Terms and Conditions

1. Our contract

By booking a trip or package tour with us you are deemed to have agreed to these Booking Terms & Conditions (which constitutes the entire agreement between you and us) and your booking will be accepted by us on this basis. The services to be provided are those referred to in your tour itinerary and/or booking form and these terms. 

2. Validity

Dates, itineraries and prices are valid from 15 days of the date of itinerary or until further notice.

3. Deposit requirement

You are required to pay a 30% non-refundable tour deposit of your total tour booking price. If your booking is made within 2 months of the departure date, then the full tour amount is payable at the time of booking.

4. Acceptance of booking and final payments

If we accept your booking, we will issue a confirmation booking form and invoice for your tour deposit. A contract will exist between us from the date you sign the booking form. Payment of the tour balance of the trip price is due 2 months before the departure tour date. If this balance is not paid on or before the due date we reserve the right to treat your booking as cancelled.

5. Trip kitty

On some trips/tours you are required to contribute to a tip kitty. The Kitty is a compulsory on-ground payment put into a central fund and overseen by the travelers and the crew. It helps fund tipping, and any group miscellaneous activities. Kitty amounts are subject the tour undertaking. Tiwari will notify customers if the tip kitty is compulsory and the ballpark amount within their tour itinerary before departure.

6. Your details

In order for us to confirm your travel arrangements you must provide all requested details. Necessary details as per booking forms, include full name as per passport, date of birth, nationality, passport number, passport issue and expiry date, any pre-existing medical conditions, and special diet requirements, you have which may affect your ability to complete your travel arrangements. If you are 70 years of age or over we also require you to complete and forward a Self-Assessment form. Your booking cannot be confirmed without provision of these details.

7. Cancellation by the traveler

If you cancel your tour or some or all portions of your tour booking. Tiwari cancellation fees will apply. A cancellation will be effective when we receive written confirmation of the cancellation. If you cancel:

• The Tour Deposit is NON-REFUNDABLE
• More than 30 days prior to departure we refund the full final payment
• less than 30 days prior to departure, we will retain 100% paid by you in connection with the booking.
• No Show incurs an administration fee of $350 per pax on any tour, this amount must be paid at time of cancellation.
• Cancellation After Departure or once Tour has commenced – No refunds and incurs an admin cancellation fee of $350 AUD per person.

8. Cancellation by Tiwari

We may cancel a trip at any time prior to departure.  We may cancel a trip at any time, if, due to terrorism, natural disasters, political instability or other external events it is not viable for us to operate the planned itinerary. If we cancel your trip, you can transfer amounts paid to an alternate departure date within 12 months’ time, or alternatively receive a full refund, less an administration fee of 10% of total tour price.  

In circumstances where the cancellation is due to external events outside our reasonable control refunds will be less any unrecoverable costs.  We are not responsible for any incidental expenses that you may have incurred as a result of your booking being cancelled, including but not limited to visas, vaccinations, travel insurance excess or non-refundable flights.   All our customers must take comprehensive travel insurance with cancellation cover to help with these unexpected events.

9. Booking amendments

If you wish to transfer from one trip to another or change tour itinerary date or direction you must notify us at least 30 days  prior to the proposed departure date.  A fee of $350 per person per change will apply for work needed to do changes  (in addition to any charges levied by new itinerary costs such as hotels, ground operators or airlines).  If you notify us less than 30 days prior to the proposed departure date the refund policy is applicable and cancellations fees will apply.

Transfers to another departure can only be made to a departure within the current validity period.  Amendments to any other arrangements made in conjunction with your trip will incur a $100 administration fee per booking per change. This fee is in addition to any charges levied by hotels, ground operators or airlines.

