Safety & Security
We get it, travelling alone for the first time might be scary but it shouldn’t have to be. Our trips are designed with your safety as our top priority, while still serving up a hefty dose of adventure:
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We prioritise your safety at every step of your journey. Here are the precautions we take:
- Destination Selection: We carefully choose destinations with some existing tourist infrastructure, without being crowded or overrun with tourism. This ensures the presence of established facilities, routes, and experienced local guides. While we personally love exploring very off-the-beaten-path and remote regions in our own travels, we prioritise safety for OTW trips by selecting destinations that strike a balance between adventure and infrastructure. Our aim is to provide enriching experiences while minimising risks.
- Risk Assessment: Prior to every trip, we conduct comprehensive risk assessments, identifying potential hazards and implementing effective mitigation strategies. Additionally, we have robust emergency plans in place to address unforeseen circumstances such as illness or other emergencies.
- Knowledgeable Guides: Our guides have to pass an assessment and are set up with tested routes and trusted local contacts. Our founder has 14+ years of independent travel experience across all continents except Antarctica, as well as tourism certificates in certain destinations. We also find experienced local guides in our destination countries who have the most up-to-date knowledge of the area when it comes to more specialist activities such as river rafting, challenging treks and more.
- Insurance Coverage: We require all participants to take out comprehensive travel insurance before joining a trip and we advise on what coverage is needed for each trip.
- Adherence to Travel Advice: We closely follow travel advisories issued by the UK government and avoid areas marked by conflict, civil unrest, or other security concerns.
- All Activities are Optional: We include loads of exciting activities in the trip price but they are optional – please let us know beforehand and we can give you a discount if you want to opt out of any.
We’re a UK-based company, officially registered with Companies House under company number 15677296. What does that mean for you? Well, it means we play by the rules! We’re fully compliant with UK laws, including the Consumer Rights Act 2015, ensuring your rights and protections are always upheld.
Upon successful confirmation of your place on our trip, we ask that you pay a non-refundable deposit of 20-30% of the trip cost (the exact amount depends on the trip – we’ll let you know once you submit your application). This allows us to book accommodation, travel and any activities that get booked up in advance (e.g. safari) ahead of time. Approximately 3 weeks before departure, you will pay the rest of the trip fee and at this point this will be non-refundable too.
At OTW, we’re all about curating the ultimate travel squad. That’s why we take our application process seriously. Unlike other trip providers, there are no randoms here – every potential traveller goes through a rigorous vetting process. This isn’t just about ticking boxes; it’s about finding like-minded adventurers who are in it for the right reasons. By handpicking our crew, we’re ensuring that every trip is filled with inspiring individuals who share our values and goals, creating connections that last long after the adventure ends.