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Key points: You enter into a booking with us when we issue our Booking Confirmation. If you then cancel, there will be cancellation charges. Initially this may only be a deposit, but can go up to 100%. You can make changes to your booking in certain circumstances. We make a charge for this. We can change and cancel your booking. We are responsible to you for providing your holiday but there are legal limits. We are a member of ABTA and we provide protection for your money as set out in clause 2 below. Adequate and valid travel insurance is compulsory for all our travellers and it is a condition of accepting your booking that you agree you will have obtained adequate and valid travel insurance. We recommend you take out insurance as soon as your booking is confirmed. Please read the full terms below for more information and for other important rights and obligations. |
Your booking is with Exodus Travels Ltd t/a Exodus Travels, trading as Headwater, with registered number at 1150160 and registered address at Platinum House, St Mark's Hill, Surbiton, Surrey, KT6 4BH ("we", "us", the "Company" or "our").
You, or any member of your party, may cancel your travel arrangements at any time. Written notification from the lead name or your travel agent must be received at our offices. Since we incur costs in cancelling your travel arrangements, you will have to pay cancellation charges as follows (see also the exceptions below):
| Period before a departure when notice of cancellation is received | Percentage of total booking price payable on cancellation |
| More than 90 days before departure | Loss of deposit and non-refundable costs ie: special condition flights |
| Between 90 and 42 days before departure (inclusive) | 50% of holiday cost |
| Between 41 and 31 days before departure (inclusive) | 75% of holiday cost |
| 30 days or less before departure (or failure to join the holiday or failure to pay any local payment due) | 100% of holiday cost |
Certain trips may involve different cancellation charges; please ask at the time of booking.
For Polar holidays, the following cancellation charges will be made:
| For Polar holidays: Period before departure in which you notify us | Cancellation charge |
| More than 133 days | Deposit only |
| 133 days or less (or failure to join the holiday) (inclusive) | 100% of the holiday cost |
Notes (i) Your deposit is non-refundable, even if the cancellation charge calculated is lower than the deposit amount paid; (ii) If the reason for your cancellation is covered under the terms of your insurance policy, you may be able to reclaim these charges; (iii) certain travel arrangements may be subject to higher cancellation charges and could incur a cancellation charge of up to 100% of that part of the arrangements from the moment the booking is confirmed.
You can cancel your booking without paying cancellation charges if the performance of your package, or the carriage of passengers to your destination, is significantly affected by unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances. In such circumstances, we will arrange for your booking to be terminated and for you to receive a full refund. We will observe and act in accordance with advice provided by the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office.
For the purposes of these terms and conditions "unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances" include but are not limited to: war, threat of war, airport closures, airspace closures (as well as other air traffic management decisions which may give rise to long or overnight delays or cancellations of one or more flights), the inability of airline(s) to operate flights as a result of the United Kingdom’s decision to leave the European Union (including the loss or restriction of air traffic or transit rights or the right of airline(s) to enter any airspace), epidemic, significant risks to human health such as the outbreak of a serious disease at the travel destination, natural or nuclear disaster, serious security problems such as terrorist activity, civil unrest or events arising out of political instability, industrial dispute or strikes, bad weather (actual or threatened), Foreign Office advising against travel to a particular destination and significant building work taking place outside of your accommodation (such as resort development).
If, after our Booking Confirmation has been issued, you wish to change your travel arrangements in any way, for example your chosen departure date or accommodation, we will do our utmost to make these changes but it may not always be possible. Any request for changes to be made must be in writing from the lead name or your travel agent. You will be asked to pay an administration charge of £50 per person, and any further cost we incur in making this alteration (including those charged by third party suppliers who provide the component parts of your booking). You should be aware that these costs could increase the closer to the departure date that changes are made and you should contact us as soon as possible. Note: Certain travel arrangements may not be changeable after a reservation has been made and any alteration request could incur a cancellation charge of up to 100% of that part of the arrangements.
You can transfer your booking to another person, who satisfies all the conditions that apply to this booking, by giving us notice in writing at least 7 days before departure provided that the new lead passenger accepts the transfer and these booking conditions. Both you and the new traveller are responsible for paying all costs we incur in making the transfer. Please bear in mind that certain airlines and other transport providers treat changes as a cancellation and charge accordingly, up to 100% of the cost for that part of the arrangement. Where applicable these charges will be passed on to you.
We reserve the right to cancel your booking. We will not cancel less than 4 weeks before your departure date, except for unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances (as defined in clause 5), or failure by you to pay the deposit and/or final balance, or because the minimum number required for the package to go ahead hasn’t been reached. The minimum number required will be provided to you in the Trip Notes. If the minimum number had been reached but we experience late cancellations by other clients which means that the minimum number is no longer met, we reserve the right to cancel a tour 20 days before the start of the package.
