1. Cancellation by the Client

All cancellation requests must be submitted in writing by email or through an officially recognized communication channel of Tashi Pelbar Bhutan Travel Company.

The cancellation date will be determined by the date on which the written cancellation request is received and acknowledged by our company.

Standard Tour Cancellation & Refund Schedule

The above refund percentages apply to the tour/service cost and are subject to the exclusions and third-party charges described below.

2. Non-Refundable and Third-Party Charges

Any refund due to a client may be reduced by charges that have already been paid or become non-refundable, including, but not limited to:

• Visa and applicable government processing charges
• Sustainable Development Fee (SDF), where not refundable under applicable government rules
• Airline and flight cancellation charges
• Domestic flight tickets
• Hotel or resort cancellation charges
• Luxury hotel and special accommodation charges
• Festival, event and special-program charges
• Trekking and special activity charges
• Permit and other non-refundable fees
• Bank transfer and payment-processing charges
• Currency conversion charges
• Any other non-refundable third-party costs

Where a third-party supplier has a stricter cancellation policy than ours, the supplier's applicable cancellation conditions will apply to that particular service.

3. Sustainable Development Fee (SDF)

The Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) is a government levy and is separate from Tashi Pelbar Bhutan Travel Company's own service charges.

Any SDF refund will be processed strictly in accordance with the rules and procedures of the Government of Bhutan and the relevant government authority.

Tashi Pelbar Bhutan Travel Company will assist clients with the applicable refund process wherever possible; however, we cannot guarantee the approval, amount or processing time of a government-administered SDF refund.

4. Flight Cancellation and Refund

International and domestic air tickets are subject to the fare rules and cancellation conditions of the respective airline.

• Cancellation charges will be determined by the airline.
• Refunds will be made only where permitted by the applicable fare conditions.
• Date-change and rebooking charges will be payable by the client.
• No-show conditions will be determined by the airline.
• Any refundable amount will be processed after deduction of applicable airline and administrative charges.

Tashi Pelbar Bhutan Travel Company will assist the client in submitting eligible refund requests but cannot guarantee a refund where the airline's fare conditions do not permit one.

5. Cancellation After the Tour Has Started

Once the journey has commenced, no refund will normally be provided for unused services resulting from a client's voluntary decision to:

• Leave Bhutan early
• Shorten the itinerary
• Miss scheduled sightseeing
• Skip meals or activities
• Change personal plans
• Miss transportation
• Leave the group
• Reduce the number of nights
• Voluntarily discontinue the tour

This is because accommodation, transportation, guides and other services may already have been paid or committed in advance.

Where a refund is recoverable from a hotel, airline or other service provider, Tashi Pelbar Bhutan Travel Company will make reasonable efforts to recover the applicable amount on the client's behalf.

6. No-Show Policy

A no-show occurs when a client fails to arrive for the confirmed tour without providing prior written notice.

In the event of a no-show, no refund will normally be provided.

This may include accommodation, meals, transportation, guide services, activities and other pre-arranged services.

Any applicable government refund, including an SDF refund, will remain subject to the relevant government rules and procedures.

7. Rescheduling and Postponement

We understand that postponing a journey may sometimes be preferable to cancelling it.

Clients may request to reschedule or postpone their trip, subject to availability and the terms of our suppliers.

Tashi Pelbar Bhutan Travel Company will make reasonable efforts to accommodate such requests.

Any additional costs resulting from:

• New travel dates
• Seasonal price differences
• Hotel rate changes
• Flight changes
• Guide or vehicle extensions
• Changes to the itinerary
• Supplier amendment charges

will be payable by the client.

Rescheduling is not guaranteed and remains subject to availability.

8. Cancellation by Tashi Pelbar Bhutan Travel Company

If Tashi Pelbar Bhutan Travel Company cancels a confirmed tour for reasons within our reasonable control, the client will be offered either:

1. A refund of the amount received for the affected services; or
2. An alternative travel arrangement of comparable value, subject to the client's agreement.

