Alaska Adventure: July 2016
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Trip Overview
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Whats Included?
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Itinerary
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Pricing
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FAQ
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We are excited about returning to Alaska in the summer of 2017!
The 49th state was built by Jewish people, Jewish money and Jewish know-how. Although their numbers today are small, Jews are still disproportionately prominent in commercial and public life in Alaska today. During our trip we will learn a bit about the unique Jewish history of Alaska – and we will begin our adventure by enjoying a Shabbat visit to the local Jewish community in Anchorage. This active, exciting, and diverse tour has it all! A variety of uniquely Alaskan multi-sport activities , superb day hikes, and exceptional wildlife-viewing opportunities are set amidst massive mountains, awe-inspiring glaciers, beautiful alpine tundra, charming and historic villages, as well as some of Alaska’s finest coastal landscapes. Throw in both a stunning bush plane flight over glaciers and volcanoes, and a ferry trip through the dramatic glacial wilderness (or a scenic over-flight), and, well, our trip is simply the comprehensive, wide-ranging, diverse, and exhilarating introduction to wild and majestic Alaska available! Ranging from Denali National park to the glacier-carved Tengle Lakes to immense, spectacular, and seldom-visited Wrangell-St. Elias National Park—North America’s premier mountain and glacier wilderness—to the heavily glaciated coast and wildlife-rich seas of Prince William Sound, MOUNTAINS & GLACIERS will get you ‘up and going’ in some of the most ruggedly beautiful country anywhere! Featuring both interior and coastal mountains, glaciers and landscapes; a diverse variety of wildlife viewing chances; a stunning small plane flight over volcanoes and glaciers; and a scenic ferry cruise on pristine Prince William Sound (or a scenic over-flight of the glacier-clad landscape); Mountains & Glaciers is a superb introduction to the incredible mountain, glacier and coastal grandeur of Alaska. Beautiful scenery and majestic landscapes aren’t the only reasons to come on this tour however, as the hiking and uniquely Alaskan multi-sport activities included in Mountains & Glaciers are themselves invigorating and genuinely inspirational! Sea kayak amidst curious seals and nesting sea birds, to an active glacier: Wow! Leaving Anchorage, we head to the wilderness area of Denali National Park, with exceptional wildlife viewing as well as hiking opportunities. This fantastic sub-arctic wilderness teems with wildlife, including grizzly bears, wolves, caribou, Dall sheep, moose and more. Denali is also the home of the continent's highest peak, 20,320' Mt. Denali: “The Great One.” Lace up crampons to venture out onto a huge and very blue glacier for an exploratory glacier trek, or strap on a harness and grab some ice axes to try your hand at ice climbing. Hike up to tundra tarns and waterfalls; through boreal forests; and along glacial moraines: truly magnificent, all of it! Sea kayak amidst curious seals, otters and nesting sea birds to the face of a glacier; lace up crampons to trek out onto a huge and very blue glacier in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, or strap on a harness and grab some ice axes to try your hand at ice climbing on the glacier (for a ~$60 supplemental fee); canoe tundra-clad lakes; and go whitewater rafting on a fun Class III-IV river at Denali National Park. The day hiking is memorable as well: through boreal forests; across sub-arctic taiga and alpine tundra; alongside rivers and lakes; up to historic and scenic mining ruins, and along dramatic glaciers and glacial moraines: Beautiful! Active and adventurous? This is the trip for you! |
Included in the cost of the trip!
- Workshop: Introduction to Jewish Alaska!