If your holiday is cancelled you can either have a refund of all monies paid or accept an alternative holiday of comparable standard from us if we offer one (we will refund any price difference if the alternative is of a lower value).
In the event a refund is paid to you, we will:
(a) Changes to the price
We can change your holiday price after you’ve booked, only in certain circumstances:
Changes in the price of the carriage of passengers resulting from changes to the cost of fuel or other power sources, the level of taxes or fees imposed by third parties including tourist taxes, landing taxes or embarkation or disembarkation fees at ports and airports, or exchange rates mean that the price of your travel arrangements may change after you have booked. However, there will be no change within 30 days of your departure.
If any change in the price of your booking results in an increase equivalent to more than 8% of the price of your travel arrangements, you will have the option of accepting a change to another holiday if we are able to offer one (we will refund any price difference if the alternative is of a lower value), or cancelling and receiving a full refund of all monies paid, except for any amendment charges. Should you decide to cancel: 1) you must do so within the time period shown on your final invoice; and 2) we will provide a refund of insurance premiums paid to us if you can show that you are unable to transfer or reuse your policy.
Should the price of your holiday go down due to the cost changes mentioned above, then any refund due will be paid to you. We will deduct from this refund our administrative expenses incurred. Please note that travel arrangements are not always purchased in local currency and some apparent changes have no impact on the price of your travel due to contractual and other protection in place.(b) Changes other than the price
It is a term of your booking that we are able to make changes to any aspect of your booking. If the change is insignificant, we will ensure that you are notified about it. Examples of insignificant changes include alteration of your outward/return flights by less than 12 hours, changes to aircraft type, change of accommodation to another of the same or higher standard, changes of carriers.
If we are forced by circumstances beyond our control to alter significantly any of the main characteristics of the travel services that make up your package you will have the rights set out below.
You must inform us without undue delay of any failure to perform or improper performance of the travel services included in this package. If any of the travel services included in your package are not performed in accordance with these booking conditions, or are improperly performed, by us or the travel service suppliers, and this has affected the enjoyment of your travel arrangements, you may be entitled to an appropriate price reduction or compensation or both. We will not be liable where any failure to perform or improper performance of the travel services is due to (i) you or another member of your party; (ii) a third party unconnected with the provision of the travel services in the package and is unforeseeable or unavoidable; or (iii) unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances (as defined in clause 5).
Our liability, except in cases involving death, injury or illness, shall be limited to a maximum of three times the cost of your travel arrangements. Our liability will also be limited in accordance with and/or in an identical manner to the following:
Adventure Travel Warning: We may operate trips in regions where standards of accommodation, transport, safety, hygiene, medical facilities and other infrastructure may, at times, be lower than those you normally expect. Your booking is accepted on the understanding that you realise the hazards involved in this kind of holiday, including injury, disease, loss or damage to property, inconvenience and discomfort. The whole philosophy of this type of travel is one that allows alternatives and a substantial degree of on-trip flexibility. The outline itineraries given for each holiday must therefore be taken as an indication of what each group should accomplish, and not as a contractual obligation on our part. Changes in itinerary may be caused by local political conditions, flight cancellations, mechanical breakdown, weather, border restrictions, sickness, or other unforeseeable circumstances. Pro rata refunds will be given for services not utilised wherever possible. Please note that the timings of air, sea, road or rail departures are estimates only. These timings may be affected by operational difficulties, weather conditions or failure of passengers to check in on time.
We want to bring to your attention the existence of a “Community list” which contains details of air carriers who are subject to an operating ban within the EU. The Community list is available for inspection at https://ec.europa.eu/transport/modes/air/safety/air-ban_en. We are required to advise you of the actual carrier(s) (or, if the actual carrier(s) is not known, the likely carrier(s)) that will operate your flight(s) at the time of confirmation. Where we are only able to inform you of the likely carrier(s) at the time of confirmation, we shall inform you of the identity of the actual carrier(s) as soon as we become aware of this. Any change to the operating carrier(s) after your booking has been confirmed will be notified to you as soon as possible.
If you are joining a guided holiday locally (i.e. not starting with the group from the UK) our responsibility does not commence until the appointed time, we shall not be responsible for any additional expenses incurred by you to meet up with the group. If the group arrival is delayed to the local joining point we will provide you with the same room and board basis as will be provided to the group. If the delay is for more than 24 hours we will provide you with the same services and itinerary that were detailed on your confirmation to enable you to continue with your holiday, although you may, at your discretion, remain at the local joining point for the arrival of the group. If you are travelling on a Land Only basis or on a Self-Guided holiday, Headwater’s responsibility commences with the start of the first service listed on your Confirmation Invoice.
