Terms & Conditions

All participants in a Red Lantern Journeys tour will be asked to sign the following agreement prior to booking a trip with us:

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Agreement:  The terms and conditions set forth in this agreement constitute the entire understanding and agreement between you the trip “Participant” and Red Lantern Journeys, “RLJ”, with respect to any and all bookings, tours or transactions made with RLJ. This agreement is a legally binding contract.

By submitting a booking form and signing this agreement, you accept all of the terms in this agreement and direct us to perform services on your behalf. All persons named in this booking (“Participants”) are subject to this agreement. By accepting the terms of this agreement, you affirm that you have made all other Participants listed in the booking aware of these terms – regardless of how final payment is made – and that all Participants accept these terms.

Reservations: You may reserve a tour or space on a tour by agreeing to our terms and conditions, paying a deposit, filling out a reservation form, and signing a liability release. A booking is not final until you receive a final confirmation from us.

Deposits and Final Payment:  A per-person, non-refundable deposit amount will be specified by your agent and is required at the time of booking. The deposit payment is non-refundable because we are incurring non-refundable costs to process payments, pay commissions to agents, and make non-refundable payments to suppliers, in addition to spending significant time to research and design itineraries and initiate and confirm reservations on your behalf. Final payment is due 75 days prior to departure. If your booking is made within 75 days of departure, the entire tour cost must be paid when we confirm the trip with you.

Payments may be made by credit card, check, or bank wire transfer. If you pay your deposit by wire or check, we cannot confirm your reservation until your payment has cleared the bank. Checks returned by the bank will incur a $50 returned check fee.

Cancellations by You and Refunds: To cancel your booking, you must submit your request to us in writing by email to: your RLJ agent’s email address and/or info@redlanternjourneys.com; or postal mail at: Red Lantern Journeys, PO Box 77721, Seattle, WA 98133. Cancellation fees will be applied per person according to the following schedule, based on the date we receive your written notification:

• Up to 61 days prior to departure, forfeit your deposit.
• From 31 to 60 days prior to departure, 50% of tour costs
• 30 or fewer days prior to departure, 100% of tour costs

No refunds will be provided for any unused portion of a tour once the tour begins, including if you leave a tour for any reason or have to be removed from a tour. There are no exceptions to this cancellation and refund policy, including for reasons related to weather, terrorism, civil strife, epidemics, pandemics, government policies, personal, family or medical emergencies or any other circumstances beyond our control. For this reason, we strongly encourage you to purchase trip cancellation and interruption insurance.

Changes by You: If you change your tour dates or alter your itinerary after we confirm your tour, a change fee will be imposed. The type and scope of change dictates the amount of the change fee. Our outside suppliers, including hotels and airlines, often impose additional fees or penalties for changes and cancellations. These are included in the change fee and can be substantial. In the worst case, a change of tour dates could result in a 100% cancellation penalty, then having to completely rebook the tour on the new dates at full price for those dates.

Cancellations or Changes by Us and Flexibility: We reserve the right to cancel, alter or modify any tour without prior notice for the safety and/or comfort of Participants, guides, and drivers. You acknowledge that the amenities, accommodations, transportation, route, schedule, and itinerary may change without prior notice due to local circumstances or events, which may include mechanical breakdown, flight cancellations, illness, strikes, political disputes, weather, border crossing problems, and other unforeseeable factors. If, prior to departure, we make a significant change because of a problem with a supplier (e.g., bankruptcy), we will, as soon as reasonably possible, notify you of available alternatives.

Any changes may require a supplemental payment from you or result in a refund less any cancellation fees and nonrefundable deposits. If we cancel a tour, which is rare, a check for a full refund will be issued to you less any airline ticket cancellation fees and nonrefundable deposits advanced to local suppliers. This refund will constitute full settlement of claims you may have arising out of our cancellation. No refunds under this paragraph will be provided due to cancellations or changes due to Force Majeure.

