Terms and Conditions

Welcome to Sunlit Marsh. These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") govern your use of our website (www.sunlitmarsh.sbs) and the travel services we provide. By accessing our website or using our services, you agree to be bound by these Terms.

Please read these Terms carefully before booking any travel services. If you do not agree with any part of these Terms, please do not use our website or services.

1. Definitions

In these Terms, the following definitions apply:

• "Company", "we", "us", "our" refers to Sunlit Marsh, a company registered in the United Kingdom (Registration Number: 87577683) with its registered office at Studio 18z Morris Grove, Stefanmouth, HP1 9HT.
• "Customer", "you", "your" refers to the person who makes a booking with us or uses our website.
• "Booking" means any reservation of travel services made through us.
• "Travel Services" means any services we arrange for you, including but not limited to tours, accommodations, transportation, and activities.
• "Travel Suppliers" means third-party providers of travel services, including but not limited to hotels, airlines, tour operators, and activity providers.
• "Force Majeure" means any event beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to natural disasters, adverse weather conditions, pandemics, government actions, civil unrest, terrorist attacks, industrial disputes, or technical problems.

2. Booking and Payment

2.1 Booking Process

By making a booking with us, you confirm that:

• You are at least 18 years of age and have the legal capacity to enter into contracts.
• You have the authority to accept these Terms on behalf of all persons included in the booking.
• All information provided by you during the booking process is accurate and complete.
• You have read and understood these Terms, our Privacy Policy, and any other policies referenced herein.

2.2 Booking Confirmation

A contract between you and us is formed when:

• We issue a written confirmation of your booking, and
• We receive your deposit or full payment as required.

Until these conditions are met, your booking is not confirmed and we reserve the right to cancel or modify your reservation.

2.3 Payment Terms

1. Deposits: A non-refundable deposit of 20% of the total booking value is required at the time of booking, unless otherwise specified for particular tours or services.
2. Final Payment: The remaining balance must be paid no later than 60 days before the departure date, unless otherwise specified.
3. Late Bookings: For bookings made within 60 days of departure, full payment is required at the time of booking.
4. Payment Methods: We accept payment by credit card, debit card, and bank transfer. Payment by credit card may incur a processing fee of up to 2.5% of the transaction value.

2.4 Price and Surcharges

All prices are quoted in British Pounds (GBP) and include applicable taxes unless otherwise stated. We reserve the right to adjust prices in the following circumstances:

• Increases in transportation costs, including fuel surcharges
• Changes in government-imposed taxes or fees
• Significant changes in foreign exchange rates
• Errors or omissions in advertised prices

If the price increase exceeds 8% of the total tour price, you have the right to cancel your booking and receive a full refund of all monies paid to us, or accept the price increase.

3. Cancellations and Changes

3.1 Cancellation by You

If you need to cancel your booking, you must notify us in writing. Cancellation fees will apply as follows (calculated as a percentage of the total booking price):

• More than 60 days before departure: Loss of deposit
• 59-45 days before departure: 50% of total booking price
• 44-30 days before departure: 75% of total booking price
• 29 days or less before departure: 100% of total booking price

Certain travel services may have different cancellation policies, which will be communicated to you at the time of booking.

3.2 Changes by You

If you wish to make changes to your booking (such as dates, destinations, or travel services), we will endeavor to accommodate your request but cannot guarantee availability. The following conditions apply:

• Changes must be requested in writing at least 60 days before departure.
• A change fee of £100 per person applies, plus any additional costs incurred.
• Changes requested within 60 days of departure will be treated as a cancellation and rebooking, and cancellation fees will apply.
• Name changes or transfers of bookings to another person will be considered on a case-by-case basis and are subject to availability and a £75 administration fee.

3.3 Cancellation or Changes by Us

We reserve the right to cancel or make changes to your booking in the following circumstances:

• Insufficient Participants: If the minimum number of participants required for a tour is not reached, we may cancel the tour or offer alternative arrangements.
• Force Majeure: If circumstances beyond our control necessitate changes or cancellations.
• Safety Concerns: If we reasonably believe that proceeding with the tour would pose a risk to your safety or wellbeing.

