Long Form Tours - Terms and Conditions
Deposit & Full Payment- Long form tours
Deposit is $A250/¥20,000 per person. All deposits are non-refundable. Final balance due: 60 days prior to departure.
Cancellation By You
More than 60 days prior to departure, full deposit forfeited. 60 to 30 days prior to departure, 50% of trip cost is forfeited. Less than 30 days 100% forfeited. We insist you take out travel insurance at time of sending your deposit.
Cancellation By Us
We reserve the right to cancel any tour prior to departure. You will not be entitled to make any further claim for compensation, damages, expenses, loss of time or inconvenience.
Travel Insurance Requirements
To ensure your safety and financial protection, we require all clients to purchase travel insurance that meets the following criteria:
Covers cancellation due to injury, illness, or weather
Includes backcountry skiing and/or snowboarding
Covers emergency rescue, medical extraction, medical expenses, and hospital transport
*Alpine Backcountry Guides does not provide compensation for rescue, emergency evacuations, medical treatment, or tour cancellations due to weather, injury or illness. Valid travel insurance is mandatory for all clients.
Group Size
Trips costs are based on optimum group sizes. If we don’t get the required number of people (4 for all trips), you will be notified as soon as possible and offered the choice of:
A full refund of the money you have paid.
A transfer to another date at no cost to you. c) Paying a surcharge of AUD$500.
Route & Itinerary Changes:
Due to various factors, such as weather group ability, gov’t legislation affecting routes and other unforeseen circumstances we reserve the right to alter itineraries if necessary. In most cases itinerary alterations will be advised prior to departure.
Airlines
This brochure is not issued on behalf of any airline, nor does it mean any particular airline will be involved in the tours.
Items Not Included
Please refer to specific trip descriptions for inclusions. Please note that emergency evacuation costs, visa/passport charges, extra meals, alcohol, all items of a personal nature or excess baggage charges are not included.
Itinerary & Trip Costs
Alpine Backcountry Guides reserves the right to make any changes to trip dates, itineraries and costs without notice. Tour details are based on costs at 25th July 2024.
Day Tours - Terms and Conditions
Payment
Full payment is required at the time of booking. Your spot is not confirmed until payment has been received in full.
Cancellation By You
All day tour payments are non-refundable once booked. We understand that plans can change, but because we hold your place and turn away other bookings for that date, we are unable to offer refunds for client cancellations.
Refunds outside of this policy may be considered at Alpine Backcountry Guides' discretion in exceptional circumstances, but this is not guaranteed and should not be relied upon.
If you are unable to attend due to injury or illness, please refer to your travel insurance. This is why valid travel insurance meeting our requirements (see Travel Insurance Requirements below) is mandatory for all clients.
Cancellation By Us
If we cancel your day tour due to weather, avalanche danger, or other conditions we consider unsafe, we will first attempt to reschedule you to another available date. If no suitable date is available, or if you are unable to attend a rescheduled date, you will receive a refund of the amount paid, less any non-refundable transaction, payment processing, or currency conversion fees incurred by Alpine Backcountry Guides in issuing that refund.
Late Arrival & No-Shows
Please note that if you arrive late or fail to arrive for your scheduled day tour, this is treated as a cancellation by you under the terms above, and no refund will be given.
Travel Insurance Requirements
To ensure your safety and financial protection, we require all clients to purchase travel insurance that meets the following criteria:
Covers cancellation due to injury, illness, or weather
Includes backcountry skiing and/or snowboarding
Covers emergency rescue, medical extraction, medical expenses, and hospital transport
Alpine Backcountry Guides does not provide compensation for rescue, emergency evacuation, medical treatment, or cancellations due to weather, injury, or illness. Valid travel insurance is mandatory for all clients and is your responsibility, not ours.
Assumption of Risk & Release Agreement
Backcountry skiing and snowboarding are hazardous activities carrying inherent risks of injury or death, including but not limited to avalanche, terrain hazards, variable snow conditions, and delayed rescue due to remote location. These Tour Conditions govern your booking, but do not themselves release Alpine Backcountry Guides from liability for these risks. Before participating in any day tour, all clients are required to read and sign our separate Guided Day Tour — Assumption of Risk & Release Agreement, which sets out these risks in full and the terms on which you agree to accept them. Failure to sign this agreement will result in you being unable to join the tour, and no refund will be given in this case.
Group Size
Alpine Backcountry Guides operates on a maximum guide-to-client ratio of 1:5. If your group size is 5 or fewer, one guide and vehicle will be provided. If your group size exceeds 5, an additional guide and vehicle will be provided, and a full additional day tour rate will apply.
Route & Itinerary Changes
Due to weather, group ability, government regulations affecting routes, and other unforeseen circumstances, we reserve the right to alter the itinerary of your day tour if necessary, including the specific route, terrain, or location. Where possible, we will advise you of any changes prior to departure.
What's Included
Your day tour payment includes:
Professional guiding
Transport to and from your lodging in Furano.
What's Not Included
The following are not included and are the client's responsibility unless stated otherwise in the specific tour description:
Lift pass or backcountry access/gate fees
Avalanche safety equipment (transceiver, shovel, probe)
Travel insurance (mandatory — see Travel Insurance Requirements)
Backcountry skis, splitboard, snowshoes, or other rental equipment
Lunch, snacks, and drinks
Emergency evacuation, rescue, and medical costs
Alcohol and items of a personal nature
Mandatory Avalanche Safety Equipment
Every client is required to carry a functioning avalanche transceiver, shovel, and probe on all day tours. Clients without this equipment will not be permitted to join the tour, and no refund will be given in this case.
If you don't own your own equipment, rental is available. Clients booking a guided tour receive a 10% discount on avalanche safety equipment rental. Please arrange rental in advance of your tour date — availability cannot be guaranteed on the day.
Clients are responsible for the care of any rental equipment supplied by Alpine Backcountry Guides and will be charged for the repair or replacement of any lost or damaged items.
Minors & Age Requirements
We do not set a fixed minimum age for backcountry day tours. Suitability for participants under 18 is assessed on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the tour, terrain, and the individual's ability. Any participant under 18 must have a parent or legal guardian sign their Assumption of Risk & Release of Liability waiver.
Booking Form & Medical Information
Each client is required to complete a booking form, which includes disclosure of any relevant medical conditions. You must answer these questions honestly and completely. Alpine Backcountry Guides relies on this information to assess suitability for backcountry travel and to respond appropriately in the event of an emergency.