ALASKA NORTHERN LIGHTS
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ALASKA NORTHERN LIGHTS
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BIRDS OF FLORIDA
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FALKLAND ISLANDS
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TRIP AND TIMING SCHEDULE
Workshops are designed to get to our first location from the destination airport by later that dayso we can get a field session in that first evening. If your flight schedule does not allow for a late morning / early afternoon arrival please plan on arriving the night before where you would be responsible for your first night stay. We also try to get a morning shoot in on the last scheduled date of the trip and then leave for the airport, making an afternoon or evening flight out the preferred option. When signing up for a trip please ask what the plan is as there are slight differences for each trip based on the distance from the designated airport to our destination hotel.
TRIP INSURANCE
When you plan your trip, it is highly suggested to get trip insurance. Visit Yonder Travel to find the option that suits you best. Several times people have had to cancel a trip very close to the start date and due to reservations and loss of space the cancellation refund policy has to be adhered to. Don't let unexpected surprises catch you.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
DEPOSITS - A non-refundable $500 deposit will hold a space with balance due 90 days prior to trip. Alaska trips require a non-refundable $1,000 deposit and the Falkland Islands $1,500. Final payments for these two trips are due six months in advance. If a deposit is received and the trip is filled, it will be returned and you will be placed on a waiting list and you will be notified if an opening becomes available.
CANCELLATION AND REFUND POLICY - Upon receipt of notice you are unable to participate on a trip refunds on final balances paid are subject to the following fee structure - full cost for more than 90 days if the spot is able to be filled (no refund if spot can't be filled) and no refund within 90 days of trip. If a program is canceled, full refunds will be made. Fees are based on reservations made for leaders airfare, group accommodations, guide fees and ground transportation. Travel insurance is recommended to offset the fees of the refund policy (see link on the links page for comparative rate information for travel insurance).
ACCOMMODATIONS - Lodging will be at AAA approved accommodations (double occupancy) when available. Single occupancy rooms when requested will require an additional fee. Also, if a roommate is not available you will be required to pay the single supplement fee. The northern lights workshop can only fit one single occupancy room on the northern leg and that gets assigned based on the male / female mix of the group. Some other trips may also force people requesting single supplements to room together, such as the Falkland Islands and Alaska bears.
COSTS - Price includes accommodations, ground transportation and meals for most trips. Not included are items of a personal nature including alcoholic beverages. Prices are quoted as part of a package and no refunds are given for unused services. Because some trips include photographing wildlife, First Light can't be held liable if subjects stated are not available for photographing. Wildflower and fall color trips are scheduled at typical peak times but weather conditions may cause conditions to not be ideal. Indoor presentations will be given on most trips. Other unforseen events may occur on a trip that cause us not to get to all of the locations we hope to get to but we will get to as many as possible based on the dynamics of the group and the events that occur during the trip, whatever they may be. Additional costs may be incurred due to unforseen circumstances due to injury or sickness to the participant or leader or to outfitter price changes.
TRIP SIZE - Most trips are limited to six or seven people maximum. Because of this, it's recommended you sign up early to ensure having a spot. Trip sizes are kept small so participants can get as much hands-on help as they wish. Certain trips have to have a minimum and may be cancelled. The northern lights workshop can only hold five. Several trips can allow for seven or eight people but these are rare.
NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR - First Light is not responsible for lost baggage by the airlines or trying to retrieve it. This is the responsibility of the traveller. First Light is also not responsible for waiting for parpticipants due to missed connections as they are responsible to try and get to the location where the group is due to being late due to missed flights. This is why it is sometimes recommended to arrive a day early to make sure you are on time and not pushing it with beating the deadline for being at the airport when the suggested arrival time is scheduled. There are other trip participants to think about. First Light is also not responsible for any extra costs incurred during the trip if something unforseen happens to the trip leader, which is a very rare event. On the odd event of travel plans having to change due to a carrier not being able to get us to our final destination, participants may have to pay for additional transport to our final destination point.