We understand that travel plans sometimes change. This policy explains how cancellations, postponements and refunds are generally handled. Exact deadlines and percentages will also be confirmed in your written quotation, since they can vary slightly by trip type.
1. Cancellations by the traveler
If you need to cancel a confirmed booking, please notify us in writing (email or WhatsApp) as early as possible. Refunds are generally scaled to how much notice is given, since permits, hotel deposits and guide bookings are often paid in advance on your behalf:
More than 30 days before departure: deposit is refundable minus any non-recoverable costs already paid to third parties (permits, non-refundable hotel deposits, domestic flight tickets).
15–30 days before departure: partial refund of the deposit, minus non-recoverable third-party costs.
Less than 15 days before departure: the deposit is generally non-refundable, as most costs (permits, guide and porter bookings, lodge holds) are already committed by this point.
These are general bands; your written quotation will confirm the specific cut-off dates and amounts for your itinerary.
2. Postponements
If you would prefer to postpone rather than cancel, we will try to carry your deposit forward to a new date within 12 months, subject to availability and any date-specific costs (e.g. permits with fixed validity) already incurred.
3. Cancellations or changes by Raaika
In the rare case that we need to cancel or substantially change a confirmed trip (for example due to safety concerns, permit issues, or force majeure events), we will offer you the choice of a rescheduled date, an alternative itinerary of comparable value, or a refund of amounts that have not already been committed to third parties.
4. Non-refundable items
Certain costs are typically non-refundable once paid, regardless of notice period, including issued permits, non-refundable domestic or international flight tickets, and deposits already paid to hotels or lodges that do not offer refunds.
5. Travel insurance
We strongly recommend travel insurance that covers trip cancellation, medical treatment and evacuation, particularly for trekking itineraries. Insurance is often the most practical way to recover costs in situations outside anyone’s control (illness, injury, family emergency, flight cancellation).
6. How refunds are paid
Approved refunds are returned using the same payment method used for the original booking where possible, less any bank transfer or card processing fees charged by the payment provider. Refunds are typically processed within 14 working days of written agreement on the amount.