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COVID-19

COVID-19 Updates

Nothing is more important than your health and well-being. Scopia LLC and its professional partners in each country, will do everything we can to help keep you and your traveling companions safe and happy during your tour. We all continuously monitor the COVID-19 situation at each destination to ensure governmental requirements and restrictions are strictly followed during the tours.

For all Scopia LLC tours, it is highly recommended that you be fully vaccinated, as defined by the CDC, prior to travel. Scopia LLC may, on arrival at the destination, request that you complete a short form related to any COVID symptoms, vaccination/recovery status, etc.

The requirements for flying to - and traveling in - any country can change regularly. It is therefore recommended to stay updated with information from the links below or the links provided in the tour brochure.

In all destinations, Scopia LLC's local tour guides and tour operators will provide all necessary information to abide by the local regulations. Wherever possible, Scopia LLC will provide some supplies you may need to stay healthy, such as masks, alcohol wipes and hand sanitizers. It is recommended, though, that you come prepared with a supply of your own. It is also recommended to travel with N-95 masks as they provide a greater level of safety for you and those around you.

During the tour, should you feel any symptoms possibly related to COVID-19 (see CDC list), please contact the tour leader, the escort or the guide as soon as possible. Protocols are in place at each country for handling such situations and they will be followed by the tour staff (quarantine, testing, etc.)

Travel insurance is now mandatory when traveling to many countries, including a statement on the policy specifying coverage for COVID-19. This is a good thing because travel insurance may cover expenses related to COVID such as cancellation due to a positive test result, or quarantine while abroad. Be sure to check with your insurance company to confirm specific details.

What happens in case of individual cancellation due to COVID? It depends on the circumstances. If a traveler tests positive for COVID prior to departure, the travel insurance may see this as a "cancellation due to a covered reason" and reimburse non-refundable trip expenses as specified in the policy, so long as a doctor has confirmed the case in writing. If a traveler cancels the trip due to a change in COVID restrictions or requirements, or general hesitance to travel, then the Terms and Conditions of the specific trip will be followed, and any amounts paid for the trip will remain non-refundable.

What happens in case an entire group is cancelled due to a change in COVID restrictions? Again, it depends on the circumstances, more specifically - how long prior to departure the cancellation is made. Usually, final payments for individual and group tours are required 60 days prior to departure, with payments to suppliers (airlines, local tour operators, etc.) disbursed about 45 days prior to departure. If a group departure is cancelled after payment of the initial deposits and prior to payments to the suppliers, then the cost of the tour is refunded less the initial deposit and less any penalties which may have been imposed by certain suppliers. If the group departure is cancelled after payments have been dispersed to the suppliers, then any amount refunded from the suppliers to Scopia LLC will also be refunded to the participants, less the deposits. Please understand that, once payment has been disbursed to the suppliers, the money is no longer controlled by Scopia LLC and it is completely up to the suppliers to decide how much - if anything - to reimburse in this case.

What happens if a participant tests positive while overseas? Each country has a protocol for such an occurrence and this protocol will be followed by the traveler, Scopia LLC and the local suppliers. In some cases, it may involve quarantine and regular testing in a government hospital or quarantine hotel. Any expenses related to this, should be submitted in a claim to the travel insurance company. It is therefore vital to keep all expenses, receipts and medical records to submit as proof during the claim process.

Please remember that all expenses related to COVID-19 are the individual responsibility of each traveler. Please also keep in mind that it is at the complete discretion of the travel insurance company as to any reimbursement made, or documentation required to submit a claim.

Register with confidence: Scopia LLC is currently collecting minimal initial deposits for any of the organized tours departing in 2023. Should your tour be cancelled (see above), the deposit will be non-refundable but can be used for any future Scopia tour, whether group or private.

Those who paid non-refundable deposits in 2020-2021 for tours that were cancelled, are welcome to use those original deposits toward any future Scopia tour.

CDC Information for travelers to Israel. Website

Israel Ministry of Tourism COVID Requirements Website

US Embassy in Israel - COVID19 Page

Israel Entry/Quarantine Requirements (Ministry of Health)

CDC Information for travelers to Egypt. Website

US Embassy in Egypt - COVID19 Page

CDC Information for travelers to Jordan. Website

US Embassy in Jordan - COVID19 Page

Jordan official entry/visit requirements website

CDC Information for travelers to Austria. Website

US Embassy in Vienna - COVID19 Page

Austria official entry/visit requirements website