UPDATED

Expeditions India COVID-19 Health and Safety Guidelines v.2

Introduction

As a responsible adventure tour operator, health and safety concerns have always been at the forefront of what we do. That said, COVID-19 poses new challenges and risks. While we will do all we can to mitigate these new risks, of course we can’t eliminate risk entirely.

Fortunately, river expeditions naturally lend themselves to social distancing and ample clean, fresh air. Moreover, time spent in the outdoors has innumerable other benefits to our well-being.

These guidelines have been developed in compliance with the most recent Adventure Tour Operator’s Association of India (ATOAI) and local and state regulations. You can find here our original Covid guidelines (from Oct 15, 2020). We have updated them March 1, 2022 to reflect the current Covid situation.

Our Approach 

Expeditions India will continue to follow the latest science-based information on Covid 19 and local/state government regulations to keep our clients, staff and operators safe.

Update to Our Cancellation Policy

If you're unable to make the trip, or the trip needs to be cancelled, due to circumstances which may arise due to Covid 19, we will reschedule you for a new trip up to Dec 31, 2022 (based on availability) OR refund your money: more than one week before the trip start date, less 10% for administrative fees and less than one week before the trip start date, less 20% for administrative fees.

Transportation

We have worked with the same few transportation vendors for years and have established a positive, trusted relationship with all of them. We will ensure that they uphold all Uttarakhand state COVID-19 guidelines, including reducing number of people in vehicles, cleaning and sanitising vehicles, wearing masks, and sanitizing hands frequently. In addition, we recommend that travellers carry a small stock of some packed food, fruits and water to reduce the number of stops at roadside eateries. 

On the River

• Equipment (including PFDs and helmets) will not be shared between clients.

• Staff will keep daily health log of all customers and staff on river trip, including temperature readings.

Camping

• Twin sharing tents for guests from same household or in a social bubble (on private trips). Single tents available on request.

• Maintain a 20m separation between client tents and kitchen tent.

• Each campsite will have 1-2 water stations with soap (depending on number of clients) for hand washing. Hand sanitizer will be readily available at camp.

• Ensure that camping equipment issued by Expeditions India will remain be used by same client throughout the trip.

• Staff to wash their hands before setting up the campsite and wear masks (washable) while doing it.

• Toilet Tent Ratio at least 1:5.

Food

Precautions in Dining Area 

• Food will be served in the open and under a dining tarp in case of bad weather.

• Expeditions India staff to wear masks while preparing and serving food.

• Tables, etc to be sanitised on a daily basis.

• Utensils, cutlery, and service ware etc. be washed with hot water and food grade/approved disinfectants.

Precautions in the Kitchen/Food Preparation Area

• Cooking staff to wear face masks.

• Only cooking team to be permitted inside the kitchen.

• All tools to get sanitised after each use.

Medical Consideration and Evacuation Protocol

All trips to carry a First Aid Kit, Pulse Oximeter and Thermometer.

If anyone (customer or staff) presents with COVID-19 symptoms, such as cough, cold, fever, difficulty breathing, etc, the following measures will be followed:

• Immediately provide surgical mask to the guest.

• Maintain a safe distance of 6 feet from the guest.

• Check guest travel history to affected area or contact with the affected person.

• Encourage guests to sanitise their hands/ wash hands with soap.

• Offer medical assistance to the guest if required.

• Ensure the person does not come in contact with others. Ask them to maintain a distance of at least 2m from other people. Isolate tent.

• Immediately inform the nearest medical facility (hospital/clinic).

• Safely evacuate the client from the trip.

In case of an emergency (other than COVID-19 case), when administering first aid, some distancing methods need to be adapted or cannot be used. Guides would use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as face coverings, eye protection gear and sterile gloves. If we may need to make a rapid evacuation due to an emergency situation, speed trumps the potential transmission of the virus. The immediate safety of the guests is priority number one; preventing possible contagion is lower on the list.