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Trekking travel insurance

Compare trekking travel insurance policies that cover high altitudes, helicopter evacuation, emergency medical and more.

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Brad Buzzard
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Important:

Travel insurance rules continue to change as a result of the pandemic. Some information may not be accurate at this time. It’s even more important to double-check all details that matter to you before taking out cover. Please note:
    • Some policies may not be available through Finder at this time
    • It’s unlikely that your policy will cover expenses from border closures

    Trekkers insurance, sometimes called hiking insurance, offers protection for people with a special taste for adventure. Plenty of insurers offer the specs you need, with helicopter evacuations and altitude limits from 3,500 metres to infinity. Let us help you find the right policy.

    Compare from 11 travel insurance brands for trekking

    It's really important to understand that many insurers will cover trekking but pay close attention to the conditions. We've researched 11 of our partnered brands to make the task easier for you.

    BrandAltitude limitMust use a licensed operator?Other conditionsApply
    1cover3,500mNoNo
    Budget Direct5,000mYes (between 3,000 and 5,000m)No
    columbus direct travel insurance logoColumbus Direct2,000mNoDoes not cover mountaineering or rock climbing using ropes or guides.
    5,000mYes (between 3,000 and 5,000m)Trekking up to 3000m is covered with a standard excess, but if you trek between 3000 - 5000m an extra $250 excess is applied on top of the standard excess if you make a claim.
    InsureandGo5,000mYes (between 3,000 and 5,000m)Only covers treks that are available to the general public and do not require special fitness levels or skillsGet quote
    itrek6,000mYesYou can purchase the trekking pack with all plans except for Medical Only by paying an additional premium. You will only have the cover if you select this option at the time of purchase and you have paid the required additional premium.
    Travel Insuranz4,000mNoDoes not cover any trekking in Nepal
    virgin money logoVirgin3,000m NoDoes not cover trekking on the Kokoda trail
    World care travel insuranceWorld Care3,000m NoDoes not cover trekking on the Kokoda trail
    zoom logoZoom3,000m NoDoes not cover trekking on the Kokoda trail.
    FastcoverFast Cover3,000m NoCover is included if specialist equipment is not required.

    * Insurers will each have different limitations around mountaineering, climbing and/or abseiling activities that require specialised equipment like support ropes. This table was last updated December 2021

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    What does trekking insurance cover?

    Trekking insurance covers many of the same situations as normal travel insurance, but it's beefed up to offer stronger protection for adventure-related activities. Here are some examples of situations commonly covered by trekkers insurance:

    You're injured on the trail. You'll be covered for any medical and/or hospital treatment you need.

    You need to be evacuated via helicopter from an inaccessible location. If you desperately need to get to a hospital and there's no other way to get you there, your helicopter rescue will be covered.

    Your gear is lost or stolen. The policies will usually offer added protection for expensive gear that gets stolen or is lost by your airline or other service provider.

    Your trip gets cancelled. If you're forced to cancel your trek for unpredictable reasons like bad weather, these policies will cover the amount you've already spent.

    What policies cover the world's best treks?

    The best policy for you is the one that covers you at the appropriate altitude. To help you filter out the policies that won't cover you anyway, we've identified some of the world's most popular treks, pinpointed the highest peak on the trek and conveniently listed all policies in our panel that will cover you at that altitude.

    TrekHighest point of altitudeBrands that will cover this altitude
    Pays Dogon500mAll brands in the table above
    West Highland Way950mAll brands in the table above
    W Circuit1,100mAll brands in the table above
    Kungsleden (The Kings Trail)1,140mAll brands in the table above
    Fitz Roy Trek1,200mAll brands in the table above
    Te Araroa1,925mAll brands in the table above
    Kokoda Trail2,190mAll brands in the table above
    Haute Route2,987mAll brands in the table above
    Inca Trail to Machu Picchu4,200mBudget Direct, Columbus Direct, Fast Cover, InsureandGo, iTrek, Tick, Virgin, WorldCare, Zoom
    Markha Valley Trek4,700mBudget Direct, Columbus Direct, Fast Cover, InsureandGo, iTrek, Tick, Virgin, WorldCare, Zoom
    The Snowman Trek5,280mColumbus Direct, Fast Cover, iTrek, Virgin, WorldCare, Zoom
    Everest base camp5,364mColumbus Direct, Fast Cover, iTrek, Virgin, WorldCare, Zoom
    K2 Base camp Trek5,650mColumbus Direct, Fast Cover, iTrek, Virgin, WorldCare, Zoom

    Are there any limits to what trekking and hiking insurance will cover?

    Adventurous doesn't mean reckless, so each insurer will have a different set of conditions you must follow if you want your claims to succeed. Here are some of the most common conditions you'll find:

    • You may only be covered to a specific altitude limit. Many trekking policies have no altitude limits, but some will limit you to a specific altitude like 4,000m or 6,000m.
    • You may only be covered if you go through a licensed operator. Some brands will only insure your trek if it's organised by a licensed commercial operator.
    • You may not be covered if your trek requires specialised equipment. Most policies only cover basic trekking or hiking holidays, not mountaineering. If you need support ropes or abseiling gear, you probably won't be covered.
    • You may have to disclose your plans. Some policies will require you to describe your plans before they'll sell you a policy.
    • You may have to take reasonable care. Almost every policy will contain language saying you won't be covered if you act recklessly, but some trekking policies (especially ones with no altitude limits) will make this abundantly clear.
    • You may have to buy an insurance add-on. Some insurers offer trekking cover as an add-on to their normal travel insurance policies. If you go through one of these, you'll need to buy the travel insurance policy and add trekking cover on top of that.