Please be assured that our service providers will always do the utmost to ensure your safety and well-being when on tour. On certain tours on which our local service providers will on day 1 of the tour ask you to sign an ‘Acceptance of Risk’ form prior to accepting your participation on the tour. Where this is the case details are outlined in the Trip Notes and you may request a copy of the applicable form by contacting us.
You can ask for copies of the travel service contractual terms, or the international conventions, from our office: Exodus Travels Ltd., Platinum House, St Marks Hill, Surbiton, Surrey, KT6 4BH. For flights departing from the EU then under EU law (Regulation 261/2004) you have rights in some circumstances to refunds and/or compensation from your airline in cases of denied boarding, cancellation or delay to flights. Full details will be publicised at EU airports and available from airlines. However, reimbursement in such cases will not automatically entitle you to a refund of your holiday cost from us. Your right to a refund and/or compensation from us is set out in these booking conditions. If any payments to you are due from us, any payment made to you by the airline or any other service provider will be deducted.
If it is impossible to ensure your return as scheduled due to unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances, we will bear the cost of necessary accommodation, if possible of equivalent category, for a maximum of three nights. The limit doesn’t apply to persons with reduced mobility and any person accompanying them, pregnant women and unaccompanied minors, or persons in need of specific medical assistance, provided that you notified us of these needs at least 48 hours before the start of your holiday.
Standards of, for example, safety, hygiene and quality vary throughout the transport and destinations that your holiday may involve. Sometimes these standards will be lower than those which would be expected in the UK. The suppliers of the services and facilities included in your holiday should comply with local standards where they are provided.
Note: this entire clause does not apply to any separate contracts that you may enter into for excursions or activities whilst on holiday for which liability rests with the excursion provider and not us.
We are a Member of ABTA, membership number Y0751 . We are obliged to maintain a high standard of service to you by ABTA’s Code of Conduct. We can also offer you ABTA’s scheme for the resolution of disputes which is approved by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute. If we can’t resolve your complaint, go to www.abta.co.uk to use ABTA’s simple procedure. Further information on the Code and ABTA’s assistance in resolving disputes can be found on www.abta.co.uk or contacting ABTA at 30 Park Street London SE1 9EQ.
If you have a complaint about any of the services included in your holiday and/or need assistance whilst away, you must inform our local office or your Tour Leader and email our Customer Services team using CustomerServices@headwater.com without undue delay who will endeavour to put things right. You can also contact our centralised out of hours service on +44 (0)1606 720033.
If it is not resolved locally, please follow this up within 28 days of your return home by writing to our Customer Services Department at Headwater Customer Services, Headwater Holidays, Unit 1, Theatre Court, London Road, Northwich, Cheshire, CW9 5HB, giving your booking reference and all other relevant information. Please keep your letter concise and to the point. If you fail to follow the requirement to report your complaint in resort we will have been deprived of the opportunity to investigate and rectify it and this may affect your rights under this booking. Please also see clause 10 above on ABTA.
If you’re in difficulty whilst on holiday and ask us to help we will provide appropriate assistance, in particular by providing information on health services, local authorities and consular assistance; and helping you to find alternative arrangements and any necessary phone calls/emails. You must pay any costs we incur, if the difficulty is your fault.
Your specific passport and visa requirements, and other immigration requirements are your responsibility and you should confirm these with the relevant Embassies and/or Consulates. We do not accept any responsibility if you cannot travel because you have not complied with any passport, visa or immigration requirements.
Please note that for some trips we need to request special permits, and as such we will require your passport details prior to accepting your booking. Furthermore, if you renew your passport after you have booked, you may be required to take your old passport with you to maintain the validity of the permit.
We are able to advise on mandatory health requirements; however, we are not medical experts. It is your responsibility to ensure that you obtain proper and detailed medical advice at least 2 months prior to travel for the latest health requirements, recommendations for your destination and any costs. You should check this information at least 2 months before departure and again within 14 days of travel. Where you do not do so and either are not allowed to enter any country, or suffer personal injury or death as a result, we have no liability to you for any cost, loss or damage which you suffer nor will we refund you the cost of any unused portion of your travel arrangements. Clients with existing medical problems, pregnant women and anyone who has recently visited other countries should check requirements with their general practitioner.
When assessing whether holidays will operate we use information from our local offices in conjunction with advice from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and other relevant government bodies. It is your responsibility to acquaint yourself with the travel advice provided by these government bodies. For more information, please visit our Travel Safety Advice page www.headwater.com/travel-advice and the government websites at travelaware.campaign.gov.uk and www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice for your destination country.
