Terms & Conditions

Please note: Instead of operating bicycle tours ourselves, BikeTours.com represents local bicycle tour operators around the world. Review the tour operator's information and terms below, then submit your booking request through BikeTours.com. The primary benefits of booking your tour through BikeTours.com include:

• Lower cost: You pay local tour company prices—less than what big American companies charge
• Variety: Choose from more than 200 tours offered by local operators in 35 countries.
• Advice: Our informed advisors help you choose the trip that's right for you.
• Great exchange rates: Pay low rates thanks to the millions of dollars in foreign currency we buy each year. Or pay in euros!
• Convenience: We handle the full booking and payment process.
• Support: We’re your advocates from initial planning through final pedal stroke.

Contact us with any questions about booking and paying for your tour through BikeTours.com. We look forward to serving you!

---

PORTUGAL NATURE TRAILS TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Cancellation terms:
If a customer wishes to withdraw its activity must do so in writing or by e-mail and will have to bear the costs of dropping out according to the following scale:

• 90 to 30 days before tour start 50% of the total
• Less than 30 days tour start or no show – 100% of total
• In addition, a fee for administrative costs of 5% of the program or a fixed minimum of €100 will apply

THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS to this cancellation policy, including reasons related to weather, terrorism, civil strife, personal, family or medical emergencies or any other circumstances beyond our control.

Please read these Booking terms and conditions carefully. The tour operator act just as an agent on behalf of Caminhos da Natureza, Turismo da Natureza Lda., who is the organizer of the trips offered by the tour operator, is a fully licensed company operating in Portugal (Travel Agency license: RNAVT 3345, and Tourism animation activities license: RNAAT 19/2005)

The terms and conditions set forth below (the “Terms” or “Agreement”) constitute the entire understanding and agreement between you, the tour participant (individually or collectively “you” or “the Participant”) and the tour operator, its owners, employees, shareholders, affiliated entities, agents, representatives including the tour operator for USA, officers, directors, associates, successors and assigns (individually or collectively “we”, or “us”) with respect to any and all bookings, trips or transactions made with the tour operator.

By completing the tour booking form on our website you confirm agreeing to these Terms, and you accept all Terms herein and direct us to perform services on your behalf. All persons named in the Tour Booking Form (“Participants”) are subject to this Agreement. By signing these Terms, you affirm that you have made all other Participants listed in the Tour Booking Form aware of these Terms – regardless of how final payment is made – and that all Participants accept these Terms.

1. Registration
The registration is done by completing and submitting the Registration Form found on the website, fully completed.

With the registration the client assumes:

– the obligation to know and accept the terms and conditions of participation as well as specific conditions contained in the program that he is going to participate;

– to be in good health conditions to participate in the program as it is part and accepts the possibility of running all the risks inherent to their nature;

– to be aware of the type of physical demands, psychological and cultural activities they involve, and materials including personal injury, illness, inconvenience and discomfort and accept them, and accept that they could produce unforeseen events.

The tour operator reserves the right to consider invalid any registration for which payment has not been made under the conditions mentioned.

2. Booking terms and conditions
The booking confirmation is performed by programs in chronological order of receipt of fully completed Application Form and payment of the signal. Do not forget that some of our programs have a very limited number of participants.

3. Prices
Prices may change for reasons of price variation in supply, fuel, fees or taxes. Whenever there is a price change, the customer will be informed and be able to keep or cancel your subscription.

If enrollment occurs 30 days or less from the date of the program, the total value of the program must be paid upon registration, leaving you with confirmation subject to obtaining confirmation of reservation by all service providers involved in the program.

4. Cancellations
If a customer wishes to withdraw its activity must do so in writing or by e-mail and will have to bear the costs of dropping out according to the following scale:

– 90 to 30 days before tour start 50% of the total

– Less than 30 days tour start or no show – 100% of total

In addition, a fee for administrative costs of 5% of the program or a fixed minimum of €100 will apply. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS to this cancellation policy, including reasons related to weather, terrorism, civil strife, personal, family or medical emergencies or any other circumstances beyond our control.

5. Cancellations by the tour operator
We reserve the right to cancel any tour prior to departure for any reason. In the event of cancellation, a check for a full refund will be issued to you, which constitutes full settlement. If the tour is canceled within 30 days of departure, an additional discount will be made for an alternate trip with the tour operator in addition to the full refund. In the event that, prior to departure, we make any significant changes because of a problem with a supplier, for example, a hotel bankruptcy, we will, as soon as reasonably possible, notify you of available alternatives. Such changes may require a supplemental payment from you or possibly a refund. No refunds under this paragraph will be provided due to cancellations or changes due to Force Majeure.

