As you look to get back on the road, we continue to ensure our trips are safe for everyone. That includes our travellers, our leaders and crew and the people we visit along the way.
Our enhanced health screening procedures
We’ve introduced new safety measures that apply on all of our trips, except for tours in Australia and New Zealand.
Travellers are required* to produce either:
- Proof of COVID-19 vaccination, or
- Proof of negative COVID-19 test conducted no more than 72 hours before day 1 of your trip, or
- Proof of recovery documentation
In addition, if you’re aged 70+ or have an existing health condition that puts you at a higher risk of serious COVID-19 disease, you are also required to provide proof of vaccination* before you can join a trip.
This policy was updated on 13 April 2021
We're here to help
We’ve tried to keep our approach simple. We’re also here to help you with any questions you might have. See our detailed FAQs below.
Our global network of local travel experts and experienced leaders can also assist with any queries, including where you can get a test in destination, if required.
Remember many governments and airlines require travellers to produce proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result before flying or entering or exiting a country, or transiting through an airport.
*Not applicable in Australia and New Zealand.
FAQs
Vaccination requirements
People aged 70+ and people with pre-existing health conditions^^ that are considered high risk. If you are in one or both of these categories, you must be vaccinated against COVID-19 at least 14 days prior to travel as a condition of carriage.
We recognise any vaccine that has been authorised for use by the relevant national authority for COVID-19 in the country where the vaccine was administered.
A copy of your vaccination record (either paper or digital) is required. For example, an NHS card with batch number (UK travellers), CDC vaccination record (USA) or digital vaccination passports.
Yes. We will not accept travellers on trips who have received only a partial dose (for example, one part of a two-dose vaccination) of a vaccine.
No. We will only require travellers to have been vaccinated if they are 70 years old on day one of the trip.
COVID-19 test requirements
Everyone who cannot provide proof of full vaccination is required to produce a negative COVID-19 test before joining an Intrepid trip.
If you cannot provide proof of full vaccination, you are required to produce proof of a negative test conducted no more than 72 hours before day 1 of your trip.
If you plan to arrive in a country or destination a few days before your trip with us starts, you might need to get an additional test locally. This includes any pre-tour accommodation you may have booked through Intrepid. If you advise us in advance, our destination experts may be able to help you get a test locally in destination.
Australia and New Zealand have extremely low rates of COVID-19 and strict border controls, which means at the time of writing, vaccination and pre-trip testing is not required for trips in those two countries.
We accept a number of different tests:
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Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) such as the RT-PCR, RT-LAMP, TMA, NEAR or HAD tests. These are typically collected by nasopharyngeal swabs.
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Rapid antigen test (must be sent to a laboratory for diagnostic viral testing or administered in front of a medical professional [in person or online] and a travel certificate/medical certificate issued).
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Lateral Flow tests (if a verifiable test result can be produced).
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A COVID-19 test can be taken at home as long a verifiable result (digital or paper) can be produced.
This varies depending on where you are located and what types of COVID-19 tests are available. Contact your local medical professional, which could include a pharmacist, or government health authority for more information.
In the event that this occurs, you must get another test. Your new COVID-19 test must be taken no more than 72 hours before day 1 of your trip. Our destination experts will do their best to assist you with getting a test locally in destination.
Yes. Your COVID-19 test is at your own expense.
Costs vary, depending on where you’re located and which type of test you take. Contact your local medical professional, COVID-19 test provider, or government health department for more information.
We will accept all tests that have been authorised for use by the relevant national authority for COVID-19 in the country where the test was administered.
You must produce a verifiable test result (paper or digital) at the pre-trip meeting. This may be in the form of a test result, a medical certificate or a travel certificate/ “fit to fly” certificate.
A test result (either paper or online) provided must:
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identify the person who took the test (for example, full name)
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show the date of the test
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show the method of the test (for example, PCR)
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show test result (for example, contains the words “NEGATIVE”, “SARS-CoV-2- RNA not detected”, SARS-CoV-2 Antigen not detected” or “COVID-19 not detected”.
If the test result is in a language other than English, a translation must be provided. This can be done by the traveller either verbally or in writing.
You are advised to check with the relevant airlines, airports and government authorities to check their entry, exit and transit requirements.
Government regulations are constantly evolving – you are advised to check entry requirements with the relevant government agencies regarding entry, exit and transit requirements.
Yes, travel insurance is a requirement for all** Intrepid trips. Your travel insurance details must be provided at the mandatory pre-trip meeting and health screening.
All* travellers are required to produce a negative COVID-19 test before joining an Intrepid trip.
People who have recently had COVID-19, will often return a positive result for a period of time after they recover.
If you’ve tested positive to COVID-19 and you’ve followed your local government health advice on isolation, you may travel with the following documents:
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A verified positive COVID-19 test result
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a signed letter on official letterhead from your healthcare provider or health officials stating you have recovered, are no longer infectious and are cleared to travel.
These documents together are referred to as ‘proof of recovery’.
No, Intrepid will not keep a copy of any traveller vaccination or test records. We will sight the relevant documentation at the group meeting.
Any information regarding traveller health will be kept securely and retained for a period required under our retention schedules in compliance with privacy laws and regulations.
Our highest priority is the health and safety of our travellers, leaders, crew, suppliers, and local communities.
We have a duty of care to ensure our travellers safety. By making the decision that travellers with an elevated risk of serious disease from COVID-19 must be vaccinated prior to travel with us, we are reducing the risk of harm to those travellers.
