These Terms and Conditions constitute the entire understanding and a contractual agreement between you, the tour guest and Sights and Soul Travels, LLC (“Sights and Soul Travels, “SST,” “we,” “us”), its owners, employees, shareholders, affiliated entities, agents, representatives, officers, directors, associates, successors, assigns and contractors (collectively, “Sights and Soul Travels”) with respect to any and all reservations, tours or transactions made with Sights and Soul Travels. These Terms and Conditions outline what Sights and Soul Travels, LLC agrees to provide when you register and pay for a tour, and what you, as a tour guest, agree to in return. They also contain specific limitations of liability.

This information is very important, please read it carefully, as payment of a deposit represents your acceptance of these Terms and Conditions and directs us to perform services on your behalf. These Terms and Conditions apply to all Sights and Soul Travels tours reserved on or after January 8, 2024.

Eligibility

Sights and Soul Travels is a women-only tour operator, and we accept all women over the age of 16 on our tours. Please note that women under 21 years old must be accompanied by an adult who is over 21 years old. There is no maximum age, however tour guests must be able to keep up with the pace of the group. Sights and Soul Travel’s groups have a maximum of 16 women traveling on each tour, although in rare cases, this number may be increased to 17 women to facilitate room sharing arrangements and for other circumstances that could not be foreseen in advance.

Reservation

Reservations should be made by completing and submitting the secure online reservation form.

For the registration form to be accepted, you must complete the registration form in its entirety, including all the required fields. You must actively acknowledge by signing your full name indicating that you have read and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions in order for the registration form to be accepted.

It is the responsibility of the tour guest to carefully read and understand all Terms and Conditions and all tour information before submitting the registration form and making the deposit payment. Any questions regarding Sights and Soul Travels’ Terms and Conditions should be sent to travel@sightsandsoul.com for clarification, before registering for any tours offered by Sights and Soul Travels.

A reservation is not accepted and there is no contract between you and Sights and Soul Travels until you receive a confirmation of registering for the tour.

Payments

A deposit is required at the time of registration. The deposit secures your place on a tour and covers some of the non-refundable costs charged by Sights and Soul Travels’ Third Party suppliers. Tour guests have 7 calendar days from the date and time of acceptance of their registration to cancel their registration. If a registration is cancelled within 7 calendar days, all payments will be refunded to the cancelling party in full. After 7 calendar days, regular cancellation terms will apply.

Tour prices are listed in US dollars and include all taxes where applicable. All payments must be made in US dollars. To reserve a space on any SST tour, a deposit of $600 per person, per tour is required at the time of making a reservation. No reservation is considered confirmed until the deposit is received by Sights and Soul Travels. The deposit is part of the final payment which must be made no later than 90 days prior to the start of the tour, unless otherwise agreed or advised. For all deposits and tour payments, SST accepts bank transfers from US checking accounts, Visa, Master Card, American Express, Discover, money orders and bank drafts. Visa, Master Card and Discover credit card payments incur a processing fee of 2.9% of the total amount paid with the credit card. American Express credit cards incur a processing fee of 3.9%. The processing fee is applied to cover fees charged by credit card issuing companies / banks.

After receiving the deposit payment or any other payment, the tour guest will receive an electronic payment receipt. Such electronic payment receipt is the official receipt and shows the amount paid, any credits applied and the remaining balance amount. It is the tour guest’s responsibility to confirm that the amount shown is accurate and notify SST immediately if an error is discovered.

When registering online, the tour guest will be asked to read and sign the Sights and Soul Travels’ Terms and Conditions. The tour guest’s authorization is a binding agreement for us to charge her credit card and as such she waives any right to a chargeback in the case of cancellation for any cause (except fraud), including a Force Majeure event, as defined herein, and she agrees to refund policies and procedures as outlined in these Terms and Conditions. By authorizing the credit card transaction, the tour guest acknowledges and agrees that reversing a valid credit card charge that was previously authorized is illegitimate. In the event that a tour guest attempts to chargeback, reverse, or recollect a booking payment already made without the authorization of Sights and Soul Travels, we reserve the right to collect all additional costs, fees, and expenses associated with such chargeback, reversal, or recollection, including, without limitation, attorney fees.

For tour registrations received within 90 days of a tour’s departure date, a full payment is due within 7 calendar days from receiving the confirmation of registration, unless otherwise agreed or advised.

If the tour of a tour guest’s tour of choice is fully booked, she will be placed on a waitlist. There is no fee or deposit required to be placed on the waitlist. Late registration payment deadline applies to any tour guest who is transferred from the waitlist to the tour within 90 days prior to the tour’s departure. Tour guests on the waitlist will be contacted if space becomes available and can inquire about the tour’s status by contacting SST by email or by phone. If a tour guest chooses to withdraw from a waitlist, we ask to be notified.

If registering for two or more tours, a separate deposit must be paid for each tour. If registering for two of more people, a separate deposit must be paid for each person.

Tour guests will receive the final payment reminder 5 days prior to the final payment date, then 3 days prior to the final payment date, then 1 day prior to the final payment date. The reminder will specify the final payment date and the amount due. On the final payment date, tour guest’s credit card or tour guest’s US bank checking account will be charged, and a payment receipt will be sent by email. If the tour guest’s credit card or her US bank checking account has insufficient funds to cover the remaining balance, the tour guest will be notified and asked to submit an alternate method of payment. Non-payment will result in being removed from the tour. The tour guest will be notified via email that her payment is past due and advised on the date that she will be removed from the tour if the situation is not remedied. If no payment is received by the stated date, such tour guest will be removed from the tour for non-payment and her initial deposit, as well as any other payments made will be forfeited.

Deposits and scheduled payments once received, are non-refundable, except under the circumstances identified in these Terms and Conditions. Final payments are non-refundable after the final payment date.

Tour guests may choose to make additional tour payments at any time. Such payments must be a multiple of $100 dollars.

Using Vouchers and Alumna Certificates

Cancellation vouchers for tours cancelled by a tour guest can only be used as part of the initial deposit for a new tour. They cannot be applied to a tour that a tour guest is already registered for. Cancellation vouchers have no cash value, have no expiration date, and can be transferred to another person. Cancellation vouchers will not be applied automatically, and tour guests must advise SST that they want to use a cancellation voucher. If a cancellation voucher is used by another person, SST will require a written authorization from the original recipient, and it can only be used as a part of the replacement tour guest’s initial tour deposit.

