Terms & Conditions

Outbound Expeditions Terms and Conditions

Role of Outbound Expeditions:

Outbound Expeditions curates and organises travel expeditions, partnering with various third-party travel service providers for logistics and on-ground services. We sell certain travel products on behalf of the relevant third-party travel service provider, and any services we provide are collateral to that agency relationship.

Booking:

Provide accurate passport information (names, nationalities, dates of birth, date of issue and expiration date) for all travellers.
A 30% deposit is required to secure your place on the expedition.
Final payment is due 60 days before departure.
Cancellations within 60 days of departure incur penalties (see Cancellation section).

Prices:

Prices are subject to change due to currency fluctuations or unforeseen circumstances.
Any price adjustments will be communicated before the final payment is due.

Cancellations by the customer:

Cancellations up to 61 days before departure forfeit the 30% deposit.
Cancellations within 60-31 days incur a 65% penalty of the total trip cost.
Cancellations within 30-16 days incur an 85% penalty.
Customers are strongly advised to have adequate travel insurance, including but not limited to coverage for costs arising from cancellation due to COVID-19 or other illnesses.
Trip cancellation with no penalty charge should war, a life-threatening epidemic, or any other natural catastrophe or similar event occur within 14 days before departure. However, this will be on the condition that your government advises against travelling to the specific area and that the situation in question has arisen after the booking of the tour was made.
Subject to applicable laws (including the Australian Consumer Law), participants will not receive refunds for cancellations within 15 days of departure or no-shows.

Changes & Cancellations by Outbound Expeditions:
- Outbound Expeditions reserves the right to make minor itinerary changes. Any significant changes will be communicated to you, and you can accept or reject them (and receive a full refund).
- Price adjustments may occur due to factors beyond our control (e.g., park fees and government levies).
- Outbound Expeditions may, for any reason, at any time and without prior notice, cancel, advance, postpone or deviate from any scheduled lodging or activity, or substitute lodging or activity. Outbound Expeditions shall not be liable for any claim whatsoever by the participant, including but not limited to loss, compensation, or refund, because of such cancellation, advancement, postponement, substitution or deviation.
  By way of example, and not limitation, Outbound Expeditions may, without liability, deviate from any scheduled itinerary and may accommodate the Customer and their property at any alternative location if Outbound Expeditions believes that the journey or any Customer or property may be adversely affected due to reasons including but not limited to hostilities, blockages, weather conditions, labour conflicts, strikes, mechanical breakdowns, congestion, medical or emergency situations, or any other unforeseen circumstance.
  Outbound Expeditions reserves the right to comply with any orders, recommendations, or directives issued by any government authority or individuals acting on their behalf; such compliance shall not be considered a breach of this Agreement, nor shall it entitle the Customer to claim liability, compensation, or a refund.
- If a full refund is due and complies with our refund policy, we cannot provide you with a refund until we receive the funds from the relevant third-party travel service providers.
Force Majeure:
- Outbound Expeditions is not liable for trips prevented or affected by reasons of war, threat of war, civil strife, industrial dispute, terrorist activity, natural or nuclear disaster, fire, adverse weather conditions, government actions and all similar events beyond our control. In these circumstances, Outbound Expeditions shall not be liable for any compensation or otherwise responsible for any expenses or losses the client might incur unless within Outbound Expeditions' reasonable control.
- In situations where a trip is interrupted or delayed due to Force Majeure, Outbound Expeditions will assist in making necessary travel changes, but the participant will be responsible for any additional costs or losses incurred.
- Clients are strongly advised to have comprehensive travel insurance, including coverage for trip cancellations or interruptions due to Force Majeure events.
Agency:

Outbound Expeditions acts as an agent for a diverse range of service providers and sells travel-related products on behalf of these service providers. Any services we provide to you are collateral to that agency relationship.
Our obligation to you is to (and you expressly authorise us to) make travel bookings on your behalf and to arrange relevant contracts between you and travel service providers.
We exercise care in selecting reputable service providers, but we are not ourselves a primary provider of travel services and have no direct control over or liability for the services provided by third parties.
All bookings are made on your behalf subject to the terms and conditions of carriage, including conditions of carriage and limitations of liability, imposed by these service providers. We can provide copies of the relevant service provider terms and conditions on request.
Your legal rights in connection with the provision of travel services are against the specific third-party travel service provider and, except to the extent that a problem is caused by fault on our part, are not against us. Specifically, if for any reason (excluding fault on our part) any third party travel service provider is unable to provide the services for which you have contracted, your rights are against that third party provider and not against us.