Where a service is cancelled by Tashi Pelbar Bhutan Travel Company, applicable refund processing or transfer charges will be borne by the company to the extent required under applicable Bhutanese tourism regulations.

9. Force Majeure

Tashi Pelbar Bhutan Travel Company shall not be held responsible for failure, delay, interruption or alteration of services resulting from circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to:

• Natural disasters
• Earthquakes
• Landslides and floods
• Severe weather conditions
• Road closures or major roadblocks
• Flight cancellations or major flight disruptions
• Epidemics or pandemics
• War or civil unrest
• Government restrictions or directives
• Border closures
• Airport closures
• National emergencies
• Strikes or industrial action
• Other extraordinary or unforeseeable circumstances beyond our reasonable control

In such circumstances, we will make every reasonable effort to:

1. Assist with rescheduling the journey.
2. Arrange alternative services where possible; and/or
3. Recover refundable amounts from relevant service providers.

Any refund will be limited to the amount actually recoverable from the relevant service providers and authorities, after applicable non-refundable charges.

10. Special, Luxury, Festival and Customized Tours

Different cancellation terms may apply to:

• Luxury and 5-star accommodation
• Major festival tours
• Trekking packages
• Large group bookings
• MICE and corporate programs
• Special events
• Customized itineraries
• Charter flights
• Exclusive activities
• Special transportation arrangements

Where different terms apply, they will be clearly communicated to the client in the quotation, invoice or booking confirmation before the booking is confirmed.

11. Group Bookings

Group bookings may require advance commitments to hotels, vehicles, guides, restaurants and other service providers.

Therefore, special cancellation and payment terms may apply to group bookings.

The applicable terms will be communicated in the relevant group quotation or booking confirmation.

12. Refund Processing

Once the refundable amount has been confirmed, Tashi Pelbar Bhutan Travel Company will normally initiate the refund process within 10–15 working days.

However, refunds dependent upon airlines, hotels, government agencies, banks or other third parties may take longer.

The actual processing time will depend on the relevant institution and banking system.

Any applicable bank transfer, payment gateway or currency conversion charges may be deducted from the refundable amount where such charges are attributable to the client's cancellation.

13. Client Responsibility

Clients are responsible for ensuring that they have:

• Valid travel documents
• Appropriate passport validity
• Required visa or travel authorisation
• Necessary permits
• Appropriate travel insurance
• Correct travel dates
• Accurate passenger information

Cancellation or additional costs arising from incorrect information, invalid documents, visa refusal, failure to obtain required documentation or failure to meet applicable entry requirements may be charged to the client.

14. Changes to Confirmed Bookings

Requests to change a confirmed booking, including changes to:

• Travel dates
• Number of travellers
• Accommodation
• Room category
• Transportation
• Activities
• Itinerary
• Flight arrangements

are subject to availability and may result in additional charges.

Any price difference or supplier amendment/cancellation fee resulting from a client-requested change will be payable by the client.

15. Policy Compliance

This Cancellation & Refund Policy is intended to provide clear contractual terms for clients booking services through Tashi Pelbar Bhutan Travel Company.

Where applicable, the policy shall be interpreted in accordance with the laws, rules and regulations governing tourism services in Bhutan.

Where mandatory government regulations provide a different entitlement, the applicable government requirement shall prevail.

Our Commitment to You

At Tashi Pelbar Bhutan Travel Company, we believe that trust begins with transparency.

We are committed to handling every cancellation and refund request with fairness, professionalism and respect. Our team will provide reasonable assistance in navigating cancellation procedures, supplier refunds and applicable government processes.

We encourage all guests to carefully review this policy and obtain appropriate travel insurance before confirming their journey.

Travel with confidence. Discover Bhutan with Tashi Pelbar.

Tashi Pelbar Bhutan Travel Company