(1D) Nathula Pass + Changu Lake

# TERMS & CONDITIONS **North Sikkim Sharing Travel LLP** Applicable to all bookings made through North Sikkim Sharing Travel LLP, its website, WhatsApp, telephone, or authorised representatives. By making a booking or paying any amount towards a tour, the guest confirms that they have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms & Conditions, along with the applicable package details, inclusions, exclusions, and Cancellation & Refund Policy. --- ## 1. Weather, Road Conditions & Government Restrictions North Sikkim and East Sikkim routes, including Nathula Pass, Changu Lake, New Baba Mandir, Lachen, Gurudongmar Lake, Lachung, Yumthang Valley, Zero Point, and other high-altitude destinations, are subject to weather conditions, road conditions, traffic, landslides, snowfall, military restrictions, and clearances from the Army, BRO, Police, Tourism Department, or other competent authorities. If any route, destination, or sector is closed, restricted, or declared unsafe by the authorities, the company may: * Modify or shorten the itinerary. * Suspend sightseeing to the affected destination. * Return or conclude the tour at the last permitted or safe point. * Reschedule or offer an alternative arrangement, wherever reasonably possible. The safety of guests, drivers, and staff will take priority over completion of the planned itinerary. No guarantee is made that every destination will be accessible on every departure. --- ## 2. Force Majeure & Events Beyond Our Control The company shall not be held responsible for delays, cancellations, interruptions, or non-performance caused by circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to: * Heavy rain, snowfall, landslides, floods, earthquakes, or other natural calamities. * Roadblocks, road closures, or adverse road conditions. * Army, BRO, Police, or government restrictions. * Strikes, civil unrest, curfews, protests, or security restrictions. * Epidemics, pandemics, or public-health restrictions. * Vehicle restrictions, breakdowns, or unavailability arising from circumstances beyond reasonable control. * Any other event that makes the tour unsafe or impractical to operate. In such circumstances, the company will make reasonable efforts to assist guests and provide available alternatives. Any refund, credit, rescheduling, or adjustment will be considered based on the services actually affected, the applicable cancellation policy, and amounts recoverable from service providers. No compensation for consequential loss, loss of enjoyment, missed connections, additional personal expenses, or other indirect losses shall be payable where the disruption arises from such circumstances, to the extent permitted by applicable law. --- ## 3. Permits & Guest Documentation Protected Area Permits and other applicable travel permissions are arranged based on the documents submitted by the guest. Permit approval is solely subject to the decision of the concerned authorities. Submission of documents does not guarantee permit approval. Guests must provide genuine, valid, complete, and accurate documents within the deadline communicated by the company. The company shall not be responsible for permit rejection, delay, or cancellation caused by incorrect, incomplete, expired, mismatched, or late-submitted documents. Guests must carry the original documents required by the authorities during the journey. If a permit is denied or a destination becomes inaccessible due to government restrictions, the itinerary may be modified or cancelled as applicable. Guests must comply with all permit conditions, identification requirements, and instructions issued by the authorities. ### Permit Not Issued / Tour Not Started If the required permit for the tour is not issued by the concerned authority and, as a result, the tour does not commence, the guest shall be eligible for a refund of the amount paid, **after deduction of Rs. 400/- (Rupees Four Hundred only) Per Person as a Convenience Fee**. However, once the tour has commenced, **no refund shall be payable if the tour remains incomplete, whether in whole or in part**, including where any destination, sightseeing point, route, or sector cannot be completed due to weather conditions, road conditions, government restrictions, permit restrictions, Army/BRO restrictions, natural calamities, or other circumstances beyond the company's reasonable control. The above provision shall not affect any refund or compensation that may be mandatorily payable under applicable law. --- ## 4. Booking Confirmation & Payment A booking is considered confirmed only after the required payment has been received and confirmation has been issued by North Sikkim Sharing Travel LLP. A tentative enquiry, quotation, or payment request does not guarantee seat or hotel availability. The guest must pay the balance amount within the deadline communicated by the company. Failure to pay the balance within the stipulated time may result in cancellation of the booking, release of seats, or forfeiture of applicable amounts as per the cancellation policy. Prices, availability, inclusions, and conditions are subject to the package details and written confirmation issued at the time of booking. Any additional service, upgrade, optional excursion, or personal expense not included in the confirmed package shall be payable separately. --- ## 5. Shared Vehicle & Departure Rules Our sharing packages operate through shared vehicles with fixed reporting and departure schedules. Guests must report at the specified pickup point before the communicated reporting time. Vehicles may depart on schedule to avoid delays to other guests. A maximum waiting period of 10 minutes may be provided at the boarding point, subject to operational feasibility. Failure to report on time or missing the vehicle will be treated as a no-show. No refund, compensation, or alternative transportation shall be guaranteed for a missed departure caused by the guest. Guests must follow the driver's and tour coordinator's instructions relating to boarding, seating, safety, and route restrictions. Vehicle allocation may change depending on operational requirements, subject to the nature of the confirmed package. The company is not responsible for delays caused by guests who fail to report on time. --- ## 6. Itinerary & Sightseeing The itinerary provided on the website, quotation, or booking confirmation is a planned itinerary and may be modified based on actual operating