Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to Trekkership ("we", "our", or "us"). We are committed to protecting your personal information and your right to privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit trekkership.online and use our trekking and travel services.

Please read this policy carefully. By accessing or using our website, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by this Privacy Policy.

2. Who We Are

Trekkership is a travel and adventure trekking company. We act as the data controller for personal information collected through this website.

• Business Name: Trekkership
• Website: trekkership.online
• Address: 519 Perine Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22304, USA
• Phone: 703-774-3617
• Email: contact@trekkership.online

3. Information We Collect

3.1 Information You Provide Directly

When you interact with our website or services, you may provide:

• Contact information — name, email address, telephone number, and postal address
• Travel preferences — preferred destinations, travel dates, group size, and experience level
• Health information — relevant medical information voluntarily disclosed for safety purposes on high-altitude treks
• Communications — the content of messages, emails, or enquiries you send to us
• Marketing preferences — your opt-in or opt-out choices for promotional communications

3.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect: IP address, browser type and version, device type and operating system, pages visited and time spent, and referring website or search terms. This data is used solely to improve our website and services.

3.3 Information We Do Not Collect

We do not collect or store payment card details. All payment processing is handled by licensed third-party processors and is not stored on our systems.

Data Category	Examples	How Collected
Identity Data	Full name, date of birth	Contact form, booking enquiry
Contact Data	Email, phone, address	Contact form, booking process
Travel Data	Destination, dates, group size	Contact form, booking process
Technical Data	IP address, browser type	Automatically via website
Cookie Data	Session and analytics cookies	Automatically, with consent
Communications	Emails and messages sent to us	Direct communication

4. How We Use Your Information

• Responding to enquiries — to reply to contact forms and answer questions
• Booking and trip planning — to process bookings and coordinate travel arrangements
• Safety and emergencies — to maintain emergency contact information during treks
• Marketing communications — to send newsletters and promotions, only with your consent
• Website improvement — to analyse site usage and improve performance
• Legal compliance — to comply with applicable laws and regulations
• Fraud prevention — to detect and prevent fraudulent enquiries

5. Legal Basis for Processing (GDPR)

For users in the European Economic Area (EEA) or United Kingdom, our processing is based on: contract performance (to fulfil a booking), legitimate interests (improving services, fraud prevention), consent (newsletters, non-essential cookies), and legal obligation (compliance requirements).

6. How We Share Your Information

We may share your personal information with:

• Local trekking guides and operators — to arrange your trek in-country
• Accommodation providers — tea houses and hotels on your route receive your name and arrival details
• Emergency services — in the event of a medical or safety emergency on the trail
• IT and website service providers — hosting, email, and analytics providers operating under data processing agreements
• Legal authorities — where required by law, court order, or to protect safety

All third parties are contractually required to maintain the security of your personal information and use it only for the specified purpose. We do not allow service providers to use your data for their own marketing purposes.

7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website uses cookies to improve your experience. When you first visit, you are presented with a consent banner allowing you to accept or decline non-essential cookies.

Cookie Type	Purpose	Duration
Essential Cookies	Required for website function (e.g. cookie consent preference)	Session / 1 year
Analytics Cookies	Understand how visitors use our site (pages viewed, traffic sources)	Up to 2 years
Preference Cookies	Remember your settings across visits	Up to 1 year
Marketing Cookies	Deliver relevant advertising (only with consent)	Up to 90 days

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may affect website functionality. To opt out of Google Analytics, visit the Google Analytics Opt-out page.

8. Data Retention

• Contact form enquiries — 2 years from the date of contact
• Confirmed bookings — 7 years to comply with financial record-keeping requirements
• Emergency and health information — duration of your trek plus 12 months
• Marketing consent records — until you withdraw consent or 3 years from last interaction
• Website analytics data — up to 26 months in aggregated, anonymised form

When data is no longer required, it is securely deleted or anonymised.

9. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights:

• Right of access — request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
• Right to rectification — request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Right to erasure — request deletion of your personal data in certain circumstances
• Right to restriction — request we limit how we use your data
• Right to data portability — receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format
• Right to object — object to processing, particularly for direct marketing purposes
• Right to withdraw consent — withdraw consent at any time without affecting prior processing

To exercise any of these rights, email us at contact@trekkership.online. We will respond within 30 days. If you are in the EEA or UK and are unsatisfied with our response, you may lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.

10. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organisational security measures including: HTTPS encryption on all website pages, access controls limiting who can access personal data internally, regular security reviews, and staff training on data protection obligations. While we take all reasonable precautions, no internet transmission is 100% secure, and transmission is at your own risk.

11. International Data Transfers

Trekkership is based in the United States. Your personal information may be transferred to countries where our trekking partners operate, including Nepal, Chile, Peru, Switzerland, France, Italy, and Tanzania. When we transfer data internationally, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, such as standard contractual clauses or transfers to countries with adequate data protection standards.

12. Children's Privacy

Our website is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without verifiable parental consent. Trekkers under 18 must have parental or guardian consent to participate in our tours. If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a child under 13, contact us immediately at contact@trekkership.online.

13. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites including Google Maps and social media platforms. This Privacy Policy applies only to our website. We have no control over third-party sites and encourage you to review their privacy policies before interacting with them.

14. California Privacy Rights (CCPA)

California residents have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act: the right to know what personal information we collect and how we use it; the right to request deletion; the right to opt out of the sale of personal information (note: we do not sell personal information); and the right to non-discrimination for exercising CCPA rights. Contact us at contact@trekkership.online or 703-774-3617 to exercise these rights. We will respond within 45 days.

15. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make material changes, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. Continued use of our website after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated policy. We encourage you to review this page periodically.

16. Contact Us

For any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal information, please contact us: