Swagalong Tours Avis 

I just completed the 18 day tour with Ben and assistant Mitch.
From day 1Ben had an attitude but Mitch and other participants were lovely.
I was the only 2wd vehicle and single occupant. All other vehicles were couples in 4wd Vehicles. This trip was 2wd friendly and I was informed I would be taught everything I need to know, I paid the amount purely for this. I wasted my money. I was taught nothing. The only advice was "pick your line". I had to work everything out myself by watching the caravans. Then the floodwaters again no advice (except tips from other travellers). When approaching a particularly high flood water for my van I actually had to get on the radio and inform of my plan (steady but consistent) to ask and ensure I was approaching correctly.

I am disappointed as I emailed the company a picture of my van prior to attending to ensure good for the trip. My van was good for the trip and went remarkably well. However, this trip/guide did not consider my vehicle at all. Yet when one of the 4wds stopped using 4wd after an issue the guide gave him specific instructions altho he was in a 4wd vehicle and cld use 4wd if chose to unlike myself. In fact one trip I was left behind (met at location and given poor map for reference) whilst all other vehicles went on the 4wd beach track (incl vehicle mentioned above). I was left waiting for 2.5 hours, even tho the meeting location was a short distance away. No foresight or planning. I cld hav left my van and jumped in with someone else or I could have been put on a 2wd trip only.
When the men broke down the guide checked their car at time, when stopped, at camp and next day. After a floodwaters crossing I had a noise in my car. I tried to drive it out and it got louder so I got on radio said I was quickly checking van due to noise. Guide said "stop your flapping around and get back on the road". He will say was for safety but 1. Never said that to any of the men and 2. I pulled off to the side and put my hazards on.
I felt as the only single female and only 2wd I was treated differently/rudely. Even others in group noted this and expressed their concerns to me.
I asked the assistant to help me clean my air filter which he did. A week later when I saw others cleaning theirs I asked the assistant if I shld do mine again. Ben said: "we've shown you once you can do it" ... Yet happily helped the men. The assistant said because of the positioning it actually requires two people. Another participant then offered to help me. Ben come over just to check it was a two person job.
I have many more examples and actually left the group early.
They were happy to take my money but obviously not happy to have me on tour. They did not honour their inclusions and therefore I feel ripped off. Overpriced for what you get.
Tagalong in general is a great idea if new to this sort of driving but I wld not recommend swag along if 2wd, if single female or even if have large vans and don't want to drive too fast, as Ben said "I am not going slow'. We ended up with two groups Ben and two small cans/camper at front and myself and large vans at back and did our own calls as often lead vehicle too far in front to hear.
This trip was a long term dream. Very disappointed. I didn't pay a fortune to be treated like crap and hav to work everything out myself.

Please ensure that you Read the small print and have travel insurance when booking with this tour group. Unfortunately, there is limited flexibility with Ben, the tour owner. My husband suffered a severe accident just two weeks before our departure, during which he nearly lost his life, and he spent an extended period in the hospital with multiple broken bones and spinal injuries. I contacted Ben to explain our situation, providing photographic evidence to substantiate the reason we were unable to attend the tour. While Ben expressed sympathy, we were still required to forfeit 100% of the payment, which was a significant amount.
I understand that the company has a cancellation policy in place, and I recognise that some people may seek to cancel for less serious reasons. However, as a small business owner myself, I believe that, in the spirit of goodwill and basic human courtesy, some accommodation could have been made—especially considering our intent to transfer our booking for the following year for when hubby was back to full health."

I was told in an email the trip was specifically designed for our Explorer 4 x 4 which was not true and the guide took us down a track that I could not get through without damaging my vehicle.
The owner refused to reimburse us the $529 for the damaged awning.
There were days when the guide said you won’t be able to come with us today and can travel with no guide to obscure meeting point and wait several hours.

This business is by the book. They WILL keep your deposit. I offered $500 admin costs to get back my 20%. They refused. I cancelled over a year away. This is not someone I would like to 4wd with due to the lack of goodwill. I’d rather lose my deposit than go with a business who are only about money and their rights. Would they leave me stranded because that too is in their policy? I don’t know. I chose not to take the risk

Edit after reading your response: I simply draw your attention to your terms and conditions and I stand by the fact that you have every right to leave me stranded as per my read. I'm don't feel comfortable taking the risk, given you will not negotiate, even when someone puts a reasonable offer of $500 over a year from departure, that you do not follow your t&c to the letter. I am not addressing your incoherent rant of a response, attack on your competitors and defamation against my character by responding to any of this. People can make their own minds up.

Have just completed a wonderful 18 day tour to Cape York with Ben from Swagalong. We enjoyed ourselves so much and cannot speak highly enough about the tour. The driving, the places and people all wonderful. Highly recommend and would be more that happy to do another swagalong tour