Terms & Conditions

These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") govern your relationship with YaatraExpress ("YaatraExpress", "we", "us") when you browse our website, make an inquiry, or confirm a booking for any adventure travel experience we curate. By proceeding with a booking or making any payment, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms in full.

If you are booking on behalf of a group, you represent that you are authorised to bind all participants in that group to these Terms, and you accept personal responsibility for communicating these Terms to each member of your party before departure.

1. About YaatraExpress

YaatraExpress is an adventure travel curation and coordination service. We research, select, and arrange access to adventure experiences — including Himalayan trekking, river rafting, paragliding, and wildlife safaris — delivered through a network of independent local operators, trek leaders, guides, accommodation partners, transport partners, and regional service providers ("Service Providers").

YaatraExpress does not directly operate treks, conduct river rafting, provide paragliding flights, or employ trek leaders, guides, cooks, porters, drivers, or pilots as its own employees. Our role is to curate, coordinate, and facilitate access to these experiences on your behalf. The actual delivery of on-ground services is performed by independent Service Providers who possess the relevant local knowledge, certifications, and equipment for each experience.

This structure is standard and common across the adventure travel industry in India. It does not diminish the quality of your experience; it is why we can offer genuine local expertise in each destination.

2. Definitions

• "Participant" means any person who joins a YaatraExpress experience, including the lead booker and all members of a group booking.
• "Experience" means any trek, safari, rafting trip, paragliding flight, or other adventure activity arranged through YaatraExpress.
• "Service Provider" means any independent local operator, trek leader, guide, accommodation provider, transport company, or activity operator engaged in delivering any component of an Experience.
• "Booking Confirmation" means the written confirmation (via WhatsApp, email, or digital document) issued by YaatraExpress after receipt of the booking advance.
• "Departure Date" means the date on which an Experience commences as stated in the Booking Confirmation.

3. Bookings and Payments

3.1 Booking Advance

A booking advance (typically ₹2,000 per person or as stated at the time of booking) is required to confirm your slot. Your slot is not guaranteed until receipt of this advance and issuance of a Booking Confirmation.

3.2 Balance Payment

The remaining balance is due no later than 7 days before the Departure Date, unless an alternative timeline is communicated in writing in your Booking Confirmation. Failure to pay the balance by the stated deadline may result in cancellation of your booking and forfeiture of the advance.

3.3 Pricing

All prices are stated in Indian Rupees (INR) per person unless otherwise specified. Prices are inclusive of the components listed in the "Inclusions" section of each experience. Items listed under "Exclusions" are not covered and will be at your own cost. Pricing is subject to change prior to booking confirmation; once a Booking Confirmation is issued, the agreed price will not increase.

3.4 Payment Methods

We accept UPI, bank transfer, and other digital payment methods communicated at the time of booking. All payments must be made to YaatraExpress directly as instructed in your Booking Confirmation. YaatraExpress will never request payment to a personal bank account without prior written communication verifying the request.

4. Cancellation and Refund Policy

4.1 Cancellation by Participant

Cancellations must be communicated in writing via WhatsApp or email to YaatraExpress. The following schedule applies:

4.2 Cancellation by YaatraExpress

We reserve the right to cancel or reschedule an Experience due to insufficient group numbers, severe weather, natural disaster, government advisories, civil unrest, road closures, or any condition that makes safe delivery of the Experience impossible. In such cases, participants will be offered either a full credit towards a future Experience of equal or greater value, or a full refund of amounts paid to YaatraExpress. YaatraExpress shall not be liable for any additional costs incurred by participants, including but not limited to travel to/from the departure point, accommodation, or personal expenses.

4.3 Mid-Experience Modifications

Once an Experience has commenced, no partial refunds will be issued if a Participant voluntarily withdraws, is unable to continue due to personal fitness or health reasons, or makes choices inconsistent with the Experience programme. If a Participant is asked to withdraw by a trek leader on safety grounds, YaatraExpress will provide reasonable assistance in facilitating return transport but is not liable for any additional costs incurred.

