COVID-19 TRAVELLER INFORMATION:
Your Questions, Answered
WHO IS REQUIRED TO BE VACCINATED BEFORE THEY CAN JOIN A TRIP?
Everyone travelling on an Adventure Abroad trip must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of carriage.
All travellers are required to produce:
Proof of COVID-19 vaccination
All children 5 and above must provide proof of vaccination, proof of recovery or a negative COVID-19 test.
If you are unable to be vaccinated for medical reasons, you may apply for an exemption. Exemptions will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. To apply, you must provide a medical certificate from a medical professional.
In all cases, you must be fully inoculated. This means you must receive the full dosage of the COVID-19 vaccine and allow enough time for immunity to take effect. Each COVID-19 vaccine has different dosages and timeframes for inoculation, so please check the relevant medical advice associated with your vaccine.
ARE CHILDREN REQUIRED TO BE VACCINATED?
Children between 5 and 17 years of age are exempt from the mandatory vaccination policy.
In order to join an Adventure Abroad trip, they must provide:
Proof of vaccination status (for children who are eligible); or
Proof of a negative COVID-19 test conducted no more than 72 hours before day 1 of your trip; or
Proof of recovery from COVID-19 (a medical clearance certificate from a medical professional)
Children aged 4 years and under are not required to provide any documentation to travel with Adventure Abroad.
DO I NEED TRAVEL INSURANCE?
Yes, contact us if you would like assistance with organising your travel insurance.
WHAT VACCINES DO YOU RECOGNISE?
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.
This includes well known vaccines such as Oxford AstraZeneca, Pfizer-BioNtech, Sinopharm, Sinovac, Sputnik, Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, and Covaxin.
WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR PROOF OF VACCINATION?
A copy of your vaccination record (either paper or digital) is required.
For example,
Medicare COVID-19 digital certificate (AU travellers)
a COVID pass (UK travellers)
CDC vaccination record (USA travellers)
EU Digital COVID Pass (EU travellers)
You will most likely require an International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate for your trip. We recommend having a hard copy and a digital version.
Australian guests please see here on how to obtain your International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate.
WILL MY LEADER BE VACCINATED?
All Adventure Abroad leaders must be vaccinated. In the very rare occasion where a leader has a medical exemption, they must test negative to COVID-19 and a risk assessment must be signed off before leading a trip.
ARE ALL YOUR CREW (PORTERS, DRIVERS, COOKS AND MORE) VACCINATED?
Yes, unless they have been medically cleared or vaccinations are not available in their country. We will speak to you if this is the case and make this element clear during communications.
DO I NEED TO BE VACCINATED TO ENTER A COUNTRY, FLY WITH AN AIRLINE, CROSS A BORDER OR TRANSIT THROUGH AN AIRPORT OR ACCESS GOODS AND SERVICES IN A COUNTRY?
You are advised to check with the relevant airlines, airports and government authorities to check their entry, exit and transit requirements.
If you booked your flights through Adventure Abroad, we can help assist you with your airline requirements and where to locate this information.
ARE THERE EXEMPTIONS TO THE MANDATORY VACCINATION POLICY?
If you are unable to be vaccinated for medical reasons, you may apply for an exemption. Exemptions will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. To apply, you must provide a medical certificate from a medical professional.
Please note that those with a medical exemption are still required to produce proof of a negative test conducted no more than 72 hours before day 1 of their trip.
COVID-19 ON TRIPS:
Your Questions, Answered
WHAT HAPPENS IF SOMEONE ON A TRIP SHOWS SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19?
If someone on your trip has symptoms of COVID-19, we will act as per the public health recommendations at the country you are in.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I OR SOMEONE ELSE TESTS POSITIVE TO COVID-19 ON A TRIP?
If someone tests positive to COVID-19 on a trip, Adventure Abroad will manage this as a health and safety incident as per public health protocol at the immediate location. They will be assisted to access further testing or medical treatment if needed, and assisted to isolate or enter hotel quarantine or isolation, if required by local regulations.
Adventure Abroad will assist with translation services, contacting insurance companies, travel agents and/or airlines as required.
Please be aware that in some countries, local regulations are constantly changing. Your group leader will advise of current local conditions/regulations and this document might somewhat be out of date.
WHAT HAPPENS IF MY ROOMMATE TESTS POSITIVE TO COVID-19?
Should a person you’ve shared a room with test positive to COVID-19, local health and safety protocols will be enacted.
For people who’ve shared a room, in addition, each destination has their own regulations and requirements for close contacts of people with COVID-19. In addition to undergoing a mandatory COVID-19 test, as required by Adventure Abroad and local authorities, you may be required to follow additional government requirements. This could include having to leave the trip and isolate.
WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR PROOF OF VACCINATION?
A copy of your vaccination record (either paper or digital) is required.
For example,
-
Medicare COVID-19 digital certificate (AU travellers)
-
a COVID pass (UK travellers)
-
CDC vaccination record (USA travellers)
-
EU Digital COVID Pass (EU travellers)
You will most likely require an International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate for your trip. We recommend having a hard copy and a digital version.
