Seeing Bhutan:
a creative
image making experience
22 March - 5 April, 2021
Quick Navigation: Use the links below to jump to different sections and pages related to this Tour.
Tour Outline (this will open in a new window)
Specific Terms (including pricing, etc.)
Booking Form and Acceptance of Risk Form Download Page (this will open in a new window)
Booking Instructions
Please read the following terms and conditions carefully.
To reserve your place on this tour please download, print, fill out, and sign one Booking Form and one Acceptance of Risk Form per guest. Then, scan and return the forms via email to: namgay (at) illuminatingtoursbhutan (dot) com
Deposits can be made by bank wire transfer.
Final payments can be made via bank wire transfer to our bank account. Bank details are available on the Booking Form.
Once the payment of USD$2,000 deposit has been completed and confirmed, your spot will be secured.
Please note that tour places are only assured once the Booking Form and deposits have been received and confirmed by us.
This photography tour is being organised and run by Illuminating Tours. All references to “we” or “I” or “us” in the following pages, with the exception of the actual Booking Form, refers to Illuminating Tours, our partners, and/or employees.
Illuminating Tours is run on the standard Tour Terms & Conditions set out below. By completing and submitting the Booking Form and Acceptance of Risk Form, and paying the deposit, you agree that that you have read and agree to the Tour Terms & Conditions.
Tour Terms and Conditions
PART 1 – General Terms that apply to all tours managed by Illuminating Tours
1.1 How to book a tour: Reservations will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. The number of seats on a tour is strictly limited.
Two forms are required to secure your booking: 1) a Booking Form and 2) an Acceptance of Risk Form. Please email the signed Forms to namgay (at) illuminatingtoursbhutan (dot) com
If you are making a booking on behalf of other individuals, you must provide the above documents as well as a signed Letter of Authorisation from each person for whom you are booking.
Upon receipt of your Booking and Acceptance of Risk Forms, we will email a confirmation of receipt and send you an invoice for the tour cost. The Deposit must be paid in full, and confirmed via email, to guarantee your place on the Tour.
1.2 How to pay for a tour: Payments must be made by bank wire transfer to Illuminating Tours. Please see Part 2 below for full tour payment details and payment deadlines.
1.3 Changes to the Itinerary: The Tour Itinerary is flexible and expressly subject to changes without notice as seen fit or necessary by Illuminating Tours to accommodate changing conditions and / or new options. The aim of the tour is to provide all participants with the best photo opportunities possible under the prevailing circumstances.
1.4 Health Concerns: If you have any medical concerns or health-related questions please contact us to discuss them prior to sending in your Booking form. Potential guests are required to disclose any known health issues and physical conditions that could potentially pose a risk to yourself or others on the Tour. We cannot accept the responsibility of, or guarantee, medical care for any guest and reserve the right to cancel your participation in this tour on that basis.
Our tour is designed for adults in reasonable health and of moderate fitness levels. The Tour will involve walking and hiking on trails, uneven surfaces, and up and down inclines. Guides will aid in the carrying of equipment and water when possible, but guests should be prepared to carry their own equipment.
If you wish to obtain medical vaccinations prior to the Tour, please seek medical advice to determine the appropriate vaccinations and care.
1.5 Diet: If you have special dietary needs or food allergies, you must disclose them prior to booking. We will make every effort to cater to special dietary requests, but ultimately, we cannot be held liable if requests cannot be met. If a guest requires specific special foods to supplement their diet, we advise the guest to bring them.
1.6 Travel Insurance: Acquisition of travel insurance for the tour is the sole responsibility of the guest. We require confirmation that you have taken out appropriate travel insurance prior to the start of the Tour. We recommend that your travel insurance covers emergency evacuation, as well as flight and tour cancellation.
1.7 Camera and other Insurance: We recommend that you purchase insurance that covers your camera and other possessions during your participation on the Tour.
