Applicable from 10 September 2026
OriginGuide is a platform connecting travellers with independent professional guides who design and lead their trips personally. OriginGuide acts as a travel organiser within the meaning of the French Tourism Code.
Purchasing a trip through originguide.org constitutes full acceptance of these Terms and Conditions. The trips offered are travel packages within the meaning of the applicable regulations. You therefore benefit from the rights described in Article 13 below.
1. Trip offers
The originguide.org platform provides detailed information about each trip: the day-by-day itinerary, the guide, practical information about the destination, the physical requirements where relevant, and the minimum and maximum number of participants.
The trips are designed and guided by professional guides who hold the necessary insurance. Each guide is responsible for designing their trip. OriginGuide handles sales and administration so that the guide can operate within the legal framework of European regulations and travellers can benefit from the protection of a travel agency in respect of their rights.
Please be aware that trips may require varying levels of physical effort. Read the information about the required level carefully. Each participant is responsible for deciding, on the basis of the information provided, whether they have the necessary abilities. If in doubt, contact the guide before booking.
As a professional, the guide decides during the trip whether to carry out or change the planned itinerary, particularly to ensure participants' safety and respond to unforeseen circumstances such as weather, terrain or the group’s physical condition. The guide may also suspend or end the participation of one or more travellers for safety reasons. If a traveller or the guide ends a traveller’s participation, no refund is due.
2. Booking and payment
2.1 Booking
You can book a trip directly on originguide.org by completing the booking form.
Your booking becomes final once your deposit or full payment has been received, in accordance with Article 2.2, and your booking has been approved. Under Article L. 221-28 of the French Consumer Code, you have no right of withdrawal when purchasing travel services.
The person making the booking on behalf of all participants undertakes to pass on to each participant all the trip information supplied by OriginGuide.
2.2 Payment terms
For bookings made more than 30 days before departure, OriginGuide collects a deposit of 20% of the trip price. The balance must be paid and received no later than 30 days before departure.
For bookings made 30 days or less before departure, the full trip price must be paid.
Any delay in paying the deposit or balance will be treated as a cancellation by you, and the cancellation charges set out in Article 5 will apply.
Payments are accepted by bank card (Visa or Mastercard) or bank transfer (only when departure is more than 14 days away). If the trip booked is full or unavailable, OriginGuide will refund all sums paid as soon as possible.
2.3 Confirmation and invoice
For each payment approved and received by OriginGuide, a booking confirmation and invoice will be available in the account of the person who made the booking, no later than 15 days after receipt of payment.
3. Trip information
3.1 Administrative and health requirements
Before booking, you must check that every participant has the documents required for the trip: a valid national identity card or passport, a visa where necessary, and any authorisation for minors to leave the country. OriginGuide supplies information about formalities for French nationals. For other nationalities, the guide leading the trip may assist with these procedures.
A traveller who cannot use the booked services because they fail to present the required documents is not entitled to a refund. OriginGuide cannot be held responsible for the consequences of a traveller’s failure to comply with administrative or health requirements.
3.2 Safety information
Before departure, OriginGuide advises you to consult the destination’s country information regularly in the travel advice section of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs website, together with the health recommendations published by the French Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization.
3.3 Physical fitness
Each traveller must ensure that their physical condition is suitable for the intended trip. OriginGuide cannot be held responsible if a traveller’s physical fitness proves insufficient during the trip. OriginGuide and the guide reserve the right to refuse or end the participation of any traveller who does not meet the physical requirements stated in the trip information, where continuing would put that traveller or the group at risk. The participant cannot claim compensation or a refund on this basis.
3.4 Minors
Some trips are open to minors accompanied by an adult, provided their age and physical condition are compatible with the itinerary’s requirements. Throughout the trip, the minor remains under the sole responsibility of the person holding parental authority, whatever activities take place, including when a guide is present. OriginGuide and the guide cannot therefore be held responsible for inadequate supervision.
Any minor travelling without at least one parent or legal guardian must carry an authorisation to leave the country, a valid identity document and a copy of the identity document of the parent who signed the authorisation. The minor must also keep their parents' or legal guardians' contact details with them at all times.
