These Terms & Conditions apply to your use of this website and your application, booking, and participation in retreats offered under the Owa He name, referred to here as “Owa He,” “we,” “us,” or “our.” By completing a booking, you agree to these terms and the retreat-specific booking agreement provided to you.
If a booking agreement contains a term that is different from this page, the booking agreement will control for that retreat. Every person attending must accept the applicable terms individually.
Eligibility and applications
Our retreats are designed for adult gay men who are at least 18 years old. Submitting an application or completing a virtual conversation does not guarantee a place. We may decline an application when a retreat is full, when the experience does not appear to be a suitable fit, or when participation could reasonably affect the safety or wellbeing of the group.
Partners and friends may apply for the same retreat, but each guest must complete the application process and booking separately.
Booking your retreat
A place is confirmed only after your application is accepted, you agree to the retreat-specific booking agreement, and the required deposit or payment is received. A conversation, application, invoice, or request for a room does not by itself reserve a place.
The booking agreement will identify the legal business responsible for delivering the retreat and the services included in your booking.
Pricing and payment
Before payment, you will receive the total retreat price, what is included, what is not included, the required deposit, installment dates, and final balance deadline. Payment plans may be offered for some retreats. A payment plan changes the timing of payment, not the total amount owed.
Your confirmed price will not change unless you request a change or your booking agreement clearly permits an adjustment, such as a new government tax or fee. If a payment is late, we will follow the notice and cancellation process stated in your booking agreement.
Cancellations and refunds
Our Cancellation & Refund Policy is part of these terms. A $500 deposit secures the booking. If the guest cancels, the deposit and all other guest payments are nonrefundable.
A guest may request one transfer to another retreat beginning within 12 months, subject to availability, approval, and a $150 transfer fee. If Owa He cancels or materially changes the retreat dates or destination and the guest cannot attend, the guest may choose a full refund or a fee-free transfer.
Changes or cancellations by us
Travel requires flexibility. We may adjust an itinerary, activity, accommodation, facilitator, or timing when reasonably necessary for safety, weather, supplier availability, guest wellbeing, or the quality of the experience. When practical, we will provide a suitable alternative of similar value.
If Owa He cancels the retreat, you may choose a full refund of all retreat payments, including the $500 deposit, or a fee-free transfer of the full amount paid to another available Owa He retreat. Unless required by law or expressly included in your booking, we are not responsible for airfare, visas, insurance, or other arrangements purchased independently.
Travel documents and transportation
You are responsible for passports, visas, entry permissions, health documentation, and compliance with the rules of every destination and transit country. Inability to travel because required documents were not obtained does not automatically qualify for a refund.
Airfare and airport transfers are included only when your retreat description expressly says so. If a transfer is provided, you must submit accurate travel details by the stated deadline and arrive at the designated meeting point. Airlines, airports, and baggage handling remain outside our control.
Accommodations
Only registered guests may stay in retreat accommodations unless we approve otherwise in writing. Guests must follow house rules, venue policies, check-in and check-out times, local laws, and reasonable requests concerning noise and shared spaces.
You are responsible for damage, missing property, or excessive cleaning caused by you. Room configurations and special requests are not guaranteed unless confirmed in writing.
Health, movement, and participation
Daily movement will offer options for different experience levels. Some excursions may require moderate physical ability, including walking, hiking, stairs, heat, water activities, or uneven ground. We will share known activity expectations before booking whenever possible.
You must provide accurate information about medical, mobility, dietary, or accessibility needs that could affect safe participation. You are responsible for deciding, with advice from a qualified healthcare professional when appropriate, whether a retreat or activity is suitable for you. You may choose not to participate in an activity, but personal limitations or a voluntary decision to opt out do not automatically create a right to a refund.
In an emergency, you authorize us to seek reasonable assistance when you cannot do so yourself. You remain responsible for medical treatment, evacuation, and related costs.
Travel insurance
Your retreat booking agreement will state whether travel insurance is required. Even when it is not required, we strongly recommend coverage for trip cancellation and interruption, medical care, emergency evacuation, travel delays, and baggage. You are responsible for understanding any exclusions and claim deadlines in your policy.
Guest conduct
Guests must treat other participants, staff, hosts, and local communities with respect. Harassment, discrimination, violence, threatening conduct, illegal drug use, serious intoxication, repeated disruption, or conduct that creates a safety risk is not permitted.
We may remove a guest from an activity or retreat for a serious or repeated breach. When removal is reasonably necessary, the guest is responsible for return travel and related costs, and unused services may be nonrefundable to the extent permitted by law.
Independent providers
Hotels, property owners, guides, restaurants, drivers, activity operators, and other suppliers may provide portions of a retreat as independent businesses. Their services may be subject to their own reasonable terms and safety requirements. We select partners with care, but we cannot control every act or omission of an independent provider.
Nothing in these terms limits any rights you may have under applicable consumer law.
Photography and privacy
We may invite guests to appear in retreat photography or video, but participation in promotional content is not automatic. We will provide a clear photo and video release or consent choice. You may decline promotional use without affecting your retreat experience, subject to practical limits in public or group settings that will be explained in advance.
Guests must respect the privacy of others and may not share private conversations, personal information, or sensitive images without permission.
Risk and responsibility
Travel, fitness, outdoor activities, water activities, transportation, unfamiliar food, weather, and shared accommodations involve ordinary risks. You agree to follow safety instructions, use appropriate care, and tell a facilitator when you need an adaptation or do not feel safe participating.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, our responsibility for a claim will be limited as described in your final booking agreement. Nothing in these terms excludes liability that cannot legally be excluded, including liability arising from gross negligence, intentional misconduct, or rights protected by applicable law.
Unexpected events outside our control
We may need to alter, postpone, or cancel a retreat because of severe weather, natural disaster, public health emergency, government restriction, border closure, civil unrest, major transportation interruption, or an unexpected property closure. If Owa He cancels the retreat, the guest may choose a full refund of retreat payments or a fee-free transfer to another available retreat.
Updates to these terms
We may revise these website terms as the business develops. The version you accept when booking will continue to govern that booking unless a change is required by law or you agree to it. The current update date will appear at the top of this page.
Questions and disputes
Please contact us first at book@owahe.com so we can try to resolve a concern in good faith, or write to Owa He, 320 S 2nd Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57101. The retreat booking agreement will identify the governing law, location for any legal proceeding, and any agreed dispute process.
Nothing here prevents either party from using rights or remedies that cannot lawfully be waived.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Know what you are agreeing to.
Every retreat will come with a plain-language booking agreement showing its exact inclusions, payment schedule, cancellation terms, and physical expectations.