PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION CAREFULLY, INCLUDING  THE RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT AND OPERATOR-PARTICIPANT CONTRACT AND TERMS AND CONDITIONS.

TRIP-SPECIFIC TERMS PASSPORT & VISA ENTRY PAGES

  • You must be in possession of a passport valid for at least 6 months after the return date of travel. Visas are required for entry into the UAE and will be obtained upon arrival in Dubai. Visas are not required for American passport holders for entry into South Africa. Non-U.S. citizens should check with the respective consulates as to the most current visa requirements to all their travel destinations.
  • All visitors are required by the South African immigration authorities to have a minimum of two consecutive blank visa entry pages in their passport. Insufficient pages in the passport normally results in denied boarding or denial of entry upon arrival and the person is likely to be detained pending return to their country of origin. Please remember that it is your responsibility to obtain the necessary travel documents before the trip.

High Steppers Dance Troupe, LLC,  will provide Trips as outlined on its website, social media sites and marketing materials. High Steppers may hire qualified professional tour operators to organize and administer such trips. Any such designated tour operator, its parent, subsidiaries, and assigns, and their respective employees, affiliates, officers, directors, successors, representatives, agents and assigns (collectively “Tour Operator”), in turn, acts only as an agent for any transportation carrier, hotel, ground operator, or other suppliers of services connected with specific trips (“Other Providers”), and the Other Providers are solely responsible and liable for providing their respective services. The passenger tickets in use by the carriers will constitute the sole contract between the carriers and the participant; the carriers are not responsible for any act, omission, or event during the time the participants are not aboard their conveyances.

High Steppers Dance Troupe, LLC, its employees, officers, directors, successors, representatives, and agents (collectively the “Released Parties”) and the Tour Operator will not be held liable for (A) any damage to, or loss of, property or injury to, or death of, persons occasioned directly or indirectly by an act or omission of any Other Provider, including but not limited to any defect in any aircraft, watercraft, or vehicle operated or provided by such Other Provider; and (B) any loss or damage due to delay, cancellation, or disruption in any manner caused by the laws, regulations, acts or failures to act, demands, orders, or interpositions of any government or any subdivision or agent thereof, or by acts of God, strikes, fire, flood, war, rebellion, terrorism, insurrection, sickness, quarantine, epidemics, theft, or any other cause(s) beyond their control. The participant waives any claim against the Released Parties and/or the Tour Operator for any such loss, damage, injury, or death.

By registering for a trip, the participant certifies that he/she does not have any mental, physical, or other condition or disability that would create a hazard for himself or herself or other participants. High Steppers and the Tour Operators reserve the right in their sole discretion to accept, decline to accept, or remove any participant on a trip. High Steppers and the Tour Operators reserve the right, without penalty, to make changes in the published itinerary whenever, in their judgment, conditions warrant or if they deem it necessary for the comfort, convenience, or safety of the participants.

Neither the Released Parties, nor the Tour Operators, will be liable for any air carrier’s cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a nonrefundable ticket to or from the participant’s Trip departure city. Baggage and personal effects are at all times the sole responsibility of the participant.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Please Note: The applicable Terms and Conditions, including, but not limited to, cost, deposit, payments, cancellations, and refunds, may vary from those listed below based upon the specific Trip selected by the participant. A copy of the final Terms and Conditions applicable to each participant will be sent in pre-Trip communications. If a court of competent jurisdiction holds that any provision is invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity will not affect the validity or operation of any other provision and such invalid provision will be deemed to be severed from this Agreement.

Basis of Costs: All costs are (i) per person based on two persons sharing a room or cabin, unless otherwise noted, (ii) quoted in U.S. dollars, (iii) estimates based on tariffs, currency values, airfares and third-party charges, and (iv) subject to change prior to booking. Notification of the current cost relevant to the Trip will be provided to the participant at the time of booking. After booking, if it is necessary to levy an additional surcharge, or increase pricing due to any participant cancellation(s) for Trips, High Steppers reserves the right to do so, and notification will be given at the time of final invoicing.

Eligibility: All persons under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian over age 21 in the same room

Included in Trip Cost: Accommodations and meals as indicated in the itinerary (B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner); educational materials; pre-departure information; entrance fees, excursions, and sightseeing noted as included in the itinerary; certain gratuities, only to the extent noted on the itinerary page; ground transportation during the Trip; services of High Steppers experts, local guides, lecturers, Trip leaders, and any other staff; and taxes, port charges, baggage handling, and service charges. Please note: the “B, L, D” notations apply to the period during the Trip only and do not include any meals on flights to/from the Trip.

