Travel Insurance: Trekking in Nepal and Helicopter Evacuation

Nepal is an amazing destination, but it also has unique hazards that can impact your travel insurance. Here are the basics you need to know.

As we’ve recently changed our insurer, please select the date you bought your policy:

Policies purchased on or after 27 June 2024 (GMT)

Policies purchased before 27 June 2024 (GMT)
 

For policies purchased on or after 27 June 2024:

Travellers often ask: “Am I covered for helicopter evacuation in Nepal?” Answer: helicopter evacuation is included as part of the policy’s medical transport and repatriation cover.

As with any destination please do your research and travel smart. This means not just having travel insurance, but also knowing what to do if you need to use it. This is why it’s so important to always read your policy wording in full.
 

What should I do if I need a helicopter?

Contact our 24/7 Emergency Medical Assistance team ASAP if you have a medical emergency, especially if you may need a helicopter. This is because:

  • Our medical experts need to deem helicopter evacuation medically necessary for cover to apply. You may only need a bit of rest and recovery to get back on the trail and finish your trek.

  • Helicopter evacuation in Nepal has been associated with scams. We only work with reputable operators and guarantee payment to them directly. We also transfer you to appropriate medical treatment.

While tourist scams is now a focus area for the Nepalese government, it’s also important to be a savvy traveller.

Always contact us yourself, or get a trusted friend to do it if you can’t. Unscrupulous operators and guides have been known to tell travellers they have our go-ahead when they don’t. This leaves the traveller with a Mount Everest-sized sense of disappointment – and evacuation bill.

This is only a summary of cover and does not include the full terms and conditions of the policy. You should read your policy wording in full so you understand what is and isn’t covered. That way there won’t be any surprises if you need to use it. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

Note: For policies purchased between 1 November 2018 and 16 January 2019, your World Nomads policy is backed by certain underwriters at Lloyd’s.
For policies purchased between 17 Jan 2019 and 31 July 2019, your World Nomads policy is backed by Lloyd’s Insurance Company SA.

For policies purchased before 27 June 2024

Travellers often ask: “Am I covered for helicopter evacuation in Nepal?” Answer: helicopter evacuation is included as part of the policy’s medical transport and repatriation cover.

Please note, however, that because Nepal is a particularly expensive destination to insure, it is the only country that has an excess payable if you need to be evacuated by air if something goes wrong. Without the excess, we would have to increase premiums or scale back cover across all destinations. 

As with any destination please do your research and travel smart. This means not just having travel insurance, but also knowing what to do if you need to use it. This is why it’s so important to always read your policy wording in full.

What should I do if I need a helicopter?

Contact our 24/7 Emergency Assistance team ASAP if you have a medical emergency, especially if you may need a helicopter. This is because: 

  • Our medical experts need to deem helicopter evacuation medically necessary for cover to apply. You may only need a bit of rest and recovery to get back on the trail and finish your trek. 
  • Helicopter evacuation in Nepal has been associated with scams. We only work with reputable operators and guarantee payment to them directly. We also transfer you to appropriate medical treatment. 

While tourist scams is now a focus area for the Nepalese government, it’s also important to be a savvy traveller
 
Always contact us yourself, or get a trusted friend to do it if you can’t. Unscrupulous operators and guides have been known to tell travellers they have our go-ahead when they don’t. This leaves the traveller with a Mount Everest-sized sense of disappointment – and evacuation bill. 

This is only a summary of cover and does not include the full terms and conditions of the policy. You should read your policy wording in full so you understand what is and isn’t covered. That way there won’t be any surprises if you need to use it. If you have any questions, please get in touch


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