For more than three months the global travel industry was brought to a complete stand-still this year, as the world got to grips with this novel coronavirus. Since mid-Summer, international flights have slowly begun to resume and people are once again starting to make travel plans.

We recognise that while many of us are already booking our next getaways, consumer confidence overall remains shaken, and this is why we’ve decided to offer a COVID GUARANTEE to anyone registered to attend one of our 2021 trips.

Accordingly, all participants registered to a 2021 challenge are eligible to defer their trip to 2022 free-of-charge, for any reason, up until 10 weeks before their departure date.

This built-in insurance policy is designed to offer you the peace of mind you need to be able to book with us in confidence, and provide some welcome flexibility and reassurance during these uncertain times.

What this means in reality for our fundraisers is that they now have up to 24 months to reach their fundraising target. That’s a pretty good deal!

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It’s not just about taking bookings, though… We want all our customers to know what we’re doing operationally to help mitigate the potential spread of coronavirus. At each challenge destination we’ve been working closely with our ground partners to ensure our response to the outbreak has been robust and comprehensive.

As well as updating all of our risk assessments, we are continuing to work with each of our teams on the ground in Tanzania, Peru, Morocco and Nepal to ensure that:

  • All staff are following and implementing World Health Organization recommendations for infection prevention.
  • All staff are closely monitoring official travel advice from ABTA and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, as well as the equivalent government guidance from the destination country.
  • Ground teams at each destination recognise the symptoms of Covid-19 and are assisted in safety protocols, including isolation and seeking medical attention.
  • Handwashing and the use of alcohol-based handwashes is available to all participants throughout each itinerary, including the implementation of new handwashing stations at campsites and equipping vehicles with hand sanitiser.
  • Delivering additional health briefings on arrival and enabling immediate contact with the relevant health and/or immigration authorities as a protective measure.
  • Increased frequency of thorough cleaning and disinfectant procedures across transport, equipment, activities, dining and housekeeping in all locations.
  • All drivers and ground staff are careful to avoid handshaking, hugging, touching their faces, eyes and nose, and are frequently washing their hands.
  • Staff and participants alike will be required to wear face masks at all times when indoors, and maintain a 2-metre distance from one another in outdoor settings. 
  • Staff and participants are advised that if they develop any symptoms of coronavirus (as detailed on the NHS website) in the 14-day period preceding the departure date, they must seek immediate medical advice and update the team.

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The above actions will continue to be reviewed against updated NHS and WHO advice on Covid-19. We will keep participants updated on our response, and you can find updates on our dedicated webpage.

 

We hope you found the above information useful and reassuring that we continue to take our responsibilities as tour operator seriously. If you have any questions about a specific destination, please don’t hesitate to contact us and we’ll be more than happy to help.