6. Schedules
The client must meet the time set for the commencement of activities as well as the intermediate times that are being defined in the same tab. Delays and manifest lack of care for the other participants may include the inability to undertake part of the activity.

7. Changes
In order to ensure greater safety and quality in carrying out activities, the tour operator reserves the right to change hours, location and structure in case of inadequate weather conditions, or other unpredictable causes that make the realization of the program impossible.

8. Flexibility
You understand that the amenities, lodgings, type of transport, route, schedule, and itinerary may change without prior notice due to local circumstances or events, which may include mechanical breakdown, flight cancellations, illness, strikes, political disputes, weather, border crossing problems, and other unforeseeable factors.

9. Responsibilities during tour
Tour Start Date: It is your responsibility to be ready to go at the departure city at the specific tour departure day and time. We are not responsible for any losses due to canceled or missed flights, changed flight itineraries, late arrivals, or early departures.

Compliance with Local Laws and Tour Etiquette: Your additional responsibilities include, but are not limited to, strictly complying with all local laws, respecting customs and culture, assessing your abilities, respecting other trip members’ privacy, and if on a guided trip following the suggestions and advice of the guide.

Guided tours: the decision of the local guide or local supplier is final on all matters that may threaten the safety or interfere with the well-being of the group or individual travelers. During the tour, we have the right to remove anyone who we:

a) judge to be incapable of meeting the rigors and requirements of participating in the tour activities;

b) determine to detract from others’ enjoyment of the tour.

Self Guided tours: It is the customer’s responsibility to verify and decide about the safety conditions for the realization of the itinerary each day according to weather conditions or unpredictable events.

10. Degree of difficulty
It is the customer’s responsibility to verify the degree of difficulty of the program that fits and whether it is appropriate to their capacities. The tour operator clarifies all the doubts and questions during the application but cannot be held responsible for the fact that the participant does not have the skills or physical condition to complete the activity.

11. Health Requirements
The physical demands of our tour may vary depending on the specific itinerary selected. For instance, our walking tours require only moderate activity while some of our bicycling tours can be physically very challenging. Good physical and mental conditions are essential for the enjoyment and safety of our tours. By agreeing to these Terms, you certify that you do not have any physical or mental health condition that would create a hazard for you or other Participants or affect other people’s enjoyment of the tour.

12. Security
Visitor comments may be checked through an automated spam detection service.

Our first priority is always the safety of all people involved in its activities, clients, guides or anyone who assists in organizing the activity. The equipment used in the activities of the tour operator is approved and when the work requires, specific personal protective equipment is provided.

In guided activities, the tour operator monitors are trained and besides guiding the group, they take responsibility for making decisions in the field whenever there are unexpected. At least one of the guides is trained in first aid or mechanical cycling. The client of a guided tour should respect the decisions and directions of the guide.

13. Accommodation
The lodgings suggested by the tour operator are carefully chosen according to the characteristics of prepared routes are chosen based on the proximity of the route, often the only option available. We favor sites that have a character and a special atmosphere, either by location, comfort, friendliness of the owners, or the rustic way they integrate into the landscape in order to provide a pleasant stay, adequate rest and activity. However, this is not always possible and sometimes to maintain the integrity of the route turn to private housing, shelters, campsites or hotels. Whenever possible avoid the passage and stay in places where tourism is massive demand. Given the limitations in the choice of accommodation for those traveling alone, there is not always available accommodation in single rooms, are often necessary to share double rooms with other participants. Occasionally you may need to share rooms or apartments for several people. These limitations are always described in the detailed information of the activity. Since the trips are designed for the tour operator mostly in rural and natural areas, the client must accept that sometimes couldn’t choose the type of accommodation you wish. Anyway, it is intended that any accommodation guarantee minimum services: Bathing with minimum health, hot water, breakfast service and beds equipped with clean clothes.

14. Food
Unless clearly specificated in Tour Info, lunches and dinners are not included in our Tours. Should we agree on include meals in the booked Tour we tend to choose the best and most typical restaurants along the places where we spend thinking about the gastronomic satisfaction of our customers. Before the start of the program will be given a list of possible menu choices so you can choose a meal that suits you. During the activity, depending on the route chosen, typical cafés or restaurants where we can indulge ourselves with the specialties of the region. When the activities are in isolated regions, the tour operator provides participants with a food supplement at the beginning of that day. If there is any specific need/restriction in your diet let us know when you confirm the trip so that we can satisfy you better.

