Terms

LAST UPDATED: 12 OCTOBER 2026

TERMS & CONDITIONS

These Terms & Conditions apply to enquiries, bookings and guided experiences arranged with Malabar Storyteller. Please read them before confirming a booking.

By confirming a booking and making the required advance payment, the person making the booking confirms that they accept these Terms & Conditions for themselves and, where applicable, for the other travellers included in the booking.

ENQUIRIES AND BOOKING CONFIRMATION

Sending an enquiry through the website, email, telephone or WhatsApp does not by itself create a confirmed booking.

An itinerary, date, price or other proposal remains subject to availability until Malabar Storyteller confirms the booking and the required advance payment has been received.

The booking confirmation will identify the agreed experience, dates and other material arrangements known at that time.

ADVANCE PAYMENT

A non-refundable advance payment is required at the time of booking.

The amount of the advance and any remaining payment schedule will be communicated before the booking is confirmed. The advance forms part of the agreed booking price.

If the guest cancels a confirmed booking, the advance payment will not be refunded.

This reflects the time spent planning and reserving the experience and commitments that may be made in preparation for the booking.

Additional cancellation charges relating to accommodation, transport, tickets, activities or other third-party services may apply where relevant to the specific booking and should be communicated where reasonably possible.

Nothing in these Terms removes any statutory refund or other remedy that cannot lawfully be excluded under applicable law.

GUEST CANCELLATION

If you need to cancel a booking, please notify Malabar Storyteller as soon as reasonably possible.

The booking advance remains non-refundable when cancellation is made by the guest.

Where other amounts have already been paid, treatment of those amounts will depend on services already arranged, genuine non-recoverable third-party costs, the timing of cancellation and any additional cancellation conditions communicated for the particular booking.

CHANGES OR CANCELLATION BY MALABAR STORYTELLER

Travel arrangements in North Malabar can be affected by weather, local access restrictions, transport conditions, ritual schedules, temple or community decisions, safety considerations and circumstances outside reasonable control.

Where a material change becomes necessary, Malabar Storyteller will make reasonable efforts to inform guests and, where practical, offer an appropriate alternative, revised itinerary or rescheduling option.

If Malabar Storyteller cancels a service that cannot be provided and no reasonable alternative is accepted, amounts received for services that will not be provided will be dealt with fairly, subject to applicable law and any genuine non-recoverable third-party costs associated with the booking.

THEYYAM AND LIVING CULTURAL TRADITIONS

Theyyam is a living sacred tradition rather than a staged tourism performance.

Rituals, timings, locations, access conditions and visitor arrangements are determined by the relevant temple, kavu, community and customary authorities and may change without notice.

Malabar Storyteller cannot guarantee that a particular ritual, performer, exact starting time, photographic opportunity or level of access will be available.

Guests must follow all local instructions and restrictions communicated by the temple, kavu, community representatives, organisers or guide.

CULTURAL RESPECT AND PHOTOGRAPHY

Guests are expected to respect sacred groves (kavu), temples, ritual spaces, local communities and the dignity of Theyyam performers.

Photography, video recording, flash photography or close access may be restricted during particular rituals or at particular locations.

Guests must follow the photography and recording guidance provided on site and must not disturb, obstruct or distract performers, participants or worshippers.

Where consent or permission is required before photographing identifiable people, ritual participants or sensitive spaces, guests must obtain and respect that permission.

Guests should dress and behave appropriately for the cultural or religious setting and comply with local customs and reasonable guidance from the guide or host community.

ITINERARIES AND AVAILABILITY

Itineraries are prepared using the best available information at the time of planning.

Travel times, access, opening hours, ritual schedules and local conditions may change.

Reasonable changes may therefore be necessary before or during the experience. Where possible, the guide will explain material changes and suggest a suitable alternative.

Descriptions and photographs on the website are intended to help visitors understand an experience but do not guarantee that every location, activity, event or condition shown will be available on every booking.

PRICES

Prices or guide prices shown or communicated are indicative unless a specific amount has been confirmed for your booking.

The final price may depend on the selected itinerary, duration, group size, transport, accommodation, ticketing, seasonal availability and other agreed services.

Material charges forming part of the confirmed booking should be communicated before payment is requested.

THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

A booking may involve services provided by independent businesses or individuals, including transport providers, accommodation providers, restaurants, activity operators, ticketing providers or other suppliers.

Those services may be subject to the provider's own availability, safety rules, cancellation conditions and terms.

Malabar Storyteller will take reasonable care when coordinating agreed third-party services but does not control the independent acts or omissions of third-party providers.

Nothing in this clause excludes responsibility that cannot lawfully be excluded.

SAFETY AND GUEST RESPONSIBILITY

Guests are responsible for considering whether an activity or itinerary is appropriate for their health, mobility, fitness and personal circumstances.

Please tell Malabar Storyteller in advance about relevant mobility, accessibility, dietary or other practical requirements that may affect safe and reasonable planning of an experience.

Guests must follow reasonable safety instructions given by the guide, venue, operator or relevant authority.

For activities operated by specialist third parties, guests may also be required to follow the operator's safety procedures and participation conditions.

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS AND PERSONAL BELONGINGS

Guests are responsible for carrying any identification, permits, tickets or other documents required for their own travel and for complying with applicable laws and entry requirements.

Guests remain responsible for their personal belongings during an experience unless loss or damage results from responsibility that cannot lawfully be excluded.

CONDUCT

Malabar Storyteller may refuse or discontinue an experience where a guest's conduct creates a serious safety risk, unlawfully disrupts a ritual or community activity, seriously disrespects a sacred or restricted place, harasses another person, or persistently refuses reasonable safety or cultural instructions.

Where practicable, concerns will first be explained to the guest and an opportunity given to correct the conduct.

EVENTS BEYOND REASONABLE CONTROL

Malabar Storyteller is not responsible for delays, changes or inability to perform caused by events reasonably outside its control, such as extreme weather, natural events, government restrictions, transport disruption, strikes, civil disturbance, sudden site closures, health emergencies, community or temple decisions, or similar circumstances.

In such cases, reasonable efforts will be made to find an alternative, reschedule or otherwise deal fairly with the affected part of the booking.

Any refund will depend on the circumstances, applicable law and genuine recoverable or non-recoverable third-party costs.

WEBSITE INFORMATION AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Website content is provided for general information and trip-planning purposes.

Reasonable efforts are made to keep information accurate, but schedules, access conditions, prices and local circumstances may change.

Unless otherwise stated, website text, branding, layout and original material belonging to Malabar Storyteller may not be reproduced commercially without permission.

Third-party trademarks, photographs or other materials remain the property of their respective owners.

PRIVACY

Personal information submitted through this website or during a booking is handled in accordance with the Malabar Storyteller Privacy Policy.

COMPLAINTS AND RESOLVING CONCERNS

If you have a concern about a booking or experience, please contact Malabar Storyteller as soon as reasonably possible so there is an opportunity to understand and address the issue.

Use the current contact details published on the Contact page of this website.

APPLICABLE LAW

These Terms & Conditions are governed by the applicable laws of India.

Any dispute that cannot be resolved directly will be subject to a competent court or consumer forum as provided by applicable law.

Nothing in these Terms limits any statutory consumer right or remedy that cannot lawfully be excluded.

CHANGES TO THESE TERMS

These Terms & Conditions may be updated when services, booking practices or applicable legal requirements change.

The version applying to a confirmed booking should be the version communicated or published when that booking is confirmed, unless a later change is required by law or expressly agreed.