Cancellation & Refund Policy

Last updated: 28 October 2026

Most of our travellers pay only a 10% deposit before the trip and the rest in cash on the first day. This means that if you cancel, in most cases only your deposit is affected. This policy is part of our Booking Terms.

1. If you cancel
2. If your visa is refused
3. If we cancel
4. Changing your dates
5. If you paid more than the deposit
6. Group tours
7. During the tour
8. How to cancel
9. How refunds are paid

1. If you cancel

The refund depends on how many days before the start of your tour we receive your cancellation:

When you cancel	Refund of your deposit
30 days or more before the tour	Full refund
14–29 days before the tour	50% of the deposit
Less than 14 days before the tour	No refund
No-show on the first day	No refund

e-Visa already submitted: if we have already submitted your e-Visa application when you cancel, a non-refundable fee of US$30 per person is kept to cover the work on your application. The visa fee itself is paid to the authorities and cannot be refunded.

2. If your visa is refused

If the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan refuses your e-Visa, we refund your deposit in full. The visa fee paid to the authorities cannot be refunded.

This does not apply if the visa was refused because the passport details or documents you sent us were incorrect or incomplete. In that case, the rules in section 1 apply.

3. If we cancel

Sometimes we have to cancel or shorten a tour for reasons outside anyone's control, such as a border closure, extreme weather, road closures or safety concerns. If we cancel your tour before it starts, you choose:

• new dates for the same or a similar tour, with your deposit carried over, or
• a 100% refund of everything you have paid to us.

If a part of the tour cannot take place after the trip has started, we will offer an alternative visit or refund the cost of the services you did not receive.

4. Changing your dates

• You can move your tour to new dates once, free of charge, if you tell us 14 days or more before the tour starts.
• If your e-Visa has already been issued for the old dates, a new visa may be needed. The new visa fee is paid by you.
• A change of dates made less than 14 days before the tour is treated as a cancellation (section 1).
• If the price for your new dates is different, we will tell you before you confirm the change.

5. If you paid more than the deposit

If you paid the balance before the tour by Wise bank transfer or by card, and then cancel, the balance is refunded in full, and your deposit is refunded according to section 1.

Transfer and card processing fees charged by Wise, Stripe or your bank are not refundable.

6. Group tours

When you join a group tour, these rules apply to your own deposit. If another traveller in your group cancels and the seat is not filled by 14 days before departure, you can choose to cancel with a full refund of your deposit, or continue at the price for the new group size. See section 3 of our Booking Terms.

7. During the tour

• If you decide to leave the tour early, or miss parts of it for personal reasons, unused days and services are not refunded.
• If a traveller seriously breaks local laws or ignores the guide's safety instructions, we may end their tour. In this case, no refund is given.
• Flight delays, missed connections or travel to and from Turkmenistan are not covered by this policy. We recommend travel insurance with cancellation cover.

8. How to cancel

Please send your cancellation in writing by email or WhatsApp. The date we receive your message is the date used to calculate your refund.

• WhatsApp: +993 62 118617
• Email: next.darvazatour@gmail.com
• Urgent: davud@darvazatour.com

9. How refunds are paid

Approved refunds are paid within 5–10 business days, using the same method you used to pay (card, Wise or cash). Depending on your bank, it can take a few more days for the money to appear in your account.

We may update this policy from time to time. The version published on this page on the date of your booking applies to your trip.