wrote to him with a few ideas, which he developed into an incredible itinerary covering the central region. Over three days, John delivered for us again in a big way. From UNESCO sites to incredible scenery in the national parks, charming villages, and stunning castles/gardens, Wales just makes you want to keep coming back and there's no one better to do it with than John. I recommend him once again with the highest confidence!

We had an incredible experience touring Anglesey and the surrounding area with John. From the very start, his communication was excellent, making everything smooth and easy to plan. Our group ranged in age from our children (10, 11, and 12) to my 75-year-old mother, who had never traveled abroad before, and John was wonderfully accommodating to everyone. His deep knowledge, thoughtful approach, and great sense of fun made the day engaging for all of us—our kids especially loved him. He also partnered with a colleague to help weave in our family's ancestry, which made the day uniquely meaningful. It was truly a special experience that we will always remember.

We recently booked a 3-day tour of Wales and had the most incredible experience, all thanks to our guide, John. From the very beginning to the end, John went above and beyond to ensure our trip was smooth, comfortable, and deeply memorable. Everything about the tour was top-tier. We traveled in a luxurious Mercedes vehicle that made long drives really comfortable. He expertly planned our daily itineraries to cover different areas in Wales, and smartly adapted to the diverse and changing weather conditions. He took the time to understand our preferences and gave us valuable, personalised advice. He shared fascinating insights on Welsh culture and history, while being genuinely curious and open to learning about our own culture.

He is warm, friendly, incredibly cooperative, and truly knows how to showcase the absolute best of Wales in a short span of time. If you are planning a trip to Wales, I highly recommend booking this tour!

We recently completed a four-day tour of North Wales with John from Celticos, and it was nothing short of exceptional from start to finish. John’s commitment to our experience began long before we even set foot in Wales. He coordinated with us via Zoom and stayed in constant communication to answer our many questions. What truly set him apart was his willingness to help us problem-solve our travel logistics, ensuring our arrival was stress-free. Once we arrived, John’s hospitality was unmatched. He provided excellent suggestions and customized our tour based on our interests. John was incredibly generous with his time, frequently staying with us well beyond his scheduled hours, driven by a genuine desire to ensure we didn't miss a single wonder that North Wales has to offer. I cannot recommend John highly enough. If you want to see the heart of Wales through the eyes of someone who truly loves it, book with him immediately!

We used Celticos for two days of touring North Wales. It was a phenomenal experience. We're a family of four (kids were ages 9 and 11 at the time of our tour). John, the tour guide, was friendly, engaging, and very informative. He customized our days to fit our broad plans and helped guide us towards restaurants and other sightseeing spots that we hadn't identified in advance. Our main goals were to see castles including Beaumaris, Conwy, and Harlech. We did Beaumaris and Conwy in one day, with John showing us around Conwy and pointing us to a great lunch spot. The second day we drove to Harlech, stopping at a site of Roman ruins on the way. After Harlech, John suggested a drive through the scenic Snowdonia region including lunch in an amazing mountain town. He dropped us off at the Bangor train station at the end of the day so we could catch a train to our next destination. Additionally, John was very communicative in advance of our trip, even helping to coordinate a taxi for us from Bangor to Caernarfon, where we were staying. I cannot recommend John and Celticos tours enough. It was the best way to see North Wales and a true highlight of our trip to the UK.

Spectacular day with John and Celticos that was the highlight of our Iceland/UK cruise. We booked directly with John. He met us at the port and scheduled a breathtaking tour of Snowdonia, Caernarfon Castle, and the west coast including the lighthouse, all can't-miss destinations. The cruise excursions each offered only one of these destinations, so John is the way to go if you want to see everything and only have one day. Maximized our six hours in port and John got us comfortably back to the ship before embarkation. Spotless and comfortable Mercedes vehicle. And the best part is John is just a wonderful person to spend the day with!

I cannot recommend this tour enough and John was the best tour guide we have ever had!! We spent 5 days traveling around Wales and only wished we had more time. John was so incredibly helpful- he found us the most amazing views, cutest towns, best food recommendations, and was constantly adjusting the itinerary based on what we were showing interest in. We would have never made it to all these special and hidden sites without his help. I highly recommend this tour to anyone interested in seeing the natural beauty and quaint villages of Wales. - especially the north western region! Thank you John!

We connected with John 8 months before our planned tour of Wales in June 2026. We had a rough outline of where we wanted to go and experience. After meeting on FaceTime, we discussed further ideas. John designed a route for us with options and background information. After a few weeks of back and forth, we had a plan for a 6 day circuit of Wales! After that John offered some suggestions for accommodations and eateries. We wanted a scenic, off the beaten path, tour of Wales, with a stop in Pontypridd to find some family history. We kept in constant communication, and even had a few minor last minute changes. John’s knowledge of Wales, along with his passion, made for an incredible journey. Small town cafe’s and restaurants, local haunts, gorgeous beaches and cliffs - you won’t get this on any big tour. Comfortable Mercedes Van that goes anywhere. Welsh treats and snacks (Snowdonia Black Bomber Cheese anyone?). This is the best guided tour we’ve ever been on (and we have travelled the world). Worth every penny (or should I say “pence”). To sum up - amazing, thoughtful, flexible, warm and kind hearted. Diolch yn fawr iawn John.