Safety tips, insurance and alternatives for travel

by Carolyn Ray

Some risk is always involved with any travel, and when the unexpected arises we want to be ready for it. I was in Egypt on a solo trip with G Adventures in June when the long-standing conflict between Israel and Iran erupted into open conflict.  My Egyptian hosts were understandably concerned, but we didn’t feel any immediate danger. However, the airstrikes and missile attacks since then have created anxiety about travel to the region, prompting many travellers to ask if it’s safe to travel to the Middle East right now.  

We reached to several partners in our Women’s Travel Directory that operate trips in the region to find out how they are handling this situation, including Intrepid, G Adventures, Explore Worldwide and Far Horizons. 

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How are tour companies responding to the Middle East conflict?

While most tour companies are still operating trips as planned, they are putting safety first and offering alternatives to clients who want to cancel or postpone trips.

According to Leigh Barnes, President of the Americas at Intrepid Travel, Intrepid is operating all trips in the region as planned, with no changes or cancellations. Barnes says that foreign travel advice levels for Jordan and neighbouring countries including Egypt and parts of Central Asia, the Caucasus and northern Africa from countries including Australia, the UK, Canada and the United States, remain at the same levels as before the airstrikes on June 13.

Intrepid is offering customers on departures commencing up until August 31 that no longer wish to travel to Jordan, or on an Egypt & Jordan combo, the option to: Take a 100% credit of monies paid for a trip to use at a future date or give a refund minus 30 per cent. The latest updates are available on: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/travel-alerts 

“We believe in unity and the power of travel to create more peace and tolerance around the world and remain hopeful for a pathway to a permanent end of the conflict,” Barnes says. “Our thoughts are with the local communities impacted.”

Explore Worldwide Programme Manager for the Middle East, James Adkin, says that the company is closely monitoring news and government sources, as well as staying regularly in touch with local partners, tour leaders and contacts.

“Since the recent troubles started in Israel in October 2023, we have paid special attention to the situation on the ground, in Jordan in particular, regularly checking in with our local partners and tour leaders,” Adkin says. “We have actively encouraged our clients who have travelled with us there over this period to post their independently verified Feefo reviews particularly framed for people who may have safety concerns about travelling in Jordan at these times. In this feedback, our clients have noted how safe they felt and how, in fact, it is actually a great time to travel because world class sites such as Petra or Wadi Rum only have a fraction of the usual tourism numbers – so it is a message of ‘go now and don’t worry’.”

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“We haven’t changed any trip itineraries,” Adkin says. “The main issue has been sporadic closure of the airspace over Jordan, particularly in relation to the conflict between Iran and Israel. This is managed closely on the ground and air routes are changed accordingly or certain flights cancelled temporarily. We had a departure recently to Jordan where we erred on the side of caution, as there was a situation developing and we had no way of knowing if the outbound, and more importantly the return flight, could be cancelled. We try to make the decision as timely for the clients as possible, so they have an option to rebook for the future, choose another destination on the same dates, or get a full refund.”

Far Horizons has operated in the Middle East for four decades, and offers archaeological and cultural trips led by renowned scholars to Iran and Jordan. CEO Mary Collins says Far Horizon’s upcoming Jordan trip is in flux as they determine what is best for staff and travellers, saying recent groups have confirmed its continued safety and welcoming atmosphere. For destinations like Iran, and other regions with political challenges, Collins takes a cautious approach, noting she will only operate tours when it’s absolutely safe and responsible.

‘At Far Horizons, our hearts go out to all those affected by recent events in the Middle East, and the safety and enriching experience of our travelers and staff remain our absolute priority,” says Collins. “Over the 40 years of operating in the Middle East, unfortunately, this is not the first time we have had to make decisions about traveling to destinations faced with crisis. Now, as always, we are monitoring global developments, relying on expert local insights to ensure peace of mind for everyone.”

G Adventures doesn’t operate trips in Israel or Iran and is continuing to operate trips in Jordan as scheduled. “The safety and security of our travellers is our top priority and we are working closely with our local team on the ground in Jordan to monitor the situation closely,” says David Green, VP & Sales Operations and Managing Director, Canada. “With our upcoming GX event in September, we are in regular touch with key partners, including the Jordan Tourism Board, which ensures we are receiving accurate information to guide our decisions and preparations.”

“The Jordan airspace remains open and we are advising travellers to check the travel advice from their home country and speak with their travel insurance providers to ensure they are fully covered for their trip ahead,” Green says. “For travellers booked on G Adventures’ Jordan trips departing before 15 July, we are offering flexible travel policies and our team is working with them to book their next adventure.”

What are airlines doing? 

In the days following the U.S. strikes, more and more airline carriers have cancelled flights, particularly in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, which sit just across the Persian Gulf from Iran. Dubai (where Emirates is based) and Doha (home to Qatar Airways) are the two busiest hubs in the Middle East, According to the Associated Press (AP), Qatar, Emirates, Air India and others are cancelling or rerouting some flights across the region. Etihad Airways, the other of the two flag carriers of the United Arab Emirates, suspended all flights between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv through July 15. Air France-KLM said it cancelled some Dubai flights this week, and British Airways said routes to Bahrain were halted to the end of the month due to operational constraints and airspace restrictions.

Due to the ongoing security situation in the Middle East, and as a precautionary measure, Air Canada is temporarily suspending its daily, non-stop service between Toronto and Dubai as of June 18, 2025 until August 4, 2025, at which time it may be further extended following a safety assessment in consultation with government and other authorities. Delta Airlines has also paused flights to Tel Aviv (TLV) from New York-JFK through August 31 in response to the current conflict in the region.  The best advice? Check your flights before you book a trip.

