Terms of Participation – Mountain Echoes

1. General

By participating in any Mountain Echoes activity or excursion, you unconditionally accept the following terms of participation. These terms may be modified at any time without notice and apply to all activities (hiking, mountaineering, excursions, multi-day or one-day trips, domestic and/or international).

Mountain Echoes reserves the right to refuse participation to anyone who does not meet the requirements regarding physical fitness, age, or equipment.

2. Program Changes and Cancellations

• Mountain Echoes reserves the right to modify or cancel the program, route, accommodations, or any activity for reasons of safety, weather conditions, force majeure, or low participation.
• In the event of a change or cancellation, participants will be notified immediately.
• If Mountain Echoes changes the date of the tour, no refund is due unless the participant is unable to attend on the new date.

In this case, all payments made will be refunded, except for any third-party bookings (ferry fares, hotels, tickets, etc.) that are non-refundable by the providers.

• Cancellation fees apply as stated in the Payment and Cancellation Policy (see Section 4).
• Mountain Echoes is not liable for any loss of personal expenses due to changes or cancellations.

3. Force Majeure – Safety

Mountain Echoes may modify or cancel any activity in the event of:

• Adverse weather conditions (storms, blizzards, strong winds, etc.)
• A risk to the safety of participants
• Natural disasters or other events of force majeure

In such cases, the legal provisions of Presidential Decree 7/2018 apply, pursuant to which Mountain Echoes:

• Has the right to cancel or modify the tour without any financial obligation beyond the refund of amounts already paid.
• Is not liable for any personal losses or expenses incurred by participants.

4. Participants’ Responsibilities

• Participants must possess a minimum level of physical fitness and good health. A medical evaluation is recommended prior to participation.
• Participants are required to follow the leader’s instructions and comply with the rules.
• Any pre-existing medical conditions must be disclosed in writing.
• Mountain Echoes is not liable for injuries, illnesses, or loss of personal belongings.

6. Equipment

• Each participant must have the necessary equipment (e.g., hiking boots, helmet, etc.) appropriate for the activity.
• The guide may refuse participation to anyone who does not meet the equipment requirements; the participant is not entitled to a refund or compensation.
• In the event of damage to or destruction of Mountain Echoes’ equipment, the participant is financially liable.

7. Travel Insurance

• All participants are required to have valid travel insurance that covers hiking, climbing, and medical emergencies.
• In the event of a rescue, the costs are borne exclusively by the participant.

8. Limitation of Liability – Disclaimer

Mountain Echoes, as well as its employees, agents, and affiliates:

• Assume no liability for any injury, illness, death, or loss of personal belongings, delays, or psychological distress arising from participation in activities, including but not limited to, one-day or multi-day excursions, climbs, hikes, and other activities organized by Mountain Echoes.
• Mountain Echoes is not liable for force majeure, natural disasters, hazardous weather conditions, acts of third parties, or other unforeseeable circumstances beyond its control.
• Participants assume full personal responsibility for their safety, conduct, and preparation during the activities.
• Participants are required to use appropriate equipment, clothing, and safety measures, in accordance with Mountain Echoes’ recommendations and, where applicable, applicable regulations, best safety practices, and the principles of mountaineering and hiking activities. Mountain Echoes provides only recommendations and instructions; it bears no responsibility for any omissions or failure by the participant to follow them.
• Participation requires that the participant possess medical fitness, physical condition, and experience appropriate for the activity they choose, that they familiarize themselves with the category of the excursion via the website, and that they are aware of the potential risks.
• The participant acknowledges that by participating, they fully accept the above terms, limitations of liability, and waiver of any claims.
• In the event of failure to follow instructions or violation of safety regulations by the participant, Mountain Echoes bears no liability and reserves the right to exclude the participant from the activity without a refund—any expenses that may arise from such exclusion shall be borne solely by the participant.
• Procedure for Withdrawal, Disconnection, and Inability to Continue Safely:

1. If any participant voluntarily breaks away from the group or deviates from the planned activity itinerary, they are required to complete and sign the designated Ministry of Tourism Declaration N1599. doc, explicitly stating that they are leaving of their own free will and assume full personal responsibility for their own safety.

2. Similarly, if, in the leader’s judgment, a participant is unable to safely meet the demands of the route, illness, or inadequate equipment that makes continuing the activity dangerous, they must immediately comply with the leader’s recommendations to discontinue or modify their participation. Insisting on participation despite the organizers’ instructions constitutes irresponsible behavior that compromises safety standards and jeopardizes the smooth operation and cohesion of the entire team. In this case, the participant is also required to sign the affidavit, by which they accept the termination of their participation and assume responsibility for their actions.

