Terms and conditions

• Commitment

  Montagne Expedition is committed to our values, customers and promises. The stays and activities we offer are described in detail. We take care to provide accurate, up-to-date descriptions of the difficulty level and of what is included every step of the way. In return, we expect an active commitment from every group member in order to ensure the smooth running of your adventure.
  

• Booking conditions

  Booking one of our activities or trips implies acceptance of the terms and conditions. Each customer must complete a booking form. Bookings are only accepted upon payment of a deposit amounting to 35% of the total cost of the trip, subject to availability. If you register less than 35 days before departure, the full cost of the trip must be paid upon registration. You can make your payment by bank transfer (SWIFT/IBAN) or by credit card directly on the website. A confirmation of your registration will be sent to you by email as soon as possible.
  

  For any registration made less than 6 months before the departure date, your registration will only be confirmed once availability has been confirmed with the mountain huts.
  

• Invoice procedure

  The balance must be paid at least 35 days before your arrival date. If the balance has not been received by this deadline, Montagne Expédition reserves the right to cancel the booking without compensation.
  

  You will receive your invoice on the day of your departure.
  

• Cancellation policy

  Cancellation on your behalf:
  

  
  

  If, for any reason whatsoever, you need to cancel your trip, the sums you have paid will be refunded subject to the following deductions:
  

  
  

  You must notify us of your decision to cancel in writing, using a method that provides proof of receipt, and the date of receipt of this correspondence will determine the date of your cancellation.
  

  
  

  If you cancel your trip, for any reason whatsoever, the sums you have paid will be refunded subject to the following deductions:
  

  
  

  If your cancellation occurs:
  

  - More than 31 days before departure: 30% of the total cost of the trip (excluding insurance).
  

  - Between 30 and 21 days: 40% of the total cost of the trip (excluding insurance).
  

  - Between 20 and 14 days before the departure date: 50% of the total cost of the booking (excluding insurance).
  

  - Between 13 and 7 days before the departure date: 75% of the total cost of the booking (excluding insurance).
  

  - Less than 7 days before the departure date: 100% of the total cost of the booking (excluding insurance).
  

  
  

  Special cases, regardless of the date of cancellation or contract amendment: these charges are in addition to the scale above:
  

  - Fixed land-based charges: charges incurred at an early stage for firm bookings will be invoiced to you in the event of cancellation (e.g. bookings for certain mountain huts)
  

  - Insurance and registration fees: regardless of the insurance taken out, the insurance premium and registration fees are due and are non-refundable. If you have taken out comprehensive insurance, the amounts deducted will be reimbursed by the insurer in certain cases (notably illness, accident, death, etc.).
  

  Comprehensive insurance comes into effect from the day you register and purchase your insurance.
  

  
  

  Cancellation on our behalf:
  

  
  

  Montagne Expédition may be required to cancel a trip at no cost to you:
  

  - if the minimum number of participants required to guarantee the trip is not reached;
  

  - due to exceptional and unavoidable circumstances relating to mountain conditions, and in particular for reasons relating to the safety of our clients;
  

  In the latter case, Montagne Expédition will offer alternative arrangements. If no alternative solution is possible, Montagne Expédition will refund the customer for the services not provided, without the customer being entitled to any further compensation.
  

  
  

  You will be informed of the cancellation as soon as possible and no later than:
  

  - 30 days before the scheduled date for a self-guided or exclusive trip;
  

  - 20 days before the departure date for trips requiring a minimum number of participants and lasting more than 6 days;
  

  - 7 days before the start of the trip or holiday in the case of trips lasting between 2 and 6 days;
  

  - 48 hours before the start of the trip or holiday in the case of trips lasting no more than 2 days.
  

  
  

  In the event of total or partial cancellation of the holiday by Montagne Expédition due to circumstances jeopardising the safety of customers (such as adverse weather conditions in the mountains), Montagne Expédition will refund the customer for services not provided, without the customer being entitled to any further compensation.
  

  
  

  For safety reasons and to ensure a consistent standard in line with that advertised, the management and organisers reserve the right to terminate your participation if your technical ability and/or physical fitness do not meet the required standards. Under no circumstances will such termination give rise to a refund or payment of compensation. 
  

• Travel Insurance

  We recommend that you take out insurance before your departure to cover the activities undertaken with Montagne Expédition. Details of the insurance options available can be found on this page: https://montagne-expedition.com/fr/assurance
  

  
  

  If you do not take out one of our insurance policies, we ask that you kindly email us the details of your insurance policy (name of the company, policy name, policy number, telephone number) and carry this information with you during your stay.
  

  
  

  Altaï France (licence no. IM013110005) has taken out professional liability insurance with HISCOX under policy number PROV857693, whose registered office is at Hiscox France, 49 Avenue de l’Opéra, 75002 Paris.
  

