BOOKING & CONTRACT All persons wishing to make a booking have carefully read and understood the Terms and Conditions that follow. By making a booking with Vie Retreat, you accept on behalf of yourself and all those named on the booking, to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. A booking is accepted and becomes definite only from the date when Vie Retreat sends a confirmation email, and when you have completed the deposit payment. A Vie Retreat team member will contact you within 48 hours, regarding your completed registration to confirm your participation in your selected retreat. Confirmation of your participation does not necessarily mean that your retreat is confirmed to run. Vie Retreat asks that you refrain from purchasing non-refundable travel until you receive an email confirmation from the Vie Retreat staff. In order for our retreats to take place we require a minimum of 6 participants. REFUND / CANCELLATION We understand that unexpected events can arise that can affect your plans. If you cancel more than 45 days before the retreat start date, you may request a partial refund (less a cancellation fee equal to the deposit). All retreat payments become non-refundable less than 30 days before the retreat start date. BALANCE TRANSFER Full and partial retreat payments can be transferred to another retreat taking place within one calendar year, if you notify us 45 days or more before the retreat start date. You may also transfer the balance to a friend if you let us know 45 days or more in advance. PRICING All retreat prices shown are per person and are quoted and payable in United Arab Emirates Dirhams (AED). Vie Retreats reserves the right to alter the prices of any of the travel arrangements shown on our website. You will be advised of the current price of the travel arrangement you wish to book before your contract is confirmed. Unless stated otherwise, the price of your travel arrangement includes each and all of the component parts described within your booking confirmation invoice. Not included in the price of your travel arrangement is flights, transport, travel insurance, excess baggage charges, tipping and any food or drink or additional excursions or activities which are not confirmed as being part of your retreat arrangements. Additionally, any items or services purchased during a retreat are not included in the cost of your travel arrangement unless specifically stated. MEDICAL CONDITIONS & SPECIAL REQUIREMENTSThe Client must inform Vie Retreats on our registration form of any medical conditions, pregnancy, disability or any other mental and or physical condition which may affect fitness to travel, including medications you are currently taking. Failure to notify us may result in the Client being refused certain activities during the retreat at the Client’s own expense. Some retreats may be unsuitable for Clients due to age, mobility, disability, pregnancy or physical or mental conditions, please email Vie Retreats if you have concerns. It is absolutely vital that you are accurate with your fitness level and medical conditions for your own safety. Vie Retreats will do its best to meet special requests including dietary or physical limitations but such requests may not always be possible depending on the retreat, in which case Vie Retreats reserves the right to refuse Clients with certain conditions. As a client, you MUST carry medical insurance. Medical facilities vary from country to country and Vie Retreats will do its absolute best to bring you to a proper medical facility as needed, but makes no representations and gives no warranties in relation to the standard of such treatment. FINAL PAYMENTS For all retreats, the payment of the FINAL balance of the retreat price is due 40 days prior to the retreat start date in the currency advertised. If a booking is made within less than 40 days, your deposit including full payment will be required at your initial sign up. We DO NOT accept sign-ups less than 30 days prior to retreat start date. We break down payments into 2 standardly instalments for most retreats. If the final balance is not received by the due date and there is no concise reason as to why, Vie Retreats reserves the right to treat the Client’s booking as cancelled. Please ensure Vie Retreats is on your contact list so our emails don’t go to your junk folder. CANCELLATION OF A RETREAT BY THE CLIENT Any cancellation by a Client must be made in writing (via email) and be acknowledged by Vie Retreats in writing (via email). Your deposit is non-refundable. Deposits are required to secure bookings. If you cancel and you have made additional payments to your deposit, your full balance can be rolled over to another date of your same retreat within one calendar year. If your retreat is not offered again, you can switch locations and fees can be transferred.Deposits can be refunded only in special circumstances including:Serious injury or illness of the clientSerious injury or illness of close family memberIn the case of a natural disaster, Vie Retreats applies to the “act of god” rule and no fees will be reversed. CANCELLATION OF A RETREAT BY VIE RETREATS Vie Retreats reserves the right to cancel any retreat for any reason, but will not cancel a retreat less than 30 days before the retreat start date except for unusual or unforeseen circumstances outside Vie Retreats’ control. When a retreat is cancelled by Vie Retreats before the agreed date of departure for any reason other than the fault of the Client, the Client can either:Transfer their deposit to another retreat taking place within one calendar year, or:Receive a full refund paid under the contract as soon as possible.Vie Retreats is not responsible for any incidental expenses or consequential losses that the Client may have incurred as a result