Terms & Conditions

• The customer can book directly with Hightide or through one of its booking agents.
• With your booking you acknowledge the general terms and conditions between yourself and the organiser.
• Unless otherwise stated all prices on this website are per person, and include all equipment and guiding.
• The meeting point for our activities is given and confirmed for each tour or course separately.
• Some of our trips require a minimum number of people to operate and a reasonable level of fitness.
• Each of our courses have a limited capacity which is stated on the course or tour page.
• Any customer under the age of 18 years must have the explicit permission of his/her parent or guardian before being able to take part in any activity/course offered by the company. The parent or guardian need to be aware and accept the risks involved in adventure activities and satisfy themselves accordingly.
• Please note that the contract between you and Hightide is only concluded after we have checked whether you meet the participation requirements.

After receiving your registration, Hightide will check whether your previous knowledge, experience, physical fitness and state of health meet the requirements of the booked tour.
If, after examining the filled-out questionnaire, we come to the conclusion that you do not meet the participation requirements or that there are health concerns about the safe execution of the booked tour, we can refuse you participation in the booked programme and, if necessary, suggest an alternative. In this case, you are not obliged to accept this offer. If no suitable or mutually acceptable programme can be found in this way, the registration is considered void and no booking or cancellation fee is due.
The participation requirements are described separately for each programme. However, as a bare minimum for all of our programmes, swimming skills are required.

Hightide is not a tour operator, but only a provider of kayak tours and courses. Our offers are aimed at paddlers with a thirst for adventure and a sense of community, not package tourists.
“No Package Travel” means in particular:
– Our services are limited to the services specified and published in the respective programme description – usually a sea kayak tour or a sea kayak course – and service periods. Depending on the advertisement, a Hightide programme can last for one or more days, but is always limited to our services on or on the water or at the course location during the programme days and course times advertised in the programme.
– Hightide is not responsible for your accommodation. You are responsible for arranging your own accommodation at the course or tour location. We have no influence on the quality of the accommodation and therefore decline any responsibility for it. At campsites, participants pay for the accommodation they have chosen (tent, camper, bungalow, etc.) themselves and settle accounts directly with the operator of the facility. In the case of holiday homes rented jointly by the group, billing is done internally.
– Hightide is not a passenger transport company. The arrival and departure to/from the programme as well as any transport (“shuttles”) on site are the responsibility of the participants and not a service of the organiser.
– The catering on our offers is in principle the responsibility of the participants. Normally we provide our customers with the possibility to organise their catering in the group. This means that the participants can set up a group cash-box (the „kitty“) for joint purchases and cook together. However, no one is obliged to make use of this option. Our employees can also participate in the group catering in this way – privately and after work.
However, this does not result in any obligation on the part of Hightide, in the sense that our staff would be responsible for the kitchen work.
A tour or course (= “programme” = our services) begins and ends on the water with the provision or clearing of the boats and the gear or after the end of a teaching unit on land. This also applies to multi-day offers. After the paddling or course and the clearing and transport of the gear, our guides have finished work and are encouraged to relax for the next day on the water.

The prices and conditions as communicated in the relevant offer or advertisement shall apply.

– To confirm your place on tours and courses within Switzerland full payment is required.

Payment can either be made through our online booking platform Trekksoft or by bank transfer with the Booking reference in your booking confirmation to the following account:

Hightide Kayak School GmbH, Am Quai 1, 3806 Bönigen Switzerland,
Bank: PostFinance Ltd, Mingerstrasse 20, 3030, Bern, Switzerland, IBAN: CH22 0900 0000 6036 6557 3, BIC: POFICHBEXXX, Clearing No: 09000

The withdrawal must be in writing and cancellation fees will be calculated as follows:
NB. The Percentage refers to the cancellation fee from the total course or tour fee.  For all our activities we recommend purchasing cancellation insurance at the time of booking.

Groups < 10 people:

• 96 hours (4 Days) – 24 hours before the start of the activity 50%.
• 24 hours before the start of the activity/no shows 100%.

Groups ≥ 10 people:

Cancellations made more than 30 days before the event or for a quantity less than or equal to 10% of the originally confirmed participant number can be made without any charge. Cancellations for a quantity more than 10% of the originally confirmed participant number will incur the following charges:

• 30 to 15 days before the event: 25% of the booked services will be charged.
• 14 to 10 days before the event: 50% of the booked services will be charged.
• 9 days or less before the event: 100% of the booked services will be charged.

• More than 7 days before the start of the activity: CHF 50 administration fee.
• 7 days -24hours before the start of the activity 50%.
• 24 hours before the start of the activity/no shows 100%.

• up to 180 days before course start: 100% refund of the course fees.
• 179 - 90 days before course start: 75% refund of the course fees.
• 89 - 60 days before course start: 50% refund of the course fees.
• from 59 days to course start: 0% refund.

No-shows, late arrivals or early departures from the programme are not entitled to a price reduction or refund. The same applies if you miss parts of a multi-day programme, e.g. because you fall ill in the middle of a tour or course or are temporarily unwell.

The organiser reserves the right to cancel a tour or activity in circumstances beyond its control or where operational constraints make it necessary. In such cases, the organiser will inform participants as soon as possible and provide alternative options as outlined below.

With all our courses and tours there is a minimum number of participants. If the minimum number is not reached, the organiser can cancel the activity with an offer of alternative dates or a full refund.

Should the weather or nature, official measures, higher powers, safety or other factors make the course or tour difficult, dangerous or not possible, the organiser can cancel the activity. Whilst every attempt is made to ensure that courses/tours actually run, the company will notify the customer of cancellation as soon as practicable. The paid price will be refunded or alternative dates offered.

Programmes and prices are subject to change without notice. You will be notified of any change when booking.

The organiser reserves the right to change or cancel the programme after conclusion of the contract, even during the activity, if weather and natural conditions, official measures, force majeure, safety or other reasons make this necessary without you being able to claim a refund for this.  Should you decide to go on the water alone or with other participants, this is a private activity for which Hightide assumes no responsibility (see also section 8.2).

If the participant discontinues or leaves the activity before it is over, there is no refund and all other costs additionally incurred are the responsibility of the participant.
Replacements  In order to avoid cancellation costs, you have the opportunity to suggest a qualified replacement person up to 7 days before the start of the programme. “Qualified” means: They must meet the participation requirements of the respective programme. Hightide is not obliged to accept the proposed person.

Participants are responsible for ensuring that they meet all requirements for participation, including health, safety, and equipment standards. By joining an activity, participants acknowledge and accept these conditions and agree to follow all instructions provided by the organiser. Non-compliance may result in exclusion from the activity without a refund, as outlined in the sections below.

For all activities, good health is a prerequisite. It is the obligation of the participant to tell the organiser of any health problems. Under no circumstances can one participate when under the influence of drugs, alcohol or any other psycho chemicals which are similarly debilitating.

All bookings are on the basis that the customer will, at all times, observe the safety regulations set by the company. Not adhering to the instructions or participation conditions of the activity may lead to the participant being excluded from the activity by the organiser.
When exclusion from the activity occurs before the activity, the annulment conditions according to point 3 are valid, after the start of the activity there is no refund.

It is expected that customers’ personal safety equipment is fit for purpose and in adequate condition and is otherwise available for rent from Hightide. In addition, there may be specific requirements for each programme regarding the minimum equipment of the participants (e.g. neoprene obligation, dry suit obligation, etc.). On the one hand, these are defined in advance and communicated to the participants in the run-up to the programme. However, they can also be adjusted on site by the guide team or trip leader, according to the prevailing conditions, according to the parameters of our internal safety regulations. It is within the trip leader’s decision-making power to exclude individual participants or to abandon a programme if it turns out that they or the entire group are not adequately equipped for the conditions encountered and this results in a safety risk or if it is likely that such a risk will develop.

