Booking terms and conditions
The Booking Conditions you agree to when you make your booking apply to your trip. If you are rebooking a trip with a credit voucher you will need to agree to the most current version of the Booking Conditions that apply when you rebook.
Please take the time to read and understand the conditions of booking set out below prior to booking a trip with us.
We strongly recommend that you also read the Essential Trip Information and Important Notes relating to your trip prior to booking to ensure that you understand the itinerary, style and physical demands of the trip you are undertaking.
1. Our contract
By booking a trip with us you have agreed to be bound by the terms and conditions set out in:
- these Booking Conditions;
- Essential Trip Information that applies to your trip; and
- any Special Conditions that may apply,
Your booking will be accepted by us on this basis. The services to be provided are those referred to in your booking confirmation invoice.
2. Privacy policy
Any personal information that we collect about you will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy and may be used for any purpose associated with the operation of a trip.
In making this booking you consent to this information being passed on to the relevant persons such as our agents, service providers or other suppliers to enable us to operate the trip or, if permitted by any relevant Spam laws, to send you marketing material in relation to our events and special offers.
You are responsible for reviewing this Privacy Policy periodically and informing yourself of any changes to this Privacy Policy.
3. Deposit requirement
You are required to pay a non-refundable deposit for your booking to be confirmed. You are required to pay a deposit of $400 AUD per person per trip, unless otherwise stated in the Special Conditions.
If your booking is made within 60 days of the departure date then the full amount is payable at the time of booking.
Deposit amounts vary for selected trips and special campaigns that may be run by us from time to time, as set out in and subject to the Special Conditions.
4. Acceptance of booking and final payments
If we accept your booking, we will issue you with a booking confirmation invoice. A contract will exist between you and us from the date we issue the confirmation invoice or if you book within 60 days of departure the contract will exist when we accept your payment.
Please refer to your booking confirmation invoice for details regarding final payments, including how to make the payment. Payment of the balance of the trip price is due 60 days before the departure date, except as otherwise set out in the Special Conditions.
If this balance is not paid on or before the due date we reserve the right to treat your booking as cancelled and any cancellation charges outlined at clause 7 (Cancellation by You) will apply.
5. Prices and surcharges
Our trip prices are subject to variable and seasonal pricing, both of which are standard practice within the travel industry.
This means our trip prices may vary at any time in accordance with demand, market conditions and availability.
It is possible that different passengers on the same trip have been charged different prices. Your best option if you like the price you see is to book at that time.
Any reduced pricing or discounts that may become available after you have paid your deposit will not apply.
If you wish to cancel your booking to take advantage of a cheaper price, full cancellation conditions apply as set out below in clause 7 (Cancellation by You).
The most up to date pricing is available on our website.
We reserve the right to impose surcharges up to 60 days before departure due to unfavourable changes in exchange rates, increases in airfares or other transportation costs, increases in local operator costs, taxes, or if government action should require us to do so. In such instances we will be responsible for any amount up to 2% of the trip price and you will be responsible for the balance.
If any surcharge results in an increase of more than 10% of the trip price you may cancel the booking within 14 days of notification of the surcharge and obtain a full refund. Please note that a surcharge may be applied to a purchase made by credit card.
6. Your details
For us to confirm your travel arrangements, you must provide all requested details with the balance of the trip price.
Necessary details vary by trip; they include but are not limited to full name as per passport, date of birth, nationality, passport number, passport issue and expiry date and any pre-existing medical conditions you have which may affect your ability to complete your travel arrangements.
7. Cancellation by you
If you cancel some or all portions of your booking the cancellation terms set out below will apply. A cancellation will only be effective when we receive written confirmation that you have sent to your relevant sales representative of the cancellation. If you cancel a trip:
(a) 60 days or more prior to departure, we will hold your deposit amount as a credit;
(b) between 31 and 59 days prior to departure, we charge a cancellation fee of 35% of the total booking cost;
(c) between 30 and 15 days prior to departure, we charge a cancellation fee of 70% of the total booking cost; or
(d) 14 days or fewer prior to departure, we charge a cancellation fee of 100% of the booking cost.
You are strongly advised to take out cancellation insurance at the time of booking. If you leave a trip for any reason after it has commenced, we are not obliged to make any refunds for unused services.
If you fail to join a trip, join it after departure, or leave it prior to its completion, no refund will be made.
The above cancellation terms are in addition to fees which may be levied by accommodation providers, travel agents or third-party tour and transport operator fees. Please refer to clause 19 (Liability), which provides more information about your rights under Australian Consumer Law which may apply to your cancellation.
8. Cancellation by us
Our trips are guaranteed to depart once they have six fully paid customers and subject to reasonable itinerary changes as described in these Booking Conditions.
In the event that we cancel your trip, you can transfer amounts paid to an alternate departure date or receive a refund, unless your trip is cancelled due to a Force Majeure Event.
In the event of any cancellation, there will be no claim for damages by either party against the other and we are not responsible for any incidental expenses that you may have incurred as a result of your booking including but not limited to visas, vaccinations, travel insurance excess or non-refundable flights.
9. Booking amendments
Transfers to a third party or an alternative trip are only permitted when operationally possible and, in the case of transferring to a third party, where the transferee meets all the requirements in relation to the trip. Certain fees may apply.
No amendments are permitted to your booking within 60 days of departure.