Alumna certificates can be applied only after the initial deposit payment requirements have been met. Alumna certificates have no cash value, can be transferred to another person, and have the expiration date of December 31 of the year following the year in which they were issued. If the alumna certificate is to be used by another person, a written authorization from the original recipient will be required.

Tour Pricing

Current tour prices are listed on the Sights and Soul Travels’ website pages corresponding to each tour. All tour prices are in US dollars and all payments must be made in US dollars. Prices shown are per person, double occupancy, with the price of an optional single supplement also listed. Due to currency fluctuations and other factors beyond our control, tour prices may change without notice at any time. Price changes are not retroactive, and tour guests who are already confirmed on the tour will not be affected by such price changes.

Travel documents

Tour guests are required to have a passport, valid for a minimum of 6 months from the tour’s ending date, and if necessary, a visa. Incomplete documentation may result in the airline and airport authorities refusing permission to enter the destination country.

Passports used for Sights and Soul Travels’ international tours need to have at least 2 blank pages for each country visited to accommodate entry and/or immigration stamps. Applicants in need of additional pages in their valid passports must obtain a new passport. For more information on how to apply, please call the National Passport Information Center toll-free at 1-877-487-2778 or visit Travel.State.Gov/ApplyEarly.

Sights and Soul Travels will not arrange for passports or visas (unless otherwise specified in a specific tour’s documents) and will not be held liable for any irregularities caused due to improper documentation. Each tour guest is responsible for determining specific passport and visa requirements in the destination country and for obtaining the necessary documents prior to departure. It is suggested that all tour guests check with the appropriate Consulate regarding the visa requirements. Failure to obtain travel documents does not negate the Terms and Conditions, and any extra costs incurred for rerouting or delay due to travel without the necessary documents will be the tour guest’s responsibility. A tour guest who cannot obtain proper documentation to travel will be responsible for whatever cancellation penalties are in force at the time of cancellation from the SST tour or at the time of denial of travel. Tour guest understands that requirements for entry to foreign countries may change. SST bears no responsibility for such actions of foreign governments and will not be responsible for advising and/or obtaining required travel documentation for any tour guest, or for any delays, damages, and/or losses including missed portions of a tour because of improper documentation or government decisions about entry.

In some countries, visitors may be subject to entry (reciprocity) fees and/or departure taxes/ exit fees which will be collected upon entry or departure by local government authorities at the airport. Please note that entry to any country may be refused even if the required information and travel documents are complete. SST will bear no responsibility for such actions of foreign governments and will not be responsible for any denial of entry.

It is the tour guest’s responsibility to provide required vaccine, immunization and other health documentation as determined by regulatory agencies. While SST may provide information or advice on matters such as visas, vaccinations, climate, clothing, and luggage as a courtesy to the tour guests, we are not responsible for any errors or omissions as to the information provided. We recommend the “Learn about your destination” section on the U.S. Department of State travel website www.travel.state.gov. For medical and immunization information, we recommend contacting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at (877) FYI-TRIP or www.cdc.gov/travel.

Travel Insurance

Sights and Soul Travels values you as a tour guest and we want your experience with us to be enjoyable and stress-free. Therefore, we strongly and emphatically encourage all tour guests to obtain the broadest available individual comprehensive Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance for the duration of the tour. Comprehensive travel insurance should cover trip delay, interruption and cancellation, flight delays and cancellations, airline tickets, baggage loss and delay, foreign medical expenses, personal accident/life, medical evacuation, repatriation, and other expenses that might arise as a result of loss, damage, injury, delay or any inconvenience that may occur to you. Your credit card may provide travel insurance and we encourage you to find the insurance company and policy that best suits your needs. You should read and understand the terms, conditions, and coverage limitations of any travel insurance policy you purchase and direct all questions regarding travel insurance and its coverage to the insurance company to understand the terms of coverage. For an overview of available options in travel insurance coverage, check the https://toursandvacationsforwomen.com/travelinsurance web page. It is each tour guest’s responsibility to determine the adequate amount of coverage to protect the travel investment, to understand the travel insurance policy’s terms and conditions, and what the specific travel insurance plan covers. The highest and most advantageous coverage is usually offered by travel insurance policies purchased within 7 days of making the first payment towards the trip.

In today’s changing travel environment, we strongly encourage tour guests to protect their travel investment by purchasing travel protection policy with the Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) coverage, if and when available.

Travel Insurance Waiver

Should you fail to purchase travel protection coverage, Sights and Soul Travels shall not be liable for any losses however they may arise for which trip protection plan coverage would otherwise have been available. This includes unforeseen or unknowable events that may impact travel. Declining to purchase an adequate travel protection plan could result in the loss of your travel investment and/or require additional payments to correct the situation. You also acknowledge that without this coverage, there may be no way to recover any losses, costs or expenses incurred.

In the event that you do not purchase travel insurance, you will be required to sign a waiver absolving Sights and Soul Travels of any refunds except as specified in these Terms and Conditions. Sights and Soul Travels reserves the right to refuse any tour guest’s participation in the tour if such travel insurance waiver is not delivered to its office 60 days before the tour’s starting date. Refusing to sign such travel insurance waiver will result in removal from the trip.

Travel Insurance Claims

Tour guests acknowledge that they must cancel the tour by sending a signed cancellation letter prior to submitting an insurance claim. Remaining on the tour while attempting to be reimbursed by insurance is unlawful.

Sights and Soul Travels assumes no responsibility for claim decisions made by travel insurance companies. Should the tour guest’s chosen coverage from her chosen insurance company fail to pay her claim, in part or in whole, she agrees she will not reverse legitimately authorized payments to SST to recover the financial loss.

Health and Safety

To enjoy the travel experience, tour guests should be in good physical and mental health. Sights and Soul Travels’ tours are meant for women in reasonably good health. If a tour guest has any concerns regarding her physical ability to participate in the tour, we strongly recommend consulting a physician before signing up for a tour. Any pre-existing physical, mental, or emotional disability that may require attention must be reported in writing prior to the beginning of a tour. Tour guests with chronic conditions may be required to submit a physician’s written approval for her to join the tour. Should a tour guest decide not to participate in parts of the tour due to her health limitations, no refunds will be made for those unused parts of the tour.

