Terms
Please note: this English version is provided for your convenience. Only the German version is legally binding.
Legal
General Terms and Conditions
So that we can focus entirely on the experience in the mountains, here is a summary of the rules for booking, cancelling and carrying out my tours and courses.
§ 1 Scope
These General Terms and Conditions apply to all tours, courses and events of vertical.guide, Martin Siefermann, state-certified mountain and ski guide (hereinafter “vertical.guide”). Deviating agreements must be made in text form (e.g. by email).
§ 2 Registration and conclusion of contract
You can register by email, by phone, via WhatsApp or in person. The contract is concluded when vertical.guide confirms the booking in text form. A participant who registers further persons is liable for their contractual obligations as for their own.
§ 3 Requirements for participation
Anyone who is healthy and physically fit, meets the requirements stated in the respective tour description (fitness, technique, experience) and brings suitable, functioning equipment can take part. You will receive an equipment list after registering. Rental equipment can be provided by arrangement.
Please inform vertical.guide before the tour of any health restrictions, pre-existing conditions or medication that may be relevant to the tour.
The minimum age is usually 16 years, 14 years for events at the climbing gym. Participation under the age of 14 is only possible by personal arrangement. Minors require written consent from their parents or legal guardians.
§ 4 Services and prices
The scope of services is set out in the respective tour description and the booking confirmation. The price usually includes the costs of guiding and organising the tour.
Third-party services such as travel, accommodation, meals, cable cars or parking fees are – unless expressly stated otherwise – not included in the price and are not services of vertical.guide. Any costs incurred by the guide for accommodation, meals and cable cars are – unless agreed otherwise – shared proportionally among the participants.
§ 5 Payment
Unless agreed otherwise, the price is due upon booking confirmation. Payment is made by bank transfer to the account stated in the confirmation.
§ 6 Minimum number of participants
Courses and group tours require a minimum number of participants, which is stated in the respective description. If this number is not reached 11 days before the start, vertical.guide may withdraw from the contract. In this case, payments already made will be refunded promptly and in full. There are no further claims.
§ 7 Cancellation by the participant
You can cancel at any time; please inform us in text form as soon as possible. After receipt of the booking confirmation, the following cancellation fees apply:
| Time of cancellation | Cancellation fee |
|---|---|
| up to 45 days before the start | 10 % |
| 44 to 12 days before the start | 40 % |
| 11 to 5 days before the start | 70 % |
| from 4 days before the start and in case of no-show | 100 % |
in each case based on the price of the event. The participant is entitled to prove that vertical.guide has suffered no damage or significantly less damage.
The participant may name a suitable substitute who meets the requirements for participation. If a vacated place can be filled otherwise, for example from the waiting list, the cancellation fees will be reduced or refunded accordingly.
To keep the financial risk low, vertical.guide recommends taking out travel cancellation insurance for multi-day events.
§ 8 Programme changes and abandonment for safety reasons
Tours in the mountains depend on the weather, snow and avalanche conditions and the conditions on the mountain. The guide may change the route, objective or schedule if this is necessary for safety reasons. In this case vertical.guide will try to offer an alternative objective that is as equivalent as possible.
The guide's instructions must be followed during the tour. If a participant does not meet the stated requirements or endangers themselves or others, the guide may exclude them from further participation.
If a tour cannot take place at all before it starts for reasons for which vertical.guide is not responsible (e.g. force majeure, closures by the authorities) and no alternative programme can be offered, the price for services not provided will be refunded.
§ 9 No right of withdrawal
For contracts for services related to leisure activities that are agreed for a specific date or period, there is no statutory right of withdrawal under Section 312g (2) No. 9 of the German Civil Code (BGB). Cancellation is governed by § 7.
§ 10 Risk and liability
Tours and courses in the mountains and at climbing facilities are never free of risk. Despite the utmost care, a residual risk inherent in the sport remains, which every participant knowingly accepts. Please also note the Risk notice.
vertical.guide is liable without limitation for damage resulting from injury to life, body or health and for damage caused by intent or gross negligence. Otherwise, liability for property damage and financial loss caused by slight negligence is limited to three times the price of the event, unless essential contractual obligations are breached.
vertical.guide has professional liability insurance. vertical.guide is not liable for third-party services (see § 4).
§ 11 Insurance cover
Adequate insurance cover is the participant's responsibility. We particularly recommend accident, rescue and travel health insurance – such as that provided by membership of the German Alpine Club (DAV) – as well as travel cancellation insurance for multi-day events.
§ 12 Data protection and final provisions
Personal data is processed exclusively for the performance of the contract. Details can be found in the privacy policy.
The law of the Federal Republic of Germany applies. Should individual provisions of these terms be invalid, the validity of the remaining provisions remains unaffected; the invalid provision shall be replaced by the statutory provision.
Last updated: October 2026