Spending a few weeks abroad is one thing. Spending several months travelling internationally is a whole different adventure.

Maybe you’re backpacking through Southeast Asia, working remotely from different countries, volunteering overseas, visiting family for an extended stay, or taking a much-anticipated gap year. Whatever your reason for going, long-term travel gives you more time to explore, but it can also mean more time exposed to destination-specific health risks.

The good news? You do not need to overcomplicate it.

A little planning before you leave Canada can help you understand the health risks associated with your destinations, prepare appropriate vaccines and medications, and know what to do if you become unwell while abroad.

At Virtual Travel Clinic, a travel medicine professional can review your itinerary, planned activities, medical history and immunization history to create personalized travel health recommendations. 

Why Does Long-Term Travel Require Extra Planning?

When you’re travelling for several months, your health preparation may need to go beyond what you would consider for a short holiday.

A two-week resort stay and a six-month backpacking trip can involve very different levels of exposure.

Long-term travellers may:

• Visit multiple countries
• Spend more time in rural or remote areas
• Use different types of accommodation
• Eat and drink in a wider variety of environments
• Have more exposure to mosquitoes and other insects
• Participate in outdoor or adventure activities
• Have limited access to familiar healthcare
• Need prescription medications for an extended period
• Spend more time in countries with different disease risks

Your itinerary matters because travel health recommendations are destination-specific. Even different regions within the same country can have different health considerations. 

Start With Your Itinerary

Before your appointment, map out as much of your trip as possible.

You do not need to have every hostel booked or every train ticket purchased. However, knowing the countries and regions you expect to visit can make your travel health assessment much more useful.

Think about:

If your plans are still flexible, that’s okay. Tell your Travel Medicine Professional what you currently expect to do and where you may be travelling.

Review Your Vaccination History

Long-term travel is a great reason to check your immunization records.

Your Travel Medicine Professional will consider your previous vaccinations when determining what may be recommended for your trip. They can also consider your age, itinerary, planned activities and medical history. 

Depending on your destination, travel vaccines may include protection against illnesses such as:

• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Typhoid
• Yellow fever
• Meningococcal disease
• Other destination-specific illnesses

This does not mean every long-term traveller needs every vaccine.

Your recommendations should be based on your individual trip and health circumstances.

Don’t forget routine vaccines

Travel preparation is also a good opportunity to make sure your routine vaccinations are up to date.

Your travel health appointment can help identify whether your routine immunizations need attention as part of your overall travel health plan. 

Think About Malaria Prevention

If your long-term travels take you somewhere where malaria is present, prevention deserves a spot near the top of your planning list.

Malaria is spread by infected mosquitoes and can cause serious illness.

Depending on your destination and itinerary, a Travel Medicine Professional may recommend malaria prevention strategies and prescription medication.

Your plan may include:

Preventing mosquito bites

Use appropriate insect repellent, wear clothing that helps cover exposed skin and consider accommodation with screens, air conditioning or other mosquito protection where appropriate.

Preventive medication

Some travellers may be prescribed medication to reduce their risk of malaria.

The appropriate medication depends on factors including your destination and individual health circumstances.

Understanding where risk exists

Malaria risk is not necessarily the same across an entire country. Your exact itinerary matters.

If your long-term trip includes multiple destinations, make sure you mention all of them during your consultation.

Plan for Traveller’s Diarrhea

Nobody wants a six-month adventure to have a six-day bathroom adventure.

Traveller’s diarrhea is one of the most common illnesses affecting international travellers, and spending more time abroad can mean more opportunities for exposure.

Food and water precautions remain important throughout your trip.

Depending on your destination and circumstances, a travel health professional may also discuss treatment options and prescriptions that could be appropriate to have available.

Virtual Travel Clinic offers a specialised traveller’s diarrhea consultation focused on prevention, treatment and travel-related gastrointestinal illness. 

Smart food and water habits

When travelling:

• Choose food that has been properly cooked.
• Be cautious with untreated water.
• Practise good hand hygiene.
• Consider the safety of food and beverages based on your destination.
• Be especially careful in areas where sanitation may be limited.

And remember, just because you have been travelling for a few weeks without getting sick does not mean you can completely stop being cautious.

What About Your Prescription Medications?

Long-term travellers need to think beyond travel vaccines and malaria medication.

If you take prescription medication regularly, you may need to plan for months rather than weeks.

Before leaving Canada, review:

• How much medication you will need
• How you will store it
• Whether it requires refrigeration
• How you will transport it
• Whether your destination has restrictions on the medication
• What documentation you should carry
• What you will do if medication is lost or stolen

Keep medications in appropriate labelled packaging and consider carrying important medications with you rather than putting them in checked luggage.

Check the rules for your destinations

Medication rules can vary between countries.

A medication that is commonly prescribed in Canada may be restricted or regulated differently elsewhere.

If you are visiting several countries, check the requirements for each destination, particularly if you take controlled or otherwise regulated medications.

Build a Long-Term Travel Health Kit

A good travel health kit can be incredibly useful when your home base is thousands of kilometres away.