Not Included in Trip Cost: Air transportation, internal airfare, visa, and related fees (except as indicated in the itinerary); activities noted as optional in the itinerary; gratuities, unless otherwise noted on the itinerary; passport, and permit expenses; medical expenses and immunizations; baggage/accident/cancellation insurance; personal expenses, such as laundry, telephone calls, and alcoholic beverages; and any other items not specifically noted as included.

Single/Shared Accommodations: A a limited number of single rooms/cabins are available at an extra cost on a first-come, first-served basis. High Steppers and/or the Tour Operator will assist persons requesting a roommate. The participants will be notified if a suitable roommate is not available, in which case the single rate will be charged.

Payments, Cancellations, and Refunds:

By depositing for this trip, you acknowledge that you have read the terms and conditions set forth in this document and that you understand and accept said terms and conditions.

Reservations are confirmed upon receipt of $500 per person deposit by U.S. dollars check, money order, online bank transfer (Zelle) or credit card (subject to a 3% surcharge)

DEPOSIT IS DUE 9 Months Prior to Travel

PAYMENT SCHEDULE:

After the deposit has been received, outstanding balance will be invoiced in 3 installments as below:

1/3 of original balance is due 7 months prior to travel

1/3 of original balance is due 5 months prior to travel

Final payment (1/3 of original balance) is 3 months prior to travel

Failure to make final payment on time may result in automatic cancellation of reservation and loss of deposit.

In the unfortunate event that you must cancel your reservation, the following cancellation charges would apply:

Cancellation charges per person are:

Up to 90 days before departure: $500

89-60 days before departure: $1000

59-45 days before departure: $1500

44-30 days before departure: $2000

29 days or fewer before departure: No refund.

All cancellations must be received in writing.

We recommend the purchase of Travel Insurance. Insurance premium is non-refundable and cannot be transferred from one departure to another in the event of a reservation change. Please see attached insurance document for more information.

The policies regarding deposits, payments, and cancellations for all Trips also applies to pre- and post-Trip extensions and extra arrangements confirmed on any participant’s behalf, unless otherwise noted. Any revisions made within the Cancellation Period, such as a change in departure date or choice of Trip, are subject to this cancellation policy. Any airline tickets issued are subject to the carrier’s refund policy. Arriving late or leaving a Trip in progress, for any reason whatsoever, will not result in a refund, and no refunds will be made for any unused portions of a Trip. High Steppers reserves the right to cancel any Trip because of inadequate enrollment that makes the Trip economically infeasible to operate or because of good-faith concerns with respect to the safety, health, or welfare of the participants. If a Trip is canceled prior to departure, the Tour Operator will provide the participants with a full refund of monies paid to the Tour Operator; except in the event that the cancellation is due to a significant event that makes it infeasible to operate the Trip as planned, in which case the Tour Operator will provide the participants with a refund and/or credit toward a future Trip equivalent to the amount paid to the Tour Operator.

If High Steppers or the Tour Operator cancels the Trip in progress, the participants will receive a prorated refund based on the number of days not completed on the Trip. If a participant elects to leave a Trip in progress of their own volition, the participant will not receive any type of refund. If High Steppers or the Tour Operator cancels the Trip in progress and the participant elects not to immediately return to his/her original point of departure for the Trip, or if the participant elects to leave a Trip in progress of their own volition, the participant acknowledges and agrees that (i) the participant shall be solely responsible for his/her travel plans once he/she departs the Trip, (ii) neither High Steppers nor the Tour Operator shall have any responsibility for or control over the participant’s safety or activities once he/she departs the Trip, and (iii) the participant releases and holds harmless the Released Parties and the Tour Operator, from any and all costs, liability, loss, damage, injury, or death that may arise out of the participant’s decision to not return to his/her original point of departure from the cancelled Trip in progress. Except as outlined above when High Steppers cancels a Trip, the Released Parties and the Tour Operator have no responsibility for any expenses, including any non-refundable expenses, incurred by the participants in preparing for a cancelled Trip or for any additional arrangements should the participants embark prior to the scheduled group departure date.

Optional Excursions: If a participant elects to participate in any additional activity or excursion that is not arranged or led by High Steppers or the Tour Operator, neither the Released Parties nor the Tour Operator shall have any responsibility for or control over the participant’s safety or well-being, and the participant releases and holds harmless the Released Parties and the Tour Operator from any and all costs, liability, loss, damage, injury, or death arising from the participant’s decision to participate in such activity or excursion.

Trip-cancellation insurance is available at an additional cost and is strongly recommended. For more information about and to enroll in an option available through Travel Insurance Services, visit the “Travel Insurance” section of our website at natgeoTrips.com.

Itinerary Changes: The itineraries, accommodations, and staff presented in the Trip documentation or on the website are subject to modification and change by High Steppers or the Tour Operator. Every reasonable effort will be made to operate Trips as planned, but alterations may still occur after final itineraries are sent.

