The Original Adventure Travel Company Since 1969
The Pacific Scheduled Small Group Adventures, Private Itineraries & Custom Journeys
Mountain Travel Sobek 2016
NEW Another MTS Milestone! Be part of the first ever US-led trip to Chad. See page 27.
Explore the Pacific with MTS Whatever your idea of the perfect Pacific getaway may be, we’ve got you covered. In Fiji you’ll enjoy kayaking glassy waters of brilliant turquoise, landing on pristine white sand beaches to enjoy snorkeling, beachcombing, or just relaxing in the Pacific sun. In New Zealand, you’ll discover a cornucopia of active adventure in a clean
This was the best vacation I have ever had in my life. I do not know of anything that could have made the trip better. Perfection in all aspects.
and green land that is renowned as the Adventure Capital of the World. And for a truly new experience, we’ve designed a wonderful new itinerary in Papua New Guinea! So join MTS and discover this amazing corner of the globe.
Exploring Papua New Guinea — New for 2016! The fastest way to reinvigorate one’s curiosity is by visiting Papua New Guinea in the southwestern Pacific
~ Robert Bennen
Ocean, and now is the perfect time to go! This is a land where the vestiges of old European colonialism collide with staggeringly beautiful nature, fascinating cultural treasures, and native people still well-entrenched in their traditional ways of life. In fact, this is one of the most culturally diverse countries on the planet, with over Photos on this spread ©Chess Edwards, David Kirkland, Rainer Plendl, MTS Photo File
850 native languages spoken. Here travelers can enjoy genuine encounters with villagers, take in breathtaking
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wildlife, snorkel in the Coral Triangle, and go deep into rural areas far away from the crowds—to the haunts of sorcerers and witchdoctors, mud men and fire dancers. Our 10-day trip departs in August and September 2016, call 1-888-MTSOBEK for details.
The Pacific Experts Over the past 45 years, we’ve earned our rank as “Top 5 Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth” from National Geographic Adventure by striving to create unique active adventures. For the Pacific, we have selected
Your Source for Adventure New Zealand’s Wild West Coast...................................4 Exploring Papua New Guinea........ 5 Fiji Escape........................................6 Fiji Discovery.................................... 7 What You Need to Know............8–9
the very best trips in the region, and work with top-notch local guides and outfitters. Pacific Program Director, Tanya Rinaldi—a native of Australia—has been designing and running adventure programs in the Pacific for over a decade. She is a true global explorer,
MTS is a Preferred Travel Outfitter For
with more than 50 countries under her belt and a commercial pilot’s license to boot. Her local expertise shines through in the breadth of unique adventures she has brought to the MTS line up. For 2016, she personally scouted the Papua New Guinea adventure and gained a special invitation from the local clans to attend a rare sacred gathering of the tribes!
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EUROPE
THE PACIFIC Abel Tasman National Park
THE PACIFIC
Queen Charlotte Sound
Pancake Rocks
Duke of York Islands
Western Highlands
Blenheim Mount Hagen
NEW ZEALAND Fox Glacier
Rabaul
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Mount Aspiring National Park
Port Moresby
Queenstown
Land/Sea Travel Air Travel
Land/Sea Travel
Activities Kayaking, hiking, heli-hiking, rafting
Activities Hiking, snorkeling, cultural encounters
Trip Level Moderate
Trip Level Moderate
Lodging Hotels, lodges
Lodging Hotels, eco-lodges, resorts, bungalow
11-Day Trip Departs Jan, Feb, Dec
10-Day Trip Departs Aug, Sep
Land Cost From $6,195
NEW ZEALAND
New Zealand: Wild West Coast • Experience the splendor of the South Island on this MTS custom-designed adventure • Raft, kayak, hike, jetboat, and helicopter your way through unspoiled wilderness • Hike Franz Josef Glacier and the Queen Charlotte Track and stay at the famed Furneaux Lodge The West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island is a treasure trove of pristine and diverse wilderness areas. From its mountains and glaciers to its forests, rivers, and fjords, the West Coast offers a multitude of activities and stunning locations, and our trip is paced to let you fully enjoy your surroundings. Specially designed by one of our local expert guides, this unique itinerary includes the very best of the West Coast. You’ll hike the Franz Joseph Glacier with crampons, explore the remote Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Site by jetboat and helicopter, hike the famous Queen Charlotte Track, go whitewater rafting in Buller Gorge, and kayak the unspoiled Okarito Lagoon. Come live every active traveler’s dream! FOR FULL ITINERARY: Enter Trip Code PWC in the Search Box on www.mtsobek.com
