Terms and Conditions

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Terms and Conditions

Due to changes in French law, all of our clients who reside outside France are to pay in pounds sterling to our UK account, unless previously arranged with  us.

To make a booking you must confirm, via email, your dates of arrival and departure. If you have any further instructions you want us to follow, please ask us to send you a booking form via email which you can fill in and send back to us no later than 2 weeks before your arrival. You must pay a deposit of 50% of your total amount due to secure the booking on your confirmation email.

Payment will be taken in pounds sterling unless previously agreed in another currency. If paying in another currency, this price will be fixed at the time of booking but may change when the final payment is made due to exchange rates.

We will then invoice you for the remainder of the cost, which will be debited from your card or must be transferred to our account not later than 8 weeks before departure.

If you book less than 8 weeks before departure, full payment must be made on booking.

When your booking is accepted, a contract exists from the date shown on the booking confirmation (with the first day being the arrival date, and the last day being the departure date). This is issued by email as an attachment from the Company in accordance with the terms and conditions below.

Notification of cancellation must be made to the Company in writing no refunds will be given if the holiday is cancelled or not taken. The 50% deposit will not be refunded if the holiday is cancelled 100% if less than 8 weeks before your arrival, however we will try to ensure that your holiday can be taken at another time and your deposit transferred, if we have the availability. If the high season price differs, this difference must be paid to validate your booking with us.

Contract is subject to the laws of France also England and Wales, these laws will apply in all legal Jurisdiction.

Our Holiday Contract/Agreement

A contract will exist between us when we have taken your booking and required payment.

You will then receive a confirmation detailing exactly what you have booked. If you think anything is incorrect please contact us straight away via email.

All correspondence will be with the person named on the confirmation invoice who accepts the following conditions on behalf of all participants.

The contract between us is governed by contract is subject to the laws of England and Wales and any dispute will be dealt with under the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of this country.

Your final payment

The balance of your payment should be made not later than 8 weeks before your holiday. If payment by transfer or credit card has not been received by the due date, we reserve the right to cancel your booking and make a cancellation charge of 50% of total price of your holiday.

Full payment must accompany bookings made within 8 weeks of departure; unless the booking is made with 8 weeks before departure, then the full amount is required.

For your protection, any payments made to Les Sorbiers (our company name) will be held in a secure account and remain untouched until the end of your holiday.

Changing or cancelling your booking

If, after you have confirmed your booking, you wish to make any alterations, please contact Les Sorbiers in the first instance by email, and confirm in writing immediately thereafter.

If an amendment is requested less than 8 weeks prior to the starting date of the holiday, we reserve the right to cancel your holiday with no refunds given.

If requested, we will try our hardest to change the dates of your holiday without charging a cancellation fee or any extra amount.

If we incur any extra costs due to you changing or cancelling your holiday then you will lose all deposits and you will be charged the full amount if your cancellation is less than 8 weeks before your arrival date.

If you find that you cannot take your holiday and have to cancel, for whatever reason, your deposit will be forfeited to cover our costs, or full amount if less than 8 weeks before the start date of your holiday. If we receive your written cancellation within 8 weeks of your holiday commencement date, cancellation charges will be made which is the loss of total amount, unless by mutual agreement able to transfer your holiday to a later date the difference in price of the holiday in high season paid for in full before the holiday is taken.

Changes by Les Sorbiers

If we are forced to make changes, Les Sorbiers will do its utmost to provide all of the confirmed arrangements but reserves the right to alter or cancel any activities or other arrangements if operational, weather or other considerations so dictate.

If we have to make a major change to your holiday we will offer a suitable alternative if available, unless the change is due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control (including, but not limited to; war, riot, civil commotion, act of God (including natural disasters), industrial dispute, government action, epidemic, disease, adverse weather or natural disaster).

The date of effective cancellation is calculated on the day of receipt of written confirmation of cancellation.

Our responsibility

Les Sorbiers accepts responsibility for those elements of your holiday that are under our direct control and for the acts and/or omissions of our employees, agents, sub-contractors and suppliers. Save as set out below, no liability is accepted for personal illness, injury or death.

We do not accept responsibility for any personal illness, injury or death which results from the negligent (as the word is understood in the laws of France if your payment is taken there or England and Wales these laws will apply in all legal Jurisdiction acts or omissions of any servant or agent, or any supplier, working on our behalf in the provision of services or facilities to you and whilst acting within the scope of their employment.

We cannot be held responsible for the loss of enjoyment or additional expenses due to travel arrangements or any other services not provided or organised by Les Sorbiers.

We cannot be held responsible for the loss of enjoyment or additional expenses due to delays or changes in any travel arrangements or other services which are caused by circumstances amounting to force majeure (such as, but not limited to; war, riot, civil commotion, act of God, government action, epidemic, disease, natural disaster, industrial dispute or adverse weather conditions and natural disasters).

We can only be liable for the provision of special requests where we have an email from our customers and detailed in the booking form, we will then confirm their availability in writing via email.

Our property is classed as a public place therefore comes under the ruling as a place of no smoking under French law (Décret n° 2006-1386 du 15 novembre 2006 fixant les conditions d’application de l’interdiction de fumer dans les lieux affectés à un usage collectif). Anybody caught is liable to fined under French law. Should you or any member of your party have the misfortune to suffer illness, injury or death during the period of your holiday, arising from an activity which is not part of the arrangements made by us, we shall, where appropriate and subject to our reasonable discretion, give you and your family every help that we can by way of initial assistance. We shall not be liable for any loss of profits, damage to goodwill or any type of special, indirect or consequential loss even if such loss was reasonably foreseeable or we have been advised of the possibility of you incurring the same.

