Last Updated: October 2026
 

1. Our Commitment to Transparency

Welcome to Travel with Karuna! We believe travel should be rooted in connection, curiosity, mutual respect, and meaningful cultural exchange. Our small-group journeys through India are designed to offer experiences beyond conventional tourism while supporting local communities, families, and businesses. These Terms & Conditions outline what you can expect from us and what we ask of you as a traveller. They establish the responsibilities, expectations, and agreements associated with booking and participating in a Travel with Karuna journey.

By booking a trip with Travel with Karuna, you acknowledge and agree to these Terms & Conditions, subject to applicable consumer protection laws. We encourage all travellers to read this document carefully before confirming their booking.

2. Bookings & Payments

To secure your place on a Travel with Karuna journey, a deposit of $1,000 CAD per person is required.

• Deposits are applied toward the total cost of your trip.

• Payments are accepted through Interac e-Transfer unless otherwise arranged.

• The remaining balance must be paid by the deadline specified in your booking agreement.

• Your booking is confirmed once your deposit has been received and written confirmation has been provided by Travel with Karuna.

Trip prices, payment schedules, and additional costs will be clearly communicated before booking. Failure to complete payments by the agreed deadlines may result in cancellation of your booking, subject to applicable notice requirements and consumer protection laws.

3. Cancellations & Refunds

We understand that life happens and travel plans sometimes change. If you need to cancel your trip, you must notify Travel with Karuna in writing as soon as possible. Cancellation and refund eligibility will be determined by the specific cancellation policy disclosed and agreed to at the time of booking, expenses already committed to travel providers, and applicable consumer protection laws. Deposit refund policy: To be confirmed and clearly disclosed before booking. Final payment cancellation policy: To be confirmed and clearly disclosed before booking. If Travel with Karuna must cancel a journey, we will communicate available options, including applicable refunds or alternative arrangements, in accordance with the booking agreement and relevant laws. Travel with Karuna is not responsible for reimbursing independently purchased international flights, vaccinations, visas, insurance, or other personal travel expenses, except where required by applicable law or expressly agreed in writing.

4. What's Included & Excluded

Your trip includes the accommodations, transportation, activities, meals, and support services expressly identified in your published itinerary or booking agreement.

Depending on the journey, these may include:

• Accommodations throughout the trip.

• Transportation within India.

• Scheduled activities and entrance fees.

• Daily breakfast.

• Selected local food experiences and snacks.

• Welcome group dinner.

• Pre-trip group preparation calls.

• Daily on-the-ground support.

• Group WhatsApp communication.

Unless explicitly stated otherwise, the following expenses are not included:

• International flights to and from India.

• Passport applications and renewals.

• Indian visa applications and associated fees.

• Vaccinations, medications, and travel health consultations.

• Travel and medical insurance.

• Meals and beverages not identified as included.

• Personal shopping and expenses.

• Optional activities outside the itinerary.

• Additional accommodation or transportation arranged independently.

Travellers are responsible for understanding what is included in their selected trip before booking.

5. Assumption of Risk & Limitation of Liability

International travel involves inherent risks, including circumstances that may be unpredictable or beyond the reasonable control of Travel with Karuna. By choosing to participate in a Travel with Karuna journey, travellers acknowledge that these risks may include, but are not limited to:

• Illness, infectious diseases, foodborne illness, or allergic reactions.

• Personal injury, disability, medical emergencies, or death.

• Road accidents, transportation incidents, or mechanical failures.

• Delays, cancellations, or disruptions involving flights, trains, buses, boats, or other transportation.

• Natural disasters, extreme weather, and environmental hazards.

• Theft, loss of personal belongings, or criminal activity.

• Political unrest, civil disturbances, or changes in local conditions.

• Incidents involving independent transportation providers, accommodation operators, activity organizers, or other third parties.

Travellers voluntarily accept the inherent risks associated with international travel and acknowledge their responsibility to make informed decisions about their participation. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Travel with Karuna, its owners, guides, representatives, and affiliates disclaim liability for losses, injuries, illnesses, deaths, damages, or expenses resulting from inherent travel risks, independent third-party actions, or circumstances outside their reasonable control. Nothing in these Terms & Conditions excludes or limits liability that cannot legally be excluded or limited. Participation in a Travel with Karuna journey does not guarantee freedom from injury, illness, loss, or other unexpected events. Travellers are expected to exercise reasonable care, follow safety instructions, and make decisions appropriate to their own circumstances.

6. Flights, Vaccinations, Visas & Independent Travel Expenses

Travellers are solely responsible for arranging and paying for international flights, passports, visas, vaccinations, travel insurance, and other expenses not expressly included in their tour package. Travel with Karuna does not control the pricing, availability, cancellation policies, or service delivery of independently booked airlines, medical providers, visa agencies, insurance companies, or other external services. Travel with Karuna does not reimburse independently purchased flights, vaccinations, visas, insurance, or other personal expenses if a traveller cancels, misses, or cannot participate in a trip, except where required by applicable law or expressly agreed in writing. This includes circumstances involving personal illness, family emergencies, denied entry, missed flights, or other unforeseen situations. Travellers are encouraged to purchase flexible or refundable international flights and appropriate travel insurance.
 

7. Travel Documents & Entry Requirements

Travellers are responsible for ensuring that they possess valid travel documents and meet all applicable entry requirements for India. This includes:

• Maintaining a valid passport.

• Obtaining the appropriate Indian visa or entry authorization.

• Confirming entry and transit requirements.

• Meeting applicable health and vaccination requirements.

• Ensuring personal documentation is accurate and up to date.

