Payment Schedule

Based on Land/Cruise Cost, per person

Regular Trip Departures

At time of reservation $400

120 days prior to trip departure $800

60 days prior to trip departure Balance

Galápagos, Greece, Turkey, John Muir Trail and Patagonia Explorer Cruise Trip Departures

At time of reservation $400

120 days prior to trip departure $1,200

90 days prior to trip departure Balance

Antarctica & Arctic Cruise Trip Departures

At time of reservation $1,000–$2,000 (varies based on ship and trip departure—see detailed itinerary)

120 days prior to trip departure $1,200 (or balance for all Antarctica Fly & Cruise trips)

90 days prior to trip departure Balance

Private Adventures & Special Trip Departures

At time of reservation $800 or 25% of Land/Cruise Cost, whichever is greater

120 days prior to trip departure 25% of Land/Cruise Cost

90 days prior to trip departure Balance

Extensions & Extra Services

(including extra hotel nights)

At time of reservation $100*

(non-refundable)

The balance will be added to the cost of your trip, and payment will follow the applicable schedule above. Requests made 29 days or less prior to trip departure are subject to a $100 late booking fee. Once booked, each change is subject to a $50 change fee.

*Some exceptions apply and deposits may be higher.

Immediately after we receive your deposit, you will be emailed or faxed a Booking Verification Form that must be completed and faxed to us within 24 hours. You will then receive a detailed pre-trip packet with a clothing and equipment list, visa kit (if required), invoice, insurance information, medical certificate, trip participation information form (including a Release From Liability agreement that you must sign and return to us), and other information needed to prepare for your trip. Rendezvous instructions and final trip details will be sent about three weeks prior to trip departure.

What Your Trip Includes

The Land and/or Cruise Cost* for most trips includes:

Expert leadership • Accommodations in hotels, inns, or lodges in cities and villages, or aboard boat or ship • Field arrangements, including camp and cook staffs, tents, kitchen and dining tents (on most trips), group camping and commissary equipment, necessary trip equipment (e.g. sea kayaks, rafts, personal flotation devices, etc.) • Meals as noted in the trip itinerary • Sightseeing as noted in the trip itinerary • Group airport transfers • Ground transportation and support vehicles • Additional guides and porters if needed • Entrance fees and permits • Basic medical and evacuation insurance.

*Note—“Land/Cruise Cost” is defined as including the cost of the trip. Internal airfare, park fees, permits, and taxes may be included in the price, or broken out separately. Unless otherwise noted, payment and cancellation policies apply to the total Land/Cruise Cost, inclusive of internal airfare, park fees, permits, and taxes, even when broken out separately. Travel agent commission is calculated from base Land/Cruise Cost only and excludes tier charges.

Each trip varies slightly, so please call and speak with one of our Adventure Sales Consultants or ask for a detailed trip itinerary for the specifics (you can also download itineraries at www.mtsobek.com). International airfare, optional gratuities, and personal items are not included.

Tier Pricing

Adventure travel works best with a small group of people. In order to operate these small groups, our trips are priced according to the number of full-price travelers on the trip. Mountain Travel Sobek staff, trip doctors, and other discounted travelers are excluded from the count for this purpose. We invoice you at the highest tier price (the smallest group size we can operate) until final payment is due. If the price drops due to an increase in group size before your trip departs, you will be refunded the difference.

Single Travelers

Accommodations (hotels, tents, and cruise cabins) are based on double occupancy. If you prefer single accommodations, you must pay a single supplement fee, which is listed in the trip itinerary. If you are traveling alone and wish to share accommodations, we will try our best to find you a roommate of the same gender. If there is no one with whom you can share, you are required to pay a “forced” single supplement fee, which varies by trip and ranges from half to the same fee as the “requested” single supplement, and is listed in the trip itinerary. Shared accommodations are guaranteed on some trips. On a few trips, single accommodations are not available.

Cancellations & Refunds

Based on Land/Cruise Cost, per person

At the time we receive written notice that you must cancel your trip, the following fees will apply (all dates are from departure date):

Regular Trip Departures

From time of reservation until 90 days prior to trip departure $150

89 to 60 days prior to trip departure $400

59 to 30 days prior to trip departure 50% of Land Cost

29 days or less prior to trip departure 100% of Land Cost

Galápagos, Greece, Turkey, John Muir Trail and Patagonia Explorer Cruise Trip Departures

