Questions, answered plainly
No vague answers here — if something about the process feels unclear, it's probably answered below.
The Cave Travel team, directly — every application is read by a person, on a rolling basis. There's no automated scoring, no bot filter, and no bulk auto-rejection.
We're building a small, mixed group rather than picking a single "ideal" profile. Your essays, availability for the full dates, and what you'd bring to the group all factor in. There's no points system we can share, because there isn't one — it's a human judgment call, made consistently across every applicant.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, not all at once at the deadline. Most applicants hear back within a couple of weeks of applying, though this can shift as the deadline approaches and volume increases.
We'll email you either way — you won't be left wondering. If waitlisted, you may be contacted later if a spot opens up. If not selected, the application fee still isn't refunded (see below for why), but there's nothing stopping you from applying to a future Cave Travel trip.
Yes, for a future trip. We don't hold a past "not selected" decision against a new application for a different program.
The $15 covers the cost of running an open, human-reviewed application process — not the trip itself. Without it, the process would either need to be first-come-first-served (which defeats the point of selecting a good group) or funded some other way that's less transparent than just naming the cost upfront.
No — it's non-refundable regardless of the outcome, and this is stated before you pay. It funds the review of your specific application, which happens whether or not you're selected.
Round-trip flights, hotel for the full 10 days, all meals, in-country transport and excursions, group activities and entry fees, and visa costs if your nationality requires one.
Getting or renewing your own passport, personal travel insurance, and personal spending like souvenirs or optional extras.
The application fee itself is non-refundable. If you're later selected but can no longer travel, let us know as early as possible so we can offer your spot to someone on the waitlist.
It's encrypted before it's ever stored, and only shown in full to authorized Cave Travel staff when needed — never in plain text, never in emails, never in any export or log.
Yes — payment is handled entirely by Stripe. Cave Travel never sees or stores your card number.
Fair question for any open-application trip that isn't free to enter. The honest answer is that the $15 fee, the clear breakdown of what's covered, and the transparency about who reviews applications are exactly the things a scam usually avoids being specific about. If anything here still feels unclear, ask before you apply — we'd rather answer than have you wonder.
A passport valid at least 6 months past the trip dates. That's the only document required at the application stage.
Each person applies individually, since selection is based on the individual application. If you and a friend both apply and are both selected, you'll of course be on the same trip.
Just go back to the application page and fill in the form again with the same email. You'll be taken straight back to payment instead of starting over or being charged twice.