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WWW.MTSOBEK.COM | 1-888-687-6235
Land Cost From $6,795
ITINERARY HIGHLIGHTS Day 1: Arrive in Blenheim, New Zealand. Visit a local winery before transferring to your hotel. Day 2: Stroll the town of Picton and sail to Ship Cove for a lush coastal hike on the Queen Charlotte Track. Day 3: Explore Punga Cove before boating back to Picton to hike Endeavour Inlet’s beautiful coastline. Later we’ll stroll around Nelson, known for its beaches, forests, and mountains. Day 4: Sea kayak to Abel Tasman National Park’s Tonga Island and its flourishing seal colony. Enjoy a beach picnic before returning to Nelson. Day 5: Visit Murchison in the Wairau Valley, then don a wetsuit to raft exciting Class III-IV rapids through the granite Buller Gorge. Day 6: Our coastline hike offers impressive views. We’ll stop at Pancake Rocks and Hokitika, with its amazing river gorge and wild beach. Day 7: Paddling the Okarito Lagoon, we’ll take in the scenic grandeur of New Zealand’s largest unmodified coastal wetland. Hike a magical
Photo ©Ian Trafford/Tourism New Zealand
PAPUA NEW GUINEA rainforest trail above the ocean after lunch. Day 8: Take a short helicopter flight to the most spectacular part of the Franz Josef Glacier. Explore the icefall area, hiking through crevasses and over ice ridges with incredible views. Day 9: Take a spectacular helicopter flight into Mount Aspiring National Park! Once dropped off, hike along the Wilkin River through rainforest before an exhilarating jetboat ride back to Makarora. Day 10: Today we’ll hike up Mount Aspiring National Park’s Matukituki Valley to the Rob Roy Glacier and discover why this region was chosen as the setting for the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Day 11: Journey to Queenstown before flying back to Auckland to connect with homeward-bound flights.
NEW Exploring Papua New Guinea • Observe fascinating tribal rituals, from the Asaro Mudmen’s traditional display of intimidation to the aweinspiring Baining fire dance • Discover the diverse wildlife of the Western Highlands, including the spectacular birds of paradise • Climb an active volcano, snorkel the pristine waters of the Coral Triangle, and delve into the rich history of the area— plus enjoy an overnight village stay on a tropical island! For nature and culture at its most primal, it’s hard to top Papua New Guinea, where ever-changing landscapes harbor hundreds of unique species, and tribal life goes on much as it has for centuries. Our diverse itinerary will introduce you to the mysterious, leaf-clad Duk Duk dancers, the Asaro Mudmen with their fantastical clay masks, and the Baining fire dancers, who kick up embers as they pass over burning coals. You’ll swim and snorkel through pristine reefs, see impossibly flamboyant birds of paradise, and walk on active volcanoes constantly venting steam. And you’ll learn about the region’s fascinating history, from indigenous civilizations to early German settlement and wartime occupation. This MTS adventure is truly off the charts!
Stay A Little Longer Explore more of New Zealand on our Milford Track or Hollyford Track extensions. Call for details.
FOR FULL ITINERARY: Enter Trip Code PNG in the Search Box on www.mtsobek.com
Call about Private Departures & Custom Trips!
ITINERARY HIGHLIGHTS Day 1: Welcome to Papua New Guinea! Fly from Port Moresby to Mount Hagen, famous for its eternally spring-like weather. Day 2: Today we’ll visit the Cassowary Sanctuary at Anji Village and hear stories of village life. We’ll marvel at orchid farms, limestone caves, waterfalls, and flying fox colonies.
Photo ©Randy Fletcher
to see elusive tree kangaroos before heading to our stunning haven on Loloata Island. Day 6: Explore Kokopo and the ever-rumbling Mt. Turvurvur volcano, which forms a dramatic backdrop to the bay.
Day 3: Venture into the jungle early to catch spectacular dawn displays of birds of paradise. Later we’ll browse Mount Hagen’s colorful markets.
Day 7: Today’s adventure takes us to Simpson Harbour and along the edge of the smoking volcano. This afternoon we reach the Duke of York Islands to experience a village stay in an idyllic, tropical setting.
Day 4: Today we’ll observe remarkable village life, with its ancient (but still relevant) ceremonies. In Pogla, we’ll watch the Mudmen act out scenes of vengeance wearing intimidating clay masks. In Tokua, we’ll learn the significance of sorcery in the animist religions. At Komon, we’ll join the locals in a communal “Moomoo” feast.
Days 8–9: Immerse yourself in the history of the tropical islands, and learn about the traditions of shark-calling. Enjoy a feast prepared in ground ovens and performances by mysterious Duk Duk dancers in tall helmets and voluminous leaf dresses, and Baining fire dancers who walk across hot coals wearing huge masks with enormous eyes.
Day 5: Fly to Port Moresby and on to the Island of New Britain, one of the world’s most active volcanic regions. We’ll visit the beautiful Nature Park
Day 10: After a final farewell breakfast, transfer to the airport in Port Moresby for your flight home.
FOR DETAILS, ITINERARIES, AND MORE VISIT WWW.MTSOBEK.COM
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EUROPE
THE PACIFIC
THE PACIFIC
YASAWA ISLANDS
YASAWA ISLANDS TAVEUNI
M AM ANUCA ISLANDS
VITI LEVU
Nadi
Takalana Bay
Sigatoka
Nadi
Pacific Harbour
Natadola
VITI LEVU
Sigatoka Natadola
Luva River
Luva River Land/Sea Travel Air Travel
Land/Sea Travel
Activities Hiking, snorkeling, rafting
Activities Hiking, snorkeling, rafting
Trip Level Easy to Moderate
Trip Level Moderate
Lodging Resorts, safari tents
Lodging Resorts, safari tents
7-Day Trip Departs Jun–Sep, Dec
12-Day Trip Departs Jun–Sep, Dec
Land Cost From $3,995
Adventure
MTS
FIJI | ADVENTURE WEEK
Fiji Escape • Get off the grid with three days of relaxation in the unspoiled Yasawa archipelago • Snorkel with manta rays, spot spinner dolphins, and kayak through crystal-clear waters • Hike to sweeping mountain vistas with scenic waterfalls and go whitewater rafting on Class II and III rapids On the sandy shores of Fiji, life moves at a different rhythm. Leave your watch at home and escape to a paradise where rolling waves and shell-pink sunrises set the agenda. Start your adventure with an exciting day of whitewater rafting on the Luva River. Watch for spinner dolphins at Takalana Bay and bodysurf at beautiful Natadola Beach. Then, go totally off the grid with three days in the unspoiled Yasawa Islands, where you’ll snorkel with manta rays, mingle with the villagers, learn the traditional meke dance, and sleep in safari-style tents right on the beach, with no more pressing concerns than whether to relax by the bonfire or gaze at the stars. Join us and surrender to “island time.” You may never put your watch back on again. FOR FULL ITINERARY: Enter Trip Code PFE in the Search Box on www.mtsobek.com
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WWW.MTSOBEK.COM | 1-888-687-6235
Land Cost From $4,795
Week Photo ©David Wall/fototeca9x12.com
ITINERARY HIGHLIGHTS Day 1: Arrive at the airport, where you’ll be met and transferred to Pacific Harbor, the adventure capital of Fiji. On the way, stop to hike the Sigatoka Sand Dunes. This afternoon is yours to enjoy the resort. Day 2: Travel to the Luva River for a full day of whitewater rafting on Class II and III rapids. You’ll also take a side hike to Wainuta Falls and a local village. Day 3: Head to picturesque Takalana Bay for a half-day boat ride and snorkel at Moon Reef, keeping your eyes open for the resident pod of spinner dolphins. Enjoy an afternoon hike to a waterfall and take in the sunset over the bay. Overnight at Takalana. Day 4: Slowly make your way to Nadi, stopping to swim, take a stroll on Natadola Beach, or do some bodysurfing in the waves. Overnight in Nadi. Days 5–7: Transfer to Denarau Marina for a boat ride through the breathtaking Yasawa Islands. Explore
FIJI this tropical paradise of white sands and crystal waters, sleeping in large safari tents just yards from the ocean. Each day includes new adventures like sunrise hikes, ocean kayaking, night fishing, and snorkeling with manta rays. You’ll learn the meke (a traditional Fijian war dance), play games with local village children, and discover how to use traditional Fijian tools. Relax by the beach bonfire or gaze up at the stars in the evening. At the end of the third fun-filled day, take the inter-island ferry back to the mainland and transfer to Nadi International Airport for your homeward flight.
