Terms and Conditions
The following are the general terms and conditions governing our photo tours and workshops.
Photo Tours and Expeditions is a registered fictitious name of DAK Photography, Inc., a Florida Corporation.
By traveling with us, you acknowledge and agree to the following Terms and Conditions:
1. Booking Procedure
All prices for the tours are quoted in US Dollars.
We require a deposit to reserve a place on the selected photo tour. The deposit is due at the time of booking and can be paid online via credit card; ACH and Debit Cards are also accepted.
Other than the deposit, you must complete the registration form for you and your guests, if any.
If you are traveling solo and want to share a room, we will try our best to find you a match. However, if, for any reason, we don't find a suitable match, the single supplement fee will apply.
We will email you shortly after confirming your booking. Please do not book your flights at this time unless otherwise indicated by us. We will email you once the minimum number of guests to run the tour has been reached. You can then start looking for flights.
2. Balance of Payments
The final payment for the trip is 90 days before departure. Such payment shall be made via credit card or wire transfer. Failure to meet the payment schedule will result in cancellation and forfeit of the deposit.
3. Cancellations and Refunds
If DAK Photography Inc. must cancel a trip for any reason, 100% of paid deposits and fees will be fully refunded. We reserve the right to cancel any trip, tour, or group due to insufficient registration at any time. In such cases, those with reservations will be notified promptly, and a full refund of the trip payment will be issued.
If you need to cancel your participation, written notification is required, and email is acceptable.
Please note that deposits are non-refundable. However, they may be applied as a credit toward a future trip with us, provided the credit is used within 12 months of the original trip’s start date.
The following cancellation fees apply:
• 120 days or more before departure: No cancellation charge.
• 61 days to 119 days before departure: 50% of the tour fee.
• 60 days or less before departure: 100% of the tour fee.
If we are able to fill your spot on the trip, we will refund 100% of the tour fee, less an administrative fee of $250.
Refunds will not be made for any other costs you may have incurred due to your booking, such as flights, visas, or other travel arrangements.
Travel and Medical Insurance
Travel and medical insurance, including emergency evacuation coverage, are mandatory for all participants. To safeguard your investment, we strongly recommend purchasing this coverage as soon as your trip is confirmed. We also encourage you to select an insurance policy that covers non-refundable deposits and other pre-trip expenses in case of unforeseen cancellations.
Refund Timeline
All refunds will be processed within 30 days of receiving written confirmation of your cancellation.
4. Force Majeure
DAK Photography Inc. is not liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations where such failure or delay results from any cause beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of God, war, strikes or labor disputes, embargoes, government orders, or any other force majeure event.
5. Physical Requirements
Photo tours can be challenging and are clearly marked on the DAK Photography Inc. marketing material with levels of activity ranging from Relaxed to Strenuous. Guests hereby expressly agree and promise to accept and assume all the risks associated with the chosen tour.
Due to the nature and certain physical requirements related to photo tours, DAK Photography Inc. reserves the right to require individuals with current or past serious medical conditions to provide a medical clearance form from their primary care physician.
Furthermore, we reserve the right to deny services to persons who may pose a risk to themselves or others on the trip or who, because of their condition(s), may require special assistance/attention that would alter the essential nature of the trip for all guests.
Additionally, during the trip, the Tour Leader reserves the right to require a person to return to the base hotel or to abandon the trip altogether if, in their judgment, for any reason, a person is unfit to continue participating in an ongoing activity or the guest causes disturbance, annoyance, or continued inconvenience to the trip or other persons/clients/guests. If, for any reason, anyone leaves the trip before its completion, there will be no reimbursement of fees.
6. Consent to Leadership
DAK Photography Inc. shall have complete discretion to decide when, where, how, to what extent, and under what circumstances an itinerary shall be modified for the safeguard and benefit of the guests.
Our itineraries are intended as examples only. Participants should allow flexibility due to changes in weather, natural history or cultural events, or other logistical arrangements deemed necessary by the tour leader(s). The Tour Leader will try to adhere to the proposed itinerary; however, such conditions can cause a deviation from the original plan. By participating in the tour, you agree to obey the tour leader's decision in these regards.
Additionally, in the event that the leader(s) cannot continue with an adventure due to illness, emergency, etc., the best alternatives for the group will be made, including leader substitution if possible.
7. Logistics
We select among the best available accommodations but refrain from extravagance. Whenever possible, our trip participants are lodged in comfortable, modern hotels. Some photographic destinations are far removed from modern amenities; however, we will be accommodated in rustic country inns, cabins, or tented camps where necessary. A list of preliminary accommodations and hotels is listed for each trip; the final list of chosen accommodations will be communicated 30 days before departure.
Meals are always a special part of our trips for the camaraderie they engender and the opportunity they provide to try new foods from different areas. Offered meals are marked as (B) Breakfast, (L) Lunch, (LB) Lunch Box, and (D) Dinner in our marketing material. Soft drinks are included with meals included in tours. Guests are responsible for their bar tab for alcoholic beverages at restaurant lunches and dinners.
The second tour leader (and any subsequent additional leaders) listed for each trip on the website will be added as the group size warrants.
8. Travel Insurance
Our tours require that participants purchase comprehensive medical with evacuation trip insurance to cover them while traveling with us. We partner, and we recommend checking Arch RoamRight for all your travel insurance needs; you can check them here.
9. Behavioral Expectations
Guests are expected to behave respectfully towards local cultures, laws, and fellow travelers. Any behavior deemed inappropriate, disruptive, or endangering others will result in immediate removal from the tour without a refund.
10. Privacy Policy
Personal information collected during the booking process is handled by applicable data protection laws. We do not share your information with third parties except as necessary for the operation of the tour.
11. Liability Waiver
By participating in our tours, guests acknowledge and assume all risks associated with travel and photography tours. DAK Photography Inc., its subcontractors, and tour leaders are not liable for any injuries, losses, or damages incurred during the tour.
12. Client Responsibilities
It is the client's responsibility to obtain necessary travel documents (passports, visas), ensure they are in good health, and comply with local laws and customs.
13. Changes and Modifications
Requests for changes or modifications to bookings must be made in writing. Fees may apply. DAK Photography Inc. reserves the right to make necessary changes to itineraries or bookings.
14. Special Requests
We will try to accommodate special requests (dietary requirements, room preferences) but cannot guarantee they will be met.
15. Tour Capacity and Overbooking
Our tours are designed for a certain number of participants, typically limited to 10. However, based on tour reservations, we may add up to two extra guests to account for potential cancellations or to accommodate couples or friends traveling together when only one spot remains. Additionally, a tour leader may travel with a family member. These adjustments help ensure the tour can proceed as planned without being affected by last-minute cancellations.