Travel updates and alerts

The welfare of our customers is the first priority of everyone at Explore.

We operate our trips in accordance with advice issued by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO); we closely monitor the FCO’s travel warnings and advice related to travel for all destinations in our programme.

Any decision we take as to whether to whether to operate a trip, cancel or make any changes to it will always be in the interest of our customers’ safety and security.

We strongly recommend that you check the FCO website for up-to-date travel information about the country you’re planning to visit, both before booking and again before you leave for your trip. You can also sign up for the FCO’s handy alert-service so that you don’t miss any updates.

If you have any further concerns or queries about a destination you’re travelling to, or planning to visit, please contact us on 01252 883 959.

Not a UK resident? Other government travel advisory websites:
- United States
- Canada
- Australia
- New Zealand
- World Health Organisation

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Updated: 28 February 2020

Check entry requirements before you travel
A number of countries are now introducing immigration controls that will deny entry based on recent travel. The list of countries that have amended their entry requirements is changing frequently. Therefore if you are travelling soon you must confirm the entry requirements for your trip, based on where you are going and your recent travel. 
 

China and South Korea - change to British Foreign Office travel advice

The outbreak of Coronovirus has resulted in the FCO advising against all travel to mainland China (but excluding Hong Kong). In light of this we have cancelled all trips visiting mainland China up until the end of May 2020. June departures will be reviewed on Monday 2 March. At this stage all other 2020 dates are currently still scheduled to operate, but will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

We have also cancelled the 14 March 2020 departure of South Korea Explorer as the FCO are advising against all but essential travel to Daegu and Cheongdo in South Korea. We are contacting the customers affected. We will review April and May departures to South Korea on Wednesday 4 March. 
 
We will be in touch with customers regarding cancelled trips as well as any flight inclusive customer scheduled to fly via Beijing.
 
Flights via Hong Kong are operating normally and are unaffected by FCO travel advice for China.

If you’ve arranged your own flights, please be aware that flights that transit through China also go against current FCO advice, which may impact your travel insurance. We strongly recommend that you find alternative flights that don't travel via China – please advise us of any changes to your flight details.

The FCO has advised that the Department of Health and Social Care has provided the following advice page for people returning to the UK from certain Asian countries: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-information-for-the-public
 
Tours to all other countries continue as normal.
 

Italy - change to British Foreign Office travel advice

Updated: 26 February 2020

Italy has confirmed cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19), including deaths. The FCO are advising against all but essential travel to eleven towns. None of our trips visit the affected areas. We will continue to monitor. 

Ethiopia - unrest in Oromia region

Updated: 17 January 2020

We have been closely monitoring the developments in Ethiopia’s Oromia region this season, and have so far taken the decision to reroute trips until April 2020 due to unrest and instability in the Oromia region.

On 31 October 2019, the British Foreign Advice removed advice about these protests, however, our local team in Ethiopia, including tour leaders, are not confident the unrest is completely over as the situation locally remains tense and unpredictable. Please rest assured we’re monitoring the situation and any decisions taken are in our customers' best interests.
 

Iran – change to British Foreign Office travel advice

Updated: 10 January 2020

Unfortunately the most recent events between the US and Iran have led to a change in the British Foreign Office travel advice for Iran; advice is now against all travel to Iran. In light of these events, we have cancelled trips to Iran up to April 2020. All other 2020 dates are still scheduled to operate and this will be reviewed again at the end of January.
 
If you have queries or concerns over your trip to Iran please call us to discuss your options.