It is compulsory that you have travel insurance. You may choose a provider of your choice. We require you to be insured before we can allow you to participate in our tours. Your policy must cover medical costs in case of hospitalisation, emergency travel and repatriation. If you are going on one of our activity holidays, make sure your insurance covers you for this activity. Once you have paid your deposit or full payment, certain fees will apply if you cancel your holiday. Insurance should therefore be organised at the time of booking to protect yourself against unforeseen circumstances that would require you to cancel before travelling. You will need two copies of your policy - the Tour Leader and our Ground Operator will keep one copy each in the unlikely event of an emergency.
South East Asia is one of the safest regions for travel in the world and even women travelling alone need not feel threatened when on the road. It is worth keeping abreast of local and international news of the region you are heading to.
Violent crime against foreigners is rare in South East Asia but vigilance and common sense are required when out and about after dark and when visiting remote areas. Pickpockets and scam artists are the biggest crime threat for foreigners and tourist areas tend to be targeted.
Vaccinations
For most travellers a common-sense approach to your health whilst abroad will ensure a trouble free visit. Food in South East Asia is both nutritious and healthy, with an emphasis on rice and noodles accompanied by fresh vegetables, meats, seafood and an abundance of fresh fruit.
It is important to consider the possible requirement for vaccinations and immunizations and you should visit your GP or doctor well before you depart since you will most probably require vaccinations for your trip. If you have travelled recently and believe that you are already up-to-date with your vaccinations, it is still worth checking as vaccinations have a varying life span.
More specific details relating to advice on vaccinations is provided once you have booked your holiday, but the following guidelines are worth considering:
Diphtheria & Tetanus: Both adults and children are advised to check with their doctor if booster vaccinations may be required.
Hepatitis A: Vaccination against hepatitis A is recommended before travelling to Asia.
Typhoid: It is common in Asia and therefore vaccination is recommended before travelling.
Malaria: The most commonly asked health-related question concerns malaria and whether or not to take anti-malaria tablets. The only answer we can give is to consult your GP and follow their advice on malaria precautions for your holiday.
Travelling with children: Please consult your GP or family doctor for further information on how best to protect your family against illness when travelling abroad.
Adverse Weather: Monsoons during the wet season can see high winds and lots of rain and it is always wise to keep abreast of weather warnings. Although typhoons don't normally track across the South East Asian region, on occasion during the May to November wet season, Vietnam may be struck by a typhoon.
Women Travellers: Women usually experience very little in the way of annoyances when travelling in South East Asia, with the region being one of the safest in the world for female visitors. Women are however, recommended to dress conservatively when travelling in rural areas.
We keep our groups small, with an average of 12 people and not exceeding 16. Small group travel leaves room for flexibility and enables us to accommodate your interests as well as providing ample opportunities for you to explore independently. By travelling with a small group of like minded travellers with an experienced and knowledgeable local tour leader, the hassle of independent day to day travel is taken care of for you, leaving you to relax and enjoy the trip. You can also organise your own private group, whether it be a family or social group, and we will take care of all the arrangements for you – the itinerary, the accommodation and your own personal local guide.
We use only local tour leaders who have grown up in the country you are visiting. They all have government approved tour guide accreditation, a very good level of English and have passed our own in house training programmes to ensure a high level of service and professional skills are maintained. Our leaders inspire and educate with their passion and knowledge of the region and, as a result, traveller’s return to do tours with us again and again. The tour leaders will accompany you on the whole journey through their country, answering your questions and sharing their extensive knowledge of the local culture, historical sites, food and wildlife. This means you will return home with a deeper insight into the country and its people.
We enjoy good relationships with all our lodgings and they are continually checked and assessed by our local leaders to ensure the high standards are maintained. The level of accommodation depends on your selected tour and whether it is “budget” or “comfort”.
Budget - Your accommodation may be basic but clean, comfortable and welcoming with bathrooms en suite, fans and mosquito nets. They are locally run operations and in keeping with the local character of the area. The costs are lower than staying in branded, international hotels but by supporting local businesses you are making a positive impact on the local economy. Some of the tours include a night in a home stay or long house and these can be pretty basic. They do however provide you with the opportunity to experience the local culture in depth.
