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 800-453-8917 or email concierge@nathab.com. Thank you for supporting our efforts to be responsible travelers.

For trips departing through June 30 (except Alaska), Nat Hab will require all guests to obtain a negative COVID-19 PCR test result prior to departure, unless they are fully vaccinated. Some countries may require a negative COVID-19 PCR test result for entry regardless of vaccination status.
For Alaska trips departing on or after June 1, due to circumstances on these trips where physical distancing is not possible, Nat Hab will require all guests 18 and older to be fully vaccinated in order to participate. Those guests under the age of 18 will be required to obtain a negative COVID-19 PCR test result prior to departure.
For all trips departing on or after July 1, Nat Hab will require all guests 18 and older to be fully vaccinated in order to participate. Guests under the age of 18 will be required to obtain a negative COVID-19 PCR test result prior to departure. Some countries may require a negative COVID-19 PCR test result for entry regardless of vaccination status.
If you are booked on a trip in 2021, you will receive updated testing information for your specific trip approximately 30 days prior to departure.
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.
For more information about the CDC-required test to enter or re-enter the United States, please click here.

Updated May 1, 2021

Trips Departing through June 30, 2021 (except for Alaska)

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What is required in order to participate in a Nat Hab trip? All guests must arrive at the start of their trip with either a negative COVID-19 PCR test result or proof of full vaccination. See below for what proof is required.

Even if you are fully vaccinated, you may also need a negative COVID-19 test result prior to travel if the country you are traveling to requires it. How recent does my test have to be? If a country does not have an entry test requirement, your test must have been administered within five days of the first day of any services booked directly with Nat Hab. For example, if your trip begins on a Saturday, the test must have been administered the previous Monday or afterward. This test requirement is waived if you submit proof that you are fully vaccinated.

If your destination country has an entry test requirement, Nat Hab will use the destination's requirement rather than our own. To stay up to date regarding 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. Country test requirements are not waived if you are vaccinated, unless the country explicitly says vaccination is accepted in lieu of a negative test result.

All guests will receive the specific testing information tailored to their trip approximately 30 days prior to departure.
What proof do I need to provide? At the start of your trip, Nat Hab staff or your Expedition Leader will ask to see your negative PCR test result or proof of full vaccination.

If you are presenting a test result, the proof should include your name, indicate that the test was a PCR test, the date of the test, and the result. It can be a printed or digital copy. We recommend printing out your results and carrying them with you as a backup.

Fully vaccinated guests must present their vaccination card at the start of their trip. We are currently working on a way for guests to upload this information electronically or send it to us in advance. Even if you submit this information electronically, we strongly recommend bringing your actual vaccination card hard copy with you on your trip. The vaccination card must show that by the trip departure date, at least two weeks (14 days) have elapsed since receiving the second dose of two-dose vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna), or it has been at least two weeks (14 days) since the single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

If you have recovered from COVID-19, you can bring documentation of recovery from your physician that meets the CDC guidelines, rather than a negative test result or proof of full vaccination. Per the CDC, "If you have had a positive viral test in the past three months, and you have met the criteria to end isolation, you may travel instead with documentation of your positive viral test results and a letter from your healthcare provider or a public health official that states you have been cleared for travel. The positive test result and letter together are referred to as documentation of recovery." What if I've already been vaccinated? If you are fully vaccinated, you do not need to get tested prior to departure, unless the country you are traveling to requires a negative test to enter.

You will receive the applicable testing information for your specific trip approximately 30 days prior to departure.
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 vaccine series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or two weeks (14 days) after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson vaccine. What if I have already recovered from COVID-19? If you have recovered from COVID-19 within three months before your trip, instead of testing, please bring documentation of recovery from your doctor stating that you have been cleared to travel. This documentation must meet the CDC guidelines below. You may also submit proof that you are fully vaccinated in order to be exempt from the testing requirement, unless the country requires it.

Per the CDC, "If you have had a positive viral test in the past three months, and you have met the criteria to end isolation, you may travel instead with documentation of your positive viral test results and a letter from your healthcare provider or a public health official that states you have been cleared for travel. The positive test result and letter together are referred to as documentation of recovery." What if I don't want to get tested? If the country you are visiting requires a test to enter, you may not travel unless you get tested prior to departure.