Laws and customs of the country/ies you visit can be very different to those in the UK. Be aware of your actions to ensure that they do not offend, especially if you intend to visit religious areas. There may be serious penalties for doing something that might not be illegal in the UK. It is your responsibility to familiarise yourself with, and respect local laws and customs, and you are strongly advised to check with the appropriate embassy, consulate or British and Commonwealth Office or www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice for further information regarding local laws and customs of the country/ies you plan to visit.
We reserve the right to refuse to accept you as a customer or continue dealing with you if we, or another person in authority, believe your behaviour is disruptive, causes unnecessary inconvenience, is threatening or abusive, you damage property, you upset, annoy, disturb, or put any other traveller or our staff or agents in the UK or resort in any risk or danger, on the telephone, in writing or in person.
On an active group holiday it is necessary that you abide by the authority of the leader, who represents the Company. If you commit any illegal act when on the holiday or if in our reasonable opinion or the reasonable opinion of the leader or another person in authority your behaviour is disruptive, threatening or abusive, causes unnecessary inconvenience, impacts on others clients’ enjoyment of the holiday or is causing or likely to cause damage to property, danger, distress or upset, disturbance or annoyance to others or puts any other traveller or our staff in any risk or danger, on the telephone, in writing or in person, we may terminate your travel arrangements without any liability on our part.
By confirming your booking you accept that the Company’s tour leaders have the authority to prevent you from participating in any part of a tour should they have concerns about (a) your ability to safely partake in an activity or (b) your physical ability to complete an activity in the required timescale. In the event the leader deems such a decision is necessary, we will reasonably endeavour to make alternative arrangements, but we will not be liable to provide any refunds for missed activities and you may be liable for additional costs incurred.
If the Captain of your flight or cruise ship or any of our resort staff or agents believes that you could be disruptive or that you are suffering from a contagious disease, they can also refuse to let you proceed with your travel arrangements, restrict your movements on board, disembark you from a ship or aircraft, or remove you from your accommodation or excursion.
If you are disruptive and prevented from boarding your outbound flight in the UK, we will treat your booking as cancelled by you from that moment, and you will have to pay full cancellation charges (see section 5). If this occurs overseas then you will become responsible for your own return home and any other members of your group who cannot or will not travel without you. We will not be liable for any refund, or compensation or any costs or expenses you incur.
If you are refused carriage because of your behaviour, or you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, your airline may pass on your details and date of the refusal of carriage to other airlines for their information. This in turn may make it difficult for you to book other airline tickets. In any of these circumstances no refunds or compensation will be paid to you.
As a result of your behaviour during any stage of your holiday including on an aircraft, transfer, in any accommodation, cruise or excursion, we reserve the right to make a claim against you for any damages, costs and expenses (including legal expenses) incurred as a result, including but not limited to (i) cleaning, repairing or replacing property lost, damaged or destroyed by you, (ii) compensating any passenger, crew, staff or agent affected by your actions and (iii) diverting the aircraft or cruise for the purpose of removing you. Criminal proceedings may also be instigated.
For the purposes of this section reference to "you" or "your" includes any other person in your party.
We will use and process your data in accordance with our privacy policy which be found here www.headwater.com/privacy-policy
Excursions or other tours that you may choose to book or pay for whilst you are on holiday are not part of your package holiday provided by us. For any excursion or other tour that you book, your contract will be with the operator of the excursion or tour and not with us. We are not responsible for the provision of the excursion or tour or for anything that happens during the course of its provision by the operator.
All monies you pay to the travel agent for flight inclusive product are held by him on behalf and for the benefit of the Trustees of the Air Travel Trust at all times. This is subject to the agent’s obligation to pay it to us for so long as we do not fail. If we fail, any money held at that time by the agent, or subsequently accepted from you by him, is and continues to be held on behalf of and for the benefit of the Trustees of the Air Travel Trust without any obligation to pay that money to us. When you buy a holiday not including a flight, all monies you pay to the travel agent are held by him on our behalf at all times.
If we issue detailed Trip Notes for your booking, these Trip Notes and all the information contained therein will be deemed to be part of the contract. Trip Notes are posted two to three weeks prior to departure, and contain up-to-date definitive information about the itinerary and travel arrangements. Should there be a discrepancy between the information in the brochure or website and the Trip Notes, the information in the Trip Notes supersedes that in the brochure or on the website and will be considered the most up-to-date and accurate.
This booking is governed by English Law, and the jurisdiction of the English Courts. You may however choose the law and jurisdiction of Scotland or Northern Ireland if you live there and wish to do so.
If you booked your trip prior to 5th May 2022, you can find your Booking Conditions HERE.
