Backcountry Journeys - Travel Desk

Welcome to Backcountry Journeys’ Travel Desk. Here you will be able to find and access helpful travel information for each of our exciting photo tour locations. Looking for information on reservations, policies & travel information? Find all of that here.

Our Travel Desk is here to help – for more information you can always call one of our Photo Adventure Specialists at 928-478-1521.

COVID-19 SAFETY GUIDELINES

Backcountry Journeys has always worked hard to provide our guests seamless travel experiences that leave them with memories to last a lifetime, new skills, friendships, and a plethora of images of which to be proud. As we return to the field in earnest, we do so with every intention to continue to utilize protocols proven to be effective at creating the safest environment possible.

Backcountry Journeys continues to actively monitor and will implement guidelines recommended by health officials, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Backcountry Journeys will require proof of vaccination or a negative test taken no more than 72 hours before the start of the tour from each guest regardless of regional entry requirements. See here for the testing site nearest you. You can learn more about at-home testing options here.

WORRY-FREE TRAVEL!
If there are still any COVID-19 related travel issues during any new trip you book – rest assured you will be able to transfer your trip at no cost before your final payment is due. Our peace of mind guarantee to you!

On top of that, we offer one of the most rock-solid guarantees in the travel industry.

SAFE TRAVELS

Backcountry Journeys’ was awarded the World Travel and Tourism Council’s Safe Travel certification for our commitment to an accepted standard of health and hygiene protocols in the COVID-19 era. These protocols are based on medical evidence and guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, and the World Travel and Tourism Council. With over 1200 travel organizations currently using this badge of safety, it offers travelers an objective, 3rd party verification tool to verify companies have implemented science-driven protocols and are meeting high safety standards.

PRIVATE TRIPS

Private trips are classified as trips that are booked & operated exclusively for a particular guest or group of guests. In order to make a trip private a party must purchase every available spot on the trip. Upon registration of the trip, the above “Payments, Cancellations & Refund Policy as well as the Transfer Policy” no longer apply. Due to the unique nature of a private trip and the logistics involved, the following terms apply: initial deposit for all spots on a trip departure must be made at the time of booking, the remaining payment is due 180 days prior to the start of the trip, there are no cancelations, transfers or refunds. Because of this we strongly recommend that all guests participating on a private trip purchase trip insurance within twenty days of registering for the trip. See travel insurance section below.

CANCELATION / TRANSFER POLICY

Backcountry Journeys trips feature small group sizes and our trips are often sold out over a year in-advance. In order to accommodate all of our potential guests and to maintain our small group photography experiences we have the following procedures regarding reservations.

To book your reservation with Backcountry Journeys a deposit is required for each person on a trip. Please see the individual trip pages on our website for deposit amounts. All of our trips can be reserved using our secure online registration form or by calling our office. If booking within 120 days of departure full payment is required in order to make a reservation.

Payments, Cancellations & Refund Policy

All prices are quoted in US dollars and all payments must be paid in US dollars. For deposits, we accept Visa, MasterCard and PayPal. Final payment of the trip fee is due 120 days prior to departure. Trip deposits are non-refundable. All payments made towards any tours, workshops or safaris that are discounted or are otherwise promotional in nature are also non-refundable. Acceptance of any participant is subject to receipt and review of all required forms, documents, and payment.

If final payments are not received by your trips respective due date, then we reserve the right to treat your reservation as cancelled as per our cancellation & refund policy.

We must receive written notice of your cancellation, at which time cancellation fees in the following amounts apply:

• 121 or more days prior to departure: 100% deposit plus a $250.00 administration fee per person

• 120 days prior to departure: 100% of trip fee

No partial refunds are made for unused portions or services of a trip for any reason whatsoever. Trips are sold as a package only.

All our Workshops & Tours are subject to the realities of the natural world. Although we will do everything in our power to stay on itinerary, circumstances including but not limited to permit availability, weather, vendor availability, snowpack, river crossings, wildlife, park or public land closures, and forest fires can affect our itineraries. Payments are not refundable for any itinerary change.

Backcountry Journeys Photography Tours, Workshops & Safaris, LLC uses a variety of concessionaires & vendors around the globe to facilitate our trips including but not limited to boats, charter flights, airlines, tour operators, guides & lodges. Often these vendors operate equipment or render services in very remote areas. We do not offer full or partial refunds or trip credits when a concessionaire or vendor is unable to provide their service for any reason. An example of when one of our hired vendors is unable to provide their service might be due to weather related issues or mechanical issues such as with a boat, plane or vehicle that becomes inoperable. Backcountry Journeys Photography Tours, Workshops & Safaris, LLC will make every attempt to find another similar excursion but often in the remote areas in which we travel the options are limited.

We do not offer full or partial refunds or trip credits for travel delay / disruption. For example, if a flight is delayed and as a result you miss part or the entirety of your trip Backcountry Journeys Photography Tours, Workshops & Safaris, LLC is not responsible for arranging alternate activities during a delay, travel support, extra hotel stays or related expenses.

