A booking becomes binding once the required deposit has been received and the booking has been confirmed by email by Slovenianbears.com.

By making a booking, the traveller confirms that they have read, understood and accepted these Terms and Conditions, together with the specific terms and information provided for their selected package.

The person making the booking is responsible for providing accurate and complete information for all travellers included in the booking.

A deposit of 330€ per person, or another amount specifically agreed at the time of booking, is required to confirm the reservation.

The deposit forms part of the total package price.

The deposit is non-refundable in the event of cancellation by the traveller, subject to the traveller’s mandatory statutory rights under applicable law.

The remaining balance may be paid:

• by bank transfer, provided that the payment is received in our bank account at least 14 days before the start of the tour; or
• on site by credit/debit card or cash.

If the remaining balance has not been paid by bank transfer at least 14 days before the start of the tour, the outstanding amount must be paid on arrival before or at the beginning of the tour.

The traveller may cancel the package at any time before the start of the tour.

Where the traveller cancels, the following standard cancellation fees apply:

• More than 60 days before the start of the tour: 330€ per person.
• 60–31 days before the start of the tour: 50% of the total package price.
• 30 days or less before the start of the tour: 100% of the total package price.

The applicable cancellation fee is calculated according to the date on which the cancellation notice is received by Slovenianbears.com in writing.

The standard cancellation fees take into account, in particular, the time remaining before the start of the package, accommodation and photography hide reservations, commitments to local service providers, preparation and administration costs, and the limited possibility of reselling reserved services at short notice.

Where applicable, the organiser may retain or claim the cancellation fee even if the traveller has not yet paid the entire package price.

If the cancellation fee exceeds the amount already paid, the traveller remains liable for payment of the outstanding cancellation fee.

Upon request, Slovenianbears.com will provide the traveller with an explanation of the cancellation fee applied.

Nothing in this section limits any mandatory statutory right of the traveller to cancel without a cancellation fee.

The traveller may transfer the package travel contract to another person who fulfils all conditions applicable to the package, in accordance with applicable law.

The traveller must notify Slovenianbears.com of the transfer on a durable medium within a reasonable period before the start of the package.

A notification made at least 7 days before the start of the tour is considered to have been made within a reasonable period.

The transfer is subject to the new traveller meeting all applicable requirements for participation in the package.

The original traveller and the new traveller are jointly responsible for any remaining contractual payments and for any additional fees, taxes or other costs arising from the transfer.

Slovenianbears.com may charge the traveller only the actual and reasonable costs incurred as a result of the transfer. Upon request, Slovenianbears.com will provide evidence of such additional costs.

Slovenianbears.com reserves the right to make minor changes to the programme, schedule, accommodation, photography locations or other arrangements where this is necessary due to weather, wildlife activity, safety considerations, operational reasons or other unforeseen circumstances.

Where a change is permitted under applicable law, the traveller will be informed in a clear and understandable manner.

If Slovenianbears.com cancels a package in circumstances where the traveller is legally entitled to a refund, all payments received for the cancelled package will be refunded in accordance with applicable law.

Where a package must be cancelled because it cannot be performed due to unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances, or because the legally applicable minimum number of participants has not been reached and the traveller has been notified within the applicable legal period, the traveller will receive the rights provided by applicable law.

Slovenianbears.com specialises in wildlife photography and makes every reasonable effort to provide suitable locations and conditions for photographing wild animals.

However, wildlife activity is naturally unpredictable and depends on weather, season, food availability, animal behaviour and other natural conditions beyond the organiser’s control.

Therefore, no specific animal sighting, species, number of animals, photographic opportunity or particular photographic result can be guaranteed.

This includes, but is not limited to, bears, bear cubs, badgers, owls, kingfishers and other wildlife.

Information provided by Slovenianbears.com regarding expected wildlife activity is based on our experience and current conditions and should not be understood as a guarantee of sightings.

Failure to observe or photograph a particular animal does not constitute a failure to provide the package, provided that the agreed travel services have otherwise been properly performed.

