Terms and Conditions of Sale

Article 1 - Registration & payment

• Deposit: 50% of the total amount, non-refundable, due at booking. The booking is only firm and final upon receipt of the deposit.
• Balance: the remaining 50% must be paid no later than 30 days before departure. No reminder will be sent; the participant is solely responsible for meeting this deadline.
• Failure to pay the balance: if the balance is not paid by the due date, International Kayak Explorer may treat the expedition as cancelled by the client, with the deposit forfeited and cancellation penalties applied (Article 3).
• Accepted payment methods: bank transfer (IBAN provided at registration), PayPal (any fees to be borne by the participant), or cash (only for last-minute bookings on site, within the limits of local regulations).
• Invoice: an invoice will be sent by email after each payment.

Article 2 - Pricing and fare changes

Included: guiding, local logistics, accommodation, meals, airport/river transfers.

Not included: airfare, kayak transport on the plane, visas, vaccinations, repatriation insurance, personal expenses.

Fare changes: International Kayak Explorer reserves the right to modify its prices in the event of a significant change in local costs (taxes, fuel, accommodation) before the balance payment date. The participant will be informed and may cancel free of charge within 7 days.

Article 3 - Cancellation by the client

• Cancellation more than 60 days before departure: 100% of the balance refunded (deposit lost).
• Cancellation between 30 and 60 days before departure: 50% of the balance refunded (deposit lost).
• Cancellation less than 30 days before departure: no refund (deposit + balance lost).
• Seat transfer possible up to 7 days before departure (free of charge).
• No refund for personal reasons (fear, homesickness, disagreement with the group, etc.).
• Visa refusal or entry ban: no refund.
• PCR tests, quarantine, health requirements: the participant is solely responsible for meeting entry and stay conditions. No refund in case of non-compliance or refusal of entry.
• Voluntary non-participation: if a participant chooses not to take part in one or more paddling days (fatigue, soreness, fear, etc.), no refund or credit will be granted.

Article 4 - Cancellation or changes by the organizer

• Minimum group size not reached (fewer than 2 participants): postponement or full refund.
• Local issue / weather / river access / water level too low or too high: partial refund (depending on costs incurred) or full refund in case of disaster.
• Force majeure (pandemic, war, closed borders): no refund if costs are irrecoverable.
• Last-minute change for safety: no refund.
• Travel alerts: refund only in case of proven disaster (armed conflict, border closure). No refund for a simple recommendation to exercise caution.
• Localized terrorist threat: in the event of a specific threat identified by local or French authorities in the paddling area, the organizer may modify the itinerary or cancel the expedition. The participant will only be reimbursed for costs not incurred, with no additional compensation.
• Flight delay / participant strike: the expedition will start without them, with no catch-up or refund.
• Main guide unavailable: replacement, postponement or full refund (no additional compensation).
• Interruption due to serious accident: if an accident requires the group's evacuation, no refund for unpaddled days.

Article 5 - Liability, insurance, rescue costs, mediation, subcontractors, limitation

• The participant must provide proof of repatriation insurance + whitewater sports coverage class 3+ before departure.
• Minimum required amount: EUR 50,000 (fifty thousand euros) or more for search, rescue and evacuation costs.
• The organizer disclaims all liability in the event of an accident linked to failure to follow safety instructions.
• Insurance verification: the participant authorizes International Kayak Explorer to contact their insurer to verify the validity of the coverage. If no compliant certificate is provided, the participant may be excluded without refund.
• Rescue costs (helicopter, local team, search): exclusively borne by the participant or their insurance. The organizer does not advance any costs.
• Consumer mediator: in the event of an unresolved dispute, the participant may contact the mediator free of charge (details available on request).
• Local subcontractors: International Kayak Explorer works with independent local providers (guides, drivers, accommodation providers). The participant acknowledges that International Kayak Explorer cannot be held liable for acts or omissions by these third parties, except in the event of proven personal fault by the organizer in their selection.
• Limitation of liability: International Kayak Explorer's liability is limited to direct and foreseeable damages. In no event shall it be liable for indirect damages (loss of enjoyment, loss of income, missed connections, etc.).

Article 6 - Health & physical condition

The participant certifies that they are physically fit to practice whitewater kayaking class 3 and above.

Any pre-existing medical condition must be disclosed at registration.

Article 7 - Equipment, personal belongings, documents, air transport of the kayak, inspection

The participant is responsible for:

• Their kayak and personal paddling equipment.
• All their personal belongings (phone, camera, drone, money, documents, passport, visa, clothing).
• Breakage, loss or theft is at their own expense, including during transfers, accommodation, and on the water.
• Theft without forced entry: vehicles/accommodation do not always have a secure trunk; the organizer is not liable.
• Lost documents: the organizer does not handle repatriation or consular procedures.
• Transporting the kayak by plane: the sole responsibility of the participant and the airline. Cargo insurance recommended.
• Safety equipment inspection: the organizer reserves the right to inspect the life jacket, helmet, paddle and spray skirt before launch. In case of non-compliance, the participant will not be allowed to paddle and will not be refunded.

