How much deposit do luxury tour operators usually ask for?

This page sets out the deposit 42 luxury tour operators publish on their own websites, read on one day, with when the balance falls due. No other page puts these terms side by side.

How much deposit do luxury tour operators usually ask for?

Most luxury tour operators ask for a percentage of the trip price or a fixed amount per person; the figures below are what 42 of them publish, with the median worked out from their own terms.

At a glance

Of the 42 luxury tour operators on this page that publish their deposit, 20 state a single percentage: the median is 30%, from 10% (Elevated India) to 50%. 4 state a fixed amount per person instead. Where a single balance date is given, the median is 90 days before departure (31 companies).

• 3 ask up to 15%
• 6 ask 16% to 25%
• 11 ask over 25%

Worked out from the deposit each company states on its own website, read 3 November 2026; companies whose deposit varies by trip type, or is stated for one trip only, are counted in the cards only. Brown + Hudson (usually 30%), Do Not Disturb (at least 20%) and Steppes Travel (at least 30%) state the percentage as a minimum or a usual figure; they are counted at that figure.

Which of these companies protect your money?

14 of the 42 name a scheme that protects guest payments on their own websites, such as ATOL for UK flight packages, ABTA or USTOA membership, or a trust account; the rest do not name one on the pages read.

• Abercrombie & Kent: ATOL number 2881 covers flight-inclusive packages sold by its UK company; its US terms name no trust account or bond.
• Carrier: ATOL number 2968 covers its flight-inclusive holidays. As an ABTA member (number V0391) it says bookings are financially protected under the Package Travel Regulations if it becomes insolvent.
• Cazenove+Loyd: Holds ATOL number 3208, issued by the Civil Aviation Authority.
• Cookson Adventures: ATOL number 12608 protects flight-inclusive packages on certain bookings, usually where clients are based or book in the UK. It may not protect all services.
• Do Not Disturb: ATOL number 11108 covers flight packages for UK customers departing from the UK and ABTOT member number 5598 covers non-flight packages; non-package bookings have no financial protection.
• Lightfoot Travel: Says each sales location has the maximum level of industry bonding possible, including ATOL membership in the UK, with licensing in Singapore and Hong Kong; no ATOL number is given.
• Martin Randall Travel: ATOL number 3622 covers its flight packages and ABTOT number 5468 covers non-flight packages.
• Natural World Safaris: For UK and EU clients, cover is included through ATOL or Trust My Travel. For clients outside the UK and EU it is available for a small extra fee through Trust My Travel; no ATOL number is given.
• Peter Sommer Travels: Is an ABTA member, number Y6151.
• Quark Expeditions: Is covered by the USTOA Consumer Protection Plan, which requires it to post US$1 million with USTOA to reimburse advance payments if it becomes insolvent.
• Red Dot Tours: ATOL number 5517 covers its flight-inclusive packages. ABTOT membership number 5664 covers non-flight packages.
• Red Savannah: For flight-inclusive package holidays, money paid to a travel agent it appoints is held for the Trustees of the Air Travel Trust; no ATOL number is shown.
• Steppes Travel: ATOL covers its flight-inclusive packages; clients should check that everything booked is listed on the ATOL certificate. ABTOT covers non-flight packages (number 5488). Money for ATOL-protected bookings is held in an independent trust account managed by Serenity Trust; no ATOL number is given.
• VBT Bicycling Vacations: Shares the USTOA $1 Million Travelers Assistance Program with affiliates of Xanterra Leisure Resort Holdings, which posts the US$1 million with USTOA; the shared sum may be sufficient to provide only a partial recovery of payments if VBT fails.

Who to contact first

Start with the 14 companies on this page that name a scheme protecting your payments on their own websites, then add any other card that fits your dates.

• Abercrombie & Kent
• Carrier
• Cazenove+Loyd
• Cookson Adventures
• Do Not Disturb
• Lightfoot Travel
• Martin Randall Travel
• Natural World Safaris
• Peter Sommer Travels
• Quark Expeditions
• Red Dot Tours
• Red Savannah
• Steppes Travel
• VBT Bicycling Vacations

What to ask each one to set out in writing:

• What the price includes and excludes, line by line: stays, guides, transfers, internal flights, park or entry fees.
• The deposit, when the balance is due and what you lose if you cancel.
• Which scheme protects your money and the number to check it.

Richard Jasinski · Uncompromised Travel · written from Valencia · first published 4 November 2026 · updated 4 November 2026