Throughout the trip, the minor or the accompanying adult must carry the minor’s identity documents. For trips abroad, the minor must also have all documents required to leave the country, including parental consent and an authorisation to leave the country where applicable, together with any necessary prescriptions and medical information.
4. Changes requested by the traveller
4.1 Before departure
Any request to change a trip after booking, such as adding or removing services or changing dates, must first be discussed between the traveller and the lead guide. To be valid, every final change and its financial consequences, including an additional charge, amendment fees or suppliers' refund terms, must be confirmed in writing through the OriginGuide platform. Without formal approval and payment of the sums due through the platform, OriginGuide and the guide are not required to make the requested changes, and the trip remains subject to its original terms.
4.2 Transfer of the contract
Under Article R. 211-7 of the French Tourism Code, you may transfer your contract to another person who meets the same requirements, provided the contract has not yet taken effect. You must notify the guide and OriginGuide in writing, with acknowledgement of receipt, no later than seven (7) days before the trip begins. OriginGuide will inform you of the costs resulting from the transfer, which must be paid in advance.
4.3 After departure
From the departure date, a request to change or forgo all or part of the trip services does not entitle you to a refund for the original services. Any additional service requested during the trip must be paid for in advance to OriginGuide or the designated suppliers.
5. Cancellation and cancellation charges
5.1 Cancellation by the traveller
5.1.1 Cancellation by the traveller for all trips except tailor-made or private trips and flight-only bookings
If you have to cancel your trip before it begins, you must notify OriginGuide as soon as the event giving rise to the cancellation occurs, using a written method that provides acknowledgement of receipt. The date the written notice is received will be treated as the cancellation date.
The booking fee (Article 9.2) and insurance premium, which are not included in the total trip price, are payable and non-refundable from the moment the booking is confirmed, regardless of the cancellation date. In addition, the following cancellation charges apply to the total trip price:
| Time before departure | Cancellation charge |
|---|---|
| More than 120 days | 15% of the total price |
| 120 to 45 days | 30% of the total price |
| 44 to 21 days | 60% of the total price |
| 20 to 7 days | 75% of the total price |
| Less than 7 days or failure to attend | 95% of the total price |
For a group booking, your cancellation may change the costs for other participants, for example by creating a single-room supplement. You are responsible for these additional costs on top of the charges above.
Air travel costs are subject to special provisions, whatever the cancellation or amendment date, and are added to the charges above. If your air ticket has to be issued well in advance, often to avoid substantial surcharges, you will be charged 100% of any non-refundable costs arising from cancellation or a change to your flight itinerary. In this case, the scale above applies only to the trip price excluding the flight.
Costs incurred outside the OriginGuide trip, such as transport to the starting point, hotels or equipment, cannot be refunded by OriginGuide.
5.1.2 Special cases
Exceptionally, some trips may have different cancellation terms. These will be stated in the trip information and will apply if you cancel.
5.1.3 Cancellation by the traveller for flight-only bookings
The airline’s cancellation terms apply.
5.2 Cancellation for tailor-made and private trips
If one or more participants on a tailor-made or private trip cancel their participation, the charges in Article 5.1 apply, together with the costs incurred by OriginGuide to maintain the same trip price for the remaining participants. The price of a tailor-made trip is calculated for a specified number of participants, so the cancellation of one participant directly affects its overall cost.
5.3 Cancellation by OriginGuide
OriginGuide may have to cancel a departure if the required minimum number of participants is not reached. You will be notified no later than:
- 21 days before the trip begins for trips lasting more than 6 days;
- 8 days before the trip begins for trips lasting 2 to 6 days;
- 48 hours before the trip begins for one-day trips.
An alternative may be offered. If it does not suit you, all payments will be refunded, without further compensation. A trip may also be cancelled because of a hazardous local situation, such as political or health risks or a natural disaster. In that case, Article 10 applies.
