Refund & Cancellation Policy

Effective: September 20, 2026

1. No Planning Fee

KiteTours does not charge a separate planning or consultation fee. Every trip is quoted as a single package price. Refunds are therefore calculated on the amounts you have actually paid toward your trip, less any non-refundable supplier deposits that have already been committed on your behalf.

2. Bali Journeys

Cancellation terms vary by trip, season and supplier, and the terms in your trip-specific Booking Confirmation govern. As a general framework, measured from the date we receive your written cancellation at [email protected]:

• More than 90 days before departure: refund of all amounts paid, less non-refundable supplier deposits.
• 90 to 60 days before departure: refund of 50 percent of the trip value, less non-refundable supplier deposits.
• Within 60 days of departure, or after travel has begun: non-refundable, except where required by law or where a supplier grants a refund.

The balance for Bali journeys is due 45 days before departure unless your Booking Confirmation states otherwise. Client funds are held in a dedicated client trust account under California Business and Professions Code Section 17550.15 until used to pay for your trip or refunded.

3. India Journeys: Payment and Cancellation

These terms apply to all multi-day India journeys, including private land programmes and luxury rail journeys. They are supplied to you in writing before any payment is taken, as required by California Business and Professions Code section 17550.13. Any cancellation charge not disclosed to you in writing before you pay is unenforceable.

How days are counted

All day counts run from the date your written cancellation notice is received by us at [email protected], in Pacific Time, to the first day of travel on your itinerary. A cancellation takes effect only when we confirm receipt to you in writing.

A. Private land programmes (hotels, guides, private vehicles and domestic flights)

Payment:

• 50 percent of the total tour cost is due to confirm your reservation.
• The balance is due 45 days before your arrival date, and in every case before airline tickets and final travel documents are issued.

Cancellation:

• More than 90 days before arrival: $500 per person is retained; the remainder of your deposit is refunded.
• 90 to 46 days before arrival: 25 percent of the total tour cost is retained.
• 45 to 16 days before arrival: 50 percent of the total tour cost is retained.
• 15 days or fewer before arrival: 100 percent of the total tour cost is retained. No refund.

B. Luxury rail journeys (Maharajas Express, Palace on Wheels, Deccan Odyssey and Golden Chariot)

Payment:

• 25 percent of the fare is due to confirm your reservation.
• The balance of 75 percent is due 90 days before departure.

Cancellation:

• More than 120 days before departure: 10 percent of the fare is retained.
• 120 to 90 days before departure: 10 percent of the fare is retained.
• 89 to 60 days before departure: 25 percent of the fare is retained.
• 59 to 44 days before departure: 50 percent of the fare is retained.
• Fewer than 44 days before departure: 100 percent of the fare is retained. No refund.

Luxury rail is fixed-departure inventory. Departure dates cannot be moved. A request to change your date is treated as a cancellation and a new booking, and the schedule above applies.

C. Airline tickets

Once issued, airline tickets are governed by the fare rules of the issuing airline and are refunded only to the extent that airline permits. Airline penalties apply in addition to the amounts above.

D. Supplier prepayments and peak dates

Some hotels and rail operators require a non-refundable prepayment at the time of booking, particularly over Christmas, New Year and other blackout dates. Where this applies to your itinerary we will tell you in writing, including the exact amount, before you pay anything at all. Any such amount is non-refundable from the date of booking, regardless of the schedule above. Where operator terms for peak or blackout periods differ from the schedule above, they will be set out in your written Booking Confirmation, and those terms govern.

E. How your money is held

All payments for India journeys are held in a dedicated client trust account, separate from company operating funds, as required of California Sellers of Travel under Business and Professions Code Section 17550.15. Payment is by bank wire or ACH transfer. We do not accept card payments for these journeys.

4. Los Angeles Day Tours Booked Directly on 247kite.com

Los Angeles day tours and walking tours booked directly with us may be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours before the scheduled start time for a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours of the start time, and no-shows, are non-refundable. If heavy rain or another safety issue means we cannot run the tour, we will contact you the day before and offer you either a new date at no charge or a full refund. Tours booked through GetYourGuide or another marketplace follow that marketplace's cancellation terms.

5. Third-Party Suppliers

Flights, hotels, trains, ground operators and other suppliers apply their own cancellation terms, which we disclose before booking. Supplier deposits and fees that are non-refundable under the supplier's terms are not refundable by KiteTours once paid to the supplier.

6. Visa Coordination

Visa appointment scheduling and document coordination charges are non-refundable once the work has started, regardless of the visa outcome. KiteTours is not a law firm and does not provide immigration advice.

7. Cancellation by KiteTours

If KiteTours or a supplier cancels a transportation or travel service and you are not at fault, you are entitled to a full refund of all sums paid for services not provided, or, where you agree in writing, an alternative arrangement of comparable value, as required by California law.

8. Force Majeure

Where a trip is affected by an event beyond either party's control, such as a natural disaster, pandemic, government travel restriction or supplier insolvency, we will work with our suppliers in good faith to obtain refunds, credits or new dates, but cannot guarantee a specific outcome. Comprehensive travel insurance is strongly recommended.

9. How Refunds Are Paid

• Refunds are processed within 14 business days of our written confirmation of the cancellation.
• Refunds go to the original payment method (bank wire or ACH for Bali and India, card via Stripe for eligible Los Angeles day tours).
• Bank transfer fees charged by your bank are not reimbursed.
• Partial refunds are calculated on the amounts actually paid.

10. Travel Insurance

We strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance covering trip cancellation, interruption, medical emergencies, evacuation and baggage, purchased through a licensed insurance broker.

11. Questions and Disputes

Questions about a refund must be sent in writing to [email protected] within 30 days of the cancellation. California residents may also contact the Travel Consumer Restitution Corporation as described on our CA Legal Disclosures page.

12. Policy Updates

This policy may be updated. The version in effect at the time of booking applies.

13. Contact

Kite Tours and Travel Inc. (KiteTours, 247kite.com)

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +1 (424) 444-8055

Include your booking reference in all communications.