conditions. The sightseeing order, departure time, route, vehicle, hotel, or meal arrangements may change due to: * Weather and road conditions. * Traffic or local restrictions. * Permit timings and government instructions. * Vehicle or operational requirements. * Safety considerations. The company will make reasonable efforts to provide the listed services, but specific sightseeing order, exact timing, and access to every destination cannot be guaranteed. If a destination cannot be visited due to circumstances beyond the company's control, the company shall not be liable for compensation for the missed sightseeing unless otherwise required by applicable law or expressly agreed in writing. --- ## 7. Zero Point & Optional Excursions Zero Point, Kala Patthar, and other optional excursions or add-on services are subject to: * Weather and road conditions. * Government, Army, BRO, or local authority permission. * Vehicle availability. * Local operating conditions. These services are not included unless specifically mentioned in the confirmed package inclusions. Any optional excursion, local vehicle, permit, or add-on charge shall be payable separately as communicated by the company or local operator. The availability and price of such services may change depending on the conditions on the day of travel. --- ## 8. Hotels & Accommodation Accommodation will be provided at the hotel, homestay, or property mentioned in the package or at a similar category property, subject to availability. Hotel allocation may change due to operational requirements, availability, government restrictions, or circumstances beyond reasonable control. Room allocation, check-in, check-out, extra beds, room upgrades, and additional occupancy are subject to the property's policies. Guests must follow the rules and regulations of the accommodation provider. Any damage, loss, unpaid bill, or additional charge caused by a guest shall be payable by that guest directly. The company is not responsible for the personal belongings, valuables, or property of guests left unattended at hotels or during the tour. --- ## 9. Meals & Fooding Meals will be provided only as specified in the confirmed package inclusions. Meals are generally simple, home-cooked, or locally prepared, depending on the property and destination. Vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals may be available as stated in the package. Pure vegetarian food may not always be available, particularly in remote areas where food options and kitchen facilities are limited. Guests requiring strictly pure vegetarian food, Jain food, vegan food, or any specific dietary arrangement are advised to carry their own suitable packed food or make their own alternative arrangements. Special diets, food allergies, and specific meal requests must be communicated in advance but cannot be guaranteed. The company shall not be responsible for dissatisfaction arising from local food availability, taste, menu limitations, or meal variations. Any meal not included in the package shall be payable separately by the guest. Guests with strict dietary requirements should not assume that a particular type of food will be available unless it has been expressly confirmed in writing by the company. --- ## 10. Children & Seating Policy Children below 5 years of age may share the existing bed with their parents, subject to hotel policy. No separate charge may be applicable for food and accommodation for such children where specifically stated in the package. A separate vehicle seat charge shall be payable for every child travelling, as a seat is required in the shared vehicle. Any extra bed, mattress, meal, permit, or other service required for a child shall be subject to the applicable charges and availability. Age-related benefits are subject to the child's actual age and the documents submitted at the time of booking. --- ## 11. Luggage Guests are advised to carry one reasonably sized bag per traveller in shared vehicles. Boot and luggage space is limited and is shared among all passengers. Oversized, excessive, or additional luggage may not be accommodated. The company is not responsible for loss, theft, or damage to luggage or personal belongings, except to the extent liability cannot legally be excluded. --- ## 12. Health, Fitness & High-Altitude Travel The tour includes high-altitude destinations, with some routes reaching 11,000 feet and above, depending on the itinerary. Guests must assess their own physical fitness and suitability for high-altitude travel before booking. Guests with heart, lung, breathing, blood-pressure, or other medical conditions, elderly travellers, young children, and expecting mothers should consult a qualified medical professional before undertaking the journey. Guests must carry their prescribed personal medication and inform the company of any relevant medical concern where necessary. The company may recommend or require a guest to discontinue or modify travel if the guest's condition creates a safety concern. If a guest becomes unwell during the tour, the company may arrange reasonable assistance or recommend medical attention, subject to availability. Any medical, evacuation, hospital, accommodation, transportation, or other personal expenses arising from illness, injury, or medical emergency shall be borne by the guest, unless otherwise required by applicable law. The company does not provide medical treatment and cannot guarantee emergency evacuation or immediate access to medical facilities in remote areas. --- ## 13. Guest Conduct & Safety Compliance Guests must: * Follow instructions issued by the driver, tour coordinator, hotel, local authorities, Army, BRO, Police, and other competent personnel. * Respect local laws, customs, environmental rules, and permit restrictions. * Avoid unsafe conduct, intoxication, violence, harassment, or behaviour that may endanger themselves or others. * Not interfere with vehicle operations or insist on entering restricted or unsafe areas. * Be responsible for their own personal belongings and conduct throughout the journey. The company reserves the right to refuse boarding, suspend services, or discontinue a guest's participation where reasonably necessary for safety, legal compliance, misconduct, non-payment, or the protection of other guests, staff, or service providers. No refund shall be guaranteed in cases where services are discontinued due to the guest's misconduct, violation of rules, or actions that make