    Hypothetical case study: Claim denied for Nepal helicopter evacuation

    Craig was about to depart for his Everest Base Camp trek. Since the highest he'd be hiking would be to 5,364m he bought the first policy he found that covered up to 6,000m. Little did he know that this specific policy excluded treks in Nepal, Antarctica and Kokoda.

    On the third day of the hike, Craig sprained his ACL going down a steep set of slippery steps and the only method of evacuation was by helicopter.

    He was evacuated to the nearest hospital and treated for his injury. After being cleared from hospital, Craig was confident that his travel insurance policy would cover all his expenses. It was only when he was denied that Craig realised Nepal was excluded from his policy. He was left with a massive hospital bill on top of the cost of the helicopter.

    Not all policies exclude Nepal from cover, so with a little more digging around, Craig could have avoided this issue altogether.

    Cost of helicopter evacuation

    • $950

    Hospital expenses

    • $500

    Insurance cover

    • $0

    Out-of-pocket expenses

    • $1,450

    How does hiking insurance cover helicopter rescue?

    As a trekker, you'll often find yourself in inaccessible locations under often treacherous conditions. This makes helicopter rescue cover one of the most important features of trekkers and hikers insurance, and it's why every insurer offers it.

    Your insurer will likely place some conditions around helicopter evacuation, so it pays to understand these before you go so you're not caught off-guard by a denied claim.

    Here are the two conditions most insurers apply to helicopter rescue:

    • It must be medically necessary. This means a licensed medical professional or licensed tour guide must determine that the rescue is the only way you can get the treatment you need.
    • You must alert your insurer about your need for rescue. They will have medical assistance teams that can help organise the evacuation and guarantee payment with the hospital and medics.

    Are you covered if you get lost?

    We have identified two insurers that offer search and rescue cover: Insure4Less and Travel Insuranz. However, most insurers consider search and rescue to be a different beast from medical evacuation, where your location is known. This means that you will pay out of your own pocket for any search and rescue operation that's launched on your behalf.

    The best way to avoid this situation is to organise your trek through a licensed tour operator. They may be liable for damages if it's their fault you get lost. Plus, they will have the means and expertise to conduct a search and rescue operation if it's needed.

    Will you pay more for trekking cover?

    On average, trekking insurance will be slightly more expensive than normal travel insurance but not all insurers work out their prices in the same way. For example, if you have a policy with Travel Insurance Direct you are automatically covered for trekking with the cost of specialised cover factored in.

    On the other hand, if you take out a policy with World Nomads then you're only covered for treks up to 2,000m in altitude. For treks over this height, you will need to upgrade your plan and pay an additional premium on top of what you're paying for the normal policy.

    At the end of the day, it's up to you to find or build a few policies that cover you for what you need them to and then compare whatever the final costs turn out to be.

    Tips for staying safe when trekking overseas

    • Get familiar with your equipment. Learn how to use your equipment before setting off on your trip, especially maps and GPS units.
    • Plot your course. Selecting a trekking course starts with being realistic about your fitness levels, safety and accessibility in case of an emergency. If you're considering a course overseas, it might be a good idea to join a group tour. Group operators always insist that your policy makes provision for medical emergencies and evacuation.
    • Check the weather. Be sure to check the weather forecast for the dates and location you're planning to visit.
    • Find a guide. A guide will accommodate your pace and most likely will know the ins and outs of the trail.
    • Know your limits. Go at your own pace, and don't be afraid to take a rest. Fatigue on tricky walking surfaces can easily result in injuries.
    • Pack light. Take only the essentials and you'll thank yourself over a five-day hike.

    What to do if you injure yourself on your hike

    Here's what to do if you find yourself in a medical emergency overseas.

    1. Contact your insurer. You must let your insurer know as soon as possible. A good policy will provide for immediate assistance in a medical emergency and arrange for hospital expenses to be covered. You'll also have to download, complete and send a claims form to the insurer, along with all the required documentation.
    2. Provide supporting information to make the claim. You'll be asked to provide information to help the insurer better process your claim. This can include medical and police reports, statements from travel providers, original receipts and proof of ownership. Foreign-language documents must be translated into English.
    3. Cooperate. Be as honest and forthcoming as possible when providing information and evidence.

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    4 Responses

      Default Gravatar
      joolianSeptember 28, 2017

      Does QBE insurance cover trekking to Everest Base Camp (no ropes or mountaineering equipment

      Reply
        Default Gravatar
        GruSeptember 29, 2017

        Hello Joolian,

        Thank you for your query.

        While most policies do automatically include trekking and hiking, it’s a good idea to double-check with your policy provider before planning a trek overseas. You would also need to inform your insurer and ask them directly about cover if no ropes or equipment is used.

        If you would like, you may also review your options from our
        Travel Insurance for Nepal and Everest Base Camp page.

        Hope this helps.

        Cheers,
        Gru

        Reply
      Default Gravatar
      CarolineJuly 29, 2016

      Good Evening,
      I will be doing the Three Capes Track in Tasmania in August – it is a 4 day/3night hike.
      What type of travel insurance will I need and how much will it cost?
      Thank you Caroline

      Reply
        Avatarfinder Customer Care
        RichardAugust 1, 2016Staff

        Hi Caroline,

        Thanks for your question.

        To compare costs for travel insurance policies, please enter your travel details into the quote comparison tool on the domestic travel insurance page.

        I hope this was helpful,
        Richard

        Reply
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