In Nepal the biggest concern for most trekkers is how their body will adjust to the altitude. Our itineraries are carefully constructed to allow for acclimatization but everyone’s body is different. In most instances altitude sickness can be treated by simply walking lower. In very rare circumstances it may be necessary to quickly return you back to lower elevations to recover. In some situations that only way this is possible is with the use of a helicopter. If this is required your guide will work with our ground operations staff to secure a helicopter in Kathmandu. Helicopter companies will only facilitate this rescue if you have proper insurance and we will be asked to provide proof. Depending on the location a helicopter rescue can range from $4000-$6000+ so we require all of our guests to have travel insurance that covers emergency medical evacuation. All costs related to helicopter transport are ultimately the responsibility of our guests.
There are quite a few insurance providers out there and it can be hard to choose between them. Sometimes the same provider will have different restrictions based on what country you are from or sometimes even your age. For this reason we ask that our guests please review their policies carefully. Of course we will provide any necessary information to assist with your claim but ultimately it is your responsibility to work with your insurance provider and settle all debts related to a helicopter rescue.
Here are some things to look for in your insurance policy –
- Make sure that the coverage includes emergency medical evacuation
- Make sure it doesn’t exclude going above a certain altitude. For example you will sometimes see policies that will only cover you up to 5000m, etc. For most of the major treks in Nepal (Everest Base Camp, Annapurna Circuit) you will need coverage up to 6000m. If you will be climbing a ‘Trekking Peak’ such as Island Peak, you will need coverage up to 6500m.
- Make sure it does not exclude the activity you will be doing, most likely Trekking or in some cases Mountaineering or Whitewater Rafting.
- Some policies give you an option to include Trip Interruption. This will cover extra costs that arise from things that may interrupt your trip. For example if your plane flights to Lukla are cancelled due to whether it may cover a helicopter if it is necessary to keep you on track for your itinerary.
Below is a list of travel insurance providers that we recommend. Most policies are between $150 – $250 for a 2-3 week trip. The coverage inclusions and prices vary depending on which country you are from so please double check the policy when you book it.
For Canada and America
For New Zealand and Australia
For the United Kingdom
Global Rescue – for emergency medical evacuation only
This isn’t typical travel insurance but it does cover emergency medical evacuation. They have affordable plans for families and also annual memberships if you regularly travel overseas.
