Booking terms and conditions

1. Who you are contracting with

These terms apply to every booking made with Serica Journeys, a registered business name of L Z Development Pty Ltd (ABN 85 167 079 727, ACN 167 079 727), a company incorporated in Australia with its registered office in New South Wales (“Serica”, “we”, “us”). By confirming a booking you agree to these terms.

2. What we provide

We design and arrange private day journeys in China. We are the organiser and the party you contract with. Ground services — guiding, driving, vehicles, admissions and meals — are delivered by licensed local suppliers engaged by us to our written standard. We remain responsible to you for the services described in your confirmation.

3. Quotes, bookings and confirmation

Prices are quoted per party for specified dates and party numbers and are valid for 14 days unless stated otherwise. A booking exists only when we issue a written confirmation setting out the itinerary, inclusions, exclusions, total price and payment terms. The confirmation prevails over anything on this website.

4. Payment

Unless agreed otherwise, full payment is due on confirmation. Payment is made to the Australian company by card or bank transfer. No cash payment is required from you in China at any point, and your guide will not request payment during the journey.

5. Identity documents and admissions

Many Chinese sites operate capped, real-name admission linked to a passport. Where your itinerary includes such a site you must provide accurate passport details by the deadline stated in your confirmation. We cannot obtain admission without them, and admission obtained against incorrect details may be refused at the gate. Where a reservation is lost because details were provided late or incorrectly, the cost of that admission is not refundable.

6. Changes by you

Tell us as early as you can. We will accommodate changes to dates, party size or itinerary where the ground arrangements allow it. Where a change causes an unrecoverable cost — a non-refundable admission already reserved, for example — that cost is payable by you; everything else is adjusted at cost.

7. Changes by us

Sites in China close for maintenance, weather, capacity management and state occasions, sometimes at little notice. If a significant element of your journey becomes unavailable we will tell you as soon as we know, offer a replacement of equivalent standard, and refund the difference if the replacement costs less. If no acceptable replacement is available you may cancel the affected journey and receive a full refund of it. We will never substitute an unscheduled shopping, workshop or showroom visit for a closed site.

8. Cancellation by you

• More than 7 days before departure: full refund.
• 7 days or less: we refund everything we can still recover from the ground. In practice non-refundable admissions and confirmed vehicle hire are retained and the balance is returned. The specific amounts are set out in your confirmation.
• Non-arrival at the agreed pick-up point without contacting us: no refund.

9. Cancellation by us

We may cancel where it is unsafe or unlawful to proceed, or where an event beyond our reasonable control prevents operation. In that case you receive a full refund of the affected journey. We are not liable for your other travel costs, which is why we recommend you hold your own travel insurance.

10. Your responsibilities

You are responsible for holding a valid passport and any visa or visa-free entry eligibility required for China, for arriving at the agreed pick-up point at the agreed time, for telling us before booking about medical conditions, mobility limitations, allergies and dietary requirements that affect the journey, and for following reasonable safety instructions given by your guide.

11. Suitability, fitness and risk

Journey descriptions state walking, stairs, altitude and terrain. Some journeys reach altitudes that do not suit everyone. If you are unsure, ask before booking — we would rather change the itinerary than have you attempt something unsuitable.

12. Travel insurance

We strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance covering medical treatment, repatriation, cancellation and personal belongings for the whole of your time in China.

13. Liability

Nothing in these terms excludes, restricts or modifies any consumer guarantee, right or remedy you have under the Australian Consumer Law or any other law that cannot lawfully be excluded. To the extent permitted by law, our liability for a failure to comply with a consumer guarantee is limited to resupplying the services or paying the cost of resupply. We are not liable for indirect or consequential loss, or for loss caused by events beyond our reasonable control.

14. Complaints

Raise problems with your guide at the time if you can — most things can be fixed on the day. If that does not resolve it, write to [email protected]. We acknowledge complaints within 5 business days and respond substantively within 20.

15. Privacy

We handle personal information in accordance with our privacy notice, which explains how passport details are used for site admissions.

16. Governing law

These terms are governed by the law of New South Wales, Australia, and the courts of New South Wales have non-exclusive jurisdiction.