Terms & Conditions.

1. Service Overview

Ceylon Backroads designs and operates private luxury 4x4 travel experiences through Sri Lanka’s hidden routes, backroads, highlands, coastal landscapes, village roads, estate routes, waterfalls, lagoons, and less-visited destinations.

Our services may include route planning, private transport, driver and guide services, accommodation coordination, meals, selected activities, local experiences, and other services confirmed in your quotation or itinerary.

Some routes are fixed expeditions with a planned structure, while selected routes may be tailored depending on guest preference, route suitability, weather, road conditions, accommodation availability, and operational feasibility.

2. Eligibility & Guest Responsibility

By booking with Ceylon Backroads, you confirm that you are legally able to enter into a booking agreement and that all information you provide is accurate.

If you are booking on behalf of other guests, you are responsible for making sure that all guests in your group understand and accept these Terms & Conditions.

Guests are responsible for choosing a route suitable for their health, comfort, fitness level, age, mobility, and travel expectations. Some routes may include long drives, rough roads, remote locations, walking, boat rides, kayaking, coastal areas, mountain roads, waterfalls, heat, cold weather, rain, or limited facilities.

3. Booking Policy

Bookings should be made at least 30 days before the intended travel date. This allows us enough time to arrange hotels, vehicles, guides, activities, permits where applicable, route planning, and local coordination.

Bookings made less than 30 days before travel may still be considered, but they are subject to availability and may require faster payment confirmation.

A booking is not confirmed until the required advance payment has been received and Ceylon Backroads has issued a booking confirmation.

4. Payment Terms

Payments are made in two stages:

Advance Payment: An advance payment is required to confirm the trip. This payment is used to secure hotels, accommodation, vehicle allocation, guide arrangements, activities, and route preparation.

Balance Payment: The remaining balance must be paid on or before the end of the trip, depending on the agreed booking terms.

Failure to complete payment on time may result in changes, suspension, or cancellation of the booking.

5. Pricing & Inclusions

Prices are based on the confirmed route, group size, travel date, pickup and drop-off locations, accommodation availability, vehicle requirement, route conditions, selected activities, and included services.

Listed prices are starting prices and may vary. The final price will be confirmed in your quotation before booking.

Unless otherwise stated, any additional activities, hotel extras, room upgrades, minibar use, laundry, room service, special meals, personal purchases, route extensions, extra stops, or services outside the confirmed package are not included and must be paid by the guest.

6. Cancellations & Refunds

Cancellation requests must be made in writing through email, WhatsApp, or another confirmed communication method.

If a guest cancels within the final 7 days before the trip starts, no refund will be provided.

Advance payments used to confirm hotels, accommodation, activities, vehicles, guides, or other third-party arrangements are non-refundable once those arrangements have been made.

If a guest cancels more than 7 days before the trip, any refund will depend on the recoverable amount after deducting hotel charges, supplier fees, planning costs, bank charges, administrative costs, and other confirmed expenses.

No refund will be provided for unused services if a guest chooses to leave the trip early, skip an included activity, arrive late, miss part of the itinerary, or fail to follow the agreed schedule.

7. Route Changes, Weather & Safety

Our routes are carefully planned, but they may change due to weather, road conditions, landslides, flooding, sea conditions, local restrictions, vehicle access, accommodation availability, safety concerns, or other circumstances beyond our control.

Ceylon Backroads reserves the right to modify the route, timing, accommodation, activity, or travel plan when necessary for safety, comfort, or operational reasons.

Some routes include remote roads, estate roads, mountain tracks, lagoon roads, sandy roads, rough surfaces, narrow roads, steep sections, or areas with limited mobile signal and medical access. By booking, guests accept the normal risks associated with private overland and outdoor travel.

8. Accommodation, Meals & Third-Party Services

Accommodation and meals included in the package will be stated in the confirmed quotation or itinerary.

Hotels, lodges, resorts, restaurants, activity providers, boat operators, and other service providers may be third-party suppliers. Ceylon Backroads will coordinate these services with reasonable care but is not responsible for issues directly caused by third-party providers, including changes in facilities, delays, food quality, room allocation, service limitations, or supplier rules.

Guests are responsible for hotel extras such as minibar, laundry, spa services, room service, damages, special food orders, upgrades, and personal expenses.

9. Pickup, Drop-off & Timing

Pickup and drop-off locations will be confirmed before the trip.

Some packages may include pickup and drop-off from selected locations. Additional pickup or drop-off locations may carry extra charges.

Guests must be ready at the agreed pickup time. Delays caused by guests may affect the itinerary and may reduce the time available for certain route stops or activities.