Your responsibility

It is the responsibility of the person making the booking to fully advise Les Sorbiers of any disabilities, social or behavioural problems that a member of the party currently has, or has experienced, which might affect them or other guests during the holiday. We will be pleased to advise you whether we have the staff and facilities to provide an appropriate holiday in these circumstances, with particular reference to such considerations as access, successful participation, and health and safety.

The person making the booking also accepts responsibility for advising Les Sorbiers of dietary requirements and swimming ability of all members of the party. The person making the booking also accepts responsibility for communicating all Les Sorbiers information and advice to members of the party.

We reserve the right to exclude any person after holiday commencement if his/her behaviour is incompatible with the general enjoyment and well-being of others. The person making the booking accepts responsibility for any repatriation costs incurred together with any additional costs incurred at centre.

Personal property

Your personal property, including baggage, is your own responsibility at all times, unless any loss or damage is due to our negligence or failure to carry out our responsibility. Please note that an adventurous holiday is not the place to bring expensive watches, jewellery or other precious items, which may not be covered by your insurance. Insurance and European Health Insurance Card. It is essential that everyone booking and participating on a Les Sorbiers holiday has appropriate holiday insurance. You will not be allowed to participate in any activities without providing proof of this insurance. We recommend that this insurance should include full accidental medical cover and repatriation to your country of residence. Please ensure that the activities you will be participating in are covered by your policy. Experience has shown that standard policies may not cover all our activities, e.g. climbing and rafting. Please ensure you have adequate insurance to cover medical expenses, cancellation etc.

We strongly recommend that you have a European Health Insurance Card. You can get these from www.ehic.org.uk, which enables most medical costs to be refunded through the social security system.

Data Protection

The personal information requested at the time of booking and on subsequent pro formas is held on computer and required to allow our employees, agents, sub-contractors and suppliers to provide the promised holiday to our normal high standards. By providing us with the information required for booking you are deemed to accept the above and to have gained consent from all members of your party to disclose their details to us. At the time of booking or requesting holiday information you will be asked if you wish to receive future mailings from Les Sorbiers. We will not pass your information on to any other party. If you do not wish to receive these mailings, please advise us at the time. If you wish to confirm or change your status, please contact Les Sorbiers. Any complaints If there is any problem with the holiday, we want to hear about this as soon as possible. Any concerns should be brought to the attention of the company immediately and we will do our utmost to put things right for you. Please note that we are not responsible for any issue that you were aware of, but did not bring to our attention, during your holiday. Any reported issue that has not been resolved to your satisfaction during your holiday should be advised in writing to Les Sorbiers within 7 days of the end of your holiday.

This agreement releases SARL LES SORBIERS & LES SORBIERS LTD from all liability relating to injuries or death that may occur your cycling, walking or skiing activity on location in France. By signing this agreement, I agree to hold Les Sorbiers and pyreneescycling.com pyreneeswalking.com pyrenees-skiing.com entirely free from any liability, including financial responsibility for injuries incurred or death, regardless of whether injuries or death are caused by negligence.

I also acknowledge the risks involved in these adventurous activities stated above. These include but are not limited to all risks below relating to the activities previously listed. I swear that I am participating voluntarily, and that all risks have been made clear to me. Additionally, I do not have any or may come across conditions that will increase my likelihood of experiencing injuries while engaging in these activities.

  1. Wet weather conditions posing a safety risk to ride participants.
  2. High or gusting winds.
  3. Excessive heat leads to heat stress and heat illness.
  4. Excessive cold leads to hypothermia.
  5. Poor visibility creating a safety risk for guests and personnel (e.g. fog, poor light)
  6. Extreme weather creating a safety risk.
  7. Have a serious health problem (e.g. heart attack, stroke, asthma attack)
  8. Support vehicles conflicting with guests resulting in injury or death.
  9. Guests injuring themselves by falling off their bicycles or crashing into each other causing injury or death.
  10. Guest crashing as a result of hazards or obstacles on the route.
  11. Guest crashing as a result of equipment failure e.g. puncture; breakages to spokes, chain, stem, handlebars etc.
  12. Skill, age or fitness level of participants too low for the route or conditions causing participant to be a risk to themselves or others.
  13. Guest not complying with instructions of leaders resulting in accident, injury, damage to reputation, financial and/or legal implications.
  14. Unexpected adverse traffic conditions (which may vary during the event) pose a safety risk to guests.
  15. Delayed or inappropriate response to medical emergency results in serious injury/death.
  16. Cyclists conflicting with dogs or other animals causing injury or distress.
  17. Guest becomes dehydrated or do not have enough nutrition.
  18. Appropriate helmet for the listed activities.
  19. Clothing is appropriate to the activity and weather conditions.
  20. I agree to my fitness to take part in this cycling/walking/skiing event and that my equipment is in a safe, legal and rideable/useable condition.

By signing below, I forfeit all right to bring a Law suit against SARL LES SORBIERS LES SORBIERS LTD pyreneescycling.com pyrenees-skiing.com or pyreneeswalking.com or any associated companies for any reason. In return, I will participate in the activities listed above. I will also make every effort to obey safety precautions as listed in writing and as explained to me verbally. I will ask for clarification when needed.

Acknowledgement on receipt of booking confirmation.

I fully understand and agree to the above terms.