2023 Tour Information

1. Terms & Conditions
Tour services are provided by Great Alaskan Tours (hereinafter referred to as GAT), whose name in full appears below. When you purchase a GAT tour by placing the deposit, you agree with GAT terms and conditions.

Great Alaskan Tours (GAT) PO Box 870155 Wasilla, AK 99687

GAT shall provide itinerary management and transportation to your tour services including accommodations/activities provided by our preferred operators/vendors during the first 6-days of your tour itinerary guided by GAT. Unguided days offer transportation by the preferred vendors booked on those specific days based on selected itinerary.  These days are booked by GAT, but provided by the preferred vendors. The terms and conditions shall conform to those specified for your tour itinerary, conditions as specified below.

2. Terms & Conditions and its Conclusion
Upon submission of the necessary non-refundable deposit, your deposit shall be applied to the tour fare, cancellation charges or penalties. The non-refundable reservation deposit shall be 25 percent of the tour fare if booked prior to Nov 15, of the year prior to departure, 50 percent of the tour fare if booked prior to Feb 15th of the year of departure, unless pre-arranged in writing. When booking group tour arrangements, (more than 6 people), these terms, conditions and cancellation policies shall be exchanged between GAT and the group representative. It is the responsibility of the group representative to convey all terms and conditions to group members.

3. Special Conditions
If you are under 18 years of age, you must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. GAT may refuse a guest if age, qualifications, skills or other conditions do not conform to those designated for tours aimed at specific customer categories or purposes. If you require special attention from GAT during the tour for reason of chronic disease, general ill-health, pregnancy or physical handicap, you are required to advise GAT of this when purchasing the tour. GAT shall comply with such requests to the extent deemed feasible and reasonable. In such cases, GAT may require you to present a medical certificate. GAT may refuse if conditions at travel destinations and facilities are such that safe, smooth tour operation cannot be guaranteed, or require you to be accompanied by an escort. Notification concerning your acceptance or rejection of your participation in the tour shall be made by GAT within one week after your non-refundable deposit is submitted. If GAT determines that you need medical diagnosis or treatment by a physician owing to illness, functional disease or other reasons during the tour, GAT shall take measures necessary to ensure smooth operation of the tour. All costs resulting from such measures shall be borne by you. GAT may refuse your participation if it determines that you threaten to inconvenience or interfere with the collective activities of all tour participants or for other tour operational reasons. Select tours have age limits and restrictions. Please ask your tour advisor about restrictions if you have children under 16 years of age.

4. Documents, Invoices and Final Tour Itinerary
GAT shall submit a written tour itinerary, details of the services and other tour conditions, via email for final documents. If your reservation is made within 30 days prior to tour departure, the final tour itinerary shall be presented on or by the departure date. The scope of travel services for which GAT is liable in arranging and administering in the itinerary, is specified in the terms and conditions below and in the final tour itinerary.

5. Tour Fare
The Tour Fare shall be paid no later than January 15 of the year of departure. When your reservation is made on or after the 15th day of January, the tour fare shall be paid before departure immediately upon booking. Tour fares (inclusive of non-refundable tour deposits and any additional charges), will be owed and payable, from date of reservation even without a signature. The children's fare is 75% of an adult fare for any multi-day tour. Children do not have a lower fare on single-day tours. The fare is indicated for each tour itinerary. You are asked to confirm the fare according to the departure date and the number of participants in your tour itinerary.

6. Included in the Tour Fare
The following may include items unrelated to the tours you choose. Please note that the items included in the tour fare are only those as specified in GAT itineraries. In principle, GAT will not make refunds for the below fare even if you choose not to use the relevant services.

Hotel Rooms: Rooms with private bath are provided at the hotels in our block space or separately booked on each itinerary. A client traveling alone is requested to book a single room occupancy by choice or circumstances. A $1,350 single supplement charge will be required. Triple room may be provided as a double occupancy room with one extra bed added.

Meals: Meals and beverages are not included. Some tours include a sack lunch in Denali National Park, lunch onboard a Kenai Fjords Day Cruise, some continental breakfasts at participating accommodations but these are complimentary and not guaranteed. 

