Travel Insurance for Trekking
Know what an all-inclusive travel insurance cover looks like, what it costs, and the clauses you must read twice before you pay.
What Your Policy Must Do
Cover the Altitude
Many standard policies stop at 2,500 to 3,000 m, and cancel the trek once you go above their limit. Look for policies that cover up to 6,000 m, which clears Kilimanjaro's Uhuru Peak with room to spare.
Pay for the Helicopter
If altitude sickness or an injury keeps you from walking down, the fastest way off the mountain is by air. A Kilimanjaro helicopter evacuation costs between $5,000 and $20,000, so your policy should include it.
Bring You Home
Evacuation gets you to a hospital, and repatriation gets you back to your own country. A good policy covers treatment, the flight back home, and trip cancellation, beyond the first stage.
Types of Travel Insurance Cover
Each Insurance option covers different services. Trekkers can combine two.
Essential Insurance
Special Trekking Insurance
The primary policy for your climb
- Covers high-altitude trekking
- Medical expenses and helicopter evacuation
- Repatriation and cancellation
Smart Add-On
Flying Doctors
An air-ambulance service, not insurance
- Pays for the evacuation flight
- Does not pay hospital bills
- Cost depends on countries and plan
Take Smart Decision
Standard or Card-Based Cover
Good for a city tour, risky for a summit
- Often excludes trekking at heights
- Skips helicopter rescue & medical bills
- Cheap upfront pay but expensive bills
Add-on Expenses
Specialist’s trekking policy
Evacuation limit
Trip cancellation cover
Gear and equipment cover
Pre-existing condition declarations
Out-of-pocket costs upfront
Extended or extra days
Don’t Forget to Consider
Buy your Insurance Early
Cancellation cover usually starts the day you buy the policy. If you wait until a week before departure, the policy may not protect you.
Inform Your Trek Operator
Trek operators typically register a copy of your policy covering treks to about 6,000 and your passport before the climb. Send your documents beforehand.
Keep the Documents Ready
Carry a printed copy of your policy. Always have the insurer's 24-hour contact number in your daypack. Also keep a digital copy offline.
Our Commitment
Frequently Asked Questions
It isn't always a legal requirement, but it's strongly recommended, and operators and rescue services usually expect it. The mountain is high and remote, so a medical emergency can quickly become very expensive.
Kilimanjaro stands at 5,895 m. So, the travel insurance must cover up to 6,000 m. If the limit is lower, talk to your provider before you purchase.
Mt. Kenya's trekking summit, Point Lenana, is just under 5,000 m, so the altitude is lower. You still need medical, evacuation, and cancellation cover, and it should explicitly include trekking at that height.
Often, though not always. Some insurers ask the trekker to pay for emergency services first. They pay later. Always confirm how claims work before you go.
Declare it when you buy the policy. Some insurers exclude certain conditions or charge a higher premium, but a condition you didn't mention can give them grounds to reject a claim.
