Travel Alerts

Scheduled Power Outages

Cuba's aging power grid, combined with two consecutive hurricanes in late October and early November, has stressed the island’s electrical infrastructure. While the regions we visit are ready to welcome visitors and power has been restored to the grid, scheduled outages common across the country are now lasting longer in some locations due to the grid’s limitations. Guesthouses are equipped to handle outages with support from generators and solar power, but these sources typically cannot power air conditioning systems. A little preparation can go a long way to ensure your comfort, so we recommend bringing a rechargeable personal fan, a flashlight, and a power bank. Our local team in Cuba is well prepared to ensure you have an enjoyable and safe trip, despite these challenges.

Travel to Baracoa Suspended until 2025 - Best of Cuba (QUSH) Departures

Baracoa, located in eastern Cuba, is still not fully prepared to welcome back visitors following the aftermath of Hurricane Oscar. Due to ongoing recovery efforts and the current state of infrastructure, we have made the decision to suspend all travel to Baracoa through the end of the year. As an alternative, we have rearranged the itinerary to spend two nights in the agricultural town of Viñales, in western Cuba. Nestled in a stunning valley surrounded by lush tobacco fields and dramatic limestone mountains, Viñales is a serene and picturesque destination.

If you are currently in Cuba and require assistance, please contact our regional 24-hour emergency contact numbers: 

Intrepid's Local Operator (located in Havana): +53 5333 8121 or +53 5438 9140.

In Cuba, if necessary, you may use *99 prior to dialling to make a reverse charge call.

If you cannot reach the operator using the above numbers, alternatively you may try our Cuba representative located in Australia +61 430 504 636.

Air Pollution levels in Delhi have reached severe levels in recent days due to a combination of crop burn offs, low wind speeds and annual seasonal conditions. Agra and some parts of Rajasthan are also experiencing high air pollution levels. Pollution reduction measures have been put in place, including curbing emissions, halting construction, banning trucks from the city centre and deploying water misters. All Intrepid travellers in affected areas have been provided with face masks. There are currently no changes to itineraries, however there is the possibility of some disruption to flights or train services due to poor visibility.
Any travellers currently in India who require immediate assistance should contact our 24-hour emergency number by phone or WhatsApp: +91 999 900 5019

Severe rainfall has triggered a local state of emergency in Southern Westland due to flooding and slips resulting in road closures. This impacts parts of the West Coast on State Highway 6 in the South Island. All groups on the ground are safe and the below reroutes are in place for current and future itineraries to avoid the impacted area:

Premium New Zealand South Island (PHPS) and Premium New Zealand Encompassed (PHPZC)
Travel to Makaroa is not currently possible. An alternative driving route will be taken to Wanaka, meaning the included Aspiring Biodiversity Trust Lunch and Guided Flora and Fauna Walk will be replaced with a journey on the TSS Earnslaw in Queenstown. Overnight stays remain unchanged.

New Zealand West Coast Adventure (PHSW) and New Zealand South Island Adventure (PHSQC)
An alternative driving route will be taken from Fox Glacier to Wanaka. Overnight stays remain unchanged and no included activities are impacted.

New Zealand Southern Pioneer (PHKS), New Zealand Uncovered (Northbound and Southbound) (PHKYC and PHKZC) and Ultimate New Zealand (PHKRC)
An alternative driving route will be taken from Wanaka to Franz Josef. Overnight stays remain unchanged and no included activities are impacted.

New Zealand South Island Express (PHRS), New Zealand Amplified (Northbound and Southbound) (PHRXC and PHRWC) and Legendary New Zealand (PHRZC)
An alternative driving route will be taken from Wanaka to Franz Josef. Overnight stays remain unchanged and no included activities are impacted.

We will continue to monitor the situation and provide further updates as they become available. Any customers currently in New Zealand requiring urgent assistance should contact our 24-hour New Zealand emergency number: +64 9 520 5593

On 26 September Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 storm, however some of its most devastating effects were felt further inland as the storm traveled north into the mountainous regions of Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina. Asheville, North Carolina was especially impacted by the storm with massive flooding, power outages, road closures, and significant loss of property as well as several reported fatalities.

Travel to Asheville is temporarily suspended.

For those customers booked on Georgia History Trail to Nashville (SSKX) and Best of the South: Atlanta to New Orleans (SSKYC), your trip will continue to operate, with reroutes in place to avoid affected areas until Asheville is safe to visit again. We anticipate that these reroutes will remain in place until at least the end of November and will provide updates as they become available.

For any customers currently in the USA requiring urgent assistance, contact our 24-hour emergency number: +1 435-231-9696.

Mpox is a rare infectious disease related to the virus that causes smallpox and is mostly found in tropical rainforest areas of Central and West Africa. The low number of cases outside these areas are usually linked to travellers who visit that region and spread the infection when they return home. You can read further information about Mpox here.

There are currently no local or worldwide travel restrictions related to Mpox and the risk to travellers remains low, including in countries where cases have been detected. Travellers are advised to take precautions such as minimising potential of skin to skin contact in crowded areas, washing hands thoroughly and frequently, and maintaining good personal hygiene. All Intrepid trips are operating as scheduled and we are continuing to monitoring local health and travel advice in all our destinations.