- Three nights at spectacular Denali and Wrangell-St. Elias National Parks; two nights in scenic Valdez; and one night in the tundra foothills near Tangle Lakes
- Exceptional wildlife viewing opportunities throughout the tour
- Stunning bush plane flight to the historic ghost town of McCarthy, deep in the heart of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
- Scenic ferry crossing of pristine Prince William Sound (or a scenic over-flight)
- Passage on the Denali National Park wildlife-viewing/access shuttle bus
- Sea Kayaking to Shoup Glacier, on Prince William Sound (PWS); OR take a half-day glacier & wildlife cruise on PWS
- Glacier Trekking (or upgrade to ice climbing*) in Wrangell-St. Elias NP
- Whitewater Rafting on the Class III-IV Nenana River, at Denali NP
- Canoeing through the wildlife-rich tundra landscape at Tangle Lakes
- Hiking: A variety of exceptional 2-6 hour scenic day hikes over mixed terrain (moderate to strenuous)
- All Ground Transport, Anchorage to Anchorage
- Bush Plane Flight to McCarthy, in Wrangell-St. Elias NP
- Scenic Ferry crossing of Prince William Sound (or over-flight)
- Denali NP Wildlife-Viewing/Access Shuttle Bus trip
- All Lodging (and 3 nights of camping - we provide all camping equipment for those nights) as specified in the “Accommodations” section
- The Majority of Meals: all breakfasts and lunches (except last day lunch)
- Entrance Fees to all national and state parks visited en route
- The friendly and capable services of a professional guide
- Greener Travel staff person
The cost does not include:
- Transport to and from Anchorage where the trip starts & ends (airfare)
- Anchorage Lodging, before or after the tour; we can help book these if you want to arrive early or leave late. See FAQ tab for details
- Non-Included Meals (see “Meals”), or alcoholic beverages
- Optional Activities (the listed multi-sport activities in itinerary)
- Personal Expenses
- Baggage Handling at the lodges and hotels
- Personal Travel Insurance: highly recommended. See our FAQ tab more information
- Optional Shabbat stay in Anchorage: arrival on Friday, July 8 ($150)
- Guide gratuity (approx $200 per person)
Optional Activities
- Flight-Seeing to Mt. McKinley in Denali National Park (~$425), or over Wrangell-St. Elias National Park (~$90-$225). Remember: flight into park included in trip!
- Guided Historic Tour of Kennecott Mine town site ($28)
- Salmon or Halibut Fishing Charter (~$100-$375+)
- Bicycle rental and/or city tour on Saturday in Anchorage
Friday, July 8, 2016 Welcome to Alaska - you adventure begins here! You have an option of arriving on Friday or Saturday. Those arriving on Friday will be picked up from the airport and taken to our lodge in downtown Anchorage. Depending on your time of arrival, you might have time to take a stroll around downtown Anchorage, or just want to rest a bit from the long flight. Later tonight, we will go to local Shabbat services and enjoy Kabalat Shabat and our first Alaskan dinner with members of the local Jewish community. Overnight Anchorage: Anchorage Ramada or similar. Saturday, July 9 Located in South-central Alaska on the shores of Cook Inlet, Anchorage stands as a sophisticated metropolis in the midst of rugged wilderness. Anchorage is the largest city in Alaska, where nearly half of the state’s residents live. It is one of the only places in Alaska with all the modern fixtures of American life. This morning you have the option of heading to Shabbat services in one of the two synagogues in town - or you can opt to explore Anchorage and its surroundings: you can chose to take a walking tour of downtown, visit the world-class Anchorage Museum or take a bike trip along the magnificent Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. Did you know that the first governor and Senator from Alaska was Jewish, or that Anchorage had not one bu two Jewish Mayors in its history? Do you know what a "Jewskimo" is, or when the first Jews settled Alaska? Alaska was built by Jewish people, Jewish money and Jewish know-how, and this afternoon we will join a local Jewish historian and learn a bit more about the history of Jewish Alaska. As all the group will have arrived today, we will all go out for a festive dinner in Anchorage, before heading out into the wild tomorrow... Overnight Anchorage: Anchorage Ramada or similar. Sunday, July 10 : Anchorage to Denali National Park We’ll meet in the morning at our Anchorage departure hotel, introduce ourselves and meet our adventure guides, and after a brief overview of the tour, head north into the Alaskan Interior. First stop: Denali State Park for a 3 to 4-hour alpine hike (with Mt. McKinley views), before proceeding on to world-famous Denali National Park for a three-night stay. Lodging: Denali NP Campsite