Comfort - Your accommodation will be 2-3 star rated, well appointed hotels in a central location. The rooms will generally have air conditioning, an en suite bathroom, a TV and fridge. Depending on your tour, and if you are going off the beaten track, the itinerary may include a night in a homestay or long house. The accommodation will be basic, but you will get to see the local village life up close in a genuine and unique way.
The type of transport used for the tours depends on the style of trip you have booked.
Budget - Wherever possible, we travel on public or locally owned transport including songthaews (Thai open backed buses), Tuk Tuks, cyclos, trains and buses. As well as benefitting the local economy, it gives you a more authentic experience of the country. Private mini buses are sometimes used where public transport is not available. In certain places, the best way to explore is on foot, so we include walking activities like city tours or mountain trekking. Depending on the itinerary your tour may include travel by boat, ferry, bicycles or even elephants!
Comfort - The majority of travel between destinations in a country is by private bus for your comfort and ease. If the distances are long, and to save time, an internal flight or overnight train will be your mode of transport. If you are on a multi-country tour, there will be international flights to give you more time for exploring each destination. All internal and international flights within the tour will be booked by Footsteps in Asia to ensure you are all on the same flight.
If you are travelling solo, a small group tour is a great way to see the region with like-minded people and with the confidence that you are in good hands. Our flexible itineraries enable you to join with the group for dinners and drinks or take the time off for yourself and some individual exploration. Our local leader is always there to make recommendations and offer assistance.
Even though you are travelling with a group, if you would prefer to guarantee your own room we can arrange this for you for a small additional fee. If you are happy to share a twin room, you can enjoy the twin–share price. We will pair you up with a fellow traveller of the same gender on your tour. Twin-share is available to you when you select the “willing to share” option on booking.
Many companies offering group tours may cancel your tour at the last minute if there are not enough people. For all of our group tours we guarantee that all trips will run subject to there being a minimum of 4 people booked on the tour.
We are able to make this guarantee due to the careful planning of the frequency and start date of our tours. We can be confident that we will have enough participants on each group tour. Additionally, with careful transportation and accommodation scheduling, we are able to run our group tours with a minimum of 4 people. Generally, however, there tend to be between 12 – 16 people on each tour. Since we guarantee all our group tour departures, you can go ahead and fully plan your holiday with us.
If you have a group of friends or family that would like to take a private tour we can organise this for you for most of our tours. You can then choose the departure dates to suit your group and if you get a big enough group together this may work out cheaper than the scheduled tour.
Airport transfers are dependent on the style of tour you are booking.
Budget – Airport transfers are not included in the budget tours. You will, however, be given information regarding recommended taxi options and average prices. You will have the name and address of the hotel and an emergency contact number to call should you have any problems. Your tour leader will meet you at the hotel at a specified time and this will be in your pre departure information.
Comfort – An airport arrival transfer to your joining hotel is included in the price of our comfort tours. The tours always start in a specified hotel where you will be met by the group leader and the rest of the group. We will let you know exactly when you need to be at that hotel and all the details in your pre departure information.
The following is a guide line of what to pack for one of our tours.
Please be advised that on most local and regional flights the baggage allowance is 15 kilos.
If you will require any specific items for your tour, these will be detailed in the pre departure information for your tour.
T’shirts and shorts can be bought very cheaply in South East Asia if you need any extras.
Documents
Passport with appropriate visas and photocopies
Airline tickets
Additional passport photos
Travel Insurance details
Emergency contact numbers
Trip voucher and trip notes
Credit cards/ Traveller’s cheques, US dollars cash, local currency if available
Chargers for phone and camera
Adapter
Normal daily clothes
Light cotton clothing suitable for a tropical climate.
Long trousers/skirt and long sleeve shirt for temple visits and cooler climes
Torch/flashlight
Sun cream
Sun hat
Sunglasses
Lip balm
Swimming costume
Sarong
Towel
Waterproof jacket
Umbrella
Sleeping bag inner sheet
Walking boots if applicable to your trip
Sandals/flip flops
Mosquito repellent
A water bottle
Your own first aid or medical kit
For all remote or active trips, your tour leader will be first aid trained, and will carry an adequate first aid kit or medical kit. However, we recommend that clients carry a small first aid kit for personal use.
