Prices, Reservations & Payment
You can reserve your First Light trip in a number of ways:
1) Use the Online Reservation Form, 2) Print and fax the Reservation form or 3) mail the printed Reservation form to the correct address listed on this site.

Trip deposit is $500 per person. Deposit payment is accepted in either check or credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express) in US Dollars. The balance of your trip cost is due 90 days prior to departure. If you reserve your trip within 90 days, full payment is required with your reservation. Payment may be paid by money order, check or credit card, in US Dollars. Prices are per person, double occupancy and do not include airfare. Prices will vary with longer or shorter stays and single supplement as well as certain times of the year. First Light reserves the right to change our tour prices until such time as full payment has been made. For individual travelers who wish to ensure they have a private room during the trip, First Light will charge a single supplement of $350 per person, payable in US Dollars.

To have your reservation accepted, a signed and returned Limitation of Liability, Release, Assumption of All Risks and Arbitration Agreement must be received with the Reservation Form at First Light offices at least 90 days prior to departure, to confirm that you have read and agree to those terms. For reservations made within 90 days, a signed and returned Limitation of Liability, Release, Assumption of All Risks and Arbitration Agreement must accompany your Reservation form along with the full payment.

Cancellation and Refund Policy
Cancellations must be in writing and are effective upon receipt in our office. All cancellations are subject to a $100 administration fee. If you cancel over 90 days you will only be charged the $100 administration fee. If you cancel between 60 – 90 days you will forfeit your deposit. If you cancel between 30-60 days you will be liable for 50% of the trip cost. If you must cancel within 30 days you will have to pay the full trip cost. No refunds are made for meals, lodging or services paid for but not used, or other preparations you may undertake. In the case where you must leave a tour early, for whatever reason, you will not be eligible for any refund.

If you decide to switch to a different trip you may do so within 60 to 90 days of your original departure date for a fee of US $100 per person. No changes can be made to your booking within 60 days prior to departure time, and the cancellation policy will apply. Trips can only be switched within the same calendar year.

Cancellation Insurance
When booking 91+ days in advance, First Light strongly recommends that you purchase tour package cancellation insurance immediately after your reservation is confirmed. First Light also recommends airfare cancellation insurance, which can be purchased when you buy your airline ticket. First Light does not recommend and cannot assume responsibility for losses incurred due to travelers using non-refundable airline tickets. For reservations within the 90-day period, we strongly recommend you purchase cancellation insurance at the same time you pay for the full trip.

Refunds
Once you have received a confirmed reservation from us, we will do our best to make that trip happen. However, in the event that it becomes necessary or advisable for any reason whatsoever to alter the itinerary or arrangements, such alterations may be made. We must also reserve the right to cancel any trip at any time and for any reason if we feel the safety of travelers or the quality of the trip is believed to be compromised. Should this happen, First Light will refund all payments received to date, which will constitute full settlement and release First Light from any further liability. First Light is specifically not liable for non-refundable airline tickets and other personal expenses incurred in preparation for a trip that is cancelled. If we cancel your trip, we will, if possible offer you an alternative trip. If this is not acceptable to you, we will refund all payments to date.

Eligibility
Travelers must be at least 18 years of age on all trips if traveling alone, except for Family Trips which are designated for children aged 12 and older (12+), 8 and older (8+), 5 and older (5+), and all ages from infancy (3+). Children on family trips must be accompanied by at least one adult family member. To participate in a non-family trip, you must be at least 15 years old, be accompanied by an adult and be able to cycle at least half the distance each day of the trip.

Health Insurance
We require that you have full health insurance, including sufficient coverage for repatriation and additional hospital and medical insurance to take part in a First Light trip. Proof of Insurance is due at the time full payment is made. First Light highly recommends that you review your health and personal insurance to meet the needs of yourself and your family in case of any loss of property, accident, injury or life while on the trip.

Preparing for your Trip
There are certain risks and dangers inherent in any form of adventure travel. First Light trips are designed with safety in mind, but you will encounter additional risks on an adventure trip than can be found at home. While our primary objective is to take the hassle out of traveling, provide you with safe routes, and provide excellent service, we also count on our trip participants to partner with us in helping to make this a great trip through preparation. Reading and understanding the What’s The Right Trip For Me section will aid you in choosing which trip is best for you. We ask that you are prepared physically, that you are healthy and fit and take time to read the pre-travel literature that is provided to you. As our traveling partners, we provide these trips on the understanding that you are taking a First Light trip because you appreciate the different cultures, etiquette, dining, accommodation and living standards that make traveling outside North America or Western Europe so rewarding.

