Cancellation and Refund Policy

This Cancellation and Refund Policy outlines the terms for cancelling a booking made on www.eastindiatravel.in or through a direct quote from East India Travel Co, and details the applicable refund process. 

For each confirmed tour, a 20% deposit is required. This deposit is forwarded to our suppliers to secure the services on a confirmed basis. If a tour is cancelled after this deposit is made, we will retain 5% of the deposit as handling charges. 

**Cancellation by You**  

You may cancel your booking at any time prior to the commencement of your tour date. The amount of the refund you will receive depends on the cancellation timeframe: 

| Number of days prior to departure when cancellation notice received | Cancellation Charges |  

|-------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------|  

| 90 days or more                                            | Fully refundable      |  

| 89 – 60 days                                             | 75%                 |  

| 59 – 45 days                                             | 50%                 |  

| 44 – 30 days                                             | 25%                 |  

| 29 – 0 days                                              | No refund possible    |  

The charges indicated above do not include non-refundable elements associated with the booking, such as airfare or train tickets, which will adhere to their respective refund policies. Airlines, railways, and cruise companies have their own cancellation rules, and if we book their services on your behalf, those rules will apply for the specific segments booked.  

Cancellation requests received after the designated period will not be eligible for a refund. To initiate your travel cancellation, please contact us at tours@eastindiatravel.in for confirmation.  

Please note that policies are subject to change, and all booked guests will be notified accordingly in the event of updates.  

**Cancellation by Us**  

In the rare instance that we need to cancel your booking, we will reach out to you promptly with the following options:  

- A full refund for the canceled booking.  

- An alternative booking date with equivalent or superior accommodations (subject to availability).  

**Changes to Your Booking**  

If you need to modify your booking dates, please get in touch as soon as possible. We will do our best to accommodate your wishes; however, changes may depend on availability and could incur additional charges.  

**Refunds**  

Refunds will be processed within 7 business days of receiving your cancellation request and will be credited to the original payment method used for the booking.  

**Non-Refundable Fees**  

Processing fees connected with your booking are non-refundable. Certain states in India necessitate a Special Permit; once we have applied for it, the associated charges are non-refundable.  

**Deferment**  

Please note that deferments can only be utilized once within 6 months following the cancellation date.  

Deferments will be non-refundable and are dependent on availability and potential additional charges.  

A credit note issued for a deferment is specific to the original service, such as accommodation or transport charges.  

Deferment is not applicable for bookings confirmed with a 50% advance payment.  

If your booking has already been deferred once, any further deferment requests will not be allowed, rendering the booking non-refundable.  

**Additional Rules for Adventure Related Activities**  

Due to the nature of adventure tours, including those in Northeast India travel such as high-altitude trekking and white-water rafting, our cancellation policies are stringent:  

We reserve the right to cancel any trip prior to departure for reasons including force majeure, extreme weather events, unsafe river conditions, or low group participation.  

If East India Travel Co cancels a trip before commencement, you will have the options of:  

1. A 100% refund of all payments made.  

2. A full credit transfer to a rescheduled date or alternative itinerary.  

**Limitation of Liability**  

East India Travel Co is not accountable for any secondary expenses incurred by clients due to a cancellation, which includes non-refundable airline tickets, visa fees, permit fees, or hotel bookings.  

**Permits, Porters, and Third-Party Costs**  

Government trekking permits, national park entry fees, and environmental conservation passes are non-refundable under all circumstances once acquired.  

Logistics such as pre-arranged mountain porters, pack animals, and river support teams will not be eligible for refunds if you abandon the trek or rafting trip early. 

**Medical & Physical Fitness Disqualifications**  

Our guides hold the right to disqualify any participant at any time during the tour if their physical condition poses a hazard to their safety or the safety of the group (for example, severe Acute Mountain Sickness, injury, or exhaustion).  

If evacuation or early departure for medical reasons is necessary, no refund will be issued for the unused portion of the tour.  

**Mandatory Travel & Evacuation Insurance**  

Given the remote nature of high-altitude trekking and rafting, comprehensive travel insurance is required for all participants. Your policy must expressly cover:  

- High-altitude helicopter rescue and evacuation (up to 6,000 meters).  

- Swiftwater rescue and whitewater rafting accidents.  

- Trip cancellation and interruption coverage to safeguard your investment against personal medical emergencies.  

**Itinerary Alterations**  

Due to the unpredictable environments of rivers and mountains, we reserve the right to amend river routes, camp locations, or mountain trails during the trip if necessary for safety purposes, without prior notice. These alterations do not entitle clients to refunds or compensation.  

**Contact Us**  

For any inquiries regarding this Cancellation and Refund Process, please reach out to us at tours@eastindiatravel.in.