The Indiahikes Standard Cancellation Policy

We understand the pain when you have to call off a trek or a trek gets cancelled. As trekkers, we always look forward to treks, and after months of training and planning, if you have to cancel your trek or a trek gets called off, there’s no greater disappointment than that. That is why we have a trekker-friendly cancellation policy.

This policy is effective November 4th, 2022.

Indiahikes Standard Cancellation Policy when you cancel a trek:

1. Cancellation 30 days before the start date of the trek — Get a refund with 10% cancellation charges. 

2. Cancellation between 29 days and 21 days before the start date of the trek — Get a refund with 50% cancellation charges.

3. Cancellation within 20 days prior to the start date of the trek, or no show on the start day of the trek — Unfortunately, no refund or voucher.

4. If you had used a voucher to register for the trek but now wish to cancel the trek, the above cancellation policy applies. If there is a balance in your voucher after cancellation charges, it stays credited to your account. If the validity of the voucher has expired at the time of cancellation, you do not get any voucher/refund or an extension for it.

Indiahikes Cancellation Policy for Trekking Summer Camps:

Cancellation policy for the summer camp treks are slightly different than our regular trek. Note that this cancellation policy is applicable for both the summer camp trek and chaperone services.

1. Cancellation 45 days before the start date of the trek — Get a refund with 10% cancellation charges. 

2. Cancellation between 45 days and 21 days before the start date of the trek — Get a refund with 50% cancellation charges.

3. Cancellation within 20 days prior to the start date of the trek, or no show on the start day of the trek — Unfortunately, no refund or voucher.

Indiahikes Cancellation Policy for Nepal and International Treks:

Cancellation policy is different for Nepal and International treks when compared to our regular trek.

1. Cancellation 45 days before the start date of the trek — Get a refund with 10% cancellation charges. 

2. Cancellation between 45 days and 21 days before the start date of the trek — No refund. Get an option to reschedule with 20% cancellation charges.

3. Cancellation within 20 days prior to the start date of the trek, or no show on the start day of the trek — Unfortunately, no refund or voucher.

Note: Transfer of trek booking or rescheduling to another date is not applicable within 20 days prior to the start date of the trek.

Indiahikes Cancellation Policy for Weekend Treks in South India

1. Cancellation 15 days before the start date of the trek — Get a refund with 10% cancellation charges. 

2. Cancellation between 15 days and 7 days before the start date of the trek — Get a refund with 50% cancellation charges. 

3. Cancellation within 7 days prior to the start date of the trek, or no show on the start day of the trek — Unfortunately, no refund or voucher.

In the rare event that Indiahikes suspends a trek:

We almost never suspend treks. But in the rare event that we call off/cancel a trek because of force majeure, OR natural calamities (continuous rain or snow, snowstorms, thunderstorms, floods, landslides, earthquakes or any other natural calamity that prevents us from conducting a trek safely), OR unexpected situations like wildlife movement, political unrest, curfews, local riots, pandemics, lockdowns, government orders OR any other issues that affect the safety of the whole group, Indiahikes will issue a voucher for the full amount of your trek fee (minus the trek insurance). You can redeem the Trek Voucher on any of our treks over the next one year.

Read here about Why We Don’t Refund You When There is an Unexpected Shutdown of Your Trek.

Important Note 1: If your entire group is forced to abandon the trek after you have reached/crossed the first campsite of any trek (could be due to weather/break in the trail, or withdrawal of permission from the Government or sudden unforeseen circumstances), you’re welcome to repeat the same trek through our Trek Again Policy. However, no voucher will be issued.

Important Note 2: Some trekkers expect a trek voucher if they come down from a trek for whatever reason. We do not issue vouchers to those who come down from a trek. This can happen when your trek leader sends you down due to any of these reasons: lack of fitness, non-maintenance of turn-around time, altitude sickness, blood pressure, or any other health issues, injuries OR if you’re found drinking/smoking or breaking rules of the trek OR if you quit the trek on your own due to personal reasons. 