Railways: Some tours have multi-transportation options due to 6 guided days and some rail unguided days. Rail is operated by Alaska Railroad and subject to their policies and conditions.  Gold Star Class service is provided on all tour packages. 

Park Fees: National Park fees are included where it is part of the itinerary, unless otherwise stated.

Excursions: Tours are operated by GAT vehicle, except on select excursions that may include taxi, motorcoach and/or sightseeing boat or plane on a seat-sharing basis, as well as rail previously mentioned. Also included are administration fees to cultural centers, museums, parks, etc. mentioned in each itinerary.

Transfers: Transfers are supplied by GAT vehicle, some courtesy shuttles are available by hotels, third party transfer service booked by GAT, or a taxi if stated in the itinerary. Transfers to or from the airport before/after your tour are not included on select tours but can be purchased for $50 per person.

Baggage: The transfer and handling of two pieces of  baggage, one standard size (up to 50 lbs) and one carry-on per person are included. However, at certain times and places this service is not included owing to limited baggage capacity on trains and/or ships and the unavailability of porters at stations, hotels and/or airports. Baggage restrictions apply when traveling to specific remote lodges. If you require more luggage due to continuing travel on cruise ship or other destinations, there is a storage service available which may incur a fee.  Ask your agent.

Guide Services: An Alaskan resident is the driver/guide for sightseeing adventures offered by GAT. These resident guides are resident persons with local knowledge of the area, some flora/fauna knowledge and local stories of their lives lived in Alaska.  They are not experts in biology, geology nor are they certified naturalists. Excursions provided by contracted vendors supply their own guides, with their guidelines for service and knowledge. For rail segments, except in cases specified in each itinerary, the GAT guide will not accompany the tour. A vendor supplied assistant will be provided for pick-up and meeting services.

Beverages: Complimentary bottled water is provided while traveling in the GAT vehicle. Meal time or evening drinks are at your cost. Alcohol is not allowed in the vehicles in open containers at any time, but is available for purchase both at local restaurants as well as provided stops at convenience stores.

Tax: Taxes listed include hotel bed tax, city sales tax, excise tax and may include port fees and park fees.  Tax is additional to base fares, as stated in the invoice and on the website.

Airlines: Domestic or International flights are not sold by GAT. Small plane excursions are contracted with local vendors and their policies and conditions apply. Sightseeing flights are included where stated in itinerary.

Note: In principle, GAT will not make refunds for the above fare even if you choose not to use all or some of the relevant services.

7. Not Included in the Tour Fare
Charges and expenses other than those specified in the preceding article 7, such as : Laundry, telephone, additional meals and drinks, daily fishing licenses, and any other expenses of personal nature; International and domestic air fares; Airport departure taxes; Airport transfers; Excess baggage. (pieces: 3 or more) Heavy baggage. (weight limits: Over 50 lbs.); Gratuities to any GAT Tour Guide or vendor guides, hotel porters and chauffeurs are additional and optional; Medical expenses for injuries and illness; Traveling and accommodation costs between arrival/departure and the start and end points of the itinerary. Transfers to the beginning departure point and from the ending departure point of the tour are not included. Travel Insurance optional.

8. Additional Fares
The additional fares over and above article 7 include the following charges: (Items explicitly stated in the “Tour Fare” are excluded); Additional charges for “Upgrade Plans” for upgraded hotels or class of room; “Hotel Extension Plan” to extend the staying period pre or post tour; “Upgraded Activity”, or any added excursion not originally included in itinerary and stated as optional.

