COVID-19 Testing & Vaccine Requirements

The information below describes the measures we are taking to increase guest safety and mitigate any potential risk to the remote communities we visit on our adventures. These requirements are subject to change as the global situation evolves and health agencies issue additional guidance.

Please scroll down for answers to FAQs about our requirements. If you have questions that are not answered here, contact our Adventure Concierge team at 800-543-8917 or email concierge@nathab.com. Thank you for supporting our efforts to be responsible travelers.

Currently, Nat Hab requires all travelers 5 and older to be fully vaccinated in order to participate. Although we are not requiring boosters at this time, we strongly recommend that all eligible guests get their COVID-19 booster.
Nat Hab requires all guests to test negative on a COVID-19 rapid antigen test administered by Nat Hab at the start of the trip, in addition to proof of full vaccination for those age 5 and older. Many countries also require obtaining a negative COVID-19 test prior to departure. Please click here to see the specific requirements for your trip. For information on testing sites in your state, click here.
Exact details regarding the testing required for your trip will be kept up to date at this link. We will include a reminder to check the link in your Pre-Departure Briefing package, which we will send to you approximately 60 days before your trip. This package will also include your itinerary, packing list, luggage tags, health kit and other useful items. We will email another reminder to check it approximately two weeks before your departure, and we suggest that you check it again a few days before you leave home, as requirements are changing frequently.
To stay up to date regarding individual country entry requirements, please click here and search for the country you will be visiting. On each country page, scroll down to the "Entry, Exit and Visa Requirements" section.

Updated June 13, 2022

FAQs

Why are you requiring vaccines? This was a difficult decision for us to make but, ultimately, in surveying thousands of our guests we were overwhelmingly told that they feel safer and more comfortable traveling in small groups that are fully vaccinated. Additionally, we feel it's vital that our groups are vaccinated from COVID-19 when we travel to the small communities worldwide who provide us with services, as they frequently lack the medical facilities required to handle an outbreak. As a conservation travel company, we believe that we should share in the responsibility of helping to protect not just the places we go, but the people that make our trips possible. Lastly, by having all trip members vaccinated, our COVID-19 protocols can be relaxed to a degree, giving all guests greater freedom of movement as we explore nature. What is required in order to participate in a Nat Hab trip? Currently, all guests 5 and older are required to be fully vaccinated in order to participate. Although we are not requiring boosters at this time, we strongly recommend that all eligible travelers get their COVID-19 booster before their trip.

All guests must test negative on a rapid test administered at the start of the trip. Additionally, many countries and some of our trips require obtaining a negative COVID-19 test prior to departure. Please consult our Destination Requirements page for more information.

Guests who do not meet these requirements will not be allowed to join the trip.
What kind of vaccine is required? At this time, Nat Hab is accepting the four COVID-19 vaccines authorized for emergency use or approved by the FDA (the U.S. Food & Drug Administration) or the EMA (European Medicines Agency). Those are Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson (Jannsen).

Guests must be fully vaccinated by the trip departure date. Per the CDC, individuals are considered fully vaccinated two weeks (14 days) after their second dose in a two-dose series, such as the Pfizer, Moderna or AstraZeneca vaccines, or two weeks (14 days) after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson's vaccine.

At this time, Nat Hab is not requiring COVID-19 boosters, though we strongly recommend that all eligible travelers get their booster before their trip. What proof do I need to provide? All guests 5 and older must provide proof of full vaccination. Fully vaccinated guests should upload their vaccination card to their Adventure Portal prior to departure. We strongly recommend bringing your vaccination card with you on the trip.
What does it mean to be fully vaccinated? Per the CDC, individuals are considered fully vaccinated two weeks (14 days) after their second dose in a two-dose series, such as the Pfizer, Moderna or AstraZeneca vaccines, or two weeks (14 days) after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson's vaccine. Guests must be fully vaccinated by their trip departure date.

Although boosters are not required to be considered fully vaccinated, in accordance with CDC recommendations, Nat Hab strongly encourages all eligible travelers to get their COVID-19 booster before their trip. What if I am on a custom or private trip? All guests, including those on custom or private trips, must abide by Nat Hab’s COVID-19 protocols. This includes providing proof that they are fully vaccinated, proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken before the trip if required by the destination, and testing negative on the COVID-19 test administered at the start of the trip. The timing of your pre-trip test and the type(s) of test accepted will vary based on your trip's starting location. Please consult our Destinations Requirement page for more information.

While your household unit may be traveling together, we will come into contact with many others during the trip such as guides, hotel and restaurant staff, and community members. We seek to be responsible travelers in the places we visit, which includes doing our part to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Are the Expedition Leaders and field staff going to be vaccinated? Nat Hab will require our Expedition Leaders and field staff to get vaccinated in those regions where vaccines are accessible to them. In countries where vaccines are not accessible to them, Expedition Leaders and field staff will be tested prior to the trips and will apply appropriate protocols including the use of masks and distancing. Will there still be protocols in place on the trip? Yes. While exact protocols are shifting based on ever-changing guidance, we continue to follow protocols based on guidance from the WHO, CDC, and local guidelines to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Our protocols involve a combination of enhanced sanitation, hand washing, face masks, and physical distancing. More information on our protocols can be found here.
Are there exemptions to the vaccine requirement? Yes, though they are limited. Nat Hab is only allowing exemptions for those who are ineligible to receive an FDA-authorized vaccine based on their age (i.e., children under 5 years old for trips departing January 1, 2022 and afterward).