The customer is responsible for the safekeeping of all equipment issued for use during the activity/course. With the exception of fair wear and tear the company reserves the right to charge for equipment that has been lost or misused.
You use your own gear at your own risk. This means that if you come to our programmes with your own boat and gear and you incur damage to it while participating or arriving, you are responsible for this. Hightide is also not responsible for theft or the loss of private property that was lost before, during or after the Hightide-led programme, even if the property was in Hightide vehicles.

Likewise, Hightide is not responsible for damage to or loss of private gear (kayaks, paddles, equipment, luggage, etc.) that occur before, during or after our programme or during transport to the place of action or to the water. In particular, any liability related to damage to mobile phones, cameras, car keys and other electronics taken on the water is declined.

The participants are not insured by the organiser. The participant should have sufficient cancellation, sickness and accident insurance coverage (including sport accidents).  Cancellation insurance should also be made at the time of booking.

Photographs taken on Hightide courses and tours may appear in Hightide brochures and promotional material. If customers do not wish to be photographed please raise this with the course coach or guide at the time.

If the customer encounters any problem or difficulty, the company will try and resolve them as soon as possible. In the first instance, report anything either to the coach or to the management. If your complaint is not resolved to your satisfaction please write to the Director within a period of 28 days at: Hightide Kayak School GmbH, Am Quai 1, 3806 Bönigen, Switzerland.

Participation in Hightide activities involves inherent risks, and while the organiser takes all reasonable measures to ensure safety, participants acknowledge and accept personal responsibility for their actions. Liability is limited as outlined in the following sections, with specific exclusions for third-party providers, private activities, and non-contractual claims.

If a guest Coach or third party is responsible for a trip or course, Hightide shall not be liable for their activities.  They will be directly liable themselves.

All costs incurred in the event of a sea rescue, search and rescue operation, medical emergency or accident, including treatment and hospital costs as well as the costs of transporting you back to your home country, will be borne by you, even if the operation was initiated by Hightide or its guides or should prove to be not absolutely necessary afterwards. We strongly recommend that you take out rescue and recovery costs insurance, which includes search and rescue operations at sea.

Hightide disclaims all liability for private activities that occur outside of the programme we run in accordance with the tender. This includes damage to yourself, other persons and property.
This disclaimer applies in particular, but not exclusively, to:
Swimming, private paddling and private activities on the water, before, after or outside of a programme led by Hightide, including during the lunch break; Private land activities such as excursions, climbing, mountaineering, hiking, cycling tours;
Private transport to or from the water, by car, bike, public transport or on foot; Making fires, cooking, preparing food, pitching tents, going to restaurants and other activities; and activities; and all other private activities (on land or water) before and after the programme on the water led by Hightide; damage (allergies, food poisoning etc.) caused by the consumption of communally prepared food before, during or after a Hightide programme.

In particular, the organiser is not liable for damage caused by actions and omissions of the activity leader which are not related to the provision of contractually agreed services, due to the actions of third parties, other participants, the participant (in particular clause 8), force majeure, natural phenomena, official orders, etc. or due to late return home. If participants do not follow the instructions of the organiser or the activity leader, any liability on the part of the organiser shall lapse.

Non-contractual liability is governed by the relevant legal provisions. If these general contractual provisions stipulate stricter liability requirements, limitations of liability or exclusions of liability, these shall apply.

Swiss law is applicable. Interlaken is agreed as the legal Venue.

Should any provision of these Terms and Conditions be or become invalid, this shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions. The invalid provision shall be replaced by a valid provision which comes as close as possible to the purpose of the invalid provision. The same shall also apply to any loopholes.

The organiser reserves the right to change these GTC at any time. The GTC valid at the time of conclusion of the contracts shall apply.
Last Updated: 02.08.2024