If the country you are visiting does not require a test, you do not need to get tested if you submit proof that you are fully vaccinated. If you are not fully vaccinated and choose not to be tested prior to the start of your Nat Hab trip, you will not be allowed to participate. What happens if I test positive? In the unlikely event you test positive prior to your departure, please contact your Adventure Specialist, who will discuss your personal options. Contracting COVID-19 is usually a covered reason for cancellation or postponement if you have purchased comprehensive travel insurance. If I have recently been vaccinated, can the vaccine cause a test to be a false positive? No, neither the authorized vaccines available in the U.S. nor the other COVID-19 vaccines currently in clinical trials can cause you to test positive on viral tests, which are used to determine whether you have an active infection. Will Nat Hab help me get the CDC-required test when returning home from an international trip? Nat Hab will facilitate all on-trip testing as well as the test required by the CDC in order to return home to the U.S. If you are traveling independently after your Nat Hab adventure, we will be happy to provide resources to assist you with obtaining any required COVID-19 tests. What if I’m traveling on my own before the start of my Nat Hab trip? Please contact your Adventure Specialist if you do not think you will be able to acquire a test five days prior to the start of your trip, including any extensions or extra hotel nights booked through Nat Hab, and we will discuss your personal options with you. What if there isn't reliable testing in my area or I don't qualify to get one? 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 map of testing sites, 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.
What if I am on a custom or private trip? All guests, including those on custom or private trips, must provide a negative test result or proof that they are fully vaccinated. 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. What if I am not a U.S. resident, what are my requirements? If your trip starts in the United States, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control require that all travelers age two and older receive a negative test result for COVID-19 in the three days prior to departure. You may join the trip using the same test if the test was administered in the five days prior to trip start, or present proof of full vaccination. If it will be more than five days between your test and the start of your Nat Hab trip, you’ll need to test again in the U.S. before joining your trip, or present proof of full vaccination.

If your trip starts in another country that has an entry test requirement, you must take a test that complies with that country's requirement. Please contact your consulate or nearest embassy for entry rules relevant to your specific citizenship while traveling abroad.

If your trip starts in a country that does not have an entry test requirement, you must have a negative PCR test taken in the five days prior to the start of your trip with Nat Hab or submit proof that you are fully vaccinated.
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 the Expedition Leaders and field staff going to be tested or vaccinated? Nat Hab requires that our Expedition Leaders and field staff get vaccinated in regions where the vaccine is accessible to them. In areas where our Expedition Leaders or field staff are unable to get a vaccine, we will require they get tested prior to the start of the trip.

Alaska Trips Departing On or After June 1, 2021

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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 believe it is vital that our groups are vaccinated against COVID-19 when we travel to small communities worldwide that provide us with services, as they frequently lack the medical facilities required to handle an outbreak. As a conservation travel company, we believe we should share in the responsibility of helping to protect not just the places we visit, but the people who make our trips possible. Lastly, by having all trip participants vaccinated, we can relax our COVID-19 protocols to a degree, giving all guests greater freedom as we explore nature. What is required in order to participate in a Nat Hab trip? For our Alaska trips beginning on or after June 1, 2021, travelers 18 and older must arrive with proof of full vaccination against COVID-19.

A negative COVID-19 test result is not required unless Alaska changes its entry requirements to require one. What kind of vaccine is required? At this time, Nat Hab is accepting the three COVID-19 vaccines authorized for emergency use by the FDA. Those are Pfizer, Moderna 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 or Moderna vaccines, or two weeks (14 days) after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson's vaccine.
What proof do I need to provide? Guests must bring their vaccination card to the start of their trip. We are working on a way for guests to upload this information electronically or send it to us in advance. Even if you submit this information electronically, we strongly recommend bringing the physical vaccination card with you on your 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 or Moderna 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. Are the Expedition Leaders and field staff going to be vaccinated? Yes, we expect all of our Alaska Expedition Leaders and field staff to be fully vaccinated this summer.

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 18 years old) as well as those who have a medical exemption that is documented by their physician and approved by Nat Hab.

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. If you are 18 or older, you are still “eligible” for the vaccine even if it is not yet available to you. Similarly, if current research results in the vaccine being authorized for youth under age 18 (or 16 for the Pfizer vaccine), we will adjust our lower age requirement accordingly.

We will require anyone without proof of full vaccination to arrive with a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken in the five days prior to the start of the trip. For example, if your trip begins on a Saturday, the test must have been administered the previous Monday or afterward.

Any guest who is ineligible to receive the vaccine due to a medical exemption must contact our office as soon as possible.

What if I have a previous positive COVID-19 test or proof of antibodies? Nat Hab is requiring proof of full vaccination to participate in the trip, unless you are ineligible as referenced above. Prior positive test results or proof of antibodies are not sufficient. What about children? Children under 18 are exempt from the vaccine requirement. Children must arrive to the start of the trip with a negative COVID-19 PCR test result, or proof of full vaccination from the Pfizer vaccine, which has been authorized for ages 16 and up.

If arriving with a negative test result, the test must have been administered within five days prior to the trip. For example, if your trip begins on a Saturday, the test must have been administered the previous Monday or afterward. What if I am unable to be fully vaccinated in time for my trip? We do hope for you to be able to travel with us to Alaska this summer so if you are unsure that you will be fully vaccinated before your trip starts, please contact your Adventure Specialist so we can discuss options for 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? No, unless Alaska changes its requirements, U.S. residents do not need to get tested prior to traveling to Alaska, unless they are under 18 years old and or have an approved medical exemption to the vaccine requirement.