Adventure
MTS
Fiji Discovery • This cultural journey showcases the real Fiji, its people and its ecosystems, the highlands, and the Yasawa Islands • Sail on a 50-foot yacht through the Mamanuca Islands and explore Eden-like Taveuni • Enjoy sunrise hikes, night fishing, and deluxe permanent camps nestled in shady groves on pristine beaches Relaxation takes many forms, and few places offer more enjoyable ways to unwind than Fiji. If you’re feeling adventurous, there are dunes to climb and whitewater rapids to tame. If the undersea world is calling, simply drop below the turquoise waves to snorkel with dolphins and manta rays. Cruise like a jetsetter through the Mamanuca Islands on a 50-foot sailing yacht, or channel Blue Lagoon with a swim beneath the waterfalls on the garden isle of
Week
Fiji Escape is part of our new program of Adventure Week trips— journeys designed to pack all the best aspects of an MTS adventure into 7 days or less for travelers with busy lifestyles. Click to see all of our Adventure Week trips.
Call about Private Departures & Custom Trips!
Taveuni. Tune out the modern world as you learn traditional Fijian dances in the untraveled Yasawa archipelago, or literally go back in time at the international dateline. The choices are endless, but the cares are few, so join us and experience true R&R, Fiji style. FOR FULL ITINERARY: Enter Trip Code PDF in the Search Box on www.mtsobek.com
ITINERARY HIGHLIGHTS Day 1: Arrive at the airport and transfer to your hotel. Spend the afternoon relaxing at Natadola Beach. Finish the day with a traditional Fijian welcoming ceremony. Day 2: Cruise the Mamanuca Islands, snorkeling at the reefs and pausing to visit Castaway Island, where the Tom Hanks movie was filmed. Day 3: Board your 50-foot cruising yacht, where the crew will entertain you on your leisurely sail through the Mamanuca Islands. Days 4–6: Transfer to Denarau Marina for a boat ride through the breathtaking Yasawa Islands. Spend the next three days exploring this unspoiled paradise of white sands and crystal-clear waters, sleeping in large safari tents just yards from the ocean. Each day includes new adventures like sunrise hikes, night fishing, snorkeling with manta rays, mingling with local villagers, and learning the meke, a traditional Fijian war dance. Relax by the beach
Photo ©Stephen Wong/Aurora Photos
bonfire or gaze up at the stars in the evenings. At the end of the third day, take the inter-island ferry back to the mainland. Day 7: Head to Pacific Harbor, the adventure capital of Fiji, stopping to hike the Sigatoka Sand Dunes. This afternoon is free to enjoy the resort. Day 8: Travel to the Luva River for a full day of whitewater rafting on Class II and III rapids. Days 9–11: Spend three days exploring Fiji’s third-largest island, Taveuni, known as the “Garden Island” for its lush rainforests. Follow a stunning coastal trail to swim beneath Lavena Falls, take a short hike through the forest to the famous Bouma Falls, slip down a natural waterslide at Waitavala, and become a time traveler at the international dateline. On your last day, fly back to the mainland for your farewell dinner. Day 12: Transfer this afternoon to Nadi International Airport for your homeward flight.
FOR DETAILS, ITINERARIES, AND MORE VISIT WWW.MTSOBEK.COM
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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW IT’S EASY TO SIGN UP! Call us at 1-888-MTSOBEK (687-6235) and reserve your spot. You can also book online at www.mtsobek.com. If you have a favorite travel agent, we are happy to work with them, but he or she must make the booking directly with Mountain Travel Sobek. Bookings made by a client cannot be picked up retroactively for travel agent commission. Note: Terms and conditions are subject to change.
