Participant
terms.

Who we are

Wild Desk is run by Agostina Massarini, a sole trader based in Geneva, Switzerland. You can reach us at hello@wilddesk.ch.

These terms apply when you book a place on a Wild Desk trip. Each trip combines accommodation, meals and activities at one price, so it is a package under the Swiss Federal Act on Package Travel, and these terms follow that Act. If the Act, or any other consumer law that applies to you, gives you more protection than these terms, that protection applies.

What your booking is made of

Your booking is made of three things: the trip page on wilddesk.ch, these terms, and the written confirmation we send you. The trip page describes the trip: the dates and the arrival and departure times, the place and the accommodation, the rooms, the programme and activities, the meals that are included, the price, the payment dates and the minimum number of participants. Any special requests we have agreed with you, such as dietary requirements or who you share a room with, are written in your confirmation.

What's included

Unless the trip page says otherwise, each trip includes accommodation for the stated number of nights, all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner every day), a workspace with WiFi, and the activities listed in the programme. Local transport during the trip is included where the trip page says so. Any local tourist tax is included in the price unless the trip page says otherwise.

Travel to and from the venue, personal expenses, alcoholic drinks and travel insurance are not included. You're welcome to bring or buy your own food during the trip, but this doesn't reduce the price, and we don't offer refunds or discounts for meals you choose not to eat.

Booking, confirmation and payment

Sending a request to join does not guarantee a place, because we look at every request individually. Our trips are for people aged 18 and over. Before you pay anything, we send you these terms and the details of your trip in writing. Your place is confirmed once you receive our written confirmation and your deposit has reached us. We send your invoice once you've completed the confirmation form. Please pay the first instalment within 2 days; we hold your spot until then. For bookings made less than one month before the trip, the full price is due at once.

The deposit and the date by which the balance is due are shown on the trip page and in your confirmation. Payment is made in Swiss francs, by bank transfer or by the payment link we send you. If the balance hasn't reached us by the due date, we'll remind you. If it still hasn't arrived 7 days after our reminder, we may cancel your booking, and the rules in "If you cancel" then apply.

The price

The price in your confirmation is final. We won't increase it after you've booked.

If you cancel

If you need to cancel, tell us in writing (an email to hello@wilddesk.ch is enough) as soon as possible. What counts is the date we receive your message.

If you cancel more than one month (30 days) before the trip starts, you get a full refund, including your deposit. If you cancel within one month of the trip starting, the booking is non-refundable, unless you or we find someone to take your place. In that case, you get back what you've paid, minus any extra costs the change causes (usually there are none). We recommend taking out cancellation insurance, which can cover you if you have to cancel within that last month.

Passing your place to someone else

If you can't come, you can pass your place to someone else, as long as they meet the conditions of the trip (for example, shared twin rooms are allocated by gender) and accept these terms. Let us know in writing as early as you can, and at the latest 7 days before the trip starts, so we can update the room plan and the dietary requirements.

You and the person taking your place are both responsible for any part of the price that hasn't been paid yet, and for any extra costs the change causes. We'll tell you what these are before the change is made; usually there are none.

If we need to change the trip

Small practical changes can happen, such as changing the order of activities or adapting a route because of the weather or snow conditions, and we'll keep you informed.

If before the trip we have to change something essential, such as the dates, the place or chalet, or an important part of the programme, we'll tell you in writing straight away. You can then choose to accept the change, to move to another Wild Desk trip of equal or higher value, or to join a cheaper trip and get the difference back, or to cancel and get back everything you've paid, as quickly as possible.

If we cancel the trip

Each trip runs with at least the minimum number of participants shown on the trip page (if none is shown, 5 participants). If that number isn't reached, we may cancel the trip, and we'll tell you in writing at least 21 days before the trip starts.

If we cancel a trip for any reason that isn't your fault, you get a full refund of everything you've paid, as quickly as possible, plus priority access to a future trip. If you prefer, you can join another Wild Desk trip instead. If we cancel because the minimum number of participants wasn't reached and we told you in time, or because of events outside our control that we couldn't avoid (for example avalanche danger, closed roads or the venue becoming unusable), the refund is all you're entitled to. In any other case, you can also claim compensation as the law provides.

If something isn't right during the trip

If something isn't as it should be during the trip, tell us straight away, in person, by WhatsApp or by email, so we can fix it on the spot. If it can't be solved there, please write to us within 30 days of the end of the trip.

If an important part of the trip can't be provided once it has started, we'll arrange a suitable alternative at no extra cost and refund you the difference in value. If no alternative is possible, or you have a good reason to refuse it, we'll help you get back home and compensate you as the law provides.

