Terms & conditions
The tour contract is between Essential India Travel Ltd and the client, who is any person travelling or intending to travel on an Essential India tour. We recommend that you ascertain flight availability first. We will then check availability of the accommodation/tour. If your first choice of accommodation is not available we will offer alternative accommodation. Once you have agreed on your itinerary and quote, Essential India Travel Ltd will send confirmation of your booking and invoice. You confirm your booking with Essential India Travel by paying your deposit. Essential India Travel requires a deposit of 40 per cent of the costs. If booking less than eight weeks before departure, you will need to pay the total cost at the time of booking. If the balance is not received by the due date, Essential India reserves the right to cancel the booking.
The person who signs the booking form does so on behalf of him/herself and of all other individuals included on it. All are then bound by, and are deemed to have read and understood these booking conditions. Essential India Travel Ltd fully complies with the EC directive on package holidays and an insurance policy has been arranged with Travel & General insurance plc to protect the monies payed in respective of non flight inclusive holidays offered on this website/brochure and to cater, where necessary for a refund of such monies in the unlikely event of our financial failure.
Essential India Travel is under no obligation to deliver tickets or other travel documents until full payment for the booking, including any surcharges, has been received. Essential India Travel reserves the right to decline a booking at their discretion.
Prices quoted are based on costs prevailing at the time of writing. Essential India Travel reserves the right to impose surcharges due to unfavourable changes in exchange rates, increases in air fares or other transport costs or if government action requires us to do so. We will do our best to absorb any increases before passing them on to our customers.
The following scale of charges will apply, based on the date by which we first receive your cancellation in writing: Cancellation 42 days-plus before the start date: 10 per cent of the deposit. Cancellation 42-28 days before the start date: 50 per cent of the total cost. Cancellation 14-28 days before the start date: 75 per cent of the total cost. Cancellation less than 14 days before the start date: 100 per cent of the total cost. Such terms are adopted in a similar form throughout the travel industry. They are usually covered by your holiday insurance, provided the reason for the cancellation falls within the terms of the policy.
Essential India Travel reserves the right to cancel a tour in the event that the minimum number of clients required is not met. Except in unusual and unforeseen circumstances outside our control (such as flight cancellations, war, civil or political unrest or what is usually known as ‘force majeure’ – see below), we will inform you of any such cancellation at least four weeks before the start date.
We will, if possible, offer a comparable alternative tour or refund all monies paid to us with respect to the tour, excepting any insurance premiums. We are not liable for any incidental costs such as visas, vaccinations or for any additional compensation.
If you are prevented from travelling on the tour, for example due to serious illness of a close relative or jury service (circumstances that would permit you to claim on a normal cancellation policy), you may transfer the booking to another person provided they meet all the requirements of the tour. Written proof of the reason must be given. A transfer fee of £30 will be payable and additional costs such as airline tickets, may also be payable.
If you need to change your plans we will do our best to accommodate your request. The more notice we have of these changes the more likely it is that we will be able to help you. Depending on the amount of work involved, we maintain the right to make a handling charge. Expect to pay £15 per person per alteration. We hope it won’t happen, but if Essential India Travel Ltd does need to make a change to your booked accommodation we will let you know as early as possible. You will have the option to select alternative accommodation or dates before refunding your money.
In the event of factors outside our control (force majeure), or where we consider it to be in our clients’ best interest, we reserve the right to alter arrangements and itineraries at any time without compensation. We will inform you of any known changes at least four weeks before departure or as soon as possible. Force majeure includes such matters as war or threat of war, civil or political unrest, riots, industrial disputes (e.g. airline strikes), terrorism, government decisions, technical or maintenance problems with transport, border restrictions, refusals of visas, sickness, natural disaster or adverse weather conditions.
Passports and visas. You must make sure you meet all the official requirements for the journey, including a passport valid for sufficient duration together with all visas and vaccination certificates required at the time of your tour. The information we supply on such matters is considered a general guidance and we therefore recommend you make your own enquiries with the relevant authorities. Please note that the name on your air ticket should be the same as that on your passport.
Insurance. It is recommended that your comprehensive travel insurance is purchased at the time of your booking to ensure your deposits are covered. All claims concerning matters for which you are insured should be directed to your insurers.
Acceptance of Risk and Authority. Our tour leaders will do the utmost to ensure any problems are solved for the benefit of the group as a whole. Signing the booking form signifies your acceptance of the leaders’ authority to make decisions affecting the group or individuals. For instance, he/she may require an individual to leave the group if he/she believes the person’s health is at risk, if an illegal act is committed, or if their behaviour becomes detrimental to the safety, enjoyment and wellbeing of the group. Should the leader take such action, that person would not be entitled to any refund. Similarly, a client leaving a tour en-route will not be entitled to any refund unless agreed by a director of Essential India Travel Ltd. Please understand there are certain hazards involved in adventurous holidays, which you must accept at your own risk.
Essential India Travel Ltd will not be liable for any illness, injury or death sustained during a trek or special interest holiday.
Flexibility. The client must appreciate and acknowledge that the route, schedules, itineraries, amenities and mode of transport may be subject to change without prior notice due to local circumstances or events beyond our control. Essential India Travel Ltd will not be liable for any delay, inconvenience, discomfort, loss of enjoyment or disappointment arising from such matters. No refunds will be given for services not utilised.
The brochure. The information provided in the brochure has been compiled with all reasonable care and provides a reasonable indication of the itinerary, the type of accommodation used and what is included in the price. Changes in these items may be made during the life of this brochure, and after booking (or before on specific request) we will send you an up-to-date trip factsheet providing more detailed information.
Any flights forming part of the tour arrangements are subject to the conditions of the carrying airline. Our responsibility with regard to air travel is similarly limited to the airline’s conditions of carriage. In particular, we shall not be responsible for flight delays and the results, including the consequent amendment or curtailment of itineraries.
We do not own or operate any of the transport, accommodation or facilities connected with our tours. In respect of any carriage by sea or rail, and the provision of accommodation, our liability will be limited to the relevant convention.
If a client has a complaint against Essential India Ltd, the client must first inform the tour leader or representative. This must be done at the earliest opportunity while on tour, so appropriate action can be taken to rectify the matter. If at the end of your tour you feel your complaint has not been properly dealt with, you should notify us in writing no later than 28 days after the scheduled date of your return and we shall try to agree a settlement with you. Failure to write your complaint within the specified timescale will invalidate your claim.
If you have a dispute with Essential India Travel that you are unable to resolve amicably, you may call upon a special scheme devised for the travel industry by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. This scheme provides a simple way of resolving disputes. All bookings and matters arising from them shall be subject to, and governed by, English law.
Do not expect the standards of hygiene, maintenance and safety to be as they are at home. Bear in mind that the safety standards with which suppliers must comply are local standards, not British or European.
When making your booking, it is implied and accepted that you have read and understood all these booking conditions and agree to abide by them.
Travel Organiser Failure Cover:
In compliance with the UK Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992 an insurance policy has been arranged with Travel & General Insurance plc to protect the monies paid in respect of non-flight inclusive packages offered in this Brochure/on this website and to cater, where necessary (and subject to the terms of the insurance policy), for a refund of such monies in the unlikely event of our financial failure.
