AVITURA TERMS & CONDITIONS
Last updated: September 2026 These Terms & Conditions govern bookings, participation in Avitura tours and journeys, and use of Avitura’s website and services. By making a booking, paying a deposit, participating in an Avitura experience, or otherwise using Avitura’s services, you agree to these Terms and any policies incorporated by reference.
1. ABOUT AVITURA
Avitura is a Canadian birding and wildlife tour operator based in Ontario. Avitura offers local tours, workshops, private journeys, international land tours and other nature-based travel experiences.
2. BOOKING ELIGIBILITY
You must be at least 18 years of age to make a booking with Avitura. Participants under 18 may participate when accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, or where other arrangements have been approved by Avitura in writing. The individual making a booking on behalf of another participant is responsible for ensuring that the participant is aware of and accepts these Terms.
3. BOOKING CONFIRMATION
A booking is considered confirmed once Avitura has received the required deposit or payment and has issued written confirmation. A confirmed booking does not necessarily mean that a scheduled departure has reached the minimum number of participants required to operate. Avitura will advise participants when an international departure has been confirmed to operate. Guests should avoid purchasing non-refundable airfare or making other non-refundable travel arrangements until receiving this confirmation.
4. PRICES & CURRENCY
Tour prices may be listed in Canadian dollars, US dollars or another currency as specified for the individual journey. Where approximate currency conversions are displayed, they are provided for convenience only. The amount payable will be based on the currency stated on the participant’s invoice. Participants are responsible for foreign-exchange differences, bank charges, credit-card fees or other costs imposed by their financial institution. Avitura reserves the right to correct obvious pricing errors before accepting a booking.
5. DEPOSITS & FINAL PAYMENTS
International journeys generally require a non-refundable deposit at the time of booking. The required deposit and final payment date will be stated on the individual journey page, itinerary or invoice. Unless otherwise stated, final payment for international journeys is due 120 days before departure. Failure to make payment by the required deadline may result in cancellation of the booking and forfeiture of amounts already paid. Ontario tours, workshops and other shorter experiences may require full payment at the time of booking.
6. CANCELLATIONS, TRANSFERS & REFUNDS
Avitura’s Booking & Cancellation Policy forms part of these Terms. For international land tours, payments are generally non-refundable. One deposit transfer may be requested at least 120 days before departure, subject to Avitura’s approval and the conditions contained in the Booking & Cancellation Policy. Ontario tours and workshops are subject to the more flexible rescheduling and credit provisions described in that Policy. Expedition cruise payments are non-refundable and non-transferable unless different terms are expressly provided for a specific departure. The complete Booking & Cancellation Policy should be reviewed before making a booking.
7. MINIMUM PARTICIPATION & CANCELLATION BY AVITURA
Some scheduled journeys require a minimum number of participants to operate. Avitura may cancel a journey if minimum enrollment is not reached or if operational circumstances make the journey impractical. Where Avitura cancels a journey for reasons other than Force Majeure, participants will receive the options described in the Booking & Cancellation Policy, which may include transfer to another journey or refund of amounts paid directly to Avitura. Avitura is not responsible for independently booked airfare, accommodation or other expenses arising from such cancellation.
8. ITINERARY & OPERATIONAL CHANGES
Birding and wildlife travel is inherently dynamic. Weather, wildlife activity, road conditions, accommodation availability, transportation, local regulations, safety considerations and other circumstances may require changes before or during a journey. Avitura reserves the right to modify routes, activities, accommodations, transportation, guides, departure times or other itinerary components where reasonably necessary. These changes do not automatically entitle participants to a refund. Every reasonable effort will be made to preserve the overall quality and intent of the journey.
9. WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS
Wildlife is unpredictable. Although Avitura designs journeys around productive locations, seasonal patterns and target species, no individual bird, mammal or other wildlife sighting can be guaranteed. Species lists, target species and anticipated wildlife experiences are provided as guidance only.
10. TRAVEL INSURANCE
Comprehensive travel insurance is strongly recommended for all participants and may be mandatory for certain international journeys. International travellers should obtain coverage appropriate to their destination and circumstances, including emergency medical treatment, evacuation and repatriation, trip cancellation, trip interruption, baggage loss and travel delays. Participants are responsible for understanding the terms, exclusions and limitations of their insurance coverage.
11. PASSPORTS, VISAS & ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Participants are responsible for ensuring that they possess all documents necessary for travel. This includes passports, visas, vaccination certificates, entry permits and any other documentation required by destination or transit countries. Entry requirements may change without notice. Avitura may provide general guidance but cannot guarantee the accuracy of government or immigration requirements and is not responsible if a participant is denied entry or unable to travel because of inadequate documentation.
