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Cancellation Policy

Two mountaineers navigating a glacier on a Gasherbrum II Expedition

DOMESTIC CANCELLATION POLICY

WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU PURCHASE TRIP INSURANCE TO PROTECT YOUR ACTIVITY PURCHASE AGAINST UNFORESEEABLE CIRCUMSTANCES.

We recommend Spot as a provider of trip insurance. Spot is a 3rd party provider and is not affiliated with Alpenglow Expeditions – please refer to the Spot website or contact Spot directly for all terms and conditions.

When you book a course with Alpenglow Expeditions, you are agreeing to our cancellation policy. Understand that if your travel does not go according to plan in any way or for any reason, we are unable to provide credits or refunds outside of what is described below. Our policy was carefully crafted with respect for our clients, our administrative staff, and our guides.

1. If you cancel for any reason prior to 30 days before the course start, you may rebook a later date for 100% credit, subject to availability, or receive a refund minus a 5% cancellation fee. If you cancel between 14 and 30 days prior to the course start, you may reschedule subject to availability. Between 14 and 30 days there are no refunds. If you cancel inside of 14 days from the course start, there are no reschedules or refunds available. This includes, but is not limited to:

– Injury/illness

– Weather, mountain and travel conditions (please see #4 below)

– Personal scheduling changes

2. We reserve the right to cancel any course at any time. Reasons for cancellation might include (but are not limited to) natural disasters or inadequate enrollment. Due to the wildly variable nature of mountain weather and other factors that might result in a cancellation, there is no set timeline for this decision.

– If we cancel your course prior to its start due to natural disasters, hazardous weather conditions or other reasons of that nature, you may reschedule to a later date or receive a credit that never expires.

– If we cancel a course midway through due to unforeseen circumstances or weather conditions, we can offer partial credits for the course depending on how much time was spent with the instructor or guide on the given date.

– If we cancel a course prior to its start for low enrollment, there are a few options:

A). You may reschedule for a later date or receive a credit.

B). You may pay a “guaranteed greenlight” rate, which allows the course to run for a significant discount off the private rate. The Alpenglow office will work with you on the specifics here, as it is different for every course.

C). You may receive a full refund.

– Changes to a trip itinerary made by our guides (including a change of mountain to be climbed, location change for climbing or skiing, route changes or summit attempt aborted) for any reason do not constitute a cancellation, and no refunds or credits will be made in this case

– If we cancel due to your late arrival for the Tahoe Via Ferrata, here are some guidelines:

We kindly ask that you and your group please show up on time for your Via Ferrata check-in. We cannot guarantee your trip if you are late due to the effect it has on all other groups and tours for the day. If you are late, your trip may be cancelled or shortened with no refund available.

– Open-Enrollment Reservations – if you are more than 15 minutes late, your trip will leave without you and you will not have the option to receive a credit or refund.
– Private Groups for a 2-hour tour – if you are more than 20 minutes late, your trip will be shortened or cancelled, and you will not have the option to receive a credit or refund.
– Private Groups for a 3-hour or 4-hour tour – if you are more than 30 minutes late, your trip will be shortened and you will not have the option to receive a credit or refund.

3. On any course, our guides reserve the right to remove any person, for any reason. These reasons generally stem from a person jeopardizing the safety of themselves or another team member. This includes a person who is not physically able to climb or ski/ride at the level necessary for the chosen objective. In all these cases, there are no refunds whatsoever, and the client is responsible for any additional costs incurred in leaving the course.

4. Climbing, skiing and other Alpenglow courses are based outdoors in a mountainous environment. Thus, challenging weather conditions are an inherent variable that are not possible to eliminate. Additionally, driving in the mountains can be difficult at times. Winter weather can have significant impact on driving times, with temporary road closures, chain control, traffic and slow driving conditions, poor visibility, cold temperatures and other issues, all possibly contributing to delays and challenging conditions. There is a certain amount of inherent risk involved with winter travel. We recommend that all participants take the time to prepare for unforeseen circumstances or delays. As these issues are a normal part of mountain travel, Alpenglow will not cancel courses due to challenging weather conditions.

 

INTERNATIONAL CANCELLATION POLICY

WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU PURCHASE TRIP INSURANCE TO PROTECT YOUR ACTIVITY  PURCHASE AGAINST UNFORESEEABLE CIRCUMSTANCES.

When you book a course or expedition with Alpenglow Expeditions you are agreeing to our cancellation policy. Please realize that if your travel does not go according to plan in any way and for any reason, we are unable to provide credits or refunds outside of what is described below. Our policy was carefully crafted with respect for our clients, our administrative staff, and our guides, and we strongly recommend that you purchase trip insurance to protect your investment. Most trip insurance companies have a time limit to purchase after you have booked your trip so be sure to research accordingly.

If you choose not to purchase trip cancellation insurance, you recognize you are self-insuring the trip cost and Alpenglow’s payment policies will be upheld.

1. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO CANCEL ANY TRIP AT ANY TIME. REASONS FOR CANCELLATION MIGHT INCLUDE (BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO) POLITICAL INSTABILITY, NATURAL DISASTERS, COVID-19, OR INADEQUATE ENROLLMENT.
– If we cancel a trip prior to its start for low enrollment, we will fully refund or credit your payments.

– If we cancel your trip prior to its start due to political instability, natural disasters, COVID-19, or other reasons not including low enrollment, we will credit all but non-recoverable costs to a future trip. While every situation is different, Alpenglow strives to keep these “non-recoverable costs” as low as possible. As an example, we were able to keep these non-recoverable costs to just 10% of trip cost when we were forced to cancel our Everest expedition in 2020 due to COVID-19, just 40 days before departure. In general, the non-recoverable portion of your payment increases the closer we get to the date of departure. By the departure date of your trip, most of our costs have already been incurred.

– If we cancel your trip after its start due to political instability, natural disasters, COVID-19, or other reasons, there are no refunds or credits. Trip Insurance is essential for these rare but possible situations.

– Changes to a trip itinerary made by our guides (including a change of mountain to be climbed, trekking route to be taken, or summit attempt aborted) for any reason do not constitute a cancellation, and no refunds or credits will be made in this case.

2. IN THE EVENT THAT YOU DECIDE TO CANCEL YOUR TRIP:

If you cancel your trip more than 120 days prior to departure, Alpenglow Expeditions will refund your payment minus the non-refundable deposit. At this point, the deposit becomes a credit. 119-90 days prior, Alpenglow Expeditions will refund your payment minus the deposit. At this point, the deposit becomes non-creditable. 60-89 days prior, Alpenglow Expeditions will refund 50% of your payment, minus the non-refundable deposit. Fewer than 60 days prior, there are no refunds or credits.

3. ON ANY TRIP, OUR GUIDES RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REMOVE ANY PERSON, FOR ANY REASON.
These reasons generally stem from a person jeopardizing the safety of themselves or another team member. This includes a person who is not physically able to climb at the level necessary for the chosen route. In all these cases, there are no refunds or credits whatsoever, and the client will be responsible for any additional costs incurred in leaving the trip.