Trip Advisor Reviews
Reviews on Trip Advisor for the Amish Visit-in-Person Tour
The VIP Tour is a must
We had the most wonderful experience last weekend. The Amish Experience offers a VIP (Visit in Person) tour in which you are escorted to three different Amish places of business or home. We first went to a dairy farm and quilt shop, then a greenhouse, and finally had a visit with a family of former vegetable producers. We were able to ask questions about the Amish way of life, how they conduct business without the internet, and other questions about production practices, etc. Our guide was fabulous. I had gone on a trip two years ago, but our guide was just phenomenal. He knew these families and gave us a lot of information. If you really want to get a first-hand experience of Amish life, this is the way to do it.
September 2017
Glimpse into the lives of the Amish.
The VIP experience was a highlight of our trip! We had an excellent tour guide. Apparently she knows the families that we visited and that allowed even more insight, as the families were comfortable with her. When we weren’t sure what questions to ask, her guidance in asking enabled us to learn more information about their daily lives. Being able to see these families in operation, doing their daily tasks was invaluable. This trip was with my 10 yr old daughter and she loved the VIP also. The hour spent with the Amish couple in their home at the end of the tour was an experience we will NEVER forget. They were humble and kind to allow us to ask countless questions to better understand the Amish “way of life”. We learned so much! This type activity has been on my bucket list and I never dreamed we would actually be afforded the experience. Most communities are very reserved with the “English”. Thank you for putting this together and allowing us to get a glimpse into their lives.
October 2017
Fascinating and informative
I went on the VIP (visit in person) tour with my teenage daughter, two friends from Germany and a friend from England. It was a great experience. We met with a young couple who demonstrated how they milk cows and talked about how they farm, a man who runs a carpentry shop, and then sat in a circle with an older couple chatting informally for an hour. We learned about how they do and don’t use electricity (not what I thought!), how their education works, the “rumspringa”, their language, and many other details of their life. Also, the countryside is beautiful, so it was a visual treat. Our tour guide was friendly and knowledgeable. We were driven in a small bus from location to location, so this was not a strenuous trip. I encouraged my European visitors to do this trip rather than spending all their time in New York City, and everyone agreed afterwards that it was a great choice.
June 2017
VIP Tour
We have done the VIP tour before. It was as interesting and educational as the first one. We went to a dairy farm, wood making shop, and a visit with an Amish family. On this tour we visited different places than the first time we went on the tour. You learn new things. Our tour guide was excellent. He was very knowledgeable. The tour consisted of only four people which made the visit with the Amish family more personable. We got to see Sarah’s garden before sitting with the family for the visit.
I would definitely do this tour again.
July 2017
VIP Tour – a must do!
My family and I went on the VIP tour yesterday. We had a phenomenal tour guide and met 2 Amish families and an Amish Entrepreneur. I learned so much about the Amish and understand their life belief so much more. It is a must do while in the area if you want to learn more about them. The one family was nice enough to let us take a picture of the tour feeding the calf as long as we did not take a picture of them.
July 2017
The Real Amish Experience
My wife and I weren’t sure if we wanted to try the VIP – Visit In Person Tour. I tried making reservations for one evening. The website said that evening was already full. I could put our names on a waiting list, so I did. The next morning Amish Experience called to let us know they had space available for our original time spot. We decided to try it, based on the good reviews. We left around 5 pm with our guide. We traveled the back roads as guide gave us a lengthy history of the Amish. Our first stop was a farm of a young Amish couple at milking time. They explained the history of their cows and milking. Very informative. The second stop was at an Amish crafter. We saw what they made, actually made some woodwork while we were there. They explained the tools, finishes and their Amish power supply. Third stop was a sit down with an Amish family. A nice question and answer history of their Amish ways. They also took us out to their workshop to show us what and how they made their craft. Our tour guide made sure to gather each person, Amish and group alike into the tour. The VIP Tour certainly helps you understand the Amish culture and ways. Guide did a great job adding the history of the Amish as well. An Amish Experience we will not forget!
