Terms of Service

1. Booking & Payment Terms

When booking a holiday with Northern Shoveller Tour & Travel ("we", "us", or "our"), the contract comes into legal existence once an advance deposit has been received and an official confirmation voucher is issued by our office.

1.1 Advance Deposit

A minimum advance payment of 30% of the total tour package cost is required at the time of confirmation to secure hotel reservations, houseboats, transport fleet, and tour slots.

1.2 Balance Payment

The remaining balance payment must be settled either prior to arrival or in full upon arrival on Day 1 in Srinagar before commencement of sightseeing transfers.

1.3 Accepted Payment Methods

Payments may be made via:

• Direct Bank Transfer (NEFT / RTGS / IMPS) to Northern Shoveller current bank account
• UPI payments (Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, BHIM)
• Credit Cards / Debit Cards (gateway surcharges may apply)

1.4 Price Quotation & Validity

All prices are quoted in Indian Rupees (INR) unless explicitly stated otherwise. Quotes are based on current hotel tariffs, fuel prices, and government taxes. We reserve the right to revise quotes before formal booking confirmation should major fuel price surges or statutory tax revisions occur.

2. Itinerary Changes & Route Adjustments

Himalayan weather and high-altitude mountain terrain require flexibility. Northern Shoveller is committed to delivering an exceptional travel experience while prioritizing traveler safety above all else.

2.1 Traveler-Requested Amendments

If you wish to change your travel dates, hotel category, or destination itinerary after booking confirmation, we will make every reasonable effort to accommodate your request. Any price differences charged by hotels, transport, or flight operators, as well as an administrative amendment fee, will be payable by the traveler.

2.2 Operator-Initiated Adjustments

Northern Shoveller reserves the right to alter routes, swap daily sightseeing sequences, or substitute accommodations with equivalent or superior properties when necessitated by:

• Heavy snowfall, landslides, avalanches, or mountain pass closures (e.g., Zoji La, Sinthan Top, Mughal Road, Razdan Pass)
• Civil administration or security advisories
• Unannounced road repair, VIP convoys, or mechanical issues

3. Cancellation & Refund Policy

All requests for booking cancellation must be submitted in writing via email to info@northernshoveller.com or through our official WhatsApp at +91 6005586411. The date and time of receipt of written notification will determine applicable cancellation terms.

3.1 Standard Refund Tier Summary

3.2 Strictly Non-Refundable Items

Regardless of the cancellation date, certain third-party services are 100% non-refundable upon booking:

• Gulmarg Gondola Phase 1 & Phase 2 electronic tickets (governed by J&K Cable Car Corporation rules)
• Inner Line Permits (ILP) and Wildlife sanctuary entry permits once processed
• Domestic airfare tickets (governed by airline cancellation tariffs)
• Peak holiday season non-refundable hotel room blocks (e.g., Christmas, New Year, Tulip Festival)

4. Force Majeure & Unforeseen Events

"Force Majeure" means any event beyond the reasonable control of Northern Shoveller Tour & Travel, including but not limited to: acts of God, extreme weather events, blizzards, snowstorms, avalanches, earthquakes, floods, rockfalls, highway closures on NH-44 or Zoji La, civil unrest, political bandhs or hartals, curfews, epidemics, pandemics, government travel advisories, flight cancellations, or closure of Srinagar / Leh airports.

Northern Shoveller shall not be held liable for failure to perform or delay in performing any contractual obligation where such failure or delay arises from a Force Majeure event. In such cases, Northern Shoveller will endeavor to provide travel credit vouchers valid for 12 months in lieu of cash refunds where suppliers withhold funds.

5. Limitation of Liability

Northern Shoveller Tour & Travel acts as a registered tour operator and ground coordination agency. We contract with independent third-party vendors including hotels, boutique houseboats, transporters, local cab unions (e.g., Gulmarg and Pahalgam local union taxis), pony operators, shikara boatmen, rafting, and snowmobile operators.

5.1 Scope of Liability

• We do not own or directly control independent hotels, airlines, or union taxi fleets, and are not liable for any acts, omissions, negligence, or defaults of these independent service providers.
• We accept no responsibility for personal injury, illness, altitude sickness, loss of life, or damage to personal luggage, electronics, or valuables during the tour.
• Our maximum aggregate financial liability under all circumstances shall be strictly limited to the amount actually paid by the client to Northern Shoveller for the tour package.

6. Permits, Identification & Local Guidelines

Travelers visiting Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh must comply with all regional, state, and national laws:

• Identification: Every traveler must carry original, valid government photo ID (Aadhaar Card, Passport, or Voter ID). Passports with valid Indian visas/e-visas are mandatory for foreign nationals.
• Inner Line Permits (ILP): Certain destinations in Ladakh (e.g., Nubra Valley, Pangong Tso, Tso Moriri, Hanle) require special inner line permits. Northern Shoveller will assist in obtaining permits, but issuance remains subject to district administration approval.
• Eco-Sensitive Himalayan Heritage: Travelers are expected to respect the local culture, traditions, and fragile Himalayan environment. Littering, improper plastic disposal, and unauthorized drone usage near sensitive installations are strictly prohibited by regional authorities.

7. Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

These Terms of Service and any contractual agreement between you and Northern Shoveller Tour & Travel shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of India.

Any dispute, controversy, or claim arising out of or relating to these terms, or the breach, termination, or invalidity thereof, shall first be attempted to be resolved amicably through good-faith mutual negotiations between the parties within thirty (30) days.

Failing amicable settlement, all legal proceedings shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the competent courts situated in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, India.

8. Contact Information & Official Inquiries

For legal inquiries, clarification of these Terms, or assistance regarding existing bookings, please contact our central office in Srinagar: