Cancellation, Refund & Rescheduling Policy
Effective Date: September 28, 2026
AfghanTours.com (“Afghan Tours,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is operated by James Tourist & Travel Agency, a licensed tour operator based in Kabul, Afghanistan (Tour Operator License No. ATO-KBL-1617).
We understand that international travel plans sometimes change. Our tours require advance coordination with guides, drivers, accommodations, permits, local partners, and other service providers. As a result, certain expenses may be committed or become non-refundable before your arrival.
This policy explains the cancellation, refund, and rescheduling terms that generally apply to bookings made with us. If your individual booking confirmation or written tour agreement contains different terms, those specific terms will govern your booking.
Traveler Cancellations
Unless different cancellation terms are specified in your booking confirmation, cancellations made by the traveler are subject to the following:
- 60 or more days before departure: Amounts paid, less a 10% administrative fee and non-refundable costs already incurred
- 30–59 days before departure: 75% of the tour price, less non-refundable costs already incurred
- 15–29 days before departure: 50% of the tour price, less non-refundable costs already incurred
- 14 days or less before departure: Non-refundable
Non-refundable costs may include amounts already committed or paid for accommodations, transportation, guides, permits, domestic travel arrangements, local services, or other third-party services arranged for your trip.
Any bank charges, transfer fees, currency-conversion costs, card-processing charges, or similar transaction expenses associated with the original payment or refund may also be deducted from the amount refunded.
Deposits and Booking Confirmation
Some tours may require a deposit to reserve your dates, guides, vehicles, accommodations, or other services.
The required deposit and payment schedule, including whether any portion of the deposit is non-refundable, will be disclosed in your booking confirmation.
Submitting an inquiry does not constitute a confirmed reservation. Your booking is confirmed only after James Tourist & Travel Agency provides written confirmation and any required deposit or payment has been received.
For scheduled group departures, a traveler’s individual booking may be confirmed while the departure itself remains open and awaiting the required minimum number of travelers. Booking status and departure status are treated separately.
A traveler counts toward the minimum group size only after the booking has been accepted and the required deposit or payment for that booking has been received. An inquiry alone does not count toward the minimum.
Scheduled Departures and Minimum Group Size
Some published tours operate as scheduled group departures and require a minimum number of confirmed travelers before the departure is guaranteed to operate.
Unless otherwise stated for a specific departure:
- scheduled/shared departures lasting 5 days or more require a minimum of 6 confirmed travelers and normally accept a maximum of 18 travelers;
- scheduled/shared departures lasting 4 days or less require a minimum of 2 confirmed travelers and do not have a standard maximum unless a departure-specific capacity is stated.
A scheduled departure becomes confirmed to operate once the applicable minimum has been reached and James Tourist & Travel Agency has provided operational approval.
For scheduled/shared departures lasting 5 days or more, we normally review whether the minimum group size has been reached 45 days before departure. For scheduled/shared departures lasting 4 days or less, we normally review whether the minimum group size has been reached 14 days before departure.
If the minimum has not been reached at that point, James Tourist & Travel Agency may:
- approve the departure to operate as an exception;
- offer another scheduled departure;
- offer an alternative itinerary;
- offer a private version of the journey at a separately quoted price; or
- cancel the scheduled departure.
The 45-day review point does not automatically cancel a departure. Any operating decision will be made by James Tourist & Travel Agency based on the confirmed bookings and operational circumstances applicable to that departure.
A scheduled departure may be confirmed earlier than the review point once the applicable minimum has been reached and operational approval has been given.
If James Tourist & Travel Agency cancels a scheduled departure because the required minimum number of travelers has not been reached, we will refund 100% of the amount paid to James Tourist & Travel Agency for that tour.
This refund does not include independently purchased airfare, visas, insurance, accommodation, transportation, or other services not purchased from us.
Travelers booking a departure that has not yet reached its minimum group size should consider flexible or refundable arrangements for independently purchased services.
The normal maximum of 18 travelers for longer scheduled departures may be adjusted for specially arranged groups, organizations, trade partners, or other approved departures. Travelers or organizers seeking a smaller or larger group arrangement should contact us so that we can review the itinerary, vehicles, guides, accommodation, and operational requirements.
Tours offered as private journeys are not subject to a scheduled-group minimum unless specifically stated in the applicable proposal or booking confirmation. Private tours may be arranged for one traveler, subject to availability and the applicable private quotation. Private pricing may differ from advertised shared-departure pricing.
Custom Journeys and Specialist Services are quoted individually, and their group size, pricing, deposit requirements, and other booking conditions are confirmed in the applicable proposal or written agreement.
Rescheduling Your Tour
Whenever reasonably possible, we will work with travelers who need to change their travel dates.
Rescheduling requests are subject to the availability of guides, vehicles, accommodations, permits, transportation, local partners, and other services required for the itinerary.
When a booking can be transferred to new dates without losing funds already committed to suppliers, we may apply amounts already paid toward the rescheduled tour.
The traveler is responsible for additional costs resulting from a requested date change, including increases in accommodation, transportation, permits, guides, flights, or other services.
Rescheduling is not guaranteed until the new travel dates have been confirmed by us in writing.
Safety, Security and Itinerary Changes
Travel conditions in Afghanistan can change.
James Tourist & Travel Agency may assess routes, timing, transportation, destinations, and itinerary feasibility based on current conditions.
