Terms and Conditions

Reserving a Trip

Receipt by Distant Journeys, Inc. of a $500 deposit with your completed Registration forms will reserve a space on your requested trip, pending availability. For Self-Guided trips, your $500 per-person deposit is non-refundable. Upon payment of the deposit, participants agree to be bound by the Terms and Conditions set forth herein.

You may book your trip online through our Reserve Your Spot links, or by giving us a call at 1-888-845-5781. We request those interested in a self-guided hike please contact us prior to making a deposit. We accept MasterCard, Visa, or AMEX.

As confirmation of receipt of your deposit we will send you an invoice for final payment and Registration forms which include: Registration, Risk Waiver and Release, Terms and Conditions, Medical Questionnaire, and COVID-19 Waiver. We will also send additional information including travel information, packing list, and information about purchasing travel insurance. Returning trip participants will receive a 5% discount on most guided trips. Self-guided trips are not eligible for the discount.

Payment in full of the Land Cost for the trip is due 90 days prior to departure. When reserving less than 90 days prior to departure, full payment is due upon registration.

Final trip information including travel details, accommodations list, rendezvous information, and other related information will be sent once final payment and all forms have been received and no later than 30 days before trip departure.

Cancellations and Refunds

Should you find it necessary to cancel, a cancellation fee will be charged based on the date we receive written notice from you of the cancellation.

Guided Trips:

• Over 90 days prior to departure — $250 fee
• 90 - 45 days prior to departure — 50% of land costs
• Less than 45 days or failure to show — 100% of land costs

Self-Guided Trips:

• Over 90 days prior to departure — forfeit of deposit
• 90 - 45 days prior to departure — 50% of land costs
• Less than 45 days or failure to show — 100% of land costs

There will be no refunds or credits for unused portions or uncompleted tours for any reason whatsoever.

Please note that deposits for self-guided trips are non-refundable and some of our trips have payment schedules and cancellation fees that are more stringent. These exceptions are clearly indicated in individual detailed itineraries for each trip, please read the details carefully.

Distant Journeys, Inc. reserves the right to cancel any trip prior to departure for any reason whatsoever, including insufficient registrations. Generally, a cancellation would be made more than 45 days in advance of the departure date. If we find it necessary to cancel a trip, all payments made to Distant Journeys, Inc. will be refunded immediately. However, Distant Journeys, Inc. shall not be responsible or liable for other expenses incurred by the participant as a result of such a cancellation.

Trips Costs

The amount paid to Distant Journeys, Inc. to participate in a trip is referred to as the “Land Cost.” The Land Cost for all our trips printed in our itineraries and brochure are based on exchange rates and tariffs at the time of publication. Due to fluctuations in currencies and costs of services, Distant Journeys, Inc. reserves the right to increase the published Land Cost. Although we will do everything reasonably possible to avoid any increases, in the rare event we do increase the Land Cost for a trip, you will be contacted prior to the due date of your final payment and notified of the increase.

Land costs for all trips include: Unless otherwise indicated in the specific itinerary for a trip, the Land Cost includes all sleeping accommodations, all breakfasts, most dinners, guides (except for self-guided trips), and all ski lifts, cable cars, train and bus transfers as specified in detailed itineraries.

Land Costs do not include: Unless otherwise indicated in the specific itinerary for a trip, the Land Cost does not include international airfare, passport or visas fees, airport taxes, medical costs, costs of evacuation from remote areas, individual/optional trains, buses, lifts or excursions, lunches, beverages, tips to guides/leaders, certain meals as specified in detailed itineraries, items not on the set dinner menus, or personal services and purchases.

Single Supplements: Accommodations in hotels are based on double occupancy. There are only a limited number of single rooms available in the hotels at a supplemental charge. This extra charge simply pays for a private room, not better accommodations.

• Guided Trips: If you are traveling alone and would like single accommodations where possible, a single supplement charge will be applied. If you are traveling alone and wish to share a room, we will assign you a roommate. If there is no one with whom you can share, in most cases a reduced supplement will apply for a forced single room.