Backcountry Journeys reserves the right to cancel trips. Backcountry Journeys is not responsible for additional expenses incurred preparing for the trip (for example: non-refundable advance purchase air tickets, clothing, equipment, visa fees, medical expenses, etc.).

Transfer Policy

If you transfer from one trip to another: 121 or more days prior to the trip start date, there is a $250.00 administrative fee (please note on some trips there are exceptions to this rule including but not limited to when we have booked non-refundable lodging, activities, or in-country flights in your name). Discounted or otherwise promotional pricing is not transferable. Less than 120 days prior to the trip's start date, regular cancellation and refund policies will apply. Upon request to transfer from one trip to another, customer must select alternate trip at time of transfer request.

Trip Leaders
If your scheduled trip leader is sick, injured or otherwise unavailable Backcountry Journeys will make every effort to find a suitable replacement. Please note that we aren’t able to guarantee specific trip leaders and occasionally scheduled trip leaders schedules will change.

Required Documents
A Terms & Conditions / Assumption of Risk form as well as a Health Questionnaire must be signed by each participant within ten days of registering for a trip. Participation by any trip member will be declined in the absence of the signed Terms & Conditions / Assumption of Risk form and Health Questionnaire, with no trip fee refund. No modification to the Terms & Conditions / Assumption of Risk form or Health Questionnaire will be accepted.

Travel Insurance
Sometimes life happens and you have to cancel because of unforeseen circumstances. We highly recommend protecting your travel investment and purchasing a trip insurance policy that includes emergency evacuation coverage. Travel insurance provides you with trip cancellation/interruption, travel delay, medical expenses, emergency assistance, air flight, baggage and baggage delay coverages. Medical coverage purchased with your policy is crucial and required if you do not have health insurance. See Trip Insurance plans here.

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL

International travel is incredibly exciting and fun. With it, however, comes some added health-related details that travelers should be sure to consider when preparing for a trip.
Backcountry Journeys offers a number of different international photo tour locations including Botswana, Brazil, Costa Rica, Iceland, Rwanda and India. If you are booked on one of these international trips, please utilize the links below so that you can be best prepared in advance of your tour.

Please find links listed below that will take you to valuable, updated, government issued information for each Backcountry Journeys international tour.

The CDC link will redirect you to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website where you will find Travel Health Notices, Vaccines & Medicines, Tips for Staying Healthy & Safe, Healthy Travel Packing Lists, as well as tips on things to do After Your Trip. Remember, some vaccines may be required for travel, so don’t delay!
The Travel.State.Gov link will redirect you to the Department of State’s Bureau of Consulate Affairs website where you can find information on Passport, Visa, and other customs-related information.

CDC Botswana
Travel.State.Gov Botswana

CDC Brazil
Travel.State.Gov Brazil

CDC Costa Rica
Travel.State.Gov Costa Rica

CDC Iceland
Travel.State.Gov Iceland

CDC India
Travel.State.Gov India

CDC Rwanda
Travel.State.Gov Rwanda

CDC Norway
Travel.State.Gov Norway

TRAVEL INSURANCE

Sometimes life happens and you have to cancel because of unforeseen circumstances. We highly recommend protecting your travel investment and purchasing a trip insurance policy that includes Cancel For Any Reason and emergency evacuation coverage. Travel insurance provides you with trip cancellation/interruption, travel delay, medical expenses, emergency assistance, air flight, baggage and baggage delay coverages. Medical coverage purchased with your policy is crucial and required if you do not have health insurance. See Trip Insurance plans here.

REFER A FRIEND

We know that there is no advertising Backcountry Journeys could do that will ever be as effective as word-of-mouth recommendations from our guests.
Hearing that our past guests have referred new customers is a source of pride for us at Backcountry Journeys. We recognize the importance of this and want to not only have referrals continue to grow but also to reward those of you who pass along our name.

Because we recognize the importance of this we would like to extend a gracious “thank-you” by offering rewards for referring your friends!
When referring friends who are first-time Backcountry Journeys guests, our past guests will now receive a $250 BCJ gift card that can be used toward future trips!

Fine Print / The Rules
Here’s how the program works:
When you refer your friends to us by either calling a Photo Adventure Specialist, filling out the online referral form or providing their name and email address on your post-trip evaluation form, we will send them a Backcountry Journeys PDF catalog, along with an email indicating that you thought they might be interested in our photography tours.
If your friend(s) books and participates in a tour with us, you will receive a $250 gift card credit toward your next Backcountry Journeys tour.

Gift cards will be awarded per booking party referred, rather than the number of participants booked.
Guests may apply a maximum of two gift cards per trip booked ($500 discount total).
Referrals must be first-time Backcountry Journeys guests who were not already in our database prior to your referral and not friends or members of your family traveling with you on their first Backcountry Journeys photography tour.