Booking Conditions

Please take the time to read and understand the conditions of booking set out below prior to booking a trip with us.

1. Our contract

All bookings are made with Birmat Consulting Pty Ltd (ABN 20 163771784) (us/we) trading as Qupido Travel. By booking a trip with us you are deemed to have agreed to these Booking Conditions (which constitutes the entire agreement between you and us) and your booking will be accepted by us on this basis. The services to be provided are those referred to in your booking confirmation invoice.

2. Validity

Dates and itineraries are valid until 31 December 2024. Beyond 31 December 2024 dates and itineraries are indicative only.

3. Acceptance of booking and final payments

If we accept your booking we will issue a confirmation invoice.  A contract will exist between us from the date we issue the confirmation invoice or, if you book within 60 days of departure, the contract will exist when we accept your payment.

4. Booking on behalf of others

By booking on behalf of other participants, you are deemed to be the designated contact person for every participant included on that booking. This means that you are responsible for making all payments due in connection with your Tour booking, notifying the Tour Operator or your travel agent if any changes or cancellations are required and keeping your party informed.

By booking on behalf of another person or persons, you represent and warrant that you have obtained all required consents. You are responsible for verifying that any information you provide on behalf of another participant is complete and accurate and the Tour Operator will under no circumstances be liable for any errors or omissions in the information provided to complete a booking.

5. Prices & surcharges

Our trip prices are subject to variable and seasonal pricing, both of which are standard practice within the travel industry. This means our trip prices may vary at any time in accordance with demand, market conditions and availability. It is likely that different passengers on the same trip have been charged different prices. Your best option if you like the price you see is to book at that time. Any reduced pricing or discounts that may become available after you have paid for your trip will not apply. If you wish to cancel your booking to take advantage of a cheaper price, full cancellation conditions apply. The most up to date pricing is available on our website. Please note that a surcharge may be applied to all purchases made by credit card.

6.Your details

In order for us to confirm your travel arrangements you must provide all requested details with the balance of the trip price. Necessary details vary by trip; they include but are not limited to full name as per passport, date of birth, nationality, passport number, passport issue and expiry date and any pre-existing medical conditions you have which may affect your ability to complete your travel arrangements. Failure to provide requested details may result in additional charges or non-refundable cancellation of your trip.

7. Cancellation by the traveller

If you cancel some or all portions of your booking cancellation fees will apply.  A cancellation will only be effective when we receive written confirmation of the cancellation.  If you cancel a trip:

  • 60 business days or more prior to departure, we will retain 10% of the total booking cost;
  • between 31 and 60 business days prior to departure, we will retain 50% of the total booking cost;
  • 30 business days or less prior to departure, we will retain 100% paid by you in connection with the booking.

You are strongly advised to take out cancellation insurance at the time of booking which will cover cancellation fees.  If you leave a trip for any reason after it has commenced we are not obliged to make any refunds for unused services. If you fail to join a tour, join it after departure, or leave it prior to its completion, no refund will be made.

8. Cancellation by us

Our trips are guaranteed to depart once they have one fully paid traveller. We may cancel a trip at any time prior to departure if, due to terrorism, natural disasters, political instability or other external events it is not viable for us to operate the planned itinerary. If we cancel your trip, you can transfer amounts paid to an alternate departure date or receive a full refund. In circumstances where the cancellation is due to external events outside our reasonable control refunds will be less any unrecoverable costs. We are not responsible for any incidental expenses that you may have incurred as a result of your booking including but not limited to visas, vaccinations, travel insurance excess or non-refundable flights.

9. Booking amendments

If you wish to transfer from one trip to another or transfer your booking to a third party you must notify us at least 60 business days prior to the proposed departure date.  A fee of  200 USD per person per change will apply (in addition to any charges levied by hotels, ground operators or airlines). If you notify us less than 60 business days prior to the proposed departure date the refund policy applicable to cancellations will apply.  Transfers to a third party are only permitted where the transferee meets all the requirements in relation to the trip, and transfers to another departure can only be made to a departure within the current validity period.

Amendments to any other arrangements made in conjunction with your trip will incur a 150 USD administration fee per booking per change. This fee is in addition to any charges levied by hotels, ground operators or airlines.  No amendments are permitted to your booking within 10 days of departure.