Tour guests should be prepared to walk up to three to five miles a day, often on uneven surfaces, including steps, be able to get on and off public transportation, and stand for extended periods, like inside museums, as well as outdoors in all weather conditions. Tour guests should have sufficient stamina to keep pace with the group during days which are full of activities. The group's itinerary will not be adjusted for people who are not able to keep up with the rest of the group.

It is critical that the tour guest provides honest, accurate and complete information when registering for a tour and responds truthfully to the health information questions. SST asks for this information to better understand the tour guest’s health issues, including medical assistance and medication use in case of emergencies. Further, the tour guest must notify SST if her health condition changes between the time the registration is submitted and the tour’s starting date.

We regret that our itineraries cannot accommodate walkers or wheelchairs, and we cannot provide special assistance for walking, dining or other personal needs. Tour guests requiring help must be accompanied by an able companion who will be entirely responsible for providing assistance to such tour guests. Our tour directors and guides cannot provide such assistance. By registering for a tour, the tour guest certifies that she does not have any mental, physical, or other condition or disability that could create a hazard for her or other tour guests. Sights and Soul Travels reserves the right at its sole discretion to decline to accept or to remove any tour guest who has a health condition that creates a hazard to other tour guests, is abusive of others or whose behavior is disruptive. SST will issue no refund and will accept no liability for persons who must leave the trip under such circumstances.

Please be aware that healthcare standards, facilities, and services abroad may vary depending on the destination. Before registering, please be advised that many tours include active experiences and touring in areas where modern amenities, like air conditioning, may not be available.

Furthermore, by offering reservations for travel in particular international destinations, Sights and Soul Travels does not represent or warrant that travel to such areas is advisable or without risk. SST will not be liable for damages or losses that result from travel to such destinations. It is the tour guest’s responsibility to determine her level of risk tolerance, including the decision to participate in a tour to a destination or country, where alerts and warnings have been issued or could be issued by official government agencies on or before the tour start date. If the tour is still scheduled to operate and the tour guest cancels her participation, regardless of the reason, standard cancellation fees will apply.

Additional risks and dangers may arise include, but are not limited to, hazards of travel by train, automobile, bus, boat, aircraft and other means of conveyance, animal interactions, forces of nature, political unrest, other unrest, risks associated with water, food, plants, insects and differing animal regulation, acts of national and local governments and unrest and acts of others against governments. The tour guest is participating in these activities voluntarily, with the knowledge that there may be significant dangers involved and agrees to accept any and all risks.

COVID-19 Vaccination Policy

As of January 1, 2023, Sights and Soul Travels no longer requires that tour guests provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination. However, should the country or the destination where the tour will be taking place start requiring COVID-19 vaccination, tour guests will be required to show proof of vaccination or cancel the tour, and regular cancellation terms will apply.

Medical Insurance

All tour guests must have medical insurance. The personal medical insurance may not cover medical expenses while traveling internationally. The tour guest should review her medical insurance to determine if coverage is appropriate, or if a supplemental medical policy is necessary. If tour guest does not confirm and/or secure appropriate personal medical insurance, as needed, she understands that she is at risk of significant expense and liability. Tour guest agrees to accept full and complete responsibility for any and all medical expenses and associated costs, whether or not covered by medical insurance.

Personal Accidents and Medical Emergency

In the event of an accident or medical emergency during a tour, SST and its Tour Director may be able to provide assistance, but the tour guest will be responsible for any cost incurred and related to such an emergency.

Special Requests

Any physical condition, diet, or treatment requiring special attention or accommodation must be reported in writing when the reservation is made. We will advise hotels and restaurants of any special requests of tour guests, provided we receive the request at the time of booking, however such requests cannot be guaranteed.

Active Elements and Conduct

Sights and Soul Travels’ tours are designed for healthy active women, and to enjoy the tours as intended, a minimum level of fitness is required. The tours are not suited for people with mobility issues. The suppliers of some activities included in tours may require a minimum age or minimum/maximum height or weight to participate. Some active elements have been incorporated into select itineraries. SST will require prior notice if any tour guest has any physical or other condition or disability that would prevent her from participating in active elements of any tour and/or could create a hazard to herself or to other members of the group.

Smoking

For the comfort of all tour guests, no smoking or vaping is permitted on the bus, in public areas, hotel rooms or during all group activities, including excursions and meals. Smokers must book a single room unless they share a room with another smoker or with another tour guest they personally know and who agrees to share the room with them.

Illegal drugs

Illegal drugs will not be tolerated on any Sights and Soul Travels’ tours. Possessing or using drugs not only contravenes the laws of the land, but also puts the rest of the group at risk.

Luggage

We recommend that tour guests bring one check-in sized bag/suitcase per person, plus a small carry-on bag. Due to a limited bus capacity, we request that only one bag per person be carried inside the bus. Baggage is carried at the owner's risk and baggage insurance is strongly recommended.

Tour guests may be responsible for getting their own luggage on/off trains, vans, boats, taxis, etc. and there may be limited space on trains and other transportation modes. SST will provide tour guests with a recommended packing list, adjusted to each tour’s specific needs, in the pre-departure printed package.

Single Supplement

Sights and Soul Travels’ tour accommodations are based on double occupancy, and single supplements are available on a limited basis at an additional cost. The actual cost of a single supplement for each tour is listed on the overview and itinerary website pages of each tour. Single supplements are refundable if cancelled prior to the tour’s final payment date. The cost of any single room supplement will be forfeited if cancellation is received after the final payment date.

Roommate Matching

If a tour guest chooses to pay for the tour at the shared-room, double-occupancy price, yet does not name a specific roommate, SST will match that tour guest with a roommate. Roommate matching is guaranteed, meaning that if a tour guest requests to share her room, SST will never charge her for a single room, even in the unlikely scenario that we cannot find a roommate. Roommate matching is done as a courtesy and while most matches are a great experience, roommate incompatibility, while rare, does occasionally happen. If during the tour you deem your roommate unsuitable, you will have an option to request and pay for a single room at all hotels directly, if available. This cost can be shared between the two people in the room if it is a mutual decision. If you are a very light sleeper or snore you may want to consider getting your own single room. There will be no refunds for complaints about roommates, and if any tour guest cancels the tour because of a roommate, there will be no refunds.