The age-related exemption is based on the ages for which the vaccine is authorized by the FDA, not the date at which an adult is able to receive the vaccine due to availability in their state or country.
What if I have recently recovered from COVID-19? Nat Hab requires proof of full vaccination to participate in the trip for all guests 5 and older. Prior positive test results or proof of antibodies are not a sufficient replacement for the vaccination requirement.

Many countries and some of our trips require obtaining a negative COVID-19 test prior to departure. Because people who have recovered from COVID-19 can continue to test positive on a PCR test for up to 3 months after infection, recently recovered travelers may substitute the pre-trip testing requirement with approved "documentation of recovery" if allowed per the destination's entry requirements. Please check your Destination Requirements for details. This “documentation of recovery” may be necessary to cross borders during your trip if applicable. Please visit the CDC's website for additional details about the United States’ requirements for this "documentation of recovery."

Please note that all guests, regardless of previous infection, must test negative on the Nat Hab-administered rapid test at the start of the trip. However, if you do have a positive test result and documentation of recovery between 11-90 days from Day 1 of your trip, you can forgo the Day 1 test. Bring these documents with you to show to your Expedition Leader upon arrival. Please be sure to also check the destination entry requirements for your trip as you still might need to test on Day 1 to enter the country.
What about children? Currently, children under 5 are exempt from the vaccine requirement. All guests age 5 and older must provide proof of full COVID-19 vaccination. Like all guests, children must test negative on a COVID-19 test administered by Nat Hab at the start of the trip.

Additionally, many countries and some of our trips require obtaining a negative COVID-19 test prior to departure. Please consult our Destination Requirements page for more information.
What if I am unable to be fully vaccinated in time for my trip? We hope you can travel with us this year. If you are unsure that you will be fully vaccinated before your trip starts, please contact your Adventure Specialist so we can discuss options with you. What if I choose not to get the vaccine? In the interest of traveler safety we must insist on our vaccine protocols. Should travelers decide to forgo their vaccine for a reason not stated above we will unfortunately not be able to accommodate them on a Nat Hab trip. Is any testing required pre-trip? Many countries and some of our trips require obtaining a negative COVID-19 test prior to departure. Please consult our Destination Entry Requirements page for more information.

If you are not a U.S. resident and your trip starts in the United States, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requires that all travelers age 18 and older be fully vaccinated from COVID-19. You are also responsible for knowing any requirements to return home to your country of residence.

To stay up to date regarding individual country entry requirements, please click here and search for the country you will be visiting. On each country page, scroll down to the "Entry, Exit and Visa Requirements" section.

Exact details regarding the testing required for your trip will be kept up to date at this link. We will include a reminder to check the link in your Pre-Departure Briefing package, which we will send to you approximately 60 days before your trip. This package will also include your itinerary, packing list, luggage tags, health kit and other useful items. We will email another reminder to check it approximately two weeks before your departure, and we suggest that you check it again a few days before you leave home, as requirements are changing frequently. Where can I find a test pre-trip? Most communities are now offering testing, and local health organizations can provide testing locations, or ask your doctor for a referral. We recommend checking with your local CVS or Walgreens pharmacy; they have thousands of locations offering testing with results typically available in two to three days. For a list of testing sites by U.S. state, click here. If your community is not offering testing, LabCorp has at-home testing kits for your convenience with a one- to two-day turnaround for results. If these options do not work for you, please let us know as soon as possible and we can assist. Will there still be testing on the trip? Yes. Nat Hab will administer a rapid test at the start of the trip as an extra precaution. All guests must test negative on this rapid test to join the trip. The only exception allowed is if you have a positive test result from a lab from between 11-90 days prior to Day 1 along with a doctor's note of recovery. Bring these documents with you to show your Expedition Leader upon arrival. Please be sure to also check the destination entry requirements for your trip as you still might need to test on Day 1 to enter the country.

If there is any testing required during the trip (e.g., to cross a border or visit a specific region) Nat Hab will arrange those tests for all guests.

Exact details regarding the testing required for your trip will be kept up to date at this link. We will include a reminder to check the link in your Pre-Departure Briefing package, which we will send to you approximately 60 days before your trip. This package will also include your itinerary, packing list, luggage tags, health kit and other useful items. We will email another reminder to check it approximately two weeks before your departure, and we suggest that you check it again a few days before you leave home, as requirements are changing frequently. Will Nat Hab help me get the CDC-required test when returning home from an international trip? As of June 12, 2022, the U.S. is no longer requiring travelers provide a negative COVID-19 test to enter the United States.
What should I do after my trip? If you've been fully vaccinated, CDC currently recommends getting tested for COVID-19 three to five days after returning from international travel.

COVID-19 Information

COVID-19 Information

COVID-19 Testing & Vaccine Requirements

FAQs

Get Weekly Updates