Travel with Karuna may provide general guidance regarding travel preparation but does not guarantee visa approval, entry into India, or acceptance of travel documentation by immigration authorities. Any costs arising from missing, expired, incorrect, or insufficient documentation are the responsibility of the traveller, except where applicable law provides otherwise.

8. Medical Emergencies, Health & Personal Responsibility

Travellers are responsible for assessing their physical and mental readiness to participate in international travel and the activities included in their journey. We ask travellers to communicate relevant medical conditions, allergies, accessibility needs, dietary restrictions, or other considerations that may affect their safety or participation. In the event of illness, injury, or a medical emergency, Travel with Karuna will make reasonable efforts to assist travellers in accessing available local medical services. However, Travel with Karuna does not provide medical care and cannot guarantee the availability, quality, accessibility, or outcome of medical treatment. Travellers are responsible for their medical expenses, hospital fees, medications, emergency transportation, medical evacuation, and related costs, except where responsibility is imposed on Travel with Karuna by applicable law. Travel with Karuna is not responsible for medical outcomes or complications arising from circumstances outside its reasonable control.

9. Travel Insurance

We strongly recommend that every traveller obtain comprehensive travel insurance before departure. Coverage should include:

• Emergency medical treatment and hospitalization.

• Emergency medical evacuation and repatriation.

• Trip cancellation and interruption.

• Lost, stolen, or delayed baggage.

• Flight cancellations and transportation disruptions.

• Personal liability where available.

Travellers are responsible for understanding the coverage, exclusions, and limitations of their chosen insurance policy. Travel with Karuna is not an insurance provider and does not guarantee that an insurer will approve any claim.

10. Itinerary Changes & Unforeseen Circumstances

Travelling through India can be beautifully unpredictable. Weather, transportation schedules, local festivals, political conditions, and unexpected circumstances may require flexibility. Travel with Karuna may make reasonable adjustments to transportation, accommodations, activities, or the order of destinations when necessary for safety or logistical reasons. We will make reasonable efforts to provide comparable alternatives and communicate significant changes as soon as possible. Events outside our reasonable control may include natural disasters, government restrictions, transportation disruptions, public health emergencies, strikes, or civil unrest. Refunds, credits, or alternative arrangements arising from material itinerary changes or trip cancellations will be determined in accordance with the booking agreement and applicable laws.

11. Trip Interruptions & Early Departures

If a traveller chooses or is required to leave a journey early due to illness, injury, personal circumstances, family emergencies, or other reasons, unused portions of the trip are not automatically refundable. Any applicable refund will depend on the booking agreement, the circumstances of departure, and relevant legal requirements. Additional expenses associated with early departure, including transportation, accommodation, flight changes, or medical arrangements, are the traveller's responsibility unless otherwise required by law. Travel with Karuna will make reasonable efforts to provide guidance and assistance when possible but cannot guarantee alternative travel arrangements or reimbursement of associated expenses.

12. Respectful & Conscious Travel

Travel with Karuna is built on the belief that travel should be rooted in reciprocity, not extraction. We are guests in the communities and cultures we visit, and we ask all travellers to approach their journey with curiosity, humility, openness, and respect.

This includes:

• Respecting local customs, traditions, religions, and sacred spaces.

• Asking permission before photographing individuals.

• Treating fellow travellers, guides, and local community members with dignity.

• Respecting personal boundaries, privacy, and consent.

• Being mindful of environmental and community impacts.

• Following local laws and reasonable safety instructions.

Harassment, discrimination, threatening behaviour, violence, or actions that place others at serious risk will not be tolerated. Travel with Karuna may take reasonable and proportionate steps to address unsafe or harmful conduct, including ending a traveller's participation where justified and legally permitted. Any resulting financial obligations or refund entitlements will be determined in accordance with the booking agreement and applicable law.

13. Photography & Media

During our journeys, photographs and videos may be taken to document shared experiences. Travel with Karuna respects the privacy and autonomy of all travellers and will seek appropriate consent before using identifiable images for promotional purposes. Travellers may decline promotional photography and are encouraged to communicate their preferences. We also ask travellers to respect the privacy and consent of fellow travellers and local community members when taking or sharing photographs.

14. Privacy & Personal Information

Travel with Karuna collects personal information necessary to coordinate bookings, transportation, accommodations, and traveller support.

This may include names, contact information, passport details, dates of birth, emergency contacts, and relevant health or dietary information.

Personal information is handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy and applicable privacy legislation. We do not sell personal information to third parties.

15. Website Content & Intellectual Property

Unless otherwise indicated, written content, photographs, branding, itineraries, and other original materials published on the Travel with Karuna website belong to Travel with Karuna or their respective rights holders. Unauthorized commercial reproduction or distribution of our original materials is prohibited, except where permitted by law.

16. Questions, Concerns & Dispute Resolution

We believe in open communication, transparency, and addressing concerns with care and fairness. If a concern arises before, during, or after a journey, travellers are encouraged to contact Travel with Karuna directly so we can work toward an appropriate resolution. Nothing in these Terms & Conditions restricts a traveller's rights or remedies under applicable consumer protection or other laws.

17. Changes to These Terms & Conditions

Travel with Karuna may update these Terms & Conditions as our services and travel offerings evolve. Updated terms will be posted on our website with a revised date. Changes to confirmed bookings will be governed by the terms agreed to at booking and applicable law.

18. Acknowledgment & Agreement

By booking a Travel with Karuna journey, travellers acknowledge that they have been provided with these Terms & Conditions and agree to the applicable booking conditions. Travellers acknowledge that international travel involves inherent risks, that certain expenses are their personal responsibility, and that itinerary changes or unforeseen circumstances may occur. A separate acknowledgment of risk and liability waiver may also be provided for review and signature as part of the booking process.
 

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