Australian guests please see here on how to obtain your International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate.
GENERAL FAQ'S
Your Questions, Answered
HOW DO YOU DECIDE TO RESUME TRAVELLING TO A COUNTRY?
Adventure Abroad follows government travel advisories from our key traveller markets when making decisions about where and when to operate our trips. We also conduct comprehensive audits and safety reviews before returning to any destination.
In addition, our teams on the ground and our local partners constantly monitor the latest government health and safety guidance and regulations.
WHAT REGULATIONS WILL I NEED TO FOLLOW WHEN TRAVELLING?
As responsible travellers, anyone who chooses to travel with us has a duty of care to themselves and the people around them. Travellers are required to comply with local regulations and laws, as well as our own health and safety guidelines.
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.
You will also need to ensure that your travel insurance covers you for travel against government advisories.
HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHICH TRIPS WILL OPERATE?
To ensure a trip is safe for travellers and the local communities, we look at a number of factors including:
Government safety and travel advice
Real time reviews and updates of current regulations by our local offices globally
COVID-safe requirements and protocols
Entry and exit requirements for travellers, including testing and quarantine
Current medical facility and healthcare availability within a destination
Flight and airline accessibility in and out of a destination
Ability for our travellers to get travel insurance protection for, and regularly scheduled, reasonably priced flights to, our destinations
Accessibility to everyday services, such as restaurants, public transport, cultural sites, etc.
Our ability to deliver the same or comparable service, while recognising that this is a dynamic operating environment and some adjustments might need to be made to itineraries.
HOW DO I KNOW IF MY TRIP IS GOING AHEAD?
Due to the evolving nature of travel restrictions, we generally wait until between one and two months before a trip is scheduled to depart to make a decision on whether the trip will run or not. This is in order to keep the possibility of travelling viable for any travellers who may be in a position to do so.
We notify travellers of their options at least one month before they are scheduled to depart, to allow them time to make any changes to their current arrangements. However, at times it may be necessary to cancel a trip at late notice should the factors listed above change.
WHAT ARE THE ENTRY AND EXIT REQUIREMENTS FOR DIFFERENT COUNTRIES?
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.
We recommend checking this information frequently and right up until your departure date, due requirements potentially changing.
ARE THERE ANY CHANGES TO GROUP SIZES IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19?
The majority of our trips are based on small group adventures, with an average group size of 8-10 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.
WILL I HAVE TO SHARE A ROOM WITH A STRANGER?
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.
WILL INSURANCE COVER ME FOR COVID-19?
Travel insurance providers’ policies vary and many providers have some form of COVID-19 inclusions. If you’re based in Australia, please speak with us to recommend a travel insurance provider that covers the requirements of your trip.
ARE THERE EXEMPTIONS TO THE MANDATORY VACCINATION POLICY?
If you are unable to be vaccinated for medical reasons, you may apply for an exemption. Exemptions will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. To apply, you must provide a medical certificate from a medical professional.
Please note that those with a medical exemption are still required to produce proof of a negative test conducted no more than 72 hours before day 1 of their trip.
WILL I HAVE TO WEAR A MASK WHEN TRAVELLING?
Masks must be worn by all travellers throughout the trip whenever required by local health authorities.
We recommend that all travellers, leaders and crew wear masks:
To help reduce the spread of COVID-19
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):
Public and private transport
Crowds or places where physical distancing is difficult
Indoors (particularly in places with poor ventilation)
Local laws and regulations regarding masks apply to all travellers, leaders, crew and suppliers in the destination, regardless of their vaccination status. Vaccinated travellers are not exempt from wearing masks unless this is specified in local regulations.
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.
DO I NEED TO BE VACCINATED OR TAKE A COVID-19 TEST TO ENTER A COUNTRY, FLY WITH AN AIRLINE, CROSS A BORDER OR TRANSIT THROUGH AN AIRPORT OR ACCESS GOODS AND SERVICES IN A COUNTRY?
You are advised to check with the relevant airlines, airports and government authorities to check their entry, exit and transit requirements.
If you booked through a travel agent, speak to them directly.
IF I’M REQUIRED TO TAKE A TEST WHILE ON A TRIP, DO I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT?
We encourage you to bring your own rapid tests from home, wherever possible. You should be prepared to purchase for tests, if required. Costs for tests vary, depending on the destination.
Please ensure you have access to funds in case of this or other emergencies. A limited number of rapid tests will be available via trip leaders, but these cannot always be guaranteed.
WHAT TYPE OF COVID-19 TEST DO YOU ACCEPT?
We accept a number of different tests:
Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) such as the RT-PCR, RT-LAMP, TMA, NEAR or HAD tests. These are typically collected by nasopharyngeal swabs.
Rapid antigen test. These can be either:
Self-administered
Administered by a medical professional
Lateral Flow tests (if a verifiable test result can be produced).
You must be able to produce a verifiable test result (paper or digital). This may be in the form of a test result, a medical certificate or a travel certificate/ “fit to fly” certificate.