Monday, July 11: Denali National Park A fun day as we can hike for 3-4 hours this morning and then enjoy an exhilarating whitewater rafting trip this afternoon. A “flightseeing” trip over the park to Denali / Mt. McKinley (wow!), and/or a tour of the park’s dogsled kennels are fun, optional activities. Lodging: Denali NP Campsite Tuesday, July 12: Denali National Park Today you’ll travel through the wilderness area of the park on the park shuttle bus, with exceptional wildlife viewing as well as hiking opportunities. This fantastic sub-arctic wilderness teems with wildlife, including grizzly bears, wolves, caribou, Dall sheep, moose and more. Denali is also the home of the continent's highest peak, 20,320' Mt. McKinley, known in Alaska as Denali: “The Great One.” Lodging: Denali NP Campsite Wednesday, July 13: Tangle Lakes Today we pack up and head east along the even more remote Denali Highway, paralleling the scenic southern side of the Alaska Range. This unlikely gravel “highway” passes through some of the wildest, most remote, road-accessible country on Earth, with amazing mountain, glacier, tundra and river valley views. Along the way we’ll stop for a beautiful hike across the tundra-clad foothills to a panoramic lookout point. At Tangle Lakes we can canoe on the “tangle” of lakes, hike atop glacial eskers and across the rolling tundra, and marvel at the mountain scenery, wildflowers, and prolific bird and wildlife. Tangle Lakes is a wild, special, seldom-visited place, sure to leave a lasting impression. Lodging: Tangle River Inn Thursday, July 14: Wrangell-St. Elias National Park / McCarthy After a morning hike or paddle, a beautiful drive takes us to the Copper River-side town of Chitina, where a few small planes will meet us for a stunningly scenic flight across the volcanic and glacier-clad Wrangell Mountains, into immense Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, the largest in the USA, and a United Nations World Heritage Site. Our destination? The copper rush village of McCarthy (pop.~25), everyone's favorite Alaskan ghost town! We’ll spend two nights here in shared cabins at a charming lodge set at the foot of the mighty Kennicott Glacier, deep in the heart of the park. 16,390’ Mt. Blackburn looms up the glacier, and other huge peaks are all about. Four major mountain ranges, 9 of the 16 tallest peaks in the US, and the largest non-polar ice field in the world converge in this little-known and seldom-visited gem of a national park. Lodging: McCarthy Lodge, McCarthy Friday, July 15: Wrangell-St. Elias National Park / McCarthy and Kennicott Today we will venture out onto the ice with a local mountaineering guide and crampons to explore the blue crevasses, moulins, and the rest of the fascinating glacial geography. The more energetic can challenge themselves with an optional introductory ice-climbing course on the glacier (+ ~$70). Optional “flight-seeing” over the glacial wilderness, and/or a Kennecott Mine tour are also available, as are various ranger-led activities. Nature inspired kabbalat shabbat under the ever lasting sunset! Lodging: McCarthy Lodge, McCarthy Saturday, July 16: Wrangell-St. Elias National Park / McCarthy and Kennicott Today we can hike up to the abandoned Bonanza Mine for incredible mountain and glacier views. This vigorous hike is the consensus favorite of both travelers and guides year after year. Less strenuously, you can either hike along the lateral moraine of the Root Glacier, along McCarthy Creek or out to the toe of the huge Kennicott Glacier, where you can witness it actually moving, depositing the boulders and debris it has carved and carried from the mountains into the terminal lake that it has formed (headwaters of the Kennicott River). Or, if you prefer, take a day off to simply relax and soak up the mountain village ambiance, explore on your own, or participate in some National Park Service activities. You won't want to leave McCarthy! Lodging: Kennicott River Lodge, McCarthy Sunday, July 17: Worthington Glacier and Valdez Driving out of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park we'll cross yet another tremendous range: the heavily glaciated Chugach Mountains. At alpine Thompson Pass we can hike up the lateral moraine of Worthington Glacier to a dramatic view of the ice field that feeds this very blue "river" of ice. Dropping down out of the mountains afterwards to the picturesquely set town of Valdez we'll get our first taste of magnificent coastal Alaska. The young and geologically very active Chugach range rises up literally out of the sea, ringing super-scenic Prince William Sound. Glaciers are all about, some of them spilling their loads of ice directly into the sea. Lodging: Mountain Sky Hotel, Valdez Monday, July 18: Valdez and Prince William