Liability:

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, we are not liable in contract, tort or otherwise for any injury, loss or damage (including specific, direct, indirect, consequential, economic loss, incidental damages, lost profits or savings or damages for disappointment) or inconvenience caused directly or indirectly by the acts or omissions of a third-party travel service provider over whom we have no direct control or arising as a result of any event which is beyond our control (including non-delivery of the travel products).
Our liability will also be limited to the extent that any relevant international conventions (for example, the Montreal Convention in respect of travel by air, the Athens Convention in respect of travel by sea, the Berne Convention in respect of travel by rail and the Paris Convention in respect of the provision of accommodation), limit the amount of compensation which can be claimed for death, injury, or delay to passengers and loss, damage and delay to luggage.
Under circumstances where our liability cannot be excluded and where liability may be lawfully limited, such liability is limited to the remedies required of us under applicable law (including the Australian Consumer Law). This liability clause is subject to your rights under the Australian Consumer Law and nothing in these terms and conditions is intended to limit any rights you may have under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth).
All information relating to a travel product or a third-party travel service provider is provided by the relevant third party provider or other independent third parties. We are not responsible for and make no warranty or representation about such information, including the standard, class, or description of accommodation or services provided by the third-party service providers.
Participants will be required to sign a liability waiver before the trip commences, acknowledging the inherent risks associated with adventure travel and releasing Outbound Expeditions and its partners from liability for any injuries or damages that may occur during the expedition.

Public Liability Insurance

Outbound Expeditions maintains comprehensive public liability insurance to cover any claims arising from bodily injury or property damage to third parties caused by our negligence during the expeditions.
This insurance does not cover personal injury or property damage suffered by participants during the expedition, nor does it cover claims arising from pre-existing medical conditions, alcohol or drug use, or participants' willful negligence.
All participants are required to obtain their own comprehensive travel insurance, including coverage for medical expenses, emergency evacuation, trip cancellation, and personal belongings. Proof of insurance is required before departure.
In the unlikely event of an incident where you believe you have a claim against our public liability insurance, please get in touch with Matthew Cheok at hello@outbound-expeditions.com as soon as possible.
Outbound Expeditions regularly reviews and updates its insurance coverage to ensure it remains adequate for the nature of our expeditions.

Indemnity:

You indemnify us (and all of our subsidiaries, officers, employees, contractors and agents) against all losses, claims, actions, proceedings, liabilities, damages, costs and expenses (including legal fees) arising from any claim by a third party arising directly or indirectly out of or in connection with:

your access or use of these travel booking services;
your breach of any provision of these terms and conditions; and
from any claim arising from your travel arrangements, including but not limited to any claim in relation to any third-party travel service provider or travel product.

To the extent permitted by applicable law, you waive any and all claims you may now or in the future have against Outbound Expeditions, its employees and contractors, and release from all liability and agree not to sue Outbound Expeditions, its employees and contractors.

Complaints:

Address any issues immediately to both Outbound Expeditions and the relevant service provider.
For unresolved complaints, please get in touch with Outbound Expeditions within 21 days of the trip's end.

Privacy Policy:

We are committed to protecting your personal information and agree to handle it in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
By providing personal information to us, you agree that our Privacy Policy will apply to how we handle your personal information and you consent to us collecting, using and disclosing your personal information as detailed in our Privacy Policy.
You agree that in certain circumstances (such as where you request us to book international travel for you), we are permitted to disclose your personal information to overseas recipients. Such recipients may include the overseas travel service providers (e.g. airlines, accommodation, or tour providers) with whom you make a booking. These travel service providers will, in most cases, receive your personal information in the country in which they will provide the services to you or in which their business is based. We may also disclose your personal information to our overseas related entities and service providers who perform services for us within and outside Australia.
We will only disclose your personal information to these persons in connection with the facilitation of your travel booking and/ or to enable the performance of administrative and technical services by them on our behalf. Where we disclose your personal information to any person (including any overseas recipients), you agree that we will not be required to ensure that person’s compliance with Australian privacy laws or otherwise be accountable for how they handle your personal information. When used above, “disclose” includes to transfer, share, send, or otherwise make available or accessible to another person or entity.

Participant Requirements:

This expedition is ideal for adventurous young adults and adults but welcomes all nature enthusiasts over 12 years old.
Participants should be in good physical condition and able to handle moderate walking and outdoor activities.
Families with children under 12 are encouraged to contact us to discuss potential arrangements.
All participants must hold comprehensive travel insurance covering medical expenses, emergency evacuation insurance (up to USD 200,000 per passenger), trip cancellation, and loss of personal belongings. Proof of insurance is required before departure.
Participants are responsible for obtaining any necessary visas and ensuring all travel documents are valid and in order.