1.8 Tour Price and Accommodation: The Tour price is based upon double/twin shared accommodation. If you wish to share accommodation you must nominate another participant (partner or friend) to share with. We will not pair you with another guest who is unknown to you, unless specified otherwise in Part 3 of these Terms & Conditions: Tour Specific Terms.
1.9 Single Supplement Option: The Single Supplement option entitles you to private hotel rooms for the tour and usually a private bathroom, unless specified otherwise in Part 3 of these terms and conditions. If you are travelling alone, and you are unable to, or do not wish to nominate another participant to share hotel rooms with you, then the Single Supplement component becomes automatically payable, and will be added to your total cost for the tour. In this case, Twin Share price + Single Supplement = Total Tour Cost, unless otherwise specified in Part 3 Tour Specific Terms of These Terms & Conditions.
1.10 Bookings and Payments Waiting List: If your Booking Form is received after tour placements are full, we will inform you and place you on the waiting list. Places on the waiting list are set according to the order in which we receive the Booking Forms, and placements on the tour from the waiting list will maintain that order. We will keep you up to date if any places become available.
1.11 General Cancellation & Refund Policy: We have tried to make our Cancellation & Refund policy as fair and equitable as possible. Circumstances change and unexpected things happen, so the best thing to do is contact us and we will do our utmost to help.
A tour may be cancelled if there is an insufficient number of participants. A decision to cancel a tour for insufficient numbers is at the sole discretion of Illuminating Tours.
Your participation on the tour may be cancelled if we do not receive full payment by the date specified in Part 3.
Your participation on the tour may be cancelled if your behavior is found to adversely impact, or is likely to adversely impact, any person involved on the tour (including Guides, Drivers, or other service providers). Adverse impact includes endangering the physical health and safety of any person, causing personal injury, use of hate speech, or loss of or damage to property of any person involved on the tour.
All requests by guests for cancellation of a confirmed placement on a tour must be made by email to namgay@illuminatingtoursbhutan.com
- Refund calculation dates will be based on the date we receive your email.If you cancel your place at any time but we manage to sell your spot again and the tour is otherwise filled, we will refund you the full tour cost you have paid to us less (a) the service charge and (b) any reasonable costs incurred in re-advertising and promoting your place.
If you cancel your place and the tour does not fill, then you will be refunded according to the following schedule, based on the full cost of the tour:
a) Greater than 90 days from the start date of the Tour: Full refund less USD300 service charge.
b) 61-90 days prior to tour commencement: 50% refund
c) Less than 60 days to tour commencement: no refund will be made.Refund Method: Refunds will be made by the same method as the original payment and in the same currency. Refunds will be initiated within 14 working days from the time the refund request is approved by us.
- All refunds are limited to the Tour cost or paid portion thereof, as outlined in these Terms and Conditions and actually paid to us and in the currency paid to us. No refund of bank fees, currency value fluctuation differentials, transfer charges, airfares, insurance, or other incidental costs will be made.Partial-Refunds: No partial-refunds will be made for unused portions or services of the tour.
Refunds and responsibility: Illuminating Tours is not responsible for, and will not provide, any refund for portions of the tour itinerary or services missed due to delayed or cancelled air services, third party travel arrangements or any other circumstances beyond our control. This includes but is not limited to cancellations or delays due to weather, road conditions, mechanical breakdowns, war, political instability, and Force Majeure.
1.12 Privacy: Illuminating Tours will not share your personal information with any third party other than to the extent necessary for the operation of the Tour.
1.13 Image Release: During the tour, Illuminating Tours may take photographs of you and other participants of the tour for publicity purposes. You agree to the taking and publication of photographs of you by Illuminating Tours solely for publicity purposes.
PART 2 – RESPONSIBILITY AND LIABILITY
2.1 The liability of Illuminating Tours is strictly limited.
2.2 Illuminating Tours organises, operates, promotes and sells photography tours that consist of goods and services purchased from various other suppliers. Illuminating Tours does not own, operate or have a financial interest in any of these suppliers and as such is not responsible for any negligent act, failure, or omission of said suppliers. By signing up and agreeing to take part in this tour you agree to indemnify Illuminating Tours, its directors, its agents, partners, employees, or associates from any failings of such suppliers.
