PRIVACY POLICY

At Highway to Himalayas, we understand that how we collect, use, disclose and protect your information is important to you. Any data collected during the course of this booking through our website will be stored on our data system and only use after permission for right person authority. With permission, we may from time to time contact you about promotions and offers. And it clearly stands that it will not share any details with any third parties nor any organization. This Privacy Policy sets out the types of personal information we receive and collect when you use our services, how we collect it, and what we do with it, as well as some of the steps we take to safeguard information. 

This Privacy Policy may be updated from time to time in case of necessity. You are truly responsible for reviewing this Privacy Policy periodically and informing yourself of any changes to this Privacy Policy. References to ‘Highway to Himalayas, ‘we’, ‘our’ and ‘us’ means Highway to Himalayas Private Limited and its Nepalese related entities. These related entities are www.highwaytohimalayas.com as well.

YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION

In order to process your booking, we need to collect certain personal details from your end. These details will usually include the complete names and addresses of party members, credit/debit or other any payment mode details and special requirements such as those relating to any disability or medical condition that may affect the holiday arrangements. Therefore, we take full responsibility for ensuring that proper security measures are in place to protect your information.

We must pass some information on to the relevant providers/suppliers of your travel arrangements (airlines, hotels, transport companies etc.). The information may also be provided to security or credit checking companies, public authorities such as customs/immigration if required by them, or as required by law.

INFORMATION WE COLLECT ABOUT YOU

Depending on the circumstances and conditions, in the course of providing a service to you, the H2H, Highway to Himalayas, or either the both the companies may collect and hold personal information such as: your name, date of birth, gender, postal mailing address, telephone number, email address, passport details, medical information and travel insurance details (where applicable); details of the services you have purchased from us, any additional information relating to you that you or a third party has provided to us directly or indirectly through our travelers’ or agents’, or website will be secure under our system. Information that we collect (such as about your health or religion) may be considered “sensitive information” under the Privacy Act, and this will not be disclosed to any parties until seeking by any authority.

When you are traveling with us or using our services, we may take video and images of you that may be used in the leaflet, brochures, in our any mode of advertising or on our website. All participants of Highway to Himalayas trips authorize us to use his/her image (such as a photograph, videos, filming or recorded voice). If you do not wish for this to happen, please notify us in writing using the contact details.

WHO DO WE DISCLOSE YOUR INFORMATION TO?

We may disclose your personal information as follows: 

• We may share your personal information inside the Highway to Himalayas Group and its subsidiary companies and to our related overseas entities or representatives for the purposes of providing products or services to you, research and marketing purposes.

• We may disclose your personal information to our employees, contractors or third party service providers located in Nepal or overseas for the purposes of the operation of our website or our business, fulfilling requests by you, managing your bookings, responding to your enquiries and to otherwise provide products and services to you, including, without limitation, to airlines, tour companies, travel agencies, payment processors, data entry service providers, business advisors and consultants.

• We may share entirety non-personal information with third parties, such as our travel industry partners to analyses trends and further improve our service to you.
  
•  In order for you to travel abroad, we may disclose your personal information where disclosure is required by government authorities at the point(s) of departure and/or destination to process your information for immigration, border control, security, and anti-terrorism purposes.
  

CREDIT CARD SECURITY

All online payments are transmitted over a secure connection. Credit card information is transmitted to a payment gateway solution. We do not store your credit card number in any of our systems, it is used only within the context of the transaction then destroyed upon receipt from an acquiring bank. 

LIABILITY

We do not accept any liability for any damage, loss or injury to any member of your party or lost on any valuable documents or possessions unless proven to be caused by a negligent act by ourselves or our employees or contractors whilst acting in the course of traveling. And, we are not able to provide any compensation on the condition of force majeure.

If you are prevented from traveling on the tour by genuine circumstances, for example (without restriction) because of death, injury or serious illness of the passenger, close relative or friend, redundancy or jury service, you may postpone or transfer your booking to another person, provided they meet all the requirements relating to that tour/services. You must provide proof of why you are unable to travel at the time you change your booking.

