Please read the following carefully as it is your contract with B. C. Archaeology Travel. The terms and conditions stated within this information are current as of the 1st July 2016 and supersede all previous terms and conditions stated by B. C. Archaeology.

B.C. Archaeology Travel (herein known as 'the Company') accepts bookings for Study Tours subject to the following conditions:

Your Study Tour Contract
The contract is between the Company and 'the Client', being any person travelling or intending to travel on a tour operated by the Company. The contract is subject to Australian law and the jurisdiction of the Australian Courts.

Booking and Deposits
To secure a booking, the Company requires a completed booking form and the necessary deposit (or full payment including deposit and balance) within 60 days of tour departure. A deposit of A$500.00 per person is required to secure places on a tour. A booking is accepted and becomes definite from the date that the Company sends a confirmation notice and receipt to the Client for the payment of deposit.

Participation in the tour is on a first come/first served basis. As tours are limited to 18 people, places can go quickly. The Company, or its agents, reserves the right to decline any booking at their discretion, for whatever reason. Please take care when making a booking - the deposit is not refundable to the Client in the event that the Client withdraws from the tour, for whatever reason. The deposit will be returned to the Client in the event that the tour is full at the time of booking.

Late bookings
We emphasise the importance of making a booking at the earliest opportunity because of the small group numbers included in our tours. For bookings received within 6 weeks of departure the Company reserves the right to pass on any extra costs incurred - this includes higher costs for flights, transport and accommodation.

Exploring the tombs at Amarna © Michael Birrell

Balance of payment
The balance of all monies due, including any additional surcharges and taxes applicable at the time, should ideally be paid to the Company 4 months prior to departure to facilitate purchase of flights and confirmation of accommodation, and not later than 60 days before departure. In the case of non-payment of the balance by the due date, the Company may treat the booking as cancelled by the Client. Under such circumstances, the deposit amount will be retained to cover booking and operational expenses. The deposit amount is not refundable except when medical reasons can be provided by a doctor�s certificate - please choose carefully. The deposit is transferable to another tour operated by the Company.

Cancelling your booking and refunds
The Company reserves the right to cancel a tour, for any circumstances, up to 6 weeks (40 days) prior to departure. In the event of a tour being cancelled by the Company, for whatever reason, the deposit and any balance of monies will be fully refunded to the Client. Alternatively, the deposit and/or balance of payment can be transferred to a future tour operated by the Company at the discretion of the Client.

A tour will not normally be cancelled less than 6 weeks prior to departure except in instances of war, threat of war, riot, civil strife, industrial dispute, changes imposed by rescheduling or cancellation of flights by an airline or other similar events beyond the control of the Company. The Company is not liable for any penalties associated with connecting airfares in the event of changes to a tour departure time, date or cancellation.

A minimum of 6 people is required for the running of each tour program. In the event that less than 6 Clients are booked for any particular tour at the time required for the balance of payment (60 days prior to departure), the deposit and any balance of payment provided can either be returned to the Client, or transferred to a future program, at the discretion of the Client.

Should the Client wish to cancel a tour, for whatever reason, charges will be imposed at the following rates:

More than 60 days prior to departure: $500 deposit
60-21 days prior to departure: 50% of total tour price
20-0 days prior to departure: 100% of total tour price


Passports and equipment
Clients are responsible for being in possession of a passport which is valid for at least 6 months after the end of the tour date. Information about other matters, including climate, clothing, baggage, personal equipment etc. is given in good faith but without any responsibility on the part of the Company.

Insurance
Clients are responsible for acquiring sufficient personal travel insurance. Travel insurance is mandatory for all Clients whilst on a tour organized by the Company. Clients, together with their personal property including baggage, are at all times solely at their own risk. Clients are entirely responsible for arranging their own insurance with protection for the full duration of the tour in respect of at least medical expenses, injury, death, repatriation, cancellation and curtailment. Clients making their own arrangements should ensure that there are no exclusion clauses limiting protection for the types of activities included in their tour.

On the basis of legal advice we do not normally accept travel insurance provided as part of a credit card membership unless the insurance policy explicitly names the persons covered and contact phone numbers can be provided for use in the event of an emergency.

Limited insurance is held by the Company. The Client acknowledges and accepts that there may be no policy covering the Company's liability to its Clients for death, injury, damage or loss occurring anywhere in the world. The Client also acknowledges that, with respect to passenger accident liability cover; this cover may be very limited or may not exist at all. The Client acknowledges that the Company has taken reasonable steps in safeguarding its liability. Although the Company does hold various insurances, this booking condition states that the Client must assume he/she is not covered by any Company insurance policy, including all liability insurance, for death, injury, damage or any other loss.

Client bookings are accepted on the understanding that they appreciate the possible risks inherent in travelling and that they undertake the Study Tours featured in our program at their own volition. The Company and tour operators place extreme importance on the safety and well-being of Clients. It is important, however, that Clients make themselves aware of the risks involved and are responsible for making decisions accordingly.

The Company accepts no liability for any action or activity undertaken by the Client arranged independently of the Company while on tour.

The Company accepts no liability for any circumstance arising pursuant to the agreement constituted by acceptance of these conditions by the Client, save where such circumstance derived directly from a failure of the Company as a result of negligence on the part of its employees causing death or personal injury, or to the extent of recovery by the Client under the insurance cover effected pursuant to these conditions.


Study Tour participation
Clients agree to accept the authority and decisions of the Company employees, tour leaders and agents while on tour with the Company. If, in the opinion of such persons, the health, level of fitness or conduct of a Client at any time before or after departure appears likely to endanger the safe, comfortable or happy progress of a tour, the Client may be excluded from part of the tour without refund or recompense. In the case of ill-health, the Company may make such arrangements as it sees fit to recover the costs thereof from the Client. If the Client commits an illegal act, the Client may be excluded from the tour and the company will cease to have responsibility to/for them. No refund will be made for any unused services which are included in the price.

If a Client is affected by a medical or other condition that might affect their, or other people's, enjoyment or active participation in the tour, such a condition must be made clear to the Company at the time of booking. Clients are responsible for their own medical conditions. The Study Tours generally involve travel to third-world countries where facilities may not be available for the access of travellers with impaired or limited mobility. Client should have general fitness and mobility as there are numerous sites which can only be accessed by stairs or by walking across uneven desert surfaces. The Company takes no responsibility for the ability, or otherwise, of Clients to access the individual components of the program specified in the itinerary including sites and/or transport.

Changes to the program
While the Company will endeavour to operate all tours as advertised, reasonable changes to the itinerary may be made where deemed necessary or advisable by the Company. The Company shall not be liable for any delays, deviations or omissions from any tour caused by circumstances beyond its reasonable control, nor for any direct or indirect consequences resulting. The Company shall not be liable to compensate Clients for associated expenses incurred as a result of their booking.

Airlines featured are not responsible for any acts or omissions of any supplier of transportation or accommodations other than the airline itself, and accordingly, airlines are not liable in respect of either person or property for any loss, damage, injury, accident, delay or irregularity, however occasioned, sustained or suffered in or during any journey or tour other than while on the airline. International airline conventions limiting their liability are specified on the reverse side of airline tickets and form part of the terms and conditions of any package.



For more information please contact:

Dr Michael Birrell
B.C. Archaeology Travel
PO Box 1236
Mittagong NSW 2575
Australia
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bcarchaeology/
Mobile: +61 405 492 946

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