LCE China Tours · Booking terms

Booking Terms & Conditions

Updated July 2026

These Booking Conditions set out the terms on which you contract with us for the arrangement and coordination of delivery of travel arrangements which we sell as principal.

By making a booking with us, you acknowledge that you have read, understood and agree to be bound by these Booking Conditions. We reserve the right to change these Booking Conditions at any time prior to you making a booking request.

"You" and "Your" means all persons named in a booking (including anyone who is added or substituted at a later date). "We", "us", "our" and "Boutique China" means Boutique Experience Group Pty Ltd (ABN 77 690 688 834).

Bookings

A booking request is accepted when we issue a written booking confirmation and you have paid your deposit. It is at this point that a contract between us and you comes into existence subject to these Booking Conditions. We reserve the right to decline any booking at our discretion. No employee of ours other than a director has the authority to vary or omit any of these Booking Conditions or to promise any discount or refund.

Airlines and our overseas suppliers require names to be given exactly as stated in your passport. If you do not advise the correct information and we have to re-issue airline tickets or other documentation, then you will be responsible for any fees charged (such as airline cancellation charges or re-issue fees) in addition to our own reasonable administration fees.

You must check your booking confirmation carefully and notify us of any errors as soon as possible. If we made the error and you notify us as soon as possible, we will be responsible for any supplier-imposed charges to correct the error. In other cases, you will be responsible for these charges.

Our Role & Services

We are the arranger and coordinator of the tour. The services we provide to you for the tour are limited to (a) the arrangement and coordination of travel arrangements by third party independent suppliers; (b) the delivery of any travel arrangements which we directly control, own or operate; and (c) services incidental to the services described in (a) and (b).

We commence providing services to you as soon as we accept your booking. This includes (often significant) work undertaken prior to travel to arrange and coordinate the delivery of your travel arrangements. You also receive the benefit of work we undertake in anticipation of bookings.

Tours operated within China must, under Chinese law, be conducted by a licensed Chinese travel agency. For this purpose we engage Beijing Border Tour International Travel Co., Ltd (Travel Agency Business Operating Licence No. L-BJ-CJ100210) (the "Chinese Travel Agency"), which engages the local suppliers to deliver the travel arrangements comprising the tour. The Chinese Travel Agency, together with the hotels, guides, drivers, transport operators, activity providers and other suppliers engaged to deliver the tour, are independent third party suppliers and are not our agents or employees. Please refer to the "Responsibility" provision below which sets out our limited responsibilities in relation to third party suppliers.

Prices & Variations

Prices

Prices stated are in United States dollars ($USD) unless stated otherwise and are current at the time of publication. The most up to date pricing is available on our website.

Excluded

International and domestic airfares and airport/hotel transfers are not included unless specifically stated. Costs associated with passports, visas, vaccinations, insurance, meals (other than those stipulated), emergency evacuation costs, gratuities, and all items of a personal nature are not included.

Variations

We reserve the right to vary the cost of your travel arrangements prior to commencement for circumstances beyond our control such as the imposition of fuel surcharges or new or amended Government charges.

We also reserve the right to vary the cost of your travel arrangements due to currency fluctuations. However, we will not vary the cost for currency fluctuations once full payment has been received by us and we will absorb the first 2% of any negative currency fluctuation. You may cancel your booking and receive a full refund if we vary the price by more than 10% due to currency fluctuations.

Any such variation will be limited to the amount of the increase in costs, and we will notify you as soon as reasonably practicable.

Payments

Deposit

A deposit of at least 20% of the booking value is required within 3 days (unless otherwise stated) of us accepting your booking. Please note that we may not hold any services for you until we receive payment of your deposit, meaning that services may become unavailable or prices may increase, in which case you will be responsible for paying the increased price, and we will not be responsible if services become unavailable.

Deposit and final payment for airfares may vary depending on the airline. Different payment conditions for air will be communicated at the time of booking if relevant.

Final Payment

Payment in full must be received no later than 45 days prior to commencement of the tour. For bookings made within 45 days of commencement, full payment is required at the time of booking.

Note: some tours or particular arrangements may require payment earlier or in additional instalments and this will be advised with the booking confirmation.

Payment Failure

If you fail to make payment by the due date, we will remind you to make payment. In addition to the payment, you will also be responsible for any costs imposed on us by suppliers resulting from late payment. If we do not receive payment within 3 days after the reminder, you will be deemed to have cancelled your booking.

