21 March 2025 - London Heathrow Airport closure
London Heathrow airport has been closed until 23:59 on 21 March 2025. Heathrow expects to resume flights from midnight, although disruption will likely last a few days as plans and crews relocate. Heathrow is closed and no flights are due to land until 00:01 Saturday 22nd March 2025.
We recommend regularly monitoring your airline's website for any updates/instructions. If Explore have booked your flights, we will be in touch to discuss. If you have booked your own flights, send us your new arrival flight details as soon as possible. When the airport reopens, we advise allowing more time for check in and security due to flight disruption and busier airports.
23 January 2024 - Ecuador State of Emergency
The Foreign Office advisory now states that it advises “against all but essential travel to parts of Ecuador”. This includes the city of Guayaquil, but does not apply to airside transit within the airport.
In terms of general safety, the situation has stabilised quickly. We get regular up-to-date information about the general security situation, as well as the impact on travel within Ecuador, from our local partners and other contacts in the country. We’ve heard regularly from different suppliers and hotels who currently have groups and travellers in country and are operating largely as normal. Hotels, national parks, airports, roads and touristic infrastructure are all operating normally and calmly throughout the highlands, the jungles, and the Galapagos.
October 2023 - Smooth operations in Egypt and Jordan continue
We would like to confirm that following events in Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territories, our tours to both Egypt and Jordan have been running smoothly over the past weeks and continue to do so. We keep in close contact with our partners and we monitor the situation on the ground closely. Whilst isolated demonstrations can occur our tour leaders will take measures to ensure groups avoid any areas where organised demonstrations are taking place.
The Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advice has not changed however we will promptly respond should there be any developments or updates.
October 2023 - Israel-Palestine conflict
Following the ongoing situation in Israel we have cancelled all our tours to Israel and the Palestinian Territories, and to Lebanon. Our thoughts are with all those affected by this conflict.
The Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) now advises against all but essential travel to Lebanon. As a result we can no longer operate our Lebanon tours and have cancelled all departures until the end of the year. We will be contacting affected passengers in departure date order.
We'd like to confirm that all other tours are operating as usual. As always, we keep in very close contact with our partners and respond to any changes made to FCDO advice. Our Explore Flex policy means that you have options if you decide to change your trip or dates up to ten days before your planned departure. In any instances where the FCDO advises against travel, we cancel all trips and full refunds are payable.