continued participation unsafe, subject to applicable law and the circumstances of the case. --- ## 14. Cancellation, Rescheduling & Refunds Cancellation and refund requests shall be governed by the Cancellation & Refund Policy applicable to the booking. Cancellation requests must be submitted through the company's authorised communication channel. The date and time of receipt of the cancellation request may be used to determine the applicable cancellation charges. Once a booking is cancelled, reinstatement or rescheduling is not guaranteed and may be treated as a fresh booking. Rescheduling is subject to availability, permit requirements, hotel availability, vehicle availability, and any applicable charges. Any cancellation or rescheduling request due to personal reasons, illness, change of plans, travel delays, missed connections, or inability to travel shall be governed by the applicable cancellation policy. Refunds, where approved, shall be processed to the original payment method within 5–7 working days after approval and completion of the refund process, subject to banking or payment-gateway processing time. Refunds, where applicable, shall be calculated after deducting the relevant cancellation charges, non-refundable amounts, and charges already incurred or payable to service providers, as permitted under the applicable policy. Please refer to the separate Cancellation & Refund Policy for the exact cancellation slabs and conditions applicable to your booking. ### Special Refund Rule for Permit Failure If the required permit is not issued and the tour **does not commence**, the guest shall be eligible for a refund of the amount paid, **after deduction of Rs. 400/- as Convenience Fee Per Person**. If the tour **has already commenced**, no refund shall be payable merely because the tour subsequently remains incomplete, whether partially or fully, due to route restrictions, weather, road conditions, government restrictions, permit restrictions, Army/BRO restrictions, natural calamities, or other circumstances beyond the company's reasonable control. --- ## 15. Incomplete Tours, Early Departure & Unused Services If a guest voluntarily leaves the tour, returns early, misses a sector, does not use a booked service, or is unable to continue due to personal reasons, illness, or other circumstances attributable to the guest: * No refund shall be guaranteed for unused services, partially used services, hotel nights, meals, transportation, permits, or sightseeing. * Any refund consideration shall be subject to the applicable cancellation policy and the company's ability to recover amounts from service providers. * Additional costs for return travel, medical assistance, alternative accommodation, or other arrangements shall be borne by the guest unless otherwise agreed in writing. Where a tour is interrupted due to government restrictions, weather, or other force majeure events, the company will make reasonable efforts to assist guests, but completion of the original itinerary and recovery of all unused service costs cannot be guaranteed. **Once the tour has commenced, no refund shall be payable for an incomplete tour, whether the tour remains incomplete in part or in whole.** --- ## 16. Transportation & Third-Party Service Providers Hotels, homestays, vehicles, drivers, local operators, and other services may be provided through independent or third-party service providers. The company will make reasonable efforts to coordinate and arrange the confirmed services. However, service delivery may be affected by the policies, availability, conduct, or operational limitations of such providers. The company shall not be responsible for the independent acts or omissions of third-party providers or for circumstances beyond its reasonable control, except to the extent liability arises under applicable law or from the company's own negligence or breach of its obligations. --- ## 17. Liability & Limitation of Claims The company shall exercise reasonable care in arranging the services described in the booking confirmation. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the company shall not be liable for: * Indirect, incidental, or consequential losses. * Loss of business, income, opportunity, or personal time. * Missed flights, trains, buses, or onward connections due to tour delays. * Loss, theft, or damage to personal belongings. * Illness, injury, or medical expenses not caused by the company's negligence or breach of duty. * Disruptions caused by force majeure, government restrictions, or third-party service providers. Where a refund or compensation is legally or contractually payable for an affected service, the company's liability shall, to the extent permitted by law, be limited to the value of the affected or unprovided service, after considering the applicable booking and cancellation terms. Nothing in these Terms & Conditions shall exclude or limit liability that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited under applicable law. --- ## 18. Complaints & Service Issues Guests should report any service-related issue immediately during the tour to the company or tour coordinator so that reasonable corrective action may be attempted while the service is still being provided. Complaints submitted after completion of the tour should be made in writing through the company's authorised communication channel, with relevant booking details and supporting information. Failure to report an issue promptly may limit the company's ability to investigate or resolve it, but does not remove any rights available to the guest under applicable law. --- ## 19. Changes to Terms & Conditions The company reserves the right to update or amend these Terms & Conditions from time to time. The Terms applicable to a booking shall generally be those communicated or made available at the time of booking, unless a change is required by law, government instruction, or an operational or safety necessity. Any material changes affecting an already confirmed booking shall be communicated where reasonably practicable. --- ## 20. Governing Law & Jurisdiction These Terms & Conditions shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of India. All disputes arising out of or relating to a booking or these Terms & Conditions shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the competent courts and authorities in Sikkim, to the extent permitted by applicable law. --- **Company:** **North Sikkim Sharing Travel LLP**