Communicating Prior to the Tour

Sights and Soul Travels uses email to conduct business transactions and to communicate with tour guests. The tour guest is responsible for providing a valid email address and agrees to receive emails from SST. The tour guest acknowledges that emails from SST contain important information regarding the tour and some may require an action by a certain date. The tour guest also acknowledges that failure to read emails from SST or failure to take action by a certain date does not release her from the terms and conditions contained herein. It is the responsibility of the tour guest to notify SST immediately in case of any changes to her email and other contact information. Sights and Soul Travels is not responsible for emails which got blocked or marked as spam by the tour guest’s email server.

Sights and Soul Travels can also be contacted by phone. Our office is open 9:00 – 5:00 EST, and we welcome hearing from the tour guests. Our office is also staffed for emergencies, and we provide a 24/7 phone number to tour guests during the tour.

Tour Arrival

Each Sights and Soul Travels’ tour begins in the airport of the tour’s starting city, and SST will provide airport transfers on arrival. Most airport transfers are individual chauffeured transfers, but in some instances, they are group transfers with set pick up times from the specified airport listed in the tour’s itinerary. Transfers from other airports, train stations, or other locations are not included in the tour price but may be arranged at additional cost.

Tour guests are required to provide SST with their flight itineraries no later than sixty days prior to departure. They are also required to notify SST if they are advised by the airline of their flight itinerary changes. Tour guests who opt to take alternate transportation to the hotel will not be reimbursed for the expense incurred. Tour guests who are delayed for whatever reason are responsible for notifying SST or their Tour Director of their situation and their anticipated arrival time. Delayed tour guests are responsible for joining the group as soon as possible and at their own expense. SST shall not be liable for the costs of unused lodging or activities missed due to a tour guest arriving late. Furthermore, if a tour guest arrives late, she will assume all costs to meet the tour in progress. For most tours, it is preferable to arrive at the starting location one day prior to the tour’s starting date.

Tour Departure

The tour’s ending date and time is listed on each tour overview and tour itinerary web pages. If for any reason, voluntary or involuntary, a tour guest leaves a tour in progress (including, but not limited to voluntary withdrawal, dismissal from the tour, illness, injury or any other reason), no refund will be issued. Furthermore, if a tour guest departs early, she is responsible for all costs of early departure whether the departure is for medical reasons, dismissal, personal emergencies or otherwise. These costs may include evacuation, medical treatment, meals and lodging costs, non-refundable airline tickets, change fees or other transportation costs, and expenses for staff who may need to accompany the tour guest. For example, if a tour guest becomes ill during a trip as a result of COVID-19, SST may need to isolate her and require COVID-19 testing, and her tour could be cut short or cancelled, with the tour guest incurring additional travel and medical expenses.

SST takes no responsibility or liability for any tour guest who leaves the tour prior to its conclusion or for any activity undertaken by any tour guest that is not included on the tour’s itinerary. There will be no discounts or refunds for any tour guest who temporarily leaves the tour and returns later.

Air Transportation

International airfare (to the tour’s starting point and from the tour’s ending point) is not included in tour pricing. Some tours require internal or domestic flights, as specified in the itinerary, which are included in the tour pricing, and luggage restrictions for such flights will be specified for each tour. Tour guests are responsible for fees for additional luggage outside of the specified luggage restrictions. If charter flights are used and seating is limited, SST reserves the right to substitute air reservations on any available alternatively scheduled flight. All internal airfares are based on economy class seating. Tour guest’s airline ticket constitutes a contract between the tour guest and the airline (and not SST), even if purchased through SST. SST shall not be liable and does not assume responsibility for, or accept claims with regard to, seat assignments, name changes, schedule changes, flight changes and/or cancellations.

Itinerary Modifications

Sights and Soul Travels is committed to offering high quality travel experiences. Tour information and itineraries are posted on the website and are, to the best of our knowledge, correct. SST will make every effort to operate all tours as published, however we reserve the right to substitute elements of the tour, alter or curtail the itinerary, substitute sightseeing, accommodations, visits, and itineraries at any time if improvements in the itinerary can be made or if unforeseen circumstances beyond our control make such changes necessary for the comfort, convenience, or safety of the tour guests.

SST may modify a tour itinerary prior to departure at its sole discretion to facilitate the tour, to protect the health and safety of tour guests, and when events occur that are beyond our control. If such an itinerary change materially affects the character of the tour, SST will notify all travelers by email as soon as reasonably possible, provided there is sufficient time to do so before departure.

Once a tour has departed, itinerary changes may be necessary as a result of unforeseen circumstances, operational concerns, or concerns for tour guests’ health, safety, enjoyment or comfort. Any itinerary changes are at the sole discretion of SST and the tour’s Tour Director.

During local or national holidays abroad, certain facilities such as museums, sightseeing tours, and shopping may be limited. Uncompleted portions of the tour itinerary are not a reason for refund. Delays or itinerary changes caused by strikes, severe weather, health emergency, traffic, or other unforeseen circumstances beyond our control are not reasons for refunds. In the unlikely event that a service, accommodation, or activity as described in the tour description cannot be provided, SST will make a best effort to provide a substitute service, accommodation, or activity. However, SST will not be held liable for not providing that service, accommodation, or activity.

About 30 days before departure, tour guests will receive additional, detailed tour information, including a detailed tour itinerary, internal flights information, starting times of activities, hotel contact information, money matters, packing lists, anticipated weather, general expectations, and other details relating to the specific tour. Tour guests should bring this information with them on the tour, and they are expected to be familiar with this information.

Scope of Service

Sights and Soul Travels is a tour operator, whose duties on behalf of its tour guests include preparing travel packages (organized tours). While acting on behalf of tour guests, SST enters into binding agreements with outside tour operators, accommodation providers, transportation companies, guides, attractions, and other Third Party Suppliers in order to be able to execute the itinerary as described in each tour’s documentation which is provided to the tour guest. Sights and Soul Travels, LLC is not an agent, employee nor a representative of any of the aforementioned suppliers. Tour guests’ payments are used to cover Sights and Soul Travels, LLC expenses incurred while administering the tour guests’ reservations, planning for tour guests’ participation in the tour, and making advance payments to suppliers to ensure availability of services and activities as described in the tour’s documents which are presented to the tour guest.