12. HEALTH, FITNESS & ACCESSIBILITY
Participants are responsible for considering whether a journey is appropriate for their physical abilities, health and personal circumstances. Trip descriptions may include information regarding walking distances, terrain, elevation, climate and overall difficulty. Participants are encouraged to discuss mobility, hearing, sensory, medical, dietary, transportation or other accessibility requirements with Avitura before booking. Avitura will make reasonable efforts to identify appropriate options and accommodations where practical, but accessibility can vary significantly by destination and local infrastructure. Avitura may request additional information where reasonably necessary for participant safety or trip planning.
13. PARTICIPANT CONDUCT & SAFETY
Participants must follow reasonable instructions provided by Avitura guides, local guides, accommodation providers, transportation providers and other authorized personnel. Avitura may remove a participant from a journey where their conduct creates a safety risk, seriously disrupts the group, threatens wildlife or habitat, violates applicable law, or materially interferes with the operation of the journey. A participant removed for these reasons will not be entitled to a refund for unused portions of the trip and will be responsible for any additional transportation, accommodation or other expenses resulting from their removal.
14. ETHICAL WILDLIFE VIEWING
Avitura prioritizes the welfare of wildlife and the protection of natural habitats. Participants are expected to follow Avitura’s guidance regarding viewing distance, playback, photography, sensitive species, nesting areas, protected areas and other wildlife-related considerations. Avitura may alter or discontinue an activity where continuing would create an unreasonable risk of disturbance or harm to wildlife.
15. THIRD-PARTY SERVICES
Avitura journeys may include services provided by independent third parties, including hotels, lodges, restaurants, transportation providers, airlines, local guides, reserve operators and activity providers. These providers operate independently of Avitura and may be subject to their own terms and conditions. Avitura selects suppliers with reasonable care but does not directly control their operations.
16. AIR TRAVEL
Unless expressly included in the individual itinerary, international and domestic airfare is not included in the Avitura tour price. Avitura is not responsible for airline cancellations, schedule changes, missed connections, baggage issues or additional expenses resulting from airline operations. Participants should allow reasonable connection time and are strongly encouraged to insure independently purchased airfare.
17. BAGGAGE & PERSONAL PROPERTY
Participants are responsible for their own luggage, optical equipment, cameras, electronics and other personal property. Avitura is not responsible for loss, theft or damage except where liability cannot legally be excluded. Participants travelling with specialized photography or optical equipment should consider appropriate insurance coverage.
18. PHOTOGRAPHY & MEDIA
Photographs or video may occasionally be taken during Avitura experiences. Avitura will not intentionally use an identifiable participant’s image for promotional purposes where the participant has advised Avitura in writing that they do not wish to appear in promotional material. Participants should also respect the privacy preferences of other guests when taking or sharing photographs.
19. FORCE MAJEURE
Avitura is not responsible for failure or delay in performing its obligations where circumstances arise beyond its reasonable control. These circumstances may include severe weather, natural disasters, wildfire, epidemics or pandemics, war, civil unrest, government restrictions or advisories, border closures, transportation disruption, strikes or other extraordinary events. Where Force Majeure affects a journey, the options and limitations described in Avitura’s Booking & Cancellation Policy will apply.
20. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
Travel and outdoor activities involve inherent risks, including transportation incidents, uneven terrain, wildlife encounters, weather, illness, injury and limitations in medical services, particularly in remote destinations. To the extent permitted by law, Avitura is not responsible for indirect, incidental or consequential losses arising from circumstances outside its reasonable control or from the acts or omissions of independent third-party providers. Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability where doing so would be prohibited by applicable law.
21. WEBSITE CONTENT & INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Unless otherwise indicated, the text, photographs, graphics, branding, itineraries and other original content appearing on Avitura’s website are owned by Avitura or used with permission. Content may not be reproduced, republished or commercially distributed without permission. Information published on the website is provided in good faith but may change as destinations, pricing, wildlife conditions and operating requirements evolve.
22. PRIVACY
Personal information supplied to Avitura will be handled in accordance with Avitura’s Privacy Policy and applicable privacy requirements. Information may be shared with hotels, transportation providers, guides or other suppliers where reasonably necessary to operate a participant’s journey.
23. GOVERNING LAW
These Terms are governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario and the applicable federal laws of Canada. Any dispute that cannot be resolved informally will be addressed through the courts or another legally permitted dispute-resolution process in Ontario.
24. CHANGES TO THESE TERMS
Avitura may update these Terms from time to time. The current version will be published on the Avitura website together with the date of the most recent revision. Terms applicable to an existing booking will be interpreted alongside the booking confirmation, detailed itinerary and policies provided to the participant.
25. CONTACT
Questions regarding these Terms or an Avitura booking may be directed to: Avitura
Email: info@avitura.ca