Terms of Service

These terms govern every booking made with 1stepoutside, a licensed tour operator registered in Samarkand, Uzbekistan (License №UZ-2024-00115). "We" and "us" mean 1stepoutside; "you" means the person who makes the booking and every traveller in their party.

By paying a deposit, signing a booking form, or messaging us a confirmation, you accept these terms on behalf of every traveller in the booking.

A booking is confirmed once we receive a 30% deposit and you have provided the names and passport details of every traveller. The deposit secures your places and pays our partners up front; it is non-refundable.

The balance is due 30 days before departure. For trips booked inside 30 days, full payment is required at the time of booking. We accept Stripe (international cards) and bank transfer in UZS.

Prices are quoted in USD unless stated otherwise. Payments in UZS are converted at the Central Bank of Uzbekistan rate on the day of payment. Quoted prices include everything listed in the itinerary. Optional extras (extra nights, private transfers, alcoholic drinks, tips) are billed separately.

• More than 60 days before departure: full refund minus the 30% deposit.
• 30–60 days before departure: 50% of the total trip cost retained.
• Less than 30 days before departure: 100% of the total trip cost retained.
• No-show on departure day: 100% retained, no refund.

We strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance that covers trip cancellation, medical care, and repatriation. We can recommend providers on request.

If we have to cancel a trip for reasons of safety, weather, force majeure, or insufficient bookings, you may choose a full refund of the amount paid to us, or transfer to another departure of equal value.

We are not responsible for refunding third-party costs you booked yourself — flights, visa fees, non-refundable hotels. This is why insurance matters.

Routes, lodgings and order of activities may change for operational reasons. We will always aim for an equivalent experience and explain the reason.

You are responsible for being medically fit for the trip you book. Some itineraries involve altitude, long driving days, or moderate hiking — each tour page lists the difficulty.

You must disclose relevant medical conditions, dietary needs and medications at the time of booking. We reserve the right to refuse a booking, or remove a traveller mid-trip, on safety grounds.

It is your responsibility to ensure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond the trip end date, and that you have the correct visa. We will provide a booking confirmation to support visa applications. Travel insurance covering medical evacuation is mandatory for trekking, climbing and remote-area expeditions; we will ask to see your policy number before departure.

We reserve the right to remove any traveller whose behaviour endangers the group, the guides, the communities we visit, or themselves — including substance misuse, harassment, or repeated disregard for guide instructions. No refund is given in such cases and the traveller bears the cost of onward travel home.

Our guides may take photos and short video on tour. We use a small selection for marketing — website, social media, brochures. If you do not want to appear, tell us at the start of the trip and we will respect that throughout.

We act in good faith and select partners with care. We are not liable for loss, damage, injury or delay caused by circumstances outside our reasonable control — including but not limited to force majeure, government action, war, civil unrest, weather, illness, third-party failures, or your own acts and omissions. Our maximum liability is limited to the amount you paid us for the trip in question.

If something is wrong on tour, tell your guide immediately so we have a chance to fix it. Written complaints can be sent to 1step@asia.com within 30 days of the trip end. We aim to acknowledge within 5 working days and resolve within 30.

These terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Any dispute that cannot be resolved amicably will be submitted to the courts of Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

1stepoutside · Samarkand, Uzbekistan · 1step@asia.com · +998 91 888 36 42