From time of reservation until 120 days prior to trip departure $400

119 to 90 days prior to trip departure 25% of Land/Cruise Cost

89 to 60 days prior to trip departure 50% of Land/Cruise Cost

59 days or less prior to trip departure 100% of Land/Cruise Cost

Antarctica & Arctic Cruise Trip Departures

From time of reservation until 120 days prior to trip departure Loss of first deposit

119 to 90 days prior to trip departure Loss of first deposit and second deposit (or 30% of the total cost for all Antarctica Fly and Cruise Trips)

89 days or less prior to trip departure 100% of Cruise Cost

Private Adventures, Custom Adventures, John Muir Trail, Mountain Gorilla Expedition, & Special Trip Departures

From time of reservation until 90 days prior to trip departure $800 or 25% of Land/Cruise Cost, whichever is greater

89-60 day prior to trip departure 50% of Land Cost

59 days or less 100% of Land Cost

Extensions & Extra Services

(including extra hotel nights)

At time of reservation until 60 days prior to trip departure $100*

59 to 30 days 50% of Extension Cost

29 days or less 100% of Extension Cost

*Some exceptions apply and cancellation fees may be higher.

No refunds will be given for unused hotel rooms, meals, sightseeing trips, or trek arrangements for any reason whatsoever. Land Cost is quoted as a package and credits are not given for services not used. (Note—Extra hotel nights cancelled within 60 days of trip departure are subject to 100% of the hotel cost or $35, whichever is greater.) Cancellation and refund policy applies to entire land cost of trip, including trip cost, internal airfare, park fees, permits, and taxes. We recommend you purchase the optional supplementary travel insurance package to protect yourself in case of an unexpected medical emergency. Refunds in excess of $500 will be remitted by check.

Insurance

For your protection, we offer an optional supplementary insurance package called the Passenger Cancellation/Interruption Protection Program. It combines trip cancellation and interruption coverage (for covered reasons only), baggage loss protection, and medical coverage along with additional emergency evacuation coverage. We include the cost of this optional insurance coverage as an item on your invoice. It is effective the day we receive your designated payment for the insurance or the day your final balance is paid. Please note that deposits are not applied toward your insurance premium. If you do not wish this insurance coverage, you need only notify Mountain Travel Sobek in writing by time of final payment and we will remove the charge from the invoice.

Note: A basic medical expense and evacuation insurance plan is included in the Land Cost of your Mountain Travel Sobek trip. However, we strongly recommend you purchase the optional Passenger Cancellation/Interruption Protection Plan outlined above to ensure protection from trip cancellation fees (primarily for medical reasons) and increase your medical and evacuation coverage.

Transfers

You may transfer to another trip without a fee up to 90 days before trip departure on most trips. If you transfer from one trip to another within 89 days of trip departure, however, you are subject to the usual Cancellation Fees outlined above (appropriate to the date you notify us in writing of your wish to transfer). No transfers are allowed on Galápagos, Turkey, Patagonia Explorer, Antarctica, and Arctic cruises; John Muir Trail, Private Adventures, Custom Adventures, or Special Departures.

Cancelled Trips

Mountain Travel Sobek reserves the right to cancel any trip due to inadequate sign-up or other cause that makes the trip unfeasible for us to operate, but we will inform you at least 45 days prior to trip departure. In such a case, a full refund of Land/Cruise Cost is given, but Mountain Travel Sobek is not responsible for additional expenses incurred by members preparing for the trip (e.g. nonrefundable “Advance Purchase” air tickets, visa fees if applicable, clothing, equipment, medical expenses). Do not purchase your air tickets before speaking with your Adventure Coordinator.

Delays & Cost Increases

The cost of delays is not included if any trip is delayed due to bad weather, trail conditions, river levels, road conditions, transportation delays, government intervention, sickness or other contingency for which Mountain Travel Sobek or its agents cannot make provision. Land/Cruise Costs are subject to increase without prior notice, even after you have signed up on the trip. We often publish our prices more than a year in advance. Between that time and the time of the trip’s actual trip departure, we are occasionally faced with significant cost increases that we cannot absorb, i.e. international currency fluctuations, fuel surcharges, or increases in cost of services. We regret this situation, and we do everything we can to avoid raising prices, but sometimes it is unavoidable. We will do our best to limit such increases and will notify you at least two months before trip departure.

Airline Clause

The airlines are not to be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time passengers are not on board their planes or conveyance. The passage contract in use by the airlines concerned, when issued, shall constitute the sole contract between the airlines and such purchasers of these tours and/or passenger. Such conveyance, etc. is subject to the laws of the countries involved. Airlines used vary in degree of safety and risk. Many air carriers have an unknown safety and maintenance record. Mountain Travel Sobek is not liable for incidents involving airline safety, cancellations, service, risk, delays, etc.; or incidents that result in injury, delay or death. Please read the conditions on the back of your airline tickets. If Mountain Travel Sobek is handling your air, please read the back of your air itinerary.

