Terms and conditions

For alpinespirit.guide programs and bookings, made on the website or in direct communication.

Mountain guide

alpinespirit.guide represents a self-employed IFMGA certified mountain guide — Ilona Gaweda. The trips may also be referred to other IFMGA certified guides. The working contract is between the mountain guide and the participants.

All of our guides carry the required certifications and insurances. Guides work in accordance with the laws concerning “risk sports” and with the guidelines of the country in which the work is performed.

Registration

Your reservation will be confirmed in writing or verbally and is binding.

Payment

The entire price (mountain guide tariff and expenses) must be paid in advance.

Cancellation cost insurance

We recommend that the participant arranges cancellation cost insurance.

Cancellation by participant

Cancellation costs:

• more than 30 days before the course start, a booking fee of 30% of the trip value (or the equivalent in another currency) will be charged.
• 29 – 10 days before the course start, 50% from the course cost will be charged.
• 9 – 0 days before the course start, 100% from the course cost will be charged.

In case the participant leaves the course/tour, 100% of the course/tour cost will be charged.

Cancellation by alpinespirit.guide

We reserve the right to cancel a course, in particular in the following cases:

• when we see that the minimum number of guests cannot be filled. The registered guests will receive 100% refund of the paid fees.
• when the conditions in the tour region are inadequate and we cannot find a suitable alternative tour. The registered guests will receive a refund for the course costs. Hotel or other booking fees that are not refundable will be charged to the guest.
• in the event that the mountain guide is for any reason unavailable and no replacement can be found. The registered guests will receive a refund for the course costs. Hotel or other booking fees that are not refundable will be charged to the guest.

In the interest of safety, it is the responsibility of the mountain guide to decide if a participant meets the requirements of the tour as stated in the tour description. In the event that the participant does not meet the tour requirements, the mountain guide has the right to exclude the participant from the course. In this case there will be no refund of the course costs.

Insurance: all insurances are the responsibility of the participant

By booking a guide, participants acknowledge that they have sufficient insurance coverage including:

• Comprehensive accident and health insurance which is also fully valid for this trip (including risks in mountain terrain, mountain recovery and helicopter rescue costs).
• Insurance covering cancellation of travel and individual return travel costs is recommended.
• Participants are responsible for arranging their own insurance. We recommend joining the Swiss air rescue service, REGA, as a sponsor, getting an Air Glaciers Rescue Card or joining Alpen Verein — the Austrian Mountain Association that covers their members with insurance. This will ensure that the cost of a helicopter rescue is covered.

The mountain guide confirms that she holds valid liability insurance for the professional activity she carries out.

Program changes / weather

alpinespirit.guide will carry out the tour as long as the conditions allow. Changing and sometimes extreme weather are a part of all mountain sports. In case of unfavorable conditions alpinespirit.guide reserves the right to change the program at any time. We will attempt to find an alternative program of similar difficulty and character. In this case, additional travel and overnight costs will be the responsibility of the participants.

Technical equipment and gear

Gear provided by the mountain guide is fully functional and certified for safety. This includes verifying that equipment meets industry safety standards and is in excellent working condition. It is the responsibility of the participant to bring and use only certified equipment in good condition. The guide reserves the right to require any participant to replace unsuitable equipment or, if necessary, to refuse participation to ensure that safety standards are met.

Risk in the mountains / risk sport

Off piste skiing / snowboarding, ski touring, mountaineering and climbing are defined as “risk sports”. This means that there is always a risk of injury or death while participating in these sports. All guides working with alpinespirit.guide are certified to carry out the tours, and constantly evaluate these risks. We commit ourselves to a careful preparation and execution of the tours. However, there remains always a risk that cannot be completely eliminated.

Image rights

Guides and participants often make photos and short films on our tours. The participant has the right to decide if alpinespirit.guide can use this material in connection with its website and promotional material.

Personal data privacy

Your personal data will only be used by alpinespirit.guide, with regards to your booked tour. Additionally alpinespirit.guide follows GDPR rules.

Applicable law and jurisdiction

The contractual relationships between the participant and the organizer are subject to Swiss law.