Cancellation & Refund Policy
Simple, fair, and transparent — we believe in honest travel.
Last updated: August 2026
Online Payment Processing Charges
When you make a payment online via Razorpay, the payment gateway deducts a processing fee directly from the transaction. This fee is 2% of the payment amount plus 18% GST on that 2%. This charge is applied by Razorpay — not by us — and we have no control over it.
We do not add any cancellation fee of our own. All refunds we issue are calculated on the amount we actually received after Razorpay deducted their fee.
Razorpay Processing Fees
Indian guests (Domestic cards): 2% of the transaction amount + 18% GST on that 2%.
International guests (Foreign cards): 3% of the transaction amount + 2% GST on that 3%.
This fee is deducted by Razorpay directly. We do not retain any part of it. All refunds we process are calculated on the amount we actually received after this deduction.
Refund Schedule
The following refund rules apply to all bookings made on varanasilocalguide.com
More than 24 hours before tour
We refund the full amount we received, after the Razorpay processing fee is deducted. We keep nothing. Processed to your original payment method within 3–7 business days.
4 to 24 hours before tour
We refund 70% of the amount we received, after the Razorpay processing fee is deducted. The remaining 30% covers guide preparation costs and reserved time. Processed within 3–7 business days.
No-Show — Missed tour without notice
If you do not appear at the meeting point at the scheduled time, you may claim a 50% refund (after platform deduction) or reschedule your tour to any available date at no extra charge. Contact us on WhatsApp within 24 hours of the missed tour.
Cancelled by Varanasi Local Guide
If we cancel your tour for any reason, you will receive a complete refund of the full amount you paid — including the platform fee — within 5–7 business days to your original payment method.
Refund Processing Time
After we initiate a refund, the time it takes to reflect in your account depends on your bank and payment method.
Razorpay offers an instant refund option which incurs an additional fee charged by Razorpay. If you need an urgent refund, contact us on WhatsApp and we will check if this option is available for your transaction.
How to Request a Cancellation
To cancel your booking, contact us via WhatsApp with your booking reference number. We will confirm your cancellation and process the applicable refund to your original payment method.
WhatsApp Us to CancelAdditional Notes
Refunds are issued to the original payment method only. We cannot transfer refunds to a different account or payment method.
In case of extreme weather, natural disasters, floods, or government restrictions, we offer free rescheduling or a full refund including platform fees.
We reserve the right to cancel or modify tours for safety reasons. Full refunds including platform fees will be issued in such cases.
Group bookings of 5 or more people may be subject to separate cancellation terms. Please contact us via WhatsApp before booking.
Partial cancellations within a group booking are handled on a case-by-case basis.
Tour rescheduling is free if requested more than 24 hours before the tour start time, subject to availability.
Questions about our policy?
Email: varanasilocalguide@gmail.com
WhatsApp: +91 9565194075