TrekAmerica is the latest travel firm to close due to coronavirus crisis

‘TrekAmerica truly changed my life in so many ways,’ says employee

End of the road: TrekAmerica has been taking travellers across the US since 1972 (TrekAmerica)

The adventure company TrekAmerica has become the latest travel firm to close due as a result of the coronavirus crisis.

The company tweeted: “Today is a sad day our Trek team hoped would never come.

“As of today, TrekAmerica will no longer be taking bookings, and will no longer be running trips.

“It’s been an incredibly difficult decision from all of is here, but due to the ongoing uncertainty of Covid, one we’ve had to make.

“If you’re booked with us, we’ll be in touch very soon about a full refund or alternative trip with our sister company.”

Travellers with trips booked will get a full refund, or can transfer to a sister company, Exodus, which is continuing to trade normally. Both are owned by Travelopia, and are based at its office in Surbiton

TrekAmerica started selling adventures in 1972 with a New York to California trip, which remained at the heart of its operations. It expanded to Canada and Alaska, as well as Latin America.

Travel from the UK to the US has been forbidden for non-Americans for almost six months, and any British travellers who manage to get there face two weeks in self-isolation on returning home.

A statement on the TrekAmerica website reads: “For almost 50 years, we’ve been honoured to be part of your incredible travel stories.

“Even though we’re driving off into the sunset, we hope the friends and memories our Trek community have made will live on in our Trekkers for many more years to come.”

On Twitter, @WhoIsMilly wrote: “The saddest post I've ever made in my social media career. TrekAmerica truly changed my life in so many ways.”

The closure took place 10 days after another firm aimed at young adventurers, STA Travel, went out of business.