Payment and Cancellation

Overview

Private journeys require careful coordination before you arrive. Vehicles, drivers, guides, accommodation, ferry timing, local hosts, and special experiences may need to be arranged in advance. Because of this, payment and cancellation terms are designed to protect both the traveler and the local arrangements behind the journey.

This page explains the general approach. Exact terms may vary depending on the route, season, accommodation, ferry or boat logistics, and supplier requirements. Final payment and cancellation details will be shared before you confirm your trip.

Payment structure

Most private journeys require a deposit to confirm the booking. The deposit allows us to begin securing key arrangements such as vehicles, accommodation, local support, special experiences, and route logistics.

The remaining balance is usually paid before the trip begins or according to the agreed confirmation details. The exact payment schedule depends on the journey type and how far in advance you book.

Some trips may require earlier or larger payments if they involve:

• Mentawai island logistics
• Surf lodges or boat arrangements
• Peak season accommodation
• Special private experiences
• Long overland routes
• Multiple hotel reservations
• Non-refundable supplier costs

What your payment confirms

A confirmed payment may secure several parts of the trip, including route planning, local coordination, vehicle arrangements, guide or driver availability, accommodation requests, and selected activities.

For private journeys, the payment is not only for a list of stops. It also supports the planning and coordination needed to make the route work smoothly.

Payment methods

Available payment methods will be confirmed during the booking process. The method may depend on your location, currency, booking value, and timing.

Before making payment, you will receive the agreed journey details and payment instructions. Please do not send payment to any account or contact that has not been confirmed through our official communication channel.

Cancellations by the traveler

If you need to cancel, please contact us as soon as possible. Cancellation conditions depend on how close the cancellation is to the travel date and which arrangements have already been confirmed.

Some costs may be refundable. Others may not be refundable if they have already been paid to hotels, transport providers, local hosts, ferry or boat operators, or other suppliers.

In general, earlier cancellation gives more room to reduce loss. Late cancellation is more difficult because local arrangements may already be locked in.

Changes after confirmation

We understand that travel plans can change. If you need to adjust your dates, route, number of travelers, or journey style, we will review what is possible.

Changes may affect the final price if they require different hotels, longer routes, extra transfers, new suppliers, or revised logistics. Some changes may also depend on availability.

For Mentawai, overland routes, and special-interest journeys, changes can be more complicated because timing and local arrangements matter more.

Cancellations or changes due to local conditions

Weather, road conditions, ferry schedules, sea conditions, local events, or safety concerns may require route adjustments. When this happens, the priority is to keep the journey safe and realistic.

If a planned experience cannot happen exactly as expected, we will help arrange a reasonable alternative when possible. Some changes may be minor, such as adjusting the order of the day. Others may require a more practical route change.

Refund expectations

Refunds depend on the terms attached to each confirmed arrangement. Some suppliers may allow refunds or partial refunds. Others may have strict non-refundable terms.

Before confirmation, we aim to explain any major payment conditions that may affect your decision. Travelers should understand that private journeys often involve several local partners, and each may have different cancellation rules.

Travel insurance

We strongly recommend travel insurance for private journeys in Sumatra, especially if your route includes long road travel, Mentawai, sea transfers, surf activity, remote areas, or expensive international flights.

Insurance can help protect you if you need to cancel for personal reasons, medical reasons, flight disruption, lost luggage, or other unexpected issues. Please check your policy carefully because coverage varies.

Final advice

Payment and cancellation terms are part of responsible planning. They help make sure your journey is confirmed properly, local partners are respected, and expectations are clear before you travel.

Before confirming, ask any questions you have about payment schedule, cancellation timing, refund limits, and change conditions. Clear communication at the beginning helps avoid problems later.