9. Revision of Contents of Travel Services
GAT may cancel any tour or revise its contents and services for any of the following reasons: natural calamity or disaster, weather conditions, civil unrest, suspension of services rendered by transport/accommodation facilities, provision of transportation not based on the original operational plan, governmental orders, or other circumstances that are beyond GAT control. GAT reserves the right to take necessary measures when safe, smooth tour operation in accordance with the itinerary is deemed impossible, or when there is valid reason to believe that the tour cannot continue. In such cases, GAT must explain in a timely manner its inability to function according to the specified itinerary under the circumstances. However, said explanation may be made after revisions are made when conditions demand. If GAT cancels the tour before it is started, due to reasons not stated above and within our control, the tour fare will be refunded (less any non-refundable charges incurred). If GAT cancels a tour before it’s start date, due to reasons beyond our control, such as border closures, or government shut downs, a second date may be offered to move guest bookings or a travel credit issued.

10. Tour Price Guarantee
All tour prices are based on rates known at the time of deposit and expected to be in effect at the time of departure. Once GAT has received your non-refundable deposit, the tour rate is guaranteed and any subsequent increases with-in our control, are at our expense. GAT may revise its schedule of fees in accordance with increases or reductions of transport fares and/or charges for Tour owing to “unusual or unforeseen economic developments”, i.e., fuel surcharge. In such cases, GAT shall notify you no later than 30 days prior to the eve of departure, and you have the right to cancel at that time (less any non-refundable charges incurred). GAT may, when tour operational costs have risen owing to factors as stipulated above, revise your tour fare accordingly, except when substitutions are required because of a shortage of such facilities, as transport seats, hotel rooms, etc. If GAT specifies that tour fares are dependent on the number of participants and there is a change in the number of the participants due to client reasons, then tour rate will be increased to reflect the cost of each seat sold.

11. Change of Tour Participants
You may transfer your reservation to a third party (agent or other), upon GAT consent. In this case, the guest who is replacing you, is required to submit name change information in the form provided by GAT and submit it together with the specified handling fee. GAT may reject a change in the name of travelers if transportation or accommodation operator does not accept the change or for any other reason. Or GAT may impose a name change fee of $150 if such fee is necessary to secure the required seat.

12. Cancellation of Tour by the Client
You are at all times entitled to cancel your tour; however, GAT tours are non-refundable. If you change the departure day or any transportation/accommodations for your convenience, GAT may consider it a cancellation of the entire tour and cancellation charges will apply. If the tour deposit is not enough to cover the cancellation charges incurred, GAT shall charge the difference separately.  Cancellations due to Covid-19 may be covered by optional a Travel Insurance policy  purchase by the guest.  If insurance is not purchased, up to 50% of the entire vacation package costs, will be refunded, if cancelled by Feb 15th, of the year of departure, and cancellations meet the requirements listed.

13. Cancellation of Tour by GAT
If you have not paid the tour fare final payment by the prescribed date, GAT may cancel your reservation. In such cases, cancellation charge will be your deposit. In any of the following cases, GAT may cancel your reservation and tour: When it becomes evident that you do not satisfy the age, qualification, skill or other requirements specified by GAT for participation in the tour; when you are recognized as unfit to join the tour owing to illness or for other reasons, such as a positive Covid-19 test. When there is evidence that you threaten to cause other participants inconvenience, or might otherwise interfere with the smooth performance of the collective activities of the tour. When GAT cancels your tour, it shall review the cancellation reasons and determine the refund amount of the tour fare (or deposit) if any is due, received from you.

When the necessary conditions for a tour activity, as clearly stated at the conclusion of the terms and conditions cannot materialize, such as insufficient snowfall for ski tours, insufficient water levels for raft tours or when there is valid reason to believe that the required conditions cannot be met, GAT, even with a non-refundable clause, may choose to offer a future travel credit. In the event of a natural calamity or disaster, poor weather conditions, civil disturbance, suspension of services related to transportation, accommodations, etc., governmental orders, or other circumstances beyond GAT control, and when safe, and smooth tour operation according to the itinerary specified has become impossible, or there is a valid reason to believe that the multi-day tour cannot continue, no refund is due, and GAT reserves the right to offer a future tour credit.

When GAT cancels either your reservation or your multi-day tour outside of the above reasons, when it is with-in GAT 's control, it shall refund payment.

