This page contains up-to-date information for customers registered to attend Choose a Challenge events from 2021 and beyond. If you can’t find the answers you’re looking for, please contact us either by telephone or email and we’ll be more than happy to help.
COVID TESTING FOR TRAVELLERS TO BE SCRAPPED
Last updated: 16:50hrs on 24th January 2022:
Today the government has confirmed that from 4am on 11th February, fully vaccinated travellers bound for England will no longer be required to take a Covid test upon arrival. Leaders of the devolved administrations are expected to make separate announcements in due course.
Travel with confidence: OUR COVID GUarantee
Given the continued uncertainty caused by COVID-19, we recognise that many people are anxious about booking travel right now. We also appreciate that those of you already registered to travel with us want to know whether your challenge will go ahead and what steps we are taking to ensure you and your fellow participants remain safe.
Thinking of signing-up to one of our challenges?
We all need something to look forward to. Right now we’re offering you our straightforward COVID-19 Guarantee that applies to any challenge scheduled to depart this year:
All participants registered on a 2022 challenge are eligible to defer their trip to 2023 at no extra cost, for any reason, up until 21st January 2022. From this date, standard Terms and Conditions will apply, unless the UK’s Foreign Office issues ongoing advice against travel to your destination country, in which case our free deferral policy will remain in place until the travel advisory is withdrawn, or until ten weeks before your date of departure, whichever is earlier.
This policy applies to all Choose a Challenge events, both domestic and international, which we hope will give you the confidence you need to sign up and/or carry on fundraising for your challenge. Now, more than ever, our partner charities need your support!
When will I know for sure whether my trip is going ahead?
At the present time, all 2022 challenges remain scheduled to depart as planned. Guidance from our trade body, ABTA, and international travel advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office continues to be reviewed on a daily basis. We will assess the operational viability of each trip within six weeks of travel, and a final decision will be made by no later than 4 weeks prior to departure. If at that time we have reason to believe there will be restrictions in place at the time of the trip that would prevent us from operating the challenge safely and legally, then we will postpone that event until it is safe to run. If, as we all hope, the challenges do go ahead, then they will be operated in line with the COVID safety protocols agreed with our suppliers, and these will be communicated to participants as part of their pre-departure briefings.
We hope the above information offers some reassurance during these uncertain times. If you have any questions regarding our COVID-19 Guarantee, or any other aspect of your travel plans, please contact us by emailing team@chooseachallenge.com.
International travel UPDATE
Last updated: 12:30hrs on 7th January 2022:
The UK government has announced that as of 4am today, pre-departure Covid testing will no longer be required for travellers to England and arrivals will not have to isolate until they receive a negative PCR test, but instead need to take a lateral flow test at the end of Day 2 following their arrival.
As of yesterday the Irish government advises that travellers to the Republic of Ireland also no longer need a pre-departure test to enter the country. Travellers will need to take daily antigen tests for 5 consecutive days from their date of arrival to Ireland.
International travel UPDATE
Last updated: 11:15hrs on 15th December 2021:
The UK government has announced that all 11 African countries that had been placed on the red list last month due to Omicron concerns have been removed as of 4am this morning, with covid testing remaining in place until further notice.
International travel UPDATE
Last updated: 13:30hrs on 29th November 2021:
The Foreign Office has changed its travel advice to six southern Africa countries as they were abruptly added to the travel red list from midday as of Friday 26th November due to new Covid variant fears.
Advice against all but essential travel was imposed on South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini.
UK THREE PEAKS UPDATE
Last updated: 17:30hrs on 10th May 2021:
We appreciate it has been a long hard road towards economic recovery here in the UK, and we are by no means out of the woods yet, but we are pleased to announce that, in light of declining infection rates and the UK government's proposed easing of travel restrictions, all of our 2021 UK Three Peaks events will run as planned.
We have carried out a rigorous review of our safety protocols, based on our own knowledge and experience, feedback from transport, accommodation and catering suppliers and input from expert external consultants. From this, we have set out a series of robust measures that we have put in place to ensure that your challenge can go ahead as safely as possible. These include the following:
All participants are required to take a lateral flow test within 48 hours of their scheduled departure. Information on how to find an approved testing site in your local area can be found here. Upon arriving to your challenge you will need to provide evidence of a negative result to our event staff. Note: Each of our staff are also required to undertake a lateral flow test within 48 hours of arrival. Should you test positive, you must self-isolate immediately and report the result within 24 hours.
