These ‘Terms and Conditions’ set out what you can expect from Mountain Assurance Ltd and what your obligations are. By making a booking with Mountain Assurance Ltd you are accepting the terms of this agreement.
Payment and confirmation
For mountain guiding: Following receipt of your E-Booking Form you will receive an invoice with full BACS details. A deposit payment is required to reserve your mountain guiding, with Mountain Assurance Ltd either by BACS or via our payment gateway. Deposits are set at 50% of the guiding fee or the full balance if within 30 days prior to commencement of your trip. Full payment is due 30 days prior to the agreed start date.
The invoice will detail the guiding contract including dates, prices and suggested itinerary if appropriate. If any details are incorrect on the invoice please tell us immediately so that we can make the appropriate changes.
If full payment is not received within 30 days of the agreed start date, Mountain Assurance Ltd reserves the right to cancel your booking and to retain your deposit.
For training: payment terms will be specific to the individual course, with the full balance expected to reserve a space. For consultancy (under assured expertise) a quote or estimate will be provided after which payment terms can be agreed by best endeavour.
If we cancel your booking
We endeavour to deliver the guiding contract as described in our confirmation, but if for any reason we deliver your guided days we will notify you promptly. We will refund any payments received in full but we will accept no responsibility for any additional costs incurred.
Cancellation – safety: Mountain Assurance Ltd reserves the right to exclude customers from activities they are not adequately prepared or fit enough for and where their involvement may jeopardise their own, other customers or the mountain guides safety. No refund will be made to clients excluded on these safety grounds.
Cancellation – force majeure: Should we have to cancel your booking due to circumstances out with our control, for example adverse weather conditions, lifter hut closures, regularly restrictions, riots, acts of terrorism, natural disasters, then no refund will be given. However we will provide a letter detailing the cancellation for your insurance company.
If you cancel your booking
If you want to cancel all or part of your booking we require notification by email. If you cancel less than 8 weeks before the commencement of your booking the entire payment is non-refundable. If you cancel prior to this then a full refund will be given.
If you cancel more than 30 days before start date you lose your deposit (i.e. 50% of the agreed guiding fee). If you cancel less than 30 days before the full guiding fee will be payable.
Should you not show for guiding days booked and paid for, through ill health, injury or any other valid reason, no refund will be given. However, we will, if requested, provide a letter for submission to the client’s insurers setting out the fact of cancellation and the reason given by the client.
Insurance
Mountain Assurance Ltd consider adequate travel insurance to be essential. We do not insure our clients (whether for medical or rescue costs) against cancellation losses, any liability to third parties, or any other type of loss. Most sporting activities have an element of danger and climbing/mountaineering is no exception. Ensure that you have suitable insurance cover in respect of medical and rescue costs, repatriation, cancellation, and liability to third parties. You must be adequately covered by a comprehensive sports insurance policy from a licensed agent. Ensure that the policy covers territorial areas planned and has the appropriate altitude limit for the planned itinerary. You must carry your insurance documentation with you during the holiday. We reserve the right to cancel a booking if you are not adequately insured.
Additional costs
Additional fees may be charged by third parties such as airports or foreign authorities in respect of services such as taxes, landing, embarkation or disembarkation fees. We will notify you as soon as possible should any fees be payable in respect of your holiday.
Passports and visas
It remains your responsibility to check travel requirements before you travel and the general information provided in these Terms and Conditions about the passport and visa requirements is for guidance only. Please note: we cannot be held responsible if you are refused entry to a country because you lack the correct documentation.
These guidelines apply only to holders of UK passports. You should check the passport and visa requirements with the relevant Embassy if you do not hold a UK passport, ensuring you allow adequate time to comply with such requirements before the date of your departure.
A valid passport is necessary for travel and you must have obtained all of the appropriate visas, permits and certificates for the country you are visiting. The typical timescale for obtaining your first UK passport is around six weeks or three weeks to renew or replace your passport but this may take longer.
