Effective date: 20 October 2026. For bookings, this revised document applies to new bookings made on or after that date when disclosed as part of the booking. Existing confirmed bookings and previously accepted booking terms remain unchanged.
1. Applicability and how to cancel
The accepted cancellation conditions for each booking apply, subject to law. A guest cancelling a booking should send a written request to an official IBS email or designated WhatsApp channel, identifying the booking and requested cancellation. The effective time is when the verified request reaches the official channel; delayed acknowledgement alone will not move it into a higher charge bracket. IBS will provide a cancellation statement.
2. Guest-initiated cancellation charges
Unless a different service-specific schedule was expressly disclosed and accepted before booking, charges are calculated against the confirmed Total Tour Cost rather than only against amounts already received.
- 30 days or more before commencement: 30% of Total Tour Cost.
- 15–29 days before commencement: 50% of Total Tour Cost.
- 0–14 days before commencement or after it begins: 100% of Total Tour Cost.
Separately booked, expressly disclosed and lawfully recoverable supplier charges (for example trains, aircraft, helicopter services or permits) may apply without charging twice for the same item.
2A. Partial cancellation of private tours — for future new bookings
Private-tour per-person prices depend on the booked passenger count. Every new private-tour quotation shall include a passenger-wise price annexure for 1–16 passengers, calculated by the existing IBS Booking Engine for all three accommodation categories (Economy, Comfort and Deluxe) and the quoted tour services. When one or more guests withdraw from a confirmed private booking, cancellation charges are calculated only on the confirmed booking value attributable to those withdrawing guests, at the originally agreed per-person rate and applicable notice period. The continuing guests’ per-person package price shall be recalculated for the reduced group size using the applicable quoted passenger-wise schedule, including any changes to vehicle allocation, rooming and contracted services. A reduction in the number of passengers shall increase the applicable per-person package rate except where the reduction changes the vehicle size or category; in that case the actual recalculated rate shown in the 1–16 passenger annexure shall apply. The vehicle shall be reallocated according to the reduced passenger count and the existing IBS vehicle-selection rules; the original Traveller or other vehicle is not automatically retained. Where the resulting smaller-vehicle category permits both Guided and Non-Guided arrangements, the revised quotation shall show both With Guide and Without Guide options for the remaining guests to select. Guided service remains compulsory whenever required by the applicable group-size and vehicle rules. The remaining guests must accept the selected revised quotation in writing before the new commercial terms become binding. Cancellation charges and repricing adjustments shall not recover the same cost twice. Existing accepted booking conditions are not retrospectively changed.
3. Illustrative calculation
For a confirmed ₹1,00,000 tour, where ₹50,000 has been paid and a guest cancels 35 days before departure, the standard 30% cancellation charge is ₹30,000; the illustrative refund is ₹20,000 before lawful tax or disclosed transaction adjustments.
4. Missed treks, darshan and activities
Late arrival, a no-show, a guest’s voluntary decision not to undertake a trek, individual inability to complete a walk or pilgrimage segment, early return, or other unused services do not automatically create a refund entitlement for supplier services already delivered or irrevocably committed. If an activity is cancelled or significantly changed by IBS, an authority or a safety event, IBS will explain reasonable alternatives and evaluate recoverable supplier amounts and legal remedies. This clause does not exclude liability for a legally actionable failure by IBS.
5. Rescheduling and guest-requested changes
Name, date, itinerary, accommodation, vehicle, guest count and similar changes require IBS confirmation and may entail revised prices or independently disclosed supplier fees. Any cancellation-and-rebooking consequence will be disclosed before the guest confirms the change.
6. Group departure cancelled for insufficient participation
If IBS cancels a group departure solely because the minimum of 10 paying guests (or another expressly specified minimum) is not reached, the guest has a free choice between:
- Transfer: the next available departure of the same tour, subject to availability, at no additional tour charge and with every rupee already paid transferred in full; or
- Full refund: 100% of the amount paid for the cancelled group tour, with no 10% administrative fee, cancellation charge or processing deduction.
IBS will process the selected refund within seven (7) calendar days after receiving the guest’s confirmed choice (or earlier if law requires). Neither a credit voucher nor a different trip may be imposed.
7. Other IBS cancellations and unavoidable events
Where IBS cancels for a reason within its control, the appropriate refund or other remedy will follow the contract and applicable law. When weather, route closures, natural calamities, government restrictions or other external events disrupt travel, IBS will communicate realistic alternatives and calculate any appropriate refund or additional charge by considering services delivered, supplier recoveries and mandatory consumer rights. Declaring “force majeure” does not itself determine the refund or extinguish legal rights.
8. Supplier-specific restrictions
Rail, air, helicopter, forest or temple permits, individual homestays and separately contracted transport may carry special cancellation conditions. These are enforceable against the traveller only where appropriately disclosed and accepted, and only to the extent permitted by law.
9. Taxes and refunds
Cancellation charges, GST and credit notes will be treated as required by law. GST is not automatically or universally non-refundable. Bank or payment-processing expenses may be adjusted only if lawful, actually applicable, reasonably disclosed and not duplicative. None of these deductions apply to the full-refund choice for an IBS-cancelled group departure with insufficient participation.
10. Refund timing and method
Eligible refunds following ordinary guest-initiated cancellations will ordinarily be processed within 30 calendar days after the verified request and refund amount are determined, unless the accepted booking or law requires earlier processing. The special seven-day period for IBS cancellations due solely to insufficient group participation overrides this general period. Refunds normally return to the original payment method or to a verified account of the payer.
11. Existing accepted bookings and complaints
The cancellation and payment terms already accepted on an existing confirmed booking remain applicable unless lawfully revised by written agreement. Guests can request a detailed calculation and raise complaints via official IBS contact channels; statutory consumer remedies remain unaffected.