Icelandic tour company covering cost of travellers’ coronavirus tests

As borders continue to reopen and international travel moves further towards being widely permitted, Arctic Adventures, a tour company in Iceland, is providing travellers with an additional layer of safety.

The country opened itself back up for visitors from countries within the European Union as well as Schengen states on June 15. Those holding a residence permit in Iceland or any other Schengen member state are also permitted to enter. However, it remains closed to any other international visitors until July 1.

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Travellers arriving in Iceland after July 1 will be faced with two options: get tested for COVID-19 (which costs 15,000 Icelandic Króna (ISK), roughly CAD $150) or enter a mandatory 14-day quarantine.

“And let’s be real: Nobody wants to self-isolate during their holidays,” Arctic Adventures’ website explains. “Testing not only allows you to bypass quarantine but also ensures yours and others’ safety.”

Now, as an incentive for future customers, the tour company is offering to front the costs for travellers’ coronavirus tests.

“We’re avid travellers like you, and we know how hard it was to stay positive during the great lockdown,” the site continues. “That’s why we want to do something for like-minded travel companions. Let’s keep our shared wanderlust alive.”

To qualify for this offer, travellers must book a multi-day, self-drive, or trekking tour through Arctic Adventures with departure dates between July 1 and December 15, 2020. The booking period to make these reservations will be from June 18 to December 15.

After getting tested upon their arrival, they are instructed to contact the tour company with the reference number for their tour and provide evidence of the test payment. From there, the company will refund the cost of the test in full within 14 days.

Travellers can also opt for an alternative offer, in which they can use the 15,000 ISK towards a one-day tour through Arctic Adventures. Should they select for this option, instead of receiving a refund, the company will “gift you a tour for that price.”

As well, on the off-chance that they are required to enter quarantine upon arriving in Iceland, Arctic Adventures will provide travellers with a “life-long voucher” to participate in a later tour, which will compensate the cost of the test.

“We’re always monitoring the changing situation and adapting our responses,” the company’s site reads. “If coronavirus testing continues after December 15, we’ll extend the discount period to allow our clients to cover the cost of the test.”

For more information regarding coronavirus testing in Iceland, Arctic Adventures has published an article on its website.