These terms apply to our Chardham and Do Dham helicopter yatra packages.
What differs from one package to another is on the booking terms by package page.
Schedules and Weather
Reporting times for each flight are confirmed to you by our team. The helicopter and crew can change according to availability, and transfer times between flying points can change at the last moment because of availability or weather. The exact schedule is shared the day before departure; the schedule in the itinerary is a guide to how the days run.
Flying depends on the operator, weather and permissions, so we cannot guarantee that you fly on a given date or at a given time, and the operator can cancel a flight before take-off for operational or technical reasons. In that case the refund rules under Bad Weather and Force Majeure Refunds below apply.
At Kedarnath your stay is booked at Phata or Sersi as per the schedule. If bad weather means you have to stay at Kedarnath near the temple, that stay is charged extra. On the Chardham package the first night may be at Kharsali or Harsil because of weather or operational clearance; please understand this before you accept the proposal.
If an extra night is needed because of weather or a technical problem, the stay and food are paid by the passengers; the operator bears the cost of the crew and the helicopter. We wait for at most 01 additional night to complete the yatra; the package cannot be extended beyond that on the same cost and conditions, and the yatra may be cancelled in such a situation.
Attractions
Darshan assistance with a Pandit at each Dham on the Chardham and Do Dham packages.
A complimentary duffle bag for each passenger.
Pujas
Pujas are paid to the temple committee and are not part of our package or bill. To book one in advance, pay the amount in cash to our representative in Dehradun, who books it on behalf of each passenger.
Maha Abhishek Puja at Badrinath: INR 6,700 per person, paid to the Badrinath temple committee. A vehicle to attend the early-morning puja is extra (about INR 1,000 per Innova).
Rudra Abhishek Puja at Kedarnath: INR 6,500 for 05 people, paid to the Kedarnath temple committee. It needs an overnight stay at Kedarnath top, so it is arranged subject to room availability there, and the hotel stay is charged extra. Rooms at Kedarnath top are budget category, and night temperatures can drop below zero in September and October; please decide with this in mind.
Travel to Dehradun and Extra Services
Flights or trains to Dehradun are not included; please book them yourself.
Haridwar, Rishikesh or Mussoorie day trip: INR 8,000 for up to 06 passengers, by road from Dehradun on your day of arrival or departure.
Extra night at Dehradun: price on request; our team books the hotel for you.
Carriage by Air Act, 1972
BookHelicopter.com arranges the yatra; it does not fly the helicopter. The flight is operated by the permit-holding aviation company named in your booking, and the carriage is subject to that operator's conditions of non-international carriage (passenger and baggage) framed under The Carriage by Air Act, 1972 and the notification on its application to non-international carriage. The operator's liability for death, wounding or any other bodily injury suffered by a passenger, or for damage to registered baggage, during carriage by air is governed by sections 4, 5 and 6 and the rules in the Second Schedule of the Carriage by Air Act, 1972, with the exceptions, adaptations and modifications notified by the Government of India, Ministry of Civil Aviation, as amended from time to time.
Fixed Flight Timings
The tour runs on fixed daily departure times for each destination. Passengers must keep to the Estimated Time of Departure (ETD) for each day of the tour; a passenger who does not report in time is marked as a no-show.
Passenger Weight
A maximum of 06 passengers fly in one helicopter, and their total weight must not be over 410 kg. Give each passenger's accurate weight at booking.
Passengers are weighed before boarding. The pilot will not allow boarding if the weight is above what was given at booking, and we may move passengers between helicopters to keep each one at a safe weight for flying in the hills. If a passenger's weight was given wrongly and cannot be carried, that passenger is de-boarded and the tour is cancelled for them with no refund.
Overweight Charges: Per Passenger
Passengers above 75 kg pay an excess weight charge for each kg above 75 kg: INR 2,000 per kg on the Do Dham tour and INR 2,500 per kg on the Char Dham tour, per passenger.
Any overweight charge is collected at the hotel the day before the flight or at the helipad before boarding.
Baggage
Baggage is limited to 3 kg per passenger. Do not bring big suitcases: the baggage space in the helicopter is very small, and the pilot may refuse excess baggage. Our staff hand out duffle bags to all passengers at the briefing.
