Terms & Conditions
As per agreed terms & conditions with the tour operator, 9 Vallees, at the time of booking, and including, but not limited to the T&Cs listed below. Any contractual arrangements as a result of a booking enquiry are directly with the tour operator and is subject to their terms and conditions.
GENERAL TERMS & CONDITIONS
BOOKING
Deposit of €750 per person required to secure booking. You will receive confirmation and invoice by return. It is preferable to contact us first to be sure there is room for you in a suitable group on the expected departure. No booking will be registered without a paid deposit and a signed booking form.
Any booking made within 31 days of departure date must be accompanied by full payment.
PAYMENT OF DEPOSIT : by cheque made out to "Association Safari 9V" or by Visa or MasterCard.
BALANCE PAYMENT is due no later than 31 days before the trip. Any trip not fully paid 31 days before departure date will be considered as cancelled by the participant.
-By credit card: 31 days before departure, “Safari 9 V” will charge on your credit card the balance amount indicated on your booking form, unless you have sent written cancellation or disapproval of the invoice before this deadline.
-By cheque: Your balance cheque should be received by “Safari 9 V” no later than 31days before departure of the tour.
CANCELLATIONS OR CHANGES
All changes or cancellations requested more than 90 days before departure date will cost € 80 for administration fees.
CANCELLATION FEES BEFORE DEPARTURE :
-90 to 60 days ; 30% of tour price ;
-60 to 32 days ; 60% of tour price ;
-31 and less or “No show” : 100%.
-If some charges undertaken by 9Vallees for fees such as transportation & accommodation booked for the participant, if “Safari 9V” is supporting fixed fees for this participant and, if the cancellation fees do not cover the expenses, the cancelling participant will be charged with the difference. All cancellation must be made in writing (by fax or by mail), the date being that of reception.
CANCELLATION WITHOUT FEES: As per below.
REPLACEMENTS: Any person enrolled can send another person in his/her place at any time free of charge, as long as the replacement person has the required skiing ability.
CREDIT: When cancelled at least 7 working days in advance, we can credit the total amount paid for a trip on the following year. In this case, we keep the total amount and send you a credit voucher worth one year, which you may use for yourself or offer to the person of your choice.
PRIVATE GROUP BOOKING CANCELLATION
In case of booking within a group, the cancelling participant will be reimbursed according to the above “cancellation fees” paragraph , minus the afforded group reduction or the group will announce Safari 9V that it shares the difference.
CANCELLATION BY “Safari 9V”
INSUFFICIENT NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: “Safari 9V” reserves itself the right to cancel any group for which less than 4 persons have booked (6 for Norway and Russia) 31 days before departure, in which case, the client will be fully reimbursed, or choose to join another tour.
LACK OF SNOW: “Safari 9V” will try to propose another tour at the same dates (alternative programme or location). A disagreeing participant would have the choice between postponing the same tour or being reimbursed.
INTERRUPTED TOURS
Any trip that has been started and then interrupted by a participant will not be reimbursed, whatever the cause. Only personal insurance can guarantee refund of partial cost for a justified cause. (see “Insurance” there under).
QUALITY
The places of accommodation have been chosen both for their strategic location and for the charm of their mountain atmosphere, however luxury cannot be promised. The organisers reserve the right to alter the programme at any time, in the aim of improving quality or making the best of prevailing conditions. Each guide has an average of 6/7 skiers per group, however on the spot it may be necessary to shift skiers in order to make the groups more homogeneous, consequently changing the size of each group.
INSURANCE
MOUNTAIN RESCUE INSURANCE is mandatory. Check your coverage for accidents, repatriation and luggage. Mastercard covers rescue off piste, when accompanied by a professional. We may help participants living in the European Union to find such an insurance
CANCELLATION INSURANCE is optional, and may be contracted only privately. Visa Premier and Gold MasterCard provided by the French banks afford cancellation insurance for tours paid by credit card. Check with your own bank.
RESPONSIBILITY
In booking with “Safari 9V”, each participant declares him/herself fully aware of the inherent risks in the practice of all mountaineering activities. A guide should not be considered as a comprehensive insurance policy. We are dealing with something more than just sports, as we are confronted with a natural environment, which we may know profoundly, but can never control. The role of a guide or instructor is to reduce risks to a minimum. Therefore, any participant who does not respect the guide’s instructions, becomes entirely responsible for any accident he may subsequently cause or be involved in and will not be able to claim against the Safari 9V guides or organisers.
Generally, “Safari 9V” cannot be held responsible for accidents which may occur during the trip, such as personal injury, loss of belongings, etc... unless professional failing can be proved. For all legal action, whatever the nationality of the participant or the place concerned, only French courts can deal with legal cases.
GENERAL CONDITIONS FOR HELI-SKIING
CANCELLATIONS OR CHANGES
All changes or cancellations requested more than 31 days before departure date will cost €80 for administration fees. Under 30 days the date may be changed only if there is a free seat at another time.
CANCELLATIONS WITHIN 31 DAYS OF DEPARTURE: All costs left to Safari 9V will be charged to the person who has cancelled: empty seat in the helicopter, bed in the hotel, share of the guide and organisation costs.
REPLACEMENTS: Any person enrolled can send another person in his / her place at any time, free
INTERRUPTED TOURS: Any trip that has been started and then interrupted by a participant will not be reimbursed, whatever the cause. Only personal insurance can guarantee refund of partial cost for a justified cause.
CANCELLATION OR CHANGE BY SAFARI 9V: In case of insufficient snow cover for heliskiing, Safari 9V will propose an alternative tour at the same date or the same tour at a later date. If neither are accepted by the client, he will be fully reimbursed.
QUALITY OF REIMBURSEMENT
The guides will organise the daily programme to make the best of prevailing conditions. When heliskiing is not possible or not recommended by your guide, an alternative ski programme will be proposed. If the total number of flights made by your group during the week is less than the number booked, the missing flights will be reimbursed *€ / person each, less the eventual cost of extra lift passes.
*Ask us for more info as every different heliski operation has a different rate for missing flights.
INSURANCE
RESCUE INSURANCE is compulsory (for mountain rescue, assistance, transportation to nearest hospital).
CANCELLATION INSURANCE may be subscribed privately for cancellation before the trip or interruption due to accident and repatriation. Highly recommended, as all subsisting costs will be charged in case of absence. Payment by credit card, Visa Premier or Gold MasterCard, may provide cancellation insurance. Check your contract.
RESPONSABILITY AND LIABILITY
In booking with Safari 9V, each participant is fully aware that there are inherent risks in the practice of all mountaineering activities. A guide should not be considered as a comprehensive insurance policy. We are dealing with something more than just sports, because man is confronted with a natural environment, which he may know profoundly, but can never control. The role of a guide or of an instructor is to reduce risks to a minimum. Heli-skiing involves an additional risk, which is that of the helicopter itself and the landing points which are sometimes quite narrow. Each participant is responsible for his own behaviour during pick-ups, flights and landings and is expected to respect precisely all specific instruction given prior to the flights, as well as every guide’s instruction during the helicopter manoeuvres and the skiing. The guide will instruct, warn and give orders, but cannot physically control the behaviour of the people he is guiding, therefore, any participant who does not respect his instructions, becomes entirely responsible for any accident he may subsequently cause or be involved in and will not be able to claim against the 9V guides, the organisers or the pilot.