Plasters (including blister plasters for walking trips); sterile dressings and bandages; simple pain killers e.g. paracetamol or ibuprofen; antiseptic cream; antihistamine cream (for insect bites); sunburn cream; anti-diarrhea pills e.g. Imodium or Lomotil; rehydration salts e.g. Dioralyte.
Please ensure you carry any essential personal medication in your hand luggage rather than checked in bags.
Food is definitely one of the highlights of South East Asia and varies considerably from country to country and in some cases between regions. On your tour you will get a chance, with recommendations and help from your tour leader, to try some of the best local food around. It is prepared with fresh ingredients when you order it, and although a lot of the dishes, especially in Thailand, can be spicy, the cook can tone it down for western tastes. If you need a hit of western food, the bigger cities and towns usually have a variety of international restaurants and fast food outlets. If you are a vegetarian, there are a lot of options as vegetables and salads are plentiful. Fish sauce and oyster sauce are used a lot as a base but you can ask for them to be left out. If you have any food allergies or strict dietary requirements please let your tour leader know at the start of your tour.
We advise you not to drink tap water and to stick to bottled water, and plenty of it, to avoid dehydration. If you have your own water bottle, you can get it refilled at the hotels and restaurants.
Travellers often experience a few minor stomach problems as they adjust to the new food and flavours but these do not generally turn into anything serious.
Footsteps in Asia tours are designed for people who are looking for adventure and fun with like minded people. All our tours will ensure you will get a cultural insight, as well as, exploring some of the most beautiful sites and landscapes in the safe hands of a local tour leader. Your choice of tour depends on your budget, where you want to go, the kind of activities you are interested in and when you want to travel.
If your budget is limited and you are happy to travel by public transport and stay in local guest houses and lodgings, getting closer to the local life then a budget tour is right for you.
If you like your creature comforts and want an air conditioned room, to travel by private buses and fly to avoid long road trips then a comfort tour is right for you. You will still have plenty of opportunity to experience the culture and people.
If you are looking for an active holiday then try one of cycling tours for an amazing travel experience. Cycling through breathtaking scenery on one of our fully maintained bicycles is a great way to see the countries.
How fit you need to be depends again on the type of tour you are interested in. You can see from the individual itineraries which tours include trekking, walking, cycling and the number of hours per day is indicated.
Both styles are fully escourted by a local tour leader. This means all the hassles of booking transport, finding hotels and restaurants and wandering where to go are all taken care of for you.
Mobile phone networks cover most of the region so having a mobile phone is a good idea. You can organise roaming with your service provider before you leave. Alternatively, you can buy a local, pay as you go SIM card.
There are internet cafes in most large towns and cities and often hotels and guest houses will have access to computers in the lobby, often for free, so you will always be able to keep updating your travels on FB. If you are brining your own computer, WIFI is generally available, even in some of the more remote areas! Often cafes and hotels have WIFI free of charge. The connections can be slow so you need to be patient.
There are post offices in most towns and cities if you prefer the traditional postcard to updating your status!
Once you have booked, there is an emergency phone number on your joning instructions should your family need to get in contact with you.
It is a good idea to bring a combination of debit and credit cards along with some USD cash. You will be able to change money on arrival in the country and often the exchange rate is better than if you do it at home. ATMs are now widely available in most major towns and cities and will issue the local currency. However, in more remote areas it is advisable to have local currency. Credit cards are becoming more acceptable in shopping malls and international restaurants. There is often a percentage charge for using ATMs and credit cards. Travellers cheques are becoming more difficult to exchange, but it is still possible in the bigger cities.
Currencies:
Thailand – Thai baht
Laos – Kip. Changing money is best done in the capital and banks will give you a better rate than money changers.
Vietnam – Dong. You will not be able to change Vietnam Dong outside the country so make sure you spend it all!!
Cambodia – Riel although the Thai baht and USD are also widely accepted.
For current exchange rates please check: http://www.xe.com/
Protecting your valuables
Unfortunately petty theft is on the increase in SE Asia, but by using a bit of common sense you should be able to avoid any problems.
Money belts are a great way to protect your valuables whilst travelling. They're usually worn around the waist or pouch style round the neck, and made of a lightweight material. It is a good idea to have a combination lock for your back pack.
Pacsafe is an increasingly popular product made of thin wire mesh webbing that totally covers your backpack and allows it to be padlocked to something secure.
