Travel health information
Travel Health is something that all Unique Trails travellers
should consider before heading off on any adventure around
the world.
We suggest these places listed below, depending on which
country you are based in. We believe that each of these will
provide you with the most up to date, comprehensive &
relevant information regarding travel health that is available.
This advice will not only guarantee you piece of mind while
you travel with us but also give you suggestions on any vaccinations
that may be needed before you go.
• Australia:
• New Zealand:
• UK:
• USA:
• Denmark:
Vaccinations
It is your responsibility to ensure that you obtain any vaccinations,
precautionary or preventative medicines for the countries
you are visiting – or any which may be required by your
home country upon your return. To find out which, if any,
vaccinations are mandatory or recommended for your destination
contact your local doctor, Immunisation Centre or Medical
Centre for up-to-date information.
If you need to arrange vaccinations or a supply of preventative
medicine (e.g. Malaria tablets), you should contact your doctor
at least two months before you depart. Some inoculations require
more than one visit and can take several weeks to administer.
CARRY YOUR CERTIFICATE
You should be issued with an International Certificate of
Vaccination for each vaccination. Always carry these with
you on your travels; they could provide essential information
for doctors in the event that you fall ill whilst travelling.
Malaria
You generally don’t need to worry much about Malaria
in the Himalayas, it only occurs vary rarely and only in the
low land of Nepal, the Terai.
No malaria tablets guarantee complete protection. The most
effective protection against malaria is to avoid being bitten.
Mosquitoes mostly bite at dusk and dawn so one of the best
ways to minimise the chance of being bitten is to wear long
trousers, long sleeves and socks at these times. You should
take a good insect repellent and apply it liberally. Repellents
with a high concentration of DEET (at least 35%) are generally
considered the most effective.
Diarrhoea
Sampling the local food and drink is often one of the highlights
of travelling. In most cases the food is freshly prepared
for you and is completely safe to eat, however it will probably
contain ingredients that you are not familiar with or may
be prepared in a different way. This change in diet is one
of the most common causes of travellers’ diarrhoea.
You can reduce the likelihood of suffering diarrhoea if you
treat food and drink with caution – at least in the
early stages of your travels. In almost every country it is
possible to buy bottled water. This is usually very cheap
and a lot more convenient than trying to purify or filter
tap water.
Beware of ice in drinks and make sure you wash your hands
frequently. If you are unfortunate enough to suffer a bout
of “Delhi Belly” you should be careful not to
become dehydrated.
In general we do not recommend the use of anti-diarrhoea pills
as in most cases they do not cure the problem, they merely
put it on hold. However, there are of course situations where
blocking up’ may be desirable, for instance if you are
embarking on a long bus ride.
Diarrhoea which lasts for longer than 48-72 hours, shows signs
of blood or mucus or which is concurrent with other symptoms,
such as a headache or high temperature, should always be taken
seriously.
Dehydration
In deserts, in the tropics and at high altitude, your body
can lose a lot of water. Dehydration also occurs when you
are suffering from diarrhoea. The best way to avoid dehydration
is to drink plenty of fluids. In most countries you can obtain
“rehydration salts” or “electrolyte solution”.
Although these do not taste great, they restore the salts
lost by your body. You can also make your own rehydration
mixture by adding 4 tablespoons of sugar and ½ teaspoon
of salt to one litre of clean water.
Sunstroke / Heatstroke
It is easy to underestimate the strength of the sun –
particularly when you are busy sightseeing. Until you have
become acclimatised you should try not to overdo it and if
you go out during the hotter parts of the day, cover up and
wear a hat (preferably wide-brimmed).
Use a sun cream or sun block that is appropriate for your
skin type and reapply often. Drink plenty of fluids –
far more than you would normally do at home.
Personal Medical Kits
It is up to you to bring along a personal supply of basic
medical items like plasters, aspirin, insect repellent etc.
In areas of limited or suspect medical facilities, some travellers
also like to take their own emergency medical kit containing
needles, syringes and other items which can be used by the
local medical staff in case of accident or illness.
Existing Medical Conditions
All persons joining our tours are assumed to be in good health
and to have a sufficient level of fitness to complete their
chosen itinerary. If you have an existing medical condition
or disability you must make this known at the time of booking.
If accepted onto the tour, you must also make your condition
known to your trek or tour guide.
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