Norway, France and Italy:
If your passport describes you as a British Citizen you do not need a visa to enter France or Italy, nor do you need a visa to enter Norway provided your trip is no longer than 90 days. If you are not a British citizen, you should contact your relevant Embassy for advice and information on the visa requirements for your proposed holiday destination.
You must contact the relevant Embassy for further information about entry requirements if you plan to be abroad for longer than three months. When travelling to Norway, France or Italy, your passport should be valid for the proposed duration of your stay but you do not need any additional period of validity on your passport beyond this.
We recommend that you review any travel warnings and announcements issued by The Foreign and Commonwealth Office Travel Advice Unit prior to booking travel to any of our destinations.
Health & travel requirements
At the time of publication, UK residents do not require any vaccinations for travelling to any of our holiday destinations but we recommend you to check the GOV.UK website in advance of your holiday in case this should change. It is your responsibility to ensure you are aware of all recommended vaccinations and health precautions in good time before the date of your departure and it may be necessary to consult your doctor. Country specific information and advice is published by the National Travel Health Network and Centre on the TravelHealthPro website (travelhealthpro.org.uk) and by NHS on Fit for Travel website (www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk). Useful information and advice about healthcare abroad is also available on the NHS Choices website.
We strongly recommend that you obtain a free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before your holiday. The EHIC is not a substitute for medical and travel insurance, but it may entitle you to medical care at reduced or no cost should you need medical treatment during your holiday.
Mobility
In order to take part in the sporting activities, all persons should be in good health and possess a reasonable level of fitness. If you are unsure about the physical demands of a particular holiday, please ask us and we can advise you accordingly.
Your responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:
- To check that your guiding days are booked for the date and time that you require.
- That you strictly observe the safety instructions given by Mountain Assurance Ltd.
- To call Mountain Assurance Ltd before travelling to confirm the meeting location.
- To inform us of any changes to contact details, or emergency contact details.
- To ensure that you are prepared and fit enough to undertake your guiding days.
- To read the kit list for your trip or itinerary and ensure that you arrive with the appropriate equipment in good working order.
- Clients must expect to be actively involved in the guiding days they requested (e.g. carrying a share of equipment etc), which may be physically and mentally demanding. You should be prepared for this and be in good general health.
- Declare any further relevant medical information arising between booking and the course commencing.
- You should also be aware that climbing and mountaineering, especially in winter is highly subject to local weather and conditions and whilst every effort will be made to meet your aims sometimes this will not be safe or practical. In this event every effort will be made to offer suitable alternatives but no refunds will be available.
- To cover the instructor or guides travel expenses if your guiding takes place outside of the Chamonix valley.
- To inform Mountain Assurance Ltd if your guiding days have not met your expectations so we can work to resolve any issues.
- Mountain Assurance Ltd may use photos of clients for website and publicity purposes. We respect your privacy so please advise us if you would prefer not to feature.
Any contract between the client and Mountain Assurance Ltd shall be governed in all respects by Law in England and Wales. Only courts in England and Wales shall have jurisdiction in relation to any claim or dispute arising out of or connected with any such contract.
These terms and booking conditions (“Terms and Conditions”) will form the basis of your agreement with Mountain Assurance Ltd, a company incorporated and registered in Scotland with company number 582225, whose registered office is 4 Hillside Avenue, Kingussie, Inverness-shire, PH21 1PA. Please read them carefully as they set out our respective rights and obligations. By asking us to confirm your booking, we are entitled to assume that you have read these Terms and Conditions and agree to them.
All references in these Terms and Conditions to “mountain guiding”, “guiding days”, “holiday”, “booking”, or “contract” mean such holiday arrangements unless otherwise stated. In these Terms and Conditions, “you” and “your” means all persons named on the booking, including anyone who is added or substituted at a later date. “We”, “us” and “our” means Mountain Assurance Ltd.