• Self-Guided Trips:If there is an “odd person out” within a self-guided hiking group and he/she is willing to share a room, we will try to arrange for triple rooms, otherwise the single person cost will apply.

Trip Insurance

We strongly recommend you purchase short-term travel insurance covering trip cancellation, trip interruption, baggage and accident/life. In the event you find it necessary to cancel, whether prior to or during a trip due to injury, personal or family illness, or emergencies, travel insurance will usually reimburse non-refundable airfares and non-refundable Land Costs. It can also cover the costs of emergency evacuations from remote areas. It is possible to purchase travel insurance policies through most insurance agencies and travel agencies. Distant Journeys, Inc. also makes available applications for this type of insurance but makes no representations with respect to what is covered, applicable deductibles, limits of coverage, etc. Please be sure to confirm directly with the insurance agent or company the specifics (i.e., areas of coverage, applicable deductibles, coverage limits, etc.) for any insurance you are considering purchasing in connection with one of our trips. Important note: some of the policies are time-sensitive, meaning once you make a deposit or payment you need to enroll with the insurance company of your choice within a certain amount of time. Please check all policies carefully.

Health Insurance and Medical Info

Due to the physically demanding nature of our trips, Distant Journeys, Inc. requires that you have medical/health insurance coverage while participating in one of our trips. It is possible that you may already have medical/health insurance that will cover you while you are abroad, but it is your responsibility to verify this in advance of the departure date.

All trip participants need to understand that there are places on trips where medical services are not, or may not be, immediately available. We require that each participant accurately and fully complete and provide the medical information form at the time of registration and update said information immediately if it should change prior to the date of the trip. For guided trips, a copy of this medical information sheet will be provided to our trip guides for use in the event of a medical situation or emergency. For all trips, especially self-guided trips, we require you to have a copy of your medical information sheet with you at all times for use in the event of a medical situation or emergency.

Responsibilities of Trip Members

Trip participants are responsible for selecting trips that are appropriate to the participant’s abilities, physical and medical condition, and interests. Trip participants are responsible for 1) studying and understanding the trip conditions as described by the trip itinerary and all supplemental information supplied by Distant Journeys, Inc., 2) knowing the participant’s own physical and medical condition with respect to the advisability of participating in the chosen trip, 3) bringing appropriate and adequate clothing, equipment, medications and first aid supplies, and 4) acting in a respectful and safe manner and in accordance with the accepted local customs of foreign countries or areas visited.

When traveling abroad, it is extremely important that participants understand that they will be subject to the laws of the particular countries visited.

Distant Journeys, Inc. reserves the right to decline or cancel the participation of any participant whose condition or conduct it deems to be detrimental to or compromises the safety or interests of the individual or the group as a whole.

Independent Service Providers

Distant Journeys, Inc., it’s owners and guides give notice that they act only as agents for the owners, contractors, and suppliers providing means of transport and/or related services, and shall not be liable for any delay, mishap, expense, inconvenience, irregularity, bodily injury or death to person or damage to property occasioned through the conduct or default of any company or individual engaged in providing these arranged services. Each of these passenger conveyance companies, tour companies, hotels, restaurants, etc., is subject to the laws of the state or country where the service is provided.

Distant Journeys shall not be liable, directly or indirectly, for bodily injury or property damage for any reason whatsoever, including, but not limited to, acts of God, weather, quarantines, civil disturbances, theft, default, detention, annoyance, changes in government regulations, terrorism, war, or failure of conveyance to arrive or depart as scheduled, etc., nor over that which it has no control.

Delays

Although these itineraries have been carefully planned, reasonable changes and substitutions in the itinerary may be made where deemed necessary for the comfort, safety, and well-being of the members. Any resulting costs will be the sole responsibility of the participant.

Upon payment of the deposit, participants agree to be bound by the above terms and conditions.