Terms and Conditions

(henceforth referred to as BLT)

RESERVATIONS & PAYMENT: A $500 per person non-refundable deposit is required to reserve your space. Deposit must be received by BLT at least 90 days prior to departure. Receipt of your deposit indicates that you are in agreement with these Terms and Conditions. If you do not agree to these Terms and Conditions do not return a non-refundable deposit. Payment in full must be received by BLT 60 days prior to departure. For reservations made within 60 days of departure, payment in full is required at the time of reservation.

FORM OF PAYMENT: We accept checks only: personal, business or cashier. If a payment is returned due to non-sufficient funds (NSF), a $35 fee per occurrence will be assessed. The fee(s) will be added to the applicable tour balance, and must be paid in full prior to tour departure.

CANCELLATION & CANCELLATION FEES: All cancellations must be advised in writing to BLT by fax or mail. Your cancellation will take effect on the day BLT receives your written cancellation. All payments are non-refundable and will be forfeited if you cancel your tour reservation. If you do cancel your tour, you may be eligible for some portion of refund due to qualifying medical or family emergencies as outlined in the Group Travel Assurance Plan.

PRICES: Tour prices are subject to change without notice due to the unpredictability of currency rates and trip costs. Your tour price is guaranteed on the day BLT receives your deposit.

REFUNDS FOR UNUSED SERVICES: No refunds will be made for unused services once the tour has started.

PASSPORTS & VISAS: A valid passport is required for travel outside the United States and should be valid for at least six months after your return date. All travelers are responsible to contact the consulate of the country and/or countries they are traveling to for entry requirements and necessary documentation, such as visas.

Holders of passports from any country other than the USA or Canada must check the visa requirements prior to departure. You are responsible for obtaining all necessary documents prior to participating in our tours, and failure to do so will result in the forfeiture of all tour payments if you are unable to join the tour.

HEALTH REQUIREMENTS: Our tours contain a considerable amount of walking each day, with a few more strenuous excursions, including lots of steps and uneven surfaces.

TOUR MEMBERSHIP: To ensure congenial membership, BLT reserves the right to accept or reject any person as a tour participant and to expel from the tour any participant whose conduct is deemed incompatible with the interests of the group.

TOUR CHANGES: BLT makes every effort to adhere to their itineraries, but traveling can be unpredictable. Itineraries are subject to change without notice and unused portions will not be refunded.

All tours may be affected by alterations or delays in surface transportation services of the various countries. BLT reserves the right to withdraw any program and may, but is not obligated to, make such alterations in the itineraries as may be found desirable for the convenience of guests or the proper operations of the tour. If the services included in the tour cannot be supplied or there are changes in an itinerary or accommodation for any reason, BLT will arrange for the provision of comparable services, when possible. BLT reserves the right to cancel, advance or postpone any program at any time, and shall not be liable for any loss whatsoever to participants by reason of any such cancellation, advancement or postponement. In the event of cancellation by BLT, the participants’ only right of recourse shall be to a refund of monies paid to BLT in connection with the tour.

HOTEL ACCOMMODATION: Prices per person are based on two persons sharing a twin-bedded room with a private bath or shower.

BAGGAGE: Due to the limited size of our coach for ground transportation, you may bring one bag, preferably wheeled, and one small carry-on size bag. Generally you should not pack more than you are able to handle yourself as porters are not always available or an included service.

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: You will receive your travel documents 21 days prior to departure. It is your responsibility to check the accuracy of your documents. You are responsible to ensure that your first and last name provided to us at the time of booking are exactly as they appear on your valid passport.

REVISION FEE: A handling fee of $30 per transaction will be charged for any alterations or revisions to travel documents. Courier delivery costs will apply if any changes are necessary within 21 days prior to tour departure.

NOT INCLUDED: Airfares, passport and visa fees, laundry, phone calls, beverages, meals not detailed in the itinerary, items of a personal nature, optional excursions. The tour also does not cover costs and expenses, including the return to your home, if you leave the tour at your own volition, or due to illness, or as a consequence of official action by the government of any country visited.

SAFETY: Travel, by its very nature, involves some risk. While you are on tour with BLT, certain risks and dangers may arise beyond our control including, but not limited to, the hazards of traveling in undeveloped areas; travel by boat, train, automobile, aircraft or other means of transportation; the forces of nature; political unrest; and accident or illness in remote regions without means of rapid evacuation or medical facilities. BLT will not have liability regarding provision of medical care or the adequacy of any care that may be rendered.

RESPONSIBILITY: BLT is responsible to you for making arrangements for tour services offered in this brochure including hotel accommodations, sightseeing and transportation.

BLT is not responsible for acts or omissions of the Suppliers or their failure to provide services or to adhere to their own schedules. BLT assumes no responsibility for, and shall not be liable for, any refund, personal injury, property damage (including damaged baggage), or other loss (including lost baggage), accident, delay, inconvenience, or irregularity which may be caused by: (1) any defaults, wrongful or negligent acts, or omissions of the Suppliers; (2) any defect in or failure of any vehicle, craft, equipment, or instrumentality owned, operated, or otherwise used or provided by the Suppliers; (3) any force majeure, including but not limited to, acts of God, war or terrorism; or (4) any wrongful or negligent acts or omissions on the part of any other party not under the control of BLT.

Every effort is made to ensure brochure accuracy at the time of going to press. BLT is not responsible for omissions, printing and/or typographical errors in brochures, on Internet sites, correspondence or invoices or in any other media where such information may be presented. We reserve the right to make corrections as required.

DISPUTES: This agreement and any dispute arising there from shall be determined with the laws of the State of Washington without consideration of conflict of law principles. All disputes shall be arbitrated by Washington Arbitration and Mediation Service in Seattle, WA. Arbitration awards may be filed in the appropriate courts of the state of either party and shall be fully enforceable as a judgment of that court. In any matter litigated, jurisdiction and venue shall only be proper in the state or federal courts of the State of Washington. The prevailing party in any dispute shall be entitled to award of their reasonable attorneys’ fees and all costs, including the costs of expert witnesses. If any provision of this Agreement is held by an arbitrator or a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall nevertheless continue in full force without being impaired or invalidated in any way.