Sound Today we’ll experience some of the best sea kayaking available anywhere. After gearing up and a quick water taxi ride to protected Shoup Bay, we’ll paddle past huge waterfalls and the largest kittiwake rookery on Prince William Sound (home of 18,000+ nesting sea birds), up to the face of spectacular Shoup Glacier. Alternatively, enjoy a half-day wildlife and glacier viewing cruise on the Sound. Salmon and halibut fishing charters are also optionally available. Tonight, we will celebrate our last night in Alaska, overlooking the everlasting sunset on Prince William Sound! Lodging: Mountain Sky Hotel, Valdez Tuesday, July 19: Across Prince William Sound, back to Anchorage This morning we’ll board the Alaska state ferry for a beautiful crossing of Prince William Sound, on the lookout for whales, bald eagles and other wildlife. Following a short hike (time permitting), we’ll drive back to Anchorage. The trip will end back in Anchorage at ~5 p.m. We'll return to Anchorage in late afternoon and officially end our adventure in the Last Frontier, celebrating the end of our trip as well as the traditional Havdalleh! Upon arrival in Anchorage the group will be brought to the Anchorage International Airport to catch their departing flights - though if you have a flight on Sunday morning, or choose to spend another day or two in Anchorage, you will be dropped off at the hotel. You have an option of flying back home tonight, as there are many flights that leave Anchorage at night, enabling you to take an overnight flight if you have to get back to the east coast on Wednesday morning. |
Dates
The Alaska trip will take place from Friday or Saturday, July 8 or 9, to Tuesday, July 19, 2016 (10 nights in total; 11 nights for those wishing to arrive on Friday). We will be arriving at and leaving from the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC)
If you decide to arrive on Saturday, and wish to participate in our activity on Jewish Alaska that evening, we ask that you plan to be on a flight that will land in Anchorage by 5 pm on Saturday, July 9 . If you decide to arrive on Friday, please plan to arrive by 5 pm on Friday, July 8, so we can prepare for Shabbat dinner and services (candle lighting is at 11:10 pm!) .
You have an option of arriving on Friday and spending the weekend in Anchorage, attending services in one of Anchorages synagogues, enjoying a communal Shabbat dinner and learning more about the Jewish history of Alaska.
Your flight home should be no earlier than 8 pm on Tuesday, June 19th. If you wish to, you can stay an extra night (or few!) in Anchorage and book your return flight for Wednesday or later in the week - we can help with accommodations)
If you want to arrive a day or two earlier, or choose to leave later, please let us know how we can help you experience more of the Last Frontier - there are many day trip activities we can help you book from Anchorage.
Accommodations
In Anchorage we will be staying in an established hotel, such as the Ramada or an upscale Bed & Breakfast - which we prefer. Outside of Anchorage, we will stay in cabins (or rooms) in friendly lodges as described in the itinerary .
Guides
The outfitting company we are working with in Alaska goes to great pains to find those that believe in what they are doing, because they are the basis of your experience as well as ours. This means that our driver/guide will be knowledgeable on the areas visited, as well as the activities involved. The tour will also be accompanied by a Greener Travel staff person that will be with the group throughout the trip.
Transportation
Our itinerary involves a variety of means of travel in order to give a better feel for the particular area we are exploring. Mostly, we will be travelling in a specially equipped minivan.
Meals
All breakfasts and lunches are included in the tour price (except lunch on the ferry). Most breakfasts are either ordered off the regular menu or are hot, multi-course buffets; a few are continental style. Lunches are generally buffet-style picnics or brown bag meals that we carry with us on our hikes and other activities. Dinners are not included; these are taken either at our lodges or in local restaurants, and are paid for individually.
Vegetarians and most special diets can be catered to with advance notice, please list any dietary restrictions or preferences on your Tour Reservation . The few non-included meals are taken at local restaurants, or on the ferry, and are paid for individually.
Optional Activities
If you are interested in the optional activities (see the What's Included tab), you should reserve them in advance, as we get a special rate for booking in advance. If you choose not to book these activities before arriving in Alaska, there will probably be a higher retail rate.
