A Person designated by Company to help / guide / assist the guest/s in and or during India and / or World Tours Organized by Biosphere Holidays.

• Gender: The masculine gender shall also include feminine gender and vice versa, the singular shall include plural and vice versa and shall include grammatical variations if any.
• Each of these terms and conditions shall be severable and if any provision thereof is declared invalid, illegal or unenforceable, then remaining provisions nevertheless shall have full force & effect.

Liberty of activity:

• Company as an organization is co-ordinating with various independent service providers for conducting the tour. The company takes utmost precaution to ensure that the tour is comfortable. Also, Guests are updated from time to time through different media of communication in case of changes.
• Though we take maximum care, neither we have control on the mode of transport like shipping, Airline, railways, coaches, buses etc. nor on the hotels, restaurants or any other facilities.
• Thus as a company we shall not be responsible for any kind of damage to the person or to the property because of these independent vendors.

Guest’s interest to participate in the tour –

Payment of the registration amount indicates that the guest is interested in the tour and has read and accepted all the terms and conditions mentioned on the Biosphere Holidays brochure/website/booking form. In case of a guest who is processing the booking formalities on behalf of his/her family is deemed to have been authorized to do so by his family after reading all the Biosphere Holidays terms and conditions mentioned on the brochure/website/booking form

Health

When you book a tour, or when someone else books a tour for you, on your name, that means you are physically fit to travel to that destination. It is very important for you to take care of your health throughout the tour. Any health issue on tour or any stay back due to the same shall be borne by that respective guest only, the company shall not be held responsible in whatsoever manner.

Non-payment of full tour price before departure

The company reserves the right to cancel and forfeit the paid amount in case of non-payment of full tour cost 30 days prior to the departure date.

Registration amount

• The registration amount paid at the time of booking is non- refundable and interest free. Guests have to pay the full tour price as per the guidelines given in the brochure.
• In case of a cheque paid by the guest in favour of the company is dishonoured, a charge of Rs.250 per cheque must be paid.
• If a Guest books a tour just 30 days prior to the departure date, he/she should make a payment of the entire amount. Also, the amount should be paid by Online /Cheque in favour of Biosphere Holidays.
• Payments can be made online at www.biosphereholidays.com by Credit Card/Debit Card/Net Banking or by Cheque/Demand Draft favouring “Biosphere Holidays”. Biosphere Holidays
• reserves the right to cancel your booking without notice if the payment is not cleared by the given date.

Cost of the Tour

When the tour cost is quoted, the Foreign Exchange component is calculated as per the prevailing rate of that day. The company reserves the right to alter the cost of the tour before the departure; accordingly the guest will have to make the full payment before tour departure. Tour costs do not include government or other taxes raised by independent contractors like airlines, which are to be paid by the guest as per the actual.

Discounts for Tour

Guests can avail early booking discounts declared by the company, which are valid for a declared period only and are applicable for limited seats or for the particular dates as specified. The company reserves all rights to make changes in the discount policy at any point of time without assigning any reason.

Additional taxes by Airlines, Visa & Government

Airline is an independent vendor; the Company does not have any control on their operations; neither on the increase in air fare, fuel or any other taxes like YQ & YR etc. All such hikes have to be paid by the guest before the tour departure. Air Ticket Cancellation charges plus deposit forfeit

charges applicable under the rules of the concerned Airline are to be paid by the guest immediately in the event of cancellation of the tour.

Any Hike in visa fee/VFS fees or increase in government tax is not under the company’s control. Therefore, any such additional charges shall be paid by the guest.

Passport

For a guest traveling abroad, a passport is an official document and also an identity. A Visa is a must to enter any particular country.

The Passport should be valid for a minimum of 180 days from the date of arrival conclusion in India. Please cross check all your particulars including your name/ address/validity/expiry date and Blank pages for VISAs as per requirement. All travellers booking tours for the European sector should ensure that the Passport validity is for a maximum of 10 years. The passports are well maintained and should have sufficient blank pages (that are not damaged/stapled/torn) for recording stamping of visas of various countries. Handwritten passports are not allowed.

