Asian Pacific Adventures:
General Information, Terms and Conditions

GROUP TOUR RESERVATIONS & PAYMENTS: A per person deposit of $500 US (including a $200 non-refundable registration fee) is required to reserve space on each group tour. Balance is due 90 days prior to departure or upon receipt of invoice of balance due. If final payment is not received at this time, APA reserves the right to regard the reservation as cancelled. Partial payments may be required earlier than 90 days to pre-pay special land and air arrangements. APA accepts check or Visa, Master Card and American Express. We require a signed credit card authorization form for each payment.

CUSTOM TRIP RESERVATIONS, PAYMENTS & CANCELLATIONS: A non-refundable, per person itinerary planning fee of $200 (14 days or less), $300 (15-30 days), $1000 (31 days or more) is required to provide one itinerary outline and price. This fee is charged to cover the tremendous amount of time, research, logistical planning and expertise required to develop a custom trip outline. Itemized costs will not be provided. Reservations and subsequent revisions with new prices can only be done after receiving an additional $500 non-refundable per person deposit. All fees will be applied towards the final trip cost and are not refundable for any reason whatsoever if you cancel the trip. For Payments, Cancellations, Late Booking & Change Fees, refer to the relevant sections on this page.

LAND COST: Prices include accommodations, Tour escort or English speaking local guides, transportation; transfers, entrance fees, meals, sightseeing, special permits, local performances and airfare as indicated in the trip itinerary. Itemized costs will not be provided. Arrangements, itineraries and tour escorts are subject to change without notice, although every effort will be made to notify passengers as soon as possible.

The land cost does not include airfare, excess baggage, passport & visa fees, airport taxes, some meals, alcoholic beverages, gratuity, sleeping bag and personal items (see trip itinerary for details). Transit hotels and airport transfers are not included for passengers arranging their own air. Land cost does not include trip insurance, medical, hospital, evacuation and all expenses resulting from bad weather, road (trail) and river conditions, sickness, government actions, transportation delays, cancellations, force majeure (acts of God, war, labor, strikes, earthquake, flooding etc.).

ACCOMMODATIONS, MEALS & SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: Accommodations are based on double occupancy. On group tours with more than 6 people, those requesting a roommate will not be charged the single supplement regardless of whether a roommate is available or not. Those requesting a single room must pay the single supplement fee. In most cases, hotels are first class and include a private bath and air conditioning; ryokans (Japanese inns), though deluxe, could have common baths. In some of the more rural areas simple guesthouses or rustic shelters may be used, and on tours where camping is the norm, 2-4 person tents will be supplied. Some meals are included and other meals are not included to allow passengers to dine around on their own. See trip itinerary for inclusions and exclusions.

GROUP SIZE & PRICES: For maximum personal experience groups are kept small - usually 4-15 people, except those that are limited in size. All tours will depart with a minimum of 4 people at additional charge where applicable. Tour prices are based on the number of full paying passengers. APA staff, trip doctors and other discounted travelers are excluded from this count. Prices are published almost a year in advance and based on currency exchange rates valid at the time of publication. Prices are subject to change due to price increases, currency fluctuations, fuel surcharges, flight insurance etc.

BAGGAGE: Baggage will be carried at owner's risk throughout the tour. Please limit your checked and carry on luggage to current airline regulations. Excess baggage charges are the responsibility of individual passengers.

AIRLINES/AIRFARES: Approximate international airfare is round-trip from Los Angeles unless specified and does not include taxes & fuel surcharges. Flights within Asia are sometimes sold separately and include a processing fee (see individual itineraries). All airfares quoted are sample airfares available at the time of publication and are subject to change unless ticketed. These are restricted fares, are non-endorsable/non-refundable and/or carry cancellation penalties/change fees of 25% to 100%. APA is not responsible for the payment of cancellation/change fees or the purchase of a new air ticket for any reason whatsoever. Airfares will be quoted on receiving a $100-$150 per person processing fee depending on the complexity. Due to commission cuts service fees may be charged. Discounted airfares may not earn miles and must be paid by check.

INSURANCE: We strongly recommend that you purchase a trip cancellation, accident and baggage insurance policy to protect your investment. It is mandatory on some trips that go to higher elevations and where evacuation maybe required. Refunds will be given per our refund policy regardless of your situation. We require you to sign an insurance release. Insurance brochures will be sent with your confirmation package. Please make a note of the pre-existing waiver and contact the insurance company directly for coverage policies and claims within the stipulated time frame.