Payment Schedule
Based on Land/Cruise Cost*, per person Regular Trip Departures (1), (2), (3), (4) At time of reservation................................$400 65 days prior to trip departure............ Balance (1) Gorilla trips require a non-refundable deposit to cover the cost of each gorilla permit ($750 per permit). (2) The Machu Picchu Inn to Inn Express trip requires a $500 non-refundable deposit at time of booking. (3) All Botswana, Congo, South Africa and Zimbabwe trips incur a 100% cancellation fee at 60 days or less prior to departure. (4) The Brazil: Voyage to the Heart of the Amazon trip requires a $400 nonrefundable deposit at time of booking.
Galápagos, Greece, Turkey, John Muir Trail, Patagonia Explorer, Cuba, Panama: Journey Beyond the Seas and Glacier Bay Historic Ship Adventure Trip Departures At time of reservation..........................................................$400 120 days prior to trip departure.......................................$1,200 90 days prior to trip departure...................................... Balance Scheduled Departures Involving Uganda, Namibia, and Kenya At time of reservation..........................................................$400 105 days prior to trip departure.................................... Balance Custom Departures Involving Uganda, Namibia, and Kenya At time of reservation...................... 25% of Land/Cruise Cost 105 days prior to trip departure.................................... Balance Antarctica and Arctic Cruise Departures
At time of reservation........................................ $1,500–$2,500
(varies based on ship and trip departure—see detailed itinerary)
120 days prior to trip departure..................................... Balance Private Adventures, Custom Adventures and Special Trip Departures
At time of reservation ......$800 or 25% of Land/Cruise Cost, whichever is greater 120 days prior to trip departure...... 25% of Land/Cruise Cost 90 days prior to trip departure...................................... Balance
Extensions & Extra Services (including extra hotel nights) At time of reservation...................................................... $100 (4) (non-refundable) The balance will be added to the cost of your trip, and payment will follow the applicable schedule above. Requests made 29 days or less prior to trip departure are subject to a $100 late booking fee. Once booked, each change is subject to a $50 change fee. (4) Some exceptions apply and deposits may be higher.
After we receive your deposit, we will provide you with detailed pre-trip information including a packing list, visa information (if required), statement of account, and travel insurance information. We will also send you a link to access and complete the required forms including a Release from Liability form, Assumption of Risk and Binding Arbitration clause which is required for participation on any trip. Certain trips including those designated as “Ultimate Challenge” require participants to have their physician complete and sign a Physician Certificate. We will also provide you with rendezvous instructions and final trip details approximately three weeks prior to trip departure.
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WWW.MTSOBEK.COM | 1-888-687-6235
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW What Your Trip Includes
The Land and/or Cruise Cost* for most trips includes: Expert leadership • Accommodations in hotels, inns, or lodges in cities and villages, or aboard boat or ship • Field arrangements, including camp and cook staffs, tents, kitchen and dining tents (on most trips), group camping and commissary equipment, necessary trip equipment (e.g. sea kayaks, rafts, personal flotation devices, etc.) • Meals as noted in the trip itinerary • Sightseeing as noted in the trip itinerary • Group airport transfers • Ground transportation and support vehicles • Additional guides and porters if needed • Entrance fees and permits • Basic medical and emergency medical evacuation insurance. *Note—“Land/Cruise Cost” includes the cost of the trip, internal airfare, park fees, permits, single supplements, and taxes may be included in the price, or broken out separately. Unless otherwise noted, payment and cancellation policies apply to the total Land/Cruise Cost, inclusive of internal airfare, park fees, permits, and taxes, even when broken out separately. Travel agent commission is calculated from base Land/Cruise Cost only and excludes tier charges. Each trip varies slightly, so please call and speak with one of our Regional Specialists or ask for a detailed trip itinerary for the specifics (you can also download itineraries at www.mtsobek.com). International airfare, optional gratuities, and personal items are not included.
Tier Pricing
Group adventure travel works best with a small group of people. In order to operate these small groups, our trips are priced according to the number of full-price travelers on the trip. Mountain Travel Sobek staff, trip doctors, and other discounted travelers are excluded from the count for this purpose. Not all trips have tier pricing, but for those trips that do your statements will reflect the highest tier price (the smallest group size we can operate) until final payment is due. If the price drops due to an increase in group size before your trip departs, you will be refunded the difference.
