As the landscape of COVID-19 continues to shift, protocols are subject to change. Each destination has its own vaccination, testing and health screening requirements for entry, exit and transit. You will receive information for your specific trip in advance of your departure if information differs from what is contained in this document. All guests are required to comply with local regulations and laws.
There is now an inherent risk of COVID-19 infection in all aspects of daily life, including travel. Current UK government advice for living safely with respiratory infections, including COVID-19, are as follows-
• Get vaccinated
• Let fresh air in if meeting others indoors
• Practise good hygiene:
- Wash your hands
- Cover your coughs and sneezes
- Clean your surroundings frequently
- Wear a face covering or a face mask
Face coverings and face masks can help reduce the chance of you spreading infection to others, especially in crowded and enclosed spaces, and may protect you from becoming infected by some respiratory viruses.
Before Travel
Ensure you are covered by adequate insurance for the complete duration of the trip on completion of your booking. Your insurance should include but not be limited to: cancellation, medical expenses, injury, death, cost of repatriation. If in the event of an emergency medical rescue or evacuation from a trip either by foot, helicopter or otherwise, the responsibility for the payment of such costs will lie with you. It is imperative that you ensure adequate insurance is in place before departure and we recommend that this includes specific cover for COVID-19 related issues and incidents which may affect your travel arrangements. Consider that you may need to extend your stay and to check that your travel insurance would cover you in this instance.
We request that you take a COVID-19 antigen test a day or two before you travel as reassurance and respect to all the other guests in your group. If you have symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as COVID-19, and you have a high temperature or do not feel well enough to go to work or carry out normal activities, you are advised to stay at home and avoid contact with other people. Please do not travel on your vacation if you have COVID-19.
If a group member displays symptoms of or tests positive for a COVID-19 infection before travel, we ask that that person does not travel on the tour until a negative test result has been received.
It is your responsibility to ensure you have the relevant information and required documents, and meet the entry requirements of all the destinations you visit on your trip, even in transit. It is very important that you check your government’s foreign travel advice website before you travel as information changes on a regular basis. Some countries still require that you are vaccinated against COVID-19 infection in order to travel. Some countries require that you provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test from a certified provider before travel.
During Travel
While on tour with The Big Journey Company, you must adhere to any and all health restrictions, requirements and laws in the country in which you are travelling. The Big Journey Company will endeavour to keep you up to date as far as is practicable with what these restrictions and requirements are. Guests are responsible for ensuring that they are
following these restrictions and requirements.
It may be necessary to alter your itinerary if it is deemed necessary after an assessment of local conditions. Hotels and airlines usually have their own additional protocols in place for masking, cleaning, avoiding over-crowding etc.
We offer some practical advice to protect yourself and others during a tour-
• Wash hands and use hand sanitiser regularly
• Social distancing where practical
• Remain in the same vehicle and in the same seat on your vehicle where possible
• Guests will be encouraged to spread out as much as possible within vehicles
• Keep enclosed spaces well-ventilated where practical and safe to do so
• Wear a mask or face covering
Masks must be worn by all travellers throughout the trip whenever required by local health authorities.
If you develop COVID-19 symptoms or you test positive for a COVID-19 infection during travel with The Big Journey Company, please inform the Tour Director immediately. The Big Journey Company staff and/ or local guides will assist you to access medical assistance. Please always carry details of your medical insurance and any relevant existing health conditions with you on tour. You may also find it useful to carry with you several rapid antigen tests for your own use while on tour.
If somebody tests positive for COVID-19, that person will be required to follow local government law, rules and regulations on isolation and treatment. This has involved the requirement to isolate until you test negative for COVID-19.
Generally, hotels have a policy of not allowing their staff to enter any room in a hotel or other accommodation where there is a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19, to prevent further infection. In these situations, room service will be left outside the door. Clean towels and bedding are left outside.
Our goal is to keep the trip going wherever possible unless we are required to end the trip in line with local regulations. The Tour Director will remain with the group. Where a group member is required to leave the group or extend their stay in accommodation for isolation purposes, that guest will cover the cost of this extended isolation stay.
After Travel
If you test positive for COVID-19 within 14 days of the end of your tour, please inform the Big Journey Company at info@thebigjourneycompany.com
Last updated July 2022
E & OE - The Big Journey Company Ltd is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. All the information is provided “as is”, with no guarantee of completeness, accuracy, timeliness or of the results obtained from the use of this information.