PAYMENT DETAILS

We always make payment procedures, as easy as we can do to our customers. While booking your trip with us we need a copy of your valid passport with 30% down payment of the total amount in advance. For the reservation or advance book, you can deposit in our company bank account or you can send us an email with your credit card details. The balance of your payment is payable after your travel on the last day of your stay or very first of the journey as per the customer wish. Payment can be made by bank transfer (SWIFT), cash, western union, credit or debit card, or cheque supported by a cheque guarantee card or any methods of transfer according to your convenient. For more booking terms and condition, please refer to our terms and condition page.  

BOOKING TERMS & CONDITIONS

Thank you for choosing to book with Highway to Himalayas. We look forward to welcoming you to our country. By making this booking you are entering an agreement with us. Please read our terms and conditions of booking below.

These Terms and Conditions contain important information. It is essential that you read them carefully and understand them. The Booking Terms and Conditions constitute a legally binding contract between Highway to Himalayas and you for the services provided by us and set out the basis of your legal relationship.

Please note, these terms and conditions are applied when you directly book with us. If you are booking through a third party, then their terms and conditions will be applied, not ours. Hence, kindly take the time to read and understand the conditions of booking set out carefully below prior to booking a trip with us. By making your booking, our agreement is a legal contract and your deposit is non-refundable under any circumstances. We would recommend that you take out cancellation insurance to cover this cost.

In Nepal, the costs of tour package have been changing since last time practices and it will go further.  Our cost involves, domestic airfares, accommodation cost, meals, local transportation, sightseeing entry fees, conservation fees, visa fee, etc. which does not stay constant. Therefore, it is hard to make an accurate coat on our website otherwise; we have to change all the time which is a lot of time-consuming. So here are terms and conditions. So, we strongly recommend that you also read the Essential Trip Information relating to your trip prior to booking to ensure that you understand the itinerary, style and physical demands of the trip you are undertaking. And finally, the business deal should be made only with the authorized personnel inside the company.

OUR CONTRACT 

All bookings are made with Highway to Himalayas Pvt. Limited.  By booking a trip with us you are deemed to have agreed to these Booking Conditions (which constitutes the entire agreement between you and us) and your booking will be accepted by us on this basis. The services to be provided are those referred to in your booking confirmation invoice as per the package and its itinerary plans.

VALIDITY

Dates and itineraries are valid for the 1 year from booking dates. After 1 year period and itineraries are indicative only.

PAYMENT DETAILS / REQUIREMENT 

We always make payment procedures, as easy as we can do to our customers. While booking your trip with us we need a copy of your valid passport with 30% down payment of the total amount in advance or you are required to pay a non-refundable deposit of USD 100 per person per trip for your booking to be confirmed. If your booking is made within 45 days of the departure date then the full amount is payable at the time of booking.  Please note that different deposits amounts are required for selected trips.  

For the reservation or advance book, you can deposit in our company bank account or you can send us an email with your credit card details. The balance of your payment is payable after your travel on the last day of your stay or before the trip starts at our office.  Payment can be made by bank transfer (SWIFT), cash, western union, credit or debit card, or cheque supported by a cheque guarantee card or any methods of transfer according to your convenient.

ACCEPTANCE OF BOOKING AND FINAL PAYMENTS   

If we accept your booking we will issue a confirmation letter i.e all booking is confirmed either by email or letter.  A contract will exist between us from the date we issue the confirmation letter or if you book within 7 days of departure the contract will exist when we accept your payment.  Please refer to your booking confirmation letter for details regarding final payments. If the mentions term it not obliged then, we reserve the right to treat your booking as canceled.

PRICES & SURCHARGES 

Our trips prices are subject to variable and seasonal (pick and off) pricing, both of which are standard practice within the travel industry of each country. This means our trip prices may vary at any time in accordance with various external factors i.e. demand, market conditions and availability without prior notice, instance charges in the exchange rate, government action etc. and we reserve the right to revise pricing rate posted at our website. It is likely that different passengers/traveler’s on the same trip have been charged different prices. Your best option if you like the price you see is to book at that time.