of the booking such as visas, vaccinations, non-refundable flights or rail, non-refundable car parking or other fees, loss of earnings, or loss of enjoyment, etc. If the Client is offered a refund but requests an alternate retreat of a higher value than that originally booked, then the Client must pay the difference in price. Where after departure a significant element of the retreat contracted for cannot be provided, Vie Retreats will make suitable alternative arrangements for the continuation of the retreat. If it is not possible to provide a suitable alternative or the Client reasonably rejects any suitable alternatives, Vie Retreats will provide the Client a refund of unused event portions. TRAVEL & HEALTH INSURANCE Vie Retreats recommends Clients obtain travel medical insurance. This insurance must cover personal injury and emergency medical expenses including, but not limited to, helicopter evacuation, air ambulance and repatriation. It is strongly recommended the coverage be extended to include cancellation, curtailment, and all other expenses that might arise as a result of loss, damage, injury, delay or inconvenience occurring to the Client during travel. Vie Retreats shall have no liability for loss, theft of or damage to baggage or personal effects. Personal belongings lost or stolen while unattended by the client in public lounges or other public areas, whether on board a train, bus, or other mode of transportation, publicly owned or operated by Vie Retreats or elsewhere, are not reimbursable. Losses due to ordinary wear and tear, and other “acts of God” are not reimbursable. Vie Retreats cannot accept responsibility for and in no event shall be liable for loss or damage of valuables or other articles left in or on facilities used by Vie Retreats such as hotels, huts, expedition vehicles, or any other mode of transportation. The Client acknowledges that the cost of Vie Retreats retreats do not include insurance and that the Client has been advised to obtain separate coverage at an additional cost. When obtaining travel insurance the Client must ensure the insurer is aware of the type of travel to be undertaken. EVACUATION PROCEDURES AND COSTS Vie Retreats Retreat Leaders, local guides or other representatives’ decisions will at all times be final on all matters likely to affect the safety and well-being of the retreat. We reserve the right to prohibit any traveller from continuing on a retreat with no right of refund if, in our opinion, that traveller’s actions pose a threat to the safety of others, to the wildlife, themselves, or if the traveller’s actions and/or behaviours are harming the enjoyment of the retreat for others. Evacuation costs are to be covered by the person being evacuated. CLAIMS & COMPLAINTS If a Client has a complaint against Vie Retreats, the Client must first inform the Retreat Leader or guide at the earliest opportunity to allow the grievance to be rectified. If satisfaction is not reached, contact the Vie Retreats Chief of Operations whilst on retreat so that Vie Retreats is provided the opportunity to rectify the matter. Failure to indicate dissatisfaction whilst on retreat will result in the Client’s ability to claim compensation from Vie Retreats being extinguished or at least reduced. If satisfaction is still not reached through these means on retreat then any further complaint must be put in writing to Vie Retreats within 30 days of the end of the retreat. CLIENT RESPONSIBILITY The Client acknowledges he or she may be visiting places where the political, cultural and geographical attributes present certain risks, dangers and physical challenges greater than those present in their daily life. By booking travel with Vie Retreats, the Client acknowledges they have considered the potential risks, dangers and challenges, and expressly assumes the risks attendant to such travel conditions. The Client is solely responsible for acquainting themselves with customs, weather conditions, physical challenges, and laws in effect at each stop along the itinerary, and is encouraged to locate or make contact prior to embarkation with their local embassy or consulate at the retreat destination. SUPPLIERS & INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS Hotels/accommodation, shuttle services, excursions or other elements of Vie Retreats may be arranged by Vie Retreats with local suppliers who may themselves engage the services of local operators and/or sub-contractors. Vie Retreats will at all times endeavour to appoint reputable and competent local suppliers. The terms and conditions of the suppliers will be applicable. These may limit or exclude the liability of the supplier. The liability of Vie Retreats will not exceed that of any supplier. Local laws and regulations of the relevant country will be relevant in assessing the performance of the services of any supplier. Neither Vie Retreats nor any carrier is liable for independent contractors. SAFETY & RETREAT ENJOYMENT We take your safety and well-being very seriously, which is why we partner with trained professionals for our all of domestic and international retreats. However, you are ultimately responsible for your safety, which is why we ask all retreat participants to sign a liability waiver before departure. To avoid possibly dangerous situations, it is extremely important that you obey any rules and regulations imposed by the Vie Retreats Retreat Leaders and/or local guides and instructions given by them.Vie Retreats reserves the right to prohibit any Client from continuing on a retreat with no right of refund if, in our opinion, that Client’s actions pose a threat to the safety of them, others, or to the wildlife, or if that Client’s actions or behaviours are seriously jeopardizing the enjoyment of the retreat for others. The decision