Solo Travelers
Accommodations (hotels, tents, and cruise cabins) are priced on a double occupancy basis. If you prefer single accommodations, you may, where available, arrange for them with payment of a single supplement fee, which is listed in the trip itinerary. If you are traveling alone and wish to share accommodations, we will try our best to find you a roommate of the same gender. If there is no one with whom you can share, we charge a “forced” single supplement fee, which varies by trip and ranges from half to the same fee as the “requested” single supplement, and is listed in the trip itinerary. Shared accommodations are guaranteed on some trips. On a few trips, single accommodations are not available.
Cancellations & Refunds
Based on Land/Cruise Cost*, per person At the time we receive written notice that you must cancel your trip, the following fees will apply (all dates are from departure date): Regular Trip Departures (1), (2), (3), (4) From time of reservation until 90 days prior to trip departure.................................................................. $150 89 to 61 days prior to trip departure...................................$400 60 to 46 days prior to trip departure............50% of Land Cost 45 days or less prior to trip departure...........100% of Land Cost (1) Gorilla trips require a non-refundable deposit to cover the cost of each gorilla permit ($750 per permit). (2) The Machu Picchu Inn to Inn Express trip requires a $500 non-refundable deposit at time of booking. (3) All Botswana, Congo, South Africa, and Zimbabwe trips incur a 100% cancellation fee at 60 days or less prior to departure (4) The Brazil: Voyage to the Heart of the Amazon trip requires a $400 nonrefundable deposit at time of booking.
Galápagos, Greece, Turkey, John Muir Trail, Patagonia Explorer, Cuba, Panama: Journey Beyond the Seas and Glacier Bay Historic Ship Adventure Trip Departures From time of reservation until 120 days prior to trip departure.....................................................$400 119 to 90 days prior to trip departure............................. 25% of Land/Cruise Cost 89 to 60 days prior to trip departure..............................50% of Land/Cruise Cost 59 days or less prior to trip departure...............................100% of Land/Cruise Cost Scheduled Departures Involving Uganda, Namibia, and Kenya From time of reservation until 96 days prior to trip departure.................................... Loss of first deposit 95 days or less prior to trip departure.............................100% of Land/Cruise Cost Custom Departures Involving Uganda, Namibia, and Kenya From time of reservation until 96 days prior to trip departure.......................... 25% of Land/Cruise Cost 95 days or less prior to trip departure.............................100% of Land/Cruise Cost Antarctica & Arctic Cruise Trip Departures From time of reservation until 120 days prior to trip departure............................................ Loss of deposit 119 days or less prior to trip departure............................100% of Cruise Cost Private Adventures, Custom Adventures and Special Trip Departures From time of reservation until 90 days prior to trip departure...............$800 or 25% of Land/Cruise Cost, whichever is greater 89-60 day prior to trip departure....50% of Land/Cruise Cost 59 days or less.................................100% of Land/Cruise Cost Extensions & Extra Services (including extra hotel nights) At time of reservation until 60 days prior to trip departure................................................. $100 (5) 59 to 30 days......................................................................50% of Extension Cost 29 days or less.................................................................100% of Extension Cost (5) Some exceptions apply and cancellation fees may be higher.
No refunds will be given for unused hotel rooms, meals, sightseeing trips, or trek arrangements for any reason whatsoever. Land/Cruise Cost is quoted as a package and credits are not given for services not used. (Note—Extra hotel nights cancelled within 60 days of trip departure are subject to 100% of the hotel cost or $35, whichever is greater.) Internal airfare, once purchased, is non-refundable. Cancellation and refund policy applies to entire Land/Cruise cost of trip, including trip cost, internal airfare, park fees, permits, and taxes. We recommend you purchase the Optional Travel Insurance Plan to protect yourself in case of an unexpected medical emergency. Refunds in excess of $500 will be remitted by check.
Travel Insurance
For your protection, we offer an Optional Travel Insurance Plan. It combines trip cancellation and interruption coverage (for covered reasons only), baggage loss protection, and medical coverage along with additional emergency medical evacuation coverage. For complete terms and conditions go to www.mtsobek.com/faq#insurance. To review the Optional Travel Insurance Plan details go to www.tripmate.com/wpF485s. With the exception of those trips operated in the United States and Cuba, we include the cost of this optional insurance coverage as an item on your statement. It is effective the day we receive your designated payment for the insurance or the day your final balance is paid. Please note that deposits are not applied toward your insurance premium. If you do not wish this optional insurance, you need only notify Mountain Travel Sobek in writing by time of final payment and we will remove the charge from the invoice. Participants traveling on trips in the United States or Cuba who wish to obtain the optional insurance—the details of which are available at www.tripmate.com/wpF485s—please contact your Adventure Coordinator for pricing. Note: A Basic Medical and Evacuation Insurance Plan is purchased on your behalf. However, we recommend you purchase the Optional Travel Insurance Plan outlined above to ensure protection from trip cancellation fees for covered reasons and to increase your medical and emergency medical evacuation coverage.