10. Inclusions

The land price of your trip includes:

  • all accommodation (twin sharing basis)
  • all transportation with guide and driver
  • sightseeing
  • all meals
  • all museum, entry fees and road permits
  • all Bhutanese Government visa fees and royalties
  • all 10% service charge and 10% sales tax

11. Exclusions

The land price of your trip does not include:

  • international flights
  • travel insurance
  • optional activities and all personal expenses
  • soft drinks and alcoholic beverages
  • single accommodation (available on request)

12. Age & Health requirements

Minimum Age: For our trips the minimum age is 18 at the time of travel.

Maximum Age: For the majority of our trips we have no upper age limit though we remind you that our trips can be physically demanding and passengers must ensure that they are suitably fit to allow full participation.

You are responsible for assessing whether a Tour is suitable for you. You should consult your physician to confirm your fitness for travel and participation in any planned activities. You should seek your physician’s advice on vaccinations and medical precautions. We not provide medical advice. It is your responsibility to assess the risks and requirements of each aspect of the Tour based on your own unique circumstances, limitations, fitness level and medical requirements.

Travel with the us may involve visiting remote or developing regions, where medical care may not be easily accessible and medical facilities may not meet the standards of those found in your home country. The condition of medical facilities in the countries you may visit on your Tour varies and we make no representations and give no warranties in relation to the availability or standard of medical facilities in those regions.

13. Special Requirements

Any special requirements must be disclosed to us at the time of booking. We will use reasonable efforts to accommodate special requirements or requests but this is not always possible given the nature of the destinations visited and availability of options outside a planned itinerary. Certain activities may be inaccessible to you if your mobility is limited in any way. All food allergies and dietary restrictions must be disclosed to us at the time of booking but we cannot guarantee that dietary needs or restrictions can be accommodated. Any special requests or requirements do not form part of these Terms or the contract between you and us and we are not liable for any failure to accommodate or fulfill such requests.

14. Small groups & combination trips

Our trips are guaranteed to depart once they have two fully paid travellers.

At times we can have groups with small numbers of travellers.

Our maximum number of travellers per group is 16.

15. Passport and visas

You must carry a valid passport. Your passport must be valid for 6 months beyond the duration of the trip.  We are not responsible if you are refused entry to a country because you lack the correct passport, visa or other travel documentation.

16. Travel insurance

Travel insurance is mandatory for all our travellers and should be taken out at the time of booking.  Your travel insurance must provide cover against personal accident, death, medical expenses and emergency repatriation with a recommended minimum coverage of US$200,000 for each of the categories of cover. We also strongly recommend it covers cancellation, curtailment, personal liability and loss of luggage and personal effects. You must provide your travel insurance policy number and the insurance company’s 24 hour emergency contact number 30 business days before the start of yout trip; you will not be able to join the trip without these details.  If you have travel insurance connected to your credit card or bank account please ensure you have details of the participating insurer, the insurance policy number and emergency contact number with you rather than the bank’s name and credit card details.

17. Flexibility

You appreciate and acknowledge that the nature of this type of travel requires considerable flexibility and you should allow for alternatives. The itinerary provided for each trip is representative of the types of activities contemplated, but it is understood that the route, schedules, itineraries, amenities and mode of transport may be subject to alteration without prior notice due to local circumstances or events.

18. Change of itinerary

While we endeavor to operate all trips as described we reserve the right to change the trip itinerary. Please refer to our website before departure for the most recent updates to your itinerary.

Before departure:  If we make a major change we will inform you as soon as reasonably possible if there is time before departure. The definition of a major change is deemed to be a change affecting at least one day in five of the itinerary. When a major change is made you may choose between accepting the change, obtaining a refund of money paid on the land portion of the trip only or accepting an alternative tour offered.

After departure:  We reserve the right to change an itinerary after departure due to local circumstances or events outside of our control.  In such emergency circumstances the additional cost of any necessary itinerary alterations will be covered by you. Please note we are not responsible for any incidental expenses that may be incurred as a result of the change of itinerary such as visas, vaccinations or non-refundable flights.

19. Authority on tour

Our group trips are run by a professional guide. The decision of the guide is final on all matters likely to affect the safety or well-being of any traveller or staff member participating in the trip. If you fail to comply with a decision made by a guide, or interfere with the well-being or mobility of the group, the guide may direct you to leave the trip immediately, with no right of refund.  We may also elect not to carry you on any future trips booked. You must at all times comply with the laws, customs, foreign exchange and drug regulations of all countries visited, and you also agree to travel in accordance with our responsible travel guidelines.

