Return & Refund Policy

1. Cancellation Policy

All cancellation requests must be made in writing via email or WhatsApp to our official channels. Cancellation is effective only upon receiving written acknowledgment from us. The following cancellation charges apply based on the timing of cancellation before the scheduled departure date:

• Flights & Train Tickets: All flight and train tickets are non-refundable once booked, except for cancellations made within the airline/railway free-cancellation window (if applicable). Refunds from airlines/railways will be passed on to the customer after deducting applicable service charges.
• Helicopter Bookings: Only the printed fare amount is refundable; all convenience fees, portal charges, and handling fees are non-refundable. Refund timelines follow helicopter operator policies.
• Hotels & Accommodations: Hotel cancellation charges apply as per individual hotel policies, which may be stricter than our general policy. These will be communicated at the time of booking.
• Peak Season Bookings: During peak seasons (Char Dham Yatra, Hemkund Sahib, Valley of Flowers, New Year, Diwali, etc.), cancellation charges may be higher or fully non-refundable. You will be informed of these at the time of booking.

2. Refund Process & Timeline

Once a cancellation request is approved, refunds are processed according to the following guidelines:

• Refunds will be credited to the original payment method used at the time of booking (bank account, credit card, UPI, etc.).
• Payment gateway charges, bank transaction fees, and UPI charges are non-refundable and will be deducted from the refund amount.
• For bookings made via third-party agents or partners, refund timelines may vary based on their processing schedules.
• If you haven't received your refund within the stated timeline, please check with your bank or payment provider. Processing times vary between financial institutions.

3. Non-Refundable Services

The following services and charges are non-refundable under any circumstances:

• Visa processing fees (government fees and service charges).
• Travel insurance premiums.
• Convenience fees, booking fees, and portal handling charges.
• Payment gateway and transaction charges.
• GST and government taxes paid at the time of booking.
• Any services not explicitly mentioned in the booking confirmation.
• Partially utilized services (e.g., unused hotel nights, missed meals, skipped sightseeing).

No refunds will be provided for any unused services after the tour has commenced.

4. Refund for Company-Initiated Cancellations

In the rare event that Mother India Tour Travels cancels a confirmed tour due to unforeseen circumstances (operational constraints, supplier issues, government restrictions, etc.), you will receive:

• A full refund of all payments made for the cancelled portion of the tour within 7 working days of cancellation.
• OR an alternative tour option of equal or greater value (at no extra cost).
• OR a credit note valid for 12 months for future travel with us.

This refund policy does not apply to cancellations caused by Force Majeure events (see Section 8 below).

5. Duplicate Payment Refund

In the event you are charged twice for the same transaction due to a technical error, the duplicate amount will be refunded to the original payment method within 7–10 working days after verification. Please notify us immediately with proof of both transactions.

6. No Refund for No-Show

If you fail to arrive for your tour, flight, hotel check-in, or any booked service without prior written cancellation notice, it will be treated as a "No-Show". In such cases, no refund will be issued, and the full booking amount will be forfeited.

7. GST & Tax Treatment on Cancellations

As per Indian GST laws, cancellation charges are subject to 18% GST. When we issue a refund after deducting cancellation charges, we will issue a Credit Note for the refunded amount. GST paid on the original booking is non-refundable unless a valid Credit Note is issued. Any TCS collected under Section 206C(1G) of the Income Tax Act (for international packages) is also non-refundable and can only be claimed as a tax credit at the time of filing your income tax return.

8. Force Majeure (No Refund)

We shall not be liable for any refunds, compensation, or damages arising from cancellations or delays caused by Force Majeure events, including but not limited to: natural disasters, earthquakes, floods, landslides, cyclones, pandemics/epidemics, wars, civil unrest, strikes, labor disputes, government-imposed travel bans, airline/railway strikes, road closures, political instability, or any other unforeseen circumstances beyond our reasonable control.

In such events, we will use reasonable efforts to assist with rescheduling or provide a credit note for future travel, subject to supplier policies and availability.

9. Late or Missing Refunds

If you haven't received your refund within the stated timeline, please take the following steps:

• Check your bank account, credit card statement, or UPI app — refunds may take a few additional business days to appear depending on your financial institution.
• Contact your credit card company or bank — they may have internal processing delays.
• Verify your payment method — if you used a digital wallet, check your wallet transaction history.
• If you have completed all the above steps and still have not received your refund, please contact us with your booking ID and transaction details.

10. Data Protection & Privacy (DPDP Act 2023)

When you request a refund, we collect and process your personal data (name, booking ID, payment information) to verify and process your request. This data is handled in strict compliance with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDP Act). Your data is shared only with necessary third parties (payment gateways, banks, suppliers) to complete the refund process and is retained only as long as required by law. You have the right to access, correct, or withdraw consent for your data as per the DPDP Act. Please refer to our Privacy Policy for more details.