Trip Policy & Operating Rules

Included in your trip cost

• Fuel for the entire trip
• Toll charges throughout the trip
• Parking charges on multi-day trips (see 1-day trips under 'Not included')
• AC / Non-AC / Full-AC vehicle as per the package booked
• Driver's food, stay & allowance for all days
• Driver salary and assignment fee
• Vehicle insurance and roadside assistance

Not included

• Parking charges on 1-day trips — applicable unless otherwise agreed at the time of booking (tolls remain included; multi-day trips include parking throughout)
• Guest hotel stay & meals
• Activity charges (boating, ziplines, treks, parasailing, etc.)
• Entry / ticket / camera fees at monuments and parks
• Personal expenses, shopping, tips
• Travel insurance for the guest
• Permits — Inner Line Permit (ILP) for Arunachal/Nagaland is the guest's responsibility

Daily duty & distance

• The day ends when that day's agreed itinerary is complete — not at a fixed hour. If the last spot finishes at 3 or 4 PM, the day is done.
• If the agreed itinerary itself runs long and finishes at 8 or 9 PM, that is accepted and costs nothing extra.
• Every day is planned around a start before 8 AM. Please be ready to leave by then.
• A start after 8 AM is the guest's own delay. The day is restructured around the time that is left, and spots that no longer fit are dropped.
• Daily distance — sightseeing day: up to 120 km. That is a day running from point A to point B with sightseeing in between.
• Daily distance — transfer day: up to 150 km, and only when the day is a straight transfer from point A to point B with no sightseeing.
• Either way, that day's itinerary as listed in your voucher is what applies.
• Charges are per-day duty charges, not per kilometre. There is no per-km rate.
• A day that runs beyond its limit attracts an additional charge for that day.
• Unused distance does not carry over — travelling less on one day does not add kilometres to the next.
• These limits govern changes or additions made during the trip. Where your agreed itinerary already sets out a day that differs, the agreed itinerary stands as agreed.
• Direct same-day drop to Guwahati from Cherrapunji: Sedan +₹1,500 · Ertiga +₹2,500 · Innova +₹3,500 — unless your package states the Guwahati drop is included (e.g. Express packages).
• Spots are visited in the order of the agreed itinerary; reordering on the day is at the driver's discretion if it helps timing.

Pick-up & drop points

• The quoted fare is for ONE pickup point and ONE drop point.
• Multiple pickup or drop points — for example airport and railway station, a bus stop, or different hotels — must be informed in advance, and an additional ₹1,000–2,000 applies.
• It must be clearly stated in your itinerary to count as informed and agreed. If no intimation was given in advance, it is not treated as informed or agreed, and the extra will apply on the day.

Hotel & in-between transfers

• Hotel pickup & drop: ONE round trip is included — pickup in the morning and drop AFTER the full day's itinerary is complete.
• Drop to hotel mid-day or in between spots is NOT included. If you need to drop someone at the hotel mid-day, this counts as an extra transfer and is chargeable (fuel + driver time).
• Recommended hotel zone: within 5 km of Police Bazaar, Shillong. Hotels further out may incur additional km charges.

Dinner & post-trip pickup-drop

• Dinner pickup & drop after the day's itinerary is NOT included in the base package.
• In Shillong there is no dinner run. Hotels sit within walking distance of Police Bazaar, Laitumkhrah and the cafes, so the driver's day ends at the hotel drop.
• In Cherrapunji (Sohra) and Dawki, a dinner run IS available. Stays there are spread out with nothing walkable after dark, so the driver takes you out and brings you back — tell us at booking and it goes into the itinerary.
• If agreed in advance, the dinner transfer is added to your itinerary at a fixed agreed price. Tempo Traveller & Urbania protocol: drop at hotel first, then a separate pickup for dinner.
• On-spot requests ("can you also drop us at the cafe at 9 PM?") are subject to availability and charged separately: +₹500 between 8 PM and 10 PM, +₹1,000 after 10 PM.

Late hours & timing charges

• After 8 PM an extra ₹500 applies, and after 10 PM ₹1,000 — but ONLY for a separate or additional run requested beyond your agreed itinerary (for example a late dinner drop). If your agreed itinerary itself runs late, there is no extra charge. Standalone airport transfers keep their own night rate, shown on that page.
• No late-hours charge if a delay is caused by traffic, or by natural causes beyond anyone's control — floods, landslides or road blocks. These are never charged to the guest.
• Early pickup and late drop that are part of your agreed itinerary carry no extra charge.

Punctuality

• Start the day at the agreed pickup time. Late starts shorten daily sightseeing — the driver is not responsible for spots that cannot be covered because of a late start.
• Hills traffic can be unpredictable — please allow buffer for sunset spots like Laitlum.
• The driver may shorten visits if a previous stop ran over and the day's km cap is at risk.