  
  

  If Altaï France or one of its retailers becomes insolvent, the amounts paid will be refunded.
  

  If Altaï France or one of its retailers becomes insolvent after the start of the package, or if the transport included in the package is affected, the repatriation of travellers is guaranteed.
  

  Altaï France has taken out insolvency protection with: GROUPAMA ASSURANCE
  

• Changes to travel contract

  Should the customer make any changes to a trip that result in costs for Montagne Expédition, these costs shall be borne by the customer. In all cases, any changes must be made in writing.
  

  
  

  Montagne Expédition may amend elements of the travel contract if circumstances beyond our control arise (weather conditions or other factors) that could jeopardise the safety of participants, the accessibility of the activity areas, or are linked to an order from an administrative authority.
  

  
  

  Where Montagne Expédition modifies the programme (meeting time, duration, location, ascent, etc.) of the trip for the reasons cited above, customers are required to accept the proposed programme modification. Montagne Expédition will reimburse the customer for any services not provided, without the customer being entitled to claim any further compensation.
  

  Should the customer refuse the replacement services, such refusal may be treated as a cancellation initiated by the customer.
  

  It is noted that it will not always be possible to offer equivalent services given the specific nature and unique character of certain trips.
  

  
  

  For example, on a trip including an attempt to climb Mont Blanc, if it is impossible to climb Mont Blanc for the reasons mentioned above, we will, where possible, offer you an alternative climb in the surrounding mountain ranges (Monte Rosa, Gran Paradiso, etc.), which you are obliged to accept.
  

• Pricing

  For group trips, the prices listed on the website have been calculated and are valid for the specified number of participants for each trip.
  

  If the number of participants falls below the minimum required to guarantee the trip goes ahead, a small-group supplement may be offered to ensure the trip proceeds. You may decline this small-group supplement and cancel free of charge if necessary.
  

  For all holidays or programmes, we state the price per person, valid from a certain number of participants, and we detail the services included and not included in this price.
  

• Health and administration requirements

  Montagne Expédition cannot assume responsibility for the individual liability of each participant.
  

  Health and administrative requirements reflect the regulations in force on a given date and are subject to change. It is the customer’s responsibility to verify these requirements before departure. They must comply with police, customs and health regulations and formalities at all times during the trip.
  

  Under no circumstances can Montagne Expédition replace the individual responsibility of the customer, who must ensure that all necessary formalities are completed before departure (passport, visa, health certificate, etc.).
  

  Failure to comply with these regulations, a customer’s inability to present valid documents, or any delay shall be the sole responsibility of the customer, who shall bear the costs incurred.
  

• Limitation of liability

  We cannot be held liable for the following: any delay or failure on the part of a participant to submit the required documents in good order, the loss of such documents, or unforeseeable and unavoidable circumstances such as strikes, social unrest, adverse weather conditions, etc.
  

  No refund will be given for any trip that is interrupted or cut short by the participant, for whatever reason.
  

• Risk Acceptance

  Given the nature and adventure-based nature of our trips, each participant is aware of the risks they may face, particularly due to the distance from medical facilities. Each participant therefore accepts these risks in full knowledge of the facts and undertakes not to hold Montagne Expédition, the guides or the various service providers liable for any accidents that may occur.
  

  If circumstances so require, particularly to ensure the safety of travellers, due to weather conditions or unforeseen events, Montagne Expédition reserves the right, either directly or through its guides, to substitute one means of transport, accommodation or itinerary for another, as well as departure dates and times, without participants being entitled to any compensation other than a refund for services not provided.
  

  
  

  Each participant must observe the rules of caution and follow the advice given by the guide. Montagne Expédition cannot be held liable for accidents resulting from a traveller’s own negligence.
  

  Montagne Expédition reserves the right to expel from a group at any time any person whose behaviour may be considered to endanger the safety of the group or the well-being of the participants.
  

  No compensation will be payable to the customer.
  

  Minors remain at all times under the responsibility of the person with parental authority or their designated representative, who accompanies them during the trip.
  

• Luggage

  Passengers remain responsible for their luggage at all times. Do not ask your tour guide to look after it. They are physically unable to carry out this task. The maximum permitted luggage weight varies by airline. Please check directly with the airline concerned. The airline is solely responsible for any luggage you entrust to them during transport. In the event of loss, delay or damage to your luggage, you must take the necessary steps directly with the airline. Your luggage is often transported by rudimentary means (minibuses, 4x4 roof racks). In the event of damage, Montagne Expédition will not be able to consider any claims in this regard.
  