We do not issue vouchers to those who come down from a trek. 

How The Indiahikes Shield Protects You In Case of Trek Suspensions

Over the years, we have seen an increasing number of treks suspended due to external factors like sudden government restrictions, local unrest, landslides or extreme weather. 

In such cases, we have tried our best to create alternative treks for trekkers on the same date, but that is not always possible. We issue vouchers of the whole trek fee to trekkers, which they can use over a year's period.

Such circumstances are under nobody's control, but it's best to be well-prepared.  As trekkers ourselves, we understand the loss that you go through when such circumstances arise. To protect against such circumstances, we have the Indiahikes Shield - where you can avail a refund of your full trek fee by paying a small additional charge.  

We suggest you opt for the Indiahikes Shield, which will protect your trek fee during such uncertainties. You will find the option during the registration process.

Cancellation policy for the Indiahikes Shield: If trekkers cancel their trek 20 days before the trek, the standard cancellation policy applies to them (with 96% refund of the shield amount). We do not refund the shield amount if you cancel your trek after that.

In the rare event that Indiahikes shifts a trek:

Sometimes there are situations that are beyond our control — excessive snow/rain, thunderstorms, floods, landslides, earthquakes OR unexpected political unrest, curfews, local riots, pandemics, changes in permission rules or government orders, or any such reason where a trek cannot run.

In such circumstances, Indiahikes will always try to give you an alternate trek. These treks may be in the same state or another. In such situations, if the cost of the alternate trek is lower than your current trek, then we will issue a voucher for the difference in the amount of your trek fee (we will not be issuing a refund of the difference in the trek fee). If the cost is more, then you have to pay the difference in the trek fee. 

It may also happen that the alternate trek may not be the one that you wish to do. In such a situation, Indiahikes will issue you a trek voucher for the trek fee (minus insurance amount).  You can redeem the trek voucher on any of our treks over the next one year. 

Under such trek suspensions, if you have opted for the Indiahikes Shield, you will be eligible for a full refund of your fee. If you have not, you will not receive a refund of your trek fee.

If your trek is cancelled by Indiahikes due to a lack of fitness:

We accept trekkers' registrations trusting their commitment to get fit for the trek. We share a trek’s fitness requirement with you well in advance. The details are also written on our website. 

Yet, there are times when trekkers do not prepare enough for the trek. Going on a trek with inadequate fitness not only puts you at grave risk, but also spoils the experience for the rest of the team. This is a group sport and you are expected to adhere to common group guidelines. 

If you cannot meet the fitness criteria that a trek requires, we may be forced to cancel your trek. In such cases, our standard cancellation policy as mentioned above applies. This is applicable even if you decide to pull out of the trek on your own accord due to lack of preparedness/fitness.

If you want to reschedule your trek to a future available date:

Our rescheduling policy has been designed keeping in mind that our trekkers have last minute emergencies.

With the rescheduling policy, you have the flexibility to postpone your trek if you fall ill, your leaves get cancelled, or have any personal emergency.

In case you would like to reschedule to another date, this is the policy that applies:

• When you are rescheduling for the first time, there is no charge applicable if the rescheduling is done 30 days before your trek date. If the rescheduling is done anytime 29 days before the trek, there will be a 20% rescheduling charge of the trek fee. (You may not know, but most of our trek expenses are incurred well before you even arrive at our base camp. That is why there is an extra charge for rescheduling.)
• If you are rescheduling for the 2nd time, there will be a 20% charge of the trek fee irrespective of when your trek date is.
• Once rescheduled, there will not be any refund/voucher given if you cancel the trek.
• You cannot reschedule your trek if there are only 3 days left before it starts.
• If you are rescheduling to a trek that costs less, The remaining amount/difference in the trek fee will be given as a voucher and not as a refund. The voucher is valid for 1 year.
• If the rescheduled trek costs more than what you have paid, you will have to complete the payment through your dashboard in 24 hours to confirm the new trek.