6. Insurance
6.1 Recommended insurance
OriginGuide strongly recommends that all travellers take out insurance covering at least repatriation assistance, personal liability and search and rescue costs, together with cancellation insurance. You must check that the cover is suitable for your destination and the activities planned during the trip.
Subject to availability, OriginGuide offers travellers insurance contracts negotiated with ASSURINCO ASSURANCE VOYAGE, trading as XPLORASSUR, a subsidiary of FINAXY Group. The policy terms are available on originguide.org (policy wording with cancellation cover and assistance policy wording) and on request. The applicable cover, exclusions, limits and excesses are those of the policy you take out.
The policies currently offered do not include personal liability cover. You must therefore check that you have this cover elsewhere, including when you take out insurance through OriginGuide.
Insurance offered by OriginGuide must be taken out when booking the trip. Any request to take out repatriation assistance later must be sent to OriginGuide no later than 48 hours before departure. It remains subject to the insurer’s terms and explicit acceptance. Cover is not automatic and does not apply retrospectively to an event that has already occurred.
The wording of the policies currently offered accepts people resident anywhere in the world, subject to the policy’s conditions and exclusions. You must state your country of residence when booking. If your circumstances do not meet the eligibility requirements, contact OriginGuide to discuss a suitable solution.
For questions or claims relating to a policy taken out through OriginGuide:
- Assistance and repatriation: MUTUAIDE ASSISTANCE, with a medical assistance team available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Phone from France or abroad: +33 1 55 98 71 52. Email: [email protected].
- Insurance claims (cancellation, baggage, etc.): ASSURINCO ASSURANCE VOYAGE, XPLORASSUR, 8-10 rue du Pont de Tounis, 31000 Toulouse, France. Phone: +33 5 34 45 31 51, Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm, French local time. Submit a claim online at sinistre.assurinco.com.
You are responsible for reporting any claim personally to the appropriate contact, before departure or during the trip depending on its nature, within the time limits and according to the procedures in your policy. For assistance, you must contact MUTUAIDE ASSISTANCE before incurring costs or arranging a service, to obtain prior approval. Keep your policy number and the necessary supporting documents. If you cancel the trip, you must also notify OriginGuide as soon as the event occurs, in accordance with Article 5.1.
If you cancel, OriginGuide does not refund the insurance premium or booking fee. Cancellation cover under the policies offered also excludes reimbursement of the insurance premium, visa fees and booking fees. The right to withdraw from the insurance contract under Article 6.2 still applies.
If you do not take out the insurance offered by OriginGuide, you undertake to have cover elsewhere and to provide OriginGuide with your insurer’s details (company, policy number and contact details) before departure.
6.2 Right to withdraw from the insurance contract
For insurance purchased for non-professional purposes to supplement the trip, the withdrawal period is 30 calendar days from the conclusion of the contract. You may exercise this right with the insurer, without fees or penalties, subject to the conditions in Article L. 112-10 of the French Insurance Code.
7. Transport arrangements
7.1 Identity of the carrier
You will be informed of the identity of the carrier or carriers likely to provide transport during your trip. If this changes after booking, OriginGuide undertakes to inform you by any means, as soon as it becomes aware, of any changes to the identity of carriers, particularly airlines. In accordance with our obligations, the European list of banned airlines can be consulted on this website.
7.2 Changes to transport schedules
Flight schedules may change up to departure, depending on the traffic authorisations granted to airlines by the competent authorities. We will provide schedules as soon as the carrier confirms them.
Stopover times are generally determined by airlines according to their flight schedules. They may change without giving grounds for cancellation without charges.
A flight may depart at any time on the scheduled day. You may have to arrive at the airport several hours before the start of that day, up to a maximum of 3 hours before departure.
7.3 Changes to routes, stations, ports or airports
Any carrier may change schedules, routes and departure or destination stations, ports or airports without notice, particularly because of technical, weather or political incidents beyond OriginGuide’s control, or strikes outside OriginGuide. These events may cause delays, cancellations, additional stopovers, or changes of aircraft or route. For air travel, a traveller holding a boarding pass remains under the airline’s protection and assistance.
