Travel alerts

TURKMENISTAN

Turkmenistan has recently reopened after being closed to foreign travellers since early 2020. In addition to the previous entry requirements to Turkmenistan, including requiring a Letter of Invitation (LOI), all travellers also require:

• a copy of your vaccination certificate or a certificate confirming the presence of antibodies to COVID-19 (IgM, IgG). The vaccination document should confirm that the last vaccination dose was provided at least 42 days prior to arrival in Turkmenistan.
• PCR test at the border, which will cost approximately 43 USD (to be paid in cash).
• Should you test positive at the border, you’ll be taken to a local hospital to isolate for 7 days.

Information about Turkmenistan’s reopening and current entry requirements has now been updated on most government foreign travel advice websites. Please continue to monitor this advice for any changes in the lead up to your departure.

All Intrepid trips to Turkmenistan will resume from 30 June 2023.

TAJIKISTAN

Since September 2022 there have been continuing disputes and conflict in the border regions between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Travel within each country remains unaffected, but due to the ongoing tensions and security situation, crossing the border is not currently possible.

All Intrepid trips that include crossing the Kyrgyzstan/Tajikistan border have been cancelled until further notice. We will review the possibility of resuming this route in 2024 should there be progress made between the two countries on restoring relations and border demarcation.

All other trips to Central Asia continue to operate as normal, including the Five Stans Express, which enters Tajikistan by crossing overland from Uzbekistan and exits with a flight to Almaty in Kazakhstan.

IRAN

There have been ongoing protests across many cities and towns in Iran since September 2022. The response of security forces has been severe, and many protesters and bystanders have been detained or killed. There's been an increase in the number of foreign nationals arrested. Foreign travel advisories from the USA, Australia, UK and Canada continue to recommend against travel to Iran, based on safety concerns. 

The safety of our travellers is of paramount importance and based on this advice and consultation with our local on-ground team, we have cancelled all departures until 31st December 2023. We continue to closely monitor the situation and reassess the safety of resuming travel to Iran in 2024.

MYANMAR

The Myanmar military assumed control of the country and declared a state of emergency on 1 February 2021. There has been a significant increase in violence with many deaths, injuries and arrests. Intrepid Travel strongly condemns the ongoing violence and human rights abuses in Myanmar. Due to the continuing civil unrest and armed conflict, we have halted all travel to Myanmar until 2024. The decision to resume operations in Myanmar will be based on the safety of travellers, staff and local communities and will next be reviewed in late 2023.

PERU

After a period of civil unrest following the change of government in December 2022, which resulted in the suspension of our tours to Peru until 28 February 2023, the situation within Peru is now beginning to improve. The majority of road blocks have now been lifted, most domestic flights have resumed and key tourist sites such as Machu Picchu have reopened. All Intrepid tours have resumed from 1 March 2023. Some tensions remain, particularly around the Puno area. Our local team in country is closely monitoring the situation, and travellers to the region may expect some changes to avoid affected areas and ensure the safety and enjoyment of our groups. 

ETHIOPIA

The political and security situation in Ethiopia remains uncertain following ongoing civil unrest. Government travel advisories from our key source markets advise ‘Do Not Travel’ to many of the areas visited on our itinerary, and ‘reconsider your need to travel/essential travel only’ for the country as a whole. We have been monitoring the situation in Ethiopia, and unfortunately there has been little improvement.

As a result of the above and with the safety of our travellers and staff in mind we have made the decision to cancel all Ethiopia departures up to September 2023. Customers booked to travel to Ethiopia before this date have been notified.

We will continue to closely monitor the situation with our on-ground team and make a decision about remaining departures in 2023 around 5 months prior to departure.

UKRAINE

Our thoughts and hearts are with the people in Ukraine, including our own team members, tour leaders and their families, who have been deeply impacted by this senseless war and invasion of Ukraine. The Intrepid Foundation launched an emergency appeal in partnership with Australian Red Cross to provide support (food, water, shelter & medicine) within Ukraine and assistance for displaced people in surrounding counties. The appeal raised over $150,000 AUD.

Intrepid is not currently operating any tours that visit Ukraine, Russia, Belarus & Moldova and tours in these countries have been cancelled for the foreseeable future. 

Intrepid condemns the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the Russian government’s aggression towards Ukraine and its people.

Any future decisions to resume operations in Russia will be based not only on the safety of our travelers and the communities we visit, but the stability of Europe and a clear path to peace for all innocent and oppressed people who have fallen victim to this violence.

We hope for a peaceful path out of this crisis soon and are continuing to monitor the situation closely.

Please check back here for further updates as they become available.

Before travelling internationally, it is important that you check your government’s foreign travel advice website. You must check, understand and be able to meet all the travel requirements, including:  

• Whether your government restricts travel to the destination/s you're travelling to 
• Entry requirements in the destination/s you’re visiting (ie. Is proof of vaccination, quarantine, self-isolation or COVID testing required?) 
• Requirements for returning to your home country from the destination (ie. Is proof of vaccination, quarantine, self-isolation or COVID testing required?) 
• What travel insurance is available for travel to your destination/s 
• Whether transiting through other destinations affects any of the above  

For more information about Intrepid’s COVID-19 policies, read our Health & Safety Guidelines and COVID-19 FAQs.