Circumstances affecting an itinerary may include security developments, road conditions, severe weather, government restrictions, local events, transportation disruptions, permit requirements, closures, or other circumstances outside our reasonable control.
We reserve the right to modify the itinerary, route, schedule, transportation, accommodation, activities, or destinations when we reasonably determine that doing so is necessary for operational or safety reasons.
When an attraction, destination, or route becomes unavailable or unsuitable, we will make reasonable efforts to provide an appropriate alternative.
An itinerary modification does not, by itself, automatically entitle a traveler to a full or partial refund.
Cancellation by James Tourist & Travel Agency
If James Tourist & Travel Agency cancels a scheduled departure because the required minimum number of travelers has not been reached, the refund terms under Scheduled Departures and Minimum Group Size apply.
For other cancellations by James Tourist & Travel Agency before the tour begins, if you do not accept an offered alternative itinerary or rescheduled departure, we will refund amounts paid to us that we are able to recover.
Any amounts already paid to third-party providers that cannot reasonably be recovered may be deducted from the refund. Where applicable, we will explain such deductions.
We are not responsible for reimbursing expenses that travelers purchase independently from third parties, including international or domestic airfare, visas, passports, travel insurance, vaccinations, independently booked accommodation, personal equipment, or other services not purchased directly from us.
Travelers should consider refundable arrangements and appropriate travel insurance when purchasing these services independently.
Force Majeure and Events Beyond Our Control
James Tourist & Travel Agency cannot guarantee refunds for expenses that cannot reasonably be recovered when a tour is cancelled, interrupted, delayed, or materially changed because of circumstances outside our reasonable control.
Such circumstances may include, without limitation, natural disasters, severe weather, armed conflict, civil disturbance, government actions or restrictions, border closures, epidemics or public-health emergencies, transportation interruptions, road closures, or similar extraordinary events.
When such an event occurs, we will make reasonable efforts to work with travelers and our suppliers to recover available funds, obtain credits, reschedule services, or arrange appropriate alternatives.
No-Shows, Missed Services and Early Departure
Except where otherwise agreed by us in writing, refunds will not normally be provided for unused services when a traveler:
- fails to arrive for the scheduled tour;
- arrives late and misses part of the itinerary;
- voluntarily leaves the tour after it has begun;
- voluntarily chooses not to participate in an included activity or service;
- cannot participate because required passports, visas, permits, insurance, or other personal travel requirements were not obtained; or
- is unable to continue because of conduct that materially interferes with the safe or lawful operation of the tour.
If circumstances allow, we may assist with alternative arrangements, but any resulting additional costs may be the traveler’s responsibility.
Travel Documents and Entry Requirements
Travelers are responsible for ensuring that they possess valid passports, visas, permits, and any other documentation required for their journey.
Visa issuance and entry decisions are made by the relevant governmental authorities and are outside the control of James Tourist & Travel Agency.
Unless specifically agreed otherwise in writing, failure to obtain required travel documentation does not override the cancellation terms applicable to the booking.
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance appropriate for travel in Afghanistan.
Travelers should independently confirm that their chosen insurance policy provides appropriate coverage for their destination, nationality, activities, and circumstances.
Where available, travelers should consider coverage for emergency medical treatment and evacuation, trip cancellation or interruption, transportation delays, lost or damaged belongings, and other significant travel risks.
James Tourist & Travel Agency does not provide insurance and does not guarantee that any particular insurance policy or claim will provide coverage.
Refund Processing
Approved refunds will be returned using a reasonably available payment method.
Processing times may vary depending on the original payment method, banking institutions, international transfers, currency conversions, and other financial intermediaries.
We will provide information regarding the approved refund amount once the cancellation request has been reviewed.
Payments, Currency and Refunds
Prices may be quoted in U.S. dollars or another stated currency, while certain payment methods may process or settle a transaction in Afghan afghanis or another currency.
Where a payment or refund is processed through a bank, card network, payment provider, or other financial intermediary, the final amount charged or received may be affected by exchange rates, currency-conversion charges, bank fees, card-processing charges, payment-provider fees, or other transaction costs outside our control.
Unless otherwise required by the applicable payment method or agreed in writing, an approved refund is calculated from the amount due under this policy and is not adjusted to compensate for changes in exchange rates between the original payment date and the refund date.
The specific payment method, payment schedule, settlement currency, and any applicable payment-provider information will be communicated during the booking or payment process.
How to Cancel or Request Rescheduling
Cancellation and rescheduling requests must be submitted in writing.
The date on which we receive your written request will be used to determine which cancellation period applies.
Please provide:
- Your full name
- Tour or booking name
- Scheduled travel dates
- Contact information
- Whether you are requesting cancellation or rescheduling
- Any other information relevant to your request
Requests may be sent to:
Private, Custom and Group Tours
Private, custom, group, expedition-style, or specially arranged itineraries may require different cancellation terms because of advance supplier commitments, transportation arrangements, accommodations, permits, or other logistical requirements.
Any special cancellation, deposit, or payment conditions will be communicated as part of the applicable booking confirmation or written agreement.
When the terms of a specific written booking confirmation conflict with this general policy, the specific terms accepted for that booking will govern.
Contact Information
James Tourist & Travel Agency
Operating as AfghanTours.com
Tour Operator License: ATO-KBL-1617
2nd Floor, Majid Mall
Shahr-e-Naw, District 10
Kabul, Afghanistan
Email: info@afghantours.com