7.4 Failure to use the booked transport service
If the booked transport service is not used for a reason attributable to the traveller and beyond OriginGuide’s control, the carrier will cancel the outbound or return ticket, or both. To travel, the traveller must then buy one or more replacement tickets at their own expense. For unused air tickets, boarding taxes are refunded on request under Article L. 224-66 of the French Consumer Code.
7.5 Delayed or cancelled transport services
In the event of a transport delay on the outward or return journey, damaged or lost baggage, denied boarding or a flight cancelled by the airline, travellers should keep all original documents, such as tickets, boarding passes and baggage tags, and request written evidence from the carrier so that they can assert their rights.
If one or more participants decide to abandon the trip because of the changes described above, and these do not affect an essential element of the trip, the cancellation or termination charges in Article 5.1 will apply.
7.6 Baggage
The airline alone is responsible for damage, theft, loss or delay affecting baggage entrusted to it. You must report the incident to the carrier at its airport counter and in writing as soon as possible. International conventions determine the complaint deadlines and compensation payable by airlines for delayed or damaged baggage.
Each traveller must keep fragile or valuable personal belongings, such as glasses, electronic devices and documents, with them and under their responsibility at all times, and check that their baggage is present when transfers are arranged.
8. Particular trip arrangements
8.1 Travel to the starting point and home after the trip
If you arrange your own transport to the trip’s starting point and your return journey, OriginGuide recommends buying services that can be changed or refunded. If an unforeseen event requires changes to services outside the trip, OriginGuide cannot be required to reimburse the resulting costs.
8.2 Animals
Animals cannot be brought on trips without prior written agreement from OriginGuide and the guide. Failure to comply with this rule will result in cancellation of the trip without a refund.
9. Prices and financial terms
9.1 Prices
The applicable prices are those displayed on originguide.org on the booking date, or in a valid quotation for a tailor-made trip. They cover the period from the meeting point at the beginning of the trip to the finishing point on the last day. Included and excluded services are specified in each trip’s information.
9.2 Booking fee
A booking fee of €20 per person is charged for every booking. This fee is non-refundable in the event of cancellation.
9.3 Price adjustments
The trip price is fixed in euros. However, under Article L. 211-12 of the French Tourism Code, OriginGuide may adjust the price up to 20 days before departure to reflect changes in taxes or charges imposed by third parties, or in applicable exchange rates. Refusal to pay this adjustment will be treated as a cancellation by the traveller.
9.4 Gift cards
OriginGuide gift cards are valid for one year from the purchase date. They may be used once or in several transactions, up to the available balance, when paying for a trip booking on the platform. Any balance remaining when the card expires is permanently lost. Gift cards are neither refundable nor exchangeable. If a booking paid for wholly or partly with a gift card is cancelled, the corresponding amount is returned to the gift card within the limits of the cancellation terms in Article 5.1. Where applicable, reimbursement is subject to the cover under your cancellation insurance.
Gift cards may only be used for trips published in the shared catalogue.
Shared catalogue: trips are accessible at originguide.org/voyages and through the filters on that page. Some guides may not accept gift cards. In that case, their profiles and offers remain accessible to anyone with the direct URL.
10. Liability
10.1 Liability insurance
In accordance with the regulations, OriginGuide holds professional liability insurance with HISCOX SA (French branch, Paris Trade and Companies Register no. 833 546 989), 49 avenue de l’Opéra, 75002 Paris, France, under policy no. PL-FR-PSC000077814/00, with a cover limit of 1 500 000 € per claim and per insurance year.
10.2 Risks involved
Each participant understands that physical activities in the mountains or outdoors involve certain inherent risks, including distance from medical facilities, and accepts those risks with full knowledge. OriginGuide and the guide cannot be held responsible for accidents resulting from these risks, individual carelessness, a route error or a voluntary interruption of the trip.
10.3 Limitations of liability
OriginGuide cannot be held responsible for the consequences of the following events:
- Unforeseeable or unavoidable events such as war, political unrest, strikes outside OriginGuide, severe weather, natural disasters, breakdowns, or loss or theft of travellers' personal belongings;
- Failure to present the administrative or health documents required for the trip;
- Cancellation required by unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances for reasons relating to travellers' safety or on the order of an administrative authority.
