Terms and Conditions

*Payment of deposit and/or payment in full certify that you understand and agree to these Terms and Conditions.

RESPONSIBILITIES

It is Tilly's Tours ' responsibility to provide the services listed with a tour itinerary. Tilly's Tours includes this information with every price quote.

All over night accommodation is double occupancy, bed & breakfast; unless otherwise shown on your itineraries. En-suite facilities are included whenever available. Comparable hotel substitutes will be provided if planned accommodations are not available. For single occupancy, a single supplement will be applied. Day rooms are not included unless specified. Hotel check-in and check-out times are 12:00 noon;

Tilly's Tours reserves the right to make itinerary modifications or to change hotels or other tour components, if these are deemed necessary or advisable for the continuation of the tour, for safety and security reasons, or to prevent delays that would be detrimental to the tour or its members. Tilly's Tours is not responsible for any delays or consequences of any delays due to circumstances beyond Tilly's Tours ' control. Tilly's Tours will make every effort to provide alternate and comparable services if changes are made.

For independent group arrivals, Tilly's Tours will provide one airport transfer upon arrival, and one upon departure; other arrivals and departures will be assessed an airport transfer fee. If a group member arrives late that person is responsible for any and all transportation costs incurred in catching up with the group.

Tilly's Tours will make every effort to forward any lost luggage to its owner during the tour; any costs incurred in forwarding luggage are the responsibility of the traveller.

Additional ground services required as a result of international flight schedule changes, illness or emergencies are the responsibility of the traveller. Tilly's Tours personnel will do what they can to assist travellers who may need to make new flight arrangements. This is done as a courtesy and implies no responsibility on the part of Tilly's Tours to find or make new arrangements. The costs or penalties for any such arrangements are the sole responsibility of the traveller.

Tilly's Tours' guide has the ultimate recourse of removing a traveller from a tour at any time, if that person's continued presence is deemed harmful to him/herself or others, or if it adversely affects the quality of the tour and/or the enjoyment of the group. NO refund will be made for missed activities under these circumstances.

Travellers must procure their own passport, entry visa(s), and health documents.

Travellers agree to comply with local laws and regulations , and to respect cultural practices observed during the tour. Travellers understand that living conditions and practices in West Africa are not the same as in their home countries. Travellers must be ready to experience cultural differences with grace.

Travellers are expected to be on time for all tour activities; there are no refunds for missed activities. If travellers miss any flights or other scheduled departures, the responsibility and the cost of rejoining the tour will be theirs.

Travellers with special needs or disabilities must inform Tilly's Tours at the time of booking ; failure to disclose in advance any physical or other restrictions, or the need for special accommodations, will make it impossible to meet those needs. When informed, Tilly's Tours will make every effort to accommodate travellers, and will inform travellers of local conditions they will likely encounter.

For their own safety as well as for the smooth operation of their tour, travellers are expected to follow their guide's requests and instructions; any problems encountered during the tour should be brought to the guide's attention immediately, so that he may remedy the situation. If he is unable to do so, or you are not satisfied with the remedy, please call Tilly's Tours office, or report the problem to Tilly's Tours office as soon as you are able and most certainly prior to leaving The Gambia.

Tips and gratuities, while not necessary, are accepted as recognition of quality of service by guides, drivers, and restaurant personnel. These tips and gratuities are not covered by tour fees, and are entirely at your discretion. One of the negative impacts of tourism to third world countries is ‘Bumsterish' behaviour, this concerns us greatly and we do try to implement sensitization programs in the areas to which we visit using the Village Chiefs and Holy Men to talk to the villages.

For this reason, our staff are not allowed to accept gifts from you or to exchange addresses. So please do not feel offended if your offers are rejected.

HEALTH & FITNESS

Travellers must be healthy, fit, and prepared to endure hot weather conditions.

Elevators are not available outside the coastal resort hotels, and some stair-climbing may be required. If you have an underlying medical condition, Tilly's Tours must be informed and you should get your physician's approval before reserving your tour .

Be advised that in case of illness or accident during the tour, Tilly's Tours ' liability is limited to transporting the traveller to the nearest medical facility, and, at the traveller's expense. Missed activities due to illness are not refundable and appropriate insurance coverage is recommended (see section on Insurance, below).

Malaria is endemic throughout West Africa . See your doctor for a prescription for a malaria-prevention medication. While on tour travellers should try to prevent mosquito bites by wearing appropriate clothing, and by using an insect-repellent.

If you have special dietary requirements, please inform us; special requirements may be met with advance preparation.

For the health and comfort of all Tilly's Tours clients and staff, all vehicles are No Smoking.

