This Cancellation & Refund Policy applies to tours, photo tours, excursions, activities, tour packages and other travel services booked with Armenia Photo Club.
This Policy is intended to operate in accordance with the applicable legislation of the Republic of Armenia, including the Law of the Republic of Armenia on Tourism and applicable consumer protection legislation. Where mandatory law provides the customer with greater rights than those stated in this Policy, the mandatory provisions of law shall prevail.
BOOKING AND PAYMENT
A booking is considered confirmed after Armenia Photo Club has received the required deposit or full payment and has issued a booking confirmation.
For most tours, Armenia Photo Club may require an advance payment of approximately 20–30% of the total tour price.
The exact deposit percentage, payment schedule and remaining balance due will be communicated to the customer before the booking is confirmed.
Depending on the nature of the tour and the services included, a different deposit amount may apply.
Where a booking requires advance payment to third-party service providers, including hotels, transportation companies, guides, activity operators, ticketing providers, restaurants, venues, permit authorities or other suppliers, Armenia Photo Club may require full advance payment of the relevant third-party services.
Where confirmation of the booking requires full prepayment of the entire arrangement to third-party providers, Armenia Photo Club may require full payment of the booking before confirmation. Any such requirement will be communicated to the customer before payment is made.
THIRD-PARTY SERVICES AND NON-REFUNDABLE COSTS
Many Armenia Photo Club tours include services supplied by independent third parties.
These may include:
Accommodation
Transportation
Entrance tickets
Permits
Local guides and instructors
Adventure activities
Special equipment
Restaurant reservations
Domestic or international tickets
Specially arranged services
Private or custom services requested by the customer
Amounts that have already been paid or irrevocably committed to third-party providers and that cannot actually be recovered from those providers are considered non-refundable costs.
If a third-party provider returns all or part of an amount previously considered non-refundable, the recovered amount will be taken into account when calculating the customer’s final refund or credit.
Armenia Photo Club will not retain a third-party charge as non-refundable where that amount has actually been recovered from the relevant provider.
CANCELLATION BY THE CUSTOMER
The customer may request cancellation of a booking at any time before the scheduled start of the tour.
Cancellation requests should be submitted in writing by email or through an official Armenia Photo Club communication channel as soon as possible.
Where applicable, amounts paid by the customer will be refundable subject to deductions for:
actual non-refundable third-party costs;
services already provided;
costs already incurred specifically for the booking;
and any reasonable, proportionate and fair cancellation fee permitted under the applicable agreement and the legislation of the Republic of Armenia.
The amount of any cancellation fee may depend on how much time remains before the start of the tour, the expenses already incurred for the booking, costs that can still be avoided, and amounts recoverable through alternative use of the reserved services.
Where required by applicable law, Armenia Photo Club will provide the customer, upon request, with a written explanation of how the cancellation fee was calculated.
CANCELLATION WITHIN 48 HOURS OF THE TOUR
Cancellations made less than 48 hours before the scheduled start of a tour may result in significant cancellation charges because transportation, guides, activities, accommodation and other services may already have been confirmed and paid for.
Any third-party costs that have become genuinely non-refundable by that time will not be refundable to the customer.
For the remaining portion of the booking, Armenia Photo Club may apply a reasonable and proportionate cancellation fee in accordance with the booking conditions and applicable Armenian law.
Any remaining balance after deduction of lawful cancellation charges and non-refundable third-party costs will be handled in accordance with the customer’s applicable legal rights and the provisions below regarding Armenia Photo Club Travel Credit.
ARMENIA PHOTO CLUB TRAVEL CREDIT
Armenia Photo Club aims to provide customers with a flexible alternative when travel plans change.
Where legally permitted, and subject to the customer’s agreement, an amount that remains available after deducting applicable non-refundable third-party costs and lawful cancellation charges may be retained as Armenia Photo Club Travel Credit instead of being immediately refunded.
Travel Credit is valid for 12 months from the date on which the original booking is cancelled, unless a longer period is confirmed in writing by Armenia Photo Club.
The Travel Credit may be used toward any available Armenia Photo Club tour, photo tour, excursion, activity or other eligible service.
The customer does not necessarily have to use the Travel Credit personally.
At the original customer’s written request, the Travel Credit may be transferred in whole or in part to another person, subject to availability and any restrictions imposed by third-party service providers.
If the new booking costs more than the available Travel Credit, the difference must be paid by the customer or the person using the credit.
If the new booking costs less than the available Travel Credit, the remaining credit may continue to be used during its original validity period.
Any additional costs imposed by a third party for changing a passenger name, reservation, date or service will be payable separately.
Travel Credit is offered as a flexible commercial option and does not replace any monetary refund that Armenia Photo Club is legally required to provide under mandatory applicable law.
STATUTORY CANCELLATION RIGHTS
Where the booking qualifies as a tourism package under the legislation of the Republic of Armenia, the customer may have statutory rights to terminate the tourism package agreement within the period and under the conditions established by law.
Under applicable Armenian tourism legislation, a customer may, subject to the statutory conditions and exceptions, have the right to terminate a tourism package agreement without giving a reason within seven working days following conclusion of the agreement.
This right may be affected where, at the customer’s instruction or with the customer’s agreement, amounts paid by the customer have already been transferred to other tourism service providers.
Nothing in this Policy restricts any mandatory cancellation, withdrawal or refund rights granted to the customer by applicable law.
NO-SHOW
If a customer does not arrive at the agreed meeting point at the agreed time and does not provide prior notice, the booking may be considered a no-show.
In the case of a no-show, services that have already been reserved, provided, paid for or that cannot be recovered from third-party providers may be non-refundable.
Any additional cancellation charge will be determined in accordance with the booking conditions and applicable law.