Third Party Suppliers

Sights and Soul Travels, LLC and its representatives are making all ground arrangements pertaining to the tour, including, but not limited to hotel, transportation and restaurant reservations, guided sightseeing, and admissions to sights, attractions and side trips. SST takes reasonable care in selecting competent, reliable and qualified Third Party Suppliers based on information that is reasonably available. That said, we act only as an intermediary for these Third Party Suppliers and do not and cannot control the quality of their services. The tour guest acknowledges that she is aware and clearly understands that these Third Party Suppliers are independent contractors, that they are not managed by Sights and Soul Travels, and that they are not agents or employees of Sights and Soul Travels. In the event of an injury, damage to property, delay or any other loss, compensation must be sought from the Third Party Suppliers, not from SST. The tour guest further understands that each of these Third Party Suppliers is subject to the laws of the country in which the service is provided. The liability of Third Party Suppliers may be limited by their tariffs, conditions of carriage, tickets and vouchers, as well as international conventions and agreements. SST uses Third Party Suppliers who sell their tours to the general public, and the tour guests acknowledge that other people may be a part of the same tour or activity. All tickets, receipts, and vouchers are issued subject to the terms and conditions specified by each Third Party Supplier, and by accepting them or utilizing their services, the tour guest agrees that neither SST, nor its employees or representatives are or may be liable for any injury, death, delay, theft, damage, or irregularities, however caused.

SST and its representatives will have no responsibility or liability for any injury, loss, or damage to persons or property; any act or default of any company or person engaged in conveying the tour guests, or in carrying out the arrangements of the tour, or otherwise; any additional expenses incurred or due to sudden sickness, weather conditions, strikes, or other causes or acts of God (including fire, flood, earthquake, storm, hurricane, volcanic eruption, epidemics, pandemics, or other natural disasters); any additional expenses incurred or due to war, invasion, acts of foreign enemies, cyber-attacks, hostilities (regardless of whether war is declared), civil war, rebellion, revolution, insurrection, military or usurped power or confiscation, terrorist activities, nationalism; any additional expenses incurred or due to government sanctions, government border closures, government enforced quarantine; any blockage, embargo, labor dispute, strike, lockout or interruption or failure of any mode of transportation; any additional expenses incurred or due to illness, accident, or death; any additional expenses incurred or due to anything else unforeseen or unnamed, any one of which could delay or cause cancellation of services. Tour guest acknowledges and agrees that the only potential recourse for reimbursement should any of the above events occur is through the purchase of travel insurance that would cover such events.

All transportation companies, air carriers, hotels, restaurants, guides, excursion companies, activity providers and all other entities that supply services related to the tour are independent contractors and are not owned, managed, controlled, supervised or operated by SST. All intermediaries and suppliers are independent contractors and are not agents, employees or representatives of SST. Sights and Soul Travels will not be held liable for the negligent acts or omissions of any Third Party Supplier.

Tour Inclusions and Exclusions

Included in the price of the tour:

- all accommodations: first class accommodations that reflect the region visited, centrally located near main attractions in the city and resort hotels in the countryside. Specific hotels for each tour are listed on each tour's accommodation page. SST reserves the right to substitute accommodations of similar or higher standard when necessary.

- all transportation, by private coach, by air, by sea or by rail during included group activities as per itinerary.

- private or group transfers between the airport and the hotel on arrival and between the hotel and the airport on departure. Please check the tour’s detailed itinerary to see if the private or group airport transfer is included on your tour. Airport transfers for early arrivals and late departures are not included in the tour price, but they are included in the cost of the additional night or may be available for an additional fee.

- all meals as per itinerary: breakfast at the hotel, dinner and/or lunch at either the hotel restaurant or at another restaurant, lunch or picnic lunch, as per itinerary. One non-alcoholic or alcoholic drink (if available) with lunch and dinner, on most tours. Please check the “What’s Included” section on each tour’s overview to see if alcoholic drinks are included on a specific tour.

- all included group activities and excursions, as per itinerary.

- all guided sightseeing, entry fees, park fees, tickets and admissions, as per itinerary.

- full-time Sights and Soul Travels’ Tour Director, professional in-country guides, bi-lingual local guides at most attractions.

- gratuities for guides (except safari rangers and cruise ship staff), drivers and restaurants, porterage fees on some tours, please check “What’s Included” section on the tour’s overview page to see if hotel porterage is included on a specific tour.

- personal listening devices and WiFi at the hotels on most tours.

- trip literature and planning support by the Sights and Soul Travels’ staff.

All quoted prices include the cost of the tour operator planning and operating the tour.

Tour prices DO NOT INCLUDE: airfare to the tour’s starting location and from the tour’s ending location, and any airport fees or taxes (unless otherwise noted), other transportation to the tour’s starting location, travel or other vaccinations if recommended or required, travel, accident, baggage, health, life or cancellation insurance, optional single supplement, additional night’s accommodations, meals not listed in the tour’s itinerary, all items of personal nature such as laundry charges, telephone calls, room service charges, mini-bar charges, gratuities to the Tour Director, gratuities to staff if cruising by ship is used during the tour, gratuities to safari rangers, private excursions or optional activities not included in the itinerary, if offered and available, passport and/or visa fees, when applicable. In the case of a computer or human billing error, we reserve the right to re-invoice tour guests with correct billing.

Any additional expenses incurred as a result of delay, change of schedules, illness, weather, strikes, hostilities, epidemic, pandemic, quarantine, government requisition of hotel space, or any other reasons beyond the control of SST, shall be borne by the tour guest.

Compliance with Local Law and Tour Etiquette

For the enjoyment of all our tour guests, we ask those who choose to travel with Sights and Soul Travels to be congenial, lighthearted and to take small issues in stride. Any issues that arise during the tour should be addressed with the Tour Director, who is the SST’s representative during the tour. Tour guests are expected to be considerate of fellow travelers, the Tour Director, local tour guides and the local people. Unkind and rude behavior will not be tolerated. Tour guests must strictly comply with all local laws, respect local customs and culture, respect other tour guests’ privacy, and follow the suggestions and advice of the Tour Director and local guides. The decision of the local guide or local supplier is final on all matters that may threaten the safety of the tour guest or interfere with the well-being of others.