SAFETY & SECURITY

Travellers' safety and security is Tilly's Tours ' first priority. We do not conduct tours to dangerous areas and we always work with local personnel, who are fully apprised of local safety and security conditions.

Please note that for safety reasons, we avoid driving after dark as much as possible. Driver fatigue is an issue, as well as the condition of the local roads (narrow, unlit, not always in good repair). Also, there are many road hazards specific to the nightime hours: vehicles frequently without headlights, pedestrians who think they are as visible at night as during the day, and free-ranging farm animals (namely donkeys and cattle) grazing along the roadside.

Travellers are expected to exercise caution in public areas, where pick pocketing may occur. Travellers are also expected to keep their valuables at hand at all times, and to keep their luggage locked. Tilly's Tours is not responsible for articles forgotten or left behind in hotel rooms, restaurants, etc.

INSURANCE

Travel insurance is recommended, it is not included in the tour price. In case of accident, Tilly's Tours ' responsibility is limited to transport to the nearest medical facility. Check your existing policies (health, homeowners, student, etc.) to see what coverage you may already have. Otherwise consult one of the specialist travel insurance companies. You should consider coverage for medical expenses including evacuation, trip cancellation, and lost luggage or personal effects.

RESERVATIONS, PAYMENT

To reserve a tour, a deposit of 50% of the total tour price must be sent to us, if you prefer not to use the electronic transfer option, contact us by e-mail and we will forward details of how to make payment by cheque. Upon receipt of payment we make hotel and transportation arrangements.

All tours and adventures will be based on availability. Please note that accommodation outside of the main tourist area is adequate although some what basic.

Payment of deposit certifies that you understand and agree to these Terms and Conditions.

Upon receipt of deposit, Tilly's Tours will send a confirmation email. Please allow at least 10-15 working days for your deposit to be credited to our account.

The balance in full is due upon arrival in The Gambia, in cash (sterling or Dalasis – local currency ) payable at out office in Gambia – NOTE the office can not accept credit or debit cards.

Payment of deposit guarantees the land price of your tour/adventure.

TOUR PRICES

Tilly's Tours prices are digressive and depend upon the size of your party; final prices are provided upon request. Prices are in Sterling £, and are subject to change until a tour deposit is received. Prices are per person, double occupancy.

Tour itineraries list what is included for that tour price; read this information carefully.

Prices do not include international travel to/from Africa, passport fees, entry visa fees, excess baggage charges, airport taxes, immunizations or other medical services, non-specified meals, alcoholic or other beverages, insurance, tips for tour staff, laundry and other personal expenses.

CANCELLATION POLICY, REFUNDS

Tilly's Tours ' cancellation policy for private itineraries is as follows:

Cancellation 30 days or more, prior to tour start - refund 50% of deposit, minus bank and communication fees.

Cancellation 20 to 30 days prior to tour start date - refund 25% of deposit, minus bank and communication fees.

NOTE; cancellation on or after tour start date there will be NO refund of either the deposit OR the balance.

If a single payment-in-full is made, 'deposit' and 'balance' are both defined as 50% of total tour price, and the above schedule is applied.

No-shows, late arrivals, voluntary changes or cancellations by travellers of tour days or services during a tour are non-refundable. Cancellation insurance is recommended.

Prior to departure, Tilly's Tours reserves the right to cancel a tour, and will provide a full refund of all payments. FYI: Tilly's Tours has never cancelled a tour, but would do so at its sole discretion should travellers' safety be of concern. Tilly's Tours is not responsible for expenses incurred by travellers in preparing for a cancelled trip.

Once travellers are in-country, Tilly's Tours will provide comparable alternate tour arrangements, if the cancellation of a particular tour is deemed necessary. Should travellers elect not to accept these arrangements, this will constitute voluntary refusal of services, and no refunds will be given. Pro-rata refunds will be made if alternate arrangements are not comparable to the original tour services...

Cancellation by individual members of group tours is handled on a case-by-case basis, as it may require recalculation of the tour price; depending on the number of individuals cancelling (the reduced size of the group may affect the per-person price).

GENERAL DISCLAIMER

Travellers must understand and accept that participation in any tour may entail certain unpredictable risks and dangers, notably but not limited to river excursions, jungle excursions or treks (on foot, horseback or by camel) in any location. Animal behaviour is unpredictable and may cause personal injury. Road accidents can occur anywhere.

Please be aware that precautions are taken to guard against all such dangers, but your safety cannot be guaranteed. Participation in any tour is at your own risk.

Gap-Adventures and Working Holidays Reservations:

Bookings for these packages are subject to the above conditions AND the conditions laid down by the British Charity within which guests will be working. These additional conditions of the Charity are available for download by request.