of the Vie Retreats Retreat Leader or representative will at all times be final on all matters likely to affect the safety and well-being of the retreat. All Clients must, at all times, strictly comply with the laws, customs, foreign exchange and drug regulations of all countries visited, and Vie Retreats will not accept responsibility or liability for any Client who contravenes any laws or other regulations of any country visited. HEALTH & FITNESS Most Vie Retreats retreats should not be overly strenuous for people who are healthy and reasonably fit. If you (or anyone on whose behalf you are booking) are affected by any condition, medical or otherwise, that might affect your or other people’s enjoyment of the retreat, you must advise us of this at the time of booking. If your health or fitness changes between the time of booking and your retreat departure date, you must notify the Vie Retreats office of these changes before the retreat starts. PHOTOS, VIDEO AND CONTENT CREATION In the course of participation in a Vie Retreats retreat, photos or video may be taken by participants, guides and professional photographers. These images may be used in any Vie Retreats promotional materials, website, all social media platforms (i.e. Instagram), etc. unless Clients specifically request to the photographer or in writing to Vie Retreats, to not use any material your image is depicted in. Otherwise, permission is granted to Vie Retreats to perpetual, royalty-free, worldwide, irrevocable license to use such images for publicity and promotional purposes. RETREAT ITINERARY CHANGES Vie Retreats and its partners reserves the right to alter retreat programs and itineraries due to weather, road conditions or other circumstances. These programs may be changed or cancelled at any moment due the retreat to assure the safety of our clients and staff. No responsibility is accepted for losses, expenses due to delays, changes of flights or other services because of strikes, accidents, sickness, damage, negligence, weather, war, changes in schedules or other similar causes. Vie Retreats and its partners do not assume responsibility for accidents or deaths that can be traced to the participants’ negligence, acts of third parties or exterior circumstances such as weather, natural occurrences, war or other similar causes. DATA PROTECTION To ensure that retreats run smoothly, Vie Retreats need to use personal information (such as name, address, special needs, health conditions, dietary requirements etc.) provided by Clients to Vie Retreats, and also pass on such information to other outfitters/guides or suppliers involved in the operation of the retreat. Vie Retreats will apply appropriate security measures to protect such personal data and will only pass on data that is applicable to outfitters or suppliers responsible for the retreat. By completing the Vie Retreats retreat booking form, Clients consent to this information being transferred as required. LIABILITY Vie Retreats is not responsible for any improper or non-performance of any services forming part of the Contract which are wholly attributable to the fault of the Client, the unforeseeable or unavoidable act or omission of a third party unconnected with the provision of any services to be provided under the Contract; unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond the control of Vie Retreats and/or the relevant supplier, the consequences of which could not have been avoided even if all due care had been exercised including (but not limited to) an event of force majeure; or any event which Vie Retreats and/or the relevant supplier could not even with all due care have foreseen or forestalled. In the event that Vie Retreats is responsible for any death, injury or illness caused by the negligent acts and/or omissions of its suppliers of services which form part of the Contract then Vie Retreats limits its liability. ACCEPTANCE OF RISK The Client acknowledges that the nature of the retreat is adventurous and may involve a significant amount of personal risk. The Client hereby assumes all such risk and does hereby release Vie Retreats from all claims and causes of action arising from any damages or injuries or death resulting from these inherent risks. At the time of payment, the Client is required to sign Vie Retreats’ RELEASE OF LIABILITY, WAIVER OF CLAIMS, ASSUMPTION OF RISKS AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT. Please read carefully. SEVERABILITY In the event that any term or condition contained herein is unenforceable or void by operation of law or as being against public policy or for any other reason than such term or condition shall be deemed to be severed from this Agreement or amended accordingly only to such extent necessary to allow all remaining Terms and Conditions to survive and continue as binding. SUCCESSORS & ASSIGNS These Terms and Conditions shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon Vie Retreats and the Client and their respective heirs, legal personal representatives, successors and assigns. APPLICABLE LAW The Contract and these Terms and Conditions are subject to the laws of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. WAIVER OF BOOKING CONDITIONS These Booking Terms and Conditions may only be waived or amended by written mutual consent. When a Client completes, submits and makes the payment for booking their place for a retreat, they agree to accept all these conditions, and when the booking is accepted, Vie Retreats agrees to carry out the obligations as defined therein. UPDATING OF TERMS & CONDITIONS Vie Retreats reserves the right to update and/or alter these terms and conditions at any time, and it is the Client’s responsibility to be familiar with them. The latest terms and conditions may be found on Vie Retreats’ website.