LATE ARRIVAL
Customers are responsible for arriving at the agreed meeting point at the agreed time.
Armenia Photo Club will make reasonable efforts to assist a customer who is delayed.
However, Armenia Photo Club cannot guarantee that the original itinerary can be maintained when a customer arrives late.
Additional transportation, guide time, entrance fees or other expenses caused by a customer’s late arrival may be charged separately.
CHANGES REQUESTED BY THE CUSTOMER
Where possible, Armenia Photo Club will try to accommodate reasonable requests to change the date, participants or itinerary of a confirmed booking.
Any change is subject to availability and to the conditions of third-party suppliers.
If a requested change creates additional costs or non-refundable supplier charges, those costs will be communicated to the customer and may be payable before the change is confirmed.
CANCELLATION BY ARMENIA PHOTO CLUB
Armenia Photo Club may cancel a tour if it cannot reasonably or safely provide the contracted services due to extraordinary or unavoidable circumstances, safety concerns, road closures, severe weather, natural disasters, government restrictions, closure of essential attractions or other circumstances beyond reasonable control.
Where Armenia Photo Club cancels a tourism package under circumstances in which applicable Armenian law requires a full refund, the customer will receive the amount required by law without a cancellation penalty.
If a tour or package requires a stated minimum number of participants and that minimum is not reached, Armenia Photo Club may cancel the tour subject to the notice periods established in the booking conditions and applicable Armenian law.
Where applicable, notice of cancellation for insufficient participation will be provided no later than:
20 days before the start of a trip lasting more than 6 days;
7 days before the start of a trip lasting between 2 and 6 days;
48 hours before the start of a trip lasting less than 2 days,
unless another legally permissible period is provided in the applicable agreement.
WEATHER, ROAD CONDITIONS AND SAFETY
Many Armenia Photo Club tours take place outdoors, in mountainous areas or in locations where weather and road conditions can change rapidly.
Normal changes in weather do not automatically constitute grounds for cancellation or refund where the tour can still be provided safely and substantially as agreed.
Safety is a priority.
Armenia Photo Club may reasonably modify the route, schedule, activity, transportation method or individual stops where necessary to protect participants or respond to changing conditions.
Where possible, an alternative experience of comparable character or value will be offered.
If circumstances make the contracted tour impossible to provide, the customer’s rights will be determined in accordance with the booking agreement and applicable Armenian law.
CHANGES TO THE ITINERARY
Tour itineraries may occasionally need to be adjusted because of weather, road conditions, attraction closures, seasonal conditions, safety considerations, local restrictions or other operational circumstances.
Minor changes that do not substantially alter the overall nature of the booked experience will not normally be treated as cancellation of the tour.
If Armenia Photo Club needs to make a substantial change before the tour begins, the customer will be informed as soon as reasonably possible and will be provided with the alternatives and rights available under the applicable booking agreement and law.
PHOTOGRAPHY TOURS
Photography tours are affected by natural and environmental conditions.
Armenia Photo Club cannot guarantee specific weather, cloud cover, visibility, snow conditions, autumn colors, sunrise or sunset conditions, wildlife sightings or any particular photographic result.
Changes in natural conditions alone do not constitute failure to provide the booked photography tour where the agreed service can otherwise be provided.
When possible, the guide may adjust shooting locations or timing to improve photographic opportunities.
ADVENTURE AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Activities such as hiking, trekking, rafting, canyoning, horse riding, off-road tours, skiing, climbing and other outdoor experiences may depend on weather, terrain, water levels, road conditions and safety assessments.
An activity may be modified, postponed or cancelled where the responsible guide, instructor or operator considers conditions unsafe.
Where a third-party activity operator is involved, that provider’s lawful cancellation and safety rules may also apply.
CUSTOM AND PRIVATE TOURS
Private, tailor-made and photography tours may involve services specifically reserved or purchased for an individual customer or group.
Because these bookings may involve non-refundable commitments to third parties, their cancellation conditions may differ from standard tours.
Any material special conditions applicable to a custom booking will be communicated before confirmation.
CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITIES
Customers are responsible for providing accurate information during booking.
Customers should inform Armenia Photo Club before booking about circumstances reasonably relevant to safe participation, including mobility limitations, special assistance requirements or other needs relevant to the selected activity.
Customers must follow reasonable safety instructions issued by Armenia Photo Club guides, qualified instructors, drivers and third-party activity operators.
REFUND PROCESSING
Where a monetary refund is due, Armenia Photo Club will process it in accordance with applicable law.
Where possible, refunds will be made using the same payment method originally used by the customer, unless another method is agreed or required.
The time required for a refunded amount to appear in the customer’s account may depend on the bank, card issuer or payment provider.
Third-party payment processing charges, bank charges or currency conversion differences will be handled in accordance with applicable law and the terms disclosed to the customer.
COMPLAINTS AND QUESTIONS
If a customer has a question, complaint, cancellation request or refund request, the customer should contact Armenia Photo Club using the contact information published on the website.
Customers are encouraged to contact Armenia Photo Club as early as possible when travel plans change. Early notification can significantly reduce third-party cancellation costs and may allow the booking to be rescheduled instead of cancelled.
GOVERNING LAW AND MANDATORY CUSTOMER RIGHTS
This Policy and bookings made with Armenia Photo Club are subject to the applicable laws of the Republic of Armenia.
Nothing in this Policy is intended to exclude, waive or restrict any consumer or tourist right that cannot legally be excluded, waived or restricted.
If any provision of this Policy conflicts with a mandatory provision of applicable Armenian law, the mandatory legal provision shall prevail, while the remaining provisions of this Policy shall continue to apply to the extent permitted by law.