Removal from a Tour

Sights and Soul Travels reserves the right to accept, decline, or retain any person as a tour guest at the tour at any time without liability and without any obligation to pay a refund or any other reimbursement. During the tour, SST and its Tour Director have the exclusive right at their sole discretion to remove anyone who they determine adversely affects the overall group dynamics, is a danger to herself or to others, is willfully ignoring the instructions of the SST Tour Director, detracts from others’ enjoyment of the tour or engages in activities that are incompatible with the safety and comfort of other tour guests. This includes, but is not limited to, indications of cognitive impairment such as dementia, abusive language or threatening behavior towards other tour guests or Tour Director, or discovery that the tour guest does not meet the minimum requirements for participation in the tour. SST reserves the right to refuse any future reservations from such tour guest. No refunds will be provided in the event of a tour guest’s removal from the tour.

Making Changes to Your Reservation

A tour guest can make minor adjustments to her reservation, such as adding an additional night to arrive one day early or changing shared accommodations to single accommodations or single accommodations to shared accommodations, if available, at no charge, until the final payment date. Making more significant changes, such as requests for accommodations two days before the tour’s starting date, accommodations for after the tour’s ending date, or upgrading the room type will incur a non-refundable $50 fee per change once the change is confirmed. Such charge will be applied only if the tour guest subsequently cancels her participation in the tour and it will be subtracted from the credit the tour guest receives at the time of cancellation. Change requests must be submitted in writing, are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed.

Tour Change by a Tour Guest

In order for a tour guest to change from a tour that she is already registered for to another tour, she is required to first cancel the tour for which she is currently registered. Regular cancellation procedures and cancellation fees, as outlined below, will apply.

Cancellation by a Tour Guest

Following the 7 calendar days period after confirmation of registration, a tour guest’s withdrawal from the tour for any reason, including, but not limited to, illness, injury, family engagements, work-related issues, health or geopolitical concerns, etc., will be deemed a cancellation. There will be no exceptions to the cancellation policy, and therefore, we highly recommend that tour guests purchase trip cancellation and interruption insurance. The amount and type of travel insurance that the tour guest determines is appropriate to protect her from the risk of financial loss is the only recourse for any imposed cancellation fees.

All cancellations must have the cancelling party’s actual signature, must be sent to Sights and Soul Travels, LLC in writing: by mail to Sights and Soul Travels, LLC, 13610 Chrisbar Ct., Germantown, MD 20874 or by an email attachment, to travel @sightsandsoul.com, and will be effective on the date they are received by SST.

After the 7 calendar days following the tour registration, tour deposits are not refundable. For cancellations prior to the final payment date, usually 90 days prior to the beginning of the tour, the deposit minus a $300 administrative fee, will be credited as a lifetime voucher that can be applied to any future tour, dependent on availability. Such voucher is only valid on new tour deposits, can be transferred to another person, and only one voucher per tour can be used. Any other payments, outside of the required initial deposit, made to Sights and Soul Travels before the final payment date, in respect of a tour cancelled by a tour guest before the final payment deadline, will be refunded by check, within 15 business days. When a credit card was originally used for payment(s), the refund will not include the processing fees initially charged by the credit card companies.

The final tour payments are due 90 days prior to the beginning of the tour, unless otherwise agreed or advised, and are not refundable. For cancellations within 90 days of a tour departure, there will be no refunds or credits issued, but it may be possible to transfer the space to another person of the tour guest’s choice, subject to change fees and permissions of hotels, airlines, trains, and tour activities operators. The replacement tour guest will make any payment arrangements for the pre-paid tour costs directly with the original tour guest, and she will assume responsibility for any outstanding balance payments. Some airline carriers and other transport providers treat name and departure changes as a cancellation. Accordingly, the replacement tour guest may have to pay for the airline cancellation fee or for the full cost of any internal airfare. The replacement tour guest must meet the Sights and Soul Travels’ registration eligibility and be approved to join the trip by SST.

Cancellation charges reflect the expenses that Sights and Soul Travels is unable to recover if a tour guest cancels a tour, even if a tour guests must do so due to illness, injury, or personal emergencies. The cancellation fees are not meant to be punitive. The charges made reflect the expenses that SST has incurred in administering the tour guests’ reservation and planning for the tour guests’ participation, including payments to Third Party Suppliers which cannot be recovered regardless of the reason of the tour guest’s cancellation. SST will not make any refunds for any unused portion of a tour if a tour guest does not arrive, arrives late or leaves the tour early.

No compensation or refund shall be due to the tour guest for failure by SST to perform obligations related to delivery of tour services if such failure, whether in whole or in part, is a result of acts of God/Nature (including fire, flood, earthquake, storm, hurricane, volcanic eruption, epidemics, pandemics, or other natural disasters), war, invasion, acts of foreign enemies, cyber-attacks, hostilities (regardless of whether war is declared), civil war, rebellion, revolution, insurrection, military or usurped power or confiscation, terrorist activities, nationalism, government sanctions, government border closures, government enforced quarantine, blockage, embargo, labor dispute, strike, lockout or interruption or failure of any mode of transportation, electricity, internet or telephone services, or anything else unforeseen or unnamed, any one of which could make delivery of tour services impaired or impossible to deliver or perform.

Tour guest acknowledges and agrees that should the tour not operate after she cancels her participation in the tour, she is not considered a part of the tour group and has no claim to further recompense.

This cancellation policy also applies to deposits and final payments for pre- and post- tour accommodations, extensions, and extra activities arranged by Sights and Soul Travels on behalf of the tour guest.

Cancellation by Sights and Soul Travels

Sights and Soul Travels reserves the right to cancel any tour due to low enrollment, inability to operate the tour or due to concerns about the safety, health, or welfare of tour guests. If a tour is cancelled prior the final payment date, usually 90 days before the tour’s starting date, unless otherwise agreed or advised, each tour guest’s entire payment will be refunded by check within 15 business days of the tour cancellation by SST, unless the tour guest requests that the funds be applied to another tour. Tour refunds do not include credit card processing fees charged by the bank issuing the tour guest’s credit card. Any vouchers or credits used for the tour payment will be returned to a tour guest’s account. The refund of payments made constitutes full settlement, and releases Sights and Soul Travels from any further liability. SST will not be responsible for any indirect, consequential, incidental, or other costs/damages incurred by tour guests preparing for a canceled tour, such as nonrefundable airline tickets, travel insurance, additional accommodations, vaccinations, visa and passport fees.