Minimum Numbers

Some tours are based on a minimum number of passengers travelling. We will advise you prior to confirming your booking if this is the case. If a tour fails to satisfy minimum numbers, it may be cancelled or re-costed. We will give you notice no later than 45 days prior to the tour's commencement. If the tour is re-costed, you will have the option to either accept the new cost or to cancel your booking. You must make this election within 7 days of receiving notice from us. If we cancel the tour or if you cancel your booking in these circumstances, we will at your election refund all payments made or credit payments towards alternative arrangements.

We will not be responsible for any other travel arrangements affected by, or any additional costs incurred, as a result of cancellation in these circumstances.

Cancellations By You

You may cancel your booking by giving written notice to us. We will make refunds to you less cancellation fees in accordance with the table below, calculated from the date which we receive written notice:

The cancellation charges specified above represent a genuine pre-estimate of the losses we will suffer if you cancel at particular points in time, including our committed and non-recoverable supplier costs and loss of expected profit.

For group departures, a transfer of a confirmed booking to another departure date is deemed to be cancellation of the original booking.

Other Cancellations

In these Booking Conditions, the term Force Majeure means an event or events beyond our control and which we could not have reasonably prevented, and includes but is not limited to: (a) natural disasters (including not limited to flooding, fire, earthquake, landslide, volcanic eruption), adverse weather conditions (including hurricane or cyclone), high or low water levels; (b) war, armed conflict, industrial dispute, civil strife, terrorist activity or the threat of such acts; (c) epidemic, pandemic; (d) any new or change in law, order, decree, rule or regulation of any government authority.

Force Majeure — Prior to travel

If in our reasonable opinion we (either directly or through our employees, contractors, suppliers or agents) determine that some or all of your travel arrangements cannot safely, lawfully or reasonably proceed due to a Force Majeure event, then we may:

• reschedule your travel arrangements, but only if you are agreeable to the rescheduled arrangements; or
• cancel affected travel arrangements, in which case our contract with you for the affected arrangements will terminate.

If we cancel affected travel arrangements, neither of us will have any claim for damages against the other for them. However, we will either:

• issue you with a credit equal to payments received by us for the cancelled travel arrangements, redeemable within 24 months of issue against any travel services offered by us; or
• refund payments attributable to the cancelled travel arrangements less: (a) unrecoverable third party costs and other expenses incurred or payable by us for the cancelled travel arrangements; (b) overhead charges incurred by us relative to the price of the cancelled travel arrangements; and (c) fair compensation for work undertaken by us in relation to the cancelled travel arrangements until the time of cancellation and in connection with the processing of any refund.

Please note that our ability to issue you with a credit may be dependent on our suppliers issuing corresponding credits to us. We cannot guarantee that our suppliers will issue corresponding credits and so in such circumstances we may opt to pay you a limited cash refund as outlined.

Force Majeure — During travel

If due to Force Majeure we cancel travel arrangements after your tour has commenced, we will provide you with a refund of recovered third party costs plus any third party costs we don't incur for cancelled travel arrangements only.

Force Majeure — General

Where a limited cash refund is to be paid by us, we will use reasonable endeavours to recover payments from third parties attributable to your booking, but we make no guarantee that we will be able to recover these payments either partially or at all. If after we have paid you a limited cash refund (or after we determine that no cash refund is currently payable) we recover payments from third parties attributable to your booking, then we will pass on this payment to you.

We will not be responsible for any other loss or costs you incur in connection with your booking (for example, airfares, insurance and visa expenses) if your tour or particular travel arrangements are cancelled due to an event of Force Majeure.

If we provide you with any alternative services or assistance where travel arrangements are cancelled or rescheduled due to Force Majeure which you accept, then you agree the amount to be refunded to you will be reduced by the value of these services and assistance. You must also pay us the difference if the cost of the alternative services exceeds the amount to be refunded.

Other cancellations

If we cancel your travel arrangements for reasons other than Force Majeure or a failure to satisfy minimum numbers you will be offered (at your election) a refund of all funds paid, or the offer of travel arrangements of substantially equal quality if appropriate. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we will not be responsible to you for any other expenses or loss you incur resulting from our cancellation.

Amendments By You

We will endeavour to accommodate amendments and additional requests. You acknowledge that these may not be possible to fulfil, and for group departures a transfer of a booking to a different departure is deemed a cancellation. An amendment fee of $200 per person will be levied to cover communication and administration costs for any changes to bookings. You will also be required to pay any additional costs charged by suppliers.

