By using our booking software or submitting a booking form, you agree to these legally binding Terms and Conditions.
1. Safety, Risk, and Your Responsibility
Waiver: You must sign a liability waiver during booking and a second disclosure document upon arrival.
Briefings: Your guide will provide safety briefings before and during the activity. You must follow their instructions at all times.
Honesty and Fitness: When booking, you must provide an honest account of your fitness, health, and experience.
Private Trips: If you do not meet the required fitness/skill levels, we will arrange alternate objectives. No refunds are given for changes due to fitness.
Group Trips: If your ability level compromises the group's safety or the trip’s progress, the guide may require you to remain at a safe location (e.g., a hut).
Evacuation: If an early exit is required due to fitness or ability, any evacuation costs are your responsibility.
2. Payment Terms
Deposit: In most cases, a 25% non-refundable deposit is required to confirm your booking.
Balance: The remaining balance is due 60 days before your trip starts.
Late Bookings: If booking within 60 days of the start date, the full amount is due immediately.
3. Cancellation and Refund Policy
Rescheduling: Any request to reschedule within 60 days of your trip is considered a cancellation of the original booking. If we can fill your guide's schedule, we will try to accommodate you, but this is not guaranteed.
Credit: If you reschedule 60+ days in advance, we will hold your deposit as a credit for 12 months.
Packages: For "bundles" (e.g., two courses), each trip is treated as a stand-alone booking for cancellation purposes
4. Weather and Itinerary Changes
The "Mountain Factor"
We cannot control the weather. The period of time booked is the period that must be paid for.
No Refunds are given for trips reduced in length or modified due to weather, or for abandoning a trip for medical/fitness reasons.
Unused Costs: If a trip is significantly modified, we will refund any specific costs not incurred (e.g., unused aircraft flights or hut fees).
Unexpected Delays: If weather or safety concerns prevent us from leaving the mountains as planned, a standby rate of 75% of the guide fee may apply for the extra time. Please note that Alpine Guides is not responsible for any additional costs outside of the trip (such as rescheduled flights or hotel stays) resulting from these delays. We strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance to cover such contingencies.
Credit: Severe weather credits may be issued solely at Alpine Guides’ discretion. Courses may be shortened or cancelled to meet the minimum requirements as described in the trip description.
Prices: Some costs are out of our control. We reserve the right to adjust prices without notice.
Special conditions: Some trips have specific additional conditions (for example, Aoraki Mount Cook).
5. Insurance
We strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance. Your insurance policy should cover:
1- Cancellation fees and lost deposits.
2- Travel disruptions.
6. General Conditions
Child Policy: Our mountain trips are not designed for people under 18. We do not accept bookings for people under 16 (except by special arrangement). Minors (16-17) must be accompanied by a parent/guardian (max 2 minors per guardian).
Guide Requests: We try to honour requests for specific guides, but cannot guarantee them. A change in guide is not grounds for cancellation.
Minimum Numbers: Scheduled courses require a minimum number of participants. If these are not met, the course may be shortened.
Transport: Local road transport in the Aoraki Mount Cook area is included. Extensive transport or aircraft access details are specified in the individual trip information.