Documentation: Participants are responsible for obtaining any documents required for their participation in the Trip such as a valid passport, all visas, vaccination certificates, and any other documents. Failure to obtain documents does not negate the terms and conditions, and any extra costs incurred for rerouting due to travel without the necessary documents will be the participant’s responsibility.

Health Requirements: High Steppers reasonably accommodates travelers with disabilities on all of its trips, but not all trips may be suitable for all travelers. Any physical condition, diet, or treatment requiring special attention must be reported in writing when the reservation is made, or as soon as reasonably possible thereafter. Walking and climbing stairs are required in many hotels and airports to board an aircraft and for many excursions. If the participant requires a slower pace, extra assistance, or the use of a cane or walking stick, arrangements may be made for private touring at each destination, if necessary, at the discretion of our Trip staff. Depending upon the nature of the arrangements, extra costs for such arrangements may be the responsibility of the participant. If the participant would like to forgo some of the scheduled sightseeing to rejuvenate and relax, he/she may feel free to do so at any time. Please call High Steppers for further details if you require special accommodation to participate on this Trip. High Steppers encourages participants to consult a doctor for specific medical advice about any activities or destinations.

Medical Authorization and Coverage: In the event the participant becomes sufficiently incapacitated as to be unable to direct his or her own care, there is no one on the Trip who can direct participant’s care, and High Steppers is unable or does not have time to contact participant’s emergency contact, the participant, by registering and paying a deposit for a Trip, authorizes any medical treatment deemed necessary in the event of any injury or illness while participating in the activity including, but not limited to, X-ray, examination, anesthetic, medical or surgical diagnosis, or treatment and hospital care which is deemed advisable by, and is to be rendered under the general or specific supervision of, any physician and/or surgeon licensed in the United States, or, if in a foreign country and no physician licensed to practice in the United States is reasonably available, by a duly licensed physician deemed competent to render the necessary care. In addition, the participant certifies that they have medical insurance which will cover personal accidents, medical expenses, medical evacuation, air ambulance, loss of effects, repatriation costs and all other expenses which might arise as a result of loss, damage, injury, delay or inconvenience occurring to the participant, or that in the absence of this medical insurance coverage, the participant agrees to pay all costs of rescue and/or medical services as may be incurred on the participant’s behalf.

Photography: High Steppers, the Tour Operator, and the Trip leader reserve the right to take photographs or videos during the operation of any Trip or part thereof and to use the resulting photography, videos, or recordings for promotional or commercial use. By making a reservation on a Trip, the participant agrees to allow his/her likeness to be used by the Released Parties, the Released Parties-authorized third parties, and the Tour Operator without compensation to the participant. If the participant prefers that his/her likeness not be used, he/she must notify High Steppers and/or the Tour Operator in writing prior to departure of the Trip.

Copyright in all photographs, video, and related materials created by the participant (“Trip Materials”) will belong to the participant upon creation. The participant grants to the Released Parties a non-exclusive, worldwide, irrevocable license to use any Trip Materials provided to the Released Parties and/or the Tour Operator in any media for the following limited purposes: editorial use, promotion of this editorial use, promotion of the Released Parties’ travel programs, or promotion of the mission of the Released Parties.

Assumption of Risk: By registering for a Trip, the participant acknowledges that he/she is aware that travel such as the Trip he/she is undertaking involves potentially dangerous activities, with a risk of illness (including infectious diseases), injury or death which may be caused by forces of nature, illness, or by willful or criminal conduct of third parties or by terrorism. The participant further acknowledges that weather conditions may be severe, adverse and/or unpleasant and that medical services or facilities may not be readily available or accessible or consistent with standards in the United States during some or all of the time during which he/she is participating on the Trip and that when available may not be of the quality which exists in the United States.

Venue and Waiver of Class Action: Any legal action relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any claims shall be commenced exclusively in the Circuit Court in and for Harris County, Texas (or if the Circuit Court does not have jurisdiction, then before the United States District Court for the Souther District of Texas (Houston Division)); or if neither of such courts shall have jurisdiction, then before any other court sitting in Harris County, Florida having subject matter jurisdiction. THE PARTICIPANT AND RELEASED PARTIES AGREE THAT EACH MAY BRING CLAIMS AGAINST THE OTHER ONLY IN THE PARTICIPANT’S OR ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY AND NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY PURPORTED CLASS, REPRESENTATIVE OR MULTI-CLAIMANT PROCEEDING, OR OTHER COLLECTIVE ACTION (SUCH AS AN ACTION IN THE FORM OF A PRIVATE ATTORNEY GENERAL). EACH PARTY SPECIFICALLY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.

Governing Law: This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Texas.

CST 2074630-40