Until 21st June, we expect regulatory guidance for providers of private hire coaches and buses to require at least 1-metre distancing at all times. If your challenge is taking place prior to this date then we will have no more than 8 Participants on a 16-seater bus, to allow for 1m+ distancing. Hand sanitiser will be provided and participants asked to sanitise their hands when entering or exiting the bus. Face coverings must be worn at all times by both participants and event staff when in the bus.
We will provide accommodation in shared rooms with plenty of space to allow for social distancing between participants and there will be no more than 6 participants in one hostel room. Our accommodation provider has implemented enhanced cleaning measures to mitigate the risk of transmission.
We will no longer be providing pre-packaged sandwiches and other foods as part of our 3 peaks catering provision. This will reduce the risk of transmission from handling packages. Instead, we will be providing food for participants via local caterers who have confirmed that they have COVID mitigation procedures in place in their food preparation areas. All caterers will be asked to take a lateral flow test prior to attending each event.
Typically the meet point is inside Glasgow Central Station. This year we will be meeting in an outdoor area, in close proximity to the station, to ensure the group can rendez vous in a safe, open-air setting. Please be advised that your meet location is George Square in central Glasgow (5-min walk from the station).
Finally, all participants will be required to complete a form that confirms that they understand the mitigation measures in place (as detailed above) but acknowledge that there is still a risk of COVID infection. This form will be dispatched to all approved participants shortly, and must be completed as soon as possible.
We trust the above control measures will allow this year’s Three Peaks participants to enjoy their challenge fully, in the knowledge that we have risk-assessed our operations in accordance with regulatory guidance from the UK government, and implemented the necessary changes to ensure we can get back out there safely.
If you are scheduled to attend one of our upcoming Three Peaks challenges in June or July, and you have a question about the trip, please don’t hesitate to contact us by emailing team@chooseachallenge.com.
Information for 2021 participants
Last updated: 10:33hrs 23 February 2021:
Yesterday we heard from the Prime Minister the news we were all hoping for: the end of lockdown is in sight. The government announced their eagerly-anticipated 'road map' for easing our way back to freedom, with 21st June as the target date.
The plan consists of four stages, with the highlights of each noted below:
STAGE 1
8th March
all schools and colleges to reopen.
university students can return for practical courses, with a review to be undertaken on all other courses by Easter weekend at the latest.
two people from different households can meet for recreation.
29th March
people will be allowed to meet outside, either as two separate households or subject to the rule of six.
the 'stay at home' rule will officially end.
outdoor sports facilities will reopen and formally-organised outdoor sporting events can also restart.
certain indoor groups may convene, with a limit of 15 people.
STAGE 2
12th April
all commercial outlets to reopen, including shops, gyms, pubs, restaurants, cinemas, libraries, zoos and hairdressers.
UK domestic holidays away from home will be permitted.
children allowed to attend indoor play events, with up to 15 parents.
STAGE 3
17th May
people can meet in groups of up to 30 outdoors.
six people or two households can meet indoors.
hospitality venues can accommodate customers indoors.
other outdoor and indoor entertainment venues may reopen, including live performances with reduced capacity (up to 10,000 for larger venues).
hotels, hostels and B&Bs can reopen to household groups.
international leisure travel may resume from 17th May.
STAGE 4
21st June
all legal limits on social contact to be removed.
no legal limit on the number of people that can attend organised events.
night clubs allowed to reopen.
NB. The above applies to England only. In the coming days the devolved administrations of the UK will announce their exit strategies, which we expect to be largely similar.
After several weeks of a third national lockdown, we welcome this positive news, which follows a hugely successful vaccine campaign here in the UK. With much greater certainty about the road ahead, we hope you can now prepare for your challenge with greater confidence.
Naturally, we will continue to keep an eye on all developments as regards both international and domestic travel. Should there be any changes to your trip, rest assured we will notify you without delay.
If you have any questions about your trip, we are best reached by email, at team@chooseachallenge.com.
Last updated: 17:03hrs 28 January 2021:
Yesterday the UK government announced that they would shortly be tightening border measures currently in place, to include a mandatory hotel quarantine for up to ten days for all UK nationals and British residents entering the UK from any of the following countries:
Angola, Argentina, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burundi, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, Eswatini, French Guiana, Guyana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Rwanda, Seychelles, South Africa, Suriname, Tanzania, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Both the advice and the list of countries to which it applies is to be reviewed on a rolling basis by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). More than 50 countries had previously suspended routes to the UK due to the spread of a new variant of Covid, although some have already lifted those restrictions.