Spending money
The good news is you won’t need much! Your accommodation, transport, local leader, most entrance fees, all breakfasts and some meals are included. Depending on where you are, and your chosen tour you'll find that about US$20 a day should do it, covering extra meals, drinks etc. The pre departure information will give you an idea of some typical prices of extra activities available which are not included in the tour.
Transfers
Airport transfers are dependent on the style of tour you are booking.
Budget – Airport transfers are not included in the budget tours. You will, however, be given information regarding recommended taxi options and average prices. You will have the name and address of the hotel and an emergency contact number to call should you have any problems. Your tour leader will meet you at the hotel at a specified time and this will be in your pre departure and joining information.
Comfort – Airport transfers to your joining hotel are organised and are usually included in the price of our comfort tour. The tours always start in a specified hotel where you will be met by the group leader and the rest of the group. We will let you know exactly when you need to be at that hotel and all the details in your pre departure and joining information.
The following visa information is current as of 1 October 2011 but please be advised that visa regulations and costs vary for different nationalities and can change with out warning. It is therefore essential to check with your local embassy or consulate in plenty of time before leaving home.
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months for all visa requirements.
You will also be required to fill out an application form and produce 2 passport photos.
You should always ensure that your passport is stamped on arrival, especially if you enter via a land border.
Thailand
Most European and western nationalities are granted a 30 day visa on arrival when they fly into Thailand. This is currently free.
If you want to stay longer than 30 days, a 60 day single entry tourist visa must be applied for from a Thai embassy in your home country or neighbouring country. This can take up to 3 days depending on the embassy.
If you are coming in overland to Thailand from Cambodia or Laos please be advised you will only receive a 15 day visa on the border.
Please see the following link for more information about Thai visas: http://www.thaivisa.com/297.0.html
Vietnam
A one month single entry visa must be applied for in advance from a Vietnam Embassy or Consulate and can take up to 5 working days.
It is also possible to apply to get a Vietnamese visa on arrival through an agency on line. This requires applying for an approval letter which you show at the airport on arrival to receive your visa.
Please see the following link for more information about Vietnamese visas:http://www.vietnamstay.com/service/
Cambodia
A 30 day tourist visa can be obtained on arrival for citizens of most countries. If you are not sure if you require a visa or are eligible for an ‘on arrival’ visa please check with your Embassy. An ‘on arrival’ visa can be obtained at Phnom Penh International Airport, Siem Reap - Angkor International Airport and selected land border crossings. The current price for a one month tourist visa is $20. The ‘on arrival’ visa system is a simple enough process and on average entails a 20 to 30 minute wait.
For further information please visit: http://evisa.mfaic.gov.kh.
Laos
A 30 or 60 day tourist visa is available from a Lao Embassy in your home country or on arrival in Laos.
For most passports, a 30 day Lao visa on arrival is available at road and river border crossings and ports of entry, except overland from Cambodia. The cost ranges from $20 - $40 depending on your nationality.
For further information please visit: http://www.retire-asia.com/lao-visa-on-arrival-30-days.shtml
Malaysia
Australians, Americans, Canadians, British and New Zealanders do not require a visa for Malaysia. A 90 single entry visa is given on arrival.
Please see the following link for more information about Malayasian visas: www.worldtravelguide.net/malaysia/passport-visa
Singapore
Australians, Americans, Canadians, British and New Zealanders do not currently require a visa for Singapore. A 90 single entry visa is given on arrival.
Please see the following link for more information about Singapore visas:http://singapore.visahq.com
As with every where in the world the weather patterns in SE Asia are changing and becoming less predictable so the following is just a rough guide of what you can expect.
To check the weather forecast for your tour please see the following website: http://www.weatherzone.com.au/world/southeast-asia
Thailand:
Central and northern Thailand: The hot season is from March to May. April tends to be the hottest month. The monsoon season is from May to October when flooding can occur. The coolest months are from November to February. Southern Thailand has only two seasons - the wet and the dry. These seasons do not run at the same time on both the east and west side of the peninsular. On the west coast the southwest monsoon brings rain and often heavy storms from April through to October, whilst on the east coast the most rain falls between September and December.
Vietnam
Northern Vietnam: The coldest winter months are from November to March and in the far north in places like Sapa it may even snow! You can expect it to be cloudy and drizzly. The summer begins in April, when temperatures jump considerably, and lasts until October.
