Terms and Conditions

Please take the time to read this section carefully; we have tried to make it as concise and easy to read as possible. In addition to Mont Blanc Guides' general terms and conditions, it deals with specific instances such as cancellation (by you or Mont Blanc Guides), refunds, changing dates, etc.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING 2013 MONT BLANC HUT RESERVATIONS - PLEASE READ

Booking Procedure and Cancellation

Booking Procedure:

• Contact us and let us know the dates you're interested in; the best way to do this is to enquire about a course from the Dates and Prices page, but you could also use the Contact Us page, or call us at the office on +44 117 230 0144. (Phone not always manned, please leave us a message with a number where we can call you back).

• We will then confirm availability for your group size, answer any questions you may have, and send you a link to our booking form with instructions on how to proceed. Fill in the booking form and send it to us; we will then provisionally hold your places for you.

• Send us your deposit of 400 euros per person (see How to Pay). Once we have received this, we will confirm your places and send you your Course Joining Instructions. Please pay your deposit straight away after sending your booking form, as we can only hold unconfirmed places for a limited time.

Balance of payment is due no later than 90 days before course start date, and we reserve the right to cancel your place and retain your deposit if you do not pay by this time. If you would like to pay by bank transfer, you must pay any fees associated with the transaction so that the full amount arrives in Mont Blanc Guides' account. Should you wish to pay by card, please note that debit card payments are free of charge (examples of debit cards are Barclays Connect, Visa Electron, and Swith/Solo, where the money is take from your account immediately). Credit card payments incur a charge of 2.50% of the total amount payable (with a credit card, the balance is paid at the end of each month; examples include Barclaycard Visa and Credit Mastercard).

Cancellation by you:

Should you need to cancel, the following conditions will apply, according to when you inform Mont Blanc Guides in writing:
· More than 8 weeks before course start date: loss of deposit
· 4 – 8 weeks before course start date: loss of 50% of course fee
· Less than 4 weeks before course start date: loss of 100% of course fee

Cancellation by Mont Blanc Guides:

We need a minimum of 3 people in order to run a course – any week not reaching this minimum number will therefore not go ahead. This happens very rarely and we do all we can to avoid it, but if it looks like this may happen for your week we will let you know as soon as possible, usually at least six weeks before, and we will then offer you whatever alternative dates we have available. Should none of these be acceptable to you, you will of course receive a full refund. We will not be liable for the cost of any changes in travel arrangements as a result of changing dates, though this is often covered by cancellation insurance policies (see insurance section below).

Mountain Hazards and Conditions

Mountaineering is an inherently hazardous activity, with a risk of serious injury or death. Whilst we undertake to do all we can to keep any dangers to an absolute minimum, risk can never be entirely eliminated and you must accept this before joining one of Mont Blanc Guides' courses.

Mont Blanc Guides' guides will always do their best to help you fulfil your mountaineering objectives and otherwise give you as enjoyable a week as possible; however you must accept to be completely under their guidance and control whilst in the mountains, and to abide by any decisions they make. Being properly prepared and having a minimum standard of fitness is necessary in order to maintain an adequate safety margin on Mont Blanc. If, as a result of your physical condition or for any other reason, your guide decides that you are not ready to attempt Mont Blanc, suitable alternatives will be proposed, as long as a guide is available to accompany you - if no guide is available, we will suggest various other activities that you can do unaccompanied.

Bad weather or bad conditions (e.g. unusually high stone fall danger in the “Grand Couloir”, electrical storms, etc.) may mean it is not possible even to attempt Mont Blanc safely. Should this happen, every effort will be made to provide a suitably challenging alternative on a similar peak. Mont Blanc Guides' guide:client ratio for the three days on Mont Blanc is 1:2, which we feel is the best compromise between flexibility and course price; it is also the standard for Mont Blanc. We will usually have several teams operating on the mountain at the same time and these will be in radio contact to give us the most options to change things around should anyone need to turn back (we also try to pair up climbers of similar ability); however, though very unlikely the possibility exists that you may be required to abort your attempt in order to help another climber who is in difficulty.

Medical Conditions and Insurance

If you suffer from any medical condition which you think may be in any way relevant to your joining one of Mont Blanc Guides' courses, you must let Mont Blanc Guides and your doctor know; we will be happy to answer any questions he/she may have about what the week involves. Please also let your guide know when you meet him on the first evening.

Mountain rescue insurance:

Rescue in France is usually not charged, depending on the circumstances. In Switzerland however (where we spend some of the training days) you will always be asked to pay, and this could be several thousand Swiss francs, especially if helicopters are involved.

Medical Insurance:

The cost of hospitalization and subsequent care is potentially the most expensive part of any accident. However since Switzerland recently signed up to reciprocal health care for EU members (E111 form in the UK), this has become less of an issue for EU members, though it’s worth remembering that this arrangement does not cover 100% of medical costs. If you are not from the EU and are hospitalized in Switzerland without insurance, the cost could easily run to tens of thousands of Swiss francs.

Cancellation Insurance:

Mont Blanc Guides' booking conditions are designed to cover Mont Blanc Guides' commitments to our suppliers, and for this reason we will be obliged to uphold them regardless of circumstances. Cancellation insurance (often provided if you book by credit card for example) will cover the cost of the course should you need to cancel, and we strongly recommend it. We will happily produce written confirmation of your booking with Mont Blanc Guides and the money you paid in order for you to make your claim with your insurers.

Please note that the above information is intended as a guide only, and represents the current situation as we understand it. We accept no responsibility for the accuracy of the above information. Probably the best insurance on offer for this sort of trip is provided by the British Mountaineering Council - see www.thebmc.co.uk for details. (under travel insurance). This is a policy designed specifically for mountaineering trips, so is unlikely to contain the random mountaineering exclusion clauses (e.g. “except if ropes are used, not above an altitude of”, etc.) often found in more general travel policies; it is only available to UK nationals however, so if you are from outside the UK you’ll need to make separate arrangements.

IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO DECIDE ON THE LEVEL OF INSURANCE YOU REQUIRE AND TO VERIFY THAT YOU ARE COVERED. WE ACCEPT NO RESPONSIBILTY FOR COSTS INCURRED, HOWEVER THEY MAY ARISE, WHICH ARE NOT COVERED BY YOUR INSURANCE.

Acknowledgement of Risk

The client hereby agrees that, except in respect of death or personal injury caused by the negligence of your guide, your guide will not have any liability (whether in contract or in tort, including negligence) for any loss, damage, injury or death which the client may suffer in connection with this activity nor for any failure by the client to take out adequate insurance. The client agrees that the contract between Mont Blanc Guides and you will be governed by English law and that any matter or dispute in connection with this contract will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.