Sights and Soul Travels reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to cancel, reschedule, alter or modify any tour at any time prior to the tour’s scheduled starting date when new or ongoing travel disruptions that are beyond the control of and due to no fault of SST, materially impact the ability of SST to deliver the tour as planned or could endanger the health and safety of tour guests. This includes the right to substitute tour directors, guides, and accommodations, modify the order in which places are visited, and make other changes to the itinerary. The tour guest acknowledges that the amenities, accommodations, transportation, route, schedule, and itinerary may change without prior notice due to local circumstances or events, which may include mechanical breakdown, flight cancellations, illness, strikes, political disputes, wars, weather, border crossing problems, and other unforeseeable factors. If, prior to departure, SST makes a significant change because of a problem with a supplier (e.g., bankruptcy), it will, as soon as reasonably possible, notify tour guests of available alternatives.

If a tour is cancelled by Sights and Soul Travels after a tour’s final payment date due to inability to operate it in relation to Force Majeure (including any pandemic and as defined below), and the funds have already been distributed to Third Party Suppliers, no money will be refunded to tour guests. In such cases, the total amount paid will be converted to a lifetime voucher of the original tour cost paid by a tour guest, not inclusive of credit card processing fees. Such voucher will be transferrable to another person and will be valid on any future SST tour, based on availability. Any vouchers or credits used for the tour payment will be returned to the tour guest’s account. Refund of payments in the form of a future travel voucher constitutes full settlement, and releases Sights and Soul Travels from any further liability for indirect, consequential, incidental, or other costs/damages incurred by tour guests preparing for a canceled tour, such as nonrefundable airline tickets, travel insurance, additional accommodations, vaccinations, visa and passport fees.

While these events are rare, conditions such as terrorist activities, acts of God/Nature, government restrictions to travel, wars, transportation strikes, and other situations unforeseen or unnamed, can and do happen. Tour guests acknowledge and agree that the only potential recourse for reimbursement should these events occur is through the purchase of travel insurance that covers such events.

If SST cancels a tour in progress for reasons other than Force Majeure, the tour guests will receive a prorated refund based on the number of days not completed on the tour. If a tour guest elects to leave a tour in progress of their own volition, she acknowledges that she will not receive any refund. If SST cancels the tour in progress and a tour guest elects not to immediately return to her original point of departure, the tour guest acknowledges and agrees that she will be solely responsible for her travel plans once she leaves the tour, SST shall not have any responsibility for or control over the tour guest’s safety or activities once she leaves the tour, and the tour guest releases and agrees to hold harmless SST from any and all costs, liability, loss, damage, injury, or death that may arise out of her decision to not return to her original point of departure. SST will have no responsibility for any expenses, including any non-refundable expenses, incurred by a tour guest in preparing for a cancelled tour or for any additional arrangements should she leave prior to the scheduled group departure date.

Force Majeure

Force Majeure, Act of God or Superior Force includes any circumstances beyond the reasonable control of Sights and Soul Travels. Force Majeure are any acts of God/Nature, including fire, flood, earthquake, storm, hurricane, volcano eruption, epidemics, pandemics, or other natural disasters, war, invasion, acts of foreign enemies, cyber-attacks, hostilities, whether war is declared or nor, civil war, rebellion, revolution, insurrection, military or usurped power or confiscation, terrorist activities, nationalism, government sanction, government border closures, government enforced quarantine, blockage, embargo, labor dispute, strike, health threats, including disease outbreaks or pandemics, lockout or interruption or failure of any mode of transportation, electricity, Internet or telephone services, or anything else unforeseen or unnamed, any one of which could make delivery of tour services impaired or impossible to deliver or perform.

Typically, these events are unexpected and unforeseeable and may compromise the health or well-being of tour guests or otherwise prevent performance by SST. Often, these types of events severely impact or make impossible for SST to operate tours. If SST determines, at its sole discretion, that it must cancel a tour before or during a tour because of a Force Majeure event, the SST cancellation policy does not apply, and no refunds will be granted. In the event of a Force Majeure, the tour guest agrees that Sights and Soul Travels will not be deemed in breach of this agreement or otherwise liable for delay in performance or nonperformance of any of its obligations under this agreement to the extent that any such delay or nonperformance is due to Force Majeure.

If Sights and Soul Travels and/or any of its Third Party Suppliers are affected by Force Majeure, SST or any Third Party Supplier will be entitled to, and may at its sole discretion, vary or cancel any itinerary or arrangement in relation to the tour, offer a travel credit, or provide a refund less applicable cancellation fees.

Limit of Liability

Sights and Soul Travels assumes no liability for the safety of any tour guest while in transit or during the tour. No responsibility is accepted for any loss, detriment, expense, accident, injury, death, illness or damage to any person or property due to the actions or omissions of any person, or any cause, including but not limited to acts of God, acts of terrorism, war, labor actions, defects in machinery, breakdown of equipment, weather, quarantine, curfews, border controls or other causes beyond our control.

To the maximum extent permitted under applicable law, Sights and Soul Travels shall not be liable for any special, consequential, indirect, incidental or other damages arising out of this agreement, including lost profits, whether such damages arise in contract, negligence, tort, under statute, in equity, at law, or otherwise, even if SST has been advised of the possibility of such damages. The tour guest expressly waives any right she may have to recover such damages.

If a tour guest elects to participate in any additional activity or excursion that is not arranged or led by SST, it shall not have any responsibility for or control over the tour guest’s safety or well-being, and the tour guest releases and agrees to hold harmless SST from any and all costs, liability, loss, damage, injury, or death arising from the tour guest’s decision to participate in such activity or excursion.

Compliance Procedures

Should a tour guest have a complaint during a tour, she must promptly notify Sights and Soul Travels or its Tour Director about the problem. SST will make a good faith effort to resolve any dispute and will attempt to remedy the situation. Failure to report the problem while on the tour will extinguish or reduce the tour guest’s ability to claim compensation from SST. Further, if a tour guest attempts to address the problem on her own without using the notice procedure, she will assume responsibility for any added costs she may incur and forfeit any potential refunds.