Visa (International tours)

Visa permits the guest to enter another country. For tourists, generally a short term visa is granted by the respective consulate. We are visa facilitators and generally assist guests for preparing Visa documents, submitting them & collecting the passports from the consulate. The Consulate may call the guest for personal interview even after all relevant documents have been submitted. The company is not responsible for any kind of error caused by the consulate. The decision to issue the Visa is at the sole discretion of the respective consulate; the company does not have a hold on the decision of the consulate and cannot object to it either. Just in case your visa is granted on the old passport and has validity kindly cross check whether you need to transfer the visa on the current passport.

Sometimes your Visa which is granted may have a longer validity than your passports in such a case please remember to carry your old passport along with your new passport.

Mandatory Documents required for the visa

Duly signed & filled VISA forms by each guest as per Passport signature & details. For Children, Thumb impression – If passport has thumb impression or signature along with Parent’s Signature – Male – Left Thumb & Female Right Thumb.

A Personal Covering letter stating purpose of the travel – Personal / Tour/ Employment etc. along with financial/ sponsorship details. (For Employed on Plain paper, Self Employed on Plain paper with Visiting Card, Business or Professionals on their letter head) Sometimes due to load factor at the embassies and consulates, the VISA processing takes longer time and in few cases VISA is not granted before tour departure or it is delayed. In such cases, Biosphere Holidays as a facilitator shall not be responsible for any consequences and/or liable for any refund, the guest shall have to bear all the cancellation and re-booking charges for the next tour.

Many countries are following the biometric system in a bid to ensure safer travel. For U.K & Schengen visas you will have to visit the VFS personally and in case of USA you will need to visit the VFS twice. Once for Biometric and then for a personal interview

Immigration

Though you are holding a valid a visa, it only gives you the permission to enter the respective countries immigration point. Granting or rejecting the permission to enter a country is solely dependent upon the discretion of the immigration authority only. Sometimes a guest may be deported/ interrogated/ and may be held back by the immigration authorities for a longer span than the usual time. In such a case if the guest misses out on the itinerary program the company is not liable.

• Insurance is included in all the international tours up to age of 59 years. The over and above difference to be paid by the respective guest. Usually overseas Medi claim Insurance covers hospitalization, medical emergencies and the loss of passport; hence, the company strongly recommends to FIT guests that they too buy the Insurance.
• In case of claims, the insurance company shall be solely responsible for granting or rejecting claims and we do not have any hold over it. It is at a sole discretion of the respective company we are only facilitator. Also, insurance does not cover pre-diagnosed ailments.

In case of foreign nationals, insurance will have to be obtained by the individuals on their own.

• In case an insurance is issued by a third party, and if any claims to the same arise, Biosphere Holidays is not responsible for any coordination with the Insurance Company

• The Company reserves the right to modify or alter the tour itinerary in case of force majeure conditions. Changes shall be informed to the guests at the earliest. Any additional charges, if applicable, are to be paid by the guest.
• Other than force majeure, for any other unavoidable circumstances, if the company curtails or cancels a certain day’s sightseeing, refund for the concerned portion of the sightseeing/tour shall be given to the guest. The Company will not be responsible for any kind of claims.
• The Company reserves the right to change (addition/deletion on exchange) sightseeing places for betterment of the tour programme.
• If sightseeing timings aren’t adhered to, or if an any add-ons are required then the same will be borne by the guests.
• Sightseeing days and closing of a particular sightseeing place are not in our hand, but we try our level best to cover all the sightseeing’s listed in the tour program. In case if any sightseeing is closed we may give you a replacement of that place or refund may be given for that particular sightseeing place only. Sightseeing’s of adventurous type are totally dependent on weather. In case, the weather turns out to be unfavorable & sightseeing is not possible, refund will be given.