Good Faith
Any information provided by First Light on matters such as permits, visas, clothing, baggage, vaccinations, climate, equipment, pre-and-post trip hotel and restaurant recommendations are given in good faith but without the responsibility on the part of First Light. In addition, the traveler accepts all responsibility for obtaining any necessary visas and travel documents required for the trip.

Health
By sending a deposit toward your trip purchase and returning your Reservation Form to First Light, you certify that you do not have any physical condition or disability that would endanger yourself or other travelers on the trip. If you are affected by any condition, medical or otherwise, that might affect your and other travelers’ enjoyment of the trip; you must advise us at the time of reserving your trip.

Risks
The term First Light on this website refers to First Light Bicycle Tours Ltd, UK limited company which offers and operates all the trips listed on the website. Trips with First Light, (hereinafter First Light Bicycle Tours, which term includes First Light, and it’s related and affiliated employees, companies, guides, agents, officers and directors) are designed to take travelers away from their home environments into places where attitudes, language, customs, safety, living standards, facilities, food and infrastructure may be of a foreign nature and less developed than found in the travelers own country.

First Light trips involve an increased level of physical activity and exposure from that found at home environments. Depending on the condition of the traveler, roads, weather and terrain, the traveler can find this physical activity demanding and can involve risk of serious personal injury, including permanent disability or death from accident, illness or the actions of other persons. Risks of theft, loss of property or damage to property are additional risks as are the lack of sophisticated or accessible medical facilities available to the traveler. In addition, certain services such as local tours, lodging, guides, transportation, food service and any other activities obtained from independent suppliers are outside of the control of First Light.

By signing the Reservation Form, it is understood that you realize the hazards involved in this type of activity and agree that active vacations of this nature must allow for a substantial amount of on-tour flexibility and alternatives. The trip itineraries must be taken as indication of what each traveler or group will accomplish and not as a contractual obligation on the part of First Light. Changes in itinerary may be caused by border restrictions, local political conditions, sickness, flight cancellations, weather, mechanical breakdown, acts of God or other unforeseeable circumstances. Accepting this flexibility and acknowledging that delays and alterations may result in inconvenience or discomfort is a condition of participating on any First Light trip. No refunds will be given for services not utilized.

Responsibility
To participate in an active holiday, it is necessary that you agree to abide by the authority of the Trip Guides who represent First Light. Signing the Reservation Form constitutes your agreement. First Light reserves the unilateral right not to accept or retain as a tour participant any person whose physical condition, health or actions in First Light’s sole judgment impedes the operation of a trip or affects the welfare, rights or enjoyment of fellow travelers. In the rare event that such a person be required to leave a tour, it will be treated as leaving a tour early per our cancellation policy. First Light’s obligations with respect to any funds received shall be those of a debtor and not a trustee.

Bicycle Hire
The equipment, including all accessories supplied, is provided on a hire basis. The equipment remains the property of First Light Bicycle Tours Ltd (the Owner) and the participating traveler (the Renter) will not sell, hire out or otherwise part with possession thereof.

The Renter undertakes not to misuse the equipment and to return it with all accessories in the same condition as when received (ordinary wear and tear excepted.) The Renter agrees to use the safety helmets provided as part of equipment rental, each and every time the Renter is on the bicycle equipment. The Renter agrees to follow the instructions of the Trip Guide in the proper use of the equipment and not to damage equipment by riding into or over potholes, rocks, trees, vehicles, other travelers or pedestrians or to throw down, stand on, bend, drop or twist equipment while in their possession

The Owner shall be entitled to charge the Renter for any damage caused to the equipment during the period of hire. In the event of a breakdown, other than as a result of the Renter’s misuse, the Owner will use his best endeavors to repair, replace or procure the repair of the equipment

The Owner shall not be liable for any damage whatsoever, through breakdown or other defects in the equipment or other circumstances beyond the Owner’s control. The Renter shall indemnify the owner in respect of all costs, claims, expenses and demands which he may suffer or incur and which arise directly or indirectly out of the use of the equipment during the period of hire. The Owner reserves the right to charge the Renter for partial or full settlement of any such claim.