14. Cancellation Charge
If you cancel for personal reasons, the following cancellation policy will apply to your tour fare. If you are part of a private group, guests remaining in the tour will incur the balance of additional per seat costs associated with the change in number of participants. The following applies to cancellations of the tour spaces:

Cancellation Policy Cancellation Charge

(1) If notice of cancellation is received after reservation but prior to deposit: No Charge

(2) If notice of name change is received after initial deposit and participating vendor tickets have been purchased: Cost of vendor tickets

(3) If notice of cancellation is received after deposit and before January 15th, year of departure: 50% of the tour fare or 100% of deposit

(4) If notice of cancellation is received after final payment or on or after January 15th, year of departure 100% of the tour fare.  Please refer to Covid-19 specifics if cancellation is due to Covid-19.

If you fail to pay the tour fare by the designated date, GAT will assume you have cancelled as of the following day, and the cancellation charges specified above will apply.

15. Cancellation following Departure
Cancellation by Client: When you leave the tour group for personal reasons, GAT will consider it a forfeiture of contracted rights and claims to any refund.

Cancellation by GAT: GAT may cancel your tour after the departure date in the following cases: When you are unable to continue the tour owing to illness or other factors. When you seem to disturb the order of collective activities of tour participants by negligence of instruction from tour conductor or violent deeds or menace towards these people or those accompanying them, which otherwise jeopardizes safe, smooth tour operation; when the tour cannot continue owing to natural disaster, weather conditions, civil unrest, labor disputes, suspension of services by transportation or accommodation facilities, governmental orders, or other causes beyond GAT control. Effect of cancellation and refund: If GAT cancels your tour in accordance herein above, travel services rendered or not rendered to you shall be deemed as having been completed. No refund will be given. When GAT cancels your tour in accordance with the hereinabove, GAT shall, at your expense, help make necessary arrangements as requested for return to point of departure.

16. Refund of Travel Costs
Should GAT incur any liability to make a refund to you, in case such as the tour fare reduction, and if either you or GAT has cancelled your tour in accordance with above, GAT shall make said refund within 30 days from the next day of cancellation, when effecting refund before tour departure, and within 30 days counting from the day after the tour ends in case of reduction or cancellation after tour departure. However, should there be any expenses as cancellation charges, penalties, etc. which GAT has already paid or will have to pay for services not provided because of tour cancellation, said expenses shall be borne by you. You shall be required to request a refund at the sales office (agent office) where you bought the tour within one month of the planned tour departure day. You shall be required to return all tour coupons/vouchers when requesting a refund for said tour coupons/vouchers. Otherwise, GAT may not be able to make any refund.

17. Itinerary Management
GAT shall make every effort to ensure your safe and smooth traveling and shall not provide the services listed below, except when GAT have concluded a special itinerary to provide such services. When GAT confirms that you may be not able to receive the specified tour services during the tour, GAT shall take all necessary measures to ensure that you will receive alternate tour service. When GAT must change details of the itinerary even after taking measures for unforeseen changes, GAT shall arrange alternative services. GAT shall make every effort to create a revised tour itinerary to serve the purpose of the original one. Tour driver/guide shall be licensed as authorized driver by the State of Alaska and generally referred to as a “guide/driver.” Tour itineraries which specify “to be escorted by guide/driver” will provide such accompaniment as a general rule. The guide/driver shall ensure the safety of guests and smooth operation of the tour. You shall be required to follow the instructions of the guide/driver so that the tour can unfold safely and smoothly. Hours during which the guide/driver renders services shall, in principle, be from 08:00 AM to 08:00 PM. In certain tour itineraries, from departure to completion, a guide/driver may be provided only during vehicle operation. A guide/driver shall not accompany you on individual-type tours. Guests joining such tours will be responsible for procuring the desired services after being provided with travel coupons and/or tickets by GAT. In cases where travel services must be altered owing to inclement weather or other conditions during unaccompanied portions of tour, guide/driver will be responsible for procuring any required services on your behalf, unless the service is an optional activity procured by you on your own behalf.