Guest/s is responsible for their own baggage. The baggage at the airport, during any air travel, in coaches, in any train journey, at immigration point’s etc., guest/s have to verify and be responsible for the same. The porterage or the tips for services rendered to carry guest/s baggage to the rooms is guest/s responsibility and have to be paid directly to the service provider. The “porter” or any helper arranged by the guest/s at any train stations, airports, at immigration points or any other place, is the sole responsibility of the guest/s and guest/s shall have to pay tip directly to them.

Providing a complimentary addition is at the sole discretion of the management. Biosphere Holidays reserves all the rights to revoke/amend/stop/discontinue this service/ items, at any time without prior notice.

• Loss of Passport Guests traveling abroad should take care of his/her passport.
• Loss of the passport on tour involves costs and consequences such as filing FIR, visiting Indian Embassy, getting new passport or landing certificate, expenses on the stay, food, transportation etc. all of which have to be borne and paid by the concerned guests only. Getting the landing certificate or the new passport is the sole responsibility of the guest.
• The Tour Manager is not responsible or liable or under any obligation for the loss of passport and the consequences thereof. Entire consequential expenses shall be met by the guest(s).
• Any other guest accompanying the guest who has lost the passport wishes to terminate the tour intermittently, will have to meet the expenses etc. No refund will be given to the guest leaving the tour abruptly. The tour manager won’t stay back in any case.

Photo Identification

All guests are advised to carry the photo identification in the form of driving license, election ID card, PAN card and students must carry with them their school / college ID card. At certain sightseeing places, the Identification proof is mandatorily required and company has no control over it. The identification documents must be produced by the guests as per the rules and regulations prescribed at different locations. Also, please ensure that on tour you carry the same photo ID submitted in the office.

In case of documents being in maiden name, provide & carry those documents.

Documents required for foreign nationals

For all foreign nationals who wish to join our various tours (Indian/World) the Visa fee and the other required documents differ than the Indian nationals. Kindly cross check with our sales team. All guests must declare their NRI status prior to their booking. For NRI’s the rules and regulations differ than Indian nationals for certain countries. We advise you refer our website for further details.

Single Occupancy

Single guest provided with single occupancy/single bedded room have to pay single occupancy charges for the entire tour. Single rooms are comparatively smaller in size than the twin sharing rooms and may be located on a different floor or in corner side from the rooms of other group members.

Check-in and Check-out time

Guest have to abide by the check-in and check-out time of the respective hotels. For Indian tours, generally the check-in time is 12 noon and check-out time is 10 am. For World tours, generally the check-in time is 3 p.m. and check-out time is at 12 noon. If guest wants any change therein, like early check-in or late check-out, he/she will have to manage the same on his/her own with hotel authorities on payment of additional charges, if any. Any loss to hotel property knowingly or unknowingly will have to be borne by guest. Company shouldn’t be held responsible.

Room Sharing

Single person joining the tour may be given a sharing partner/s in twin or triple sharing basis & this is subject to availability of the room partner of the same gender. However, any misunderstandings or incidences like missing items or difference of opinion between each other will have to be settled between room partners themselves. The company is not responsible for any loss or mishap. If, for any reason, concerned partner cancels or alters the booking of the tour, then the other guest / partner has to bear entire room charges. No adjustments shall be made from the money contributed by guest / partner who has cancelled the tour. Shared rooms have ‘No Smoking’ policy. Cleanliness of the room and especially

the bathrooms is to be maintained under any circumstances. Any Religious thing one does shouldn’t be a botheration or force to other. Safety of money and valuables is own responsibility even one has to take care oneself and other person should not be forced to help or assist.

Biosphere Holidays or any of its independent contractors shall not be bound to serve non veg food items during en-route journey and/or en- route lunch halts for Indian/Domestic Sector.

While we endeavor to select the best quality restaurants for en-route lunch halts in terms of food, sanitation facilities, hygiene, and service. However the company has no direct control over their maintenance.