In the event of cancellation by us, you will be offered:

1. An alternative tour of comparable standard and price (if available), or
2. A full refund of all monies paid to us.

If we make a significant change to an essential element of your tour, you may:

1. Accept the change, or
2. Cancel your booking and receive a full refund, or
3. Accept an alternative tour of comparable standard and price (if available).

4. Travel Documents and Requirements

4.1 Travel Documentation

You are responsible for ensuring that you have all necessary travel documents, including but not limited to:

• Valid passport with sufficient validity beyond your travel dates (typically at least 6 months)
• Necessary visas or entry permits for all destinations on your itinerary
• Travel insurance documentation
• International driving permits, if applicable
• Vaccination certificates or health requirements

4.2 Travel Insurance

Comprehensive travel insurance is mandatory for all customers booking our travel services. Your insurance must cover:

• Medical expenses and emergency repatriation
• Personal liability
• Cancellation and curtailment
• Loss of luggage and personal effects
• Activities included in your tour (e.g., adventure sports, if applicable)

We reserve the right to request proof of adequate insurance coverage before departure. If you choose not to purchase travel insurance, you will be required to sign a waiver acknowledging the risks and accepting full responsibility.

4.3 Health Requirements

You are responsible for:

• Consulting with a healthcare professional regarding vaccinations or health precautions for your destination
• Ensuring you are physically fit to undertake the activities included in your tour
• Informing us of any medical conditions, disabilities, or special needs that may affect your participation

We will make reasonable efforts to accommodate special requirements when notified in advance, but cannot guarantee that all needs can be met.

5. Tour Operation and Conduct

5.1 Tour Leaders and Guides

Our tour leaders and guides have the authority to make decisions regarding the tour itinerary, participant conduct, and safety matters. You agree to comply with their reasonable instructions at all times.

5.2 Itinerary Changes

While we make every effort to operate tours as described, we reserve the right to modify itineraries, accommodations, or included activities due to:

• Weather conditions or natural events
• Local circumstances or safety considerations
• Changes in transportation schedules or availability
• Unforeseen events or force majeure

If significant changes are necessary, we will notify you as soon as reasonably possible and endeavor to provide services of comparable quality.

5.3 Accommodation

Accommodations are selected based on location, cleanliness, quality, and local character. Standards may vary between destinations and may differ from what you are accustomed to in your home country. Room assignments are typically based on double occupancy unless you have booked and paid for a single supplement.

5.4 Customer Conduct

You agree to conduct yourself in a manner that:

• Does not endanger the safety or wellbeing of yourself or others
• Does not interfere with the enjoyment of other travelers
• Complies with local laws, customs, and regulations
• Respects cultural sensitivities and environmental conservation

We reserve the right to remove you from a tour, without refund, if your conduct is deemed inappropriate, offensive, or detrimental to the group's welfare or the tour's operation.

6. Liability and Responsibility

6.1 Our Liability

We will accept responsibility for the arrangements we agree to provide or arrange for you as an "organizer" under the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018, to the extent that if we or our suppliers negligently perform or fail to perform such arrangements, we will pay you reasonable compensation.

However, we will not be liable for any injury, illness, death, loss, damage, expense, cost, or other claim of any description if:

• It is caused by your own acts or omissions, or the acts or omissions of a third party unconnected with the provision of the travel services
• It is unforeseeable or unavoidable, or due to force majeure
• It relates to services which we do not directly provide and for which you have a separate contract with another provider
• It relates to any loss of enjoyment, loss of business, loss of profits, or loss of opportunity

6.2 Limitation of Liability

Our liability, except in cases involving death, injury, or illness, shall be limited to a maximum of three times the cost of your travel arrangements.