Amendments By Us

Prior to travel

We may occasionally need to make amendments or modifications to the itinerary and its inclusions and you acknowledge our right to do this. Most changes will not be significant. If we become aware of any significant changes to your itinerary or its inclusions that materially detract from the overall characteristics or value of the tour (where we determine it can still proceed), then we will notify you within a reasonable time and refund you an amount attributable to any reduction in value determined by us acting reasonably.

Accommodation

Due to the dynamic nature of travel, we may need to substitute hotels, vessels and other forms of accommodation with properties or vessels of a substantially comparable or higher standard. We will endeavour to minimise substitutions. You acknowledge that these substitutions will not be considered a significant change.

Alternative flights or trains due to safety or security concerns

If flights or travel by train is included in your travel arrangements and a scheduled flight or train is cancelled, suspended or materially changed due to war, armed conflict, civil strife, terrorist activity or the threat of such acts, or if we reasonably determine that the intended carrier, route or transit point cannot safely or reasonably be used, we may arrange replacement flights or train travel with an alternative carrier or on an alternative route. You must pay any additional airfare, taxes, carrier charges or ticketing costs reasonably incurred by us in arranging those replacement services. We will notify you of any additional costs as soon as reasonably practicable and use reasonable endeavours to minimise them. If, before travel, the additional cost is material and you do not agree to pay it, we may cancel the affected flight arrangements and the Force Majeure provisions will apply.

During travel

You acknowledge that the itinerary, modes of transport, accommodation and/or the tour's inclusions may need to change during your tour due to local circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including road conditions, poor weather, changes in transport schedules, and/or vehicle breakdowns.

General

To the fullest extent permitted by law:

• we will not be responsible for any omissions or modifications to the itinerary or the inclusions due to Force Majeure or other circumstances beyond our control happening after we have accepted your booking. This includes any loss of enjoyment or distress caused by omissions or modifications;
• if you are entitled to any compensation for any modifications or omissions, then you agree it will be reduced by the value of any alternative services we provide which you accept; and
• we will not be responsible to you for any other expenses or loss you incur resulting from any amendment or change to the itinerary or its inclusions.

During Travel

Behaviour & Authority

You must at all times comply with the laws, customs, and regulations of the destinations you visit, and follow the reasonable directions of your tour leader, guides, and our suppliers. Tour leaders have full authority to make decisions in the interests of the safety, well-being, and enjoyment of the group. If, in our reasonable opinion or that of our suppliers, your behaviour is illegal, unsafe, inappropriate, disrupts other participants, or significantly impacts our ability to operate the tour as planned, we (including any guide or supplier) may require you to leave the tour immediately. Any such removal will be at your own expense and you will have no right to a refund.

You are solely responsible for ensuring that any photography, filming, drone operation or other use of recording equipment during the tour complies with local laws and regulations.

Unused & Denied Services

No refunds will be made for any travel arrangements not utilised, whether by choice or because of late arrival or early departure. This includes the failure of common carriers to operate according to schedule, which we disclaim responsibility for.

If you are not fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and particular suppliers refuse to provide you with travel arrangements, then you agree you will not be entitled to any refund for those arrangements. We will not be responsible to you for any loss or expenses you incur (including loss of enjoyment) if you are denied services in these circumstances.

Other Services

We are not responsible for any additional activities or excursions which are not included in the booked itinerary or which we sell as agent for the principal operator. Any advice or recommendation given by us, a guide or local representative is made in good-faith, based on known information, and does not make us responsible for the acts or omissions of the principal operator of the excursion or activity.

Remoteness

You acknowledge and accept that some tours visit and include overnight accommodation in remote areas which are located considerable distances from hospitals, medical centres or other forms of medical facilities. It may take many hours before you receive any professional medical attention.

First Aid

There may be occasions where you require first aid due to an accident, illness, injury or other health condition. You consent to our (and our suppliers') personnel providing you with first aid on the basis that: (a) they are not qualified medical professionals; (b) we make no warranties and expressly disclaim all warranties regarding the standard of care that may be provided; and (c) to the fullest extent permitted by law we will not be liable (and neither will our personnel) for any care given or omitted. If you are unable to do so yourself, you consent to us seeking and securing any medical treatment that we reasonably consider you require. This may include attendance or evacuation by air. You agree to reimburse us for any costs we incur in seeking medical treatment or evacuation on your behalf.

Seatbelts

Where a vehicle, vessel or aircraft is equipped with seatbelts, you must always wear your seatbelt when in motion. To the fullest extent permitted by law, our liability to you for any personal injury, death or other damages or claims arising from an accident or incident involving a vehicle, vessel or aircraft you are travelling on will be limited or excluded to the extent your failure to wear a supplied seatbelt contributed to or caused your injury or death.