If OriginGuide is held liable for the actions of suppliers, the compensation limits in international conventions apply in accordance with Article L. 211-17-IV of the French Tourism Code. Except for personal injury, OriginGuide’s maximum financial liability is three times the total trip price.
10.4 Free time, swimming and activities without a guide
The itinerary may include free time, such as village visits, rest periods or time to explore independently. During these periods, participants are outside the guide’s direct supervision and act on their own initiative. They assume full responsibility for their actions, possessions and safety.
Unless swimming is explicitly included as a guided activity in the trip information, for example canyoning, all swimming in the sea, a lake, a river, a pool or another natural setting takes place under the participant’s sole responsibility. The guide is neither authorised nor qualified to supervise swimming, which is therefore considered unsupervised.
Parents, legal guardians or accompanying adults have sole and mandatory responsibility for supervising minors during free time and swimming.
OriginGuide and the guide cannot therefore be held responsible for an accident, incident, personal injury or property damage resulting from a careless personal initiative or occurring during these periods of free time or activities without a guide.
11. Complaints
11.1 During the trip
If a service does not conform to what was agreed, contact OriginGuide immediately by email at bonjouroriginguide.org or using the emergency number provided in your travel documents. Failure to report a problem during the trip may be taken into account when assessing any compensation.
11.2 After the trip
Any complaint must be sent to OriginGuide as soon as possible after your return, using a written method that provides acknowledgement of receipt and including supporting documents, at [email protected].
If you have not received a satisfactory response within 60 days, you may contact the French tourism and travel mediator: MTV Médiation Tourisme Voyage, BP 80 303, 75 823 Paris Cedex 17, France, www.mtv.travel.
12. Personal data protection
The information you provide is recorded in an electronic file by OriginGuide, a simplified joint-stock company (SAS) registered with the Grenoble Trade and Companies Register under number 10471038900016, whose registered office is at 52 rue du Tortolon, 38112 Autrans-Méaudre en Vercors, France, acting as data controller.
Your personal data is used to manage your booking, deliver travel services, communicate information about your trip and, with your consent, send offers and news. Some data may be passed to suppliers needed to deliver the trip, such as accommodation providers and partner guides, with strict respect for your rights.
Your data is retained for the duration of the contractual relationship and as long as necessary to meet legal obligations. If you have not contacted us for five years, your data is archived for a further five years before being deleted or anonymised.
Under the GDPR and the French Data Protection Act, you have rights of access, rectification, erasure, restriction and portability, and the right to object to the use of your data for marketing. You may exercise these rights by email at [email protected] or by post to 52 rue du Tortolon, 38112 Autrans-Méaudre en Vercors, France. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the French data protection authority, the CNIL.
13. Travellers' rights
The combination of travel services offered by OriginGuide constitutes a package within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2015/2302 and Article L. 211-2 II of the French Tourism Code. You therefore benefit from all the rights conferred by European and French regulations governing travel packages.
For further information about your rights, consult the French Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) website: www.economie.gouv.fr/dgccrf.
Legal notice
Company
OriginGuide, a simplified joint-stock company (SAS) with share capital of 8 000 €.
Registered office: 52 rue du Tortolon, 38112 Autrans-Méaudre en Vercors, France.
Grenoble Trade and Companies Register no. 10471038900016. APE business activity code: 7911Z.
Atout France registration
Register of travel operators: no. IM038260008.
Professional liability insurance
HISCOX SA (French branch, Paris Trade and Companies Register no. 833 546 989).
49 avenue de l’Opéra, 75002 Paris, France.
Policy no. PL-FR-PSC000077814/00.
Financial guarantee
GROUPAMA ASSURANCE-CRÉDIT & CAUTION.
Contract no. 4000719255/0.
3 PLACE MARCEL PAUL, 92000 NANTERRE, FRANCE.
Terms and Conditions updated on 12 October 2026