Consumer Protection on Soul of India Tours
Soul of India is committed to consumer protection and follow The Package Travel Regulations. We’re also registered with the key regulatory bodies that have the greatest influence in ensuring consumer protection within the travel industry, so you can travel with confidence and know your rights are protected.
Our secure booking system follows strict security measures, including encrypted payments and providing ATOL certificates as proof of payment protection.
We keep in regular communication with tour members and our transparent policies mean you can be confident you’ll get the right support with everything from booking a tour to understanding payment responsibilities and health requirements, so that you can relax on your trip and know you’re safe while travelling through India with us.
OUR TRANSPARENT BOOKING SERVICE
Our simple, secure booking process makes organizing our Indian pilgrimage tours straightforward.
Once you’ve completed our online booking form, we ask for a £500 deposit per person to secure your spot, and you then receive your ATOL certificate. 10 weeks before departure, you can use our secure payment options to pay the remaining amount.
There are no hidden fees on any of our tours of India, and we are committed to transparency on pricing, tour availability, and any fees you must pay such as obtaining travel insurance.
Our personalized destination briefing notes clarify everything, including information on local customs, food, money and anything else you need to know about the areas of India you’ll visit on our tour. We send this information in a PDF via email, and a hard copy through the post 3 weeks prior to departure, so you’ll be well prepared before you leave. Our customer reviews reflect the level of detail we offer about your trip with us, with past tour members saying that our clear steps and upfront information keep them informed every step of the way.
TOUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS
It’s important that you understand our tour policies before you travel.
Check your booking confirmation invoice as soon as you receive it and contact us within 10 days for corrections or five days for ticket corrections. Our booking amendments and change procedures offer a clear overview of our policies and protocol.
We will send you all pre-departure information and itinerary updates ahead of your planned tour date and, if your trip is cancelled due to a lack of participants, we’ll tell you no later than your balance due date.
If for any reason you need to cancel your place on a tour, we will do our best to accommodate this and we aim to be flexible, however, charges may apply, in line with our cancellation and refund policy.
If you book your place within eight weeks of departure, or 10 weeks for group tours, we ask for the payment in full at this point. If you can’t pay by the allotted time, let us know, otherwise your booking may be cancelled.
You must follow travel insurance recommendations and check your travel documents are up to date. You should also apply for a visa via the link we send you, or through official government channels. Be aware that there are fraudulent sites offering quick visa applications.
DATA PRIVACY AND SECURITY
We’re committed to keeping all customer data private and have strong data protection rules for travelers’ peace of mind.
We follow GDPR-compliant data practices, never sharing data with third parties unless legally required by the government or regulatory bodies. Our secure and transparent data handling procedures also ensure we never store your payment data.
Our secure data encryption and storage practices offer robust payment security. Most payments go directly into the bank using an encrypted card system. We work closely with Barclays Bank and follow UK banking regulations to keep payments secure.
YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS
We are committed to going above and beyond to protect traveler’s rights and follow all consumer protection guidance, as well as any mandatory laws. Our regulatory industry memberships mean that your rights are protected at the highest standard. We adhere to all travel industry regulations and standards set out by ABTA, UK Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements, and Civil Aviation Authority rules to comply with ATOL regulations. This ensures your rights are protected at every stage of your journey.
For instance, ATOL and ABTA protection means you’ll be fully refunded and transported home if we stop trading whilst you’re abroad.
If you have any issues at any stage, you should let us know as soon as possible. We will do our best to resolve any problems as quickly as we can. However, if you want to address a dispute externally from Soul of India or escalate a concern, your rights are protected with ABTA. For further assistance, review our booking terms and conditions and ABTA’s arbitration service.
SOUL OF INDIA’S REGULATORY MEMBERSHIPS
We are recognized as a reliable tour operator and are backed by industry regulators. We’re ATOL and ABTA registered and accredited with the Civil Aviation Authority. These memberships will help you if anything goes wrong on your trip or you need to fly home or receive a refund.
We are accredited by global regulatory bodies, and our partnership with the FCDO Travel Aware campaign strengthens our commitment to upholding industry standards. Our information is continuously updated according to Foreign Office advice, so you can make informed choices about your trip.
We follow strict regulations, including ABTA’s Code of Conduct, to maintain our trusted industry recognition and affiliations and compliance with industry regulations, so you can feel confident that you’ll have a great experience with us.
Throughout our company’s history we’ve been passionate about responsible travel practices and committed to being recognized as, and affiliated with trusted industry bodies.
CUSTOMER SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE
Our dedicated team of travel experts offer comprehensive pre-departure support and booking assistance six days a week.
We provide personalised assistance with everything from booking a tour to creating bespoke, tailored itineraries in India based on your interests. We also keep you updated with any flight changes, or other important information relevant to your tour with us.
Our phone lines are open between 9:30am – 5:30pm, Monday to Friday and 10:00am – 4:00pm on Saturdays, or you can email us anytime. Before you depart, you’ll be provided with 24-hour emergency contact information.
We pride ourselves on offering expert, specialist service for tour members and our dedicated support team will help you travel with confidence on your trip to India.