Central Vietnam: The coastal strip is usually dry and hotter than the rest of the country in the summer months. The winter-monsoon season is from November to March when storms and typhoons can strike this area. Near the south, the coastal cities experience steamy hot weather all year round. Southern Vietnam has a typical humid tropical climate with two main seasons: rainy from May to November and dry from December to April. During the rainy season, downpours are expected nearly every afternoon, resulting in occasional street flooding in and around Saigon.
Laos
Laos has two distinct seasons - wet and dry. The wet season runs from May to October, and as with many South East Asian countries, the wet season is characterised by a downpour for a few hours each day. Don't be surprised if your trip takes longer than expected due to flooding and landslides. Advantages of this season are lower temperatures and cleaner air. Laos' dry season can be divided into two - the cool dry season from November to February followed by the hot dry season from March to April. During the hot season the smoke factor can add to the discomfort of the high temperatures. This when the farmers set fire to rice stubble and degraded forest to improve soil fertility for a new rice crop. The resulting fires bathe most of Laos in a layer of smoke.
Cambodia
Cambodia has two distinct seasons - wet and dry.
The wet season runs from May to October, bringing with it up to 75% of Cambodia's annual rainfall. At the height of the wet season from July to September it tends to get a few hours of heavy rain rather than being all-day downpours but this can still cause flooding.
Cambodia's dry season runs from October to April, when the dusty northeast monsoon arrives. Blowing like a hair-dryer set to high, the northeast monsoon dries out the country fast. November and January are quite cool, but by April the temperatures soar.
Malaysia
Rain falls fairly evenly throughout the year but the main rainy season is from October to April.On the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, the monsoon rains start from November and go through to mid-February.The west coast is not affected. During the rest of the year it is hot and humid.
Singapore
As Singapore is pretty much on the equator, the temperature never drops below 20°C, usually climbing to 30°C during the day. Rainfall and humidity are steady year-round. It may rain every day during the wet season from November to January with torrential downpours followed by sunshine.The driest months are May to July.
Responsible travel is an alternative way of travelling for those who are looking to avoid mass tourism. The key to responsible tourism is respecting and benefiting local people and the environment in the region you are visiting. Responsible tourists are looking for genuine, fulfilling travel experiences which are meaningful, educational, and allow for an insight into the culture.
Footsteps in Asia believes that through our tours, we will bring you closer to the local cultures and environments by involving local people. Our local, country specific guides, will open your eyes to the ways of life better than an expat guide and they will also earn a much needed income from you. We keep our groups small to ensure less impact on the environment and the local people. Travelling in a small group means you get to meet the local people and a range of interesting and international fellow travelers.
Our sustainability ethos is as follows:
Garbage
We clean up as we go, ensuring no litter is left. We have helped organise village and river clean ups with local communities in Thailand and Cambodia for Clean Up the World Day.
Water and Energy
We use operators who show a respect and value for water and energy – collecting rain water, recycling and reducing energy consumption. We ask you to value these resources and use them efficiently
Accomodation
We choose accommodation, where possible, that is built of local materials and in keeping with the environment and local style.
Transport
We recommend and encourage low carbon transport, using trains, bicycles and public transport for our tours, where possible, rather than internal flights.
Local support
We have sourced local services and products to spread the tourism income. By using home stays, guest houses and eco lodges we provide an income for the local community as well as an opportunity for cultural exchange.
Charity
We support local projects and people through, fundraising and charities e.g. Loreto in Vietnam, the Cyclo Centre in Phnom Penh and KOTO in Vietnam, water well building and house building with Tabitha foundation.
Fairness in the work place
We offer our local guides and staff good working conditions, a fair wage, and empower them with training opportunities.
It’s all about respect
We seek to foster good relationships between tourists and the local community to encourage a greater mutual respect and understanding between tourists and locals. Respecting the environment is being kind to it and its eco systems to limit the impact of our visit and leave it as we found it.