Transfers
With the exception of those trips noted otherwise within this section, you may transfer to another trip without a fee up to 90 days before trip departure on most trips. If you transfer from one trip to another within 89 days of trip departure, however, you are subject to the usual Cancellation Fees outlined above (appropriate to the date you notify us in writing of your wish to transfer). No transfers are allowed on: Galápagos, Turkey, Patagonia Explorer, Mountains to Sea: Denali & Kenai Fjords, Antarctica, and Arctic cruises; John Muir Trail, Private Adventures, Custom Adventures, or Special Departures. For Machu Picchu Inn to Inn Express departures you are subject to the following transfer fees: 60 or more days prior to departure...................................$250 59 to 30 days prior to departure..................................$25% of Land Cost 29 days or less prior to departure.................................50% of Land Cost
Cancelled Trips
Mountain Travel Sobek reserves the right to cancel any trip due to inadequate sign-up or other cause that makes the trip unfeasible for us to operate, but we will inform you at least 45 days prior to trip departure. In such a case, a full refund of Land/Cruise Cost is given, but Mountain Travel Sobek is not responsible for additional expenses incurred by members preparing for the trip (e.g. non-refundable “Advance Purchase” air tickets, visa fees if applicable, clothing, equipment, medical expenses). Do not purchase your air tickets before speaking with your Adventure Coordinator.
Baggage
Mountain Travel Sobek assumes no liability for loss or damage to baggage in transit to and from a Mountain Travel Sobek trip or while on a Mountain Travel Sobek trip. We recommend purchasing the supplemental travel insurance package.
Delays & Cost Increases
The cost of delays is not included if any trip is delayed due to bad weather, trail conditions, river levels, road conditions, transportation delays, government intervention, sickness or other contingency for which Mountain Travel Sobek or its third party operators cannot make provision. Land/Cruise Costs are
subject to increase without prior notice, even after you have signed up on the trip. We often publish our prices more than a year in advance. Between that time and the time of the trip’s actual departure, we are occasionally faced with significant cost increases that we cannot absorb (i.e. international currency fluctuations, fuel surcharges, or increases in cost of services). We regret this situation, and we do everything we can to avoid raising prices, but sometimes it is unavoidable. We will do our best to limit such increases and will notify you at least two months before trip departure.
Airlines
The airlines are not to be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time passengers are not on board their planes or conveyance. The passage contract in use by the airlines concerned, when issued, shall constitute the sole contract between the airlines and such purchasers of these tours and/or passenger. Such conveyance, etc. is subject to the laws of the countries involved. Airlines used vary in degree of safety and risk. Many air carriers have an unknown safety and maintenance record. Mountain Travel Sobek is not liable for incidents involving airline safety, cancellations, service, risk, delays, etc.; or incidents that result in injury, delay or death. Please read the conditions on the back of your airline tickets.
Medical & Health
It is vital that persons with medical problems make them known to us well before trip departure. The trip leader has the right to disqualify anyone at any time during the trip if he or she feels the trip member is physically or mentally incapable or if a trip member’s continued participation will jeopardize the individual involved or the group. Refunds are not given under such circumstances. Hospital facilities are often unavailable and evacuation can be prolonged, difficult, and expensive. Mountain Travel Sobek assumes no liability regarding provision of medical care. You will need to provide us with your medical history and any dietary restrictions, as requested in the required documentation. If you participate on certain designated trips including those with an activity level of “Ultimate Challenge,” the Physician Certificate must be completed and signed by your physician. Once you have been confirmed on a trip, normal cancellation fees apply if your doctor does not approve the Physician Certificate. We can send you this form prior to making your reservation so your doctor can pre-approve you. The State Department (www.travel.state.gov) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov) periodically issue statements, advisories and warnings about risks to travelers. These statements are country-specific and contain important information. Mountain Travel Sobek urges all participants to review these sites.
