General terms & conditions for guided activities and courses

1. Scope of application

These terms & conditions apply to all guided activities, courses, training days and multi-day programs organised and/or guided under the brand Dolomites Mountain Guides, including but not limited to:

• • Ski touring, freeride and steep skiing.
• • Rock climbing and multi-pitch routes.
• • Alpine and mixed mountaineering, glacier tours.
• • Via ferratas, ridge traverses and classic alpine hikes.
• • Avalanche training, safety courses and other educational events.

Unless explicitly stated otherwise, we act as mountain guides / instructors, not as a package tour operator. Services such as accommodation and transport are usually booked and paid directly by the participants.

2. Organiser & guiding team

Trips are organised under the brand Dolomites Mountain Guides and led by IFMGA/UIAGM certified mountain guides and, where appropriate, by aspirant mountain guides working within the limits of their qualification and national regulations.

The exact legal entity (guide association, individual guide, company) will be specified in your booking confirmation and invoice. That entity is your contractual partner for the guided service.

3. Bookings, contract and communication

1. Non-binding enquiry. Requests sent via the booking or contact form, email or phone are considered non-binding. We will reply with availability, a proposed program and a price indication.
2. Booking offer. Once we have agreed on dates, group size and general program, we will send you a written offer and/or booking details (usually by email).
3. Formation of contract. The guiding contract becomes binding when you explicitly confirm the offer (for example by email) and, where required, when we receive the deposit indicated in the offer or confirmation.
4. Communication. The primary communication channels are email and, where agreed, messaging apps or phone. Please make sure you can receive our messages and inform us promptly of any changes to your contact details.

4. Prices, what is included and what is not

The guiding fee and, where applicable, package price are specified in the individual activity description and in your booking confirmation. Each program includes an “Included / Not included” section which forms part of these terms.

• Typically included: professional guiding / instruction, planning of the program and route choice, safety equipment used by the guide (ropes, technical equipment for the guide), and pre-trip advice.
• Typically not included: your travel to the meeting point, local transport, lift passes, hut or hotel accommodation (including the guide’s share, unless stated otherwise), meals, drinks, personal equipment rental, insurance and any rescue / evacuation costs.

In case of discrepancy between a generic description and your specific confirmation, the confirmation email and its attachments prevail.

5. Payments, deposits and due dates

Unless otherwise specified in your offer or confirmation, the following principles apply:

• A deposit (for example 20–40% of the guiding fee) may be required to confirm the booking. The exact amount and due date are indicated in your confirmation.
• The remaining balance is normally due a number of days before the start of the activity (for multi-day programs often several weeks in advance). Short-notice bookings may require full payment at confirmation.
• Payments are usually made by bank transfer to the account indicated on the invoice or confirmation. Other payment methods may be offered in specific cases and will be clearly indicated.

If payments are not received by the specified deadlines and you do not respond to reminders, we reserve the right to treat the booking as cancelled by the guest and apply the relevant cancellation terms.

6. Cancellations and changes by the guest

If you need to cancel or change your booking, please inform us as soon as possible in writing (email). The following general rules apply, unless different conditions are stated in your specific program:

• Deposit: deposits are generally non-refundable. They cover planning, reserved guiding dates and preliminary work.
• Remaining balance: if you cancel after the balance has been paid, a portion of the total fee may still be due, depending on how close to the start date the cancellation occurs and whether the dates can be re-booked.
• Substitutions: in some cases it may be possible to replace a participant with another suitable person. This must be agreed in advance with the guide and may imply administrative costs.

In serious situations such as proven illness or injury, family emergencies or similar, we will always try to find a fair solution (e.g. re-scheduling, partial credit for a future trip), in line with our practical information page and subject to third-party costs already incurred.

7. Changes and cancellations due to conditions or by the guide

Mountains are a dynamic environment. Weather, snowpack, rockfall, glacier conditions or other factors may make an objective unsafe or inappropriate. For this reason:

• The guide may change the planned itinerary (route, peak, valley, length of day) if they judge that the original plan is not reasonable for safety, conditions or group factors.
• Reaching a specific summit, couloir or line is never guaranteed. The goal is a high-quality, safe mountain experience compatible with the conditions on the day.
• If a trip must be cancelled entirely for reasons on our side (illness, emergency) and we cannot offer an equivalent replacement, guiding fees you have already paid for that activity will be refunded or transferred to another agreed date.
• We cannot be responsible for external costs outside our control such as travel, accommodation, lift passes or third-party services, even if the trip is modified or cancelled.

8. Participant responsibilities and fitness

For the safety and enjoyment of the group, participants commit to:

• Provide truthful information about their experience level, fitness and relevant medical conditions when booking.
• Arrive with the required equipment, in good condition, as detailed in the gear list for the activity.
• Follow the instructions and decisions of the guide, especially regarding safety, route choice, pace and turn-around times.
• Respect other participants, local rules, landowners and hut staff.

The guide may exclude from all or part of an activity anyone whose behaviour, equipment or fitness clearly compromises safety, without any right to a refund if the situation was caused by missing or incorrect information from the guest.

9. Insurance & third-party costs

Mountain activities involve residual risk even when led by professional guides. Each participant is responsible for having adequate insurance cover, which may include:

• • Rescue and medical insurance valid for off-piste skiing and mountaineering.
• • Travel cancellation insurance for unforeseen events before departure.
• • Personal accident and liability insurance, where appropriate.

Unless otherwise stated, guiding fees do not include any insurance coverage for participants. Any costs related to rescue, evacuation, medical treatment or early return are borne by the participants and/or their insurers.

10. Liability and limitations

Our guides operate with care, professionalism and according to applicable regulations. However, mountaineering and skiing remain activities with inherent risks that cannot be fully eliminated.

• We are liable for damage only to the extent required by applicable law and within the limits of the guiding contract.
• Nothing in these terms excludes or limits liability for death or personal injury caused by wilful misconduct or gross negligence where such limitation is not permitted by law.
• We are not liable for circumstances outside our reasonable control, such as unexpected natural events, decisions by authorities, closures of lifts or roads, or actions of other participants or third parties.

Your statutory consumer rights under applicable national and EU law remain unaffected.

11. Personal data and privacy

We process personal data in connection with bookings, communication and the operation of this website in accordance with our Privacy policy . That document forms an integral part of these terms & conditions.

12. Photos, video and storytelling

Taking photos and sharing stories is part of many mountain days. During trips we may take photos or short video clips for personal memories and, with your consent, for use on our website, social media or other communication channels.

If you prefer not to appear in any public material, please let the guide know clearly at the start of the program. We will always respect your choice.

13. Applicable law and jurisdiction

Unless otherwise required by mandatory consumer protection rules, the guiding contract and these terms & conditions are governed by the laws of Italy. Any disputes will be submitted to the competent courts at the place of establishment of the organising guide or guiding company.

If you are a consumer resident in the European Union, you may also be entitled to use online dispute resolution platforms or other mechanisms provided by your home country’s consumer protection authorities.

14. Final provisions

If any provision of these terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in force. Any amendments or special agreements must be confirmed in writing.

Last updated: [insert date]. This text is a general template and should be reviewed and adapted with professional legal advice before final use.