How is the conflict in Israel and the Palestinian Territories affecting trips?
There has been a major escalation in the long running conflict between Israel and Palestine. On 07 October 2023, Palestinian militant group, Hamas, launched an attack on Israel. Israel then retaliated by declaring a state of war and striking targets in Gaza.
Much Better Adventures do not run trips in Israel & the Palestinian Territories.
We understand you might have some questions or concerns about travelling so take a look at these FAQs below:
1. Are trips to Egypt still running?
Yes. All trips are operated in line with the British FCDO travel advice and our expert security advisors. The FCDO advice does not currently advise against travel where the trips take place (the southern region of South Sinai). We have been in regular contact with our local hosts in Egypt: they have reported that local conditions remain peaceful and unaffected by recent events.
Given the dynamic nature of the situation, the proximity to the border with Gaza and the historical volatility of the Sinai region, we continue to keep a close eye on developments in the region. If the advice for Egypt changes, we will update customers with any news straight away.
MBA trips to Egypt continued to operate normally throughout October and November.
Your safety, and the safety of our local host team, is our absolute top priority.
2. Should I travel if I am an Israeli National?
If you are an Israeli National due to travel to Egypt in the next few weeks, we would recommend you postpone your trip for your own safety. Please get in touch with our customer service team on hello@muchbetteradventures.com straight away, along with proof of your nationality, then we can assist you with this.
3. Can I travel on a US Passport?
As of 09 November 2023, the local authorities in Egypt have stopped issuing desert permits to US passport holders. This is believed to be in response to the current US National Government Travel Advice for Egypt. Desert permits are required for the areas visited on both MBA Egypt trips and therefore while this is the case, US passport holders will unfortunately not be able to travel on our Egypt trips. If you are a US passport holder and are currently booked on an MBA Egypt tour, we will contact you directly.
4. Can I cancel my booking or change my date even if my trip has not been cancelled?
If you are booked to travel to Egypt and your trip is not cancelled then your standard booking terms will apply - check your booking for details, or get in touch with our customer service team on hello@muchbetteradventures.com.
If you are due to travel within the next 50 days and have any concerns, please contact our customer service team on hello@muchbetteradventures.com who will be able to provide the latest updates from our host and discuss your options with you.
5. Can I still book a trip to Egypt?
Absolutely. However we would strongly recommend making sure you take out travel insurance which includes cancellation cover at the time of booking, just in case you end up needing to make last-minute changes to your flights.
6. What happens if my trip does get cancelled at short notice?
You will get a full refund, or have the option to change dates or take credit to travel on a different adventure. Regardless of which option you choose we will provide you with a document to support you making a claim for flights with your travel insurance: do ensure you have taken out cancellation cover. We recommend deferring your trip to a future departure and we have lots of dates available on the website.
This recent experience posted on Trustpilot from one of our customers impacted by the earthquake in Morocco should give you confidence:
7. What extra travel advice is there to keep us safe while in Egypt?
- Monitor and follow your own national government's travel safety and security advisory scheme, such as that of the FCDO for UK citizens.
- Whilst on their trip, speak to your Host and follow advice specific to the area you are travelling in.
- Avoid public demonstrations, protests or gatherings.
- Avoid displaying any political or overtly religious symbols and conversations about politics, or the security situation, in public settings.
- Avoid taking photographs that aren't of tourist related scenes - ask your host if you are unsure.
8. What happens if the UK FDCO travel advice changes when my trip is in progress?
We receive real-time safety updates and travel advice for Egypt from the UK FCDO. In addition, our local host is based in South Sinai and provides us with regular updates from this area. Your safety is our priority so in the event that the UK travel advice changes whilst your trip is in progress, then measures will be taken to comply with the advice. Your local host and their team are able to support travellers on the ground and they have recently reviewed contingency plans for their trips. We also work with an expert security and incident management partner who is available 24/7 to offer additional support, if required.
Nb. If you are not a UK citizen, you should monitor the advice of your national government's foreign travel advisory.
Any further updates will be posted to this page. Our customer service team are always here to help: you can contact them on hello@muchbetteradventures.com.
Last update: Monday 27 November 2023