Cancellation Policy
What happens to your booking if your plans change, and how refunds work on our private South India tours.
If your plans change
Plans change, and a South India trip is often booked months ahead. This page explains what happens to your payment if you cancel or move your tour, so you can book with the terms already clear.
The refund depends on how many days are left before your tour starts. The earlier you tell us, the more of your payment we can return. The terms below apply to private tours booked through South Indian Routes unless your written quote says otherwise.
Refund schedule
What we return when you cancel, based on the notice you give before the first day of your tour.
| Notice before the tour starts | Refund |
|---|---|
| 45 days or moreThe booking fee is stated in your quote. | Full refund, less the booking fee |
| 30 to 44 days | 75% of the tour cost paid |
| 15 to 29 days | 50% of the tour cost paid |
| 7 to 14 days | 25% of the tour cost paid |
| Less than 7 days, or no-showBy this point hotels, drivers and ticket providers have already been paid. | No refund |
Days are counted from the date we receive your written cancellation to the first day of your tour. Percentages apply to the tour cost you have paid, not including the non-refundable costs described below.
How to cancel
Write to us by email or WhatsApp, using the contact details on our Contact page, and include your name, the tour name and your travel dates. Your cancellation counts from the day we receive the message, so please do not rely on a phone call alone. We will reply to confirm that we have it and tell you the refund due.
Costs that cannot be refunded
Some costs are paid to others as soon as your tour is confirmed, and we cannot get them back once paid. These can include train and domestic flight tickets, entry permits, park or boat fees booked in advance, and non-refundable hotel or houseboat deposits. Where any of these apply to your tour, they are taken out before the refund is worked out, and we will show you the amounts if you ask. If a supplier does give us a refund, we pass it on to you.
Changing dates or travelers
If you would rather move your tour than cancel it, tell us as early as you can. We will check availability for the new dates and confirm any difference in price. A date change made at least 30 days before the start is usually possible with no charge beyond supplier costs, but rooms and vehicles are harder to find in peak season. Reducing the number of travelers counts as a partial cancellation under the schedule above.
If we need to change or cancel your tour
In rare cases we may have to change a hotel, vehicle or route, or cancel a tour, for example because of a road closure, a safety concern or a problem with a supplier. We will tell you as soon as we know and offer a comparable alternative. If you prefer not to take it, or we cannot offer one, we refund in full what you have paid for the tour.
Weather, strikes and other events outside our control
Monsoon rain, floods, landslides, transport strikes, festival crowds and government orders can disrupt travel in South India. If one of these stops part of your tour, we will rearrange the days where we can, for example by changing the order of places. Costs that were already paid and cannot be recovered are not refunded, but we will pass on any refund a supplier gives us. Travel insurance that covers trip interruption is worth considering for this reason.
Peak season and festival dates
Around Christmas and New Year, Onam, Diwali, Pongal and other major holidays, hotels and houseboats often ask for non-refundable deposits well in advance. If your tour falls in one of these periods, your quote will say whether stricter terms apply, and those terms replace the refund schedule above.
How and when refunds are paid
Approved refunds go back to the account or card you used to pay us, after we have confirmed the amount in writing. We will tell you the amount and when to expect it. Any bank charges or currency conversion fees applied by your own bank or card provider are not ours to return.
Questions before you book
If you are unsure how this policy applies to your booking, ask before you pay. Send us your tour name and dates and we will explain the terms in writing.
Cancellation questions
Quick answers to the questions we hear most.
Often yes. Write to us as early as you can with the new dates. We will check hotel, vehicle and ticket availability and confirm any difference in price. Dates inside peak season are harder to move.