Payment and Cancellation Policy

Multi-day Trips:

It’s up to you:

Reserve your expedition on one of our trip pages anytime — or —
Call 1 866 242 9383 to speak with us and book over the phone

If you’re not sure if a particular trip is right for you—or you’re looking for more information, let us know and we’d be happy to answer your questions.

Payment schedule

If the trip is more than 120 days away, you can pay a 25% deposit to reserve your spot. Then 120 days before your trip, you pay the full balance.

If you’re booking a trip that’s less than 120 days away, your full payment is due when you book.

You can pay by credit card, wire transfer, or cheque.

The above payment schedule is for scheduled departures. For private groups: we’ll send you an info package and proposal with specific policies for your group.

All international and US trips (everything outside of Canada) are priced in US dollars and we charge for these trips in US dollars. If your credit card isn’t a USD card, it’s your credit card company or bank that determines the exchange rate on the day of your transaction.

All trips in Canada are priced in Canadian dollars and we charge for these trips in Canadian dollars. If your credit card isn’t a CAD card, it’s your credit card company or bank that determines the exchange rate on the day of your transaction.

Taxes

In Canada, we charge federal and provincial sales tax.

The amount is determined by the province or territory where the trip takes place.

Quebec trips (Mutehekau Shipu and Ottawa River) are subject to 5% GST (federal sales tax) and 9.975% QST (provincial sales tax)
Ontario trips (Algonquin Park) are subject to 13% HST (combined provincial and federal)
NWT trips (Nahanni) are subject to 5% GST

You’ll be able to see the amounts itemized before you book and once you pay, our booking system sends you a detailed receipt by email.

International (Costa Rica and Argentina) trips have no additional taxes. Our international partner companies pay tax but it is incorporated into your trip price.

Guest cancellation policy

If you need to cancel your trip, please let us know as soon as possible. We require written notice of cancellation by email.

If you cancel your trip:

91 or more days before the trip start date—you receive a full refund of all trip fees you have paid to us minus a $100 admin fee
61 to 90 days before your trip start date—we’ll refund you 50% of all trip fees you have paid
0 to 60 days before your trip start date, or during the trip—we retain your whole trip fee.

We highly recommend that you purchase Trip Cancellation insurance to protect you from unforeseen circumstances (see ‘insurance’ below).

If Boreal River cancels

Boreal River Expeditions reserves the right to cancel all or a portion of the trip if a situation arises that is out of our control and makes the trip impossible or unsafe to continue—for example, a natural disaster.

Boreal River Expeditions is not responsible for additional expenses incurred by you in preparing for the trip (including non-refundable air tickets, visa fees, gear or medical expenses, etc.).

If this were to occur, whether or not we provide you with a refund would be at our discretion.

Minimum numbers

Each trip requires a minimum number of participants. When enough participants sign up, the trip is confirmed, and we’ll alert you so you can purchase your airfare.

Many of our trips confirm with as few as three participants.

If a trip doesn’t have enough participants, you can transfer to another date or destination, or we’ll refund you your deposit and any fees you’ve paid to us.

As a guest on a Boreal River Expeditions trip, you need to have appropriate Medical insurance and Medical Evacuation insurance. Any evacuation costs will be billed to the person that is leaving the trip. Insurance should cover emergency air evacuation from the river to a local hospital, medical treatment, and repatriation to a medical care facility in your home region.

We also strongly recommend obtaining Trip Cancellation insurance, which will reimburse you for the unused portion of your Boreal River trip if you must cancel prior to departure or leave your trip early due to illness, accident, or family emergency. If you have insurance coverage from a credit card or an existing plan, please make sure that it will cover you for the above mentioned emergency situations and that you are covered while participating in whitewater activities and remote wilderness travel.

Once you’ve made your choice and sent in your deposit, we’ll send you a detailed document that includes everything that you’ll need to prepare for your trip, including an itinerary, packing list, transportation options, directions, meeting times, and frequently asked questions.

We’ll also send you a detailed questionnaire so we can prepare for your arrival. That is where you’ll let us know about your:

menu choices, dietary requirements, and food allergies
pertinent medical history
emergency contacts
airport arrival details
any other goals of yours you want to let us know about.

Let us know if you’re planning a birthday or anniversary trip. We’ll pack a surprise!

Risk acknowledgement/Liability release forms

Each participant is required to fully fill out a liability release form. Once you register, we’ll send you a link so you can read and fill out the waiver form online.

Guest responsibility

Although no previous experience is required on many of our trips, as with any adventure, there is always an element of risk. If you have any physical limitations or concerns, please let us know. As we are not qualified to evaluate your level of fitness, we ask that you (possibly along with your doctor) determine whether or not you are able to join one of our adventures. If you have any special medical conditions, we encourage you to check with your doctor before you reserve your trip. Please also note that most of our trips take place in remote areas and evacuations can take a great deal of time and can be expensive.

You must also acknowledge that travel with Boreal River requires a degree of flexibility and understanding that the trip’s route, itinerary, accommodation, and modes of transport are subject to change without prior notice due to local circumstances. While traveling with Boreal River, you agree to accept the authority of the trip leader at all times. You need to be aware that group travel may involve compromise to accommodate the diverse desires and abilities of group members. We just ask that you welcome your adventure with an open mind and be able to laugh and have fun when encountering the unexpected. Boreal River is dedicated to providing safe, environmentally sensitive, well-organized, fun-filled adventures.

Boreal River prides itself on having some of the most accessible back country trips in the industry and we strive to accommodate all our guests. So if you’re unsure, give us a call and we’ll see what we can do to make our trips work for you.

Passports and visas

You must carry a valid passport and/or necessary documentation and have obtained the appropriate visas when travelling with Boreal River. Please ensure your passport is valid for the duration of your trip. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are in possession of the correct visas for your travels. Boreal River does not accept responsibility if you are refused entry to a country because you lack the correct documentation or the authorities deem you unsuitable for entry.

Storage of personal information

Due to the nature of our services, it is necessary to collect and store a certain amount of personal information. By providing us with your address and personal information, you consent to the storage of this information for a period of time deemed appropriate by Boreal River. We aim to permanently delete any of your personal medical information within two weeks after the end of the trip. We keep some personal information such as your name, phone number, email address and billing address in our database unless specifically requested to remove it.

Privacy policy

Boreal River Expeditions occasionally sends out an e-newsletter and activity-specific news that we think you’ll want to hear about. We will NEVER share your email address with any third-party company (unless it is for the purpose of coordinating trip logistics, for example booking airline tickets).

You can unsubscribe at any time by emailing or clicking on the links in newsletters. For more information please feel free to call us at 1 866 242 9383 or email us at info@borealriver.com.

Photographic release

Boreal River reserves the right to take photographic or film records of any of its trips. Trip members should be aware that Boreal River may use these photos or film for promotional and or commercial purposes without remuneration to the trip participants.