Booking conditions
This is where your journey begins! Please read these booking conditions carefully. They set out your agreement with Footsteps in Asia and contain important information. We’ve tried to keep the fine print to a minimum, so please bear with us. The trips on this website are operated by Footsteps in Asia Room 605, Tonson Building, 50 Soi Tonson, Ploenchit Rd, Lumpini, Pratumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
The contract
These Booking Conditions contain important information. It is essential that you carefully read and understand them. The Booking Conditions constitute a legally binding contract between Footsteps in Asia and you for the services provided by Footsteps in Asia and set out the basis of your legal relationship with Footsteps in Asia. By booking with us and paying the non-refundable deposit of 10% per passenger with the final payment due at least 56 days prior to the tour start date, per trip, or full payment. You acknowledge that you have read, understood and agree to be legally bound by these Booking Conditions. Acceptance of your booking will be confirmed in writing to you or your travel agent, and a contract comes into existence on the date shown on your confirmation letter or email. If you have any queries regarding these Conditions or do not understand them, please raise your query with a member of our staff.
1) Prices and validity
Prices are on twin share basis, and based on costs and exchange rates applicable when this brochure was printed. Footsteps in Asia reserves the right to adjust prices whether or not you have already made full payment. We will do everything with in our control not to adjust prices and will generally only amend prices in the event of marked fluctuations in exchange rates, fuel costs and other operating costs on which prices are based. Airfares (except when otherwise stated), passport and visa fees, travel insurance, excess baggage charges, airport taxes, gratuities to leaders and guides, extra meals, laundry, drinks, medical expenses, optional activities and trips, and any items of a personal nature are not included in your trip price.
2) Your trip and assumption of risk
Footsteps in Asia operates trips in regions where standards of accommodation, transport, safety, hygiene, medical facilities and other infrastructure may, at times, not be of the standard that you are used to at home. By booking with us you acknowledge that participation in all Footsteps in Asia trips involves inherent risks that may not be present in the case of conventional or less demanding holidays. These risks include, without limitation, the possibility of injury or death, psychological trauma, disease, loss or damage to property, inconvenience and discomfort. The possibility of experiencing all or some of these risks is likely to be higher if participation in a Footsteps in Asia trip involves visiting remote or unstable regions, or regions where there is dangerous wildlife. When assessing whether trips will operate Footsteps in Asia uses information from its local offices in conjunction with advice from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the British Foreign Office and the US Department of State. It is your responsibility to accustom yourself with the travel advice provided by these government bodies, as well as that of your country of residency, before commencing the trip. By booking with Footsteps in Asia you acknowledge your decision to travel on a Footsteps in Asia trip is made after due consideration of relevant travel information that may be made available at any time.
3) Exclusion of liability
Liability and Insurance
A. Liability
(i) The Company is not responsible for any loss, injury or damage sustained by passengers. Additional expenses incurred due to delays, accidents, natural disaster, political actions and unrest must be borne by the Customer.
(ii) The Company shall not be liable for any damage caused to the Customer by the failure to perform the Contract or the improper performance of the Contract where the failure or the improper performance is due neither to the fault of the Company because:
(a) the failure which occurs in the performance of the Contract is attributable to the Customer; or
(b) the failure is attributable to a third party unconnected with the provision of the services contracted for and are unforeseeable or unavoidable; or
(c) the failure is due to Force Major as defined in Paragraph 5 above.
Footsteps in Asia will not accept responsibility or liability if you contravene any law or regulation of any country or region visited. Any independent arrangements that you make that are not part of the Footsteps in Asia trip (including pre- and post accommodation) are entirely at your own risk and Footsteps in Asia cannot and does not give you any assurance, representation or warranty in connection with any such arrangements. To the fullest extent permitted by law and subject to the exception set out below, Footsteps in Asia does not accept liability for any loss, death, injury or damage, however caused (including through negligence), which you may directly or indirectly suffer in connection with or arising from this contract or your participation in a trip, or in respect of a failure or omission on the part of Footsteps in Asia to comply with its obligations under this contract, or in respect of any other conduct that Footsteps in Asia undertakes in connection with a trip. To the fullest extent permitted by law and subject to the exception set out below, you also agree to release Footsteps in Asia and its officers, employees, agents and representatives (“Representatives”) from all costs, liability, loss and damage incurred by you in connection with your participation in any trip, and waive any associated claims that you may have against Footsteps in Asia or its Representatives as a result of your participation in any trip. For these purposes, Footsteps in Asia enters into these Booking Conditions as trustee or agent for its Representatives. To the fullest extent permitted by law and subject to the exception set out below, any condition or warranty, which would otherwise be implied into these Booking Conditions is excluded. Where legislation implies any condition or warranty, and that legislation prohibits us from excluding or modifying the application of, or our liability under, any such condition or warranty, that condition or warranty will be deemed included but our liability will be limited for a breach of that condition or warranty to one or more of the following: (a) if the breach relates to goods, (i) the replacement of the goods or the supply of equivalent goods, (ii) the repair of such goods, (iii) the payment of the cost of replacing the goods or of acquiring equivalent goods or (iv) the payment of the cost of having the goods repaired; and (b) if the breach relates to services, (i) the supplying of the services again or (ii) the payment of the cost of having the services supplied again.