The organiser may change the timing or location of a wildlife photography session where necessary because of weather, wildlife behaviour, safety, access restrictions, forestry activities or other circumstances affecting the safe or proper operation of the session.

Where reasonably possible, Slovenianbears.com will provide an alternative arrangement of comparable value.

Wildlife photography may take place in remote forest areas and may involve walking on uneven, steep, muddy or otherwise challenging terrain.

Travellers participate in such activities at their own responsibility and must follow all safety instructions given by the organiser, tour leader, guide or local hide provider.

All participants must behave respectfully, responsibly and safely throughout the tour.

Participants must:

• follow reasonable instructions from Slovenianbears.com, the tour leader, local guides and hide providers;
• avoid disturbing or approaching wildlife;
• comply with all safety instructions and local regulations;
• behave in a manner that does not endanger themselves, other participants, staff or wildlife;
• inform the organiser in advance of any relevant physical, mobility or other circumstances that may materially affect their ability to participate safely.

The organiser may take reasonable measures, including excluding a participant from a particular activity, where the participant’s behaviour creates a safety risk or seriously disrupts the tour.

Slovenianbears.com is the organiser of the package travel and is responsible for the proper performance of the travel services included in the package in accordance with applicable law.

Some individual services included in the package, including accommodation, photography hides, transfers and other local services, may be provided by independent local partners or authorised service providers.

The use of third-party providers does not remove or limit the organiser’s statutory responsibilities towards the traveller.

The organiser is not responsible for loss or damage to personal belongings except where such responsibility arises under applicable law.

Nothing in these Terms and Conditions excludes or limits any liability or statutory right that cannot legally be excluded or limited.

Slovenianbears.com does not own or operate photography hides used in its programmes.

Photography sessions take place at hides operated by local partners or other authorised providers.

The organiser may change the particular hide or local provider where reasonably necessary for operational, safety, wildlife or other legitimate reasons, while making reasonable efforts to provide a suitable alternative.

We strongly recommend that all travellers obtain comprehensive travel insurance before the start of the tour.

Insurance should, where appropriate, include:

• cancellation and curtailment;
• medical expenses;
• emergency assistance;
• personal accident;
• loss or damage to personal belongings; and
• repatriation.

Travel insurance does not replace or limit any statutory rights of the traveller.

Where unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances occur at the destination or in its immediate vicinity and significantly affect the performance of the package, or significantly affect transportation to the destination, the traveller may have the right to terminate the package travel contract without paying a cancellation fee and receive the refund provided by applicable law.

The same applies where Slovenianbears.com is legally entitled to cancel the package because of unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances.

The organiser will act in accordance with the rights and obligations established by applicable law.

If a traveller experiences a problem or believes that a travel service included in the package is not being provided in accordance with the contract, the traveller must inform the organiser or the tour leader without undue delay.

This allows Slovenianbears.com a reasonable opportunity to resolve the problem during the tour.

The organiser will provide appropriate assistance to travellers experiencing difficulties, in accordance with applicable law.

All promotions, discounts and special offers apply only to new bookings, unless expressly stated otherwise.

Promotions, discounts and special offers cannot be applied retroactively to bookings that have already been confirmed.

Unless expressly stated otherwise, promotional offers cannot be combined with other discounts or special offers.

The traveller is responsible for ensuring that all information supplied to Slovenianbears.com in connection with the booking is correct and complete.

Any additional costs resulting from incorrect or incomplete information supplied by the traveller may be charged to the traveller where permitted by applicable law.

The package travel contract and these Terms and Conditions are governed by applicable Slovenian law, subject to the mandatory consumer protection rights applicable to the traveller.

Nothing in this clause deprives a consumer of mandatory protections available under the laws that apply to them.

These Terms and Conditions are subject to the mandatory provisions of applicable Slovenian and European consumer protection legislation.

Nothing in these Terms and Conditions is intended to exclude, restrict or waive any statutory right of the traveller that cannot legally be excluded or restricted.

Where any provision of these Terms and Conditions conflicts with a mandatory statutory provision, the mandatory statutory provision shall prevail.