Terms and conditions
The terms “Participant, participants, guest, guests, client, clients, you, your” refer to those who have made and paid for a reservation with Glacier and Volcano Expeditions and have therefore read, understood and agreed to all of the below terms, conditions and policies.
By purchasing a ticket to participate in a group or private tour with Glacier and Volcano Expeditions you hereby accept the following terms, conditions and policies.
Unforeseen events and liability policy
The Icelandic wilderness and Vatnajökull National Park are extremely dynamic environments which means that the natural conditions are constantly changing. Challenges and hazards include, but are not limited to, the weather, structure of the glaciers, integrity of the mountains, snow conditions, river flows, glacier lagoon ice conditions, iceberg rollover, iceberg collapse, glacier calving, erosion, volcanic eruption, glacial outburst flood, strong winds, avalanche, rock fall, ice fall, heavy rain, snowfall, whiteout, cold exposure, heights, flooding, water ice, uneven terrain, tripping and sun exposure. The risk of equipment failure and guide judgment error also does exist. Please be aware that there are hazards that exist whilst participating in any outdoor activity and unforeseen events can and sometimes do occur. Glacier and Volcano Expeditions is not responsible for any loss, injury, or death as a result of any such occurrence.
Severe weather policy
Icelandic weather and conditions can be extreme. Occasionally the weather or conditions are too severe to venture outside which forces us to cancel tours. If Glacier and Volcano Expeditions cancel your tour we will try our best to change your booking to a more suitable time but if this is not possible we will issue a full refund. Please see our Cancellation Policy below for full details. The only reason for Glacier and Volcano Expeditions to cancel tours is due to safety.
Assumed risk and outdoor activities policy
All participants recognise that all activities are undertaken entirely at their own risk. You must behave in a fit and proper manner at all times in accordance with Glacier and Volcano Expeditions or their partners’ guidelines and you must take proper responsibility for your own safety. All adventure tours and outdoor activities carry inherent risks and Glacier and Volcano Expeditions or its partners do not assume or accept any responsibility for any accidents or losses that are caused by Glacier and Volcano Expeditions, its customers or any incident that is caused by factors within or outside of human control. With the purchase of your trip you agree to these conditions, understand the implications and acknowledge responsibility for the risk involved in participation in your trip.
Wilderness tour operations policy
Whilst on a tour in the wilderness with Glacier and Volcano Expeditions, all participants must listen and obey with all given briefings, instructions, boundaries and advice from their Glacier and Volcano Expeditions guide. The Glacier and Volcano Expeditions guide will ultimately make all of the final decisions of the activities and actions within the tour. Your Glacier and Volcano Expeditions guide will always base all of their decision making on ensuring that the tour is as safe, comfortable and enjoyable as possible for all tour participants. If the natural conditions change and the guide decides that it is no longer safe to continue the tour, your guide holds the right to turn the group around and retreat to the starting point of the tour, or to an alternative safe location at the guide’s discretion. If the condition of any one or more clients included within the tour group deteriorates towards an unsafe condition, your guide holds the right to turn the group back and retreat to the starting point or a safe location at the guide’s discretion.
Meeting us on location policy
All of our tours are meet-on-location. Glacier and Volcano Expeditions do not provide any vehicle transport. You need to meet us at the specified meeting location that is listed on your reservation ticket and then follow our gear van in your vehicle on a short drive to the glacier parking lot where we will begin the tour.
Please note that the road between the meeting point and the start point of the tour is often a gravel road which can have rocks and pot holes. Normal cars are usually fine to drive on these roads. Glacier and Volcano Expeditions is not responsible for any damage to any vehicle whilst driving to the meeting location or the start point of the tour.
You as the traveller are responsible for arriving at the meeting point in time for your tour. This includes being ready at the correct time at the correct location for your adventure tour. Glacier and Volcano Expeditions will provide you with information about the meeting point for your tour on your voucher which is provided upon booking. If you are unsure when to arrive for your scheduled tour please contact us.
Please note that if you do not arrive in time for your tour and/or are late to the meeting point of the tour, that is to say you do not arrive to the correct meeting point at the correct time for your adventure tour then you are not entitled to a refund of the price paid for the services.
Tour location policy
Please be aware that the natural conditions of Vatnajökull National Park are constantly changing. Glacier and Volcano Expeditions has the unique ability to adapt their tours to suit the natural conditions and guide tours on a range of different glaciers, volcanoes, lakes, rivers and locations that are all within a close vicinity to our meeting point in Skaftafell. Glacier and Volcano Expeditions will make a decision to guide the most suitable location based on safety, weather and which glacier has the best features at the time.
