Some of the greatest journeys start with one click
(ok…maybe a couple of clicks!)
No, seriously, registering for our events is quick and easy. Fixed departures can be booked through Stripe by placing a $250 USD deposit. Custom trips are confirmed with a deposit once we’ve agreed your itinerary. We know that ‘stuff’ happens, so don’t worry: your deposit is refundable if you change your mind within 30 days.
We want to make sure things are a good fit
Please give us at least two days to review your application and background. We want to make sure the people who join our trips are a good fit, and that the trip is a good fit for you. If things don’t line up, we will refund your deposit immediately.
Otherwise, we will send you a welcome letter with links to the HAL Nepal Handbook and your trip-specific handbook, and let you know when the next online group briefing is scheduled. Closer to departure, we will ask you to upload a scan of your passport, a passport photo, and your flight and insurance details.
Paying your balance
Your balance is due within 30 days of your deposit, unless other arrangements are made (just ask). We will email you an invoice, which you can pay securely by any major credit card through Stripe. You do not need a Stripe account. If you would prefer to pay by bank wire, email us at info@himalayanadventurelabs.com
Payment plan
If you would prefer to pay in instalments, email us and we will work out a plan with you. To enrol, a deposit of $250 or 20% of the trip cost (whichever is higher) is required. Your first instalment is due by the end of the month following your deposit. For example, if you pay your deposit in May, your first instalment is due by the end of June. The full balance must be paid no later than three months before the trip start date.
Insurance
Required: travel insurance covering emergency medical treatment and helicopter evacuation at the altitudes your trip reaches. We will ask for your policy details before departure.
Highly recommended: trip cancellation insurance, which protects the money you have paid us if you are unable to travel. It is your main protection against illness, injury or other unforeseen events. Many insurers offer medical, evacuation and cancellation cover bundled together in a single policy. We will provide proof of payment to support any claim with your insurer.
Cancellations and refunds
Your $250 USD deposit is refundable if you cancel within 30 days of paying it. After 30 days, the deposit is non-refundable.
Payments toward your balance are refundable as follows, minus Stripe transaction fees (~2.9% + 30¢):
- More than 120 days before departure: full refund
- 90–120 days before departure: 50% refund
- Fewer than 90 days before departure: no refund
These payments are used to secure group rates, permits and advance logistics, which is why refunds reduce as departure approaches.
Medical cancellations
The refund schedule above applies to all cancellations, including those for medical reasons. This is why we recommend trip cancellation insurance. If you have to cancel for a documented medical reason, HAL may, at its discretion, offer a credit toward a future HAL trip.
Weather and flight disruption
Mountain flights and helicopter charters in Nepal are often delayed or cancelled by weather. If a scheduled flight is cancelled, we will claim the refund from the airline or operator on your behalf and pass it on to you, then agree with you on rebooking or adjusting the itinerary. If you are held in Kathmandu as a result, we will credit the daily trail budget for your accommodation and food toward your accommodation in Kathmandu. This amount varies by trip.
Costs outside the planned itinerary are your responsibility, including leaving the group early or choosing to leave the trail.
If HAL cannot run part or all of a trip
We may cancel a trip if there are not enough participants, though this is extremely unlikely. In that case, you will receive a full refund.
If events outside our control, such as natural disasters, government restrictions or safety closures, prevent us from running part or all of a trip, we will refund the unused portion of your trip cost, minus costs already incurred on your behalf (such as permits, guide bookings and non-refundable reservations). These costs differ between trips, so the refund amount will vary. Trip cancellation insurance is the best protection here too.
Questions?
Email us at info@himalayanadventurelabs.com. We are happy to help.