• Contract transfer

  In accordance with Article R.211-7 of the Tourism Code, you may transfer your contract to a transferee who meets the same conditions as you for undertaking the trip, provided that the contract has not yet taken effect. You must inform Montagne Expédition of your decision by any means that provides proof of receipt, no later than seven days before the start of the trip. In the event of a contract transfer, the transferor and/or the transferee are required to pay in advance the costs incurred by the transfer, which will be communicated to you by your advisor. The transferor and the transferee are jointly and severally liable for payment of the balance of the price as well as any fees, charges or other additional costs that may be incurred by this transfer.
  

• Passenger rights

  The combination of travel services offered to you constitutes a package within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2015/2302 and Article L.211-2 II of the French Tourism Code.
  

  You will therefore benefit from all the rights granted by the European Union applicable to package holidays, as transposed into the French Tourism Code.
  

  Furthermore, as required by law, Atalante has protection in place to refund your payments and, if transport is included in the package, to ensure your repatriation should it become insolvent.
  

  
  

  
  

  For further information, please consult the essential rights under Directive (EU) 2015/2302.
  

  
  

  Complaints
  

  DURING THE TRIP:
  

  
  

  The traveller is required to inform Montagne Expédition of any non-compliance observed during the trip by immediately contacting our emergency number, the details of which are provided in your travel contract. Failure to report a non-conformity on the spot may affect the amount of any compensation or price reduction due if prompt reporting could have prevented or reduced the damage suffered by the traveller(s).
  

  
  

  
  

  AFTER YOUR TRIP :
  

  
  

  In accordance with Article R.211-6-7 of the Tourism Code, any complaint must be sent to Montagne Expédition by any means that provides proof of receipt to the Quality Department no later than one month after the end of your stay. After this deadline, the case cannot be dealt with with the same diligence.
  

  
  

  Complaints should be addressed to: Atalante Quality Department – Altai Group – Quality Department – 294 avenue du Comte Vert – 73000 CHAMBÉRY.
  

  
  

  To ensure that Montagne Expédition can process the request quickly and efficiently, it is essential to provide all necessary supporting documents. Only complaints relating to the content of the contract binding the parties and the contractual obligations incumbent upon travel sales professionals will be considered.
  

  
  

  The time taken to process complaints depends on the responses from service providers.
  

  
  

  After contacting the Quality Department and in the absence of a satisfactory response within 60 days, the traveller may refer the matter to the Tourism and Travel Ombudsman, whose contact details and referral procedures are available on their website: www.mtv.travel, or visit the online dispute resolution platform.
  

  
  

  Photos / Illustrations
  

  
  

  The photos, maps and illustrations contained on the website are not contractually binding. The itineraries are provided for information purposes only.
  

  
  

  IT / Personal data
  

  
  

  Enquiries and bookings are processed electronically. You have the right to access and amend your personal data.
  

  
  

  1. PROTECTION OF PERSONAL DATA   
  

  
  

  Montagne Expédition attaches great importance to the protection of your personal data and takes great care to comply with data protection provisions relating to privacy and the processing of personal data, such as those set out in Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016.
  

  
  

  The purpose of this policy is to inform you about how Montagne Expédition uses your personal data when you use the Montagne Expédition website.
  

  
  

  It does not apply to other services and websites that you may access from the Site, for which you are advised to consult their data protection policies.
  

  
  

  Personal data includes information relating to you as a natural person that you have voluntarily provided to Montagne Expédition whilst using the Montagne Expédition website, such as your surname, first name, email address, etc. It will be retained for the period necessary to fulfil the purpose of its processing.
  

  
  

  Data is collected for the sole purpose of establishing a commercial and professional relationship with our customers, and is retained by Montagne Expédition for a reasonable period. Some of the information requested is mandatory; these fields are marked with an asterisk.
  

  
  

  If we do not receive a reply, Montagne Expédition will be unable to provide or send you the services or information requested.
  

  
  

  2. YOUR RIGHTS
  

  
  

  In accordance with current legislation, you have the right to access and rectify your personal data, and the right to object, on legitimate grounds, to the processing of your personal data. To exercise these rights, you must send a letter by post to the following address: Montagne Expédition - Groupe Altaï - 60 avenue André Roussin, Le Quanta, 13016 Marseille
  

  
  

  You may also, at any time, opt out of receiving marketing emails from Atalante by using the unsubscribe link provided in these emails.
  

  
  

  We would like to remind you that, from 25 May 2018, you have the right to request from the data controller access to your personal data, the rectification or erasure of such data, or a restriction on the processing of the data concerning you, as well as the right to object to the processing and the right to data portability.
  

  
  

  You may submit this request to the following address: Montagne Expédition - Groupe Altaï - 60 avenue André Roussin, Le Quanta, 13016 Marseille