18. Liability of GAT and Exemptions
In performing its obligations, should GAT cause damage to you through willful negligence or fault, GAT shall be liable for such damages. However, this only applies if the damage report is made within 2 years reckoned from the day following the occurrence of the damage. GAT shall compensate for damage to baggage, provided that said damage is reported within 14 days counting from the day after the occurrence, up to a maximum of $100.00 per person. Only applicable when damage is caused intentionally by GAT or through serious negligence. GAT shall not be liable for damages incurred by you if any of the following reasons apply: Natural disaster, war, civil unrest, and alteration or cancellation of tour itinerary due to such causes: Accidents during transportation or accommodations, damage by fire. Cessation of services related to transportation or accommodation facilities, and tour itinerary alteration or cancellation owing to such causes: Orders of either US or foreign governments, immigration regulations, isolation resulting from infectious diseases/viruses, and tour itinerary alteration or cancellation owing to such causes; Accidents occurring during your free activities; Food poisoning; Theft; Delays, stoppages, changes of schedule and route in relation to transportation facilities, and tour itinerary alterations and/or shortened stays at destinations owing to such causes.

19. Liability of Client
GAT requires you to indemnify GAT for losses sustained owing to your willful negligence, fault, conduct against public order and good manners, or breach of GAT terms and conditions. You are required to make every effort to utilize information acquired from GAT and to understand the details of your rights/responsibilities as well as the details of tour conditions. After the start of your tour, if you should find that the tour service provided is different from that specified in the itinerary, you are required to report the discrepancy to GAT or Arrangement Agents for GAT or Tour Service Providers immediately. You shall pay the expenses incurred if or when you ask for the personal accompaniment of a tour conductor for such purposes as guided shopping, etc., costs arising from your injury or illness, the return of lost baggage or articles left behind owing to personal negligence, as well as charges incurred by independent activity. You shall accept all responsibility for decisions regarding individual purchases at souvenir shops even when said shops are introduced by GAT or its local tour operators. GAT is an agent only for other transportation, accommodation and activity vendors. You agree that GAT is not liable for and you release GAT from any loss, death, injury, delay or damage to person or property or disappointment arising from or in connection with such services. Liability for such services will be governed by the terms and conditions between you and such service companies. GAT shall not pay compensation or provide condolence money when damages result from your willful negligence and/or illness. The same restriction applies should you engage in such dangerous sports and activities as rafting, flight seeing in small plane or helicopter, skydiving, hang-gliding (motor-driven or otherwise), mountain climbing, ice trekking, snow-mobile, dog sledding and others not included in the Organized Tour and engaged in. The following articles are considered exempted from GAT responsibility. Jewelry/precious metals, binoculars, personal computers or other electronic devices and accessories, data and similar items, cameras, documents, drivers licenses, visas, and similar articles, and sports related equipment.

20. Itinerary Booking Guarantee
GAT tours are planned up to a 1.5 years in advance and they may include the services of other independent suppliers e.g. accommodation providers, activity vendors, vehicle hire companies, ferries, rail, etc. Since we do not have control over such suppliers, we reserve the right to make certain changes to the tours. Changes to tours will normally be minor. Example of minor changes would be reversing an itinerary or reversing select days, so long as all original components are still provided. If GAT makes significant changes to the tour arrangements, you will be contacted and given a choice to accept the change or select an alternative tour.

GAT shall not pay compensation for changes when they occur for the following reasons: Bad weather and natural disasters which hinder the tour itinerary; War; Civil unrest; Governmental orders; Suspension of services involving transportation, accommodations, such as cancellation, interruption, cessation, etc; Provision of transport services different from the original schedule, owing to delays or changes in operation schedules; Necessary measures to prevent tour participant death or bodily harm. Even if major changes occur in the initial itinerary contents, GAT shall not pay compensation if they are changes listed in the Final Tour Itinerary, and the changes are within the scope of services stated in GAT tours. GAT shall not provide compensation when the order in which tour services are provided change from those originally stipulated when all services are provided during the tour.

