Please read these booking conditions carefully, they are an important part of your contract for your holiday.
These conditions of booking and information on the web site, set out the terms on which you contract with Thistle Trekking. They shall be governed by and construed in accordance with Scots law, being subject to the jurisdiction of the Scottish courts.
1 Booking & Payment
A deposit will be taken at the time of booking to reserve your place on the trip. The balance of the price must be paid 4 weeks before the start of the trip. This date will be detailed on your “Information Pack”.
If you book within the balance due period you must pay the full holiday price at the time of booking. If the balance is not paid in time we reserve the right to cancel your holiday, retain your deposit and apply cancellation charges as set in our paragraph 3.
2 Alteration to bookings
If after your booking has been confirmed you wish to transfer to a different walk or departure date, we will make every effort to satisfy your requirements provided that written notification is received from the person who made the no later than the date on which balance of the original holiday price is due for payment. These alterations may also incur a fee of up to £100. Do be aware it may not always be possible to make the changes you desire and in which case the original booking will remain unless you cancel it and cancellation charges will then apply as detailed in paragraph 3.
Alterations made after the balance due date will be regarded as a cancellation by you of the original holiday and a new booking for a different holiday, and the cancellation charges set out in paragraph 3 will apply.
If after your booking has been confirmed you are unavoidably prevented from proceeding and wish to transfer your confirmed booking to another suitable person, you can do so, provided that this is not later than the day on which the balance of your holiday is due. In instances where arrangements are already in place, this may not be possible without loss of deposit. You, as transferer of the holiday, and the transferee shall be jointly and severally liable to us for the payment of the balance due.
In all cases, you will be required to pay an administration fee of £20 per person.
3 If you cancel your booking
Should you, or any member of your party, be forced to cancel your holiday booking you must do so in writing and this letter must be signed by the person who made the booking. Alternatively, you may advise by e-mail. A cancellation will take effect from the date that written notice is received by Thistle Trekking. All such cancellations will be subject to a charge of a percentage of the total holiday price, and the following scale indicates the maximum which will be charged in any circumstance.
- More than 28 days – Deposit
- 28 days or less – 100%
4 Accommodation Reservations
Thistle Trekking books all accommodation on your behalf but acts only as your agent. Your contract is with the accommodation provider. We have lots of experience, a close relationship with our suppliers and constantly monitor their performance to ensure that they provide excellent service. However, the inclusion of an accommodation in our services does not constitute a recommendation. While every effort will be made to reserve the accommodation of your choice, Thistle Trekking reserves the right to book an alternative price band or location where necessary.
4B Rights of admission
Thistle Trekking reserve the unconditional right to refuse a booking or to debar a person from a trip in the event of conduct which in our reasonable opinion is likely to cause distress, damage or annoyance to guests, staff, property or to any third party. This includes any guest who fails to advise us of a medical condition or of a disability which prevents their full participation in a walking programme. If we are not informed in this way we cannot be held responsible for any inconvenience or costs incurred by you and this may include our refusal to complete your holiday arrangements. Cancellation charges of 100% would apply in these circumstances.
5 If we cancel your holiday
We make every endeavour to operate all of our holidays. If we have to cancel your holiday before the date of departure, you will have the choice of taking an alternative holiday (and where this is of a lower price we will refund the difference) or withdrawing from the contract and accepting a full refund of all monies paid. We shall not cancel a holiday or travel arrangements after the date when the payment of the balance becomes due, unless you, the guest, defaults in payment of an outstanding balance, unless it is necessary to do so as a result of force majeure or to insure the safety of the group due to external factors, including but not limited to public health concerns, military operations, hunting or tree felling.
6 Force Majeure
Thistle Trekking cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage resulting from war or terrorist activities, weather conditions, fire, flood, drought, airport closures, rescheduling of means of transport, or any other eventuality which may delay or extend the holiday
7 Parental responsibility
Parents or guardians undertake to accept full responsibility and supervision of and for their children at all times. A child is considered to be a person under the age of 18.
8 Complaints
In the unlikely event that you have a problem with Thistle Trekking’ you must notify our management, leader or the local provider immediately and they will do their best to resolve the problem. Should it not be possible to resolve your complaint there and then, you should write to our office. This must be received no later than 28 days after your holiday. Full details should be provided. No claim or complaint will be entertained unless you follow this procedure. All complaints that are received are thoroughly investigated and customers are kept informed. We aim to settle all complaints amicably. Should you have a problem with your accommodation it should be taken up immediately with the provider.
9 Personal Insurance
For your safety and convenience we strongly recommend that clients take out holiday insurance with cover for cancellation or curtailment, baggage loss, personal injury and third party liability
10 Luggage Transfer
Bags must weigh no more than 20 kilos. Excess items however small may incur an extra charge or not be moved, and overweight bags may not be moved.
