Introduction
At Dekho Darjeeling, we respect your privacy and are committed to handling your personal information responsibly.
In this Privacy Policy, "Dekho Darjeeling", "we", "us" and "our" refer to the business operating under the Dekho Darjeeling brand. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store and share information when you visit our website, enquire about our services, register for a trek or tour, make a booking, communicate with us, or otherwise interact with Dekho Darjeeling.
By using our website or providing your information to us, you acknowledge the practices described in this Privacy Policy.
Information You Provide
When you submit an enquiry, registration or booking, we may collect:
- Full name
- Age or date of birth, where required
- Gender, where required for operational purposes
- Phone number
- Email address
- Residential or correspondence address, where required
- Emergency contact details
- Identification or travel-document information where required for permits or trip arrangements
- Booking and travel preferences
- Information provided through forms, emails, WhatsApp or other communications
Payment Information
When you make a payment, payment information may be processed by the relevant payment gateway, bank or payment service provider.
Where payments are processed through a third-party payment provider, Dekho Darjeeling generally does not directly receive or store complete card details such as your full card number, CVV or banking credentials.
We may retain transaction-related information such as payment status, transaction reference, amount, date and booking information for accounting, reconciliation and customer-service purposes.
Information Collected Automatically
When you visit our website, certain technical information may be collected automatically, such as:
- IP address
- Browser type
- Device type
- Operating system
- Pages visited
- Approximate time and duration of visits
- Referring website or source
- Basic website interaction data
This information may be used to maintain website security, understand website usage and improve our services.
How We Use Your Information
We may use personal information for purposes including:
- Processing enquiries and registrations
- Confirming and managing bookings
- Communicating trip-related information
- Processing and reconciling payments
- Arranging accommodation, transportation, permits, guides and other trip services
- Coordinating group activities
- Providing customer support
- Communicating changes to itineraries or schedules
- Managing safety and emergency requirements
- Meeting legal, regulatory and accounting obligations
- Improving our website, services and customer experience
- Preventing fraud, misuse or unauthorised activity
- Sending marketing or promotional communications where permitted and appropriate
We will use information for purposes reasonably connected with the services you request or with the operation of our business.
Travel & Trekking Information
Certain trips may require additional participant information to organise the experience safely and efficiently. For example, we may require information for:
- Accommodation arrangements
- Transportation
- Trek permits or registrations
- Local-authority requirements
- Emergency contacts
- Group coordination
- Safety and operational planning
Where such information is requested, participants are responsible for providing accurate information. We will seek to limit the information collected to what is reasonably necessary for the relevant purpose.
Sharing of Information
We do not sell your personal information. We may share relevant information with trusted third parties where reasonably necessary to provide our services or fulfil legitimate business and legal requirements. These may include:
- Accommodation and homestay providers
- Transportation providers
- Trek leaders and local guides
- Permit or registration authorities
- Payment gateways and financial service providers
- Technology and hosting providers
- Communication and messaging service providers
- Professional advisers or service providers
- Government authorities or law-enforcement agencies where legally required
Information shared with service providers will generally be limited to what is reasonably necessary for the relevant service or purpose.
Payment Processing
Online payments may be processed through third-party payment gateways or financial service providers. When you make a payment through such a provider, your payment information may be handled directly by that provider according to its own privacy policy and security practices.
Dekho Darjeeling may receive transaction-related information necessary to confirm and reconcile your booking.
WhatsApp, Email & Other Communications
We may communicate with participants through email, WhatsApp, telephone, SMS or other communication channels provided by the participant. These channels may be used for:
- Booking confirmations
- Payment-related communication
- Trek and tour updates
- Meeting-point and transportation information
- Emergency or operational communication
- Customer support
- Other information directly related to your booking
Where permitted, we may also send information about future trips, experiences or updates from Dekho Darjeeling. You may request that promotional communications be discontinued.
Cookies & Similar Technologies
Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to provide essential website functionality, understand website usage, improve performance and support relevant communications or analytics. Cookies may be placed by Dekho Darjeeling or by third-party services integrated into our website.
You may be able to manage or restrict cookies through your browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of parts of the website.
Analytics & Website Improvement
We may use analytics and similar tools to understand how visitors interact with our website. This may include information such as pages visited, approximate traffic sources, device information and general usage patterns.
The purpose is to understand website performance, improve content and make the booking experience more useful. Where such tools are provided by third parties, their processing may also be governed by their respective privacy policies.
Marketing & Promotional Communications
Where appropriate and permitted, Dekho Darjeeling may use contact information to communicate information about:
- New treks and tours
- Upcoming batches
- Outdoor experiences
- Events and initiatives
- Travel-related updates
- Brand announcements
You may opt out of promotional communications by contacting us or using an available unsubscribe mechanism. Please note that opting out of marketing communications will not prevent us from sending essential information relating to an existing booking or service.
Data Security
We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against unauthorised access, misuse, alteration, disclosure or loss. However, no method of transmission or electronic storage can be guaranteed to be completely secure.
Participants should also take reasonable steps to protect their own account credentials, documents and communications.
Data Retention
We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, including:
- Managing bookings and customer relationships
- Maintaining financial and transaction records
- Meeting legal, tax and accounting requirements
- Resolving disputes
- Maintaining business records
- Protecting our legal rights
- Complying with applicable laws
The period for which information is retained may vary depending on the type and purpose of the information.
Your Privacy Rights
Subject to applicable law, you may have rights relating to the personal information we hold about you, including the ability to:
- Request information about personal data held by us
- Request correction of inaccurate information
- Request deletion of information where legally applicable
- Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent
- Raise a concern regarding the handling of your personal information
Certain information may need to be retained where required by law, for legitimate business purposes or to establish, exercise or defend legal claims.
Requests relating to personal information may be submitted through our official contact channels.
Third-Party Websites & Services
Our website may contain links to third-party websites, payment platforms, social-media platforms or other external services. Once you leave the Dekho Darjeeling website, the privacy practices of the relevant third party will apply.
We encourage users to review the privacy policies of third-party platforms before providing personal information to them.
Social Media & Public Content
Dekho Darjeeling may maintain accounts or pages on third-party social-media platforms. Interactions with us through such platforms may be subject to both this Privacy Policy and the privacy policies of the relevant platform.
Where participants voluntarily share photographs, testimonials or other content with Dekho Darjeeling for publication, we may use such content for the purpose for which it was provided, subject to applicable rights and permissions.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our services, technology, business practices or applicable legal requirements. The updated version will be published on this page with a revised Last Updated date. We encourage visitors and customers to review this page periodically.
If you have questions, concerns or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or the handling of your personal information, please contact us through the official contact details provided on our website.