Visited May 2016
Best tour I’ve taken yet!
My husband and I booked the VIP tour along with our hotel stay at the Amishview Inn. What a great choice this was!
Our extremely knowledgeable tour guide was friendly and pleasant. His easy banter with the farm owners made the 3 hour tour seem very quick.
Our tour began with a dairy farm, complete with milking, then a basket weaver and finally, a chat with an Amish family in their home. I asked many questions and learned so much about the Amish.
A great tour, fabulous tour guide and lovely farm owners–by the end, I felt like I’d learned so much and I didn’t want it to be over. It was worth every penny!
Visited May 2016
Authentic way to learn about the Amish
I enjoyed the Amish House and School tour. As a local person I am familiar with the Amish but have seldom been in a home or school. Our knowledgeable tour guide presented a lot of facts and answered questions.
I also went on the three hour VIP tour to an Amish dairy, Amish soap maker and visited in an Amish minister’s home. It was amazing to learn about the Amish from the Amish themselves. Their properties were beautiful with trimmed lawns and amazing flower beds. Every place had friendly pets, happy children and friendly adults ready to tell us about their lives. Our bus driver provided a commentary about the countryside and Amish history and lots of jokes. Very well done. I will certainly recommend the VIP tour to my friends and family.
Visited June 2016
Amish VIP Tour — Very Memorable
My daughters and I did the Amish VIP tour and visited a dairy farm, a carpenter making lighthouses and post boxes and an Amish family. I must admit that some of my past beliefs about how the Amish lived were changed by this visit — they are progressive in that there’s still “no electricity”, but workarounds using diesel fuel and hydraulic pumps — from the dairy farm using vacuum pumps to the carpenter using automatic tools to the washing machine at the Amish house, I was impressed. They are still a very impressive group of people with the history from the Anabaptists coming from Switzerland and Germany. Thoroughly enjoyed the tour and it was a highlight of our trip to Lancaster.
Visited May 2016
VIP Tour
We went on the Visit In Person tour. It is so interesting to interact with the Amish. The tour took us to a dairy farm, wood making shop and a family visit. You get to learn more about their lifestyle and beliefs. It is so educational. Our tour guide was so informative. He was able to answer all the questions about the Amish. Also, he know them personally when we went on the tour.
I would definitely do this again.
Visited June 2016
VIP Tour
We are local, having lived in Lancaster for 30+ years. Finally decided to do this tour even though it is in “our back yard”. My husband and I learned quite a bit. It was very informative and quite interesting. Our guide is quite knowledgeable and very amicable! My husband was initially grumbling about going – “why do I need to go see the Amish, etc.!” In typical fashion, he ended up enjoying himself and having a good time. It just made me sad to hear that the dairy cows are rewarded for all their years of service and hard work, with being turned into hamburger.
Visited June 2016
A 4th of July Treat
I had bought three tickets to The Amish Experience (VIP Tour) for my parents and I which at first I must admit I was a bit hesitant since it was going to be a three hour thing. I had decided to pick the forth since I never really have any major plans for that day and since it was the day after my father’s birthday so I really wanted to do something nice for him.
The tour was actually very informative, educational, and kinda fun. There are actually three different VIP tours that take place at the same time. I had learned alot about the Amish through our tour guide and plus from being able to listen to the three different families tell us about themselves during the course of the day. I would really like to go on the other tours because there’s always allot to be learned from them, The Amish.
My only regret was both my mother and I had wanted to ask certain questions which we were eager to ask the one Amish family but we were just too shy to speak up. The families as a whole were all very friendly and nice.
Visited July 2015
A real view into Amish life!
This was by far the best experience we had during our week in Amish country! The VIP tour allowed us the talk with Amish couples and their children about their lives, businesses and the choices they have made to stay true to their faith. Our tour guides had many interesting first hand stories about his Amish friends and his previous job as an Amish taxi driver. It was wonderful to talk to them as real people.