11 Responsibility
Thistle Trekking does not accept responsibility for death, injury or illness of customers on any of our trip. All trips are undertaken at the client’s own risk. Bookings are accepted on the understanding that clients appreciate and accept the possible risks inherent in walking holidays and that they undertake the walk, trek or expeditions at their own volition, are physically fit and do not have any medical condition that may make physical activity dangerous for them.
12 Variations
We reserve the right to update these terms from time to time without notice to you. We recommend you regularly revisit this page to ensure you have seen and are aware of our latest terms.
13 Additional terms and conditions for all our guided walking holidays as detailed on our booking forms:
Section 1: Disclaimer
Long distance walking and mountain walking are both activities which come with possible risks. Your walking guide is an experienced and qualified mountain Leader who will do their best to minimums that risk. The mountain Leader qualification is awarded through the national governing body of climbing, hill walking and mountaineering throughout the UK called the MLTE, MLToS and IMTB. The qualification can only be given after an intense 5/6 day assessment covering all aspects of mountain walking including emergency situations, advanced navigation, expedition skills, river crossings and rope work. Your guide will also have a current and valid first aid qualification and a recent enhanced CRB check (criminal records bureau).
Each of our walks are then also individually risk assessed to highlight the increased areas of risks and hazards and we then detail measures put in place to reduce that risk. We also have procedures and policies which are carefully followed in case of any minor incident and great emergency. Despite all the above we cannot eliminate all risk in our long distance walking holidays or our mountain walking holidays and so we strongly recommend all individuals taking part have personal accident insurance to cover themselves in case of injury on any holiday with us.
Section 2: Changes to itinerary/Cancellations
All of our long distance walks and mountain walks are subject to changes and cancellations. This will be at the discretion of you guide who will be performing dynamic risks assessments through-out your holiday. Your trip maybe altered due to any reason, including the following:
Weather
If we experience any extreme weather such as high winds or snow or other, we may have to change or cancel part or the entire trip. This decision will be made by your guide during the trip.
Accident/Emergency
Should there be an accident or emergency within your group (including your guide or yourself) your trip may need to be changed/cancelled as appropriate.
External Influence
If the route of your trip succumbs to external influence which makes us unable to continue as normal, or we should feel it is not appropriate to continue as normal for example; tree felling, hunting, military operations, your trip may be changed or cancelled.
This is not an exclusive list and other factors may contribute to a change/cancellation in itinerary.
In the unlikely event that your trip should be changed or cancelled due to any of the above no refund will be given.
Section 3:
Your responsibility as a member of a led group and our responsibility to you
You will be given an itinerary and kit list before your trip. The items marks as essential are expected to be carried on every day of the walk by the client (yourself). It maybe that your guide wishes to check you have these items on you before you start any day of the walk however, should they not ask to see them you must still take them with you every day. It is your responsibility to ensure that you always carry these items.
This is a guided group walk; therefore groups are expected to stay as a group during the walk. The pace will be matched to the group’s ability with the slower members being able to fully participant each day. Should you decide to leave the group at any point this is against our personal group separation policy and in doing so you will be voluntarily leaving the guided walk until such time you are once again walking with the group. This includes walking off in front of the group or taking any alternative route to the guide and group. During anytime you choose to be away/leave the group you are no longer being guided as part of our holiday so any mistakes in navigations or accidents/incidents are of your own responsibility, not the responsibility of the guide/support car or Thistle Trekking.
Section 4: Timings/Punctually
Each evening you guide will arrange with you what time the group will be starting the walk/picked up from any accommodation for the next day. The guides will make every effort to start at the previously advise time, however, clients should be aware that a situation may arise which could delay the pre-arranged start time.
We ask that all participants also so their best to be ready for the arranged start as this is better for all involved should any clients be more than 45 minutes late for the start time the guide may choose to start the day without the belated clients. Those clients have then chosen to leave the group for the day and so their actions are their own responsibility (see section 3) until they re-join the group. The clients will be taken to the next destination by the support car or may be able to re-join the group part way through the day.
Section 5: Baggage
Your baggage will be treated with care while being transferred between accommodations. However, we cannot guarantee its safety while it is stored at the accommodation, or while unattended in the support vehicle. We recommend you get adequate insurance in case of loss or damage to any of your personal belongings during your trip. We also ask that you don’t keep breakable belongings in your main bag and that you leave anything of considerable value at home.
Section 6: Conditions of Booking
Please note our Conditions of Booking are displayed on our web site, or can be emailed/posted to you if you request us to. Please read these booking conditions carefully, they are an important part of your contract for your trip.