The short answer
Eat freshly cooked hot food, drink bottled, boiled or purified water, avoid raw salads and ice of unknown source, wash hands or use sanitiser before eating, and choose busy restaurants. If you get diarrhoea, drink plenty of fluids with rehydration salts and rest. Seek medical help if you have fever, blood in stool, severe pain or symptoms lasting more than a couple of days.
Do not take strong medicines without advice. Keep rehydration salts in your kit.
Key facts
- Eat
- Hot, fresh food
- Drink
- Sealed, boiled or purified
- Avoid
- Raw salad, unknown ice
- If sick
- Fluids, rest, seek help if severe
How it works
- Choose cooked foodHot and fresh.
- Drink safe waterSealed or purified.
- Sanitise handsBefore meals.
- Rest if illTake fluids.
- Seek help for severe signsDo not wait.
Eating and drinking sensibly
Most stomach problems come from water or food that is not handled well. Choose freshly cooked hot food, busy restaurants and sealed or treated water. Wash or sanitise hands before eating.
Be careful with raw salads, unpeeled fruit, ice of unknown source and food that has sat out. Brush your teeth with safe water.
If you get sick
Rest and drink plenty of fluids, with rehydration salts if possible. Eat simple foods as you recover. Most mild upsets pass in a day or two.
Seek medical help for severe pain, high fever, blood in stools, or if you cannot keep fluids down. Tell your guide early so the plan can adjust.
Insider tip
Carry hand sanitiser and use it before every meal.
Avoid this
Do not drink tap water or brush teeth with it.
Related questions
Is ice safe?
Not unless you know the source.
Can I eat street food?
Hot, freshly cooked items are lower risk.
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