Terms and Conditions

2. PAYMENT TERMS 

3. PRICES, TAXES AND SURCHARGES 

• Prices are based on the services, exchange rates, taxes, permits, transportation costs, accommodation rates and other conditions applicable at the time of quotation. 
• Unless specifically stated, the quoted price does not include services or expenses not mentioned in the itinerary or inclusions. 
• Government taxes, GST, TCS, park fees, permit charges, visa fees, fuel surcharges, airline charges, hotel supplements and other statutory or supplier-imposed charges may change after quotation or booking where such changes are imposed by the relevant authority or service provider. 
• Where such additional charges are imposed after booking and are legally or contractually payable, the Participant may be required to pay the difference. 
• Currency fluctuations may affect international programmes where services are contracted or payable in foreign currency. 

 

• Trekking, mountaineering, climbing, high-altitude travel, camping, rafting, wildlife activities and other adventure programmes involve inherent risks.
• Depending on the programme, risks may include, without limitation:
  • Falls and physical injuries
  • Altitude sickness, including AMS, HAPE and HACE
  • Hypothermia, frostbite and exposure
  • Extreme cold, heat or weather
  • Avalanches and rockfall
  • Landslides and falling debris
  • Crevasses and difficult terrain
  • River crossings and water related hazards
  • Wildlife encounters
  • Road and transportation accidents
  • Illness or medical emergencies
  • Delayed or limited access to medical facilities
  • Communication failure
  • Evacuation delays
  • Loss or damage to personal equipment
  • Other natural or operational hazards
• The Participant understands that some programmes take place in remote locations where medical facilities, communication networks and emergency services may be limited.
• Participation is voluntary and the Participant accepts the inherent risks associated with the selected programme.
• Shikhar Travels will take reasonable operational and safety measures appropriate to the programme but cannot guarantee that an adventure activity will be free from risk, injury, illness, loss or disruption.

 

• Participants must be physically and medically suitable for the programme they have booked. 
• The Participant must provide accurate information regarding any relevant medical condition, medication, allergies, previous altitude experience or other information that may reasonably affect participation.
• For selected treks, expeditions or high-altitude programmes, Shikhar Travels may require a medical certificate, fitness certificate, medical questionnaire or other documentation before departure. 
• The Participant must immediately inform Shikhar Travels or the designated trip leader if their medical condition changes before or during the programme. 
• Shikhar Travels, its expedition leader, guide or local operator may restrict, suspend or discontinue a Participant's participation where they reasonably believe that continuing may endanger the Participant or another person. 
• In such circumstances, additional expenses, including transportation, accommodation, medical treatment or evacuation, may be payable by the Participant unless otherwise specifically stated in the programme terms. 

• During trekking, climbing and expedition programmes, the designated expedition leader, guide or trip leader is responsible for operational and safety decisions within their authority. 
• Decisions concerning route selection, turnaround, acclimatisation, summit attempts, evacuation, changes in schedule, participant withdrawal or continuation may be made based on prevailing conditions. 
• Participants must follow reasonable safety instructions issued by the expedition leader, guide or authorised representative. 
• A summit is an objective and not a guaranteed outcome. No refund is automatically payable merely because a participant or group is unable to reach a summit due to weather, safety, physical condition, route conditions, permit restrictions or other circumstances. 
• Refusal to follow reasonable safety instructions may result in removal from the programme without refund. 

• In the event of illness, injury, altitude-related problems or another emergency, evacuation may be recommended by the expedition leader, guide, medical professional or relevant authority. 
• Evacuation may involve road transport, porter assistance, horse/mule support, helicopter rescue, aircraft, ambulance or other means depending on location and availability. 
• Rescue and evacuation operations can be expensive and may be delayed because of weather, terrain, aircraft availability, government restrictions or other circumstances. 
• Unless specifically included in the programme price or covered by a separate insurance arrangement, the cost of medical treatment, rescue, evacuation, additional accommodation, transportation and related expenses shall be the responsibility of the Participant. 
• Shikhar Travels will reasonably assist with coordination and communication during an emergency but does not guarantee the availability, timing or outcome of rescue services. 