If the issue remains unresolved or if the tour guest is not satisfied after using this notice procedure, she must submit her complaint in writing to SST within thirty (30) days of the tour’s end date. SST will not accept any liability for claims received after this period.

Applicable Law and Choice of Forum

In the unlikely event of a dispute arising out of, in connection with, or relating to this agreement and/or the transactions and relationships among the parties contemplated by this agreement, the tour guest agrees that the dispute shall be submitted to a neutral third party mediator in the State of Maryland, with both parties dividing equally the costs of such mediator. If the dispute cannot be resolved through mediation, then (a) the dispute shall be filed and resolved exclusively by binding arbitration through the American Arbitration Association in Maryland; (b) the dispute will be governed by Maryland law, as the laws of the State of Maryland, USA, govern this agreement; and (c) any arbitration award shall be binding and judgment upon the arbitrator’s award may be entered or enforced in any court of competent jurisdiction.

The tour guest understands that this agreement contains an agreement to arbitrate. The tour guest understands that after signing this agreement, she will not be able to bring a lawsuit concerning any dispute that may arise which is governed by the arbitration agreement, unless it involves a question of constitution or civil rights. Instead, she agrees to submit all claims and disputes within the scope of this agreement to an impartial arbitrator or arbitrators in accordance with the arbitration procedures set forth in this agreement.

The tour guest agrees that she will only bring claims against Sights and Soul Travels in her individual capacity and not as a plaintiff or class member in any purported class action or representative proceeding.

All claims by tour guests must be submitted in writing and received by Sights and Soul Travels no later than thirty (30) days after the completion of the SST tour. Tour guest claims which are not submitted and received within this time frame shall be deemed waived and barred.

If any provision of this agreement shall be unenforceable or invalid under any applicable law, such unenforceability or invalidity shall not render the agreement unenforceable or invalid as a whole. The unenforceable provision will be replaced with one that is valid and enforceable, and which achieves, to the extent possible, the original objectives and intent of the original provision. This Agreement is the final, complete, and exclusive statement of the parties’ agreement on the matters contained in this agreement. It supersedes all previous negotiations and agreements.

Successors and Assigns

This agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon Sights and Soul Travels, LLC and the Tour Guest and their respective heirs, legal personal representatives, successors, and assigns.

Privacy Policy

Sights and Soul Travels respects its tour guests’ privacy and will not share their names, addresses, email addresses or purchase information with any third party, unless this information is required by local authorities to complete tour arrangements. Basic information including tour guest’s name, address, email address and phone number is collected when registering for an SST tour. International tours require valid passport information. Passport information will be shared only when required by local authorities, to book international flights, or to assist in replacing a lost or stolen passport. Information provided in the process of making credit card payments made through the SST website is protected by an advanced firewall and the use of SSL encryption of your credit card information. Acceptance of cookies is not a requirement to browse the content of the SST website. SST never uses cookies to store sensitive customer information such as names, addresses, passwords, or credit card numbers.

Participation in certain tours and/or specific activities offered as part of a tour may require the tour guest to sign and provide information about herself including, but not limited to release forms, consent agreements, waivers of liability, and/or disclosure of weight, height, and other personal details. These documents and information requirements are in addition to and do not replace any of the Terms and Conditions contained herein.

Images and Marketing

Sights and Soul Travels’ Tour Director or another SST representative may be taking photographs and videos of tour guests during the tour. SST reserves the right to publish any such photographs or videos without obtaining further consent from any tour guest. Each tour guest releases SST and its representatives from any liability in connection with any use of such photographs and grants SST a worldwide, royalty-free, perpetual license to re-use, distribute, display, create derivate works of and reproduce any images, photos, or videos taken during the tour in any medium, included but not limited to print, electronic media, or Internet, free of charge and without tour guest’s right to inspection, for any purpose, including to promote and publicize SST’s travel products and services worldwide. Any tour guest who does not wish to have her photograph or video footage used in SST’s promotional materials, must notify the SST office of such in writing no later than the tour’s starting date.

Changes to Terms and Conditions

These Terms and Conditions comprise the final, complete, and exclusive statement of the parties’ agreement on the matters contained herein. They supersede all previous negotiations and agreements.

Acceptance of these Terms and Conditions, along with the requirements to participate in a tour, and other official documents provided to tour guests as part of the delivery of the tour, and in addition to the SST privacy policy, constitute the entire agreement between the tour guest and Sights and Soul Travels, and both parties agree to be legally bound by the Terms and Conditions set forth in this agreement.

Sights and Soul Travels reserves the right to change, update or alter select provisions of these Terms and Conditions at any time, with or without notice. Individual information issued for specific tours may amend these Terms and Conditions. It is the tour guest’s responsibility to become familiar with these Terms and Conditions.

These Terms and Conditions apply to all Sights and Soul Travels tours reserved on or after January 8, 2024. For Terms and Conditions for SST tours booked prior to January 8, 2024, please refer to the copy of the Terms and Conditions attached to your registration confirmation.

AS A CONDITION OF ACCEPTANCE OF ANY TOUR REGISTRATION, EACH TOUR GUEST MUST AGREE TO THE STATEMENTS SET FORTH BELOW:

I have read and understand this entire agreement, and I am signing it freely. I understand that this is a legally binding contract. No other representations concerning the legal effect of this document have been made to me. My signature applies to all pages of this agreement.

I agree to review all tour materials, accurately complete all required forms, and abide by the terms of those documents.

I understand that my signature is valid and legally binding whether I choose to sign electronically, or to manually sign a printable version of these Terms and Conditions.

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY: I am entirely responsible for my own personal safety, health, mental, physical, emotional, and general well-being during and after the tour. I release Sights and Soul Travels, LLC, its representatives and any of their employees, assistants, and affiliates of any liability for any injuries or damages mentally or physically I might incur during or after the tour. I understand that no health insurance or travel insurance will be provided by Sights and Soul Travels, LLC, and, if I wish to be insured, I must do this myself.

Valid through December 31, 2025.

Making a deposit payment or any other payment toward the tour shall be deemed as consent by the tour guest to the above Terms and Conditions.

I have read, understood, and fully agree to the foregoing TERMS AND CONDITIONS. I release Sights and Soul Travels, LLC and its representatives from all responsibility and liability.

_________________________________                                   ________________________________

Tour Guest’s Signature                                                                          Date