21. Tour Payments
When we receive a reservation from you or your tour conductor/group leader, deposit shall accompany the reservation. Accepted forms of payment are credit card (Visa & Mastercard Only), cashier’s check, personal check, bank transfers, and bank wires.  International Payments are accepted by only two methods: 1) Bank Transfer, which will incur no processing fee from GAT.   2) International credit card, which will incur an inhouse 6% service fee. At the time of reservation, all information of the agency, agent, group leader or individual shall be provided. When payment cannot be made, we shall cancel the reservation, and be entitled to the same amount as the cancellation fees mentioned in the above, as payment for damage caused by a breach of contract. However, this shall not apply if travel charges are paid by a date GAT designates separately.

22. Privacy Policies
GAT and its entrusted travel agents will use the personal information provided in the tour application forms only for communicating with you and for arranging transportation and accommodations to provide the services request by you.

23. Use of Likeness
You agree to participate in promotional, publicity, or merchandising pictures during this tour. You hereby agree that GAT may use audio/visual portrayals of you or your likeness, if taken, during your tour. You hereby authorize the reproduction, sale, copyright, broadcast and/or distribution of said video, sound recording and pictures without limitations. You further agree and releases GAT representatives and agents from any liability, loss, expense or claims arising from distribution, broadcast, sale or use of his or her likeness or voice. You certify that you are over 18 years of age or have written permission from your legal guardian. GAT will attempt to exclude those guests who prefer not to participate, but no guarantees can be made by GAT that the guest will not be included in promotional materials.

24. Passports, Visas & Health Requirements
GAT will provide guidance at any time, but it is the guest’s responsibility to ensure that the correct documentation and health protection is obtained in good time before departure. This includes any known or unknown exposure to corona virus, other viruses, or diseases.  Guest must be aware of any State of Alaska Travel Mandates and their requirements.  GAT will not be liable for any failure by you to discharge these responsibilities, and you will have to reimburse GAT for any costs it incurs as a result of such failure. Examples would be costs for accommodations for isolation, or quarantines, transportation to separate exposed guests, loss of remainder of tour activities due to required separation or inability to complete said tour.

25. Medical Authorization:
You hereby authorize any medical treatment deemed necessary in the event of any injury while participating in Great Alaskan Tours. Appropriate insurance is highly recommended but in its absence, you agree to pay all costs of rescue and/or medical services, housing, or transportation as may be incurred. GAT Driver/Guides, are not required to have CPR or any medical training by the state of Alaska. GAT tour vans are not required to carry any significant medical or first aid equipment by the state of Alaska. Having stated this, GAT vans are equipped with standard First Aid Kits for your use in the case of minor injuries. GAT Driver/Guides may choose to offer assistance in the event of an emergency and will be covered under the Good Samaritan Law of Alaska. This law states “Persons, who in good faith, render emergency medical care or assistance to an injured person at the scene of an accident or other emergency without the expectation of receiving or intending to receive compensation from such injured person for such service, shall not be liable in civil damages for any act or omission, not constituting gross negligence, in the course of such care or assistance.” Medical Travel Insurance is highly recommended as GAT tours travel to remote wilderness locations and may require helicopter rescue/evacuation services.

26. Fuel Surcharge
Your custom tour prices were based on templates that were designed about 1.5 years in advance of departure.  We created the fuel surcharge as a caveat for unforeseen changes and we always hope to “NOT” have to implement it each year.  Your tour includes many transportation modes, such as small planes, jet boats, fishing or day cruise boats, which are over and above the cost of operation of our transportation vehicles. We envelop all of these increases when fuel rises. Thus when the “average” gallon of gasoline in Alaska reaches $4.25 per gallon, we will be implementing a $5.00 per person per day charge. This will be charged on the first day of the month of your tour. A revised invoice will be sent to you to reflect these changes.

27. Service Animals

Great Alaskan Tours are designed in such a way as to support small groups traveling to sometimes remote locations with limited luggage space. Therefore, it is not possible to travel with service animals in all components of every tour operated by GAT. Inquire with your tour agent regarding your specific tour itinerary if you are traveling with a service animal.