Booking Conditions
Your contract is with UNTAMED BORDERS LTD. Company registered in England and Wales. Company number 6748438. This company’s office is at The Greenhouse, 49 Green Lanes, Newington Green, London N16 9BU, UK. UNTAMED BORDERS LTD are hereinafter referred to as “the company” or “we” in respect of the booking conditions, which apply to all of the tours in our brochure.
The client or “you” – The person whose signature and details appear on the booking form.
The contract – 1)These conditions of contract, 2) The specific itinerary for the tour on which the client has booked, 3) the application booking form, all of which are hereby incorporated into and shall constitute the entire contract made between the Company and the Client.
The Date of Departure – the date of commencement of the tour.
Force Majeure – unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond the control of the Company, the consequences of which could not have been avoided, even if all due care had been exercised.
1. The Booking Form and Deposit:
1.1 To make a booking for an escorted group tour with the Company the Client must send a completed booking form with a deposit of US$400 per person.
1.2 In some circumstances we will contact you for Interim payments where certain services such as flights have to be secured in advance.
1.3 The Contract between the Company and the Client will be final and binding on both parties with effect from the date that notification of the acceptance of the deposit has been sent by the Company to the Client.
1.4 We reserve the right for whatsoever reason to return the deposit to the client and refuse acceptance of the Client’s application. The Contract is subject to the following terms and conditions.
2. Balance of Payment:
2.1 The client will pay the balance of the tour price no less than 60 days before the departure date. If this booking is made less than 60 days before the relevant departure date the Client must pay the tour price in full on booking.
2.2 In the case of international payments the Client will ensure that the full US Dollar amount is received by the Company after all bank charges have been levied.
3. Failure to pay the Balance of Payment when due
If the balance of the monies due from the Client to the Company is not paid 60 days prior to departure, we will treat the Contract as cancelled by the Client and retain the deposit.
4. Passports, Visas and Health Matters
Medical vaccinations, passports, visas etc… are entirely your responsibility and must be arranged prior to departure. We can take no responsibility for cancellation of your trip in the event that you are not allowed to fly, or continue your tour. If you are unable to travel due to not being able to obtain (or not having) the appropriate visa we reserve the right to retain the cost of the trip.
5. Cancellation by the Client:
5.1 The Client acknowledges that payment for the tour is an intrinsic part of the tour’s income and contributes to the overall cost of equipment, running costs, staffing, administration etc…, and that the Company will have incurred the largest part of its costs before the actual date of departure. Cancellation by the Client must be in writing.
5.2 Deposits are non–refundable. If you cancel your booking, cancellation charges will be imposed as shown below:
a) 60 days or more prior to departure – loss of deposit
b) 59-28 days before departure – 50% of tour cost
c) Less than 27 days – 100% of tour cost
All cancellations must be in writing and be made by the person who signed the booking form.
5.3 After the departure date, no refund for any unused portion or part of the tour or services to be provided will be given. If the client of their own volition makes any alterations to or departs from, any portion of part of the tour, such alteration or departure will be entirely at the Client’s expense and liability and the Client will forthwith communicate in writing the reason for leaving the tour guide.
6. Cancellation by the Company:
6.1 We reserve the right to cancel your tour. However, we will normally not do so unless we are forced to do so by virtue of unforeseen circumstances such as flight cancellations, civil or political unrest or “force majeure” or on group tours where minimum numbers have not been reached.
6.2 In the event of cancellation, we will offer you an alternative tour of an equivalent or lesser price; If this is not acceptable, the payments made to the Company in respect of the tour (with the exception of non-refundable deposits and airfares) will be reimbursed. We do not, however, accept liability from any incidental expenses you may incur as a result of cancellation or for any other loss or damage howsoever caused out of cancellation.
6.3 The Company will determine a minimum number required for the tour to take place and shall notify the client not less than 30 days prior to departure that the minimum numbers have not enrolled and the tour is cancelled. In which event, all monies paid to the company will be reimbursed.
6.4 In the event of an airline cancelling a flight, forcing the Company to cancel a tour, The Company will only reimburse monies it can retrieve. It is up to The Client to have suitable insurance to cover any additional losses.
7. Foreign and Commonwealth Office Advice:
7.1 The Client acknowledges that they are responsible to make themselves aware through Foreign Office advice, State Department warnings and any other sources available to them in regard to the safety of the countries and areas in which they will be traveling and to make their decisions accordingly.