Participant clothing policy
Glacier and Volcano Expeditions requires appropriate footwear and suitable outdoor clothing to be worn by participants.
You need to bring with you for the glacier, kayaking or hiking trip: Hiking shoes/ boots, warm clothing, waterproof coat and pants, gloves, small backpack, snack/ lunch, camera.
Glacier and Volcano Expeditions do not have rental boots or rain clothing.
We reserve the right to refuse participation to clients who are dressed inappropriately or with inappropriate footwear since this will put the client’s well-being and safety at risk. Should we refuse a guest to participate based on the above circumstances our cancellation policy that is outlined below will apply.
Guests health and pre-existing medical conditions policy
You are required to inform Glacier and Volcano Expeditions of any health or pre-existing medical conditions prior to the tour departure.
The health and pre-existing medical conditions that you need to notify Glacier and Volcano Expeditions of includes any medical issues, overweight (obesity), injury, surgery, impairments, disabilities, psychological conditions, pregnancy, prosthetic implants, diseases or anything that may hinder your ability to complete the tour or endanger others.
Glacier and Volcano Expeditions strongly encourages anyone who has any health, medical conditions or any of the above issues to contact us to clarify and/or notify us of any such issues before making your reservation.
Participant behaviour policy
The comfort, safety and security of our participants is of paramount importance. Glacier and Volcano Expeditions reserve the right to refuse participation to any customer who we believe will not be able to complete the tour because of their physical condition, injury or illness. In such cases, full cancellation charges apply.
Glacier and Volcano Expeditions guides reserve the right to refuse participation to clients that are being physically or verbally abusive, or if they pose a threat to staff members or fellow participants in any other way or to any customer whose conduct or manner is likely to cause offence, upset or put other clients in danger. In such cases, full cancellation charges apply.
Ill-prepared tour participant policy
Glacier and Volcano Expeditions reserves the right to decline any tour participant that Glacier and Volcano Expeditions deems to be ill-prepared, unfit to participate in the intended activities for the day or is deemed to be a risk to the safety of themselves, the guides or anyone else on the tour.
The following is a list of example reasons (not limited to) that Glacier and Volcano Expeditions may decline the participation of any reserved participant: Under the influence of alcohol or drugs (including mind-altering prescription drugs), lack of physical fitness ability, overweight (obesity) unsuitable clothing for the conditions, improper footwear, physical disability, mental disability, pre-existing medical condition, recent surgery or medical operations. If Glacier and Volcano Expeditions deems any group participant to be ill-prepared to join the tour, the person will be excluded from joining the excursion and no refund will be issued.
To avoid this situation Glacier and Volcano Expeditions strongly encourages anyone who is unsure about any of the above circumstances to contact us to clarify and/or notify us of any such issues before making your reservation.
Cancellation policy
Cancellations are required to be in writing, in the form of an email to: info@glacierandvolcano.com
For tours purchased through another vendor please contact the vendor directly with your refund and/or cancellation request.
Group tour cancellations received more than 7 days (168 hours) prior to the tour departure time will be partially refunded at 90% of the total tour price.
Private/ custom tour cancellations received more than 7 days (168 hours) prior to the tour departure time will be partially refunded at 80% of the total tour price.
All cancellations received less than 7 days (168 hours) prior to the tour departure time will not be refunded.
Cancellations must be made and delivered to Glacier and Volcano Expeditions via our email: info@glacierandvolcano.com
The reason that Glacier and Volcano Expeditions offer partial refunds is to cover the associated fees and commissions that have already been paid towards our booking system, payment provider and administration.
Governing law policy
Glacier and Volcano Expeditions is an Icelandic company that also operates under the Icelandic name Jökla og Eldfjallaferðir.
By booking with Glacier and Volcano Expeditions this agreement shall be exclusively governed by and construed in accordance with Icelandic law. Any disputes arising out of or in connection with this agreement shall exclusively be submitted to and dealt with by the district court of Reykjavík.
Information privacy policy
Glacier and Volcano Expeditions shall only store and use information you supply to us or which is supplied to us for the purposes of carrying out our contract with you and to inform you of other services and offers which we make available from time to time. If you do not wish to receive such information please let us know by emailing info@glacierandvolcano.com .
Travel insurance
As with any and all world travel, Glacier and Volcano Expeditions strongly recommends that you purchase a comprehensive travel insurance policy in your home country that covers your costs should you have to cancel your travel reservation with short notice or have an accident that may require medical attention.