Price Adjustments: The quoted tour price is based on tariffs, fees, airfares, and costs in effect at the time you sign this agreement. We reserve the right to increase the quoted price after booking if inflation, costs of fuel, labor or materials, airfares, supplier costs, currency exchange rates, tariffs, government fees, and admission charges change. You agree to and will pay for any price increase.

Credit Card Authorization for Post-Booking Charges: You authorize RLJ to charge your credit card number for any change fees, price increases, or supplemental payments that you incur post-booking. If you prefer a different payment method, you must notify us in writing at the time of booking.

No Refunds for Personal Expenses: You will not be reimbursed for any personal expenses such as airfare, hotel or other travel expenses due to changes in itineraries or tour cancellations.

Responsibility: RLJ acts only as an intermediary for the various independent suppliers that provide lodging, meals, transportation, sightseeing, activities or other goods and services connected with your tour “Suppliers”. You acknowledge that you are aware and clearly understand that these Suppliers are independent contractors, are not managed by RLJ, and are not agents or employees of RLJ. A Supplier’s services are subject to the Supplier’s own terms and conditions and the local laws and regulations of the relevant country. If a Supplier does not provide services due to cancellation or overbooking, RLJ will provide a reasonable alternative, or a refund less any nonrefundable deposits and cancellation fees.

Force Majeure: RLJ will not be deemed in breach of this agreement or otherwise liable to you, by reason of delay in performance or nonperformance of any of its obligations under this agreement to the extent that any such delay or nonperformance is due to any Force Majeure. “Force Majeure” means any circumstances beyond the reasonable control of RLJ, including without limitation acts of God, terrorist activities, insurrection, explosion, flood, tempest, forceful wind, fire or accident, war or threat of war declared or undeclared, sabotage, civil disturbance, labor strikes, requisition, sickness, quarantine, epidemics, pandemics, government intervention, weather conditions, and unforeseen circumstances.

If RLJ and/or any of its Suppliers are affected by Force Majeure, they shall be entitled to, and may in their sole discretion, vary or cancel any itinerary or arrangement in relation to the tour. Regarding civil unrest, once RLJ has investigated the prevailing situation, as it deems fit, it shall remain in RLJ’s sole and absolute discretion whether to proceed with the tour.

Travel Insurance: The tour price does not include travel insurance. We strongly recommend that you purchase comprehensive travel insurance, covering trip interruption and cancellation, baggage, medical, accident/life, evacuation, repatriation and other expenses which might arise as a result of loss, damage, injury, delay or inconvenience occurring to you.  You agree to assume all costs of medical care and transportation. As such, we highly recommend that you purchase travel-related emergency medical insurance if your current medical policy does not cover you during your tour. We will require proof of emergency medical and evacuation coverage for overnight treks and trips in remote areas.

Pre-Departure Documentation: It is important that you carefully read all trip-related documents that you receive from us as soon as you receive them. It is your responsibility to contact us if any information is incorrect. We cannot accept any liability if you do not notify us of any inaccuracies within 10 days of your receipt of those documents. This agreement, a waiver of liability and assumption of risk agreement and, if required, a medical statement or certification must be signed and submitted by you. If you fail to submit this and other necessary documentation prior to departure, we reserve the right to treat your booking as cancelled by you and impose the cancellation fees described in this agreement.

Passports and Visas: You are responsible for ensuring that all necessary travel documents are valid and effective and in your possession for the entire tour. Passports are required for all U.S. citizens traveling abroad and should be valid for at least 6 months after your date of return. We suggest you apply for or renew a passport early. Other required documents may include visas, permits, covid19 test results, and vaccination records or certificates. You assume complete and full responsibility for checking and verifying any and all passport, visa, vaccination, or other entry requirements. You are also solely responsible for any adverse consequences resulting from incomplete or defective documentation. While we may provide information or advice on matters such as visas, vaccinations, climate, clothing, baggage, and special equipment in good faith as a courtesy to you, we are not responsible for any errors or omissions as to the information provided.