Once you have received a quote the price will be locked in provided you pay the required deposit prior to the quote’s expiry. Any reduced pricing or discounts that may become available after you have paid your deposit will not apply. If you wish to cancel your booking to take advantage of a cheaper price, full cancellation conditions apply. The most up to date pricing are available on our website. Prices are based on currency exchange rates as maintained by Central Bank of each country; note that prices may vary depending on which currency the booking is made.

YOUR DETAILS  

In order for us to confirm your travel arrangements and booking you must provide all requested details with the balance of the trip price. Necessary details vary by trip; they include but are not limited to full name as per passport, date of birth, nationality, passport number, passport issue, and expiry date and any pre-existing medical conditions you have which may affect your ability to complete your travel arrangements. On some more demanding trips, we also require you to complete and forward a Self-Assessment form.  Failure to provide requested details may result in additional charges or non-refundable cancellation of your trip.  More about privacy kindly proceed to our policy section on the same website.

PROVISIONS FOR BOOKING CONFIRMATIONS

The following provisions for reservations have been made:

·         30% deposit required for booking of the total price for the services.

·         Final payment to be paid after arrival in our office i.e. before the trip starts.

·         The business deal should be made only with the authorized personnel.

·         All bookings are confirmed by email or by letter.

·         We accept your last minute booking with 100% payment within the country.

·         We reserve the right to revise pricing rate posted at our website, under any circumstances, or on the pressure of various external factors i.e. instance charges in the exchange rate, government action, etc.

·         Should you require other changes to your original tour, the person that booked the tour must submit a written document with the changes required? While every effort will be made, changes cannot be guaranteed.

·         If you are prevented from traveling on the tour by genuine circumstances, for example (without restriction) because of death, injury or serious illness of the passenger, close relative or friend, redundancy or jury service, you may postpone or transfer your booking to another person, provided they meet all the requirements relating to that tour. You must provide proof of why you are unable to travel at the time you change your booking. A fee of USD 100 per person is required if you postpone or transfer this tour no less than 10 days prior to trip departure. There will be no options available 10 days before trip departure.

CANCELLATION BY THE TRAVELER  

If you cancel some or all portions of your booking cancellation fees will apply.  A cancellation will only be effective when we receive written confirmation of the cancellation. The following provisions for reservations have been made if you cancel a trip:

·         Cancellation notice is required, minimum of 15 days prior to trip departure and must be made in written form, such notice commences from the day your cancellation note is received. 

·         15 days prior to trip departure, we will retain the deposit or 50% of the total booking cost; whichever is greater, and

·         5 days or less prior to departure, we will retain 100% paid by you in connection with the booking or 30% advance amount paid for the trip.

·         Cancellation shall be valid with approval from the company after receiving documentation. The Trip shall then be termed as canceled and the cancellation charge of 30% of the trip amount would be deducted from the advance paid which is not refundable.

·         No refund will be made after your trip starting days.

·         There will be no refund to clients that provide less than 5 days’ notice, before trip departure and if a passenger leaves a trip for any reason whatsoever, either voluntarily, involuntarily or if you commit any unlawful act after the trip has commenced. We will make no refunds for any meals, accommodation or services not used.

·         You are strongly advised to take out cancellation insurance at the time of booking which will cover cancellation fees.  If you leave a trip for any reason after it has commenced we are not obliged to make any refunds for unused services.  If you fail to join a tour, join it after departure, or leave it prior to its completion, no refund will be made. The above cancellation fees are in addition to fees which may be levied by accommodation providers, travel agents or third party tour and transport operator fees.

CANCELLATION BY US

We may cancel a trip at any time up to 45 days before departure, subject to clause below.  We may cancel a trip at any time prior to departure if, due to terrorism, natural disasters, political instability or other external events it is not viable for us to operate the planned itinerary. If we cancel your trip, you can transfer amounts paid to an alternate departure date.  In circumstances where the cancellation is due to external events outside our reasonable control refunds will be less any unrecoverable costs.  We are not responsible for any incidental expenses that you may have incurred as a result of your booking including but not limited to visas, vaccinations, and travel insurance excess or non-refundable flights. 