Health & Fitness

It is your responsibility to read the itinerary in full and select a tour suited to your ability and fitness.

Existing Medical Conditions

If you have a medical condition which may reasonably be expected to increase your risk of needing medical attention, or which may materially affect the usual conduct of the tour or your safe participation, then you must advise us prior to or at the time you make your booking request.

We may request you to provide an assessment of your medical condition from a qualified medical practitioner. If the assessment indicates that you are not fit to travel or will require special assistance which we cannot reasonably provide, then we may cancel your booking. Provided you notified us of your medical condition prior to or at the time you made your booking request, we will provide you with a full refund of payments made less an administrative fee of $200.

If you fail to disclose the condition prior to or at the time you made your booking request, or if you fail to provide a medical assessment within a reasonable time of request, then this will be considered a cancellation by you and cancellation fees and charges will apply (see "Cancellations By You" above).

New Medical Conditions

You must advise us of any new or changed medical conditions which may reasonably be expected to increase your risk of needing medical attention, or which may materially affect the usual conduct of the tour or your safe participation. We may request you to provide an assessment of your medical condition from a qualified medical practitioner. If the assessment indicates that you are not fit to travel or will require special assistance which we cannot reasonably provide, or if you fail to provide a medical assessment within a reasonable time, then this will be considered a cancellation by you and cancellation fees and charges will apply (see "Cancellations By You" above).

Non-Disclosed Medical Conditions

If any non-disclosed medical conditions mean that you will require special assistance which we cannot reasonably provide or if we consider it not to be safe for you to participate, then we acting reasonably may exclude you from the tour. This will be considered a cancellation by you and cancellation fees and charges will apply (see "Cancellations By You" above).

Dietary Requirements

Special dietary requests are required to be notified to us within 7 days after we confirm your booking. We will endeavour to communicate your requirements to relevant suppliers. However, we cannot guarantee requests will be met by suppliers. It is your responsibility to check that meals and beverages do not contain any allergens. We expressly disclaim any liability for meals or beverages that contain allergens other than in circumstances where we have been negligent.

Passports, Visas, Vaccinations

Passports & Visas

It is a requirement that you hold a valid passport with sufficient validity and any required visas for your tour. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are in possession of the necessary documentation to comply with the laws and regulations of the countries to be visited.

You warrant that each traveller is legally permitted to make this booking and to travel, and is not the subject of any applicable trade, economic or travel sanction.

Vaccinations

It is your responsibility to obtain vaccinations and preventative medicines as may be required for the duration of the tour. Any information provided by us is given in good faith.

Travel Insurance

It is a condition of your booking that you are comprehensively insured for the duration of your tour to cover medical requirements, repatriation, luggage and additional expenses. The choice of insurer is yours. We strongly suggest you purchase insurance at the time you pay your deposit. This is because cancellation fees and charges are payable from that time.

Acceptance Of Risk

You acknowledge and accept that travel involves personal risks which may be greater than those present in your everyday life. This could be as a result of the adventurous nature of your tour or from visiting destinations which present geographical, political or cultural risks and dangers.

You should consult guidance issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) applicable to the destinations within your itinerary. You acknowledge that your choice to travel is made having had the benefit of DFAT guidance, and you accept inherent personal risks associated with your travel.

Responsibility

Services supplied by independent suppliers

Where we directly engage a third party to arrange, procure, facilitate, provide or make available travel arrangements forming part of your tour, and that third party is not under our direct control, that third party is an "Independent Supplier". Our obligation in relation to those arrangements is limited to taking reasonable steps to select a reputable Independent Supplier.

You acknowledge that an Independent Supplier may provide the relevant services itself or may engage, appoint or sub-contract other suppliers, contractors or service providers to provide all or part of those services. As we do not select, appoint, supervise or control those persons, we are not required to take further steps in relation to their selection, conduct or performance. If we have taken reasonable steps to select the Independent Supplier, we will have discharged our duty to you in respect of those arrangements and any services provided, arranged, procured, facilitated or sub-contracted by the Independent Supplier.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, we will not be responsible to you for any loss, damage, personal injury, death or delay attributable to the acts or omissions of an Independent Supplier, or any supplier, contractor, sub-contractor or service provider engaged, appointed or used by an Independent Supplier, except to the extent caused by our negligence. Any claim you have in relation to those acts or omissions must be made against the relevant Independent Supplier or other responsible supplier, contractor, sub-contractor or service provider.

