Terms and Conditions for Nepal travel

Friends in High Places - Terms and Conditions for Nepal travel

What's included on a trek and what's not included

The following things are included unless otherwise stated in your quote

transportation to and from trek;
English-speaking Sherpa guide;
porter(s);
meals (On a teahouse trek you choose from the lodge menus, on a camping trek your cook prepares all meals);
accommodations in teahouses or tented camp; and
permits, fees, and taxes.

Not included unless specifically stated in your quote:

expenses due to weather or medical problems, acts of god;
alcohol and beverages;
junk-food-type snacks; and
obvious personal expenses like phone calls, souvenirs, laundry, and tipping.
At times on trek there may be deluxe teahouse rooms available for US$10-15 extra per night.
Once you arrive there can be no refund for activities you cannot or choose not to participate in.
visa fees for Nepal and international airport taxes collected inside the secure area are not included.

Hotel booking, sightseeing, rafting, jungle safaris and other activities

These activities are booked for you by us an agent. We shall not be in any way responsible or liable for any accident, damages, loss, delay, international flight cancellation/delays, or inconvenience in connection with the travel facilities provided. All bookings are accepted and executed with utmost care, but we cannot be responsible for any change or deviation on account of factors beyond our control. We reserve the right to modify any arrangements or to cancel the same without prior notice by providing a refund.

Hotel bookings are for double occupancy. A supplement will apply for a single room. If your hotel reservations include breakfast (most do, except for the budget tier) it will be stated in your quote. Unless otherwise stated, no other meals in Kathmandu or other cities and towns are included.

Sightseeing will include a car, driver, professional guide, and entry fees unless otherwise stated in your quote.

Rafting and jungle safaris are normally quoted with all meals, activities and equipment, permits, and transportation included unless otherwise stated in your quote.

Never included with any activity unless specifically stated in your quote:

expenses due to weather or medical problems, acts of god;
alcohol and beverages;
junk-food-type snacks; and
obvious personal expenses like phone calls, souvenirs, laundry, and tipping.
Once you arrive there can be no refund for activities you cannot or choose not to participate in.
visa fees for Nepal and international airport taxes collected inside the secure area are not included.

Insurance, medical emergencies, medical proxy

We strongly recommend that you take out travel insuramce for your trip to the Himalayas and subcontinent. Evacuation from a remote area and/or repatriation home for medical care is very expensive and not covered by your tour price, and there will be no refunds for trip interruption, delays or expenses due to weather, medical problems or Acts of God. If you take out travel insurance promptly after making your deposit payment, many carriers will waive the normal exclusion for pre-existing conditions.

Serious accidents or medical problems while traveling are rare, but the remoteness of the Himalayan area and the time difference between visitors' homes and South Asia can complicate handling them. Please consider giving us temporary medical proxy to act in an emergency to protect your health and safety. We will always try to contact your designated emergency contact(s) and your insurer first if you give us that information.

Payments and deposits: how, when and refund policy

When you confirm your trip with us you will send us a deposit. Deposit may be made by post with a US Dollar-denominated personal or bank check, by bank transfer, or online using a credit card at 4 percent surcharge.

The balance is payable 60 days prior to departure by one of the above methods OR on arrival in Kathmandu in US Dollar-denominated travelers' checks or cash in US Dollars, UK Pounds or Euros. (Currencies other than the one quoted to you will be converted at current exchange rates in Nepal on that day.)

Deposits are not refundable but can be applied to another program or other dates with us if your cancellation is caused by medical issues involving you, a travel companion or immediate family member. Advance payments other than deposit are refundable or may be applied as credit if i) cancellation is received more than 30 days prior or ii) cancellation is due to medical issues involving you, a travel companion or immediate family member.

Any expenses we cannot recover due to late cancellation will be charged against any refund or credit due. There are normally no such costs up to 7 days prior to your arrival.

Our liability for delays and changes in the program

We will do everything we can to make your experience in Nepal wonderful. But we can't take responsibility for unavoidable circumstances and acts of god, political unrest, flight cancellations or delays, or medical problems. We will always try to rearrange the program to accommodate these things, but any extra cost will be your responsibility. Please see the section about insurance.

The itinerary we prepare with you is a plan, not an inflexible rule. We may need to change something, and you may also want to make adjustments as you go. If changes you make cost more, we'll expect you to bear that cost. If we have to make changes, we'll provide equivalent or better value, or refund the difference in cost if we can't make other arrangements.