10. Alcohol, Drugs & Prohibited Conduct

Alcohol consumption is not allowed during daytime travel, driving hours, route activities, or while guests are on the road.

Alcohol may be consumed only after arriving at the accommodation or during appropriate evening rest periods, provided it does not affect safety, disturb others, delay the itinerary, or disrespect the accommodation, staff, local communities, or guide team.

Illegal drugs and prohibited substances are strictly not allowed on any Ceylon Backroads trip.

Guests must not carry, use, distribute, or be under the influence of illegal substances. Any guest involved with illegal substances may be removed from the trip without refund and will be fully responsible for any legal consequences under Sri Lankan law.

Ceylon Backroads may refuse service or terminate a guest’s participation without refund if the guest behaves in a way that is unsafe, abusive, intoxicated, illegal, disrespectful, threatening, or disruptive.

11. Pets Policy

Pets are not allowed on Ceylon Backroads trips.

This is due to vehicle limitations, hotel and accommodation rules, wildlife and protected-area restrictions, hygiene standards, safety concerns, and the comfort of other guests.

12. Health, Fitness & Medical Conditions

Guests are responsible for ensuring they are fit and healthy enough for the selected route.

Guests must inform Ceylon Backroads before booking if they have any medical condition, allergy, mobility limitation, pregnancy-related concern, disability, heart condition, asthma, food allergy, medication requirement, or other health concern that may affect the trip.

Guests must bring their own personal medication, prescription medicine, allergy medication, inhalers, motion-sickness tablets, and any other required medical items.

Ceylon Backroads may advise against a route if we believe it may not be suitable for the guest’s health, mobility, or safety.

13. Travel Insurance & Liability

Travel insurance is not included in Ceylon Backroads packages.

We strongly recommend that all guests arrange suitable personal travel insurance before the trip. Insurance should cover medical expenses, personal injury, cancellation, lost belongings, outdoor activities, adventure-style travel, and travel disruption where applicable.

Vehicle-related insurance may apply for vehicle incidents according to the vehicle’s insurance terms. However, Ceylon Backroads does not provide personal accident insurance, medical insurance, or travel insurance for guests.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Ceylon Backroads is not responsible for personal injury, illness, loss, damage, delay, additional expense, missed flights, accidents, or inconvenience caused by circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including guest negligence, failure to follow instructions, weather, road conditions, natural hazards, third-party services, wildlife, water-based activities, medical conditions, or unsafe guest behaviour.

14. Personal Belongings

Guests are responsible for their own belongings, including passports, wallets, phones, cameras, drones, laptops, luggage, jewellery, travel documents, and other valuables.

Ceylon Backroads is not responsible for lost, stolen, damaged, or forgotten personal items unless caused directly by proven negligence from our team.

15. Photography, Drones & Content

Guests may take photos and videos for personal use, provided this is done safely and respectfully.

Drone use in Sri Lanka may require permission and may be restricted near airports, military areas, religious sites, wildlife areas, protected areas, hotels, private property, and public spaces. Guests are responsible for obtaining any required permission before using a drone.

Guests must not photograph or film local people, workers, children, religious activities, private homes, or sensitive locations without permission.

Ceylon Backroads may take photos or videos during trips for operational, safety, or marketing purposes. Guests who do not want to appear in promotional content should inform us before the trip.

16. Respectful Travel & Environmental Policy

Guests must respect local communities, religious sites, wildlife, natural areas, guides, drivers, hotel staff, and other travellers.

Guests must not litter, damage plants, disturb wildlife, pollute water sources, remove natural items, enter private property without permission, harass people, or behave disrespectfully in local communities.

We expect guests to follow responsible travel practices and help protect the hidden places we visit.

17. Website Information & Price Changes

We make reasonable efforts to keep website information, route descriptions, prices, photos, inclusions, and availability updated. However, details may change due to seasonal conditions, accommodation availability, supplier changes, road conditions, weather, fuel prices, exchange rates, or operational requirements.

Website content is for general information only. Final route details, inclusions, exclusions, and prices will be confirmed in the official quotation or booking confirmation.

18. Changes to These Terms

Ceylon Backroads may update these Terms & Conditions from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated “Last Updated” date.

Continued use of our website or services after changes are posted means you accept the revised Terms.

19. Governing Law

These Terms & Conditions are governed by the laws of Sri Lanka.

Any dispute arising from these Terms, bookings, payments, or travel services shall be handled according to applicable Sri Lankan law and, where possible, resolved first through direct communication between the guest and Ceylon Backroads.

20. Contact

If you have any questions about these Terms & Conditions, please contact us before making a booking.