In addition, as an ethical tour operator, we have a responsibility to ensure that we are not adding additional and avoidable strain to any country’s healthcare system.
General COVID-19 safety
All Intrepid leaders and crew must either have been vaccinated, or have tested negative to COVID-19 no more than 72 hours before they start a trip.
As we resume operations, we continue to be guided by government foreign travel advisories and other reputable authorities, such as the World Health Organization. Some destinations or regions may open gradually or partially and, in many cases, only to nationals from certain countries.
As responsible travellers, anyone who chooses to travel with us has a duty of care to themselves and the people around them. We ask that all our travellers comply with local regulations and laws, as well as our own health and safety guidelines, to ensure that everyone can enjoy their adventure, while remaining well.
In addition, each destination has their own vaccination, testing and health screening requirements for entry, exit and transit. It’s important that you check these on your government’s foreign travel advice website as these may include requiring evidence of recent COVID-19 test results or vaccination.
Intrepid is committed to ensuring health and safety across all aspects of our trips, and all of our suppliers are required to commit to enhanced minimum COVID-19 standards.
Every trip has been thoroughly audited to ensure health and safety standards are met. In many cases, itineraries have been adjusted to avoid crowded locations or peak times, and enhanced ventilation standards have been introduced for venues and transportation, where possible.
All leaders and crew have been thoroughly trained in COVID-19 safe protocols, including hygiene, sanitation, health screening and crisis management.
From 1 May 2021, we introduced new vaccination and testing requirements that apply to all of our trips, except for tours in Australia and New Zealand. This includes a comprehensive pre-trip health screening, including proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than 72 hours before day one of the trip, for all travellers and leaders.
These measures are overlaid by a number of additional hygiene and sanitation measures.
In addition, each destination has their own vaccination, testing and health screening requirements for entry, exit and transit. It’s important that you check these on your governments foreign travel advice website as these may include requiring evidence of recent COVID-19 test results.
Intrepid follows all government and local authority requirements around the use of masks. This depends on your location, mode of transport and other factors. Travellers are required to travel with their own masks and to wear one when required.
We recommend that all travellers, leaders and crew wear masks:
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To help reduce the spread of COVID-19
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As a normal part of interacting with other people
Masks are mandatory for travellers, leaders, crew and suppliers in any situation or destination when it is required by local government advice. In many countries, this includes (but is not limited to):
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Public and private transport
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Crowds or places where physical distancing is difficult
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Indoors (particularly in places with poor ventilation)
In countries with low or no community transmission, such as Australia and New Zealand, masks may not be required. We encourage travellers, leaders, crew and suppliers to wear masks if they feel safer doing so.
We advise you to contact your airline as well as check the foreign travel advice for your destination before travelling regarding wearing masks. You will need to bring your own supply from home to cover the duration of your travels. While our leaders carry masks as part of their first aid kits, we are unable to provide masks for daily use for travellers.
The majority of our trips are based on small group adventures, with an average group size of 10 travellers, and as a result carry less inherent risk of COVID-19. Any trips that are designed for larger groups will be carefully risk assessed before operating. On all trips we will follow local government guidance on permitted group sizes. This may mean reduced group sizes for the entire trip, for certain activities, or in certain environments such as restaurants or transport.
At all times on trip we comply with local regulations on physical distancing and permitted group sizes. As a general rule, Intrepid will follow recommended guidelines of 1.5m/5ft apart from others. When necessary, we will make changes to itineraries to avoid crowds by visiting attractions or travelling outside of peak times. We understand that maintaining physical distancing at all times between group members when on a trip would be difficult and impractical.
Our trips are based on twin share accommodation. Most of our trips have Single Supplements available for solo travellers who wish to have their own room. We are working with our accommodation providers to ensure that more rooms are available for those travellers who wish to room alone.
Travel insurance providers’ policies vary. Please check with your individual provider for more information.
We are working with our local partners to provide hand sanitiser at accommodation, on transport and at restaurants. We recommend also bringing your own personal supply for times when it is not available, such as when exploring a destination independently.
If you are unwell prior to travelling, please stay at home and contact us to make alternative arrangements. Please refer to our Booking Conditions for more details on our refund policy.
If you or someone else on your trip has symptoms of COVID-19 while travelling with us we will assist you to access appropriate medical care as quickly as possible. We will follow the advice of local health authorities on whether a COVID-19 test is required, whether there is a need to self-isolate or quarantine or whether there is a risk to other travellers in the group. We will help contact family and friends if needed as well as support with translation services at hospitals or medical centres and in contacting insurance companies, travel agents and airlines to make arrangements to return home if required.
Should COVID-19 be confirmed, our full health and safety protocols will be enacted, including informing local health authorities, informing the group of the potential exposure, and sanitation protocols such as deep cleaning and disinfecting of accommodation and transport.
Please note that while we will assist to ensure that you get all the help and support you need, any expenses for testing, treatment or self-isolation will need to be covered by you and your travel insurer, so please ensure you have access to funds while travelling in case of this or other emergencies.
Policy updates
This is a dynamic operating environment and requirements continue to evolve globally. Intrepid will closely monitor relevant changes and make updates as required.
*Except trips in Australia and New Zealand
**Except for domestic travellers travelling in their own country
^^ We ask that travellers self-identify as someone who has a high-risk health condition. We will not be screening travellers or asking any questions to determine whether they have such a condition.