15. Logistics Support
We do not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer to outside parties your personally identifiable information unless we provide you with advance notice. This does not include website hosting partners and other parties who assist us in operating our website, conducting our business, or servicing you, so long as those parties agree to keep this information confidential. We may also release your information when we believe release is appropriate to comply with the law, enforce our site policies, or protect ours or others’ rights, property, or safety.

To be booked as an optional, the tour operator provides the transportation of the luggage between the client’s accommodation or between stages in most Tours. Notice that some Tours have the luggage transfer included. The customer must have the luggage ready before starting the day route so that the tour operator organizes the necessary transportation to the next accommodation (as described in the Tour Info). The tour operator recommends to never put in the luggage to be transported, values such as money, credit cards, personal documents (identity card, airline tickets, etc.). Or any other document that its loss can lead to complications in the normal course of the journey. The tour operator is not responsible for the failure by the client of this recommendation. The client must inform the organization if he/she has some fragile item and pack it properly. Luggage per person is limited to 20kg, 80Lt volume and 2 pieces.

The tour operator recommends that clients have just one piece of luggage to help with logistics.

In order to facilitate luggage transfer, the tour operator provides the customer with luggage tags that should be put on each luggage piece. Furthermore, we require our customers to fill out the Itinerary Tag which is supplied on the day of arrival and which should be filled out with the daily hotel Information.

All luggage, equipment and personal belongings will be on the customer’s responsibility. The tour operator assumes no liability for any loss, damage or accident to any luggage or equipment, regardless of how this occurs.

16. Insurance
The price of the tour includes only basic travel insurance: Policies are No. 095/00934578/000 andNo. 027/00002949/000 the European insurer Liberty Seguros, SA.

This insurance covers:

– Liability: 50.000,00 euros

– Personal Accident – Death or Permanent disability: 20.000,00 euros

– Personal Accident – Treatment and repatriation expenses – 3500.00 euros

The tour operator strongly recommends purchasing travel insurance that protects you and your investment in the event of a sudden emergency before or during your trip and coverage for trip cancellation or interruption, illness, injury, and damage, loss or theft of baggage, as well as emergency assistance.

17. Personal Requirements
Our mission is to provide you the best vacation, so we will do everything to meet any special needs such as vegetarian diets. Just inform us in advance as possible.

18. Equipment (bikes, Gps device, and accessories) use, care and security
The specific equipment is usually included in the activity or supplied as an optional. For details about the equipment required/recommended, refer to the activity.

Bikes: the tour operator confirms that an experienced bike mechanic, prior to renting, reviews each Bike. Each Bike is prepared for client use and supplied in a properly operating status. Each bike is delivered with the necessary accessories for the ride and safety accessories (helmets).

It is the customer’s responsibility for the safekeeping of all equipment accepting responsibility for the good care and security of the bicycle, Gps device, and all accessories during the trip. It is the customer’s responsibility to lock bikes securely in all circumstances and never leave bikes or Gps device and given accessories unattended. All personal belongings stored in the bike bags will be on the customer’s responsibility.

It is the customer’s responsibility to compensate the tour operator for the full cost of repairing damage or replacing of the Equipment, regardless of the cause of such loss or damage (including without limitation; loss or damage arising from theft or misuse) Upon arrival at the hotels it is the customer’s responsibility to take the bicycle inside the hotel.

19. Travel Documents
Pre-departure Documentation: After we receive your final payment, you will receive by email a variety of documentation, including suggestions for clothing, preparations, packing, and money. Also included will be confirmations, travel information, a release form if one has not yet been received, and an outline of what to expect on the tour. Please read these documents carefully as soon as you receive them and contact us or your travel agent if any information seems to be incorrect. We cannot accept any liability if we are not notified of any inaccuracy in any document within 10 days of us sending time to you or your travel agent.

Passports and Visas: You are responsible for ensuring that all necessary travel documents are valid and effective and in your possession for the entire tour. You are responsible for passport requirements, and we suggest you plan early to apply for or renew a passport. You assume complete and full responsibility for checking and verifying any and all passport, visa, vaccination, or other entry requirements. You are also solely responsible for any adverse consequences resulting from missing or defective documentation. While we may provide information or advice on visas, vaccinations, climate, clothing, baggage, special equipment, etc. in good faith as a courtesy to you, we are not responsible for any errors or omissions as to the information provided.

20. Use of Photographs and images
Any client’s image, captured by the monitors or the tour operator employees at any of our activities, can be used by the tour operator, in the illustration of promotional material and advertising company such as brochures, slides, videos, and the Internet. Photos that clearly identifies persons is not marketed or made available for other purposes.