Exception
The “Exclusion of Liability” section set out in these Booking Conditions does not attempt or purport to exclude, restrict or modify liability arising under, or remedies that may be available to you, pursuant to legislation where the exclusion, restriction or modification of liability or remedies is not permitted. This includes legislation in part of the Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth), and any state or territory Fair Trading Act (or its equivalent).
4) Cancellation by Footsteps in Asia
Footsteps in Asia reserves the right to cancel a departure and will advise you of such cancellations no later than 56 days before the tour departure date. If due to ‘Force Majeure’ or government travel advice, Footsteps in Asia reserves the right to cancel a departure at any time. With any form of cancellation, Footsteps in Asia will offer you alternative arrangements, and if the price of your alternative booking is of lower value than the original booking we will refund the difference to you. If you do not accept alternative arrangements we will refund all payments you have made to Footsteps in Asia, (in case of ‘Force Majeure’ or government travel advice refunds will be less any unrecoverable costs). Footsteps in Asia will not be liable for any additional costs incurred by you.
Force Majeure
Footsteps in Asia will not be liable for any delay in, change to or cancellation of trips due to ‘Force Majeure’. ‘Force Majeure’ means a circumstance beyond the reasonable control of Footsteps in Asia and includes, but is not limited to, war or threat of war, riot, civil strife, terrorist activity, industrial dispute, disease, industrial or nuclear disaster, adverse weather conditions, fire and strikes.
5) Cancellation by you
If you wish to cancel all or any part of your booking, notification of cancellation must be made to Footsteps in Asia in writing. The date of the cancellation is the date on which Footsteps in Asia receives written notification. Days before departure Charge applicable as follows, per person:
More than 56 days - Loss of deposit
Between 56 and 31 days - Loss of 50% of total booking cost
30 days or less - Loss of 100% of total booking cost
Cancellation fees for air tickets issued by or on behalf of Footsteps in Asia will apply as determined by Airline Tariff Regulations, and may vary as to the type of ticket issued. Depending on the reason for your cancellation, these charges may be recoverable under any insurance policy you have purchased.
If you do not pay the balance of your total booking cost at least 56 days prior to departure your booking may be terminated and you will lose your deposit. Additional Footsteps in Asia cancellation penalties may apply. No refunds will be made if you leave a trip for any reason after the trip has begun. No refunds will be made for any accommodation, transport, sightseeing, meals or services not utilised.
6) Booking amendments
If you wish to change your booking in any way, the following fees will apply:
1. Transfer from one tour to another.
Amendment request received by Footsteps in Asia 56 days or more prior to the original tour departure date: $150 per person per trip will be levied and must be paid prior to any transfer being confirmed.
Amendment request received by Footsteps in Asia within 56 days prior to the original tour departure date: charges will apply as per cancellation fees.
2. Amendments to your booking, in relation to any other arrangements made in conjunction with your tour (e.g. pre- and post tour accommodation, transfers, etc), received by Footsteps in Asia within 56 days prior to tour departure date will be subject to a $100 administration fee per change. This fee is in addition to any charges levied by ground operators, hotels or airlines.
