Cancellation & Refund Policy
Effective Date: July 2026
At The Original Travel Company (TOTC), every journey is thoughtfully planned and involves advance reservations with hotels, local partners, transport providers, and experience hosts. Many of these bookings are non-refundable or carry cancellation charges.
We understand that unforeseen circumstances may arise, and we will always do our best to assist you. However, the following cancellation and refund policy applies to all bookings made with The Original Travel Company.
1. Booking Confirmation
Your booking is confirmed only upon:
- Receipt of the required booking amount or full payment (as communicated for your chosen journey).
- Submission of any required documents.
- Confirmation from The Original Travel Company.
2. Cancellation by the Traveller
If you wish to cancel your booking, you must notify us in writing by email or WhatsApp. The cancellation will be effective only from the date we receive your written request.
Cancellation charges are calculated on the total tour price.
Cancellation Charges for Domestic Group Tours
| Days Before Departure | Cancellation Charges |
|---|---|
| More than 90 days | 20% of the tour cost |
| 46-90 days | 60% of the tour cost |
| 45–0 days | 100% of the tour cost |
Cancellation Charges for International Group Tours
| Days Before Departure | Cancellation Charges |
|---|---|
| More than 90 days | 20% of the tour cost |
| 60–46 days | 40% of the tour cost |
| 45–31 days | 60% of the tour cost |
| 30–16 days | 75% of the tour cost |
| Less than 30 days | 100% of the tour cost |
Certain bookings such as flights, visas, cruise bookings, permits, or special event tickets may carry higher or separate cancellation charges depending on supplier policies.
3. Flight Tickets
Where flights are included or booked through The Original Travel Company:
- Airline cancellation rules will apply.
- Airline cancellation charges are separate from the above cancellation charges.
- Refunds, if any, will depend entirely on the fare rules of the airline.
4. Visa Fees
Visa fees, documentation charges, embassy fees, courier charges, and related service fees are non-refundable once the visa application process has begun, irrespective of the visa outcome.
5. Travel Insurance
Any claims arising due to cancellation, illness, or travel disruption should be made directly with the insurance provider, subject to the terms of the insurance policy.
6. No Show or Early Departure
No refund will be provided if:
- You fail to join the tour after departure.
- You miss your flight or scheduled departure.
- You choose to leave the tour early.
- You are unable to travel due to incomplete documentation.
- Entry is denied by immigration or government authorities.
Unused hotel stays, meals, sightseeing, transfers, or other services cannot be refunded.
7. Changes Requested by the Traveller
If you request changes after booking, such as:
- Change of travel dates
- Name corrections
- Hotel upgrades
- Flight changes
- Room category changes
- Other itinerary modifications
Additional charges may apply based on supplier policies and availability. The Original Travel Company cannot guarantee that requested changes will be possible after confirmation.
8. Cancellation by The Original Travel Company
While every effort is made to operate all departures as planned, The Original Travel Company reserves the right to cancel or modify a tour due to circumstances including, but not limited to:
- Insufficient participation
- Natural disasters
- Political unrest
- Government restrictions
- Health emergencies
- Airline disruptions
- Force majeure events
- Situations beyond our reasonable control
In such cases, travellers may be offered one of the following, at our discretion:
- A full refund of the amount received by The Original Travel Company (excluding non-recoverable third-party costs already incurred), or
- Credit towards a future departure
The Original Travel Company shall not be liable for any incidental expenses incurred by the traveller, including but not limited to visa costs, independently booked flights, accommodation, insurance, or other personal expenses.
9. Refund Processing
- Approved refunds will normally be processed within 15–21 business days from the date of written cancellation.
- Refunds will be made to the original payment method wherever possible.
- Processing timelines may vary depending on banks, payment gateways, airlines, or other service providers.
10. Force Majeure
The Original Travel Company shall not be held responsible for delays, cancellations, modifications, or losses resulting from events beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to:
- Natural disasters
- Floods
- Earthquakes
- Pandemics
- Epidemics
- War
- Civil disturbances
- Government actions
- Airline operational issues
- Weather conditions
- Strikes
- Transportation disruptions
In such situations, refunds will be governed by the refund policies of the respective suppliers wherever applicable.
11. Special Departures
Certain departures, including charter flights, cruises, festival departures, special events, and customised or private itineraries, may be governed by separate cancellation terms communicated at the time of booking. Where such terms differ from this policy, the specific booking terms shall prevail.
12. Contact Us
For any cancellation requests or refund-related queries, please contact us: