Coronavirus - COVID-19

Finally we recommend reading the WHO situation reports, which are updated daily and provide an ‘in numbers’ view of the virus.

Travel advice for travellers from common locations.

United States   |   Canada   |   Australia

We recommend you check your own government advice with regards travel to the UK and Scotland.

We want to be clear and transparent, so that you know exactly where you stand if you have booked a holiday with us.

If your trip departs within 6 weeks then we would like to chat over the options with you.

Based upon the current position locally and relevant advice from UK and other governments, you currently have two options available:

1. Postpone Your Trip (identical trip different date) 

   If this option is best for you then speak to your Adventure Consultant and we will postpone your departure date to travel at a later date. This may result in additional charges depending on the new arrangements we agree with you and any irrecoverable costs we’ve already incurred. If you haven’t already paid your balance then we will require you to do this in order for us to make these new arrangements. In order to give you ultimate flexibility we’re offering travellers the option to change their departure dates to any future date as many times as necessary, while government travel restrictions remain in place. This includes moving back to your original departure date if conditions allow it to run.

   To further help your decision making, we will waive the standard £100 administration charge. Deposits remain non-refundable. For trips that we have agreed to postpone, we treat this as agreeing a new contract with Wilderness Scotland and the terms and conditions apply from the date at which the postponement is agreed.

2. Change Itinerary (different trip in Scotland or with sister company Wilderness Ireland)
   
   Speak to your Adventure Consultant to see what the options are to change itinerary within Scotland, or to travel with our sister company Wilderness Ireland. This may result in additional charges depending on the new arrangements we agree with you. Equally, it may result in refund for part of your trip. If you haven’t already paid your balance then we will require you to do this in order for us to make these new arrangements. Again, to help your decision making, we will waive the standard £100 administration charge. Deposits remain non-refundable.

If your trip departs within the next 6 weeks, then let us help you decide which option is best for you. To do this call your travel consultant on UK 01479 420 020 or US/CDA +1 866  740 3890

Frequent and thorough handwashing with soap for at least 20 seconds is a key method of avoiding contracting and spreading any germs while travelling and is seen as particularly important to avoid Coronavirus / COVID-19. If handwashing and soap are not available then hand sanitizer is recommended.

Avoid touching your eyes, mouth and nose unless your hands are clean.

Avoid close contact with people that look or feel unwell, their personal items and any surfaces they may have touched. Maintaining a distance of over 1m is recommended by the World Health Organisation.

If you are on any medication, then pack additional supplies should your return home be postponed.

The World Health Organisation understand that the virus is spread via droplets and those droplets landing on surfaces. It is not airborne and therefore cannot be transmitted through being on the same airplane.

We recommend visiting this World Health Organisation page on protective measures you can take to minimise the risk to yourself and others.

Our client’s health and safety is of the utmost importance to us and with that in mind you will see below the steps that we are taking to protect you and mitigate the risk of contracting & spreading Coronavirus / COVID-19 while you are travelling on our tours.

• Each van will be thoroughly sanitised at start and end of the trip. 
• Your van will be provided with hand sanitiser and tissues. 
• We will dispose of any rubbish bag with tissues at the end of every day. 
• We use the sanitizing spray to wipe down van surfaces daily.
  

DO:

• Notify your guide if you are feeling unwell at the earliest opportunity.
• Meet and greet your guide and other participants with the namaste gesture.
• Avoid unnecessary personal contact (hugs, kisses, high-fives etc.) and passing around of objects. 
• Please make the effort not to touch your face and follow the personal hygiene recommendations.
  
• Wash your hands properly and often.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve when you cough and sneeze.
• Put used tissues into a bin and wash your hands.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
• Avoid close contact with people who are not well.
• Stay at home if you are sick to help stop the spread of whatever infection you may have.

DON’T:

• Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean.
• Do not share objects that touch your mouth – for example, bottles.
• Do not pass your phone or camera to others.

Above all we want to be as respectful of each of our client’s feelings and concerns surrounding Coronavirus / COVID-19 and we would request that if you are travelling with us, that you make your feelings known in an understanding and respectful way to your guide, so that they, in turn, can make any necessary adjustments and relay information as appropriate to the group.

As always it is important that you have adequate travel insurance which covers your specific needs, including any known medical conditions or activities you plan to do.

It is also worth checking the detail of the policy around travel disruption including delays or cancellations as policies do vary.

The Association of British Insurers has a Q & A that is more relevant for travellers from the UK but raises useful questions to put to your own insurer.

The symptoms of Coronavirus / COVID-19 are:

• A dry cough
• A raised temperature (over 37.3 C)
• Shortness of breath

This does not necessarily mean that you have the virus but UK government and UK National Health Service advice is that you call 111 if you suspect you have symptoms. This is applicable for visitors to Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales.

It is requested that you do not visit a doctor’s surgery, hospital or pharmacy.

For more information we recommend you visit the following pages:

• UK National Health Service
• NHS Inform Scotland