Trekking Policies and Guidelines
1) Even Beginner treks may have some steep sections and tough terrain. Physical fitness and good health is needed to accomplish the objectives as per the suggested duration. For treks for the experienced, the expectation is that the client will have prior experience of the kind of terrain and climate the trek warrants, and needs to be having optimum physical fitness and health required. The trek-application form will have a medical questionnaire to be filled by the client at the time of booking, which will capture the relevant and necessary information to gauge the eligibility of the client for the said trek. If we feel that any underlying existing medical condition could possibly obstruct the progress of the client during the course of the trek, we might ask the client to get a medical fitness certificate from the local competent government authority, where the client resides, to establish eligibility for the trek.
2) We will provide tents for all purposes, sleeping bags, ropes, cleats/crampons, utensils, garbage bags and first aid kit. Clients are welcome to bring their own equipment as well. Clients will not be responsible for the set-up and tear-down of the camp, our staff will be. But if they feel they have the knowledge and experience with that and wish to help our staff, they are most welcome!
3) Clients are expected to carry their own backpack. In case, they wish that to be carried by us, we will charge an extra lump-sum amount based on the trek. What the clients need to bring for the trek will be listed clearly in the booking confirmation email.
4) Breakfast+Lunch+Dinner will be provided by us as per the scheduled timing. Morning and evening tea + snacks will be provided at set time.
5) Intermittent snacks/drinks will be client's responsibility.
6) The suggested progress for the day is based on general physical fitness. We understand that a team is as fast as it slowest member. Thus, we will pace the actual progress based on the slowest one in the group, moving together as a team. Group's co-operation is expected on all counts.
7) If weather is not conducive to moving further for the day, the decision of the trek-guide will be final and binding. If this results in an extra day being added to the itinerary, then that would mean extra per day cost. If more than one day is being added to the trek, then it would imply weather not being conducive for trekking further at all. Depending upon group's position and progress made, it could warrant a retreat to the start-point or waiting for the right window to finish the trek. Under no circumstances, more than one day will be charged on an extra basis. Money is important for us but never more than the safety and well-being of our clients. Our mountain guides are well trained and experienced enough to gauge the movement of weather, but still nature reigns supreme in the mountains. The point is - mountains make their own weather and our guides are wary of it.
8) If there is an injury to any of the group's member, depending upon the severity, action will be taken. If our guides deem its recovery with simple first aid, no problem. But if the injury is severe enough to halt the progress of the member, then a group huddle will decide the future course - whether they wish to proceed without the injured member, with the latter being evacuated to the nearest medical facility, or they want to call it quits as a group and help in evacuation. We make it as collaborative as possible with our clients, so that they do not feel pushed to proceed with something they are not comfortable with. The final say, though, will be of the guides, whenever they feel that the safety and well-being of any member of the group might get compromised.
9) Even though the wilderness and pure natural setting of the mountains will put the most restive of minds at ease, there could arise a situation where opinions might be at conflict. Under any circumstance, AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOUR, BOTH VERBAL AND/OR PHYSICAL, TOWARDS ANY MEMBER OF THE GROUP AND/OR GUIDES/STAFF WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. The violator will be expelled from the trek, and if it warrants, reported to the local police station. There are simply no two ways about it.
10) Our motto is to ensure that our clients have fun and relish the pure Himalayan nature, but not at the cost of any evident damage to the natural surroundings. Clients are expected to be respectful towards eco-sensitive trekking and camping practices, following the Leave No Trace principle. Your trek-guide will educate you about the right practices and behaviors for the respective treks. Please read articles on Google, they're plenty abound, on becoming a nature-friendly trekker. This also applies to respecting the local culture and traditions, which you will surely find etched deep in the conscience of the locals. Thus, your trek-guide will sensitize on that front as well. Feel free to ask your trek-guide about the right practices and behaviors for the trek, as much as you can. Be adventurous, but more importantly, be smart enough to not end up in a mis-adventure!
11) Each client will be mandatorily signing the Waiver of Release of Liability form. The same will be emailed on booking the trek. Please give it a thorough read, as without it being signed, we won't be moving ahead with the trek at all. Your trek-guide will hand you physical-copy of the form at the start-point, and the same need to be signed in front of the guide.
12) Full amount needs to be paid in advance to confirm your booking. The payment details can be found on the last page of the course-application form.
13) Return Policy : - If booking is cancelled before 30 days from the start-date of the trek, 2% amount will be deducted and the balance will be refunded. If the booking is cancelled when less than 30 days and more than 7 days are left for the start-date of the trek, 50% of the amount will be deducted and the balance will be refunded. If the booking is cancelled when less than 7 days time is left for the start-date of the trek, no refund is possible.
14) If the weather does not permit embarking on the trek on the start-date, we will wait for the next day for it to clear. If it clears, no problem, we'll proceed with the trek. If the weather plays spoilsport on the next day as well, then we will take a call on consultation with the group, if they wish to wait another day to try their luck! It could be so that some of the group members might be running on a tight schedule, and cannot afford to wait that long. We will be cancelling the trek if the weather is bad enough for more than two consecutive days from the original start-date, without further consultation. If the group members wish to wait for extra day/ 2 days to start the trek, then they would be incurring the cost of the accommodation and food for those days. If the trek stands cancelled, before the group starts from the start-point, owing to inclement weather, 50% of the amount paid will be refunded to the client on compassionate grounds.
15)Kindly fill in the grievance form in writing, if you are not satisfied with the conduct of any of our staff member/guide during the trek. Strict action will be taken against the guides/staff member, if they are found in violation of our code of conduct.
16) If you feel dissatisfied with our grievance redressal, and you choose to sue us, all legal matters will be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of Reckong-Peo - Headquarter, District of Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh, India - 172107.
