Safety and Insurance for Trekking in Himalaya of Nepal

Your safety and a positive, memorable experience are our priorities. We are not focused on high profits; rather, we focus on helping you fulfill your dream trip in Nepal. We have significant experience with the unexpected circumstances that may impact your trip (e.g. flight delays, accidents, mountain sickness, government restrictions, landslides, road blockages, floods, etc.) and strive to reduce and alleviate any challenges that may arise.

Trekking is a strenuous activity, and you will often be quite distant from immediate medical assistance. We urge you to visit your doctor for a check-up prior to embarking on your trip. We also urge you to buy travel insurance from a reputable company and to provide us with a copy of your insurance policy prior to your trek departure. We recommend companies such as World Nomads, One Cover, etc.

Our staff are experienced are fully trained and experienced. All are government licensed guides and have up-to-date first aid and other emergency trainings, and every trekking group travels with a significant first aid kit. In an emergency, we will seek the most expedient method of evacuation for our clients (e.g. helicopter, carried by horses or porters, etc.) that takes into account all safety considerations and, where applicable, travel insurance requirements. We have the 24 hour contact numbers for helicopter charter services covering the entire country. If you have to be evacuated, we will also seek to help you find the best medical services available for your needs and recovery.

Insurance for Trekking in Nepal

Personal travel insurance is a must when traveling to Nepal for trekking, Peak climbing any other adventure activities in Nepal, so you need to have travel insurance.

Your travel insurance plan must cover all medical/travel/Trekking issues as unforeseen accidents that may occur on the trekking trail in Himalayas of Nepal, in such a case, you may take the facility like an air ambulance, helicopter rescue, Clinical attention, and so on.

Read more at: https://www.trekkingtrail.com/nepal-travel-insurance.html

All visitors to Nepal are required to have travel insurance that covers emergency medical treatment including COVID-19 and medical repatriation (a service to return a traveler to their home country for health reasons).

In addition to COVID-19 and repatriation, the U.S. Department of State highly recommends coverage for emergency medical evacuation in Nepal and flight insurance for travelers flying on Nepali airlines.

A comprehensive travel insurance policy is recommended for most travelers visiting Nepal as these plans can meet coverage requirements and include additional travel-related benefits. Many situations, such as delays in transportation, lost or damaged luggage, and trip cancellation may be covered by a comprehensive travel insurance plan.

However, there are many plans of travel insurance policies available in the international markets. Unfortunately, they all come with unmatchable prices and reliability, so you need to be very clear about what is covered and not covered in the insurance plan you will buy. Here is some idea about what your travel insurance should be policy cover.

HIGH ALTITUDE SICKNESS

Most trekking in Nepal, including Everest Base Camp Trek, Everest Three Passes Trekking, Annapurna Circuit Trekking, or any Peak Climbing and Expedition, involved high altitudes creating an increased risk of altitude sickness. While you are on those treks, you need to ask your insurance company to provide a policy covering High Altitude Sickness. You should know where you are trekking or climbing. And how high the trekking trail The Insurance policy should cover the evacuation by Helicopter in the case of emergency.

ACCIDENTS

Accidents do not come with a warning. Not a single traveler wants to get into accidents while they are on adventure holidays. However, it happens even if we do not wish to. There is always a risk of accidents in Himalayan trekking and adventure so, the policy should cover all these possible accidents and when an emergency evacuation is needed.

SICKNESS

Traveling in places like Himalaya of Nepal might have an illness probability as your body might be usually not adapted to the food or hygiene levels. Hence, you need to make sure that your insurance policy covers the case of hazardous health and illness. At the same time, you trek in Himalaya and might need to evacuate for further treatment in Hospital.

STOLEN, LOST, DAMAGED, OR DELAYED OF BAGGAGE

It is familiar to all travelers sometimes. The arrival of your baggage may delay or Damage, and you will not find it on your arrival at airports. They can be lost, occasionally, and even stolen somewhere, so; your travel insurance should cover on your these losses of your luggage and baggage.

GENERAL ISSUE

There is delay or even cancellation for several days on Nepal domestic flights, mainly in the mountain parts such as Lukla Airport. Lukla is the entry point of Everest Base Camp Trek, similar to Jomsom for Upper Mustang Trek. Western Nepal and other mountain flights due to unflyable weather so, your travel insurance policy must cover these expenses raised by delays, or even sometimes we need to take charter helicopter flights, and it is not cheap in Nepal. So the policy should cover all these costs if you are traveling to Nepal. It needs to cover all flight cancellations and the cause of some reason beyond our control. Such as natural disasters or any other unforeseen, and your travel policy should cover the trip cost that you would be paid in already.

HOW MUCH DOES NEPAL TRAVEL INSURANCE COST?

Travel insurance prices for Nepal are variable, as several distinct factors will influence the cost of each policy:

Duration of the trip
Number of travelers
Age of the travelers
Benefits included in the plan

In general, as risk involved with your Nepal trip increases, the price of travel insurance may also increase.

WHAT DOES TRAVEL HEALTH INSURANCE FOR NEPAL COVER?

Travel medical insurance for a trip to Nepal can be purchased as a standalone plan or as part of a comprehensive travel insurance plan. Alone, Nepal travel health insurance often covers emergency medical treatment, visits to a doctor, dental care, and more, depending on the details of the plan.

Additional travel-related benefits such as assistance with luggage loss, trip cancellations, delays due to weather or mechanical issues, and more may be added to these medical benefits in a comprehensive plan.