• Participants are strongly advised to obtain comprehensive travel insurance immediately after booking. 
• For international, high-altitude or mountaineering programmes, appropriate insurance may be mandatory. 
• Depending on the programme, insurance should ideally cover:
  • Emergency medical treatment 
  • Hospitalisation 
  • Emergency evacuation 
  • Helicopter rescue where applicable 
  • High-altitude trekking and mountaineering 
  • Trip cancellation 
  • Trip interruption 
  • Delayed or missed travel connections 
  • Baggage loss or damage 

• Participants are responsible for checking that their policy covers the actual altitude, activity and destination of their programme. 
• Shikhar Travels does not guarantee that a Participant's insurance claim will be accepted by the insurance provider. 

• Participants are responsible for ensuring that their passport, visa, permits, travel documents and other required documentation are valid and available. 
• Passport validity, visa requirements, entry permissions and documentation requirements may vary by country and may change without prior notice. 
• Shikhar Travels may assist with visa processing where such assistance is included in the booked service, but the final decision to issue a visa or permit rests with the relevant embassy, consulate, immigration authority or government body. 
• Visa approval is not guaranteed. 
• Visa rejection, delay, incomplete documentation or refusal of entry does not automatically entitle the Participant to a refund of amounts already paid, particularly where payments have been committed to third parties. 
• The Participant is responsible for providing accurate information and genuine documents. 

• Accommodation will be provided according to the category and rooming arrangement specified in the confirmed itinerary. 
• Room allocation is subject to hotel or accommodation-provider policies and availability. 
• Photographs shown on the website or promotional material are for illustration and may not represent the exact room, camp or accommodation allocated. 
• In remote areas, expedition camps, lodges and mountain regions, accommodation standards may differ significantly from conventional city hotels. 
• Where operational circumstances require a change of accommodation, Shikhar Travels will make reasonable efforts to provide an appropriate alternative. 

 

• Transportation may be provided directly by Shikhar Travels or by independent thirdparty transport providers. 
• Vehicle type, seating capacity and travel time may change depending on local road, weather and operational conditions. 
• Delays caused by traffic, road closures, weather, mechanical issues, government restrictions, strikes or other circumstances outside reasonable control do not automatically qualify for compensation. 
• Participants are responsible for arriving at designated departure points on time. 

 

13. THIRD-PARTY SERVICE PROVIDERS 

• Shikhar Travels may engage independent service providers including airlines, hotels, transport companies, local guides, expedition operators, permit authorities, insurance companies, visa agencies and other suppliers. 
• These services are subject to the terms, conditions and operational limitations of the respective provider. 
• Where a service is supplied by a third party, Shikhar Travels will reasonably assist the Participant in communicating with or resolving issues through the relevant provider. 
• Shikhar Travels will not be responsible for losses caused solely by the independent acts, omissions, delays, failures or changes of third-party providers, to the extent permitted by applicable law. 

 

• Follow the instructions of trip leaders, guides and authorised representatives. 
• Provide accurate personal and medical information. 
• Arrive at designated reporting points on time. 
• Carry the equipment and documents required for the programme. 
• Respect local laws, customs, communities and cultures. 
• Follow environmental and conservation regulations. 
• Respect other participants and staff. 
• Avoid behaviour that may endanger themselves or others. 
• Take reasonable care of company, rented and personal equipment. 
• Comply with applicable hotel, transport and accommodation rules.

Serious misconduct, illegal activity, harassment, abusive behaviour, possession of prohibited substances or repeated refusal to follow reasonable safety instructions may result in removal from the programme without refund. 

 

• Participants are responsible for their personal belongings, documents, electronic devices, money, clothing and personal equipment. 
• Shikhar Travels is not responsible for loss, theft or damage to personal belongings except where liability cannot legally be excluded. 
• Rented or issued equipment must be returned in the condition in which it was provided, reasonable wear and tear excepted. 
• Damage or loss caused by misuse may be chargeable to the Participant. 

 

• No automatic refund will be provided for services voluntarily not used by the Participant. 
• This includes, where applicable:
  • Missed transportation
  • Missed accommodation
  • Late arrival 
  • Early departure 
  • Voluntary withdrawal 
  • Unused meals 
  • Unused sightseeing 
  • Unused trekking or expedition days 
  • Failure to participate in an included activity 

• Where a supplier provides a refund or credit for an unused service, Shikhar Travels may pass on the recoverable amount after applicable deductions.

• Cancellation requests must be submitted in writing to tours@shikhar.com or through another officially designated Shikhar Travels communication channel. 
• The cancellation date shall be the date on which Shikhar Travels receives the written cancellation request. 
• Cancellation charges depend on the programme, departure date, supplier commitments and time remaining before departure. 
• The detailed cancellation schedule is provided in Section 18 of these Terms.
• Certain services may have cancellation conditions that are stricter than Shikhar Travels' standard policy. Where applicable, the supplier's non-refundable or cancellation charges will be deducted from the amount refundable to the Participant. 