Services we directly supply

To the extent only that we are the principal supplier to you of travel arrangements or other services which we control, then we will provide those travel arrangements and services with reasonable skill and care.

We will only be responsible for our employees in the course of their employment, and for our agents and contractors (where we have direct control over them) if they were carrying out the work we had asked them to do.

We will not be responsible for any loss, damage, claim or expense caused by the acts or omissions of yourself, of any other third party not connected with the provision of the travel arrangements or services, or due to an event of Force Majeure.

Recreational services

If we supply any recreational services to you, then to the maximum extent permitted by law we exclude any liability for death, physical injury or mental injury or any other liability referred to in section 139A(3) of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) resulting from our failure to comply with a consumer guarantee that applies under Subdivision B of Division 1 of Part 3-2 of the Australian Consumer Law.

This exclusion does not apply to significant personal injury caused by our reckless conduct.

Recreational services means services that consist of participation in the activities referred to in Section 139A of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), being participation in:

• (a) a sporting activity or similar leisure time pursuit; or
• (b) any other activity that: (i) involves a significant degree of physical exertion or physical risk; and (ii) is undertaken for the purposes of recreation, enjoyment or leisure.

General liability limitation

We do not guarantee any schedule. We will not be responsible for any loss or additional expenses you incur for any missed connections/services attributable to delays.

You acknowledge that travel arrangements or services which comply with local laws and regulations will be deemed to have been properly performed, even if this would not be considered the case in Australia.

Australian Consumer Law and corresponding legislation in State jurisdictions in certain circumstances imply mandatory guarantees into consumer contracts ("Consumer Guarantees"). These Booking Conditions do not exclude or limit the application of the Consumer Guarantees other than to the extent they can be excluded or limited, in which case we limit or exclude the Consumer Guarantees to the fullest extent possible. Other than the Consumer Guarantees, we disclaim all warranties and guarantees.

Our maximum liability to you under these Booking Conditions, in tort (including negligence) or at law is limited to arranging for the travel arrangements to be resupplied or payment of the cost of having them resupplied. This limitation applies to the extent permitted by law and subject always to the Consumer Guarantees.

Indemnity

You indemnify us, and our officers, employees and agents, against any loss, damage, liability, claim or expense (including reasonable legal costs) to the extent arising from your or any traveller's breach of these Booking Conditions, or from any unlawful or negligent act or omission of you or any traveller. This indemnity does not apply to the extent the loss results from our own negligence or breach, and is subject to any mandatory consumer protection that applies to you. It survives completion of the tour and termination of this contract.

Photos & Marketing

By participating in the tour, you grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to use photographs and video recordings taken during the tour for promotional purposes. A traveller who does not wish their image to be used must notify us in writing before the tour begins. We will use reasonable efforts to respect that request but are not required to withdraw, recall or edit any promotional material already produced or published before we received the notice.

Complaints

In the event of a problem with any aspect of your travel arrangements you must tell us or make our representative or our local supplier aware of such problems as soon as possible. This is so we or our suppliers have had the opportunity to put things right on the ground.

If you notify us of a problem during travel and we haven't resolved it to your satisfaction, please follow this up in writing within 30 days from the end of your travel arrangements. This is so we have the opportunity to pursue the claim with our own suppliers (if relevant).

If you fail to follow this procedure, this may limit your rights to make a claim.

General

The contract between Boutique Experience Group Pty Ltd and you is governed by the laws of the State of Victoria. Any disputes shall be dealt with by a court with the appropriate jurisdiction in Victoria.

If you place a booking on behalf of another party, you represent and promise us that you are duly authorised to provide the agreement and consent of the other party to be bound by these Booking Conditions. You agree that you will be responsible for any loss or damage we incur if this is not the case.

The lead traveller named in the booking must be at least 18 years old. Where a booking includes a traveller under 18 years old, the person making the booking represents and warrants that they are that traveller's parent or legal guardian, or that they have the authority of that traveller's parent or legal guardian to make the booking and accept these Booking Conditions on the traveller's behalf. Any traveller under 18 years old must travel with a parent, legal guardian or other responsible adult who is at least 18 years old and is included in the same booking.

If any provision of these Booking Conditions is found to be unenforceable, then to the extent possible it will be severed without affecting the remaining provisions.

If you are resident in the European Union or the United Kingdom, the mandatory rights you have under applicable package-travel law (including our responsibility for the proper performance of the tour, and your rights to refunds and to assistance) apply to your booking and prevail over any inconsistent provision of these Booking Conditions.

Any personal information you provide to us will be collected, stored, used, protected and shared in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles and our Privacy Policy.