Our commitment

• Vehicles are serviced, insured, and permit-valid for the trip route.
• Drivers are licensed for commercial passenger transport, background-verified, and trained on local routes.
• Drivers will speak basic English; many also speak Hindi and Khasi.
• First-aid kit and emergency contact list available in every vehicle.

AC / Semi-AC / Non-AC — how it works

• Semi-AC is the DEFAULT for every AC vehicle, and for local taxis, unless full-AC has been specifically discussed and agreed at the time of booking. If no AC preference was communicated, the vehicle is treated as Semi-AC.
• Full-AC applies while the vehicle is running. During long traffic jams, steep hill climbs, or when the vehicle is halted / parked, full AC is not applicable — this is normal for hill driving and to protect the engine.
• Non-AC applies only to vehicles that have no AC at all (for example Tata Sumo, and certain Tempo Travellers). These are quoted and booked as Non-AC from the start.

Vehicle for booked travellers only

• The vehicle is hired for the named travel party only. Picking up friends, relatives, or hitchhikers en route is not allowed unless agreed in writing with the office.
• Children under 5 travel free; from 5 years onward they count as one full passenger for seating-capacity purposes.

Tips & side deals

• Tips are entirely voluntary; drivers are not allowed to solicit them.
• Do NOT pay the driver directly for side trips or to extend the package — this voids agency commitments and warranties.
• If a driver asks for direct extra payment for any service, please report it on WhatsApp +91 8855853857 immediately.

• Original photo ID (Aadhaar, Passport, Driving Licence) is mandatory at every hotel — no ID, no check-in.
• Inner Line Permit (ILP) for Arunachal Pradesh or Nagaland is the guest's responsibility; please apply at least 5 days in advance.
• Mawlynnong, Dawki, and many root-bridge villages have eco-tourism rules — no plastic, no littering, no loud music. Fines are paid by the offending guest.
• Photography is restricted at some sacred groves and Khasi shrines — please follow signage and the driver's guidance.
• Drone use across Meghalaya is regulated — guests are responsible for obtaining DGCA / district permission. Agency is not liable for confiscation.

Before the trip starts

• The token (one day's fare) is non-refundable in all cases — it covers the day held for you.
• More than 24 hours before trip start: any amount paid beyond the token is refunded in full.
• 1–24 hours before trip start: 50% of amounts paid beyond the token.
• Under 1 hour: no refund.
• No-show (guest does not arrive at pickup point): 0% refund.

After the trip has started — STRICT no-refund

• Once the trip has STARTED, no refund is allowed under any circumstances.
• If the guest chooses to cancel the trip mid-way (e.g. returns to base early, decides to fly back, family member changes plan), the FULL trip cost remains payable. The driver and vehicle are already committed for the original duration and cannot be reassigned.
• Reducing the trip duration on the day does not entitle a refund.

Force majeure (force outside everyone's control)

• Verified force-majeure interruptions — landslide, flood, curfew, government-issued travel restriction, weather emergency — are handled case-by-case: the agency will make a fair effort to substitute spots within the day's KM cap or reschedule. No refund is automatic.
• Verified medical emergency, hospitalisation, or bereavement on the guest's side: case-by-case re-scheduling, subject to documentary proof submitted within 48 hours.

Refund processing

• Approved refunds are processed to the original payment method within 5–7 business days of approval.
• Razorpay refunds may take 7–10 business days to reflect in the customer's account, depending on the issuing bank.

Hotel is NOT included in the trip cost

• Trip cost covers the vehicle, fuel, tolls, parking, and the driver's food & stay.
• Guests are expected to book and pay for their own hotel — ideally within 5 km of Police Bazaar, Shillong, to keep daily pickup/drop within the included one round-trip.

If you want the agency to book the hotel

• Mention this at the quotation stage so we can include it in the agreed itinerary and quote.
• Full hotel cost is payable IN ADVANCE, in addition to the trip advance.
• Hotel bookings made by the agency are non-refundable as per the hotel's own cancellation policy — we pass the booking on; we cannot waive hotel cancellation charges.
• Hotels outside the 5 km Police Bazaar zone may incur additional KM charges on daily pickup/drop.

What the daily rate covers

• A stated kilometre allowance per day — typically 250 to 300 km, averaged across the trip rather than capped day by day.
• A stated daily hour limit, usually around 12 hours of vehicle use.
• Fuel, the driver's salary and the vehicle.
• Air-conditioned or non-AC vehicle, whichever you booked — the two are priced differently and your voucher says which you have.

