Travel Insurance for High-Altitude Climbing

A helicopter evacuation from a 6000m peak costs $5,000–$20,000 — payable before the rotors turn. Standard travel insurance excludes mountaineering above 5,000m, which means without specialist cover you are climbing uninsured. This is mandatory on all our expeditions, and you will be asked to show proof.

Why Standard Policies Fail

Almost every standard travel policy excludes "mountaineering," "expeditions," or any activity above a stated altitude (often 3,000–5,000m). Trekking to Everest Base Camp at 5,364m is already excluded by most; technical climbing is excluded by all of them. If your itinerary includes ropes and crampons, you need a specialist mountaineering policy — no exceptions.

Minimum Coverage

Your policy must explicitly include: helicopter rescue and evacuation above 6,000m, at least $200,000 in medical coverage, repatriation, and trip curtailment for weather. Check the fine print for guided-only clauses — as a DIY climber on our dry-price programme you need cover that applies to independent, unguided climbing.

Recommended Providers

Providers with genuine high-altitude track records: Global Rescue (evacuation membership + medical), World Nomads (Explorer plan with mountaineering add-on), Battleface, and True Traveller. All have paid real Himalayan claims. Buy before you fly — no insurer covers an expedition already underway.

What Policies Exclude

Read the exclusions: solo climbing, peaks above a stated altitude, off-season attempts, and pre-existing conditions are common carve-outs. Declare everything. A denied $15,000 evacuation claim is the most expensive lesson in mountaineering.

What It Costs

Budget $200–$400 for a 21-day expedition depending on age, altitude limit, and evacuation cap. See our cost guide and planning guide for full expedition budgets.