Guest/s shall take note that the Restaurant Manager allots the table for the group & same depends upon the group size and infrastructure of the restaurant

Meals:

There is mostly a pre-set menu for meals depending on the tour program. Packed meals are served at some places. The Company mostly serves Vegetarian food along with few Non-Veg items. Biosphere Holidays does not differentiate amongst the guest/s by providing a special meal or special diet.

In case of a baby meal, the Company generally provides tin milk, plain dal and rice, (we appreciate a prior intimation) Apart from that if any different diet is required, the said guest/s shall make their arrangements for the meal at their own costs and consequences.

In case if any Biosphere Holidays treat which is mentioned is not available, an alternate shall be given and no refund shall be applicable. No Complaints / Claims for refund in respect of the meals shall be entertained and Biosphere Holidays reserves the right to change the menu and arrangements of the meals without assigning any reasons therefor.

Tour Leaders/assistants/escorts are assisting to the guest/s throughout the tour; they are not responsible for guest/s baggage or any kind of personal belongings. The guest/s themselves should carry their baggage.

The instructions and information of the tour are to be followed in the group tours and tour leaders is not responsible for any instructions overruled by the guest/s and its consequences.

The liability of the Company is restricted only to make reservation in accordance with the guest’s requirements & no further. Company is not liable for any loss of person or property caused or damaged or suffered by the tourist on account of deficiency in services by any independent contractor.

Any gesture of courtesy extended by the Company to the tourist to minimize such loss or damage will not constitute an admission of such liability or a waiver. The Company shall in no circumstances whatsoever is liable to the tourist or any other person for any loss or expenses because:

• Taking care of the valuables is the sole responsibility of the guest; in fact we suggest and recommend you not to carry unnecessary valuables like gold, high end equipment’s on tour.
• Train/flight delays, on account of any reason due to rescheduling/cancellation of train/flights/inter-connection/meals’ not being served etc. is not in the control of the company.
• Any change due to force majeure including weather condition / strike / war / VIP movement and security, heavy rush at sightseeing places, road traffic congestion etc., are not in control of the company.
• Allocation of seats and food service in the aircraft because the airline reserves the right of allocation.
• Celebrity assigned for the tour as an entertainer not turning up on the tour due to the reasons beyond the control of the company.
• Any personal injury, sickness, accident, loss, delay, discomfort, consequential loss and/or damage or any damage to baggage or personal effects howsoever caused.
• Any injury, loss, personal harm, death or damage caused to any person or property by the act or default of the management/ employees / agents of any independent contractor.
• Any damages, additional expenses or any consequential losses suffered by the guest due to cancellation, amendment and / or alteration of any of the services of the tour mentioned in the itinerary / brochure by the Company after the registration / booking by the tourist. Each of these conditions shall be severable from the other, if any provision declaredinvalid, illegal or unenforceable, then remaining provisions nevertheless have full force & effect.

It shall be the sole responsibility of the guest/s to ensure that he/she possesses the required valid travel documents and statutory clearances, including passports, visas, confirmed travel tickets, insurance including medical insurance certificates, any other document used to confirm the services of tour including an arrangement with independent contractor and other statutory certificates, to enable him/her to undertake tour.

All travel documents are non-transferable and must be issued in the name of the passport/photo identity holder, otherwise the booking may be cancelled. The Passport must be valid from the start of the tour to at least 180 days subsequent to the scheduled arrival date of the tour – subject to rules of the specific visa embassy or consulate. The guest/s shall ensure timely collection of all such documents enabling them to undertake tour and be present in time for departure.

Guest/s should keep certified true copies and photocopies of all documents including valid travel documents and statutory clearances, including passports, visas, confirmed travel tickets, insurance including medical insurance certificates, any other document used to confirm the services of tour including an arrangement with independent contractor and other statutory certificates, used by him/her while on tour.

As you are traveling with a group on Biosphere Holidays vacations, all participants are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that is not disruptive to the group and in a manner that is appropriate for group travel.

For the benefit of everyone on the vacation, Biosphere Holidays reserves the right to accept or reject the booking of any vacation participant and to remove any vacation participant from participating in or being a part of one or more itineraries where his or her conduct is deemed inappropriate & incompatible with the interest of the other travellers.