DEVIATION FEES: Deviations are generally not permitted as tour prices are based on a minimum number of people traveling together. If they are unavoidable - a $75 per person fee will be charged.

LATE BOOKING & CHANGE FEES: A $200 per person late booking fee will be charged for reservations made 40 days or less prior to departure for express fees and handling costs. A fee of $70 per change - land or air - will be charged on changes made by the client after confirmation has begun. A $90 service fee will be charged per change after the documents/air tickets have been issued. These fees are charged to cover overseas communications and staff time required to make the necessary changes that cannot be guaranteed. Land and air itineraries must be finalized 30 days prior to departure, otherwise APA reserves the right to decline the booking and retain the deposit.

CANCELLATIONS, REFUNDS: All cancellations must be received in writing. Cancellation fees per person for the land package are: $500 for cancellation less than 90 days prior, 50% of the land price for cancellation less than 60 days prior, no refund will be made for cancellation less than 45 days prior to departure without exception. Please buy trip insurance. Airfares are refundable in accordance with the policy of the carrier being used after deducting APA's processing fees. All rates are based on group participation and no partial refunds will be given for any reason whatsoever. No refunds will be given for unused hotel rooms, meals, sightseeing or any other charges. APA reserves the right to cancel any trip for any reason whatsoever, including problems that may impede the trip and will refund the land cost, which will constitute full settlement. APA is not responsible for additional expenses incurred by passengers in preparation for the trip such as non-refundable air tickets, visa fees, clothing, equipment, medical and insurance expenses etc.

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Upon receipt of the reservation form and tour deposit a complete confirmation package will be sent. Passengers must complete and return the waiver, medical and insurance release forms with the final payments. Tour members must hold a valid passport whose expiration is at least six months after the end of the tour. All visa and passport applications and fees are the responsibility of the tour member. Please contact a visa service or a consular office. Detailed itinerary, contact lists and airline tickets / vouchers will be sent about 3 weeks prior to departure, after receiving all signed forms, waivers, flight schedules and full payment.

MEDICAL RESPONSIBILITY: It is the responsibility of tour participants to select a trip suited to their abilities and interests. While none of our trips are extremely rigorous, some can be physically demanding and include travel to areas where medical facilities are almost non-existent and evacuation can be a long, difficult and expensive process. Please make sure your insurance coverage is adequate. Be advised that immunizations are recommended. Your health and safety are our first concern, but since we are not medical experts we recommend that you consult your doctor to ensure that you are in good health and can join our trip. APA may require that members present APA with a signed medical certificate from their physician stating that they are in good general health and able to take the trip.

RESPONSIBILITY: Asian Pacific Adventures (APA) and / or associated companies act in the capacity of agents in all matters of transportation and tour operation, and their liability is limited to the terms of the tour package. APA and / or its agents are not liable for delays, inconveniences, accidents, injuries, death, expenses or mishaps of any kind whatsoever resulting entirely, or in part, from the negligence of others or from causes beyond our control. APA is not liable for the fault or default of other firms or agencies used for carrying out these tours.

Passengers assume all risks of personal injury and all aggravation of any medical conditions in any way related to the activities of the tour. All ground operators in each country bear the full responsibility for all travel arrangements within their country including overall itinerary, hotels, meals and transportation. Baggage is at owner's risk at all times. APA reserves the right to photograph or film any of its tours and use this material for promotion / commercial use. The right is reserved to withdraw any tour in this catalog and to make such alterations in the itineraries as deemed desirable for the convenience of the parties and for the proper carrying out of the tours. The right is also reserved to decline, to accept or retain any person as a member of any tour if such person's health, mental wellbeing or deportment hinders the operation of the tour. Once a tour is in progress, no compensation will be made. In the event of a dispute, or any term of disagreement, the winning party will be entitled to an award of reasonable attorney's fees. The airlines concerned are not to be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time the passenger is not aboard their aircraft. The passenger ticket in use by the airline, when issued, shall constitute the sole contract between the airline and the purchaser / passenger. Rules governing air tickets and refunds are applied by the airlines. On advancements of deposit to APA, the depositor thereby agrees to be bound by the above and stated terms and conditions. APA maintains a client trust account as required by California Law.