FAQs
Frequently asked questions and answers
Here you will find questions and answers to the most common topics related to our mountain school program.
Booking & Payment
You can select your desired payment method (on account, by direct debit or by credit card) when completing the booking. In the case of direct debit or payment by credit card, the full amount will be debited immediately. When paying by invoice, the tour price is due at least 4 weeks before the start of the tour. We would be pleased to receive a deposit of € 100,- beforehand, provided that the course price is at least € 199,-.
Unfortunately, there is no reduction or discount for Alpine Club members.
Cancellation & Travel Cancellation
If a course is canceled before the start of the course, the course fee will be refunded pro rata in accordance with our terms and conditions. The remainder will be retained as a cancellation fee. This varies from € 50.00 to 95% of the course price. The scale can be found in our terms and conditions. We will not issue a credit note for the cancellation fee. We therefore recommend that you take out travel cancellation insurance. This can be taken out when booking the course as an additional item or via our homepage (if you would like annual insurance or packages).
We cannot grant a pro rata refund for all courses. We therefore recommend that you take out travel cancellation insurance. This can be purchased directly from our partner Alliance be completed.
If the minimum number of participants specified in the course is not reached, we may have to cancel a course. Weekly events are canceled up to 10 days and weekend or day events up to 3 days before the start of the event. We will of course try to find an alternative date or a suitable alternative for you.
If you book a course via our homepage, you can also take out travel cancellation insurance with our partner Alliance can be taken out. This also includes travel interruption insurance. Some credit cards include travel cancellation insurance. You are welcome to pay the course fee by credit card so that you are insured immediately.
Course Organization & Participants
For training courses (climbing, via ferrata, ice climbing, freeride and ski touring courses, safety days, etc.) there are usually 5-8 participants. For hikes, there can also be up to 10 participants. For very demanding tours (Jubiläumsgrat, alpine tours, etc.), the number of participants is indicated on the respective course. If there are more participants, a second guide will be added.
Each participant must assess themselves on the basis of our requirements. It can therefore happen that the homogeneity within the group does not always match 100%. Our mountain guides/guides adapt the tours/pace/etc. to the group and, if necessary, other possible solutions are sought if there is a significant difference in ability levels.
All age groups are represented on our courses. If age is a registration criterion for you, you can of course enquire about the age of the other course participants in advance.
We have been operating a detailed and comprehensive risk management system to prevent accidents for decades. Our risk management is also continuously improved and adapted. Only qualified and selected mountain & ski guides are used on all tours. Vivalpin can look back on 30 years of experience and not a single serious accident has occurred during this time.
No, but we will send out a list of participants before the course so that participants can coordinate with each other. Even if you do not live in the immediate vicinity of the other participants, you can meet at a central point and travel to the meeting point together.
Cancellations due to bad weather are very rare. Of course, we have tours in our program where the weather plays a major role. In this case, the respective mountain guide is reliably informed and may have to cancel the tour (e.g. Jubiläumsgrat). All less demanding courses and tours are rarely canceled. The course is carried out as well as possible and the program is adapted accordingly. Of course, the mountain guide always keeps an eye on the weather and avalanche situation and varies the program accordingly. Should a course really be canceled in advance due to the weather, you will of course receive your course fee back. If the tour has to be changed or canceled en route, the tour price will not be refunded pro rata. Services not used will be refunded if we are still able to cancel them.
(Rental) Equipment & Safety
Alpine equipment is provided free of charge for all beginners' courses. Please indicate the required equipment when registering. You will find a packing and equipment list for download on the website for each course. Additional rental equipment can be booked for all tours. The rental equipment and prices are only valid in conjunction with a VIVALPIN booking! The corresponding equipment lists can be downloaded from the courses/tours.
Unfortunately, a price reduction is not possible if you use your own equipment.
The rental equipment cannot be purchased after the end of the season, as we return a large part of it to our equipment partners.
We have organizer's liability insurance, but you are responsible for accident and rescue costs etc. yourself. If you book a course via our homepage, you can also take out travel cancellation insurance. This also includes travel interruption insurance. Travel cancellation insurance is included with some credit cards. You are welcome to pay the course fee by credit card so that you are insured straight away.
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