About this policy
We understand that plans can change, especially when elderly family members or health are involved. This policy explains what happens if you need to cancel or change a booked yatra with Yatra to Temples (“Yatra to Temples”, “we”, “us”). Please read it before you confirm your booking.
How to cancel
- Cancellations must be sent to us in writing, by email to shiva@yatratotemples.in or by WhatsApp message to WhatsApp.
- Please include the lead yatri’s name, booking reference, travel date and the names of the yatris who are cancelling.
- A phone call alone is not treated as a cancellation. The date and time we receive your written message is the date of cancellation.
- We will confirm receipt of your cancellation in writing.
Cancellation charges
Charges are worked out on the total package cost, counted from the date of departure.
| When you cancel | Cancellation charge |
|---|---|
| 30 days or more before departure | 25% of package cost |
| 15 to 29 days before departure | 50% of package cost |
| 7 to 14 days before departure | 75% of package cost |
| Less than 7 days before departure, or no-show | 100% of package cost |
In every case, the non-refundable items listed below are deducted in addition to the charges above, unless the supplier gives us a refund.
Non-refundable components
Some parts of a yatra are paid to third parties who have their own rules. These amounts can be refunded only if, and to the extent that, the provider refunds them to us:
- Any fees paid for government yatra registration.
- Helicopter tickets, including Kedarnath helicopter tickets booked through the IRCTC HeliYatra portal, and charter or shuttle services. These follow the cancellation rules of IRCTC or the helicopter operator at the time of booking.
- Inner line permits, special permits and permit processing charges (for example, for Adi Kailash and Om Parvat).
- Visa fees, group permits and other charges for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, including amounts already paid to partners in Nepal or Tibet.
- Train or flight tickets, which follow the rules of the railway or airline.
- Hotel or camp bookings that the property has marked as non-refundable, especially during peak dates.
- Bank charges for international transfers, if any. We do not deduct online payment gateway fees from refunds.
Force majeure
Mountain yatras depend on weather and government decisions that are outside our control. These include, for example, landslides, road blocks, heavy rain or snow, cloudbursts, floods, earthquakes, government or district orders, suspension of the yatra or of registrations, temple closures or changes in temple opening and closing dates, helicopter service suspensions, strikes, epidemics or border closures.
- If such an event stops a yatra before it begins, we will offer a change of date, a different route, or a refund of the amount we can recover from hotels, transporters and other suppliers, minus the actual costs already paid to suppliers that cannot be recovered.
- If such an event happens during the yatra, we will do our best to keep everyone safe and complete the yatra where possible. Unused services will be refunded only to the extent our suppliers refund us.
- Extra costs caused by such events, like additional hotel nights, meals or vehicle days, are payable by the yatri.
Refund timeline
- Refunds due to you will be paid within 10 working days of our written confirmation of the cancellation.
- Where a refund depends on a third party (such as IRCTC, a helicopter operator, a hotel or an overseas partner), we will pay it within 10 working days after we receive it from them.
- Refunds are made by bank transfer to the account from which payment was received, or to an account you confirm in writing.
Changes and alterations
- If you wish to change your travel date, route, hotel or number of yatris, please tell us in writing as early as possible.
- We will try to make the change, subject to availability. Any difference in cost will be charged; we do not add a change fee of our own.
- Changing the travel date less than 15 days before departure is treated as a cancellation of the original booking.
- Changing a yatri’s name may not be possible once registration, permits or helicopter tickets are issued in that name, because these must match the yatri’s ID.
- If a yatri leaves the yatra midway by choice, no refund is due for unused services.
No-shows
If a yatri does not reach the agreed pick-up point at the agreed time, without informing us in writing in advance, it is treated as a no-show. The no-show charge in the table above applies, and no refund is due for services that could not be used.
Questions
If anything in this policy is unclear, please ask us before you book: our office phone, WhatsApp or shiva@yatratotemples.in.