10. Inclusions

The package tour land price of your trip includes:

• all accommodation as listed in itinerary
• all transport listed in itinerary
• sightseeing and local guides
• meals as listed in the itinerary
• the services of a group leader as described in the itinerary
• Any other services listed in your custom made or group itinerary

11. Exclusions

The package tour land price of your trip does not include:

• international or internal flights (unless specified)
• kitty or local payments as specified
• taxes and excess baggage charges unless specified
• meals other than those specified in the itinerary
• Visa and passport fees
• travel insurance
• Cancellation fees
• Optional activities and all personal expenses

12. Prices & surcharges

We reserve the right to impose surcharges up to 30 days before departure due to unfavorable 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 the first 2% of the additional costs 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 30 days of notification of the surcharge and obtain a full refund.   (less the tour deposit) or may re-book to a future date within 12 months.

NB: Credit cards – Please note that bank & service fees are applied to all purchases made by credit cards.

13. Age & Health requirements

Minimum General Policy:   All travellers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a legal guardian, or, in lieu of a legal guardian, by an escort over the age of 18, appointed by their legal guardian. The legal guardian or their designee will be responsible for the traveler under the age of 18’s day to day care. If a legal guardian elects to designate an escort in their lieu, they will be required to complete and sign a relevant document to delegate their authority. Please note we cannot guarantee triple or joining rooms for families; accompanying adults may be required to share with others in the group on a twin share basis. 

Maximum General Policy: For the majority of our trips we have no upper age limit, though we remind you that our trips can be physically demanding, and a Self-Assessment Form is required for all passengers 70 years and over.

We are able to provide details on mandatory health requirements; however, we are not medical experts. It is your responsibility to ensure that you obtain proper and detailed medical advice at least two months prior to travel for the latest health requirements, and recommendations for your destination and any costs. Where you do not do so and either are not allowed to enter any country, or suffer personal injury or death as a result, we have no liability to you for any cost, loss or damage which you suffer nor will we refund you the cost of any unused portion of your travel arrangements.

14. Passport and visas

You must carry a valid passport and have obtained all of the appropriate visas, permits and certificates for the countries in which you will visit during your trip. Your passport must be valid for six months beyond the duration of the trip. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are in possession of the correct visas, permits and certificates for your trip. We are not responsible if you are refused entry to a country because you lack the correct passport, visa or other travel documentation.

15. Travel insurance

Travel insurance is compulsory for all Tiwari Travel passengers and should be taken out at the time of booking.  Your travel insurance must provide cover against personal accident, death, medical expenses and emergency repatriation with a recommended minimum coverage of US$200,000 for each of the categories of cover.

We also strongly recommend it covers cancellation, curtailment, personal liability and loss of luggage and personal effects. You must provide proof of your travel insurance prior to travel and you will not be able to join the trip without it.  If you obtain travel insurance through us you acknowledge that you are satisfied with the level of insurance we have arranged. All credit card travel insurance policies you undertake at your own risk.

16. Flexibility

You appreciate and acknowledge that the nature of this type of travel requires considerable flexibility and you should allow for alternatives. The itinerary provided for each trip is representative of the types of activities contemplated, but it is understood that the route, schedules, itineraries, amenities and mode of transport may be subject to alteration without prior notice due to local circumstances or events.

17. Change of itinerary

While we endeavor to operate all trips as described we reserve the right to change the trip itinerary.

Before departure: If we make a major change we will inform you as soon as reasonably possible if there is time before departure. The definition of a major change is deemed to be a change affecting at least one day in five of the itinerary. When a major change is made you may choose between accepting the change, obtaining a refund of money paid on the land portion of the trip only or accepting an alternative tour offered.

After departure: We reserve the right to change an itinerary after departure due to local circumstances or events outside of our control.   In such emergency circumstances the additional cost of any necessary itinerary alterations will be covered by you:  as per advice travelers should always travel with “Emergency Funds “which you agree to carry, to be used in such instances. Please note we are not responsible for any incidental expenses that may be incurred as a result of the change of itinerary such as visas, vaccinations or non-refundable flights.

18. Authority on Group tour

Our group tours are run by a group leader. The decision of the group leader is final on all matters likely to affect the safety or well-being of any person participating in the trip. If you fail to comply with a decision made by a group leader or interfere with the well-being or mobility of the group, the group leader may direct you to leave the trip immediately, with no right of refund.  We may also elect not to carry you on any future trips booked. You must at all times comply with the laws, customs, foreign exchange and drug regulations of all countries visited, and you also agree to travel in accordance with our responsible travel guidelines.

