Passenger Requirements

MacBackpackers tours are designed for young travellers and backpackers. All passengers MUST be between the ages of 18 and 39. We stay in dormitory-style accommodation in youth hostels with strict 18+ policies, and you may be required to present a passport or other form of government issued ID as proof of identity. We go on hikes where the weather and terrain can be difficult at times, as such we advise that a reasonable level of fitness is required, and recommend you bring sturdy shoes/boots and warm waterproof clothing.  By agreeing to our terms and conditions you recognise these elements of the tour. MacBackpackers reserves the right to refuse carriage to anyone if it is felt they cannot cope with the requirements of the trip and may require services and facilities that MacBackpackers cannot guarantee. MacBackpackers reserves the right to refuse carriage to any individual who behaves in an unacceptable manner or is in an unsuitable condition to travel e.g. drunk and disorderly. In such circumstances no refund will be offered.

Booking

Tour prices are for transport and driver-guide only. Accommodation is pre-booked for you and unless stated otherwise, not included in the price and should be paid for at the tour departure point when you arrive for your tour. Full payment for the tour must be received in order to confirm a booking. A 25% non-refundable deposit can be paid to secure a space on a tour, payment of the remaining balance is required at least 28 days prior to departure in order to confirm the booking. If the final payment is not made within the designated time, your booking may be cancelled, resulting in the loss of your deposit. If a discount code is applicable, the discount rate is calculated from the FULL original price of the tour departure even if the price has subsequently been reduced. Discount codes cannot be applied retrospectively. It is the passenger’s responsibility to ensure that the details given in their confirmation email are correct. Bookings are not confirmed until you have received email confirmation from MacBackpackers (in addition to any correspondence from our agents/payment gateway providers) with your booking reference and details of the tour departure – it is the customer’s responsibility to ensure that they have received this. In the event that confirmation has not been received within 24 hours of booking please contact our booking office directly at info@macbackpackers.com.

Cancellations, Transfer and Refunds

All requests for cancellations must be made by the lead customer on the booking and be made in writing to info@macbackpackers.com. All deposits are non-refundable. Where only the deposit has been paid, no refund applies.  Where payment has been made in full, the following conditions apply: 

• More than 14 days prior to departure; a refund of 75% will be issued, alternatively you may transfer free of charge to another departure date of the same or lesser value. Should you wish to transfer to a tour of a greater value, you must pay the difference. 
• 2 to 14 days prior to departure; no refund applies however you may transfer your booking to another date subject to an administration fee of £10.
• Within 48 hours of departure; transfers are subject to an administration fee of £50.

To arrange a transfer, please contact the booking office directly at info@macbackpackers.com. Transferred bookings are non-refundable and subject to availability. Where the price of the transferred tour is lesser than the original price, no refund will be issued, unless over 28 days prior to departure. Special conditions may apply to non-standard departures (e.g. Festive & Easter packages). Please note that no Covid-19 policy applies, in line with all current UK and Scottish Government guidelines. Cancellations by the customer as a result of circumstances beyond our control e.g. travel disruptions or natural disasters are at the discretion of MacBackpackers. MacBackpackers cannot accept responsibility for losses relating to travel to and from tour departure/return points, or losses relating to accommodations booked before and after the tour date, unless these items have been purchased directly through our website. In the very unlikely event of a tour cancellation by MacBackpackers we will refund the customer, on a pro-rata basis, up to the full amount of the price paid by the customer for the tour, and any accommodation paid for in advance.

Travelling

Luggage considered to be excessive may not be carried due to limited space on the bus, particularly large hard suitcases. Any cabin-sized bag or rucksack equivalent is adequate for our tours, and any luggage above this size can be stored for the duration of the tour in the Edinburgh hostel you depart from. Please arrange this well before departure time. It is your responsibility to ensure that you arrive in good time for the departure. MacBackpackers cannot delay departures for late arrivals however we will always assist you, where possible, to join the tour at a later stage. In this instance, any additional costs will be incurred by the passenger and not MacBackpackers. All return times are approximate and may be affected by factors beyond our control e.g. weather, road-works or even breakdown. MacBackpackers cannot accept responsibility for any ongoing travel tickets lost as a result of a late return to Edinburgh and always advise that you stay in Edinburgh upon your return. Personal travel insurance is not included in the price of the tour. The company strongly recommends you take out comprehensive travel insurance cover for cancellation, medical expenses, personal accident, personal baggage/belongings, money and public liability before you travel.

Accommodation

Accommodation whilst on tour is reserved for you – you just have to pay on arrival. Accommodation is dormitory (bunk-bed) style in our award-winning independent hostels throughout the Highlands and Islands. Please ensure that you carry a valid passport in order to check into the hostels. Original documents only. Other forms of documentation may be accepted subject to prior arrangement with MacBackpackers. You may be refused accommodation if you do not carry the correct ID.

General

All website/brochure information is correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change. The itineraries are not set in stone! Your guide will use their knowledge to modify the itinerary to best suit the tour. Itineraries should be used as a guide only and may be, in rare circumstances, changed without notice. Special offers are subject to availability, discounts are non-transferable and no cash alternative will be offered. The company reserves the right to change the size or type of coach operating on each tour. The company cannot be held responsible for any personal belongings left behind, lost or damaged on any trip irrespective of circumstances, however we will do our best to return any personal belongings left behind. In such instances any postage cost will be incurred by the customer. The company cannot accept liability or responsibility for the actions of independent contractors, their employees or representatives.

Data Protection

At MacBackpackers, we value your privacy. To ensure your travel arrangements run smoothly, we need some personal information such as your name, address, contact details, any special requirements, etc. Furthermore, we are required to pass this information on to third parties, including the hostels and other providers relevant to your booking. We won’t release your information to anyone who isn’t directly involved in providing or arranging any product or service related to your booking. If you decide to opt-in to special offers and promotions, we use your information to keep you updated about our products and services from time to time. Your contact details will not be passed onto any third parties, and you can unsubscribe anytime. Please note that our staff may, on occasion, take photos and videos on our tours and in our hostels. By agreeing to these terms and conditions you hereby consent to your image being used by MacBackpackers for promotional purposes, both online and in print. Should you wish to opt out, get in contact with customer service at info@macbackpackers.com. 

We use TourCMS to securely handle our bookings and WorldPay to securely process the payments. You can find WorldPay's Privacy Notice here.

MacBackpackers Ltd – Registered in Scotland No SC169936