20. Acceptance of risk

You acknowledge that the nature of the trip is adventurous and participation involves a degree of personal risk.  We use information from government foreign departments and reports from our own contacts in assessing whether the itinerary should operate. However it is also your own responsibility to acquaint yourself with all relevant travel information and the nature of your itinerary. You acknowledge that your decision to travel is made in light of consideration of this information and you accept that you are aware of the personal risks attendant upon such travel.

21. Limitation of liability

We contract with a network of companies, government agencies and individuals to assist in the running of our trips as agent for these Third parties.  We are not responsible for the acts and omissions of these Third parties.

Although we  take all reasonable care in selecting Third Party Suppliers, we are unable to control Third Party Suppliers, do not supervise Third Party Suppliers and therefore we cannot be responsible for their acts or omissions. Any services provided by Third Party Suppliers are subject to the terms and conditions imposed by these Third Party Suppliers and their liability is limited by their tariffs, conditions of carriage, tickets and vouchers and international conventions and agreements that govern the provision of their services. These may limit or exclude liability of the Third Party Supplier. You acknowledge that Third Party Suppliers operate in compliance with the applicable laws of the countries in which they operate and  we do not warrant that any Third Party Supplier is in compliance with the laws of your country of residence or any other jurisdiction.

We are NOT LIABLE AND WILL NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY CLAIMS, LOSSES, DAMAGES, COSTS OR EXPENSES ARISING OUT OF INCONVENIENCE, LOSS OF ENJOYMENT, UPSET, DISAPPOINTMENT, DISTRESS OR FRUSTRATION, WHETHER PHYSICAL OR MENTAL, RESULTING FROM THE ACT OR OMISSION OF ANY PARTY OTHER THAN THE TOUR OPERATOR AND ITS EMPLOYEES.

We are not liable for the acts or omissions, whether negligent or otherwise, of Third Party Suppliers or any independent contractors.

To the fullest extent permitted by law:

– any liability for any loss, death, injury or damage which you may suffer (directly or indirectly) in connection with or arising out of your participation in a trip, or any breach of the Booking Conditions, is excluded;

– you release us and our officers, employees, agents and representatives from any liability and expressly waive any claims you may have against us arising out of or in connection with your participation in a trip; and

– any condition or warranty which would otherwise be implied by law into these Booking Conditions (Implied Warranty), is excluded.

To the extent an Implied Warranty cannot be excluded, our liability in respect of the Implied Warranty is limited to (in our absolute discretion): (i) the provision of a similar trip to an equivalent value; or (ii) a refund of the total amount received by us from you in connection with your booking.

Any claim by you is excluded to the extent that it is for indirect or consequential loss, loss of profits or economic loss, however it arises, or for indirect, special, punitive or exemplary damages.

22. Optional activities

Optional activities not included in the trip price do not form part of the trip or this contract. You accept that any assistance given by your guide or local representative in arranging optional activities does not render us liable for them in any way. The contract for the provision of that activity will be between you and activity provider.

23. Claims & complaints

If you have a complaint about your trip please inform your guide or our local representative at the time in order that they can attempt to rectify the matter. If satisfaction is not reached through these means then any further complaint should be put in writing to us within 30 days of the end of the tour.

24. Severability

In the event that any term or condition contained in these Booking Conditions is unenforceable or void by operation of law or as being against public policy or for any other reason then such term or condition shall be deemed to be severed from this contract or amended accordingly only to such extent necessary to allow all remaining terms and conditions to survive and continue as binding.

25. Photos and marketing

You consent to us using images of you taken during the trip for advertising and promotional purposes in any medium we choose.  You grant us a perpetual, royalty-free, worldwide, irrevocable licence to use such images for publicity and promotional purposes.

26. Privacy policy

Any personal information that we collect about you may be used for any purpose associated with the operation of a Trip or to send you marketing material in relation to our events and special offers. The information may be disclosed to our agents, service providers or other suppliers to enable us to operate the Trip.  We will otherwise treat your details in accordance with our privacy policy (available for viewing on our Website).

27. Applicable law

The laws of Victoria, Australia govern these Booking Conditions to the fullest extent allowable.  Any disputes in connection with a trip or these Booking Conditions must be initiated in the courts of Victoria, Australia.