Mass evacuations in France and Spain have turned a fast moving wildfire season into a travel problem for visitors, including Indians bound for Iberia and Bordeaux. Reports put evacuations in the hundreds of thousands, and officials in Gironde have urged tourists not to come, or to pick an alternative if already there.

What is affected now

The UK government has not warned against travel to France or Spain, but it advises caution. Access to affected areas may be restricted, roads can close at short notice, and further evacuations are possible. Travellers in France or Spain should follow instructions from local authorities and emergency services, and call 112 for emergencies. France carries a general high wildfire risk each summer from April to October.

Officials list active or high alert zones that matter for itineraries. In France, parts of Gironde and Landes are affected. Gironde and Pyrénées-Orientales carry the highest alert level, while Aude and Var are at the second highest. More than 20 fires are burning across the country, including on Corsica. In Spain, a national emergency has been declared because of wildfires in parts of Madrid and Ávila, with reports of other inland fires.

Airlines and insurance

If an airline cancels because of wildfires it should offer a chance to rebook or a full refund. Package holidays generally refund flights, accommodation and transfers. For separate bookings, each provider sets terms. Insurance coverage varies. Only about half of policies include catastrophe or trip disruption cover, and disinclination to travel is usually not covered. If official advice changes after booking, some policies may cover cancellation or curtailment, subject to wording.

Planning around the alerts

Check bookings often, monitor local authority feeds and official fire maps, and be ready to adjust routes for closures. If you are not due to travel in the next week or two, wait for updates and for airline flexibility closer to departure, since operators prioritise near term departures.