• Standard Tours and Treks 

Unless a different programme-specific policy is stated in the quotation or booking confirmation: 

Cancellation before departure	Cancellation charge
60 days or more	25% of the total booking value or actual non-refundable costs, whichever is higher
59–31 days	50% of the total booking value or actual non-refundable costs, whichever is higher
30–16 days	75% of the total booking value or actual non-refundable costs, whichever is higher
15–8 days	90% of the total booking value or actual non-refundable costs, whichever is higher
7 days or less / No-show	100%

 

• 18.2 International Expeditions, Mountaineering and High Altitude Programmes

Due to advance commitments for permits, accommodation, logistics, guides, equipment, transportation and local operators, international expeditions and high-altitude programmes may have a separate cancellation schedule.

Unless otherwise stated in the programme specific booking conditions: 

Cancellation before departure	Cancellation charg
90 days or more	Actual non-refundable/committed costs
89–61 days	50% of programme cost or actual committed costs, whichever is higher
60 days or less	100% of programme cost

The applicable expedition-specific cancellation terms communicated at the time of booking shall prevail where they differ from this standard schedule

• Non-Refundable Components Regardless of the cancellation date, the following may be non-refundable where already paid, committed or charged by the relevant provider:
  • Government and park permits
  • Climbing and expedition permits
  • Visa and application fees
  • Insurance premiums
  • Airline or railway cancellation charges
  • Hotel cancellation charges
  • Local operator charges
  • Guide and porter commitments
  • Transportation commitments
  • Equipment rental charges
  • Payment gateway or banking charges
  • Special/customised arrangements
  • Government taxes or statutory charges where non-refundable
  • Other amounts expressly identified as non-refundable at the time of booking
• Refund Processing

Approved refunds will generally be processed within 15–30 working days after confirmation of the refund amount.

The actual time for the funds to appear in the Participant's account may depend on banks, payment gateways and other financial institutions.

• Transfer or Rescheduling

Where operationally possible, Shikhar Travels may allow a Participant to transfer their booking to another departure or programme.

Any transfer is subject to:

• Availability
• Supplier approval
• Fare or price differences
• Administrative charges
• Non-refundable amounts already incurred
• Programme-specific restrictions A transfer is not an automatic entitlement and must be approved in writing by Shikhar Travels. 

 

19. CANCELLATION OR CHANGE BY SHIKHAR TRAVELS

• Shikhar Travels may cancel, postpone, modify or reschedule a programme where necessary due to operational, safety, regulatory, environmental or other circumstances.
• Where Shikhar Travels cancels a programme for reasons within its reasonable control, the Participant will be informed of the available options, which may include rescheduling, credit or refund in accordance with the applicable programme terms.
• Where cancellation or modification results from circumstances beyond reasonable control, any refund or credit will depend on amounts recoverable from airlines, hotels, local operators, permit authorities and other suppliers after deduction of non-recoverable costs.
• Shikhar Travels will make reasonable efforts to minimise the financial impact on Participants but cannot guarantee recovery of all amounts paid to third parties.

 

20. WEATHER, NATURAL EVENTS AND FORCE MAJEURE

Shikhar Travels shall not be responsible for failure, delay, alteration or interruption caused by events beyond reasonable control, including but not limited to:

• Extreme weather
• Heavy snowfall
• Avalanches
• Landslides
• Earthquakes
• Floods
• Natural disasters
• Epidemics or pandemics
• War or threat of war
• Civil unrest
• Government restrictions
• Border closures
• Strikes
• Transportation disruption
• Road closures
• Changes in visa or immigration regulations
• Security restrictions
• Acts of authorities
• Other extraordinary events beyond reasonable control

Where such circumstances occur, Shikhar Travels will make reasonable efforts to assist participants and provide practical alternatives where possible.

 

• Mountaineering and climbing programmes are subject to environmental, physical and operational conditions.
• Shikhar Travels does not guarantee that a Participant will reach a summit, complete a route or achieve a particular altitude.
• A summit attempt may be stopped or modified due to safety considerations even where the Participant wishes to continue.
• No refund is automatically payable solely because a summit was not achieved where the expedition services were provided or the attempt was prevented by circumstances beyond reasonable control. 