With approximately 7.5 million of the nation's most vulnerable now vaccinated against the virus, the Prime Minister has declared the re-opening of schools from 8th March. The phased reopening of the UK economy is anticipated in the weeks thereafter, with the easing of travel restrictions expected ahead of our Summer season.
If you have any questions or concerns about your trip, then please don't hesitate to contact us at team@chooseachallenge.com.
Last updated: 13:55hrs 05 January 2021:
As per Boris Johnson’s announcement yesterday evening, the UK has now entered a third national lockdown. The updated Stay at Home guidance is published on the official government website.
The new nationwide restrictions are expected to remain in force until mid-February.
What does this mean for your challenge? Luckily we have no trips scheduled to depart in January or February this year, so there are no operational changes to our 2021 calendar. We will continue to keep up-to-date with government advice, both here in the UK as well as at each of our destination countries.
If further restrictions come into effect that are likely to impact the viability of your trip, we will notify you without delay and let you know your options.
Whilst this latest announcement is desperately unfortunate for many businesses across the country, we understand the need to bring in stricter measures in order to reduce transmission of the virus, and we support the government in taking action. We would ask each of you to respect the new rules so that as a nation we can get through this final lockdown as swiftly as possible.
As the government is now expediting the rollout of both vaccines authorised by the UK’s medical regulator, we anticipate the easing of measures once those in the higher-risk category have been immunised.
We are confident that, by Summer, the entire landscape of international travel will have changed for the better, with countries all over the world re-opening their borders having immunised significant proportions of their population.
For now, please continue to act responsibly to safeguard those of us who are more vulnerable to respiratory infection, and don’t forget to follow the NHS guidance: Wash, Face, Space.
If you have any questions or concerns about your trip, please feel free to email our team at team@chooseachallenge.com.
Last updated: 16:40hrs 14 September 2020:
The rules on social contact have changed. Accordingly, you must not meet in groups of more than 6 when meeting with people outside of your household.
There is further guidance on meeting with others safely, including on what exemptions are permitted to the limit of 6 people, which provides further information on social distancing and social contact laws.
If you live in an area that is experiencing a local COVID-19 outbreak and where local restrictions have been imposed, different guidance and legislation will apply. Please consult the local restrictions guidance to see if any restrictions are in place in your area.
This is the law is effective from Monday 14 September in England only. Please refer to guidance from the devolved administrations specific to the rules and regulations in Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email our team on team@chooseachallenge.com.
INFORMATION FOR MARATHON PARTICIPANTS
We have announced today the cancellation of our participation in the 2020 Budapest marathon event, which was scheduled to take place on 9th-12th October.
Unfortunately we have not been provided the necessary reassurances from the event organisers, and as such we have taken the decision upon ourselves with the information currently available. Whilst logistically we could run the trip at this point in time, we have also had to consider the ongoing risk posed by coronavirus, as well as the possibility of quarantine rules changing at short notice.
We appreciate this is relatively short notice and naturally there will be many disappointed participants who have trained hard for this year's event, however we feel the risk remains too great at this stage, and our participants must be able to travel in confidence.
All those registered to attend this year’s event have now been notified of the decision by email, and we will be offering them a free deferral to the re-scheduled 2021 marathon event. Next years’ dates are yet to be announced, but we will update participants as soon as these are confirmed, which we would expect to be over the coming weeks.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us by emailing team@chooseachallenge.com.
INFORMATION FOR three peaks PARTICIPANTS
Deferred Three Peaks dates have now been confirmed for 2021.
We will be hosting two additional events next Summer, departing on 29th June and 6th July respectively. These trips are running alongside the regular 2021 trip dates available to view on our Three Peaks page, but are exclusively available to those participants who had been approved to travel this year.
Participants affected have each now been notified of their group’s allocated 2021 trip, and we will extend as much flexibility as possible for those unable to attend their new date.
INFORMATION FOR 2020 PARTICIPANTS TRAVELLING OVERSEAS
Last updated: 09:40 22 July 2020
Important update: cancellation of all overseas trips up to 30th September 2020
We have made the decision to cancel all international treks scheduled to depart up to 30th September 2020 inclusive, due to ongoing advice against all but essential international travel from the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
We had hoped that our destination countries may be included on the list of exemptions to the global advisory against all but essential travel, and ideally also the list of exemptions to the 14-day quarantine affecting arrivals back into England. However, sadly, this has not been the case, and we have been forced to cancel our August and September departures.