Photography
Mountain Travel Sobek may take photographs and/or video of its trips, and trip participants grant Mountain Travel Sobek permission to do so and for it to use same for promotional or commercial use without payment of any compensation to participant.
Trip Alteration
Mountain Travel Sobek reserves the right to change hotels or other features of the trip if Mountain Travel Sobek believes it will enhance the safety, comfort, or enjoyment of the trip.
Responsibilities of Trip Members
Trip members have certain responsibilities to Mountain Travel Sobek and to other trip members. Trip members are responsible for understanding the conditions implied in the Trip Itinerary and selecting a trip in consultation with Mountain Travel Sobek that is appropriate to their interests and abilities, and for preparing for the trip by studying the Trip Itinerary and supplemental trip information sent by Mountain Travel Sobek. Screening for fitness (for trips rated “Strenuous” or “Ultimate Challenge”) is made by our Regional Specialists
at the time of booking. At the trip leader’s discretion, a member may be removed from the trip, without the right of refund, if the leader feels that the person’s further participation may be detrimental to the individual or to other trip members.
Limitations of Liability
Except for certain equipment in Alaska, Idaho, Portugal, and Patagonia, Mountain Travel, Mountain Travel Sobek, Alaska Discovery, Inc., their owners, directors, officers, employees, and affiliates (collectively “Mountain Travel Sobek”) does not own or operate any entity which is to or does provide goods or services for your trip including, for example, ownership or control over hotels or other lodging facilities, airline, vessel, bus, van, or other transportation companies, local ground operators, providers or organizers of optional or included excursions or equipment used thereon (even if same utilize the Mountain Travel Sobek name), food service, or entertainment providers, etc. All such persons and entities are independent contractors. As a result, Mountain Travel Sobek is not liable for any negligent or willful act or failure to act of any such person or entity, or of any third party. Without limitation, Mountain Travel Sobek is not responsible for any injury, loss or damage to person or property, death, delay or inconvenience in connection with the provision of any goods or services occasioned by or resulting from, but not limited to, acts of God, acts of government, force majeur, acts of war or civil unrest, insurrection or revolt, strikes or other labor activities, criminal or terrorist activities of any kind, or the threat thereof, overbooking or downgrading of accommodations, structural or other defective conditions in hotels or other lodging facilities, mechanical or other failure of airplanes or other means of transportation or for any failure of any transportation mechanism to arrive or depart timely or safely, dangers associated with or bites from animals, pests or insects, marine life or vegetation of any sort, dangers incident to recreational activities such as scuba diving, zip lining, snorkeling, paddle boarding, surfing, swimming, kayaking, sailing, canoeing, rafting, hiking, bicycling, rock climbing, etc., sanitation problems, food poisoning, lack of access to or quality of medical care, difficulty in evacuation in case of a medical or other emergency, illness, epidemics or the threat thereof or for any other cause beyond the direct control of Mountain Travel Sobek. In addition, participants release Mountain Travel Sobek from its own negligence and assume all risk thereof. On advancement of deposit to Mountain Travel Sobek, the depositor therefore agrees to be bound by the above recited terms and conditions, and the binding arbitration clause below. These are partial conditions. Your participation is contingent on your signature on the full list of terms specified in the document entitled “Participant Information Form, Booking Verification, Medical History, and Release from Liability,” which you can find on our website at www.mtsobek.com/pdf/ participant_info.pdf (or call us at 1-888-687-6235 and request a copy). Additionally, some independent contractors may require participants to sign their liability release or indemnity form.
Binding Arbitration
Any dispute concerning, relating or referring to these Terms and Conditions, to any literature concerning the trip, or the trip itself, shall be resolved exclusively by binding arbitration in San Francisco, California, according to the then existing commercial rules of the American Arbitration Association. Such proceedings will be governed by substantive (but not procedural) California law and without regard to the California Arbitration Act. The arbitrator and not any federal, state, or local court or agency shall have exclusive authority to resolve any dispute relating to the interpretation, applicability, enforceability, conscionability, or formation of this contract, including but not limited to any claim that all or any part of this contract is void or voidable. ©2016 Mountain Travel Sobek Art Direction, Design, Photo Editing and Production: Christopher Bettencourt
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