For transportation services (e.g., airlines, railways, shipping), our liability will be limited in accordance with the relevant international conventions, including the Warsaw/Montreal Convention for air travel, the Athens Convention for sea travel, and the Berne/COTIF Convention for rail travel.

6.3 Third-Party Suppliers

Many of the services that make up your tour are provided by independent suppliers. Those suppliers provide these services in accordance with their own terms and conditions. We are not responsible for the acts or omissions of these independent suppliers or for any loss, damage, or injury sustained while participating in their activities.

6.4 Force Majeure

We will not be liable for any failure to perform or delay in performance of our obligations due to events beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to:

• Natural disasters or adverse weather conditions
• Pandemics, epidemics, or public health emergencies
• War, invasion, terrorism, or civil unrest
• Government actions or restrictions
• Industrial disputes or labor strikes
• Technical failures or transportation delays

7. Complaints and Claims

7.1 During Your Trip

If you have a complaint during your trip, you must:

1. Inform your tour leader, guide, or our local representative immediately, giving them the opportunity to resolve the issue on the spot.
2. If they are unable to resolve the issue, contact our 24-hour emergency assistance line.
3. Keep records of any communication regarding your complaint.

Failure to report issues during your trip may affect our ability to investigate and resolve your complaint, and may impact any potential compensation claims.

7.2 After Your Trip

If you remain dissatisfied after your trip, please follow these steps:

1. Submit a written complaint within 28 days of returning from your trip.
2. Include your booking reference, relevant documentation, and details of how you would like the matter resolved.
3. Send your complaint to our Customer Service Department at [email protected] or by post to our registered address.

We aim to respond to all complaints within 14 days and to resolve them within 28 days of receipt.

7.3 Alternative Dispute Resolution

If we cannot resolve your complaint to your satisfaction, you may refer the matter to the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) provider approved by the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA). Contact details will be provided with our final response to your complaint.

8. Intellectual Property and Content

8.1 Ownership

All content on our website, including text, graphics, logos, images, audio clips, digital downloads, and software, is the property of Sunlit Marsh or our content suppliers and is protected by international copyright laws.

8.2 Use Restrictions

You may access, download, and print content from our website for your personal, non-commercial use only. You may not:

• Modify, copy, distribute, transmit, display, perform, reproduce, publish, license, create derivative works from, transfer, or sell any content obtained from our website
• Use our content for any commercial purpose without our express written consent
• Remove any copyright, trademark, or other proprietary notices from our content
• Frame or mirror any part of our website without our express written consent

8.3 User-Generated Content

By submitting reviews, comments, photos, or other content to our website or social media channels, you:

• Grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual, worldwide license to use, reproduce, modify, publish, and distribute such content
• Represent that you own or have the necessary permissions to grant us this license
• Agree that your content will not violate any third-party rights or contain any unlawful, threatening, abusive, defamatory, or otherwise objectionable material

We reserve the right to remove any user-generated content at our discretion.

9. Privacy and Data Protection

We are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal data in accordance with applicable data protection laws. Our Privacy Policy, available on our website, explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information. By using our services, you consent to the processing of your data as described in our Privacy Policy.

10. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms and Conditions and any disputes arising out of or in connection with them shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.

You agree that the courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute or claim that arises out of or in connection with these Terms or their subject matter or formation.

11. Miscellaneous

11.1 Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

11.2 Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and any other policies referenced herein, constitute the entire agreement between you and us regarding your use of our services and supersede any prior agreements.

11.3 Waiver

Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms shall not be considered a waiver of such right or provision.

11.4 Assignment

You may not assign or transfer these Terms, by operation of law or otherwise, without our prior written consent. We may assign or transfer these Terms, at our sole discretion, without restriction.

11.5 Amendments

We reserve the right to update or modify these Terms at any time without prior notice. The updated version will be effective as soon as it is posted on our website. Your continued use of our services after any changes indicates your acceptance of the modified Terms.

By booking travel services with Sunlit Marsh or using our website, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.