Legal
Terms and conditions
Last updated 24 August 2026
[TODO — not legal advice.] This is a working draft written to give the page structure, not a reviewed document. Have a lawyer adapt it to your business, your state, and how you actually take payment before you rely on it.
Booking and payment
An expedition is confirmed when we accept your dates and receive your deposit. [TODO: deposit amount or percentage, when the balance is due, accepted payment methods.] Prices are quoted per group and are held for [TODO: how long a quote stays valid].
Cancellation by you
[TODO: your cancellation windows and refund percentages. This clause and the deposit clause are the two most commonly disputed — write them precisely and have them reviewed.]
Cancellation or change by us
Desert conditions close routes. Flash flooding, wet playa, snow on the high passes, fire closures and agency access changes all happen with little warning. Where a route becomes unsafe we will reroute within the same expedition wherever possible.
If we cancel an expedition outright before departure, [TODO: state whether you offer a reschedule, credit or refund, and on what terms]. If an expedition is cut short after departure for safety reasons, [TODO: state your policy on partial refunds].
Risk
Vehicle-based travel in remote desert terrain carries real risk of injury, property damage and death. Hazards include vehicle rollover and collision, extreme heat and cold, flash flooding, unstable ground, wildlife, and distance from medical care measured in hours rather than minutes. There is no cell coverage on any of our routes.
All participants sign a liability waiver and assumption of risk agreement before departure. [TODO: have counsel draft that waiver — it is a separate document from these terms and it is the one that matters most.]
Your responsibilities
- Hold a valid driver's license and be legally permitted to operate a vehicle
- Disclose medical conditions, medications and mobility limits that could affect safety in a remote setting
- Follow guide instructions relating to safety, route and vehicle operation
- Not operate a vehicle while impaired by alcohol, cannabis, or any medication that affects driving
We may end a participant's expedition without refund for conduct that endangers the group.
Insurance
[TODO: state your commercial liability coverage, and whether you require guests to carry travel and emergency evacuation insurance. Most remote operators require the latter.]
Vehicle damage
[TODO: your policy on damage to company vehicles, any excess or deductible a guest is liable for, and what happens if a guest brings their own vehicle.]
Governing law
These terms are governed by the laws of the State of California. [TODO: confirm venue and whether you want an arbitration clause.]