For those of you who have worked so hard this year to reach your fundraising targets, we realise this may be a disappointment - but we have to put the safety of our passengers first, which is why we have made this decision.
If you were approved by your charity to travel on an overseas challenge in August or September, you have been contacted via email directly do update you of the next steps.
Please see the FAQs on this page if you have any further questions, or drop us an email to chat to our friendly team.
Update following the announcement of exemptions to the UK government’s advisory against ‘all but essential travel’
Last week, the UK government published two lists of countries receiving exemptions from current guidance against travel: a list of countries, travel to which is exempt from the mandatory 14-day quarantine in England; and a list of countries which are now exempted from the global advisory against ‘all but essential travel’.
We were slightly disappointed to see that of all of our destinations with trips remaining in 2020, only Hungary (for Budapest Marathon) was on the list of exemptions to these rules. However, the government is constantly reviewing these and have advised that in the coming days and weeks they will be expanding these exemption lists to include more countries.
We remain hopeful that this expansion will include some or all of our destination countries, which in turn will lead us to allow travel to some or all of our destination countries as planned in August and September.
Please see the FAQs on this page if you have any further questions, or drop us an email to chat to our friendly team about your trip.
Important update: Postponement of Morocco High Atlas groups departing in June.
Following the updated UK government advice published on Monday 11th May, we have made the decision to postpone all Choose a Challenge trips departing up to and including 30th June 2020.
This includes all Morocco High Atlas treks due to take place in June.
If you were recently approved by your charity on a Morocco High Atlas trek in June 2020, your place on your trip is secure, however the trip has been postponed and you will be offered a new trip date in 2021.
We have emailed you directly to discuss the next steps with you.
For participants on overseas trips due to take place after 1st July 2020:
Your trip is still scheduled to take place as planned. However, we wanted to reassure you of what we've been doing behind the scenes to be sure that you're still able to take part in your challenge this year
The safety of our travellers is our utmost priority. We are sure you have many questions about the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19) and its impact on your travel plans, and we well endeavour to keep this page updated.
We receive daily operational updates from ABTA relating to the outbreak and are monitoring the situation closely.
We are aware that both the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) in the UK and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in Ireland are currently advising against all but essential international travel, however there are promising signs from our destination countries and we will be prepared for restrictions to lift at short notice.
As our overseas trips are later in 2020 we are hopeful that this advice will change in plenty of time before our challenges.
You should always regularly check Foreign & Commonwealth Office advice before travelling abroad, just in case.
Below you will be able to find further information about the effects on your travel and the steps Choose a Challenge are taking. We want to reassure you that all of our trips departing after 1st July are running as planned at this stage.
You can find all of the latest updates through the World Health Organization website, which also offers travel advice, situation reports, how to protect yourself and FAQs.
TRAVEL ADVICE - UK
If you are travelling from London with our UK departures, then the travel advisories relevant to your trip are those of the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO).
Travel advisories for all of our destination countries are below:
gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/hungary
gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/morocco
gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/nepal
TRAVEL ADVice - IRELAND
If you are travelling from Dublin with our Irish departures, then the travel advisories relevant to your trip are those of the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Travel advisories for our destination countries are below:
dfa.ie/travel/travel-advice/a-z-list-of-countries/hungary
dfa.ie/travel/travel-advice/a-z-list-of-countries/morocco
dfa.ie/travel/travel-advice/a-z-list-of-countries/nepal
LATEST IN-COUNTRY UPDATES:
TANZANIA
The ban on international flights arriving and departing Tanzania has been lifted as of 18 May. The government expect commercial airlines to restart flights from late June.
Tanzania is implementing enhanced screening of all international passengers arriving, but have removed mandatory 14-day quarantine requirements on arrival.
If you show symptoms of COVID-19 on arrival, you may be required to quarantine at a government-designated facility at your own expense.
PERU
All of Peru’s international borders have been closed indefinitely since 16 March.
The country’s State of Emergency, which has enforced an extremely strict lockdown, has been extended to 30 June. As of 25 May there is a curfew in place nationwide between 9pm and 4am and face masks are mandatory outside.
