Booking Terms & Payment Policy

To secure your booking and confirm ground logistics, the following payment schedule applies:

• Deposit: A 50% installment of the total tour cost is required to lock in the tour dates and confirm the booking.
• Final Balance: The remaining 50% balance is due no later than 60 days prior to the scheduled tour start date.

Cancellation fees are calculated based on the exact date we receive your written notice of cancellation. The following tiered schedule applies to the total per-person tour cost:

• 90 days or more prior to scheduled departure 5% of the total cost per person
• 45 days or more prior to scheduled departure 15% of the total cost per person
• 15 to 44 days prior to scheduled departure 30% of the total cost per person
• 7 to 14 days prior to scheduled departure 50% of the total cost per person
• 6 days or less prior to scheduled departure 100% of the total cost per person

• Third-Party Deductions: Any supplementary cancellation fees levied by external service providers (e.g., payment gateways, domestic airlines, hotel partners, or railway operators) will be deducted directly from your final refund balance.
• Name Transfers: Substituting a traveler's name on a confirmed booking is processed as a standard cancellation and is subject to the fee schedule outlined above.
• Unused Tour Services: No refunds will be issued for unused services (including accommodations, transport logistics, meals, or admission fees) once the itinerary has commenced, regardless of late arrivals, early departures, or partial daily participation.

Every guided tour runs to the same operating standards, and they are part of what you are booking:

• Guide Ratio: We maintain a maximum of one guide to every six guests, so nobody rides unsupported.
• Included Insurance: Every rider is covered by a 1,000,000 RMB personal accident policy. Issuing it requires a scan of your passport photo page at the confirmation stage — see our Privacy Policy for how that document is handled.
• Helmets and Lighting: Helmets are mandatory for all riders. Magicshine 1,500-lumen front lights and flashing rear lights are supplied for every low-light phase of a route.
• E-Bike Specification: Our e-bike fleet is capped at the 25 km/h factory assist limit, for rider safety and to stay within Chinese regulations.
• Dynamic Routing: In poor weather or on compromised trails, your guides will pivot from mountain and hiking phases to low-altitude paved routes rather than press on. Route changes made on safety grounds are not grounds for a refund.
• On-Road Support: Red Cross-certified guides ride with the group, backed by a dedicated Mercedes V-Class support van carrying tools, spares, power stations and provisions — the full checklist is below.

We recognize that international travel can be impacted by unforeseen events. Because our cancellation schedule must be strictly enforced to cover prepaid ground operations, we highly recommend that all guests purchase comprehensive travel and trip-cancellation insurance immediately after paying their deposit. This is separate from, and in addition to, the 1,000,000 RMB personal accident cover we include. Insurance is particularly crucial to avoid financial loss in the following scenarios:

• Volatile Regions & Political Changes: For guests traveling from countries experiencing conflict, war, or sudden political shifts, standard medical insurance will not cover a trip cancelled out of fear or geopolitical instability. We strongly suggest purchasing "Cancel for Any Reason" (CFAR) coverage.
• Senior Travelers (Ages 70–80): Older demographics are more vulnerable to sudden health changes prior to departure. Specialized insurance covering acute pre-existing conditions and offering CFAR benefits is highly advised.
• Transit Delays & Interruptions: Flight or train cancellations, delays, or schedule changes can force guests to return early or incur high out-of-pocket costs for rebooking local and international transit. A robust travel policy will protect against these unexpected travel interruptions.

Below are our highly suggested insurance partners that offer comprehensive medical coverage, adventure cycling protection, and "Cancel for Any Reason" (CFAR) upgrades:

• Allianz Travel
  Recommended Product: OneTrip Premier
  allianztravelinsurance.com
• AXA Travel Insurance
  Recommended Product: Gold or Platinum
  axatravelinsurance.com
• The Phoenix Insurance Company / Trip Guaranty
  Specifically recommended for Israeli clients requiring specialized CFAR coverage
  fnx.co.il (Hebrew) phoenixfinancial.co.il (English)

China is now a completely cashless society. To ensure your CycleQuest China journey is seamless, we use a two-part payment system:

• Tour & Rental Fees: For major bookings, we highly recommend an International Wire Transfer or paying through our secure website gateway. Large transactions on mobile apps often face strict limits or prompt automatic bank fraud blocks.
• Daily Expenses: For on-the-road incidentals (snacks, souvenirs, or gear upgrades), Alipay and WeChat Pay are absolute essentials. Set one of them up with an international Visa or Mastercard before you fly — registration is far harder once you land. You can then scan QR codes for day-to-day payments anywhere in China.
• Service Fee: Alipay and WeChat Pay levy a 3% service fee on transactions above 200 RMB paid with an international card. Below that threshold there is no fee.
• Cash Reserve: Carry around 200 RMB in cash. A handful of remote village stops on our routes have patchy connectivity, and cash is the fallback.