Article 8 - Conduct, safety, supervision, local customs, voluntary withdrawal

• Failure to follow instructions -> immediate exclusion without refund.
• Alcohol, narcotics, and medication affecting alertness are prohibited during navigation.
• Respect for local customs: the participant agrees to respect local traditions, dress codes, laws, and prohibitions (photography, public behavior, etc.). Any breach may result in exclusion without refund.
• Voluntary withdrawal: if the participant leaves the expedition early (fear, fatigue, disagreement), no refund and all repatriation and extra accommodation costs will be at their expense.
• Supervision: guide speaking French and English at minimum. A local guide may assist.

Article 9 - Governing law, disputes, right of withdrawal, jurisdiction, litigation costs

• French law applies. Amicable resolution before any court action.
• Pursuant to Article L221-28 of the French Consumer Code, the 14-day right of withdrawal does not apply to travel or leisure services offered on a specific date. The deposit remains due upon booking.
• Territorial jurisdiction: any dispute shall fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of the judicial court of [to be completed with your city].
• Litigation costs: in the event of court proceedings, the losing party shall bear the court and attorney fees incurred by the other party, up to EUR 3,000 unless the judge decides otherwise.

Article 10 - Accommodation & catering - local immersion

• Simple local accommodation (camp, guesthouse, inn, refuge). Shared living may occur; privacy not guaranteed.
• No Western cuisine; meals are typically local.
• Rustic local transport (vehicles may be cramped, without air conditioning).
• No refund for discomfort related to simplicity or cultural differences.

Article 11 - Allergies and dietary requirements

Must be disclosed at registration. The organizer will do their best but cannot guarantee a solution in remote countries. The participant may need to manage their own food. No refund.

Article 12 - Minors

Must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. No supervision outside navigation.

Article 13 - Tips

Not included, left to the participant's discretion according to local customs.

Article 14 - Force majeure specific to remote countries

• Strikes, road blockages, demonstrations, unexpected administrative closures, internal security issues: no right to a refund, unless the organizer decides otherwise.

Article 15 - Climate, altitude and environment

The participant must inform themselves and bring appropriate gear. No refund for climate-related discomfort.

• Himalayas: high altitude (> 3000 m), cold nights, icy water, possible snow.
• Colombia / Ecuador: humid tropical climate, heat, sudden rain, insects.
• Turkey / Montenegro / Italy / France: temperate to Mediterranean, possible thunderstorms.

Article 16 - Drinking water quality

Tap water is not always drinkable. The organizer recommends purification tablets, filters, or bottled water. No refund for waterborne or foodborne illness.

Article 17 - Additional risks in remote countries

Limited medical infrastructure, variable water quality, unstable electricity/telecommunications: no refund.

Article 18 - Waste management

The participant undertakes to leave no waste in nature and to carry back all their trash (paper, plastic, batteries, etc.).

Article 19 - Acceptance of specific risks

The participant acknowledges that the countries visited may present additional risks (limited local insecurity, corruption, unreliable infrastructure) inherent to remote destinations.

Article 20 - Acceptance of the terms and conditions

Booking or payment of the deposit constitutes full and unconditional acceptance of these general terms and conditions.

Article 21 - Authority of the guide and refusal to paddle

The guide (supervisor) is the safety expert. They are the sole judge of each participant's technical, physical and safety fitness to paddle (even partially). If, in their opinion, a participant poses a danger to themselves or the group (insufficient level, fatigue, non-compliant equipment, health condition, behavior), the guide may refuse access to the river for half a day, a full day, or the remaining duration of the expedition.

This refusal gives rise to no refund, partial or full, and the participant waives in advance any civil or criminal action against the guide or International Kayak Explorer in relation to this decision. Their discretionary decisions are binding on the participant, without appeal.

Article 22 - Liability of local subcontractors (reminder)

International Kayak Explorer works with independent local service providers (guides, drivers, accommodation providers). The participant acknowledges that International Kayak Explorer cannot be held liable for the acts or omissions of these third parties, except in the event of proven personal fault by the organizer in their selection. (This article is already included in Article 6, but is kept here for clarity and protective redundancy.)

Article 23 - Retention of personal data (GDPR)

In accordance with the GDPR, personal data collected (including medical data) is retained for 12 months after the expedition and then destroyed. The participant has the right to access, rectify and erase their data by contacting [email address]. These data are not transferred to third parties outside the legal framework.