Cancellation & Refund Policy
Meru Himal
Effective Date: 20 January 2026
This Cancellation & Refund Policy outlines the terms under which bookings made with Meru Himal may be cancelled and the applicable refund conditions. By confirming a booking with us, you agree to the terms stated below.
1. Booking Confirmation & Advance Payment
A booking is considered confirmed only after receipt of the required advance payment.
The advance amount is used to secure accommodations, transport, guides, permits, and other on-ground arrangements.
All payments must be made within the timelines communicated at the time of booking.
2. Cancellation by the Traveller
Cancellation requests must be submitted in writing via email or official communication channels. The date of receipt of the cancellation request will be treated as the cancellation date.
a. Char Dham Yatra & Domestic Tour Packages
| Cancellation Period | Refund Policy |
|---|---|
| 30 days or more before departure | 75% refund of the total package cost |
| 15–29 days before departure | 50% refund of the total package cost |
| 7–14 days before departure | 25% refund of the total package cost |
| Less than 7 days before departure | No refund |
b. Trekking Packages (Including Fixed-Departure Treks)
| Cancellation Period | Refund Policy |
|---|---|
| 21 days or more before departure | 75% refund |
| 10–20 days before departure | 50% refund |
| Less than 10 days before departure | No refund |
c. Single / Two Dham or Custom Packages
Cancellation terms for customised itineraries may vary depending on third-party commitments. Refunds will be processed after deducting non-recoverable costs incurred.
3. Non-Refundable Components
The following are non-refundable under all circumstances:
Government permits and entry fees
Helicopter bookings
Train, flight, or special transport tickets
Monument or temple special access passes
Service charges and booking fees
4. Cancellation or Changes Due to Weather, Natural Conditions, or Government Orders
Char Dham Yatra and Himalayan treks are subject to:
Weather conditions
Road closures
Natural calamities
Government or administrative restrictions
In such cases:
Meru Himal will attempt to offer alternate dates, routes, or partial services
Refunds, if any, will be limited to amounts recovered from service providers
Meru Himal shall not be liable for additional expenses incurred by travellers
5. Cancellation by Meru Himal
Meru Himal reserves the right to cancel a tour due to:
Insufficient participants
Safety concerns
Force majeure events
In such cases:
Travellers will be offered a full refund or alternative tour option
Meru Himal’s liability is limited to the amount received
No compensation for additional costs (travel, accommodation, etc.) shall be payable
6. No-Show Policy
No refunds will be provided for no-shows or early departure from a tour.
Unused services are non-refundable.
7. Refund Processing Timeline
Approved refunds will be processed within 7–14 working days
Refunds will be made via the original mode of payment
Bank or gateway charges, if applicable, will be deducted
8. Special Considerations for Senior Citizens
While our policies remain consistent for all travellers, we encourage senior citizens to:
Consult healthcare professionals before travel
Opt for travel insurance covering medical and trip cancellations
9. Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend all travellers obtain comprehensive travel insurance covering:
Medical emergencies
Trip cancellations
Weather disruptions
Force majeure events
10. Dispute Resolution & Jurisdiction
Any disputes arising from cancellations or refunds shall be subject to:
Indian laws
Jurisdiction of courts located in Uttarakhand, India
11. Contact for Cancellations & Refunds
For cancellation requests or refund queries, contact:
Meru Himal
Email: contact@meruhimal.in
Location: Uttarakhand, India
Helicopter Services – Cancellation & Refund Addendum
(Applicable to Char Dham Yatra Helicopter Services)
This addendum applies to all Char Dham Yatra packages and services that include helicopter transfers or helicopter-assisted pilgrimage. By confirming a booking that includes helicopter services, travellers agree to the following additional terms.
1. Nature of Helicopter Services
Helicopter services used for Char Dham Yatra are:
Operated by DGCA-approved third-party aviation operators
Subject to strict weather, safety, and regulatory controls
Highly sensitive to visibility, wind conditions, and air traffic clearance
Meru Himal acts as a facilitator and coordinator, not the operator of helicopter flights.
2. Advance Payment & Non-Refundable Nature
Helicopter bookings require 100% advance payment
Once confirmed, helicopter tickets are largely non-refundable
Any refund depends solely on the helicopter operator’s policy
This is standard practice across the Indian pilgrimage aviation sector.
3. Traveller-Initiated Cancellations
a. Before Flight Date
Helicopter charges are non-refundable unless explicitly refunded by the aviation operator
If a partial refund is received from the operator, it will be passed on to the traveller after deducting applicable service charges
b. No-Shows or Late Reporting
No refund will be provided for:
No-shows
Late arrival at helipads
Missed flights due to personal delays
4. Weather-Related Cancellations & Delays
Helicopter operations in the Himalayas are entirely weather-dependent.
If a flight is cancelled due to:
Bad weather
Visibility issues
Air traffic or safety restrictions
Government or DGCA directives
Then:
The helicopter operator may offer:
A rescheduled flight (subject to availability), or
A partial or full refund, as per their internal policy
Meru Himal will assist with coordination but cannot guarantee refunds
No compensation shall be payable for:
Additional accommodation
Meals
Surface transport
Personal expenses
5. Technical or Operational Cancellations
If a flight is cancelled due to:
Technical reasons
Aircraft unavailability
Operational safety decisions
Refunds, if any, will be processed strictly as per the operator’s refund terms.
6. Weight, Health & Safety Restrictions
Helicopter operators impose strict limits regarding:
Individual and total baggage weight
Passenger health conditions
Safety clearance at boarding
Failure to comply may result in:
Denied boarding
Weight reallocation
No refund in such cases
7. International Traveller Advisory
For travellers visiting India from abroad:
Helicopter schedules are indicative and not guaranteed
Weather-related disruptions are common in Himalayan regions
Travel insurance covering:
Flight cancellation
Weather delays
Medical emergencies
is strongly recommended
Meru Himal advises international guests to maintain flexible onward travel plans when booking helicopter-assisted yatras.
8. Meru Himal’s Role & Limitation of Liability
Meru Himal facilitates helicopter bookings as part of an integrated travel service
We do not operate or control flight operations
Liability is limited to the amount paid to Meru Himal for facilitation services
Any disputes related to flight operations shall be governed by:
Indian aviation regulations
Terms of the respective helicopter operator
9. Refund Processing Timeline
Refunds, if approved by the helicopter operator, will be processed within 10–15 working days
Refunds will be issued through the original payment method
Bank or transaction charges may be deducted
10. Jurisdiction
All matters related to helicopter services are subject to:
Laws of India
Jurisdiction of courts in Uttarakhand, India
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