Updated: July 15, 2020
We’re sure that you have concerns about travelling during this global COVID-19 pandemic, and we want to assure you that your safety, and the safety of our staff and partners is our biggest priority. We have two main measures in effect right now to help deal with the situation. The first is that we’ve made the very difficult decision to not operate tours during Summer 2020; our next scheduled departures are set for April 2021. In addition, our office is not currently open to the general public, but note that you can of course interact with us online or by telephone. If you’re hoping to travel through Western Canada in Summer 2020, please click here!
Like everyone, we’re hoping that a vaccine will be developed soon, so that travel and social restrictions can be lifted, and all of our lives can return to some semblance of what was “normal” prior to the pandemic. However, we realize that a vaccine may not be widely available by the time our buses start rolling again in April 2021. If that is the case, rest assured that we will follow all health and safety regulations in place at that time, as mandated by provincial and federal governments.
A lot can and will change between now and April 2021, but for your reassurance, the following are measures that could be in place when you book or join our tours, if COVID-19 is still prevalent. If it’s not, we should be operating as per normal!
Temporary COVID-19 Cancellation Policy
If a proven COVID-19 related problem (due to travel restrictions or health issues) means you cannot join our tour, and you have given us at least 15 days notice prior to departure, we will not charge cancellation fees. Instead, you will be given the choice of either postponing your trip to a later date (at no additional cost, if taken within 16 months of your originally booked departure date) or receiving a full refund. Note that if you cancel 14 days or less prior to departure, our regular cancellation fees will be applied. We reserve the right to withdraw this temporary policy at any time, however, the policy in place at the time you book will still apply. Click here for our full Terms and Conditions.
Pre-Departure Procedures
- Self-Assessment – we will ask travellers to not join our tour if they are exhibiting signs and/or symptoms of COVID-19, or have been exposed to the virus within a 14-day period prior to our tour departing
- Screening questions at boarding – travellers will be asked a series of questions about their health and travel restrictions as it relates to COVID-19, and they may not be allowed to board depending on their answers
- Temperature checks at boarding – travellers will be asked to submit to a non-contact temperature check, and travellers with a reading of 38C or higher may not be allowed to board
Procedures On Tour
- Enhanced vehicle cleaning – our buses will be thoroughly cleaned prior to each tour departure. There will be regular vehicle cleaning during the tour, with particular attention paid to high touch areas such as seats, hand rails, door and window handles, and luggage racks.
- Social distancing – travellers will be asked to maintain the social distance standard in place at the time of travel, whenever possible
- Mandatory mask wearing – travellers will need to wear non-medical masks while on board our bus, and in other situations where social distancing may not be possible
- Hygienic behaviour encouraged – hand sanitizer will be available on our buses, and our road crew will actively encourage its use, alongside reminding everyone to practise regular hand washing. We will also ask/remind travellers to sneeze and cough into a cloth or their elbow.
- Smaller group sizes – if mandated by government authorities, we will reduce the maximum number of travellers on our tours to improve social distancing on our buses
- Activity procedures – our activity partners have instituted similar procedures to the above. Note that some activities may not be available as a direct result of the pandemic.
Accommodation Procedures
All of our accommodation partners have special COVID-19 procedures in place. Click the links for details:
Procedures For Road Crew/Staff
All road crew and other staff will also need to pass self-assessments and temperature checks, as well as follow all above stated procedures, to be able to continue to work.
