Insurance for a trek in Nepal must cover four things: trekking up to the altitude of your route (4,000 m or 6,000 m depending on the trek), helicopter evacuation, medical costs on the spot and cancellation. An evacuation costs $3,000 to $5,000, sometimes more. It must be paid before take-off if nobody guarantees payment.
It is not the most exciting part of preparing a trip. It is the one that can ruin a trip, or save it. Here is what to read in your policy, line by line, before you sign.
The 4 clauses to check
1. The altitude covered
This is trap number one. Many policies cover hiking “up to 3,000 m” or “up to 4,000 m”. Everest Base Camp is at 5,364 m, Kala Patthar at 5,545 m, the Thorong La pass at 5,416 m. Look for the exact line in the terms and conditions. For a standard lodge trek, you need cover up to 6,000 m. For a summit such as Island Peak or Mera Peak, you need a “mountaineering” or “trekking peak” clause up to 6,500 m, with ropes and crampons allowed. Only low treks, such as the Annapurna Balcony (3,250 m), are fine with cover up to 4,000 m.
2. Helicopter evacuation
Above Lukla or Manang, there are no roads. A broken ankle, altitude oedema or a high fever is dealt with by helicopter. Check that the policy mentions “mountain search and rescue” or “helicopter evacuation”, with a limit of at least $10,000 or €10,000. Some policies cover repatriation to your home country but not the flight between the trail and Kathmandu. These are two separate lines.
3. Medical costs
Private clinics in Kathmandu give good care and charge in dollars. One night in hospital with tests can exceed $1,000. A limit for medical costs abroad of €150,000 or more is comfortable. Also look at the excess: some policies leave €50 to €100 for you to pay per claim.
4. Cancellation and curtailment
A trek is booked months in advance. An injury three weeks before departure, a death in the family, a Lukla flight cancelled because of the weather: cancellation cover refunds all or part of the costs you have paid. “Curtailment” cover refunds the unused days if you have to go home early. Read the list of accepted reasons, as it varies a lot from one insurer to another.
Why your bank card or standard policy is not enough
Some premium bank cards include travel cover, and a standard travel insurance policy covers medical costs abroad. For Nepal, both often fall short, for three reasons. First, most of these policies exclude trekking above 3,000 or 4,000 m, or exclude any “mountain sport” without stating an altitude. Second, card cover often only applies if you paid for the trip with the card, and often for 90 days at most. Finally, many of them do not include helicopter search and rescue in the mountains, or only up to a low limit. Call the number on your card or policy and ask: “Am I covered for a trek at 5,500 m in Nepal, with helicopter evacuation?”. Ask for the answer in writing.
What a helicopter really costs
A rescue flight between the Khumbu and Kathmandu is charged at $3,000 to $5,000 depending on the altitude and pick-up point. A flight from a base camp or a very high area can cost more. The companies require a payment guarantee before take-off. Without insurance, it comes down to your bank card or your savings.
Nepal has also seen large-scale helicopter rescue fraud. In 2018, a government investigation counted about 1,600 evacuations in the first eight months of the year, at least 35% of which were judged unnecessary or fraudulent. Agencies, hospitals and helicopter companies were sharing the insurers’ payouts. Some trekkers were pushed to ask for a flight for a simple headache. Since then, insurers check more and ask for a detailed medical report. It is one more reason to travel with a reliable agency, which has no interest in having you evacuated.
How an evacuation really works
On the ground, it is the guide who decides that a trekker can no longer walk or descend. Here is the chain of events, as it happens with us:
- The guide calls the agency in Kathmandu by phone or through the lodge’s network.
- The agency calls your insurer’s emergency number, with your policy number and a description of the symptoms.
- The insurer gives the helicopter company a payment guarantee. This guarantee is what triggers the flight. Without it, the company asks for a bank card.
- The helicopter takes off if the weather allows. In the mountains, it does not fly at night or in fog. In the meantime, the guide brings the sick person down as low as possible.
- In Kathmandu, a clinic takes over. The insurer pays the hospital directly or refunds you on presentation of the bills.
What saves hours: having the insurer’s emergency number and the policy number on paper, in your bag, and a copy with the agency. A flat phone at 4,500 m is no use at all.
Which insurers to compare
We do not sell insurance and we earn nothing from these policies. Here are a few names known for covering high-altitude trekking. They are examples to compare on the four clauses above, not a recommendation, and the cover depends on your country of residence:
- World Nomads: travel insurance sold in many countries, with plans that include trekking at altitude. Check the maximum altitude of the plan offered where you live.
- True Traveller (UK): travel insurance with activity options that raise the altitude covered. Check which option your route needs.
- SafetyWing and Battleface: policies sold online, with add-ons for adventure activities. Read the hiking clause and the altitude limit closely.
- Global Rescue: an evacuation membership, not an insurance policy. It organises and pays for rescue and transport under certain conditions. It does not replace full travel insurance for medical costs and cancellation.
Whatever the name, check two things in writing: the maximum altitude covered, and an explicit mention of helicopter evacuation. Some mountaineering clubs, such as the American Alpine Club or the UK section of the Austrian Alpine Club, also include rescue cover with the annual membership. It often covers rescue and altitude well. It rarely covers cancellation.
What the agency asks of you
Before departure, we ask for an insurance certificate showing the insurer’s name, the policy number, the 24-hour emergency number and the altitude covered. Mohan keeps it with him during the trek. Without this certificate, we do not go above 4,000 m. It is not red tape: it is what lets us call the right number at 3 am. To prepare the rest, see our guides on permits, the visa and the budget. A question about your policy? Write to us via the contact page.
Frequently asked questions
Is insurance compulsory for trekking in Nepal?
Nepali law does not require it for a lodge trek. Reliable agencies make it compulsory, and climbing permits for NMA peaks require proof of insurance. Without it, an evacuation comes out of your own pocket.
What altitude should my insurance cover?
At least the maximum altitude of your trek, with a margin. 4,000 m for Langtang or Poon Hill, 6,000 m for Everest and the Annapurna Circuit, 6,500 m for a summit such as Island Peak.
How much does a helicopter evacuation cost in Nepal?
Between $3,000 and $5,000 for a flight to Kathmandu from the Everest or Annapurna regions. The price goes up with altitude and distance. The company requires a payment guarantee before take-off.
Is Nepal dangerous for a trekker?
The country is safe and Nepalis are welcoming. The real risks are altitude, a fall on a trail and bad weather. A guide, a gradual ascent and good insurance reduce them to almost nothing.