Biosphere Holidays is not responsible for any losses, including missed sightseeing or having to make alternate travel arrangements, if you fail to meet the representatives of Biosphere Holidays at assigned timings and places/pick up points while on tour.

Biosphere Holidays will not refund nor cover any cost or expenses incurred for termination of vacation arrangements due to unacceptable behaviour or inability to maintain punctuality. The decision of behaviour being acceptable or unacceptable rests solely with Biosphere Holidays.

Please be aware that during your participation in vacations operated by Biosphere Holidays, 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; forces of nature; political unrest; acts of lawlessness or terrorism; and accident or illness in remote regions without means of rapid evacuation or medical facilities.

Biosphere Holidays will not have liability regarding provision of medical care or the adequacy of any care that may be rendered.

While Biosphere Holidays will use its best efforts to ensure that adequate measures are taken, by agreeing to participate in a vacation and/or optional excursions you agree that you will hold Biosphere Holidays harmless regarding any provision of medical care or the adequacy of any care rendered.

Biosphere Holidays is not responsible for such risks and dangers that may arise beyond our control. Payment of your deposit indicates you accept these risks and dangers and agree to hold Biosphere Holidays harmless for such.

• For Customized tour: Tour Manager will not accompany you, as per the itinerary our local agents will guide you in that case.
• Government rules for NRI (Non Resident Indian) Guest: All guest/s staying abroad including NRIs or foreigners should abide by all the laws, rules, and regulations of Government of India and / or the country concerned while undertaking the tour.
• Valuables: Biosphere Holidays advises guest/s not to carry valuable on tour. If valuable items are carried please not to keep them in your suitcase. It is always better keep them in safe deposit lockers. In case of any loss suffered by the guest/s Biosphere Holidays is not liable or responsible for the same.
• Shopping: Shopping is a major activity of any tour and an experience in itself. All guest/s are hereby made aware that Biosphere Holidays neither recommends nor promote any specific shop or vendor for shopping purpose. We understand that the guest/s is wise enough to decide themselves what to buy and where to buy. It is a sole discretion of the Guest. Hence, Biosphere Holidays does not take any responsibility or liability in case of any cheating or misguiding by the shop owner.
• External guest(s) not allowed: External guest/s cannot be invited on tour by any guest and they are not allowed to use any of the services of the tour.
• Paid Toilets: At some places/destinations/country, there are paid toilets halts, which guest/s have to take care on their own.
• Grievances: Any claims, grievances and / or complaints in respect of services provided by any of the independent contractors, the guest shall immediately notify the same to the independent contractor in writing, and a copy of the same must be handed over to the tour escort/leader/Manager/Assistant and/or Company not later than 7 days thereof to enable Biosphere Holidays to take up the matter with the concerned independent contractor.
• Privacy of Information: Any Information furnished by the guest/s to the tour escort / leader/ Manager / Assistant and/or Biosphere Holidays, is subject to disclosure thereof as required by law or by an order of court or the rules, regulations and inquiry by any government / statutory authority. The Company shall not disclose any data of its own under any circumstances to any guest/s including any kind of clarification on itinerary, tour costs, cancellation charges etc.
• Photographs or Video Clips & Social Media: The Company reserves the right to use Photographs/Video Clips of the guest taken on tour and/ or given by guest, for promotion of Biosphere Holidays Business without obtaining prior permission of the concerned guest. Such Photographs/Video Clips can be used on any media with due respect for emotions/sentiments of guest/s.
• Reference Call: The Company reserves the right to refer a guest, on request, to prospective guest for the promotion of Biosphere Holidays business. The company is also authorized to send transactional as well as promotional sms/e-mail/phone calls.
• The maps given on the tour pages are indicative & just for your reference. They are not the actual maps.
•  Jurisdiction: All disputes pertaining to the tour and any claim arising therein shall be subject to the Court of Jurisdiction at PUNE only.