Packing list
Before departing, you will receive a comprehensive list of suggested things to bring on the Alaska trip.
Weather
During the month of July, the average high in the places where we will be visiting is 63 degrees Fahrenheit (17 c), with the low at night averaging at 49 f (9.5 c), so it can get quite chilly at night, compared to the lowed 48. The weather being unpredictable, one can always expect rain, and you should pack adequate rain-gear.
For more specific info check out this trip's FAQ tab above.
Greener Travel Company, LLC Policies for Alaska group tours
RESERVATION AND BOOKING
Reservation and Deposit: To reserve your spot in one of our group tours, you must pay your deposit in full. Until you have paid your deposit, your spot may be given away to another traveler. Since our trips are generally limited to 18 participants or less, they do fill up.
Airfare; “Calling” of Trip: Greener Travel generally “calls” our Group Trips after at least 8 people have registered for the trip. At that time, it sends an email to all travelers who have registered, informing them that they can purchase their airfare. DO NOT PURCHASE YOUR AIRFARE UNTIL YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE TRIP HAS BEEN CONFIRMED, YOU HAVE PAID IN FULL AND THE TRIP HAS BEEN “CALLED”.
Possible Delays and Trip Insurance: We strongly encourage all of our travelers to purchase trip insurance. Greener Travel is not responsible for airline delays and cancellations and in most cases will NOT be able to offer any refunds for travelers who miss all or part of their tour due to airline delays and cancellations. Some suggestions are Travelex and Travel Guard.
Full Payment: Full payment must be made at least 5 weeks prior to the trip departure date or your spot is subject to forfeit to another traveler. Ask us about “early bird” discount for travelers who pay the full amount of a trip prior to the “call” date.
Method of Payment: We accept payment by check or Stripe (available on our website). We are offering an additional discount of $100 for payment by check for travelers registering sufficiently in advance of the departure date.
Please make all checks payable to:
Greener Travel LLC.
1742 Kalorama Rd. NW
Unit B
Washington, DC 20009
USA
DISCOUNTS
Combination of Discounts: From time to time, Greener Travel may offer certain discounts or coupon codes. Those codes can NEVER be combined. All discounts are always applied to the full price trip (and not the discounted or early bird price).
Bring a Friend Policy: If you and up to three friends register together, Greener Travel will rebate you $100 and each of your friends $50 after the trip has been completed.
CANCELLATION AND REFUND
Cancellation by You and Refunds: Up until the trip has been “called”, you may cancel your trip at any time for any reason, and Greener Travel will refund the full amount of your payment, less a $15 processing fee. After a trip has been “called,” the refund policy for this trip as is following:
Any time after the trip has been called: $450 per person
60 to 45 days before trip departure: 50% of tour cost
44 to 30 days before trip departure: 75% of tour cost
Within 30 days of departure: 100% non-refundable
For this reason, we STRONGLY encourage you to purchase: some suggestions for such insurance are Travelex and Travel Guard.
Cancellation by Greener Travel: We may cancel the trip for any reason prior to “calling” the trip. If we do so, we will refund the entire amount that you have paid, without applying any processing charges or other fees. We will not be responsible for any travel arrangements you have made, such as airfare, purchased before the “call” date. In the extremely unlikely event that we have to cancel a trip after it has been called, we will refund all amounts paid to you, but cannot be responsible for any other amounts, such as airfare.
MEALS AND ITINERARY CHANGES
Meals: All meals provided on our group trips are kosher-style and vegetarian friendly, however, most are prepared in kitchens / camping equipment that prepare non-kosher foods. We might be able to accommodate travelers who keep strictly kosher on our group trips – please contact us for information about such possibilities.