Consider packing supplies based on your destination and personal needs, such as:

• Regular prescription medications
• Any travel medications prescribed for your trip
• Basic first-aid supplies
• Thermometer
• Hand sanitizer
• Insect repellent
• Sunscreen
• Oral rehydration supplies
• Any personal health products you regularly use

Your exact kit will depend on your destination, activities and individual health needs.

Pro tip: pack for your trip, not your suitcase

It can be tempting to bring your entire bathroom cabinet when you’re going away for six months.

Instead, focus on the things you are realistically likely to need and any medications or health supplies that would be difficult to replace abroad.

Consider Access to Healthcare Abroad

When you’re travelling long term, there is a greater chance that you will eventually need some form of healthcare.

Before leaving Canada, find out:

Where can I go if I get sick?

What happens if I need urgent medical care?

Does my travel insurance cover medical treatment?

What should I do if I need to see a doctor in another country?

These questions may not be the most exciting part of trip planning, but knowing the answers can make an unexpected situation much easier to manage.

And yes, travel insurance matters.

Medical care abroad can become expensive, particularly if you require hospitalization, specialist care or medical transportation.

Adventure Travel Comes With Extra Considerations

Long-term travellers often do more than sightseeing.

You might be:

🏔️ Trekking at high altitude
🏕️ Camping
🏄 Surfing
🤿 Scuba diving
🐒 Visiting wildlife areas
🚲 Cycling across countries
🏍️ Riding a motorbike
🌴 Spending time in remote locations

Your planned activities can affect your travel health recommendations.

For example, spending months in remote areas may mean you have less immediate access to medical care. Outdoor activities can also increase your exposure to injuries, insects, animals and environmental conditions.

Tell your Travel Medicine Professional what you actually plan to do, not just where you are going.

Don’t Forget About Environmental Risks

Long-term travel can expose you to environmental conditions that are very different from what you’re used to in Canada.

Depending on your destination, consider:

Heat

Travelling in hot or humid climates can increase your risk of dehydration and heat-related illness.

Altitude

If your itinerary involves high-altitude destinations, discuss altitude-related health risks before you leave.

Insects

Mosquitoes and other insects can transmit diseases in many parts of the world. Appropriate bite prevention should be part of your travel plan.

Water and ocean activities

Swimming, diving and other water activities can introduce additional risks depending on the destination.

Your travel health plan should reflect the actual experience you’re planning, not simply the name of the country on your passport stamp.

What If You’re Travelling Through Multiple Countries?

This is particularly important for backpackers and long-term travellers.

A six-month trip might look something like:

Canada → Thailand → Vietnam → Cambodia → Indonesia → Australia → New Zealand

Each destination can have its own health considerations.

Some vaccines may be recommended for certain destinations but not others. Malaria risk can also vary by location, while food, water and mosquito precautions remain relevant throughout your trip.

Virtual Travel Clinic’s comprehensive travel consultations can assess multiple destinations, with the current comprehensive appointment covering up to two cities or regions. Travellers with more complex itineraries should select an appointment that accommodates their travel plans.

What Should You Bring to Your Travel Health Appointment?

The more information you can provide, the more useful your appointment can be.

Have these ready:

🗺️ Your itinerary

Countries, cities, regions and approximate dates.

📅 Your travel timeline

When you’re leaving Canada and how long you expect to be away.

💉 Your vaccine records

Bring your immunization history if available.

💊 Your medication list

Include the medications you currently take and their doses.

🩺 Your relevant health information

Tell your Travel Medicine Professional about allergies, medical conditions and other information that could affect your recommendations.

🎒 Your planned activities

Mention hiking, camping, animal encounters, volunteering, work, diving or other activities.

Virtual Travel Clinic’s intake form asks about your destination, dates, duration of travel, medical history and immunization history. Having your vaccine records and medication list available can help during the appointment. 

When Should You Book?

For the best preparation, book your travel health consultation 2 to 4 weeks before departure.

This gives you time to review your itinerary, receive recommended vaccines and arrange prescriptions before you leave.

Some vaccines may require multiple doses or time to build immunity, so earlier planning can be beneficial.

But what if you’re leaving next week?

Don’t panic.

Last-minute travel health appointments are still worthwhile. Virtual Travel Clinic can tailor recommendations based on how much time you have before departure. 

Some protection is better than none.

Long-Term Travel Health Checklist

Before you leave Canada, run through this list:

Save this list before you start packing. Your future self will thank you.

Your Adventure May Be Long. Your Travel Health Plan Should Be Too.

Long-term travel gives you the chance to experience more, explore further and spend more time immersed in different cultures.

It also means more time outside your usual healthcare environment.

Taking a little time before departure to understand your health risks can help you travel with greater confidence.

A Virtual Travel Clinic consultation can help you review your destinations, activities, vaccination history and medical information, then determine which travel vaccines, medications and preventative measures may be appropriate for your trip. 

Ready to Plan Your Long-Term Adventure?

You don’t need to figure out your entire travel health plan alone.

Book a virtual travel health consultation and get personalised advice before you leave Canada.

Virtual Travel Clinic consultations are available virtually for Canadians, with prescriptions arranged through a local pharmacy when appropriate. 

Book Your Virtual Travel Health Consultation

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