7.2 Whilst we will do our best to inform clients of relevant changes to the FCO Travel Advice (www.fco.gov.uk), it is up to the Client, and not the Company, to know what the FCO travel advice to a certain country, or region of a country, is and to be adequately insured to travel there. The Company accepts no liability if the Client a) chooses to cancel a booking because of FCO advice or b) is not adequately insured to travel. The Company will not normally cancel a trip simply because the FCO advise against travel.
8. Surcharges:
8.1 The price of your holiday is subject to surcharges on the following items: Government action, currency, fuel for road vehicles and increase in scheduled airfares and hotel charges. Even in these cases, we will absorb an amount equivalent to 2% of the holiday price. Only amounts in excess of this 2% will be surcharged. If this means paying more than 10% on the holiday price you will be entitled to cancel your tour within 14 days of the invoice date issued, with a full refund with the exception of your deposit. 8.2 Prices quoted by the Company are subject to change if booking less than 8 weeks prior to departure; if the flight price has increased at the time of booking we reserve the right to pass this surcharge to the client.
9. Transfer of Booking by the Client:
9.1 If prior to 60 days before departure, the client wishes to transfer from the tour they have booked to another available one, a transfer fee of £50 is payable and any additional costs incurred by the Company in respect of that charge. The Company will consider discretionary waiving of the transfer fee if the transfer is to a tour departing no later than the original tour booked.
9.2 Any transfer made by the client late than 60 days prior to departure will be subject to the Company’s discretion and subject to a £50 administration fee and any additional costs incurred by the Company in respect of that change. If for any reason the Company deems that transfer unfeasible then conditions relating to cancellation by the Client apply. (see paragraph 5)
9.3 Where the client is prevented from proceeding with the tour, the Client may transfer the booking to a person who satisfies all the conditions applicable to the tour, having first given the Company notice as soon as possible of their intention. The Transferee will sign a new booking form, and pay the transfer fee as defined in this clause.
9.4 The Client and the Transferee shall then be jointly and severally liable to the Company for payment of the balance under Clause 2 above and for any additional costs arising from such a transfer.
10. Changes by the Company:
10.1 It is unlikely that the Company will have to make any changes to our published itineraries, but the arrangements are planned many months in advance. Occasionally changes may occur without prior notice, which the Company reserves the right to do at any time. A published itinerary constitutes only an indication of what the tour is planned to accomplish and is not to constitute a contractual obligation on the part of the Company.
10.2 The client agrees that the nature of the tours offered by the Company requires a degree of flexibility and that the contents and timings of the tour (including the arrival time at the tour’s destination, changes in route or method of transport) may be materially and consequentially affected as a result of Force Majeure, weather, local political conditions, natural disasters (including landslides , quakes, and severe flooding), strikes, entry or border difficulties, mechanical breakdowns, flight cancellations, sickness or other unforeseen circumstances. You must be prepared to accept this flexibility and to accept that we cannot be held responsible for delays and alterations in the schedule, or for expenses incurred as a result of any delay or alterations arising from any such circumstances.
10.3 When a major change becomes necessary before the tour departure notification of such alterations will be sent to the client’s last known address (e-mail or post) as soon as the Company becomes aware. 10.4 If a major change to an itinerary is necessary prior to commencement of the tour – including a date change – the Client will have the choice of either accepting the change of arrangements, taking another available tour from the Company, or canceling the tour and receiving a full refund provide that the major change is not due to flight cancellations, civil or political unrest or “Force Majeure” or any other reason beyond the control of the Company, and provided they do so within 14 days of notification.
10.5 However the Company reserves the right to alter itineraries after departure, without refund if it is in the interest of the Client to do so. No refund or compensation will be payable in respect of any unused hotel accommodation, air tickets or any other unused services on a tour.
11. Company and Client Responsibility:
11.1 The Client’s booking is accepted on the understanding that they realize the potential risks and hazards that can be involved in tours of this kind including injury, loss or damage to property, discomfort and inconvenience.
11.2 Mode of transport: For each tour, Untamed Borders will use locally arranged transport including jeeps, coaches, buses, trains, river craft or helicopters as shown in the specific tour itinerary.
a) The Client agrees that the obligation of the Company to the Client is to select competent, independent sub-contractors to provide reasonable transport given local conditions and any other services related to the Tour and to exercise reasonable care in selecting such suppliers.
b) The Clients booking is accepted only on the understanding that safety standards in the developing world are not the same as in the UK and that things like safety belts are often unavailable.