Health Requirements and Medical Care: Our tours are physically active with varying levels of demands and fitness requirements depending on the specific itinerary. By signing this agreement, you represent that you do not have any physical, mental, or other conditions that would create a hazard for you or other Participants or affect other people’s enjoyment of the tour. If you have a physical condition, dietary restrictions, or other conditions that will require special attention during the tour, you must inform us in writing when the booking is made. We may require a medical certificate if you have a special condition. We reserve the right in our sole discretion to accept, decline, or remove anyone from a tour (at departure or during the tour) who we judge to be incapable of meeting the tour’s physical demands.

RLJ assumes no responsibility for any medical care provided to you. All participants must agree to assume all costs of medical care and related transportation that are provided to you during the tour. All participants on a tour must agree to sign a Waiver of Liability and Assumption of Risk Agreement as a prerequisite to be allowed to participate in the tour.

Complaint Procedure: If you have a complaint during your tour, you must promptly notify RLJ or the local guide of the problem so that they can attempt to remedy the situation. Failure to do so while you are on the tour will extinguish or reduce your ability to claim compensation from RLJ. Further, if you attempt to address the problem on your own without using this notice procedure, you assume responsibility for any added costs you may incur and forfeit any potential refunds.

If you are not satisfied after using this notice procedure, you must submit your complaint in writing to RLJ within 10 days of the tour’s end date. RLJ will not accept any liability for claims received after this period.

Tour Start Date: It is your responsibility to be ready to embark on the tour as specified in the itinerary. RLJ is not responsible for any losses due to cancelled or missed flights, changed flight itineraries, late arrivals, or early departures.

Compliance with Local Laws and Tour Etiquette: You must strictly comply with all local laws, respect local customs and culture, accurately assess your abilities, respect other trip members’ privacy, and follow the suggestions and advice of any assigned guide. The decision of the local guide or local supplier is final on all matters that may threaten the safety or interfere with the well-being of others. During the tour, RLJ or the local guide/supplier has the right in its sole discretion to remove anyone a) who it judges to be incapable of meeting the demands and requirements of participating in the tour activities; or b) who it determines to detract from others’ enjoyment of the tour.

Images Release: You agree that RLJ may use, re-use and reproduce any images, photos or videos that you send to us, or that are taken by our guides and/or other travelers of you individually or in a group, in any medium, including but not limited to print, electronic media, or Internet, free of charge and without your right to inspection, for promoting and publicizing our travel products and services worldwide. If you do not want us to use any images of you that are taken by us or other participants during the tour, you must inform us or your tour leader in writing at the start of the tour.

Limitation of Remedies: You agree that the sole remedy for any default by RLJ arising under this agreement shall be the return of the paid tour cost. To the maximum extent permitted under applicable law, RLJ shall not be liable for any special, consequential, indirect, incidental or other damages arising out of or in any way connected to this agreement, including lost profits, whether such damages arise in contract, negligence, tort, under statute, in equity, at law, or otherwise, even if RLJ has been advised of the possibility of such damages. You expressly waive any right you may have to recover such damages.

Severability: If any provision of this agreement shall be unenforceable or invalid under any applicable law, such unenforceability or invalidity shall not render the agreement unenforceable or invalid as a whole. Such unenforceable provision will be replaced with one that is valid and enforceable and which achieves, to the extent possible, the original objectives and intent of the original provision.

Successors and Assigns: This agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon RLJ and the Participant and their respective heirs, legal personal representatives, successors and assigns.

Updating of Terms and Conditions: RLJ reserves the right to update and/or alter these terms and conditions at any time. It is your responsibility to be familiar with these terms and conditions. The latest terms and conditions can be found on the RLJ website, www.redlanternjourneys.com.

Applicable Law and Choice of Forum: Any dispute arising out of this agreement, including all tort claims – whether such dispute arises in contract or in tort or otherwise – shall be resolved exclusively by the state and federal courts located in Seattle, King County, WA. The laws of the State of Washington, USA, govern this agreement.

Merger: This Agreement is the final, complete and exclusive statement of the parties’ agreement on the matters contained in this agreement. It supersedes all previous negotiations and agreements.

Date of last update: 23 January 2021