At the very least, your travel health insurance for Nepal must include coverage for COVID-19 and repatriation services. Emergency medical evacuation and flight insurance are also highly recommended by the U.S. Department of State.

Additional coverages to consider may include:

PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS

Treatment related to pre-existing health conditions is not covered by all travel insurance plans. A traveler with health conditions prior to the trip may obtain a waiver for the conditions to ensure that related expenses can be paid for by their Nepal trip insurance. Coverage for pre-existing conditions is a time-sensitive benefit, so please be sure to review the details of this benefit before purchasing.

TREKKING IN NEPAL

Travelers considering Himalayan trekking in Nepal may consider a hazardous sports rider for high-risk activities such as trekking, plus emergency medical evacuation. Thorough medical insurance to cover instances of injury, extreme fatigue, and acute mountain sickness (AMS) is recommended, as the high-altitude mountains of Nepal may expose travelers to frostbite and AMS. Hospitality employees along trekking routes may be able to connect travelers with helicopter evacuation services, which some travel health insurance policies may offer coverage for. Be sure to keep your travel insurance information with you while trekking in Nepal as some services, like helicopter rescue, may expect payment or proof of adequate Nepal travel insurance before treatment or services can be administered.

TRIP INTERRUPTION

Travelers who get extremely sick or injured in Nepal may not be able to continue with their trip. Cancellations due to illness or injury may be covered by a trip cancellation benefit. Be sure to review the details of your plan carefully before purchasing, as this benefit covers certain reasons for cancellation.

CANCEL FOR ANY REASON (CFAR)

Travelers concerned about cancellations for their Nepal trip that may not be covered by other travel insurance benefits may consider the Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) coverage. This coverage can reimburse 50%-75% of insured prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs to the traveler in the event of the trip's cancellation prior to departure. CFAR has certain eligibility requirements, so not all travelers will qualify for this benefit.

Overall, being covered by travel medical insurance in Nepal may help protect visitors from many unforeseen expenses abroad.

WHAT IS THE BEST TRAVEL INSURANCE FOR NEPAL TRIPS?

Every traveler is unique, and the best Nepal travel insurance policy for you depends on your specific travel detail and concerns. InsureMyTrip recommends entering those details to start a quote where you can review and compare policies and provider to find the right coverage for your trip to Nepal.

TRAVEL TIPS & SAFETY FOR NEPAL

MONEY & CURRENCY EXCHANGE

Nepal’s official currency is the Nepalese rupee (currency code: NPR). Travelers can expect to see prices in the country denoted by the symbols ₨ or NRs. Nepal’s banknotes are available in values of 5, 10, 20, 50, 500, and 1,000, varying in size according to their value. Rarely-used rupee notes of 1, 2, 25, and 250 also exist, but you may not come across these. Rupee coins are valued at 1, 2, 5, or 10 rupees, though the 5- and 10-rupee coins are also uncommon. One rupee can be divided into 100 paisa (p), represented by coins of 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 paisa.

Though you may be able to use credit cards at some major hotels, stores, and restaurants, many businesses in Nepal won’t accept payment by card. It’s wise to keep cash on hand for day-to-day purchases. Unlike other destinations, exchange rates don't vary much from one money exchange service to another in Nepal. For that reason, it generally doesn't make much of a difference where you change your money in Nepal (ATM, hotel, money exchanger, etc). However, Nepalese rupees generally can not be exchanged outside the country, so do your best to spend your rupees or exchange them back to your local currency before leaving the country. One simple trick is to use your leftover rupees to pay part of your hotel bill when checking out and put the rest on your card.

TRANSPORTATION

Buses are the most prevalent and affordable means of transportation in Nepal, frequented by travelers and locals alike. Some of Nepal's buses have compartments for storing luggage, but when these compartments are full you may need to lock your belongings and secure them onto the roof. Local city buses serve short, busy routes while longer distance rides between major destinations may be fulfilled by tourist buses. Tourist buses are typically more comfortable and offer lunch or tea for the long ride. Or for more privacy, you can opt to take a taxi. Taxi rides are usually considerably more expensive than buses whether you use the meter or negotiate a price before the ride. However, taxis are a comparatively safer option on some of Nepal's poorly maintained roads. Some travelers choose to hire a private car and driver or rent their own wheels if confident about biking on uneven roads. Both bicycles and motorbikes/motorcycles can be rented in Nepal. To quickly travel longer distances, you can also take a domestic flight between Nepal's 40+ airports.

RISK & CRIME

Nepal's crime rate is quite low, but like most countries, there are rare instances of pickpocketing and bag snatching. To lessen the chance of theft, keep your personal items hidden and always stay vigilant. Whenever possible, stay in bright, public places, but avoid political demonstrations as they can sometimes become unruly.

The main risk travelers face when visiting Nepal has less to do with crime and more to do with nature. Nepal's unique geography holds 8 of the world's 10 highest peaks — including Mount Everest, the world's tallest peak. The same rugged terrain that offers excitement and attractions for adventurous travelers also equals risk when it comes to road safety. Nepal's roads, stations, and even airports include some of the most unpredictable in the world, surrounded by mountains and relatively short, thin, and windy lanes. Due to the country's position in the Himalayas, Nepal sits in a high-risk earthquake zone. This setting also means that floods, landslides, and storms are somewhat common occurrences in Nepal. For this reason, never trek alone in Nepal. The U.S. State Department strongly recommends emergency medical evacuation and repatriation coverage for Nepal trips. For the most up-to-date weather information, refer to Nepal's local news outlets or the Government of Nepal's Meteorological Forecasting Division.