19. Custom Tours /FITs 

These are independent tours and we do not provide a full-time tour leader. We provide you where you have requested local guides in each town. It is your responsibility with our assistance to follow and travel the itinerary that you have purchased.

20. Acceptance of risk

You acknowledge that the nature of your tour is adventurous, and participation involves a degree of personal risk. You will be visiting places where the political, cultural and geographical attributes present dangers and physical challenges greater than those present in our daily lives. We use information from government foreign departments and reports from our own contacts in assessing whether the itinerary should operate.

However it is also your own responsibility to acquaint yourself with all possible relevant travel information and the nature of your itinerary. You acknowledge that your decision to travel is made in light of consideration of this information and you accept that you are aware of the personal risks attendant upon such travel.

21. Limitation of liability

We contract with a network of companies, government agencies and individuals to assist in the running of our trips as a travel agent for these third parties. We are not responsible for the acts and omissions of these third parties.

To the fullest extent permitted by law:

• any liability for any loss, death, injury or damage which you may suffer (directly or indirectly) in connection with or arising out of your participation in a trip, or any breach of the Booking Conditions, is excluded
• you release us and our officers, employees, agents and representatives from any liability and expressly waive any claims you may have against us arising out of or in connection with your participation in a trip
• any condition or warranty which would otherwise be implied by law into these Booking Conditions (Implied Warranty) is excluded.

To the extent an Implied Warranty cannot be excluded, our liability in respect of the Implied Warranty is limited to (in our absolute discretion): (i) the provision of a similar trip to an equivalent value; or (ii) a refund of the total amount received by us from you in connection with your booking. Any claim by you is excluded to the extent that it is for indirect or consequential loss, loss of profits or economic loss, however it arises, or for indirect, special, punitive or exemplary damages.

22. Optional activities

Optional activities not included in the trip price do not form part of the trip or this contract. You accept that any assistance given by your tour leader or local representative in arranging optional activities does not render us liable for them in any way. The contract for the provision of that activity will be between you and activity provider.

23. Claims & complaints

If you have a complaint about your trip please inform your tour leader or our local representative at the time in order that they can attempt to rectify the matter. If satisfaction is not reached through these means then any further complaint should be put in writing to us within 30 days of the end of the tour. All complaints must be received and handled in the state of NSW, Australia. And will not be accepted any later than 30 days from your arrival home.

24. Severability

In the event that any term or condition contained in these Booking Conditions is unenforceable or void by operation of law or as being against public policy or for any other reason then such term or condition shall be deemed to be severed from this contract or amended accordingly only to such extent necessary to allow all remaining terms and conditions to survive and continue as binding.

25. Photos and marketing

You consent to us using images of you taken during the trip for advertising and promotional purposes in any medium we choose. You grant us a perpetual, royalty-free, worldwide, irrevocable license to use such images for publicity and promotional purposes.

26. Privacy policy

Any personal information that we collect about you may be used for any purpose associated with the operation of a Trip or to send you marketing material in relation to our events and special offers. The information may be disclosed to our agents, service providers or other suppliers to enable us to operate the Trip.  We will otherwise treat your details in accordance with our privacy policy (available for viewing on our Website).

27. Applicable law

The laws of New South Wales, Australia govern these Booking Conditions to the fullest extent allowable. Any disputes in connection with a trip or these Booking Conditions must be initiated in the courts of NSW, Australia.

28. Registered Company address

Tiwari Travel Australia Pty Ltd

Unit 5, 127 Carrington Road,

Coogee NSW 2034. Sydney, Australia

29. Updating of terms and conditions

The Company reserves the right to update and/or alter these terms and conditions at anytime, and it is the Clients responsibility to be familiar with them. The latest terms and conditions can always be found on the Company website www.tiwaritravel.com and will supersede any previous versions.