COVID-19 Information
Updated 13 March 2024
We believe that travel is vital to understanding and participating in the world around us. We also accept that any travel, be it in your neighborhood or across the world, has inherent risks and dangers. While we cannot remove every risk from travel, we have policies and processes that help reduce and mitigate risk for our pilgrims. This extends to mitigating risk from COVID.
These policies reflect our best understanding of the pandemic and are designed to ensure the safety for our pilgrims and our partners. We will follow the guidance and regulations of any local or national government, so these policies could be superseded by more restrictive requirements based on your actual destination.
Vaccination
We require all participants to be fully vaccinated using a COVID-19 vaccine that is approved by either the CDC, the NHS in the UK, or the European Medicines Agency. By registering and submitting your deposit, you affirm that you are in compliance with the current CDC recommendations for COVID-19 Vaccines, found here.
Pre-departure Testing
We strongly encourage every participant to take a pre-departure COVID test. While a PCR test is the gold standard, at-home rapid tests are also acceptable. If you test positive, you are required to follow the CDC guidelines for COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses found here. If these guidelines require, you may need to reschedule or cancel your trip. You’re encouraged to obtain a travel insurance policy that would cover your non-refundable expenses if you are sick.
Masks
While traveling, we have a private coach with sufficient space to distance ourselves and sufficient airflow to reduce the risk of transmission. We currently do not require participants to wear a mask. We encourage you to wear a mask in any situation where it makes you more comfortable, including on the coach, in queues, and in enclosed areas where social distancing is not possible. If a participant begins to exhibit cold or flu-like symptoms during the pilgrimage, we will require them to wear a well-fitting N-95 or equivalent mask when around others. Please bring a few surgical and/or N-95 masks with you on the pilgrimage.
Testing Positive While Traveling
If you test positive via a PCR or lab-administered test while on a pilgrimage, you will not be able to continue to travel with the group for a minimum of 5 days. We will work with you and your insurance company to coordinate lodging and meals during isolation and your transportation to either rejoin the group or return to the United States at the conclusion of the isolation period. Any related costs are your responsibility. We encourage every participant to obtain a travel insurance policy that covers COVID related illness and disruption.
In locations where a PCR or lab-administered test is not available, participants exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms who feel well enough to travel may continue to travel with the group wearing an N-95 mask until a PCR test becomes available. Participation in trip activities may be limited for these travelers.
Non-COVID Respiratory Illnesses
If you test negative, or if a PCR test is not available, but you exhibit symptoms of respiratory illness, you will be required to wear a well-fitting mask (N-95, KN95, FFP2, or equivalent) mask when near other travelers. Your participation in trip activities may be limited.
Testing for Returning to the US
Effective 12 June 2022, the US CDC has removed the requirement that passengers entering the US provide a negative COVID test.