What is charged on top

• Extra kilometres beyond the trip allowance, at the per-km rate in your quotation.
• Extra hours beyond the daily limit, at the per-hour rate in your quotation.
• Driver bata — a night-halt allowance for every night the driver is away from base, and for any day the journey ends after midnight.
• Toll, parking and interstate permits, at actuals.
• Hill-station and airport entry fees where the state levies them.

AC and non-AC

• Non-AC is cheaper and perfectly comfortable in the hills — Munnar, Coorg and Chikkamagaluru rarely need cooling.
• Air-conditioning is switched off on steep climbs. That is how these engines are driven on ghat roads, not a fault, and every operator in the south does it.
• On coastal and plains routes — Kochi, Bengaluru, Hampi, the coast — book AC. Hampi in particular is not a non-AC trip.

How the vehicle is used

• The vehicle runs to the itinerary in your voucher. Places added on the road are charged as extra kilometres.
• The car is not at your disposal overnight. The driver parks and rests, and is back at the agreed time.
• Sightseeing that needs a local jeep — Hebbe Falls, some forest tracks and safari zones — cannot be done in your car. Those are booked and paid locally.

Driving hours

• Drivers do not drive after dark on ghat roads unless the itinerary requires it. Hill roads in Coorg, Chikkamagaluru, Munnar and Wayanad are narrow and unlit.
• A day ending after midnight attracts driver bata whether or not the trip is overnight.
• If a day runs long because of your own additions, the extra hours are chargeable.

Kerala

• Alcohol is restricted. Many hotels do not serve it, and houseboats do not stock it.
• Houseboats moor at dusk — night movement on the canals is not permitted. A houseboat is a day and a night, never an afternoon.
• Eravikulam National Park closes for the Nilgiri tahr calving season, usually February into March.
• The Periyar lake boat runs on fixed slots and sells out. Tickets are taken early, not at the jetty.

Karnataka

• The state observes dry days on certain dates when alcohol is not served anywhere.
• Hampi village is largely dry and vegetarian by local custom; Hospet, 13 km away, is not.
• Chembra Peak, Hebbe Falls and several forest areas need permits that are capped daily and can close at short notice.
• Bengaluru traffic is genuinely unpredictable. We build departure days around it and still recommend an evening flight.

Included in your package

• Port Blair airport pickup and drop
• Hotel accommodation as named in your voucher
• Breakfast — CP meal plan
• Entry tickets at the sights listed in your itinerary
• Boat tickets as per the itinerary
• Ferry tickets — private ferry, Nautika luxury class, Port Blair → Havelock → Neil → Port Blair
• Private air-conditioned car for sightseeing and transfers as per the itinerary
• Assistance at arrival and departure points
• Speed boat ride at Ross Island / North Bay — 10-seater sharing basis, for 2 guests

Complimentary with the package

• Coconut water on the arrival-day visit to Cellular Jail
• Spa / body massage
• Shopping assistance in Port Blair

Not included

• Airfare to and from Port Blair
• Lunch and dinner unless specifically mentioned
• Personal expenses
• Tips, laundry, telephone and beverages
• Optional water sports and adventure activities
• Camera and video charges
• Anything not specifically listed under inclusions

Per person, GST extra

• Scuba diving — ₹3,500
• Sea walking — ₹3,500
• Parasailing — ₹3,500
• Kayaking — ₹3,500
• Submarine — ₹3,500
• Bella Bay cruise dinner — ₹3,500
• Dolphin boat ride — ₹1,800
• Jet ski ride — ₹1,000

Ferries and vehicles

• Ferry timings and tickets are subject to availability. Seats are released in blocks and sell out in season.
• Sailings are cancelled by the harbourmaster in bad weather. Where that happens we rework the plan at no extra cost to you, but we cannot make a boat sail.
• Vehicle use is strictly as per the itinerary. Additional running is chargeable.

Hotels

• Hotels are subject to availability at the time of confirmation.
• If a named property is unavailable we provide a similar-category hotel, and tell you before you travel rather than on arrival.

Identification

• Every guest must carry a valid government photo ID for hotels, ferries and permits.
• A PAN card is not accepted as photo ID at many places in the islands. Carry Aadhaar, a passport or a driving licence.
• Foreign nationals are issued a Restricted Area Permit on arrival at Port Blair — carry your passport at all times.

Standard season

• More than 21 days before arrival — 50% deduction, as stated in your quotation.
• Within 20 days of arrival — non-refundable.

Peak season — 15 December to 15 January

• Non-refundable and non-cancellable from the moment of confirmation.
• This applies regardless of how far ahead you book. Island inventory over that fortnight is bought outright and cannot be released.

Itinerary can be replanned on the road for

• Curfew, bandhs, strikes, or police closures
• Landslides, floods, road washouts, or active weather warnings
• Closure of a spot on a particular weekday or religious day
• Vehicle breakdown — a replacement of equivalent type is arranged; lost time is adjusted
• Verified medical emergency in the travel party
• VVIP / political movement causing road blocks

Re-planning is NOT allowed for

• Guest preference change on the day ("let's add Tawang instead")
• Late start from the hotel making remaining spots tight
• Wanting to extend the trip without confirming new commercials with the office

Changes after the itinerary is agreed

• Once the itinerary is agreed, any addition or change may attract extra charges (extra KM, an extra day, an extra spot, or re-routing).
• We are not obligated or entitled to make changes on the trip day. Any on-the-day change is purely subject to feasibility — time, distance, road conditions and daylight — and to the office confirming the revised commercials first.

Strictly prohibited inside the vehicle

• Smoking (including e-cigarettes / vapes)
• Consumption of alcohol or any intoxicant
• Possession or consumption of any banned substance
• Verbal abuse, threats, or physical aggression toward the driver or other guests

Damage & cleaning charges

• Vomit / spillage / heavy soiling cleaning fee: ₹500–₹1,500 depending on severity
• Damage to vehicle interior, seats, or fittings: charged at actual repair / replacement cost
• Lost vehicle keys or smart card: charged at replacement cost

• Travel insurance is strongly recommended for every guest, especially for treks (Double Decker root bridge, Nongriat) and high-altitude routes (Tawang).
• Pre-existing medical conditions — heart issues, severe asthma, pregnancy, mobility constraints — must be disclosed in writing before the trip so we can advise on route safety.
• High-altitude routes (Tawang, Sela Pass) are not recommended for pregnant women, infants under 2, or persons with cardiac/respiratory conditions. Such travel is at the guest's own risk.
• Seat belts must be worn at all times.

• Once the advance is paid, any modification to dates, route, vehicle type, or pax count attracts an admin charge of ₹500.
• Date changes are subject to vehicle availability and seasonal pricing; the refund/cancellation timeline does not reset.
• Vehicle upgrade is allowed by paying the difference. Vehicle downgrade after confirmation is treated as a partial cancellation per the refund schedule.
• Pax-count reduction does not reduce the package cost — the vehicle has already been blocked.

Accepted modes

• Online — Card, UPI, Netbanking, Wallets via Razorpay (link in your booking email)
• Direct UPI (Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm) to our registered business account
• Bank transfer (NEFT / RTGS / IMPS)
• Cash on Day 1 with proper receipt

Schedule (updated 2 October 2026)

• At booking — a token of one day's fare confirms the slot, and it is non-refundable. On a 1-day trip that token is the full trip cost. The exact amount is shown in your quote.
• Once the token is received we confirm your booking and send the confirmation by email.
• Day 1 — 50% of the total trip cost (minus the token already paid).
• On a 1-day trip the token is already the whole fare, so there is nothing further to pay.
• Balance 50% — due on the LAST day by 9 AM, or before the drop time if the drop is earlier.

• If you leave any item in the vehicle, please report to WhatsApp +91 8855853857 within 24 hours.
• We will make a good-faith effort to locate and return the item; courier and packaging charges are paid by the guest.
• Meghalaya Cabs is not liable for cash, jewellery, electronics, or other valuables left in the vehicle.

• All complaints — driver conduct, vehicle condition, billing, service quality — must be raised in writing via WhatsApp or email within 7 days of the trip's end.
• We will investigate and respond within 14 working days.
• WhatsApp: +91 8855853857 · Email: meghalayacabs@gmail.com
• Decisions can be escalated to arbitration per the Dispute Resolution clause below.

• Meghalaya Cabs acts only as a transport and trip-coordination provider.
• All activities — treks, water sports, cave visits, root-bridge walks, viewpoint access, river crossings — are undertaken voluntarily and at the guest's own risk.
• We are NOT liable for injury, accident, illness, loss of life, theft, or weather-related disruption, nor for the conduct of third-party hotels, guides, boatmen, or activity vendors.
• Full risk-acknowledgement language is included on Page 4 of your Trip Voucher PDF. Booking, advance payment, and commencement of the trip constitute acceptance.

• Your contact details are used only for trip coordination, billing, and post-trip feedback.
• We share the assigned driver's name, phone, and car number with you for safety; we share your name and phone with the driver for pickup coordination.
• Reviews you submit may be displayed publicly on our website and Google profile.
• We do not sell guest data to third parties.

• These policies and all Meghalaya Cabs bookings are governed by Indian law.
• All disputes not resolved by the Grievance Redressal process are referred to a sole arbitrator under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, seated at Shillong, Meghalaya, conducted in English.
• Courts at Shillong, Meghalaya have exclusive jurisdiction over any matter not subject to arbitration.