3. Since these terms are unconditionally accepted upon electronic submission of the application for participation (via the relevant checkbox on the form), any refusal by the participant to complete and sign the aforementioned affidavit—whether due to voluntary withdrawal or mandatory exclusion for security reasons — constitutes an explicit violation of the terms and is grounds for their permanent and definitive exclusion from any future Mountain Echoes expedition. Strict adherence to this procedure is mandatory, as refusal to cooperate disrupts the smooth flow of the program and makes it impossible to ensure the organizational and operational integrity of the event.

9. Personal Data and Photographic Material

• Participants consent to the collection and use of personal data for booking and communication purposes.
• Mountain Echoes may use photographs and videos for promotional, advertising, and social media purposes without compensation.
• Personal data will not be disclosed to third parties without consent, unless required by law.

10. Complaints and Dispute Resolution

• Complaints must be submitted immediately to the leader or representative of Mountain Echoes during the tour.
• After the tour ends, written complaints must be submitted within 7 business days.
• Disputes are resolved in accordance with Greek law and the provisions of Presidential Decree 7/2018.

CANCELLATION & PAYMENT POLICY

This Cancellation Policy is an integral part of Mountain Echoes’ General Terms and Conditions of Participation and applies to all organized activities, excursions, and trips organized by the company.

1. Reservations – Payments

1.    A reservation is considered final only upon payment of the required deposit or the full amount, depending on the type of tour.

2.    Payment constitutes explicit acceptance of this Payment & Cancellation Policy.

3.    All cancellations must be made exclusively in writing via email.

4.    Cancellation fees apply regardless of the time of booking and regardless of whether part or all of the amount has been paid.

5.    Failure to appear (no-show) at the departure point is treated as a last-minute cancellation.

2. Deposits & Final Payments

2.1 One-Day Tours (Domestic)

• A deposit per tour and/or 100% prepayment is required at the time of booking.

2.2 Multi-Day Domestic Tours (2 days or more)

• Deposit: 40% of the total cost, upon completion of the registration form.
• Final payment: up to 30 full days before departure.

2.3 International Tours

• Deposit: 50% of the total cost, upon completion of the registration form.
• Full payment: up to 45 full days before departure.

Deposits cover the organizational, administrative, and binding costs of the tour.

3. Traveler Cancellation Policy

“Cancellation fees” are defined as the amounts withheld by Mountain Echoes in the event of cancellation of participation and correspond to actual organizational, administrative, and binding expenses.

3.1 One-Day Domestic Trips

3.2 Multi-Day Domestic Trips (2 days or more)

3.3 Overseas Trips

* Transportation fares, reservations with third-party providers, or hotel stays are non-refundable.

4. Payment and Cancellation Policy

In the event of cancellation by the participant:

• The amounts paid are offset against the corresponding cancellation fees.
• If the cancellation fees amount to 100%, no refund is due.
• If there is a balance in the participant’s favor, it will be refunded within 14 business days.

4.1 Non-Refundable Cases

No refunds will be issued in the following cases:

• no-show,
• late arrival,
• voluntary withdrawal,
• health-related reasons without travel insurance,
• cancellations due to personal obligations.

4.2 Transfer of Participation to a Third Party

The traveler may transfer their participation to a third party up to 14 full days prior to departure, provided that:

• the terms of participation are met,
• all involved service providers accept the change,
• all costs associated with the change are covered by the original traveler.

5. Cancellations by Mountain Echoes

5.1 Failure to Meet the Minimum Number of Participants

Mountain Echoes may cancel the tour:

• up to 20 days in advance for trips longer than 6 days,
• up to 7 days in advance for trips lasting 2–6 days,
• up to 48 hours in advance for shorter trips.

In this case, the amount paid will be refunded without further compensation.

5.2 Force Majeure

Mountain Echoes reserves the right to modify (change the route, itinerary, or dates) or cancel a tour without any obligation to pay compensation in the event of unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances, such as extreme weather conditions, natural phenomena/disasters, travel restrictions/bans, or any situation that, in the reasonable judgment of the organizer, may endanger the safety of participants.

In such cases, only the amounts pertaining to services that were not provided will be refunded, in accordance with the provisions of Presidential Decree 7/2018, without any further claims for compensation.

6. Limitation of Liability

Mountain Echoes assumes no liability for services not expressly included in the tour itinerary or provided by third parties (transportation providers, accommodations, etc.).

7. Legal Provisions and Validity of the Policy

This Policy constitutes an integral part of the General Terms and Conditions of Participation and is governed by Greek and European law.