1. Booking contract
The contract between you (the "client") and Himalayan 360, operating as Mardi Himal (the "company"), comes into effect when the company sends you a written booking confirmation by email. Please check that the names, dates, passport numbers, and trip selection on the confirmation match your passport exactly. Any error must be reported within 48 hours of confirmation; corrections after that may incur a fee.
2. Deposit and balance
A 30 % deposit of the total trip cost is required to confirm your booking. The remaining 70 % is payable on arrival in Kathmandu, at our Galkopakha Marg office, before the trip starts. We accept bank transfer, Stripe (international cards), and cash (USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, NPR). Card payments carry a 4 % processing surcharge.
For the climbing expedition, a 50 % deposit is required because of the longer lead time on equipment, climbing-sherpa assignment, and base camp logistics. The balance is payable on arrival.
3. Price changes
The price on the booking confirmation is the price you pay. We do not pass on currency fluctuations, fuel surcharges, or third-party rate increases after confirmation. We reserve the right to adjust prices on the website before a booking is confirmed; once your deposit is received, the price is locked.
4. Cancellation by the client
If you need to cancel, please notify us in writing by email. The cancellation charge is calculated on the date your written notice is received:
- More than 30 days before the trip start date: 25 % charge
- 15 to 30 days: 50 % charge
- 7 to 14 days: 75 % charge
- Less than 7 days, or no-show: 100 % charge
Permits already issued (ACAP, TIMS, climbing-related) are non-refundable in any case. Refundable amounts are returned by bank transfer within 14 working days, less the bank's wire fee. Card refunds are issued back to the card with no surcharge.
5. Postponement
You may postpone your trip once at no charge if you give us 30 or more days' notice in writing. Inside 30 days a postponement fee of 15 % applies. Postponed trips must be taken within 18 months of the original start date. After that, the booking is treated as cancelled under section 4.
6. Cancellation by the company
We rarely cancel a confirmed trip. If we do, we will offer a full refund or a free postponement to a future departure of your choice. We are not liable for consequential losses (international flights, lost holiday time, etc.) caused by a company cancellation; this is what your travel insurance is for.
7. Travel insurance is mandatory
Every traveller on every trip must carry a valid travel insurance policy. For the trek, the policy must cover trekking to at least 4,500 metres and helicopter evacuation. For the climbing expedition, the policy must cover climbing with ropes, crampons, and ice axe to at least 6,000 metres, helicopter evacuation, and medical repatriation. We will ask for a copy of the policy before the trip starts. Without it, we cannot allow you to begin.
8. Health and fitness
You must declare any pre-existing medical condition (heart, lung, blood pressure, diabetes, recent surgery, pregnancy) before booking. We may ask for a doctor's clearance for the trek and we always require one for the climb. The lead guide may stop your trip at any point on medical grounds; in that case the descent and onward arrangements are arranged at your cost (covered by insurance).
9. Conduct
The lead guide has authority over the group on safety, acclimatisation, and any matter affecting the group's wellbeing. Behaviour that endangers the group, breaks Nepali law, or persistently disrupts the trip may result in your removal from the trip. No refund applies in that case and you are responsible for your onward arrangements.
10. Force majeure
Events beyond our reasonable control (weather, flight delays, earthquake, landslide, political unrest, pandemic, government closures of conservation areas) are not our responsibility. We will reroute, postpone, or shorten a trip when needed and we will refund the cost of any service not delivered. We do not refund services already used (permits, hotels, transport, meals).
11. Flight delays
Domestic mountain flights are weather-dependent. If a flight is delayed or cancelled and we incur extra hotel, meal, or alternative transport costs (jeep, helicopter), the additional cost is split between affected clients. We will notify you of any extra cost in writing before it is incurred.
12. Itinerary changes
We reserve the right to alter the itinerary in the interest of the group's safety or due to circumstances beyond our control (closed teahouses, route damage, weather windows). Material changes will be communicated as soon as possible. The alternative arrangements will be of equivalent or higher standard.
13. Visa, passport, and entry
You are responsible for your own Nepal visa and onward visas (Tibet, India, etc., if applicable). We can advise on the visa-on-arrival process at Kathmandu (TIA). Your passport must be valid for at least six months from the trip end date. Entry-related costs (visa fees, entry taxes) are not included in the trip price.
14. Lost or damaged property
We are not responsible for the loss, theft, or damage of your personal property on trip. Your travel insurance should cover this. We do hold a small safety deposit box at our Kathmandu office for valuables (passport, cash, jewellery) during your trek; use it.
15. Photographs and promotion
We may use group photographs from your trip in our marketing, social media, and brochures, with your consent. At check-in we will ask you to sign a one-line release. You can opt out at that point; we will respect the choice. We never publish individual close-up photos of clients without explicit consent.
16. Last-minute bookings
Bookings within 7 days of departure are accepted subject to availability and at full price (no last-minute discount). Permits issued at counter speed (next-business-day at the NTB) may incur a courier fee.
17. Complaints
If something goes wrong on a trip, tell the lead guide immediately so we can fix it on the trail. Formal complaints must reach us in writing within 30 days of the trip end date. We aim to respond within 14 working days. Unresolved disputes are referred to TAAN's travellers' ombudsman.
18. Governing law
These terms are governed by the laws of Nepal. Any dispute that cannot be resolved through TAAN mediation is subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the District Court of Kaski.
19. Changes to these terms
We may update these terms occasionally to reflect changes in law or in our procedures. The version applicable to your booking is the one that was on this page when your deposit was received. The current version's effective date is at the top of this page.