Health & Safety

Guided By tours begin with the idea that good travel is good for health. Research shows that experiencing awe and wonder boosts brain activity, critical thinking, and empathy. It can inspire healthy habits and make us better social beings. We take pride in making our tours active, healthy, and safe. While travel is never without risks, the policies below describe what we do to keep our groups in good shape, and what we expect from those choosing to travel with us.

Guided By tours typically limit group sizes to 5—15 travelers (with exceptions for private groups). We feel this is optimal for maximizing travel experiences and minimizing risk.

Our guides help travelers stay safe by keeping them well informed. We connect directly with travelers when they book and are available to talk before, during, and after our tours. Everyone has questions as they prepare for a trip. Email, text, or schedule a phone call with your expert guide any time to stay on top of the latest travel info and recommendations. As a tour start date approaches, we’ll send updates as needed on the latest data-driven health information and travel regulations.

Covid-19 & Contagion Policy

Coronaviruses, Covid-19, norovirus, and other communicable diseases present challenges that every Guided By traveler must be ready to manage. We require our travelers to agree to follow local public health regulations to participate on our tours. Such regulations may include vaccination, testing, masking, social distancing, and other measures. These regulations can change during the course of travel planning and even while on tour.

Travelers who present Covid symptoms within 24 hours before a tour, or at any time during a tour, are required to take a Covid test to join or continue our tours, at the discretion of our guides. If travelers test positive for Covid or other communicable diseases, the affected person is required to isolate away from the tour group, resulting in leaving the tour. Travelers sharing a hotel room with an infected person must also test within 24 hours and again 48 hours later, even if asymptomatic, to continue the tour. Guides can assist with making travel arrangements for affected travelers and will assist them as much as possible, while prioritizing their obligations with the remaining tour group.

We recommend travelers bring their own supply of Covid test kits and masks for use as needed before and during a tour. Guides may require that masks be worn in group settings at any time on our tours. Guides will help direct travelers to local health resources but are not able to directly supply test kits or masks to travelers.

Guided By assumes no liability for travelers who contract Covid-19 or any other diseases while participating on our tours. Travelers are fully responsible for their own medical care while traveling to, from, and during our tours, as well as for any associated costs, including but not limited to accommodations, transportation, and meals. Guided By travelers agree to these policies with the understanding that failure to comply is grounds for removal from a tour.

We recommend travelers purchase travel insurance to protect against unexpected losses due to health issues, emergencies, and other disruptions affecting their tour.