Tour application forms must be filled out truthfully. We reserve the right to at any time cancel without refund tour applications we find to contain falsified information. If you have any doubts about how to fill out your application form, please contact us. Travellers must be very careful to fill out the application form correctly. Incorrect details may result in a rejection of visa application. In such instances, we will not be held liable for any resulting losses, and travellers may need to pay us a further fee to resubmit their visa application. If any of the details on the application form change, especially in regards to the visa application section, it is the traveller’s responsibility to inform us immediately with updated information. If travellers obtain a new passport since filling out the form, it is especially important that they provide us with the details and scan of the new passport. Please note that usually we submit visa applications right after tour application deadline a month before tours are scheduled to start. Thus travellers must avoid renewing their passport during this period. If for some reason travellers must renew their passport during this period, we will do our best to assist them in making sure they obtain their visa, but in the event that this is not successful we will not be held liable for any associated losses.We reserve the right to reject any tour applications from prospective travellers that indicate that the traveller might engage in behaviour that would break the law of the DPRK, cause conflict with staff of Tongil Tours and our partners, or create a negative atmosphere for the tour group in any other way. Any such rejections will be entirely at our own discretion.We only consider bookings finalised once we have approved of the prospective traveller’s application, and have received both the tour deposit and the signed Terms and Conditions Agreement (which will be emailed to all applicants, and can be returned electronically or otherwise). However, in the event that we see indications that the the traveller might engage in behaviour that would break the law of the DPRK, cause conflict with staff of Tongil Tours and our partners, or create a negative atmosphere for the tour group in any other way after a booking has been finalised, we reserve the right to cancel the person’s booking in these instances too. In such cases we will issue a full refund. If this occurs close to departure date, the refund may be minus any expenses associated with cancelling the traveller’s travel arrangements. Beyond a refund of the tour fee, we will not be liable for any associated losses. Any such rejections will again be entirely at our own discretion.
—Cancellation and Refund Policy
We understand that travellers may sometimes need to cancel their travel arrangements due to factors beyond their control. In such situations where travellers are unable to come but have already made a booking, they may cancel, in which case we will give a partial refund of all but the EUR 500 deposit. We will offer matching credit (i.e. EUR 500) for people who lose their deposits as a result of cancelling if they wish to participate in future tours. Please note that we do not accept cancellations after the tour application deadline (usually a month before the date the tour starts). In such cases where payment has been paid but travellers can neither participate in the tour nor have their tour fees refunded due to the deadline being passed, we will also offer matching credit for those who participate in future tours, minus any non-refundable expenses incurred as a result of cancelling the traveller’s travel arrangements.
If a traveller’s visa application is rejected by the DPRK embassy (please note that this is extremely rare), we will offer a full refund, minus any non-refundable expenses incurred as a result of cancelling the traveller’s travel arrangements. As in the case of tour cancellation, we will not be held liable for any peripheral expenses beyond the tour fee.
No refunds, or credit for future travel will be given after the commencement of a tour.
Please note that with all refunds, we will not be responsible for bank transfer fees.
If we must cancel a tour due to circumstances outside of our control, including but not limited to government actions and natural disasters, we will offer full tour fee refunds to all participants. In cases where the tour is cancelled within a month of commencement, the refund will be minus any non-refundable expenses incurred as a result of cancelling the traveller’s travel arrangements. In such instances we will not, however, be held liable for any additional expenses not related to the tour fee such as air tickets to Beijing (or their cancellation costs), bookings for hotels en route and in Beijing, Chinese visas and so on.
—Travel Insurance and Liability
Most travel insurance providers cover travel to the DPRK. We require that all participants have travel insurance with full medical coverage, covering treatment and repatriation costs, arranged for their time in the DPRK before travelling. Neither Tongil Tours nor our partners will be held responsible for any such sickness or injury sustained on a tour. In the event of such an emergency, we will work with our partners to provide the necessary treatment, which may even require evacuation to Beijing or beyond at the traveller’s insurer’s expense. In such circumstances the traveller must comply with the necessary instructions given by Tongil Tours and our partners for the purposes of administering medical care.
Comprehensive travel insurance that covers baggage loss, theft, and other such circumstances is recommended. While such cases are extremely rare in the DPRK, neither Tongil Tours nor our partners will be held liable for any damages or losses sustained to a traveller’s property during the tour in the event that they do occur.
As stated above in our ‘Cancellation and Refund Policy’, Tongil Tours will not be liable for any losses incurred as a result of tour cancellations. For this reason it is advisable that travellers book insurance plans which cover losses resulting from cancellations.
—Publishing, Journalism and Photography
We do not allow people to join our tours for the express purpose of publishing articles, journalistic pieces or photographs. Nor do we allow participants to speak to the media regarding their tours. If you do wish to publish such material, you must first consult with us and obtain our permission. Media relations must be handled very carefully lest the trust that we have built up with our partners in the DPRK be damaged, all participants must understand this before coming on one of our tours.
Tongil Tours reserves the right to take photos during any of our tours to be used for promotional purposes. By booking on a tour, travellers agree to allow their images to be used in such material. If travellers prefer not to have their images used in such photographs then they must tell Tongil Tours before the start of their tour.
—Itinerary
Travellers must understand that itineraries may sometimes be subject to change upon arrival due to circumstances beyond our control, and thus may differ to they are as advertised. We will always do our best to keep an itinerary as close to the original as possible. We will not be held responsible for any such changes. Please note that train and plane tickets are subject to availability. We reserve the right to change the mode of transport depending on availability. In such instances, we will not be held liable for such changes. Change in cost may be passed onto the traveller.
—Getting to Beijing for Tour Commencement
Travellers must understand that it is their responsibility to arrange visas and plane tickets to reach Beijing for the start of a tour. We are always happy to advise in regards to such travel arrangements, but will not be held responsible for any mishaps that might occur in relation to them.
—Tour Pricing
We reserve the right to change the prices listed on our website and elsewhere at any time. We also reserve the right to correct any errors in prices stated on our website and elsewhere at any time. Changes in exchange rates, and increases in the cost of travel expenses such as train and airplane tickets, visa fees and hotel costs are beyond our control and the increase in cost may be passed onto participants. Price quotations will not be binding until a booking is finalised after the payment of a deposit.
—Rules and Responsibilities During Travel
Travellers must understand that they are visiting a foreign country with different laws and customs. DPRK law must be followed, and local customs are to be respected. Travellers must obey instructions given by Tongil Tours staff members and our partners while on the tour. Travellers must understand that they must stay with the group during the course of the tour. They must agree to travel with the group and tour guides at all times, and not to deliberately engage in activities that deviate from the objectives of the tour.
We reserve the right to expel without refund those refusing to abide by the terms and conditions stated here. Travellers whose negligent, wilful or reckless actions cause damages to Tongil Tours must pay Tongil Tours for any such damages.
—About Our Terms and Conditions
We reserve the right to change these terms and conditions at any time. If changes are made to them, we will notify participants. Accepting these terms and conditions is a precondition for participating in a Tongil Tours tour. We require all travellers to sign and return (electronically or otherwise) a Terms and Conditions Agreement (which will be emailed to all applicants) stating these terms and conditions, and confirming that the traveller accepts them in order for their booking to be finalised.
If you have a question that is not answered below, feel free to drop us a line here
Updated May, 2017.