What we will ask from you

to have visas, travel documents and, if necessary, passport photos as required. Any delay or loss from not having these things will be your responsibility;
to be well prepared before your trip and to have appropriate clothing and equipment for your program;
to give us information necessary for making reservations and completing government paperwork;
to make deposit and final payment in a timely manner as described above;
to sign a mildly-worded liability disclaimer, to agree to these terms and conditions, and to consider giving us temporary medical proxy;
to cooperate with our staff and other members of the group in a positive way; and
to tell us immediately if something isn't as you expect or want, to let us try to correct the matter while it's minor.

Friends in High Places Terms and Conditions for Bhutan travel

Friends in High Places Terms and Conditions for Bhutan travel

The following things are included unless otherwise stated in your quote

all domestic transportation (domestic airfare may be at extra cost);
Licensed English-speaking professional guide;
luggage assistance;
all meals;
all accommodations in standard hotels; and
all activities mentioned in the quoted itinerary * permits, fees, and taxes.

Not included unless specifically stated in your quote:

expenses due to weather or medical problems, acts of god;
alcohol and bottled beverages;
junk-food-type snacks; and
obvious personal expenses like phone calls, souvenirs, laundry, and tipping.
At times there may be deluxe accommodations available at extra charge.
Once you arrive there can be no refund for activities you cannot or choose not to participate in.

Notes

Hotel bookings are for double occupancy. A supplement will apply for a single room.

Sightseeing will include a car, driver, professional guide, and entry fees unless otherwise stated in your quote.

Insurance, medical emergencies, medical proxy

Payments and deposits: how, when and refund policy

When you confirm your trip with us you will send us a deposit. Deposit may be made by post with a US Dollar-denominated personal or bank check, by bank transfer, or online using a credit card.

The balance is payable 90 days prior to departure by bank transfer or other agreed method.

Deposits are not refundable but can be applied to another program or other dates with us if your cancellation is caused by medical issues involving you, a travel companion or immediate family member. Advance payments other than deposit are refundable or may be applied as credit if cancellation is received more than 90 days prior. See the section above about insurance.

Any expenses we cannot recover due to late cancellation will be charged against any refund or credit due.

Our liability for delays and changes in the program

We and our Bhutanese partner will do everything we can to make your experience in Bhutan wonderful. But we can't take responsibility for unavoidable circumstances, weather and acts of god, flight cancellations or delays, or medical problems. We will always try to rearrange the program to accommodate these things, but any extra cost will be your responsibility. Please see the section about insurance.

What we will ask from you

to have visas, travel documents and, if necessary, passport photos as required. Any delay or loss from not having these things will be your responsibility;
to be well prepared before your trip and to have appropriate clothing and equipment for your program;
to give us information necessary for making reservations and completing government paperwork;
to make deposit and final payment in a timely manner as described above;
to sign a mildly-worded liability disclaimer, to agree to these terms and conditions, and to consider giving us temporary medical proxy;
to cooperate with our staff and other members of the group in a positive way; and
to tell us immediately if something isn't as you expect or want, to let us try to correct the matter while it's minor.
Terms and Conditions for travel in Tibet and India
For travel outside Nepal booked by us, we act as an agent and shall not be in any way responsible or liable for any accident, damages, loss, delay, flight cancellation or delays, or inconvenience in connection with the travel facilities provided. All bookings are accepted and executed with utmost care, but we cannot be responsible for any change or deviation on account of factors beyond our control. We reserve the right to modify any arrangements or to cancel the same without prior notice by providing a refund.

Please review your trip quotation for details of travel in these other countries.GENERALLY, Tibet and India travel includes activities, transportation and hotels but not meals.

Never included unless specifically stated in your quote:

expenses due to weather or medical problems, acts of god;
alcohol and beverages;
junk-food-type snacks; and
obvious personal expenses like phone calls, souvenirs, laundry, and tipping.
Once you arrive there can be no refund for activities you cannot or choose not to participate in.
visa fees and international airport taxes collected inside the secure area are not included.

The terms and conditions for Nepal above are GENERALLY applicable in Tibet and India, with the following exceptions:

Pre-payment will be necessary, and refunds and credits may be more difficult and time consuming.
There may be cancellation costs even within the 30-day-prior window.
Your flexibility to make changes to the program once in progress may be limited, particularly in Tibet where tourism is government controlled.