Terms & Conditions

General Terms and Conditions

Please note the following terms and conditions. They define the contractual relationship between the client and Giger Tours LLC (Giger Tours) and are an integrated part of the individual contract between the client and Giger Tours.

1. Conclusion of contract

The contract between the client and Giger Tours is concluded with the acceptance and confirmation of a client’s booking through Giger Tours. Bookings can be made in written or electronic form, by phone or in person.

2. Conditions of payment and tour price

A deposit of 50% of the tour price has to be paid upon the booking confirmation. The payment of the balance has to be made no later than 30 days before the tour date. If the booking is made shorter than 30 days before the tour date, the full amount is due to pay immediately (before the tour’s departure at the latest). Payments paid on-site have to be in cash and in Swiss Francs.

The total price for a day- or halfday-tour (no overnight stay) is made up of

the basic tour rate: if not stated otherwise, this includes the tour organisation and an English speaking tour guide on the tour day
the transportation costs: tickets for means of transport as indicated in the tour description (2. class, if not indicated otherwise)
the included costs for services or activities carried out by involved suppliers, as indicated in the tour description (e.g. entrance fees, equipment rental, Swiss Tavolata meals etc.).

3. Booking cancellations policies

A booked tour has to be cancelled in written or electronic form. Cancellation fees will apply as follows (based on the date of the arrival of the notification):

Up to 30 days prior to tour date: 10% of the tour rate (CHF 80.00 administration fee minimum)
From 30 days prior to tour date: 30% of the tour rate
From 10 days prior to tour date: 50% of the tour rate
From 2 days prior to tour date: 100% of the tour rate

If not expressly indicated otherwise by the client or Giger Tours, the transportation costs are part of the tour price and Giger Tours will purchase the necessary tickets (train, bus, boat, cable cars etc.) ahead of time. Regular tickets will generally be purchased not earlier than 10 days prior to the tour date, special tickets and seat reservations may be bought earlier if necessary. Transport tickets that are not yet purchased by the time of receipt of the cancellation notice, will not be charged on the cancellation fee. Expenses for transportation tickets and other necessary early bookings with involved suppliers (e.g. rental of any equipment or gear), which already have been spent and which are non-refundable, will be fully charged to the client. Special cancellation policies may occur, e.g. for hotel or Swiss Tavolata bookings. They will be specified in the individual contract between the client and Giger Tours. In case the client’s prepayment exceeds the cancellation fee due to pay, Giger Tours will refund the balance within 10 days.

4. Tour program and price changes

4.1 Before conclusion of contract

The published or individually offered tour descriptions, tour times, services and prices can be changed or cancelled by Giger Tours at anytime.

4.2. After conclusion of contract, before the start of the tour

Giger Tours has the right to increase prices for special reasons (i.e. increased transportation costs or new states taxes).

Giger Tours has the right to alter the tour program or substitute services and activities (i.e. times, durations, routes, suppliers, means of transport, accommodation) if unforeseen circumstances occur. Giger Tours will seek to offer an equivalent alternative and to inform the client as soon as possible about the changes and the effects on the tour prices they may have. Additional costs will be charged to the client, reduced costs will be refunded.

If the increase in the tour price is higher than 10% or if there is a substantial change in contract the client has the right to withdraw from the contract within 5 days after having been given notice. The already paid tour price will be refunded. Further compensation claims are excluded.

5. Tour cancellation or discontinuation

If Giger Tours, due to unforeseen circumstances, has to cancel a tour before the start of the tour, the client will be informed as soon as possible. If it is not possible to offer an equivalent alternative, the full tour price will be refunded. If Giger Tours, due to unforeseen circumstances, has to cancel a tour that has already started, not received services or reduced costs will be refunded. Additional costs will be charged to the client. Costs and expenses that already incurred can be deducted from the amount of refund. Further compensation claims are excluded.

Giger Tours is not liable for tour cancellations or discontinuations due to circumstances of force major (i.e. meteorological hazard, natural catastrophes, strikes, late openings of hotels etc.)

If the client discontinues or leaves the tour or a single activity before it is over, there is no refund and all other costs additionally incurred are the responsibility of the client.

6. Insurances

No insurances are included in the tour-price. It is the client’s own responsibility to have a personal insurance cover (liability-, health-, accident-, cancellation-insurances, etc.), which is adequate and suitable for his/her particular needs.

7. Liability / Disclaimer of liability

The client is aware of and accepts the risks of outdoor activities involved with the booked tour. It is the client’s responsibility to fulfil the requirements as indicated in the tour description or instructed by the tour guide (physical fitness, equipment etc.). Giger Tours or the tour-guide have to be informed of any relevant health issues. As far as permitted by law, the liability of Giger Tours is limited to double the amount of the tour-price and covers only the direct damages.

Giger Tours is not liable for an inadequate or non-fulfilment of the contract due to

force majeure, weather conditions or any other circumstances which were not foreseeable or avoidable for Giger Tours or the involved suppliers
the negligence, misconduct or failures by the client (i.e. not fulfilling the tour requirements, not following rules and instructions of tour guide or involved suppliers)
unforeseeable or unavoidable failures by third parties

Giger Tours is not liable for an inadequate or non-fulfilment of the contract caused by involved suppliers (i.e. mountain transportation companies, restaurants), even though their services and costs are included in the tour-price. These suppliers are directly liable to the client within the given legal regulation.

Giger Tours rejects any liability for loss, theft, damage or misuse of personal effects and valuables (cash, credit cards, jewellery, cameras, mobile phones etc.). Giger Tours is not liable for delays of means of transport and failures to comply the timetables.

8. Privacy

Giger Tours keeps the client’s personal data confidential and will not pass them to anybody else, except of necessary information directly related to the tour.

Taken pictures or videos, on which the client can be recognised, will only be used and published with the explicit verbal, written or electronic client’s approval (i.e. company’s website, facebook, print material).

9. Applicable law and place of jurisdiction

On the legal relationship between the client and Giger Tours Swiss law shall be exclusively applicable. The place of jurisdiction is Rapperswil-Jona/SG (Switzerland). In case of differences between the English and German versions of these terms and conditions the German version (AGB) shall be conclusive.

Giger Tours LLC, Rapperswil-Jona, July 2023