01

General terms

The protocol that we follow as a company is to avoid any damage in the physical and psychological integrity of our passengers, for this reason High Mountain Experience reserves the right to refuse personal participation on any trip if we find that person to be mentally unprepared for the trip.

During the trip the Lead Guide reserves the right to require a person to return to base camp or to abandon the trip, if by their judgment, for any reason, a person is unfit to continue participating in an ongoing activity.

If, for any reason, anyone leaves the trip before its completion, for whatever reason, there will be no reimbursement of fees. If the weather, or other factors, makes completing our objective impossible, there will be no reimbursement of fees.

High Mountain Experience is not responsible for any expenses incurred if the trip should be delayed due to weather, strikes, theft, act of nature, pandemic, epidemic, civil disturbances, terrorism, acts of war, government restrictions or regulations, failure of any form of transportation to arrive or depart as scheduled, or discrepancies over which High Mountain Experience has no control.

The rules and documents required for foreign people entry into Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, or any other country where the expedition is taking place may be subject to change by their governments. HME will keep informed; however, participants must also inform themselves in advance of what they need to enter that country to avoid delays in the expedition.

02

Insurance requirement

It is a mandatory condition of participation that all clients obtain adequate travel and medical insurance, including coverage for high-altitude rescue, accidents, illness, trip cancellations, and loss of luggage.

This insurance will also be required in order to request reimbursements in the event of evacuations, early departures, or cancellations, since HME will issue invoices that clients can present to their insurance provider.

HME is not responsible for any financial losses resulting from a client’s failure to purchase such insurance.

03

Evacuation policy

Expenses in case of rescue or early departure: In case a rescue or evacuation is needed, consider that these expenses will be billed to the client and must be paid before any procedure. The amount may vary depending on the expedition and the complexity of the evacuation. Afterwards, the invoice can be presented to the travel insurance for reimbursement.

*This payment includes transportation costs, fuel, hotel reservations, overtime for guides, etc.

04

Payments

There are two ways to pay, depending on the expedition:

In both cases you can choose your preferred currency and, depending on the currency, pay by bank transfer (recommended) or credit/debit card. You can pay the reservation amount or the full price of the expedition.

*Transaction and processing fees are the responsibility of the client.

Cash payments are not accepted under any circumstances.

05

Reservation amount

The reservation amount to secure your spot is USD 500 (higher in some cases; your consultant will inform you). Your booking is confirmed once the required reservation amount has been received.

*If we receive a payment with deductions due to bank fees, the client must cover the difference when paying the balance.

06

Balance payment

The remaining balance is due no later than 30 days prior to the start of the expedition. One month before, the platform will send you a payment reminder by email, from which you can pay the outstanding balance. Failure to pay the balance on time may result in cancellation of the booking without refund of the reservation amount, unless otherwise agreed in writing with your consultant.

If you experience any payment difficulties, please contact your consultant in advance.

07

Refunds and overpayments

In the event of an overpayment made in error, HME will refund the excess amount within 30 business days, after deducting any applicable bank charges.

08

Cancellation policies

Reservation amount: The reservation amount (USD 500 or more) is used for administrative costs and securing services. For this reason, it is NON-REFUNDABLE under any circumstances.

Cancellations received 29 to 16 days prior to the expedition:

• 60% of the balance (excluding the reservation amount) will be refunded, OR
• The balance may be kept as credit for up to one year, applicable to a new expedition of equal value.

Cancellations received 15 to 0 days prior to the expedition: NO refunds will be made.

Cancellation by HME: If HME cancels the expedition for operational reasons, 100% of the amount paid will be refunded, including the reservation amount. If the expedition is suspended due to causes beyond HME’s control, such as those described in the General terms, the cancellation periods and percentages in this section apply.

Cancellation by the client: The conditions above apply. The client may request a refund from their travel insurance provider using the invoice issued at the time of payment.

This cancellation policy applies under all circumstances, including but not limited to personal reasons, illness, accidents, acts of nature, pandemics, government restrictions, acts of war, strikes, or adverse weather conditions.

09

Acknowledgment and acceptance of risks

High-altitude mountaineering involves risks that cannot be completely eliminated, such as uneven terrain, falling rock or ice, extreme weather and the effects of altitude and cold. By joining an expedition, the client acknowledges and accepts these risks, declares that they have adequate insurance and the necessary health conditions, and informs HME of any relevant medical condition, allergy or dietary restriction.

The full detail of responsibilities, risks and release of liability is set out in the Participation Agreement of Asesorías en Montaña Ltda. (High Mountain Experience), which the client reviews and signs digitally when booking.