2.3 Illuminating Tours, its directors, agents, partners, employees, or associates cannot be held responsible for losses or extra expenses caused by but not limited to, weather conditions, change in travel schedules, transportation services, illness or injury, or other factors that may affect participants’ travel plans or arrangements, or loss or damage to personal items including but not limited to camera and computer equipment. All such losses are the sole responsibility of the participant.
2.4 Illuminating Tours reserves the right to cancel any tour, or your place on any tour, during or prior to commencement, at our discretion.
2.5 In the event we cancel the tour or your place on the tour, you will be refunded according to the General Cancellation and Refund policy and any specific cancellation policies for your Tour (found in Part 3 of this document). All refunds are limited to the Tour cost or portion of tour cost actually paid and will be refunded in the original manner and currency paid to us. We are not liable for bank fees, currency value fluctuation differentials, transfer charges or other incidental costs or extra travel arrangements such as but not limited to flights, insurance and additional accommodation arrangements.
2.6 Illuminating Tours reserves the right to substitute accommodation of a similar kind for those indicated in any issued itinerary and to alter said itinerary or transport arrangement where it deems necessary.
2.7 Illuminating Tours also reserves the right to alter the program and substitute any activities where weather, other forces of nature, or local conditions, including but not limited to wars or political instability, prohibit the originally planned activities, or they are deemed unsafe or ill-advised.
2.8 Illuminating Tours is the operator and promoter of this tour and reserves the right to cancel or otherwise alter the nature of this Tour if any danger to participants should be identified. Illuminating Tours also reserves the right to remove any participant from this Tour if they are perceived to pose a hazard to themselves or any others. Illuminating Tours assumes no liability for any personal loss, damage, or injury resulting while on this Tour.
2.9 Signed originals of the Booking and Acceptance of Risk Forms must be received from each participant, (via scanning and email), prior to the commencement of this Tour. This is mandatory.
Participation in a tour without signing an Acceptance of Risk form is deemed to confirm acceptance and full agreement with all parts of these terms and conditions and the terms in the Acceptance of Risk Form including the release.
2.10 The Booking and Acceptance of Risk Forms must be complete and unaltered; no variations will be accepted.
2.11 These Terms & Conditions and Booking and Acceptance of Risk forms are governed by the laws of Bhutan and in all cases will be interpreted in accordance with those laws and any dispute is subject to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts of Bhutan.
PART 3 – SPECIFIC TERMS FOR THE Seeing Bhutan Photo Tour 2021
3.1 Your tour is the Seeing Bhutan Photo Tour March - April 2021.
3.2 Tour start date & location: 22nd March 2021 in Paro, Bhutan.
3.3 Tour end date & location: 5th April 2021 in Paro, Bhutan.
3.4 Tour leaders: Namgyal and Robert van Koesveld
3.5 Number of Tour Participants: This tour will have a maximum number of 8 participants. In addition to the 8 participants there will be the Tour leaders. A minimum number of 6 participants is required for the tour to run, although Illuminating Tours may, at its discretion, run the tour with less than 6 participants, or may, at its discretion, run the tour with 9 participants in the event there is just one place remaining and a couple wishes to book.
3.6 Tour Pricing & Inclusions:
Tour price: USD$7,950 per person Twin Share. (Please see Twin Share details following.)
Single Supplement: USD$950, additional to the Twin Share price per person.
Deposit to confirm your place: USD$2,000, due upon booking.
The above Tour price includes:
Bangkok accommodation on 21 March 2021. (Flights to Bhutan leave early, and it is necessary to stay overnight in Bangkok the night before tour commencement.)
Welcome dinner in Bangkok on the evening of 21 March 2021.
15 days in Bhutan, full 14 days on tour.
Flights to and from Bhutan (via Bangkok); domestic airfare within Bhutan.
Bhutan Visa (arranged by Illuminating Tours).
All your tour accommodation in Bhutan from the first night of 22 March 2021 to the last night 05 April 2021.
All ground transport for the duration of the tour.
All entrance fees to temples and national parks.
Breakfasts, lunches, and dinners for the duration of the tour from breakfast 22 March 2021 to breakfast 05 April 2021.
Bottled water, as well as coffee and tea as midday refreshment.
All photographic tuition for the duration of the Tour.
Two professional photographers, Robert van Koesveld and Namgyal, to help you get the best photos.
A team of highly experienced local Bhutanese specialist photo guides and drivers in Bhutan.
The above Tour price does not include:
Flights to and from Bangkok.
Initial transfer from the airport to the hotel in Bangkok.
Transfer to the Bangkok hotel and airport at tour conclusion.
Travel insurance - stipulated as a condition of booking.
Camera Insurance.
Alcohol and extra beverages.
Hotel laundry services.
Any extra meals you may order, including hotel room service.
Any extras you may wish to buy along the way.
Any tips you may wish to leave for local guides and drivers.
3.7 Payment for the Tour
The full Tour price must be paid by 5pm (AEST) on 22 November 2020 (120 days prior to the tour commencing.) The payment date will be set out on the Invoice we send you after we receive your Booking Form.
2. Payment Options
You must pay by electronic funds transfer in United States Dollars (USD) to our Bhutan bank account via a Correspondent Bank (instructions will be included with the invoice).
We do not accept payments in any other currency or any other method. The USD amount of funds received in our account must match the amount due exactly. We are not responsible for any fees that may be incurred with Electronic Funds transfer from your Bank or any Intermediary / Correspondent Bank to our bank account. Please ensure that all bank and transfer fees are paid at your end of the transaction and are not deducted from the total figure transferred. This is a common mistake and results in incomplete payment. Payment shortfall arriving in our bank will be reflected in the invoice for final balance of payments.
Why do we only accept Bank Wire Transfer and not Credit Cards for the final payment?
The only officially approved method of tour payment in Bhutan are Bank Wire Transfers. The Tourism Council of Bhutan has not approved Credit Cards as an authorised payment method. Furthermore, our aim is to deliver the best value possible for our Tour, which requires cutting out unnecessary costs. Credit Card companies charge substantial hidden fees. You won’t see the fee when you pay; the fee is deducted at our end as a percentage. As these tours and workshops involve substantial payments, the relevant credit card fees are also substantial. Using a third party to process Credit Card payments and forwarding the funds as a Bank Wire Transfer would incur further fees. We then need to add those fees back to the cost of the Tour, and the tour price goes up accordingly, even for those not using Credit Cards for payment.
3.8 Booking Your Travel Arrangements to Bhutan
The tour begins in Paro and ends again in Paro, Bhutan. You will need to arrange your own flights to and from Bhutan, via Bangkok, plus any additional nights of accommodation and meals not specifically listed as included in the tour price. It is your responsibility to ensure you arrive at the hotel in Bangkok in a timely manner prior to the commencement of the tour. Namgyal & Robert are happy to discuss this with you to offer suggestions and advice at the time of booking. We recommend that you do not book any flights or other travel arrangements until we confirm to you in writing that the tour has sufficient numbers and is going ahead as planned. Please note that we will not be responsible for any costs incurred by you for any travel arrangements.
3.9 Tour Specific Cancellation and Refund policy
This Seeing Bhutan Photo Tour 2021 contains flights and accommodation of a non-refundable nature, according to the third-party supplier. Should you cancel your place on this tour after these bookings have been made and deposits paid, we will attempt to promote and sell your place on the tour.
If we are successful and the third-party suppliers allow, we will transfer those bookings into the name of the new participant. In this situation you will be refunded according to the “1.11 General Cancellation and Refund Policy” specified earlier in this document, minus whatever re-booking fees are charged for the transfers.
If we are not successful in selling your place, those non-refundable components will be deducted from the total refund to be paid to you according to “1.11 General Cancellation and Refund Policy” specified earlier in this document.