5. Assumption of Risk — Adventure Activities

Adventure activities including but not limited to high-altitude trekking, river rafting, paragliding, wildlife safaris, and mountaineering involve inherent risks that cannot be fully eliminated regardless of the precautions taken. These risks include, but are not limited to:

• Altitude sickness, hypoxia, and High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) or High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE)
• Falls, slips, and injuries on mountain terrain, snow, ice, scree, or river banks
• Adverse and rapidly changing weather conditions including snowstorms, lightning, flash floods, and extreme cold
• River hazards including submerged rocks, hydraulics, and unexpected water levels
• Risks associated with aerial activities including turbulence, equipment malfunction, and landing incidents
• Wildlife encounters
• Injuries during transport on mountain roads
• Delays in emergency evacuation due to remoteness of locations
• Physical exhaustion, dehydration, frostbite, and sunstroke
• Pre-existing medical conditions aggravated by physical exertion or altitude

By confirming a booking, each Participant acknowledges these risks, voluntarily accepts them, and agrees that YaatraExpress and its Service Providers are not insurers of Participant safety. The Participant Waiver (available at yaatraexpress.in/waiver) must be read and accepted prior to participation in any Experience.

6. Participant Health and Fitness Requirements

Participation in adventure experiences requires adequate physical fitness, good general health, and the absence of medical conditions that would make participation unsafe. By booking, each Participant confirms that:

• They are in good physical condition and have prepared adequately for the Experience.
• They have consulted a qualified medical practitioner if they have any pre-existing health conditions, cardiac issues, respiratory conditions, diabetes, epilepsy, pregnancy, or any other condition that could be affected by physical exertion or altitude.
• They will disclose any relevant medical information to YaatraExpress and the trek leader before the Experience commences.
• They are not under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances during any activity component of the Experience.
• They accept sole responsibility for assessing their own fitness and health suitability for the Experience.

YaatraExpress and trek leaders reserve the right to refuse or remove any Participant from an Experience on health, fitness, safety, or behavioural grounds without liability for refund.

7. Force Majeure

YaatraExpress shall not be liable for any failure to perform, delay, cancellation, or modification of an Experience caused by events beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to: acts of God, natural disasters, earthquakes, landslides, floods, avalanches, severe weather, pandemic, epidemic, government orders, military action, civil disturbance, strikes, border closures, infrastructure failures, or any other event classified as force majeure. In such circumstances, YaatraExpress will make reasonable efforts to offer an alternative date, alternative experience, or credit, but is not obligated to provide a cash refund where costs have already been committed to Service Providers.

8. Route Changes and Experience Modifications

High-altitude and adventure environments are dynamic. Weather, trail conditions, forest department closures, local festivals, unexpected route damage, or the assessed safety of the group may require modification of itineraries, campsites, or experience components at short notice, including during the Experience itself. Such modifications will be made by the trek leader or Service Provider based on their on-ground assessment and professional judgement. YaatraExpress does not guarantee completion of any specific route, summit, or activity component. No refund or compensation will be issued for reasonable modifications necessitated by safety considerations or conditions beyond our control.

9. Third-Party Service Providers

YaatraExpress arranges Experiences in good faith using Service Providers selected for their local expertise, experience, and safety practices. However, YaatraExpress does not warrant, guarantee, or accept liability for the acts, omissions, negligence, or breach of any Service Provider, including but not limited to trek leaders, guides, cook staff, accommodation operators, transport drivers, river guides, paragliding pilots, or any other third party providing services during an Experience.

Each Service Provider is an independent business operating in accordance with local regulations and the terms of their own operations. Any claims arising from service failures by a Service Provider should be directed to that Service Provider. YaatraExpress will, where reasonable, assist in facilitating resolution but does not assume liability in place of the Service Provider.

10. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted under applicable Indian law, YaatraExpress's total aggregate liability to any Participant arising from or in connection with an Experience (including but not limited to personal injury, death, property damage, financial loss, or consequential loss) shall not exceed the total amount paid by that Participant to YaatraExpress for that specific Experience.

YaatraExpress shall not be liable for: (a) indirect, incidental, or consequential losses; (b) loss of income, loss of enjoyment, or emotional distress; (c) injury, illness, or death resulting from the inherent risks of adventure activities; (d) damage to or loss of personal property; (e) the acts or omissions of Service Providers; or (f) any loss arising from a Participant's failure to follow the instructions of trek leaders or guides.

Nothing in these Terms limits liability for death or personal injury caused directly by YaatraExpress's own proven gross negligence or fraud.

11. Travel Insurance

All Participants are strongly advised — and for certain Experiences it is mandatory — to obtain comprehensive travel insurance prior to departure. Insurance should cover, at minimum: emergency medical treatment, emergency helicopter evacuation, high-altitude rescue, trip cancellation, personal accident (including death and permanent disability), and loss of personal belongings. YaatraExpress does not provide insurance and is not liable for any costs that would have been covered by adequate insurance. Proof of valid insurance may be requested before participation.

12. Emergency Situations

In the event of a medical or safety emergency during an Experience, trek leaders and guides will make decisions in the best interests of Participant welfare using their professional judgement in the conditions present at the time. This may include evacuation, descent, hospitalisation, or contact with emergency services. Participants consent to receiving emergency medical treatment if they are incapacitated or unable to consent. All costs arising from emergency medical treatment, evacuation, or rescue — including helicopter rescue fees — are the sole responsibility of the Participant and should be covered by travel insurance.

YaatraExpress will provide reasonable assistance in coordinating emergency response but is not liable for delays arising from the remoteness of the location, weather conditions, or limitations of local emergency services.

13. Participant Conduct

Participants are expected to behave with respect for fellow participants, local communities, trek leaders, and the natural environment at all times. Trek leaders have the authority to ask any Participant to leave an Experience for: threatening, abusive, or disruptive behaviour; intoxication; failure to follow safety instructions; behaviour that endangers other Participants or Service Providers; or any conduct deemed harmful to the Experience or the reputation of YaatraExpress. No refund will be issued in such circumstances.

Participants must respect all applicable forest department regulations, Leave No Trace principles, and local cultural norms during the Experience.

14. Photography and Media

YaatraExpress may take photographs and video during Experiences for use in marketing, social media, and promotional materials. Participants grant YaatraExpress a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to use images and footage in which they appear, unless a written opt-out is submitted before the Experience commences. Personal photographs taken by Participants may be shared freely; however, commercial use of images taken by YaatraExpress staff or Service Providers without prior written permission is not permitted.

15. Intellectual Property

All content on the YaatraExpress website — including text, imagery, itineraries, brand assets, and data — is the property of YaatraExpress or its licensors. Reproduction, distribution, or commercial use of any content without prior written consent is prohibited.

16. Privacy

Your personal data is handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy. By booking, you consent to the collection and use of your data as described therein, including sharing necessary details with Service Providers for the purpose of delivering your Experience.

17. Amendments to These Terms

YaatraExpress reserves the right to update these Terms at any time. The Terms in force at the time of your Booking Confirmation are the Terms that govern your booking. Updates will be published on this page with a revised "Last Updated" date.

18. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of India. Any dispute arising from or in connection with these Terms or any Experience shall first be subject to good-faith negotiation between the parties. If unresolved within 30 days, disputes shall be referred to arbitration under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act 1996, with a sole arbitrator mutually appointed. The seat of arbitration shall be Kolkata, West Bengal. The language of arbitration shall be English.

Nothing in this clause prevents either party from seeking interim relief from a competent court. The courts of Kolkata, West Bengal shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any matters not subject to arbitration.

19. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, that provision shall be limited or severed to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.