The government published a four-stage plan to re-open Peru, with international flights planned to recommence in July and all tourism services restarting in August.
NEPAL
International flights arriving into Nepal are currently banned until 06 July. There are also restrictions on internal movement in place.
Nepal’s lockdown is quite strict, with only trips for essential purchases and emergencies allowed until mid-June.
The Spring mountaineering season was cancelled but so far the Autumn season is unaffected.
MOROCCO
Currently all flights into and out of Morocco are suspended.
Movement around Morocco is also currently heavily restricted, requiring permits to do many everyday things, and wearing a mask outside is mandatory.
Many of the restrictions in place in Morocco coincided with Ramadan, which ended on 23 May, and the State of Health Emergency has been extended to 10 July. However, gradual lifting of restrictions is expected in the coming weeks and months.
HUNGARY
Budapest airport remains open and flights from London remain operating on a daily basis.
Restrictions on foreign nationals entering Hungary do not affect UK citizens. UK nationals can still enter Hungary, however all foreign nationals arriving are subject to a medical check at the border.
The Hungarian economy is still open but there are restrictions on opening times and face masks are required.
Mass events are currently banned until 15 August.
FAQs - OVERSEAS tripS
1. How is the spread of COVID-19 being prevented in my destination?
In all of our destination countries, we are working closely with our ground partners and are monitoring their operational responses to the coronavirus outbreak regularly.
With our teams on the ground in Tanzania, Peru, Nepal and Morocco, we are working to ensure that, variously:
- Our ground teams in all destinations are following and implementing all of the World Health Organization recommendations for infection prevention.
- All staff and partners are closely monitoring multiple channels of official news, including the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO), ABTA and the World Health Organisation.
- Ground teams in all destinations are informed of the signs and symptoms of COVID-19, and the safety precautions required to prevent transmission of the disease. Staff and participants will be assisted in isolation and seeking medical attention where necessary.
- Hand-washing and the use of alcohol-based handwashes is available for all participants throughout our trips, including implementing new hand-washing stations at campsites and equipping vehicles with hand sanitizer.
- Delivering additional health briefings on coronavirus on arrival, and advising that any recent cases of illness must be reported to staff members. If our team have a special case reported by a participant, we will immediately contact health authorities and passengers will not be allowed to continue on the trip as a protective measure for other customers.
- We increase the frequency of thorough cleaning and disinfectant procedures across transport, equipment, activities, dining and housekeeping in all locations.
- Ground staff and vehicles are equipped with antiseptic gel and alcohol-based hand sanitizer for frequent use of all participants and staff.
- All our drivers and ground staff are careful to avoid handshaking, hugging, touching their faces, eyes and nose, and are frequently washing their hands, and reporting any suspicion of illness for immediate action to be taken.
- Our team and participants are advised to cover their nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing with a tissue or into their elbow, and to avoid close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms.
- All our participants are advised that if they develop fever, cough and difficulty breathing, to immediately seek medical advice, and we will assist with facilitating medical care as necessary.
2. What happens if Choose a Challenge cancels my trip?
If we are forced to cancel a trip, or if we find that we cannot deliver a significant part of it, then all participants registered to travel at the point of cancellation will receive the following options:
- A deferral to a trip departing in 2021 (without charge); OR:
- A transfer to a different trip departing in 2020 (without charge); OR:
- A full refund.
If we do need to cancel a trip then all affected participants will be notified without undue delay.
We will avoid cancelling trips unless absolutely necessary: that is, unless the advice from the FCO remains as 'against all but essential travel', or unless the trip becomes operationally unviable due to safety or logistical concerns.
3. What happens if I choose to cancel my trip?
Choose a Challenge will only cancel trips due to operational restrictions that would prevent our challenge from running as planned, or if the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises against travel to your destination. As explained above, we will let you know as soon as we can if this action is to be taken.
If, however, you had already chosen to cancel your place on the trip, then you may be able to claim costs on your insurance depending on the circumstances and the extent of your personal travel insurance coverage, but no refund or compensation may be claimed from Choose a Challenge.
4. When will I find out if my trip is going ahead?
Please be advised that your trip is going ahead as planned, unless we inform you otherwise.
At around 4-6 weeks before your departure date, you will receive your Final Info Pack, containing all of the confirmed details for your trip.
The decision to run our trips is based on the current governmental advice from your departure country, for the specific destination you are travelling to.
