How to write a cancellation policy for tours and activities

Why the policy matters

Travellers check the cancellation policy before they book. A clear, fair policy reassures them; a vague one makes them look elsewhere. It also protects you when plans change.

Common structures

Choose the structure that matches your real costs:

• Free cancellation up to a set time before the start, for example 24 hours for day tours.
• Tiered refunds: a full refund up to one date, part refund up to another, none after that.
• Non-refundable, usually with a lower price, for trips with fixed upfront costs.
• Credit or a voucher instead of a refund after a certain date.

Write it in plain words

Say exactly what happens and when, in one or two sentences. 'Cancel up to 30 days before departure for a full refund of your deposit' is better than a paragraph of legal language. Keep the full terms on a separate page for detail.

What happens if you cancel

Also say what you do if you cancel, for example because of weather or too few travellers: a full refund or a free change of date. This builds trust.

Show it everywhere it matters

Put the policy on the tour page, next to the booking button, at checkout and in the confirmation email. Tourtify shows your policy in all of those places, and adds a 'Free cancellation' badge to tour cards when it applies.