• Participation by minors is subject to the age requirements of the particular programme.
• A parent or legal guardian may be required to provide written consent and relevant documentation.
• Certain high-altitude, technical climbing and adventure activities may have minimumage requirements imposed by Shikhar Travels, local operators, authorities or insurers. 

 

• Photographs and videos may be taken during Shikhar Travels programmes for operational, documentation, educational or promotional purposes.
• Where legally permitted, Shikhar Travels may use general trip photographs or videos in which participants appear for promotional purposes.
• A Participant who does not wish to appear in promotional material may inform Shikhar Travels in writing before departure.
• Participants may not use Shikhar Travels' confidential operational material, internal documents, proprietary content or intellectual property without written permission. 

• Website photographs, videos, maps, illustrations, route descriptions and other promotional material are intended to provide general information.
• Actual conditions, landscapes, accommodation, vehicles, camps and facilities may differ from promotional images.
• Shikhar Travels reserves the right to correct typographical errors, update programme information and modify website content where necessary.
• Website content may not be reproduced, copied or commercially used without written permission.

 

25. ENVIRONMENT AND RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL

Participants are expected to follow responsible travel principles and applicable environmental regulations.

This includes:

• No littering
• Responsible waste disposal
• Respect for wildlife
• Respect for local communities
• Compliance with protected-area regulations
• Avoiding damage to natural or cultural sites
• Following local conservation guidelines Participants may be charged for penalties or costs arising from their intentional or negligent violation of applicable rules.

 

26. COMPLAINTS AND SERVICE CONCERNS

• Shikhar Travels encourages Participants to report any service issue to the trip leader, local representative or Shikhar Travels office as soon as reasonably possible during the trip.
• This allows the company and its suppliers a reasonable opportunity to investigate and, where possible, correct the issue while the Participant is travelling.
• Formal complaints should be submitted in writing to tours@shikhar.com within a reasonable period after completion of the trip.
• Supporting documents, photographs, invoices or other relevant evidence may be requested.

 

27. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

• Shikhar Travels will exercise reasonable care in arranging the services included in a confirmed booking.
• To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Shikhar Travels shall not be responsible for losses arising solely from circumstances beyond its reasonable control or from the acts or omissions of independent third-party suppliers.
• Nothing in these Terms is intended to exclude or limit liability that cannot legally be excluded or limited under applicable law.
• Where a claim relates to a service provided by a third-party supplier, the liability of Shikhar Travels may be limited to the extent of the responsibility legally attributable to Shikhar Travels.

 

28. PERSONAL DATA AND PRIVACY

• Personal information provided during the booking process may be collected and processed for purposes including booking management, travel arrangements, visa processing, permits, accommodation, transportation, emergency assistance, payment processing, customer service and other legitimate business purposes.
• Personal information may be shared with relevant suppliers, government authorities, service providers or representatives where necessary to provide the booked services or comply with legal obligations.
• Personal information will be handled in accordance with Shikhar Travels' applicable Privacy Policy.

 

29. CHANGES TO THESE TERMS

• Shikhar Travels may update these Terms from time to time to reflect changes in law, business practices, operational requirements or services.
• The version applicable to a booking will generally be the version accepted by the Participant at the time of booking, unless a subsequent change is required by law or specifically communicated and accepted.
• The latest version will be published on the Shikhar Travels website.

 

30. GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION

• These Terms shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of India.
• Subject to any mandatory legal rights available to the Participant, disputes arising from or relating to services booked through Shikhar Travels shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the competent courts in New Delhi, India.

 

31. CONTACT INFORMATION

Shikhar Travels India Pvt. Ltd. Since 1979 – Travel in Good Company Booking & Travel Services: Email: tours@shikhar.com Website: www.shikhar.com For programme-specific emergency contact information, Participants should refer to their booking confirmation and pre-departure documentation.

 

PARTICIPANT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

By making payment or confirming a booking with Shikhar Travels India Pvt. Ltd., the Participant confirms that they have read and understood these Terms & Conditions, the applicable itinerary, inclusions and exclusions, payment schedule, cancellation conditions and any programme-specific requirements.

The Participant understands that adventure travel and mountaineering involve inherent risks and agrees to participate responsibly and in accordance with the instructions of Shikhar Travels, its authorised guides, expedition leaders and service providers.

Shikhar Travels India Pvt. Ltd. reserves the right to apply programme-specific terms where the nature of a particular tour, trek, expedition or international service requires additional conditions.