CANCELLATION AND INSURANCE

By making your booking, our agreement is a legal contract and your deposit is non-refundable under any circumstances. We would recommend that you take out cancellation insurance to cover this cost.

If you need to cancel please contact us immediately. 

For cancellations made up to 15 days before your booked stay, you will not be liable for the total balance.  For cancellations made after this time, or by failing to take up the booking without canceling, you are still liable to pay for the booking in full, even if we have not yet received your balance. We will exercise this right at our discretion.

If you need to cancel your booking due to adverse weather conditions or exceptional family circumstances we are happy to transfer your booking to another date if at all possible, without loss of your original deposit.  Please contact us to discuss.

BOOKING AMENDMENTS 

If you wish to transfer from one trip to another or transfer your booking to a third party you must notify us at least 25 days prior to the proposed departure date.  Transfers to a third party are only permitted where the transferred meets all the requirements in relation to the trip, and transfers to another departure can only be made to a departure within the current validity period. 

Amendments to any other arrangements made in conjunction with your trip will incur a USD 100 administration fee per booking per change. This fee is in addition to any charges levied by hotels, ground operators or airlines.   No amendments are permitted to your booking within 7 days of departure.

INCLUSIONS  

The land price of your trip includes:

·         All accommodation as listed in the tour plan/packages

·         All transport listed in the tour /trekking packages

·         Sightseeing and meals as listed in the packages, and more about inclusions you can go through each package which you have the book. 

EXCLUSIONS  

The land price of your trip does not include:

·         International or internal flights unless specified

·         Airport transfers, taxes, and excess baggage charges unless specified

·         Meals other than those specified in the packages.

·         Visa and passport fees

·         Travel insurance

·         Optional activities and all personal expenses

SMALL GROUPS & COMBINATION TRIPS  

Our trips are guaranteed to depart once they have one fully paid traveler unless minimum group size specifically states otherwise. This means at times we can have groups with small numbers of travelers. Many of our trips are designed to fit with other departures to create a longer "combination" trip; this means that some of your group may have already been traveling together for some weeks when you commence your trip.  If you would like to know how many people are booked on your trip or any combination trip it is part of please ask prior to making your booking.

PASSPORT AND VISAS 

You must carry a valid passport and have obtained all of the appropriate visas, permits, and certificates for the countries which you will visit during your trip. Your passport must be valid for 6 months. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are in possession of the correct visas, permits, and certificates for your trip. We are not responsible if you are refused entry to a country because you lack the correct passport, visa or other travel documentation.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

Travel insurance is mandatory for all our travelers and should be taken out at the time of booking.  Your travel insurance must provide cover against personal accident, death, medical expenses, emergency transfer, repatriation, and evacuation. We also strongly recommend it covers cancellation, personal liability, and loss of luggage and personal effects. You must provide proof of your travel insurance on the first day of your trip; you will not be able to join the trip without it. 

CHANGE OF ITINERARY

While we endeavor to operate all trips as described we reserve the right to change the trip itinerary. Please refer to our website before departure for the most recent updates to your itinerary. 

AN AUTHORITY ON TOUR /TREKKING 

Our group trips are run by a group leader or either by tour/trekking guide. The decision of the group leader is final on all matters likely to affect the safety or well-being of any traveler or staff member participating in the trip. If you fail to comply with a decision made by a group leader or interfere with the well-being or mobility of the group, the group leader may direct you to leave the trip immediately, with no right of refund.  We may also elect not to carry you on any future trips booked. You must at all times comply with the laws, customs, foreign exchange and drug regulations of all countries visited, and you also agree to travel in accordance with our responsible travel guidelines. 

ACCEPTANCE OF RISK

You acknowledge that the nature of the trip is adventurous and participation involves a degree of personal risk. You will be visiting places where the political, cultural and geographical attributes present dangers and physical challenges greater than those present in our daily lives. We use information from government foreign departments and reports from our own contacts in assessing whether the itinerary should operate. However, it is also your own responsibility to acquaint yourself with all relevant travel information and the nature of your itinerary. You acknowledge that your decision to travel is made in light of consideration of this information and you accept that you are aware of the personal risks attendant upon such travel.

