From high elevation trekking in the Himalayas to wildlife safaris in Chitwan, learn how travel insurance for Nepal could help American travelers.
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What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Nepal? Snow-capped mountains, Buddhist temples, and a welcoming, friendly culture all come to mind for us. Travelers also come to search for tigers and rhinos on safari in one of Nepal’s national parks, join a meditation retreat, relax in Pokhara, stay with a local family in farming villages, experience a religious ceremony or cultural festival, and sample Nepalese dishes like momos and dal bhat. Whatever your dream vacation looks like, Nepal is a place of endless adventure and rich culture.
With this much diversity, you can bet we’ve seen all sorts of travel insurance claims from Americans in Nepal. We’ve had the best time in Nepal, but international travel can sometimes involve those less-than-great moments - like sickness, missed flights, and lost baggage. Because of this, you may want to get a quote for travel insurance* for Nepal before you set forth on your journey.
World Nomads travel insurance plans offer protection against certain unexpected and unforeseeable circumstances that might disrupt your travel plans. You’ll want to consider travel insurance to protect yourself against expenses related to unforeseen events like scams or bad weather.
Travel insurance for Nepal can also protect against large medical bills resulting from accidents that may happen on your outdoor adventures such as an injury sustained while hiking on the multi-day Manaslu Circuit or one of Nepal’s other great treks.
We have four plans to choose from for different types of travelers and adventures. You might notice that our travel insurance plans for Nepal ring in at a higher cost than our insurance plans for other destinations. This is due to the inherent risk of high altitude climbing, which is one of the main reasons our nomads head to Nepal.
Whether you’re planning to hike to Everest Base Camp or go white water rafting on Trishuli River, World Nomads travel insurance covers Americans for over 250 activities in Nepal. Day hikes and multi-day treks in the Himalayas, safari excursions in Chitwan, and paragliding in Pokhara are all covered under travel insurance for Nepal too.
It’s important to have a fairly concrete idea of your trip plans before you get a quote. Once you have your vacation in place, read up on different plans to find the one best suited for the activities and adventures you have planned on your trip to Nepal. Not all activities will be covered by your plan. For example, if you’re eager to explore the Himalayas, hiking up to 19,685 feet, which even covers Everest Base Camp at about 17,600 feet-- is covered under all plans.
However, if you’re feeling daring and want to try spelunking, consider upgrading to the Explorer or Epic Plan for increased coverage.
In Nepal, the healthcare system may not be what you are familiar with back home. It can be particularly difficult to access reliable health care in rural areas, especially remote regions of the Himalayas. You can protect yourself from emergency medical expenses by purchasing a travel insurance plan for Nepal.
In a medical emergency, the first thing you should do (if you are medically able) is call the 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team. The team may be able to help you find a reputable medical center and could help organize the care you need. If you are unable to call until later, make sure you call them as soon as possible.
Travel insurance for Nepal also may cover medical evacuation and repatriation insurance, if it’s required for your medical treatment. In the event that you need an evacuation flight from the mountains due to altitude sickness, you must receive approval from the 24/7 Emergency Assistance Teams first. Without prior approval, you will not be reimbursed for the cost of the flight. The emergency assistance team can also help you determine whether your injury or illness qualifies for a trip down the mountain. Some local companies might scam you into believing your injury is worse than it is to drive up costs.
Nepal is a stunning destination for adventure and cultural experiences, but there are some things to be aware of when visiting. Travelers sometimes can encounter scams that can derail your plans and impact your trip.
One common scam travelers to Nepal have encountered is an evacuation and helicopter scam. Trekking companies may offer a cheap trekking excursion but manipulate you into signing a form agreeing to helicopter evacuation. It’s helpful to do some advance research on potential trekking companies and read reviews to ensure the company you’re trekking with is trustworthy and legitimate. Some evacuation companies unrelated to a trekking company may also try to scam you with unsafe rides down the mountain. It is for this reason that we require you (or your travel buddy) call the 24/7 emergency assistance team if you need to be evacuated.
Another potential scam is with taxis. If you grab a taxi off the street, either insist they use the meter or agree on a price beforehand, to prevent them from driving long routes or pretending that the meter is broken to drive up the costs. You also might encounter people on the street offering to show you around and then demanding money for their tour guides services. Nepal is generally a safe and welcoming country and using common sense can go a long way to help you avoid scams.
Whether the airline lost your luggage, or your purse was stolen, lost bags can happen during travel. Did you land in Kathmandu but your bag—packed with your hiking boots and trekking gear—didn’t?
If your bag doesn’t show up at baggage claim at the same time you do, contact the airline first. The next step is to contact Blue Ribbon Bags, which is a non-insurance service that will track and expedite the return of your undelivered baggage by the airline. Make sure to have the file reference or record locator number and Property Irregularity Report on hand when you call Blue Ribbon Bags so you can file a lost luggage claim. Baggage information and receipts for lost bags and goods are needed to complete the claim.
Sometimes your plans just don’t work out. World Nomads travel insurance plans include trip cancellation, trip interruption, and trip delay benefits that may provide reimbursement for your unused, pre-paid, non-refundable expenses up to plan limits.
We never anticipate natural disasters interrupting our trip to Nepal, but they can happen. Earthquakes are a potential risk, which can also trigger avalanches in the mountains. Monsoon season typically hits from July through September in Nepal, and heavy rains have been known to cause extreme floods and landslides. Storms and natural disasters are impossible to predict so the best thing you can do is protect yourself with travel insurance for Nepal.
If you bought your travel insurance plan prior to a natural disaster developing into a major event, your travel insurance for Nepal may provide cancellation protection if you are unable to occupy your destination residence because of a natural disaster.
Trip interruption and trip cancellation coverage can also help protect you in case of emergencies back home in America. If you need to cancel or interrupt your trip due to a covered reason such as a medical emergency or the death of an immediate family member, you may be eligible for reimbursement of your unused (subject to plan limits) hotel expenses or airfare that you can no longer use.
As much as you may have planned each detail of your Nepalese adventure, the unexpected can still happen. We encourage you to check out the American government’s safety warnings for Nepal before you leave. Up-to-date warnings-- including weather advisories and political situations-- will be listed on the website.
It’s also a good idea to save the 24/7 Emergency Assistance phone number and your plan number in your cell phone so you don’t have to search for that if an emergency happens. Learning a few Nepalese phrases will go a long way too.
Finally, we recommend checking out our travel tips for Nepal, to help prepare you with some basic etiquette to respect local culture. You may also want to read up on some extraordinary experiences for some inspiration and read our packing list tips, to make sure you’re prepared for your trek.
*All information we provided here is a brief summary. It does not include all terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions, and termination provisions of the plans described. Please carefully read your state specific plan documents for a full description of coverage. Travel insurance is included as part of your travel protection plan which contains both insurance benefits and non-insurance assistance services. Material included on this page does not represent, nor is it specific to, United States Fire Insurance Company or travel insurance benefits provided on United States Fire Insurance Company’s travel protection plans.Protect your hard earned vacation from unexpected cancellation.
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Whether you need medical or dental assistance or advice, emergency evacuation or travel assistance, our team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year before and during your trip.
Wherever you are, we’re here 24/7 to help you in any emergency.
Are you in need of emergency assistance right now?
Contact Generali Global Assistance:
Telephone:
+1 954-334-8143 (Collect outside the US)
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Before your trip, check the latest government advice for any travel alerts for your destination.