3. No amendments are permitted to your booking within 10 days of departure.
7) Changes to holiday
You acknowledge that travelling with Footsteps in Asia requires a degree of flexibility, good humour, and an understanding that the itinerary, accommodation, and/or modes of transport may change, even after a tour’s commencement, without prior notice due to local circumstances. Changes may occur because of ‘Force Majeure’, poor road conditions, weather, the availability of tickets, vehicle breakdowns, changes in transport schedules, or other circumstances beyond Footsteps in Asia’ control or which simply cannot be foreseen. Footsteps in Asia does not accept any responsibility for loss of enjoyment, delays or compensation resulting from circumstances beyond Footsteps in Asia’ control. You acknowledge that group sizes may also vary during the duration of your tour. The information about trips given in this brochure, Tour Brochure and Pre-Departure Information are subject to change. It is your responsibility to review the up-to-date Tour Brochure and Pre-Departure Information. These can be obtained from Footsteps in Asia, Footsteps in Asia’ website or your travel agent. The information and conditions in the Trip Notes and Pre-Departure Information are deemed to be part of the contract. Where changes to your trip occur after you have received your final documentation we will, where practical, advise you or your travel agent of such changes.
8)Authority of the leader
At all times the decision of the Footsteps in Asia leader or representative (“Footsteps in Asia Leader”) will be final on all matters likely to affect the safety and well-being of the trip. This includes any decision that the Footsteps in Asia Leader makes about your on-going participation in the trip or certain activities that comprise part of the trip. If you fail to comply with a decision made by a Footsteps in Asia Leader, or interfere with the well-being of the group, then the Footsteps in Asia Leader reserves the right to terminate this contract and order you to leave the tour immediately, with no right of refund.
9) Complaints
If you have any complaint about your trip, you must make it known at the earliest opportunity to the leader and/or Footsteps in Asia local representative, who will normally be able to take appropriate action. If at the end of the trip you feel your complaint has not been properly dealt with you must notify us in writing within 30 days of the end of your trip.
10) Travel insurance
Adequate and valid travel insurance is compulsory for all Footsteps in Asia’ travellers. Your travel insurance must cover accidents, injury, illness and death medical expenses, including any related to pre-existing medical conditions, emergency repatriation (including helicopter rescue and air ambulance where applicable) and personal liability. Footsteps in Asia also recommends it covers cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. You must carry proof of insurance with you and produce it if reasonably requested by Footsteps in Asia’ employees or suppliers. Footsteps in Asia reserves the right to cancel or suspend your participation on a trip or in certain activities that comprise part of a trip, at any time, including after the commencement of your tour, with no right of refund, if you are unable to provide proof of insurance when requested.
11) Passport and visas
It is your responsibility that you carry a valid passport and have obtained the appropriate visas when travelling with Footsteps in Asia. Please ensure that your passport is valid for 6 months beyond the duration of your holiday.
12) Health, fitness, trip grades and age limits
It is your responsibility to advise Footsteps in Asia of any pre-existing medical condition and/or disability that might reasonably be expected to increase the risk of you requiring medical attention, or that might affect the normal conduct of a tour and the enjoyment of other trip members. If requested by Footsteps in Asia, or our suppliers, you may be required to provide an assessment of your medical condition by completing a special Health & Fitness Questionnaire and/or a Medical Clearance Form, the latter which requires certification by a medical practitioner. Footsteps in Asia reserves the right, at its reasonable discretion, to cancel your booking and refund the money paid by you, less any unrecoverable costs. Footsteps in Asia also reserves the right to cancel your participation in a trip at any time, including after the commencement of your trip, with no right of refund if your medical condition and/or disability could be reasonably expected to affect the normal conduct of the trip and the enjoyment of other trip members. Generally, we do not allow travellers under the age of 18 years on Footsteps in Asia scheduled itineraries. However we will occasionally make exceptions for under-18s travelling with their legal guardian. The decision for any person under 18 years of age to travel on our scheduled itineraries is at the absolute discretion of the management of Footsteps in Asia. For further information please contact Footsteps in Asia Adventures.
13) Publicity
You agree that Footsteps in Asia may use images of you taken during the trip without recourse to you and without compensation to you, for publicity and promotion purposes only through whatever medium it chooses.
14) Privacy
In order to be able to supply a service to you Footsteps in Asia will need to collect certain information from you, some of which may be of a personal nature. The information may be disclosed to, or collected on our behalf by our service providers to enable the services to be provided, but will not be used by them for any other purpose. Please call us on +66 2684 1053 for further information or refer to our website: http://www.footstepsinasia.com/privacy
15) Governing law
This agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of Bangkok Thailand and each party agrees to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Bangkok Thailand as regards any claim or matter arising under this agreement.