The Indiahikes Trek Again Policy (trekkers love this!)

There are some thoughts and ideologies that we hold close to our hearts.

Our Trek Again Policy: As trekkers, there are times when you have to let go of a trek midway. Sometimes you fall ill, or get hit by AMS or at times simple fatigue pulls you down. It can also happen that your Trek Leader sends you down due to a safety or health issue.

Should such a situation occur, we want you to know that we feel as bad as you do. You can always come back another time, repeat the same trek and finish your adventure. For this you do not have to pay Indiahikes any money.

On the other hand, there are times when you fall in love with a trek. So much so that you want to do it again; perhaps see it in another season. If you ever desire to do a trek again, please do so.

How to register for a repeat trek?

1. Register for a trek through the normal registration process. You pay the full trek fee and book your slot.
2. Once you complete the trek, email your Experience Coordinator, who will issue a full refund of your trek fee.

Note:

1. If you reschedule or cancel your trek, our standard cancellation policy will apply to your booking.
2. The Indiahikes “Trek Again Policy” does not apply to our international trek routes. It also does not apply on any special treks, such as photography treks, stargazing treks, collaborative leadership programs, or any themed treks we introduce in the future. It applies only on our regular treks within India.
3. Trekkers who use the Repeat Trek Policy are not allowed to reschedule or cancel their treks 20 days before the trek. If they do, their Trek Again Policy is deemed null and void. They will not be allowed to repeat the trek again as part of the Trek Again Policy.
4. If you are making use of the trek again policy and wish to cancel, the standard cancellation policy will apply.

Indiahikes Backpack Offloading Policies

• Cancellation of offloading before or after reaching the basecamp — If you choose to cancel your backpack offloading AFTER reaching the base camp, we love that! It shows you are a trekker who wants to do the trek in the right spirit of trekking. You want to carry your own backpack. You get the offloading fee refunded to your account minus a 4% bank transaction charge.
  
• Cancellation of offloading midway on the trek — No refund or voucher
  
• In case you return halfway from the trek (for whatever reason) — No refund or voucher on the offloading amount paid

Indiahikes Rental Gear Policies

• Cancellation Policy: Cancellation 72hrs before the start date of the trek: Get a 96% refund with a deduction of 4% transaction fee. Cancellation less than 72hrs before the start date of the trek (online or on the trek): No refund.
• Damaged/Lost Gear: An appropriate fine, based on the extent of damage, will be charged. The store-in-charge will determine the extent of damage, based on the slabs mentioned in the fine chart. The fine will be deducted from the deposit amount / you can pay using QR Code. In the rare case that the payable fine is higher than the deposit amount, additional payment has to be completed at the base camp.
• Refunds on Trek Interruption: No refund for trekkers who return from the middle of the trek due to ill health, disciplinary reasons, or personal reasons. No refund once the trek has started and need to descend due to bad weather / any natural calamities. If a trek is called off by Indiahikes before it starts, a 96% monetary refund will be provided on your payment method.
• Rescheduling or Postponing of Gear: Unfortunately Rescheduling or postponing of gears wont be possible you must cancel your order and re-book it. We suggest carefully considering the size when booking the first time. Rescheduling or postponing of gears less than 72hrs before the trek start date: No monetary refund.
• Size Changes and Offline Rentals: Any modification in size is possible only 72 hours before the start date of the trek, subject to availability. No size modification will be done 72 hours before the start date of the trek. No size changes are allowed at the base camp. There is no refund for such cancellations.

How to cancel your trek

In case, you wish to cancel your trek, follow these steps:

• Login to your Indiahikes Trek Dashboard. 
• Find your upcoming trek on your home page. 
• Click on “Cancel Trek”. Follow the instructions as they appear on the screen.

How long does the refund process take?

After you have cancelled your trek the amount is refunded to your bank account/credit card in about 4-5 working days, usually sooner.