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Canada: Canadians Abroad is a free service that allows the Government of Canada to notify you in case of an emergency abroad or a personal emergency at home. The service also enables you to receive important information before or during a natural disaster or civil unrest.

United States: Enroll in STEP (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program) which is run by the US Department of State – Bureau of Consular Affairs. STEP is a free service to allow U.S. citizens and nationals traveling and living abroad to enroll their trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

New Zealand: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, including New Zealand Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates-General around the world, use the SafeTravel registration system, which provides information to registrants in an emergency (e.g. natural disaster, terrorist attack, civil unrest)

United Kingdom: While the UK doesn’t have a registration system, you can search Foreign Travel Advice on the government’s website. 

Australia: Smartraveller is a government subscription service that provides travel advice updates by email and SMS critical alerts.   

2. Buy comprehensive travel insurance

According to the Government of Canada, the two highest risk levels of travel advisories – “avoid non-essential travel” and “avoid all travel” can have implications on your travel insurance coverage, depending on when the travel advisory comes into effect. On June 13, 2025, the Canadian government issued an official travel advisory to “avoid all travel” to Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.  

Make sure you have comprehensive travel insurance and that it covers trip and cancellation changes. Some policies do not definitively cover war.  Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis.

We recommend travel insurance for all travel, particularly for complex, out-of-country trips.  There are many options available in the US and Canada. To compare prices, check insuremytrip.com and TuGo.  Read the policies and call and ask questions. 

Is war covered in insurance policies?

Travel insurance provider InsureMyTrip says: “Travel insurance doesn’t always apply as people may expect it to in cases of political and civil unrest around the world.” 

InsureMyTrip says: “A common misconception is that if you purchase a comprehensive travel insurance policy, you could cancel a planned trip because of civil unrest occurring at your destination and be reimbursed by the travel insurance company. Not necessarily! Most comprehensive travel insurance policies have an exclusion for cancellation of a trip prior to departure due to civil unrest. The reason for denying trip cancellation coverage has to do with another industry term, “known peril” or to put it plainly, something that a traveler would reasonably know about before buying a policy. Other known perils can include named tropical storms or a previously announced carrier strike. The key here is whether the event was unforeseen or whether it was known at the time the policy was purchased. So who determines whether travel to a particular country is a “known peril”? The U.S. State Department Travel Advisory System is the accepted source for information about travel risks.”  

If you are planning to travel to an area of the world that is known to experience civil unrest, you may want to consider purchasing a travel insurance policy that includes Cancel for Any Reason coverage. When a plan includes CFAR you can cancel your plans within a specific time frame before your scheduled departure, typically up to 48 hours prior, and be reimbursed up to the limits of the plan. Most CFAR plans offer a 75% reimbursement of trip costs. You do take greater personal responsibility for your safety with CFAR because you will have more flexibility to change your mind about traveling.”  (Source: Insuremytrip.com)

3. Keep your passport with you

Should the unexpected happen, keep your passport with you so that you can move easily should an emergency arise.  

4. Stay in touch with your airline

Make sure you are reachable and can connect to airline websites and apps. Try using an eSIM from Airalo.

5. Use a travel advisor

Travel advisors often have information that we don’t. Travel advisors receive hundreds of alerts every day from travel and tourism organizations from around the world, and relationships with on-the-ground travel suppliers around the world. They can also recommend options that we might not have thought of.

6. Going on a tour or cruise?

If you are going on a tour or cruise, confirm with your tour company that they have a plan B should the situation escalate. Are they in touch with the tourism boards?  Do they have a travel alerts page, like Intrepid Travel Alerts? 

If you still want to travel, some overseas options

If you’ve booked travel to the Middle East or other nearby regions, here are other places you may want to consider from North America, depending on your comfort level. You may also want to consider travelling with a group if that helps quell any fears. 

Eastern Europe: Countries like Romania, Hungary and Bulgaria feature many lesser known UNESCO World Heritage sites. River cruising can be a safe, comfortable way to explore this region.  Read more on Europe in our Women’s Guide to Europe here. Find tours to Europe in our Women’s Travel Directory here.

Morocco: Why not consider Essaouira, a coastal town on the African Atlantic Coast without the noise and traffic of Marrakech, Fes, and Casablanca.  Read more on Morocco in our Women’s Guide to Africa here. Find tours to Morocco in our Women’s Travel Directory here.

Greece: From the island of Crete to Santorini, and less travelled places like Ios, Naxos and Rhodes, Greece has some of the most beautiful beaches and historical monuments in the world. Read more on Greece in our Women’s Guide to Europe here. Find tours to Greece in our Women’s Travel Directory here.

Africa: With 54 sovereign countries, the African continent is vibrant with rich birdlife, big game like lions and elephants, cultures and so much more. South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda are all options for safaris and tours. Read more on Africa in our Women’s Guide to Africa here. Find tours to Africa in our Women’s Travel Directory here.

Staying closer to home

For those who don’t want to travel overseas, there’s lots to see in our own backyards.

Canada: This is the perfect time to visit Canada, from walking the PEI Camino to Vancouver Island hikes and many hidden gems across the country.   Read more on Canada in our Women’s Guide to Canada here. Find tours to Canada in our Women’s Travel Directory here.

Mexico: With its proximity to the US, Mexico comes recommended for long stays in safe destinations like Merida, Oaxaca, and San Miguel de Allende, to name a few.  Read more on Mexico in our Women’s Guide to Mexico here.
Find tours to Mexico in our Women’s Travel Directory here.

South America: The fourth largest of the world’s continents, there are women-friendly options to consider in Medellin, Colombia, or the Andes Mountains or Amazon region in Ecuador.  Read more on South America in our Women’s Guide to South America here. Find tours to South America in our Women’s Travel Directory here.

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