21. Complaints
If you encounter any issue during your tour, you must promptly notify the Emergency Service (for self-guided tours) or tour leader (for guided tours) and they will do their best to assist you to resolve the matter. Failure to notify us immediately may forfeit or reduce your ability to claim any future compensation or refund from the tour operator. Further, if you make any changes on your own without notifying us, as described above, you shall assume sole responsibility for any added costs you may incur and forfeit any potential refunds. If the tour operator cannot resolve your complaint at the time of occurrence, you should make a written record of your complaint and it to the tour operator within 30 days of the end of the tour via email or via postal mail at Rua 7 de Junho, 58 / 2730-174 BARCARENA – PORTUGAL. The tour operator will not accept any claims received beyond this period.

22. Liabilities and Limitations: Responsibility – Limitation of Liability
The tour operator and all its owners, act only in the capacity as an agent for the hotels, airlines, bus companies, railroads, ship lines, and/or any Supplier providing accommodations, transportation or other services to the Participant. The Participant is advised that the tour operator purchases such as transportation, hotel accommodations, meals, sightseeing excursions, and other services from various suppliers who are not affiliated with the tour operator. The tour operator makes every effort to select the best suppliers of the aforementioned services, however, the tour operator does not control the operations of these agents and as a result, CANNOT BE HELD LIABLE FOR ANY PERSONAL INJURY, PROPERTY DAMAGE OR OTHER CLAIM which may occur as the result of any and/or all of the following: (1) the wrongful, negligent or arbitrary acts, errors or omissions on the part of the independent Supplier, its agents, its employees or others who are not under the direct control or supervision of the tour operator; (2) defects or failures of any vessel, aircraft, vehicle or other instrumentality which is under the control of an independent Supplier; or (3) loss, injury or damage to person, property or otherwise, resulting directly or indirectly from any Acts of God, dangers incident to the sea, fire, breakdown in machinery or equipment, or wars (whether declared or not), hostilities, civil disturbances, strikes, riots, thefts, pilferage, medical epidemics, quarantines, or customs regulation, defaults, delays or cancellations or alterations in itinerary due to schedule changes, or from any causes beyond the tour operator's control.

Further, the tour operator is not liable for any loss or damage resulting from insufficient or improperly issued passports, visas or other legal documents.

You agree that the sole remedy for any default by the tour operator arising under these Terms shall only be the return of the paid tour cost. To the maximum extent permitted under applicable law, the tour operator shall not be liable for any special, consequential, indirect, incidental or other damages arising out of these Terms, including lost profits, whether such damages arise in contract, negligence, tort, under statute, in equity, at law, or otherwise, even if the tour operator has been advised of the possibility of such damages. You expressly waive any right it may have to recover such damages. The foregoing shall not apply to the tour operator’s gross negligence or intentional misconduct.

23. Severability
In the event that a court finds any provision of this Agreement invalid and/or unenforceable, the parties agree that all the remaining provisions shall remain valid and in force, and such unenforceable provisions will be replaced with one that is enforceable and reflect the intentions of the parties hereof.

24. Successors and Assigns
These Terms shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the tour operator and the Participant and their respective heirs, legal personal representatives, successors and assigns.

25. Updating of Terms and Conditions
We reserve the right to update and/or alter these terms and conditions at any time, and it is your responsibility to be familiar with them. The latest Terms and Conditions can be found on the tour operator's Website at.

26. Merger
This Agreement is the final, complete and exclusive statement of the parties’ agreement on the matters contained in this Agreement. It supersedes all previous negotiations and agreements.

27. Applicable Law and Choice of Forum
This Agreement is governed by the laws of Portugal. You agree that any dispute concerning, relating, or referring to this Agreement, tour brochures, or any other materials that concern my tour, or the tour itself — whether such dispute arises in contract or in tort or otherwise — shall be litigated and determined, if at all, exclusively before a court of the Judicial District of Lisbon – Portugal.

28. Disclaimer
Travel is an adventure for those who enjoy adventure travel adventure is indicated for active and adventurous feel good with the discovery and the unexpected! Provide unique moments of conviviality, more direct contact with nature, good humor, and camaraderie, yet has very specific characteristics that can jeopardize your satisfaction. So we recommend that you inform yourself carefully about the degree of difficulty of the program intended to ensure that you have the physical and psychological level sufficient for participation. Do not hesitate, in case you have any questions! They can also occur in unexpected route developed; changes to the environment or unforeseen adverse weather conditions may necessitate changes in the program during the trip. Participants should have a positive outlook and be flexible enough to face these changes in a pleasant way.

Last update of the tour operator Terms and Conditions: August, 25th 2019 / Jan 16, 2020 by BTC

All photos used by permission. ©Portugal Nature Trails