Itinerary changes: We will make our best efforts to maintain the itinerary as advertised, however, a variety of reasons, including the number of trip participants, availability of vendors and providers, and other factors, may cause us to need to change our final itinerary. In the very unlikely event we have to cancel a tour in its entirety due to factors beyond our control, we will refund the full amount paid not be liable for any other costs beyond the amount that you have paid.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF RISK; WAIVER OF LIABILITY
Acknowledgement and Assumption of Risk; Waiver of Liability: You acknowledge that travel includes a variety of known and unanticipated risks, which could result in injury, paralysis, or death, or damage to property. You acknowledge that those risks may be created by negligence of Greener Travel, its owners, employees, contractors, and agents, other travelers of Greener Travel, and third party providers over whom Greener Travel has no control, as well as weather and natural disasters. You agree to accept and assume all risks existing in this activity, and to release, forever discharge, and agree to indemnify and hold harmless Greener Travel from any and all claims, demands, or causes of action, which are in any way connected with my participation in our trips, including any such Claims which allege negligent acts or omissions of Greener Travel. Should Greener Travel or anyone acting on their behalf be required to incur attorney’s fees and cost to enforce this agreement, you agree to indemnify and hold them harmless for all such fees and costs.
FITNESS FOR TRAVEL AND HEALTH INSURANCE
Fitness for Travel: It is your responsibility to determine that you are capable of participating in all of the activities offered on this trip and to opt out of any activities that you are not able to participate in due to your abilities (ie, ability to swim, etc.), disability, or any medical conditions.
Travel Health Insurance: We strongly encourage travelers to purchase travel health insurance to cover any medical events or emergencies that occur while you are on your trip. PLEASE NOTE THAT TRAVEL HEALTH INSURANCE AND TRAVEL INSURANCE ARE NOT THE SAME THING—Travel insurance covers the cost of your trip in the event of travel delays or your need to cancel the trip. Travel health insurance is a health insurance policy that covers your medical costs in the event of illness or injury overseas. Following is a suggested link that allows you to compare between different options and purchase the insurance online.
USE OF IMAGES
You agree that any images, including photographs and videos, of you taken during the trip may be used by Greener Travel at no charge for commercial purposes.
CONSENT TO JURISDICTION, WAIVER OF REMEDIES
You also agree that any dispute concerning Greener Travel’s services will be determined by the courts in the District of Columbia and consent to jurisdiction in those courts. You agree that if you have any dispute regarding Greener Travel’s services, you will present a claim to us in that regard within 2 months of travel, and will not file an action more than 9 months after the completion of travel. Should you accept a payment or refund of any amount in the event of a dispute, you agree to waive any other rights and remedies you may have under applicable law. In no event will Greener Travel be liable for any costs above the amount paid by you to Greener Travel.
Reservation and Deposit: To reserve your spot in one of our group tours, you must pay your deposit in full. Until you have paid your deposit, your spot may be given away to another traveler. Since our trips are generally limited to 18 participants or less, they do fill up.
Airfare; “Calling” of Trip: Greener Travel generally “calls” our Group Trips after at least 8 people have registered for the trip. At that time, it sends an email to all travelers who have registered, informing them that they can purchase their airfare. DO NOT PURCHASE YOUR AIRFARE UNTIL YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE TRIP HAS BEEN CONFIRMED, YOU HAVE PAID IN FULL AND THE TRIP HAS BEEN “CALLED”.
Possible Delays and Trip Insurance: We strongly encourage all of our travelers to purchase trip insurance. Greener Travel is not responsible for airline delays and cancellations and in most cases will NOT be able to offer any refunds for travelers who miss all or part of their tour due to airline delays and cancellations. Some suggestions are Travelex and Travel Guard.
Full Payment: Full payment must be made at least 5 weeks prior to the trip departure date or your spot is subject to forfeit to another traveler. Ask us about “early bird” discount for travelers who pay the full amount of a trip prior to the “call” date.
Method of Payment: We accept payment by check or Stripe (available on our website). We are offering an additional discount of $100 for payment by check for travelers registering sufficiently in advance of the departure date.
Please make all checks payable to:
Greener Travel LLC.
1742 Kalorama Rd. NW
Unit B
Washington, DC 20009
USA
DISCOUNTS
Combination of Discounts: From time to time, Greener Travel may offer certain discounts or coupon codes. Those codes can NEVER be combined. All discounts are always applied to the full price trip (and not the discounted or early bird price).
Bring a Friend Policy: If you and up to three friends register together, Greener Travel will rebate you $100 and each of your friends $50 after the trip has been completed.