Children and Infants
Children above 2 years pay the full fare. Infants below 2 years or 12 kg fly free of charge; the child's birth certificate or other ID proof may be checked to verify the age.
Bad Weather and Force Majeure
Helicopter flying in the hills is affected by things nobody can predict: bad weather, delayed air traffic clearances or permissions, VVIP movements, valley flying by the Indian Air Force (NOTAM), a sudden technical problem in the aircraft, illness of the flying crew, or passengers reporting late at the helipad. Please be prepared for delays and inconvenience in such cases.
We strongly advise keeping one extra day free at Dehradun, beyond the package period, in case bad weather after the tour starts makes it run longer.
Other Terms and Guidelines
Each Indian passenger must carry a valid government photo ID (if you share an Aadhaar copy, mask all but the last four digits), and foreign nationals their passport.
Donations, tips, pithu, palki or pony and porter charges are paid by the passengers.
The operator has its own crew at every Dham; passengers can ask them for guidance or help.
Mobile network at Badrinath is very poor. BSNL and Jio work in these areas most of the time, but not always; our staff stay with the passengers to help at all times.
Carry a small oxygen bottle as a precaution; it is sold at medical shops locally.
Days are mild but nights are cold, so carry woollen clothes.
Carry your own medicines.
We do not provide insurance for accidents, sickness, theft or other unforeseen events; please arrange your own travel insurance. Baggage and personal belongings are the passenger's responsibility at all times.
Medical Emergencies
We are not liable for medical emergencies on the ground. Please get a fitness certificate from your doctor before travelling to high altitude.
The operator may refuse to carry anyone it considers unfit to travel or a risk to the helicopter or the people on board. No refund is made to such a passenger.
Rescheduling of Booking
A booking can be moved to a later date, subject to availability, on payment of 20% of the cost. This is allowed only if you ask 15 or more days before the journey date. With less than 15 days to go, the booking is treated as cancelled and a fresh booking is made, subject to availability.
Payment Terms
Pay 50% of the tour cost to confirm the booking; the balance is due 30 days before your departure date.
Passengers can board or start the tour only after the full payment is made.
Cancellation Policy
If you cancel a confirmed booking, a 5% administrative fee on the total package cost applies, whatever the reason for cancelling. On top of that, the charge depends on the notice you give:
Up to 30 days before departure: 30% of the package amount.
Up to 20 days before departure: 50% of the package amount.
Within 14 days of departure: no refund.
No-show: no refund.
A credit note is issued for any cancellation of a confirmed booking, subject to these terms.
Bad Weather and Force Majeure Refunds
If bad weather stops the flying on any day of the tour, we try to complete the darshan the next day. If a Dham cannot be visited at all because of bad weather, the flying cost of about INR 20,000 per Dham per seat is refunded.
If flying cannot start from Dehradun because of weather or any of the reasons above, the tour is treated as cancelled: the 5% service charge and the services already used (such as hotel stay and transport) are deducted and the rest is refunded. Or, if you prefer, you can move to the next available date as a fresh booking; our team will propose the options, and the unused amount from the first booking is applied to the new one. Any extra cost is paid by the passengers.
No compensation is paid for extra hotel stays, transport, meals or other travel costs when a flight is cancelled or delayed. Any extension asked for by the passengers is at extra cost and subject to the operator being able to fly it.
Stuck at a Dham or Leaving Mid-Tour
If bad weather stops the flight from Badrinath to Dehradun, guests pay for their own hotel stay. If guests choose to return to Dehradun by road instead of waiting for the next day's flight, the road travel is also at their cost, and no refund is made.
If a group at any Dham decides to cancel and come down before the scheduled return date, we arrange a vehicle for the road journey, paid by the guests directly. No refund is made when guests cancel and return mid-tour.
Disputes
Any dispute about the legality, interpretation, application or performance of the service or these terms is governed by the laws of India and subject to the jurisdiction of the courts at Dehradun, Uttarakhand. This does not take away any right you have under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 to file a complaint where you live. Bookings are taken on the basis that the party accepts these terms. If you need any further information or clarification, please get in touch with us.
