Trekking insurance is important for adventurous travelers to protect against accidents, injuries, and medical expenses. It is required for group expeditions and recommended for solo travelers. Coverage includes trip cancellation, medical procedures, lost baggage, and repatriation. Elevation restrictions and evacuation coverage should be considered. Some destinations have their own insurance requirements.
Trekking insurance is a type of travel insurance specifically designed for adventurous travelers in case of unforeseen circumstances. A hiking holiday involves demanding physical activity which carries the possibility, however remote, of accidents and injuries. Such an active vacation and its potential risks necessitate the need for insurance coverage that protects vacationers from exorbitant medical expenses, rescue, evacuation and repatriation.
Insurance companies offer different types of trek insurance, but not all travelers are required to carry it. For trekkers going on a group expedition with an adventure tourism company, the host company typically requires all participants to have some sort of trek insurance. For solo travellers, insurance is not traditionally mandatory, but it can definitely provide a level of protection and assurance for your trip.
Traditional trek insurance options cover trip cancellation and trip curtailment; emergency medical and dental procedures; and any lost, damaged or stolen baggage or sporting equipment necessary for travel. Each person on the expedition must carry proof of insurance, as well as a passport, in case of an emergency. It is widely recommended that trekkers get insurance in their home country with a reputable company.
In some cases, a traveler may need to be flown back to their home country for medical intervention. Obtaining trek insurance with a repatriation option ensures that the injured traveler can be safely returned home to receive treatment. This option is not available on all plans and may be available for an additional fee.
Some trek insurance plans contain elevation restrictions, meaning travelers aren’t covered for circumstances that occur on trek routes above a stated elevation. This is a key consideration a traveler should keep in mind when deciding on the right insurance plan as things like ambulance, air ambulance and medical bills can be particularly costly. Evacuation coverage is an important aspect of any trek insurance policy and can save a trekker a lot of time and headache should the need for an evacuation arise.
Some international trekking hotspots have their own requirements for travellers. In Nepal and Tibet, for example, laws require that all trekking insurance policies purchased by travelers must include helicopter emergency service. Trekkers venturing to this part of the world are advised to choose insurance companies that are available around the clock with expert translators, as helicopter rescue service will not be dispatched until approval is given by the insurance company.
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