Cancellation Policy

At Big Backyard Adventures, our cancellation policy is designed to protect both our guides, collaborators, and the long-term sustainability of our business. We cannot modify this policy under any circumstances. To safeguard your investment, we highly recommend purchasing trip protection, especially given the uncertainties in travel today.

By booking a trip with Big Backyard Adventures, either by checking the mandatory box during online booking or agreeing to our terms during a phone booking, you acknowledge that you have read and fully accept our cancellation and rescheduling policies. Once a trip is purchased, these policies become binding. If you do not agree with or accept these policies, please do not complete your purchase.

If a cancellation would cause financial strain, we recommend purchasing Cancel-For-Any-Reason Travel Insurance to ensure your investment is protected.

In the event that Big Backyard Adventures cancels a trip or special event for any reason, you will receive a full refund for any payments made. However, if you cancel your trip, the applicable cancellation terms and conditions will apply.

  • 10% of the total cost of your trip is non-refundable if we are given more than 120 days notice.

  • 25% of the total cost of your trip is non-refundable if we are given 90-120 days notice.

  • 50% of the total cost of your trip is non-refundable if we are given 61-89 days notice

  • 85% of the total cost of your trip is non-refundable if we are given 30 - 60 days notice

  • If given less than 30 days notice we will not issue any refund

Please note, Big Backyard Adventures makes all decisions regarding weather-related cancellations or reroutes. We generally lean toward completing trips as planned, waiting until the last minute to make any changes. If you choose to cancel before we’ve made a final call, our standard cancellation policy will apply.

Weather & Activity Cancellations

At Big Backyard Adventures, we carefully plan our trips around the best seasons and optimal weather conditions for each activity. While we strive to give you the perfect adventure, the reality is we can't control Mother Nature (though we wish we had an on/off switch for the wind, waves, thermals, snow, and sunshine!). Sometimes weather can shift during a trip, like a rainy afternoon, and while we can pivot and make the most of the day, some activities depend heavily on the right conditions to happen at all.

Here are some examples of how specific weather conditions could impact our activities:

  • Kiteboarding: Wind is essential for kiteboarding, but it needs to be just right. Too little wind, and you're not going anywhere. Too much wind, and it's unsafe. We'll do our best to work within the forecast, but extreme or unpredictable winds can lead to last-minute adjustments.

  • Surfing: For surfing, we need the right swell. If the ocean is flat or if conditions are dangerous due to storms or high tides, the session may be delayed, rescheduled, or moved to another spot.

  • Hang Gliding: While we love to soar through the skies, hang gliding is highly sensitive to wind. Too much wind or unstable thermals can ground us for safety reasons. We'll keep a close eye on conditions and make the call as necessary.

  • Snowboarding: Snowboarders dream of fresh powder and bluebird days, but sometimes we get less-than-ideal conditions. If high winds cause lift closures or storms reduce visibility, we may need to adjust the itinerary. But we always aim to make the most of mountain conditions!

  • Rafting: River rafting depends on the water levels being just right—too low, and we’ll be scraping rocks; too high, and it’s unsafe to run. Sudden storms or drought conditions can impact the river flow, and we’ll adjust accordingly if needed.

  • Other Weather Impacts: For activities like hiking, camping, or even general touring, weather can sometimes force us to pivot. A passing thunderstorm, excessive heat, or snow can cause us to shift plans, but we’ll always work to provide the best experience possible.

Our Approach to Weather and Scheduling

We design our adventures with the best possible weather in mind, but sometimes things don’t go as planned. If an activity can’t go ahead due to weather, we will:

  • Reschedule: If the weather looks like it’ll clear, we’ll aim to reschedule the activity for a later time or day.

  • Pivot: We’ll do our best to offer an alternative activity to make the most of your adventure.

  • Refunds: If none of the above options work out, we’ll explore refunds for canceled activities based on our terms.

Please note, weather-related decisions for outdoor activities are made based on safety and expert recommendations. While we wait until the last moment to make the call, your safety is always our top priority. If you choose to cancel before we’ve made a final decision, our standard cancellation policy will apply.

We appreciate your understanding and flexibility—weather is one of the wild variables of adventure travel, but that’s part of what makes the journey exciting!