If you are not a U.S. resident, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control require that all travelers age two and older receive a negative test result for COVID-19 in the three days prior to departure. Will there still be testing on the trip? All of our Alaska trips include situations where physical distancing is not possible, so we may still administer a rapid test during the trip as an extra precaution, such as prior to boarding a small ship. If you have recovered from COVID-19 within three months before your trip, you may test positive again so please bring documentation of recovery from your doctor stating that you have been cleared to travel as well as your recent positive test result.

Per the CDC, "If you have had a positive viral test in the past three months, and you have met the criteria to end isolation, you may travel instead with documentation of your positive viral test results and a letter from your healthcare provider or a public health official that states you have been cleared for travel. The positive test result and letter together are referred to as documentation of recovery."

Details specific to your adventure will be outlined in your pre-trip materials and sent to you approximately 30 days prior to departure.

All Trips Departing On or After July 1, 2021

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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? For all trips beginning on or after July 1, 2021, all travelers must arrive with proof of vaccination against COVID-19.

A negative COVID-19 test result may also be required to enter the country where your trip begins. What kind of vaccine is required? At this time, Nat Hab is accepting the three COVID-19 vaccines authorized for emergency use by the FDA. Those are Pfizer, Moderna 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 or Moderna vaccines, or two weeks (14 days) after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson's vaccine.
What proof do I need to provide? Guests must bring their vaccination card to the start of their trip. We are working on a way for guests to upload this information electronically or send it to us in advance. Even if you submit this information electronically, we strongly recommend bringing the physical vaccination card with you on your 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 or Moderna 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. What if I am on a custom or private trip? All guests, including those on custom or private trips, must provide proof that they are fully vaccinated. 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 it is accessible to them. In countries where our Expedition Leaders or field staff are unable to get a vaccine, we will modify our protocols accordingly (e.g., the guide will not eat with the guests at the same table).

We expect all of our guides for our domestic trips to be fully vaccinated this summer. 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 18 years old) as well as those who have a medical exemption that is documented by their physician and approved by Nat Hab.

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. If you are 18 or older, you are still “eligible” for the vaccine even if it is not yet available to you. Similarly, if current research results in the vaccine being authorized for youth under age 18 (or 16 for the Pfizer vaccine), we will adjust our lower age requirement accordingly.

We will require anyone without proof of full vaccination to arrive with a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken in the five days prior to the start of the trip. For example, if your trip begins on a Saturday, the test must have been administered the previous Monday or afterward.

Any guest who is ineligible to receive the vaccine due to a medical exemption must contact our office as soon as possible.
What if I have a previous positive COVID-19 test or proof of antibodies? Nat Hab is requiring proof of full vaccination to participate in the trip, unless you are ineligible as referenced above. Prior positive test results or proof of antibodies are not sufficient. What about children? Children under 18 are exempt from the vaccine requirement. Children must arrive to the start of the trip with a negative COVID-19 PCR test result, or proof of full vaccination from the Pfizer vaccine, which has been authorized for ages 16 and up.

If the country where your trip starts does not have an entry test requirement, the test must have been administered within five days prior to the trip. For example, if your trip begins on a Saturday, the test must have been administered the previous Monday or afterward.

If the destination country has an entry test requirement, the test must comply with that entry requirement. 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? A negative COVID-19 test will be required if your destination requires one to enter the country. But if you are a U.S. resident joining a domestic trip or if you are visiting a country that does not have an entry test requirement then proof of full vaccination will suffice.

If you are not a U.S. resident and your trip starts in the United States, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control require that all travelers age two and older receive a negative test result for COVID-19 in the three days prior to departure.

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.

All guests will receive the specific information tailored to their trip approximately 30 days prior to departure. Will there still be testing on the trip? Maybe. If there is any testing required (e.g., to cross a border or visit a specific region) Nat Hab will arrange those tests for all guests. Nat Hab may also administer a rapid test during the trip as an extra precaution. If you have recovered from COVID-19 within three months before your trip, you may test positive again so please bring documentation of recovery from your doctor stating that you have been cleared to travel as well as your recent positive test result.

Per the CDC, "If you have had a positive viral test in the past three months, and you have met the criteria to end isolation, you may travel instead with documentation of your positive viral test results and a letter from your healthcare provider or a public health official that states you have been cleared for travel. The positive test result and letter together are referred to as documentation of recovery."

All guests will get specific information tailored to their trip approximately 30 days prior to departure. Will Nat Hab help me get the CDC-required test when returning home from an international trip? Yes. Nat Hab will facilitate all on-trip testing as well as the test required by the CDC in order to return home to the U.S. If you are traveling independently after your Nat Hab adventure, we will be happy to provide resources to assist you with obtaining any required COVID-19 tests.

Traveler Resources