Cancellation & Refund Policy

A tour booking with Blue Sapphire Travels is considered formally confirmed only when:

• The traveler and Blue Sapphire Travels have mutually agreed upon a customized or packaged itinerary in writing;
• The required advance deposit or full tour payment has been successfully processed and received; and
• An official written booking confirmation voucher, invoice, or receipt has been issued by Blue Sapphire Travels.

Until the initial deposit is received, itinerary proposals, vehicle allocations, and hotel reservations remain tentative and subject to availability and seasonal price revisions.

To secure private chauffeured vehicles, licensed driver-guides, boutique accommodations, and activity permits, an advance booking deposit is required at the time of reservation.

For peak season bookings (such as December/January festive periods, July/August Kandy Esala Perahera, or high-demand wildlife safari lodges), suppliers may require higher non-refundable advance commitments, which will be communicated in your quotation.

We understand that unexpected circumstances may require you to cancel or postpone your holiday. To ensure prompt processing and avoid misunderstandings, all cancellation requests must be made by the lead traveler in writing.

Refund eligibility is calculated based on the number of days prior to the scheduled tour start date that written cancellation notice is received. Because we make advance financial commitments to secure transport, guides, and hotels on your behalf, cancellation charges apply as outlined below:

Note on customizable parameters: Specific cancellation schedules, peak season variations, or luxury villa conditions will be explicitly detailed on your personal itinerary quotation prior to deposit payment.

Regardless of when a cancellation is requested, certain costs paid in advance to third-party suppliers are strictly non-refundable and non-transferable under supplier regulations. In the event of a cancellation, these actual disbursements cannot be refunded:

• Sri Lanka Railways Scenic Train Tickets: Reserved seat tickets (e.g. Kandy–Nuwara Eliya–Ella) are strictly non-refundable once issued by government railway authorities.
• Wildlife Sanctuary & Safari Permits: Department of Wildlife Conservation entrance permits and dedicated 4x4 safari jeep hire fees for Yala, Udawalawe, Wilpattu, or Minneriya.
• Cultural & Heritage Entrance Tickets: Advance entrance passes purchased for UNESCO heritage sites, cultural performances, or botanical gardens.
• Non-Refundable Hotel Deposits: Boutique bungalows, luxury safari camps, or peak season hotel guarantees with non-refundable direct booking clauses.
• Special Activity Charters: Private boat charters (whale watching, deep-sea fishing), domestic flights, or hot air balloon excursions.

A "No-Show" occurs when a guest fails to arrive at the designated meeting point (such as Bandaranaike International Airport, Colombo, or a designated pickup hotel) on the scheduled date and time without prior written notification.

• No-shows will result in the immediate forfeiture of 100% of the total tour cost.
• No refunds, credits, or date transfers will be provided for no-shows.
• If unexpected flight delays, cancellations, or medical emergencies occur on your transit day, you must contact our 24/7 support line immediately at +94 76 752 2570 so we can reschedule your airport pickup without designating the reservation as a no-show.

We pride ourselves on providing flexible, tailor-made private tours. If you wish to change your travel dates, route, hotel categories, or party size after confirmation:

• Request Notice: Date amendments or itinerary changes must be requested in writing at least [14 to 21 days] prior to your scheduled arrival.
• Subject to Availability: All modifications are subject to vehicle, guide, and hotel availability for the newly requested dates.
• Price Adjustments: Any price difference resulting from seasonal tariff changes, peak rates, or upgraded accommodation will be added to your revised invoice.
• Supplier Surcharges: If a third-party supplier charges an amendment fee for modifying reservations, that fee will be charged to the client.

While extraordinary and rare, Blue Sapphire Travels reserves the right to cancel a tour before or during execution due to unforeseen events, safety hazards, extreme weather, civil unrest, or circumstances beyond our reasonable control (Force Majeure).

If Blue Sapphire Travels cancels a tour for reasons within our control or operational safety:

Blue Sapphire Travels is not responsible for any incidental expenses or secondary losses incurred by travelers, such as international flight tickets, visa fees, or insurance premiums.

• Credit / Debit Card Payments: Refunds will be credited directly back to the exact credit card or debit card charged via our authorized online payment gateway.
• Bank Transfers: If the original payment was completed via international wire transfer, the refund will be remitted back to the originating bank account.
• Transaction Currency: Refunds are processed in the currency originally invoiced or settled (typically USD, EUR, GBP, or LKR). Blue Sapphire Travels is not liable for fluctuations in foreign exchange rates or bank-applied currency conversion charges.
• No Cash or Alternate Payee Refunds: Refunds cannot be issued in cash or transferred to an unrelated third-party account under any circumstances.

We endeavor to process all legitimate refund requests as swiftly as possible following formal written verification.

To submit a cancellation, inquire about refund status, or discuss booking adjustments, please contact our guest services team directly:

We strongly advise all travelers to obtain comprehensive international travel insurance that includes trip cancellation and medical coverage to protect against unexpected disruptions.