Visited April 2015
If you do nothing else in Lancaster – Take this tour!
Our extended family of 12 went for an overnight stay in Lancaster and caught a competitor’s bus tour earlier in the day. The bus tour was pretty cool and informative but in retrospect it was just scratching the surface. With the VIP tour we were driven to 3 Amish families; shown their businesses and spent quality time with them in their homes. One was a dairy farmer with 11 children another a homemaker and seamstress with adult children married to a carpenter and a third was a minister who had recently retired from a relatively large corporation as a laborer after a 30+ year career. All the homes were immaculate and in some respects almost luxurious. They took great pride in their buggies, (which cost upwards of $12,000 new) and their work and their families. These people live and compete in the same economy as the rest of us and thrive with their hands tied behind their backs (in the sense that they’ve only had an elementary school education and in terms of the types of modern tools they can use). This clearly shows the power of community, family, hard work, common sense and the avoidance of vices and a general sense of thrift and a heartfelt devotion to God. They were all willing to answer all of our questions and left nothing back. Some things were surprising; like one family’s ability and desire to take a yearly beach vacation. These are outstanding people who simply shun the distractions and temptations that comes with modernity. The minister was particularly entertaining with his stories and his knowledge of modern day issues and politics; a great man with a large beautiful family. If you want to see the real Amish this is the tour for you!
Visited June 2015
The best part of our trip to Lancaster County!
The Amish Experience VIP Tour was superb. First we went to a dairy farm. The farmer explained all about the milking process and the distribution of the milk… The second stop was a cottage industry. We went a carriage shop. The final stop was to an Amish family’s home. We got to interact with an Amish family. It truly was an interesting and unforgettable experience. A big shout out goes to our guide. He was a pleasant, well informed man.
Visited July 2015
The Amish Experience Visit-In-Person Tour
This evening tour was so worthwhile! We were able to visit 3 different stops. The 14 passenger bus was an appropriate size for this opportunity to visit in an actual Amish home. Our small group was able to sit and relax in the main room of an Amish house with the husband, wife and daughter (one of their 9 children). We all openly shared comments and questions of each other and learned so much about the Amish culture and they about the “Englishers” culture. The family enjoys meeting and sharing with people from around the world. This evening, our group included a couple from South Africa. The Amish are so kind and respectful of all people – setting a wonderful example for everyone. Our bus driver/guide was very knowledgeable and could answer every question asked about the Amish. He also entertained us as we were riding by telling funny (most of them) jokes and stories. The VIP Tour is the only way you can really get to know and understand the Amish culture.
Visited June 2015
This is a MUST if you want to learn about the way of life of the Amish
This is a 3 hour tour and is exactly what we wanted to experience by learning more about the Amish. The first hour was spent at a Dairy Farm where we met an Amish farmer as his 30 cows were being milked. He explained the process and answered all the questions we had while his children showed us how they worked. The dairy farm also had a quilt shop to explore.
The second hour was a visit and tour of a buggy shop where Amish buggies are build, refurbished and upholstered.
The third hour was a visit with an Amish family. This was the highlight of the tour. The family was so warm and welcoming. The hour went too fast.
We recommend this VIP tour if you want to have a closer experience and do not have days to stay.
Visited May 2015
VIP Tour of Three Amish Families
This year we decided to visit the Amish Experience rather than seeing a repeat performance of a Sight and Sound play. It was quite an enjoyable experience.
Our tour guide, took us on a very enjoyable visit to three Amish families. Each one was involved in a different way of providing for the household, e.g.: farming, buggy/coach building and repairing, and light manufacturing. Of special enjoyment was time spent sitting down visiting in the living room with an Amish family. We gained a real appreciation for what the Amish believe and how they live. The guide really knows the area and the Amish! We were greatly impressed with him and his help! We highly recommend this tour to everyone! Why didn’t we do this sooner!
Visited April 2015