Before you leave

About a week before the trip, we send you the practical information: the arrival time and meeting point, how to get there, and a phone number where you can reach us at any time during the trip.

Travel insurance

Valid personal travel insurance is required for all participants and must cover medical expenses for the full duration of the trip. By confirming your booking, you confirm that you will have adequate insurance in place before the trip begins. Wild Desk is not responsible for any costs arising from the absence of adequate insurance coverage.

Activities

The activities take place outdoors in the mountains, so weather, snow and terrain are part of them. All activities in the programme are optional, and you're under no obligation to take part in any physical activity. Some activities are led by local guides that we choose with care. By joining a trip, you confirm that you know your own physical limits, that you will only take part in what you feel able to do, and that you will follow the guide's instructions. If something about your health or fitness could matter, please tell us before the trip so we can plan around it.

Activities you organise yourself outside the programme, such as skiing, aren't part of your trip. You do them at your own risk, and Wild Desk isn't responsible for them.

Dietary requirements and allergies

We do our best to accommodate dietary requirements, including vegetarian and vegan needs. Please tell us about any requirements when you confirm your booking, and we'll confirm in writing what we can accommodate. For meals prepared by local partners, we pass your requirements on to them directly. For meals prepared communally, we cannot guarantee an allergen-free environment. If you have a severe allergy, please contact us before confirming your booking.

Code of conduct

We expect everyone on a Wild Desk trip to treat other participants, hosts and venue staff with respect. Discriminatory, harassing or offensive behaviour of any kind will not be tolerated. Excessive drinking or drug use is also not tolerated, and illegal drugs are never permitted. If your behaviour causes serious disruption, puts others at risk or breaches this standard, we reserve the right to end your participation in the trip immediately, without refund.

Living together. We share the chalet for a few days, so we ask everyone to keep noise down early in the morning, late in the evening and during calls in shared working areas, and to be mindful of timing in the shared bathrooms, especially in the morning.

Kitchen, common areas and your room. Please wash up, wipe down counters and the table, put shared equipment back and clear up any spills after use. When you check out, leave your room in order, with the bedding tidy and your belongings and rubbish cleared out.

Smoking. Smoking indoors is not allowed. Whether you can smoke outside depends on the chalet (see the trip page). If you do, please collect your cigarette butts: we are close to woods and it is a real fire risk.

Damage caused by participants

Participants are responsible for any damage they cause to the accommodation, its furnishings or shared equipment through negligence, misuse or reckless behaviour. Wild Desk will invoice the responsible participant for the cost of repair or replacement: either the amount charged by the venue, or our own cost if we handle it directly. This does not apply to normal wear and tear. If something breaks or gets damaged, please tell us rather than leaving it.

Our responsibility

We're responsible for delivering your trip as described, including the parts provided by our partners, such as the venue, caterers and guides. We're not responsible where a problem is caused by you, by someone not involved in the trip whose actions we couldn't foresee or avoid, or by events outside our control that we couldn't avoid even with all due care. Even then, we'll help you if you're in difficulty.

We don't limit our responsibility for personal injury. For any other damage, our liability is limited to twice the price of your trip, except where the damage was caused on purpose or through gross negligence. Please take care of your own devices and back up your work: we aren't responsible for lost data, damage to your devices or any impact on your work, including WiFi or power interruptions, unless we caused them through our own fault.

Passports, visas and working remotely

Citizens of the EU and EFTA can enter Switzerland with a valid identity card or passport. Other nationalities may need a Schengen visa, so check the requirements with the Swiss authorities in good time, as processing can take several weeks. There are no special health formalities for our trips in Switzerland.

It's your responsibility to confirm that you're legally allowed to work remotely from the trip destination, including any visa, immigration or tax implications. This applies even for short trips and even if you're travelling from within Europe. Wild Desk does not check this on your behalf and is not responsible for any consequences arising from your work status while abroad.

Photography

We take photos and videos of the group during trips for Wild Desk's website and social media. In group shots you'll often be seen from behind. When you confirm your booking, you can tick a box to say you're happy to appear in published photos and videos. If you don't, we only publish images where you can't be recognised. You can change your mind at any time by writing to hello@wilddesk.ch, and if you want a published photo removed, we'll take it down. Our Privacy Policy explains how we handle photos and other personal data.

Disputes

If something goes wrong, please contact us directly at hello@wilddesk.ch. We will always try to resolve issues informally first. These terms are governed by Swiss law. This doesn't take away any protection you have under the mandatory consumer law of the country where you live.

Contact

For any questions about these terms, reach out at hello@wilddesk.ch.