Acceptance of Risk:

You acknowledge that the nature of your travel product may be adventurous, and participation involves a degree of personal risk. You may be visiting places where the political, cultural and geographical attributes present dangers and physical challenges greater than those present in our daily lives.
You also acknowledge that you are choosing to travel at a time where you may be exposed to the COVID-19 virus. It is your responsibility to acquaint yourself with all relevant information, including acceptable health risks. You acknowledge that your decision to travel is made based on your own consideration of this information, and you acknowledge and agree that you are aware of, and assume responsibility for, the risks associated with travelling at this time. You acknowledge that you may be required to follow additional policies or requirements in order to travel during this time. To the maximum extent permitted by law, we accept no liability in relation to these additional risks.

Health & Safety

Participants are responsible for assessing their own fitness and health for the expedition.
Any pre-existing medical conditions or concerns must be disclosed at the time of booking.
Outbound Expeditions reserves the right to refuse participation to anyone deemed unfit for the trip.
Participants must adhere to all safety instructions and guidelines provided by the guides and staff.
Participants acknowledge that medical care may be limited or delayed in remote areas and that medical evacuation may not always be possible.
We recommend that you consult with your local doctor, travel medical service or specialist vaccination clinic before commencing your travel for any vaccination requirements.

Code of Conduct:

We expect all participants to behave respectfully and responsibly toward fellow travellers, local communities, and the environment.
Disruptive or harmful behaviour may result in removal from the trip without a refund.
Participants agree to abide by all instructions given by the guides and staff, including those related to safety and environmental protection.

Photography & Media:

Outbound Expeditions may capture photos and videos during the trip for marketing purposes. Participants grant permission for their images to be used for commercial and/or non-commercial purposes unless they opt out in writing before the trip.
Drone usage is not permitted due to local regulations and park guidelines.

Travel Documents & Visas:

Participants must ensure their passports are valid for at least six months beyond the return date.
Participants must obtain any necessary visas and ensure all travel documents are in order.
Participants are solely responsible for obtaining all such documents, visas and permits prior to the start of the trips, and participants are solely responsible for the full amount of costs incurred as a result of missing or defective documentation.
You agree that you are responsible for the full amount of any loss or expense incurred by us that is a direct result of your failure to secure or be in possession of proper travel documentation.
We recommend checking for any travel advisories or warnings issued by your government before the trip.

Accommodation:

Room or tent assignments will be made based on availability and group dynamics.
We will try to accommodate special requests (dietary, accessibility) whenever possible, but we cannot guarantee them. Additional fees may apply.

Solo Traveller Accommodation:

Single Occupancy Tent: As a solo traveller, you can opt for a private tent, subject to availability. This option incurs a single supplement fee to cover the additional cost of occupying a tent alone.
Shared Tent: Share a tent with another solo traveller of the same gender.
Important Note: If you initially choose to share a tent but decide you prefer a private tent during the trip, a single supplement will be applied to cover the additional cost and is subject to availability.

Transportation:

Ground transportation will be provided in comfortable, well-maintained vehicles suitable for safari conditions.
Luggage handling assistance will be available at camps and during transfers.

Activities & Guides:

A detailed itinerary of included activities will be provided before the trip.
Our experienced guides and trackers are passionate about wildlife and conservation and will share their knowledge and insights with you.

Communication:

We will communicate with you regularly before the trip, providing essential information and updates.
Emergency contact information will be provided for use during the trip.

Environmental Responsibility:

Outbound Expeditions is committed to sustainable tourism and responsible travel practices.
We adhere to a "Leave No Trace" policy and expect all participants to respect the environment and local communities.

Payment Methods:

We accept major credit cards and bank transfers.

Refunds:

Our refund policy is outlined in Section 4 (Cancellations).

Governing Law:

These terms and conditions are governed by the laws of New South Wales, Australia.

Acknowledgment:

You acknowledge and agree to the following:

you warrant that you are over the age of eighteen (18) and have sufficient funds to pay for the travel services;

you warrant that if you are under the age of 18 at the time of travel, you will be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian for the duration of the expedition;
your parent or legal guardian must sign a consent form and provide proof of their identity before your booking can be confirmed.

you have read these terms and conditions and, if booking for third parties, conveyed these terms and conditions to them;
you have read the terms and conditions of any suppliers or third-party travel service providers and agree to be bound by those;
you are responsible for checking the accuracy of all documents provided to you;
you warrant and acknowledge that you have accessed your government’s travel advisory body for any specific enquiries in relation to your intended destination; and
you understand that passport/visa and other required identity documents are your responsibility.

By booking this expedition, you acknowledge and agree to these terms and conditions.