11.3 Accommodation: We do our best to provide interesting and safe accommodation, however, the Clients booking is again only accepted on the understanding that safety standards in the developing world are not the same as in the UK and things like fire escapes are often not available.
11.4 Where the Client does not suffer personal injury, and is not as a result of “Force Majeure”, the Company accepts liability should any part of the tour arrangements booked with the Company not be supplied as described in the itinerary. In addition we do not accept liability for compensation should there be no fault on the part of the Company or its suppliers and the reason for the failure in the tour arrangements was the clients fault, the actions of someone unconnected with the tour arrangements or could not have been foreseen or avoided by the Company or its suppliers even if all due care had been exercised. Where the client does suffer personal injury or death as a result of an activity forming part of the tour arrangements booked with the Company, the same rules apply.
11.5 Our responsibility does not start until you meet the group at the designated start point overseas; usually the airport in the city at the start of the trip. We are not responsible for any additional expenses incurred by you in getting to the meeting point.
12. Travel Insurance:
12.1 The Client will effect and maintain sufficient and appropriate cancellation, curtailment, medical expenses and third party liability insurance in respect of the Client and dependant relatives, and insurance to cover loss of, damage to or theft of the Clients baggage, no later than the date on which the balance payment is due. The tour is a journey of a hazardous nature and the Client must be satisfied that such insurance fully covers all personal requirements including medical expenses, repatriation, helicopter rescue and air ambulance in the event of accident or illness.
12.2 The insurance policy and the receipt of premiums paid there will be produced to the Company prior to departure and to the tour guide on day one of the tour. If you join the holiday without adequate insurance you may not be allowed to continue on the holiday, with no right to refund. If circumstances give rise to a claim the client will forthwith pursue his remedies under such policy(ies).
12.3 The Client will also produce to the Company prior to departure the details of the name, address and telephone numbers of their next of kin or persons to be notified in the event of an emergency.
12.4 The insurance cover should extend for the planned duration of the tour and at least an additional day.
13. Acceptance of Risk
The Client acknowledges that there is a significant element of personal risk in participating on this tour. The Client accepts and consents to the personal risks inherent in the implementation of this contract, and accepts the limitations of the Company’s liability set out herein as being reasonable. The Company reserves the right at any time to require the Client to produce a doctor’s certificate certifying that the Client is fit to participate in the tour.
14. Company Tour Leader
The Company will appoint the Tour Leader(s) who will represent the Company, and the Client agrees to accept the decisions of the Tour Leader who shall have absolute discretion and authority to secure implementation of the Company’s obligations under the Contract. If your physical condition or behaviour is such as to affect the well-being of yourself or other members of the group, you may be asked to leave the tour without recourse to refund or other compensation.
15. Compliance with Legislation
The client will comply at their expense and their liability with all legislation, visa requirements, and immigration, customs and foreign exchange regulations of the countries visited. Should there be any failure to comply or any contravention by the Client of such laws, requirement or regulations, subject to the provisions of this contract, the Company shall have the right to require the Client to leave the tour without recourse to refund or other compensation.
16. Complaints:
16.1 We will always endeavour to resolve a complaint as it arises. In order to do this, we need to be made aware of the complaint. The client agrees to the following procedure:
a) The Client will ensure at the earliest opportunity any perceived failure in the performance, or improper performance in the Contract, whether by the Company or its suppliers, is communicated to the Company’s Team Leader or the Companies UK or Pakistan Office as soon as possible. The Company and the Client will then make prompt efforts to resolve the complaint.
b) The client agrees to give written details of any unresolved serious complaint to the Team Leader.
c) In the event that the complaint remains unresolved then the Client agrees to set out their complaint in writing to the Company within 7 days of completion of the tour.
16.2 The client agrees that these provisions are reasonable and that any failure by the Client to comply with them will, at the Companies discretion, exclude any rights arising out of this contract.
17. General Conditions:
17.1 No persons, save with the express permission in writing of a Company Director of Untamed Borders Ltd has the authority or is empowered to waive or vary any of these conditions.
17.2 The Client acknowledges that prior to Contract they have been given general information on passport and visa requirements for the tour and of the health formalities required, and knows of no reason that would cause the client to be unable to comply with these requirements.
17.3 This contract shall be construed in accordance with English law and the parties irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English Courts to settle any disputes, which may arise out of or in connection with this contract.