In the event of the equipment being stolen, lost or damaged beyond repair, the Owner reserves the right to call upon the Renter to indemnify the Owner the replacement value of the equipment, being not less than $700. The Owner will not be liable to provide the Renter with another bicycle and will not be responsible for the inability of the Renter to continue with their trip, unless such a loss or damage is due to the negligence of Owner. In the event of theft, loss or damage due to the negligence on behalf of the Owner, the Owners responsibility will be restricted to supplying an alternative bicycle, of the Owners choosing, to the traveler in a timely fashion. The Owner will not be responsible to the Renter for any costs incurred due to delay, discomfort or loss of enjoyment during this period.

Joining the Group
All travelers must meet at the designated meeting point at the time specified to begin the tour. If you fail to arrive there at the appointed time, First Light shall not be responsible for any additional expenses incurred by you to meet up with the group. In the event you must leave the group, for any reason whatsoever, First Light is not responsible for any expenses incurred once you are no longer part of the tour. If you are arriving to the tour late, choose not to or are unable to complete the planned itinerary, First Light will not be liable to supply alternative itineraries, accommodation, tours, excursions, guides or services other than the planned itinerary and only when a traveler is with the tour group

First Light shall not be liable for any damages caused by the total or partial failure to carry out the trip if such failure is:
a) attributable to the traveler
b) unforeseeable or unavoidable and attributable to a third party unconnected to First Light,
or
c) a result of unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond the control of First Light, such as strikes, war, civil or political unrest, border closures, quarantine restrictions, government actions or what is usually known as ‘force majeure’, or
d) as a result of an event that First Light and its agents even with all due care could not foresee or forestall
e) due to the theft of bicycles or injury as a result of cycling either on or off the road, and in particular injuries as a result of either inadequately serviced and maintained personal equipment, including privately owned bicycles or failure to wear the correct safety equipment, in particular safety helmets while on the bike.

The Limitation of Liability, Release, Assumption of All Risks and Arbitration Agreement form must be signed by each traveler and returned to our office with the deposit. Should you reserve a trip within 90 days of departure, the form must be signed and returned with full payment. If the signed Limitation of Liability, Release, Assumption of All Risks and Arbitration Agreement is not received in the First Light office 30 days prior to the start of a trip, First Light has the right to consider that reservation cancelled. First Light reserves the right to resell tour space if the final payment has not been received by the due date.

The term First Light in this website and on printed documents refers to First Light Bicycle Tours, a UK Limited Company which offers all the trips listed herein. An officer of First Light Bicycle Tours may amend terms and conditions only in writing. All terms and conditions in this brochure are valid for calendar year 2002-2003.

Additional Conditions For Short Breaks, Self-guided, Mental Health Day
And Week Long Tours in the UK

All Self Guided, Mental Health Day, Short B&B and Week Long UK Tour reservations are subject to these conditions in addition to the general Terms and Conditions found on this website.

No tours will take place without full payment in advance for lodging and equipment. Due to the reservation requirements of partner B&Bs, hotels and country inns, all reservations, once confirmed are final. We recommend travel and cancellation insurance for all trip booked.

A credit card security deposit is required for all self-guided tours. This credit card voucher will be destroyed upon return of bicycles in satisfactory condition. All bicycles and equipment reserved and paid for are guraranteed and will be available by 9am on the first day of hire. Bicycles and equipment must be returned to the agreed location by 5pm on the last day of hire. We reserve the right to charge £10 per hour for late returns.

A Limitation of Liability Release, Assumption Of All Risks and Arbitration Agreement must be signed and received prior to tour departure. Failure to sign release will cause the reservation to be cancelled.

By booking and paying for tours, cyclists agree to follow The Highway Code including clauses ‘Extra Rules for Cyclists’ (Rules 187-211).

First Light reserves the right to re-possess equipment should a cyclist be found to be using equipment in an unsafe, discourteous or damaging manner. There is no recourse for refund of tour charges.

All cyclists must wear First Light bicycle helmets while cycling. Any person cycling without a helmet will have the bicycle repossessed and will be asked to leave the tour immediately without recourse of refund.

Young persons (age 16 or younger) will only be issued with equipment when accompanied by a parent or guardian.

All bicycles must be locked securely to a permanent fixture while parked. Locks must go through the frame and front wheel. Bicycles left unattended and unlocked are grounds for immediate repossession of bicycle and cessation of tour with no recourse of refund. Cyclists are responsible for bicycles and equipment in their possession and will be liable for a £500 replacement fee in the event of an unlocked bicycle being stolen.

First Light reserves the right to refuse service or equipment to any individual or group.

For full details see Terms & Conditions on this website.