If you do not hear from us with any changes or cancellations prior to your trip then this means there have been no cancellations or changes to your challenge at this time. No other partner (for example your chosen charity) has authority to cancel your trip.
If, after this time, circumstances change and the FCO advice is updated with a 'Do Not Travel' advisory, or other operational reasons mean your trip can no longer go ahead and we have to cancel your trip, then the above cancellation procedures in point (2) apply.
5. Is there anywhere I can find regular updates about my challenge destination?
If you would like to keep informed on all travel updates and countries affected by coronavirus you can find out more for your specific destination here. We will also keep you informed if the government advice changes for your destination.
We have also linked directly to all relevant travel advisories above.
6. How can I avoid contracting and spreading the illness prior to my trip?
The World Health Organization offer the following advice to take care of your health and protect others:
- Wash your hands frequently
Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water.
Why? Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your hands.
- Maintain social distancing
Maintain at least 1 metre (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
Why? When someone coughs or sneezes they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the disease.
Please note that the UK government advice is to remain 2m apart from people outside your household, and this is what we will work toward if social distancing is required as part of the safet delivery of your trip.
- Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth
Why? Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick.
- Practice respiratory hygiene
Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately.
Why? Droplets spread virus. By following good respiratory hygiene you protect the people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19.
- If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early
Stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance. Follow the directions of your local health authority.
Why? National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on the situation in your area. Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also protect you and help prevent spread of viruses and other infections.
- Stay informed and follow advice given by your healthcare provider
Stay informed on the latest developments about COVID-19. Follow advice given by your healthcare provider, your national and local public health authority or your employer on how to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.
Why? National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on whether COVID-19 is spreading in your area. They are best placed to advise on what people in your area should be doing to protect themselves.
7. What happens if the group gets sick or someone in the group shows symptoms?
If you or another member of your trip displays symptoms of COVID-19 we will work with our local team to ensure that you and the rest of your team are safe.
This may involve removing the affected participant(s) from the itinerary and if necessary the cancellation of the trip to protect our other participants.
If you are affected by coronavirus or display symptoms on your trip, you will be evacuated with a guide to the accommodation, or a medical facility to receive treatment if required. There, you will isolate and the relevant local authorities will be informed. We can assist you in contacting your family and your travel insurers to help in case of emergency.
8. What happens if I am put in quarantine in my destination country and who will cover the cost of this?
Many travel insurers will not cover the costs of medical expenses incurred whilst choosing to travel in a country known to have a coronavirus risk. You must check your travel insurance policy to see whether you are covered - this may depend on when you bought the policy.
We always recommend bringing a contingency fund for emergencies for circumstances such as this. The recommended amount is listed in your challenge Briefing Pack.
Whilst we will be able to assist you in coordinating with our team on the ground, medical facilities, and other partners, we cannot cover costs associated with being quarantined in-country.
9. What does my travel insurance cover if I get sick?
Every travel insurance policy is different. You should read your policy wording carefully and contact your insurer if you are not sure. You should also travel with a copy of your 'key information' document for your travel insurance. Whilst we take copies of your insurance as proof of coverage, the ultimate responsibility for having adequate coverage is your own.
We always recommend bringing a contingency fund for emergencies for circumstances such as this. The recommended amount is listed in your challenge Briefing Pack.
10. What if I'm on 'Challenge without flights"?
Unfortunately we have no control over whether your airline is running flights to your destination country. If you think COVID-19 is likely to affect your flights, or if you have been informed that they have been cancelled, you should speak to your airline or booking agency directly.
Your relationship with Choose a Challenge remains the same - your package from us contains ground arrangements in your destination country only, and the trip will be governed by the travel advice as above. We cannot cover the cost for any separately-booked flights or extraneous costs you incur if we are forced to cancel your trip.
11. What happens if my fundraising is affected?
We understand that it's a hard time to be asking those around you to donate to your cause and that you will have had to cancel fundraising events and collections. We would urge that you get in touch with your charity who will have plenty of ideas and advice to support you in the next few weeks, tips include virtual events and fundraisers, creating emotive and exciting online content you can share with friends and family to encourage donations and reaching out to those who have already donated to really take the time to thank them and let them know how their fundraising will help your cause (they may just donate again later down the line!)
Your charity will have lots of advice on how you can keep up the momentum through the next few weeks.
CONTACT THE TEAM
If you have any questions or concerns then please do get in touch with the Choose a Challenge team over the phone or by email.