CLAIMS & COMPLAINTS

If you have a complaint about your trip please inform your group leader or our local representative at the time in order that they can attempt to rectify the matter. If satisfaction is not reached through these means then any further complaint should be put in writing to us within 30 days of the end of the tour.

LIABILITY

We do not accept any liability for any damage, loss or injury to any member of your party or lost on any valuable documents or possessions unless proven to be caused by a negligent act by ourselves or our employees or contractors whilst acting in the course of traveling. And, we are not able to provide any compensation on the condition of force majeure.

PRIVACY POLICY

Any personal information or data collected during the course of this booking will be stored on our computer(s).  With your permission, we may from time to time contact you about promotions and offers.  We will not share or disclose your details with any third party. Though, information may be disclosed to our agents, service providers or other suppliers to enable us to operate the Trip.  We will otherwise treat your details in accordance with our privacy policy (please go to our Privacy Policy Page). 

A warm welcome awaits you at Highway to Himalayas Pvt. Ltd

TRAVEL INFORMATION

CUSTOMS

All baggage must be declared and cleared through the customs on arrival at the entry point. Personal effects are permitted free entry. Passengers arriving at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) without any dutiable goods can proceed through the Green Channel for quick clearance without a baggage check. If you are carrying dutiable articles, you have to pass through the Red Channel for detailed customs clearance.

IMPORT

Apart from used personal belongings, visitors are allowed to bring to Nepal free of duty cigarettes (200) or cigars (50), distilled liquor (one bottle containing 1.15 liter), and film (15 rolls). Entering/Leaving, Visa, Customs/ Airport tax, Trekking permit, foreign currency and Credit cards. Tourist can also bring free of duty on condition that they take out with them when they leave i.e. binoculars, movie or video camera, still camera, laptop computer and portable music system.

EXPORT

The export of antiques requires special certification from the Department of Archeology, National Archive Building, Ram Shah Path, Kathmandu. It is illegal to export the objects which are 100 years old (sacred images, painting, manuscripts). Visitors are advised not to purchase such item as they are Nepal’s cultural heritages.

AIRPORT TAX

Nepalese people going to SAARC countries are required to pay Rs.700.00 and to all other international destination – Rs. 1100.00. Domestic airport tax is Rs. 200.00 and international tax is Rs. 700.00.  Tourism service fee of Rs. 565.00 is applicable in additional to the airport tax at the time of departure.

VISA INFORMATION

All foreigners, except Indians, must need a visa. Nepalese embassies and consulates overseas issue visas with no fuss. Visa can be obtained on spot when you arrive at the Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, at border entry points in Kakadvitta, Birgunj, Bhairahawa, Nepalgunj, Gaddachowki on Nepal-India border and Kodari on Nepal-China border. Visa can also be obtained at the nearest Nepal Embassy or Diplomatic Mission. Visa can also be obtained (renewal purposes) at Department of Immigration, Kalikasthan, Kathmandu. A valid passport and one passport -size photo with a light background is required. Immigration Department has not specified the size of the passport-size photo. Visa can be obtained only through payment of cash in the following currency: Euro, Swiss Franc, Pound Sterling, US Dollar, Australian Dollar, Canadian Dollar, Hong Kong Dollar, Singapore Dollar and Japanese Yen. Credit card, Indian currency and Nepali currency are not accepted as payment of visa fee.

Tourist Visa

Free visas are issued for tourist from SAARC countries.

A tourist must extend her/his visa before expiry of the visa validity period. A tourist without visa extension should go for prosecution as provided in immigration Act and rule.

A foreigner having tourist visa shall not be allowed to work with or without receiving remuneration.

A foreigner is not allowed to carry out any work other than that for which purpose s/he has obtained the visa. 

For more updated information, please visit the nearest Tourism Board of Nepal or visit the website: www.nepalimmigration.gov.np.