1.1 Booking Requirements. To reserve a place on an Elsewheria tour, the client must complete the booking form and pay the required non‑refundable amount or deposit either via bank transfer or through checkout on our website.

1.2 Confirmation of Booking. A booking is not considered confirmed until the stated non‑refundable amount or deposit has been paid and received.

1.3 Payment Schedule. Each trip requires a non‑refundable amount or deposit at the time of booking. The remaining balance and payment schedule vary by destination.

For Baja and Tonga trips, the balance is divided into two equal instalments:

• The first half of the balance is due 150 days before departure
• The second half of the balance is due 90 days before departure

For Pakistan and Albania trips, the remaining balance is due 90 days before departure unless otherwise stated.

Clients may choose to pay the balance or installments early. Early payments remain refundable until the relevant deadline.

1.4 Non‑Refundable Amount / Deposit and Refundable Balance. The non‑refundable amount or deposit is always non‑refundable once paid.

For Baja and Tonga trips, each balance instalment becomes non‑refundable only once its deadline has passed.

• Payments made early toward the 150‑day instalment remain refundable until the 150‑day deadline.
• Payments made early toward the 90‑day instalment remain refundable until the 90‑day deadline.

For Pakistan and Albania trips, the deposit is non‑refundable, and the balance is refundable according to the cancellation schedule in Section 1.7.

1.5 Non‑Recoverable Costs. Where extraordinary, non‑recoverable costs (such as flights, permits, or visas) are incurred on behalf of the client, these costs are never refundable, regardless of notice period.

1.6 Late Bookings. Bookings made within 90 days of departure require full payment at the time of booking.

1.7 Cancellation Policy for Pakistan and Albania Trips. All refunds exclude the non‑refundable amount or deposit and any non‑recoverable costs.

• 90+ days before the trip: Full refund of the balance paid (excluding deposit/nonrefundable amount) 
• 51–90 days before the trip: 75 percent refund of the balance paid (excluding deposit/nonrefundable amount) 
• 31–50 days before the trip: 50 percent refund of the balance paid (excluding deposit/nonrefundable amount) 
• 30 days or fewer before the trip: No refund

1.8 Cancellation Policy for Baja and Tonga Trips. This policy applies to all Baja whale trips and the Tonga Humpback Whale Expedition. The non‑refundable amount or deposit is always non‑refundable.

Cancellation more than 150 days before departure  

• The non‑refundable amount or deposit is not refundable
• Any balance paid early is fully refundable
• In effect, 100 percent of the balance (excluding deposit/nonrefundable amount) is refundable before the 150‑day deadline

Cancellation between 150 and 90 days before departure  

• The first 50 percent balance instalment (due at 150 days) is now non‑refundable
• Any payments made early toward the second instalment remain refundable until the 90‑day deadline
• In effect, 50 percent of the balance (excluding deposit/nonrefundable amount) is refundable in this window

Cancellation less than 90 days before departure  

• Both balance instalments have passed their deadlines
• No refund of any kind is available

Clients who pay in full early  

Clients who pay the full balance ahead of schedule follow the same rules.

• The portion of the balance corresponding to the 150‑day instalment becomes non‑refundable at 150 days
• The portion corresponding to the 90‑day instalment becomes non‑refundable at 90 days
• Before those deadlines, early payments remain refundable