Medical & Health

It is vital that persons with medical problems make them known to us well before trip departure. The trip leader has the right to disqualify anyone at any time during the trip if he or she feels the trip member is physically or mentally incapable or if a trip member’s continued participation will jeopardize the individual involved or the group. Refunds are not given under such circumstances.

Hospital facilities are often unavailable and evacuation can be prolonged, difficult, and expensive. Mountain Travel Sobek assumes no liability regarding provision of medical care. Trip members will receive appropriate health information and a Medical Certificate to be filled out and returned to us. You will need to provide us with your accurate and complete medical history for the last three years, as well as any special dietary needs. If you are age 65 or older (or on certain designated trips, including those with the Activity Level of “Ultimate Challenge”), the Medical Certificate must be signed by your physician. Once you have been confirmed on a trip, normal cancellation fees apply if your doctor does not approve the Medical Certificate. We can send you this form prior to making your reservation so your doctor can pre-approve you.

Photography

Mountain Travel Sobek may take photographs and/or video of its trips and participants grant Mountain Travel Sobek permission to do so and for it to use same for promotional or commercial use without payment of any compensation to participant.

Responsibilities of Trip Members

Trip members have certain responsibilities to Mountain Travel Sobek and to other trip members. Trip members are responsible for understanding the conditions implied in the Trip Itinerary and selecting a trip in consultation with Mountain Travel Sobek that is appropriate to their interests and abilities, and for preparing for the trip by studying the Trip Itinerary and supplemental trip information sent by Mountain Travel Sobek. Screening for fitness (for trips rated “Strenuous” or “Ultimate Challenge”) is made by our Adventure Sales Consultants at the time of booking. At the trip leader’s discretion, a member may be removed from the trip, without the right of refund, if the leader feels that the person’s further participation may be detrimental to the individual or to other trip members.

Limitations of Liability

Mountain Travel Sobek is defined to include Mountain Travel Sobek, Mountain Travel, Alaska Discovery, Inc., its and their owners, directors, officers, employees, representatives and affiliates, (collectively “Mountain Travel Sobek”). Except for some small water craft and some vehicles, Mountain Travel Sobek does not own or operate any entity which is to or does provide goods or services for your trip including, for example, ownership or control over hotels or other lodging facilities, airline, vessel, bus, van or other transportation companies, local ground operators, providers or organizers of optional excursions, food service or entertainment providers, etc. All such persons and entities are independent contractors. As a result, Mountain Travel Sobek is not liable for any negligent or willful act or failure to act of any person or entity, or of any third party. Without limitation, Mountain Travel Sobek is not responsible for any injury, loss or damage to person or property, death, delay or inconvenience in connection with the provision of any goods or services occasioned by or resulting from, but not limited to, acts of God, acts of government, force majeur, acts of war or civil unrest, insurrection or revolt, strikes or other labor activities, criminal or terrorist activities of any kind, or the threat thereof, overbooking or downgrading of accommodations, structural or other defective conditions in hotels or other lodging facilities, mechanical or other failure of airplanes or other means of transportation or for any failure of any transportation mechanism to arrive or depart timely, dangers associated with animals, marine life or vegetation of any sort, dangers incident to recreational activities such as scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming, kayaking, sailing, canoeing, rafting, hiking, bicycling, rock climbing, etc., sanitation problems, food poisoning, lack of access to or quality of medical care, difficulty in evacuation in case of a medical or other emergency, illness, epidemics or the threat thereof or for any other cause beyond the direct control of Mountain Travel Sobek. In addition, participants release Mountain Travel Sobek from its own negligence and assume all risk thereof. On advancement of deposit to Mountain Travel Sobek, the depositor therefore agrees to be bound by the above recited terms and conditions. These are partial conditions. Your participation is contingent on your signature on the full list of terms specified in the four-page Participant Information Form, which you can find on our website at www.mtsobek.com/pdf/participant_info.pdf (or call us at 1-888-687-6235 and request a copy). Additionally, some independent contractors may require participants to sign their liability release or indemnity form.

Arbitration

Any dispute concerning, relating or referring to these Terms and Conditions, to any literature concerning the trip, or the trip itself, shall be resolved exclusively by binding arbitration in San Francisco, California, according to the then existing commercial rules of the American Arbitration Association. Such proceedings will be governed by substantive (but not procedural) California law and without regard to the California Arbitration Act.