CANCELLATION AND REFUND
Cancellation by You and Refunds: Up until the trip has been “called”, you may cancel your trip at any time for any reason, and Greener Travel will refund the full amount of your payment, less a $15 processing fee. After a trip has been “called,” the refund policy for this trip as is following:
Any time after the trip has been called: $450 per person
60 to 45 days before trip departure: 50% of tour cost
44 to 30 days before trip departure: 75% of tour cost
Within 30 days of departure: 100% non-refundable
For this reason, we STRONGLY encourage you to purchase: some suggestions for such insurance are Travelex and Travel Guard.
Cancellation by Greener Travel: We may cancel the trip for any reason prior to “calling” the trip. If we do so, we will refund the entire amount that you have paid, without applying any processing charges or other fees. We will not be responsible for any travel arrangements you have made, such as airfare, purchased before the “call” date. In the extremely unlikely event that we have to cancel a trip after it has been called, we will refund all amounts paid to you, but cannot be responsible for any other amounts, such as airfare.
MEALS AND ITINERARY CHANGES
Meals: All meals provided on our group trips are kosher-style and vegetarian friendly, however, most are prepared in kitchens / camping equipment that prepare non-kosher foods. We might be able to accommodate travelers who keep strictly kosher on our group trips – please contact us for information about such possibilities.
Itinerary changes: We will make our best efforts to maintain the itinerary as advertised, however, a variety of reasons, including the number of trip participants, availability of vendors and providers, and other factors, may cause us to need to change our final itinerary. In the very unlikely event we have to cancel a tour in its entirety due to factors beyond our control, we will refund the full amount paid not be liable for any other costs beyond the amount that you have paid.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF RISK; WAIVER OF LIABILITY
Acknowledgement and Assumption of Risk; Waiver of Liability: You acknowledge that travel includes a variety of known and unanticipated risks, which could result in injury, paralysis, or death, or damage to property. You acknowledge that those risks may be created by negligence of Greener Travel, its owners, employees, contractors, and agents, other travelers of Greener Travel, and third party providers over whom Greener Travel has no control, as well as weather and natural disasters. You agree to accept and assume all risks existing in this activity, and to release, forever discharge, and agree to indemnify and hold harmless Greener Travel from any and all claims, demands, or causes of action, which are in any way connected with my participation in our trips, including any such Claims which allege negligent acts or omissions of Greener Travel. Should Greener Travel or anyone acting on their behalf be required to incur attorney’s fees and cost to enforce this agreement, you agree to indemnify and hold them harmless for all such fees and costs.
FITNESS FOR TRAVEL AND HEALTH INSURANCE
Fitness for Travel: It is your responsibility to determine that you are capable of participating in all of the activities offered on this trip and to opt out of any activities that you are not able to participate in due to your abilities (ie, ability to swim, etc.), disability, or any medical conditions.
Travel Health Insurance: We strongly encourage travelers to purchase travel health insurance to cover any medical events or emergencies that occur while you are on your trip. PLEASE NOTE THAT TRAVEL HEALTH INSURANCE AND TRAVEL INSURANCE ARE NOT THE SAME THING—Travel insurance covers the cost of your trip in the event of travel delays or your need to cancel the trip. Travel health insurance is a health insurance policy that covers your medical costs in the event of illness or injury overseas. Following is a suggested link that allows you to compare between different options and purchase the insurance online.
USE OF IMAGES
You agree that any images, including photographs and videos, of you taken during the trip may be used by Greener Travel at no charge for commercial purposes.
CONSENT TO JURISDICTION, WAIVER OF REMEDIES
You also agree that any dispute concerning Greener Travel’s services will be determined by the courts in the District of Columbia and consent to jurisdiction in those courts. You agree that if you have any dispute regarding Greener Travel’s services, you will present a claim to us in that regard within 2 months of travel, and will not file an action more than 9 months after the completion of travel. Should you accept a payment or refund of any amount in the event of a dispute, you agree to waive any other rights and remedies you may have under applicable law. In no event will Greener Travel be liable for any costs above the amount paid by you to Greener Travel.