Best Travel Insurance for High-Altitude Trekking in 2026 (What Actually Covers Everest Base Camp)

Most trekkers only discover the hole in their travel insurance at 5,000 metres, in a stone lodge, at 4am, when someone in the group can't breathe. We run the Everest and Manaslu trails every season, and we deal with this exact problem more than almost…

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Why standard travel insurance fails trekkers

An off-the-shelf holiday policy is written for beaches and city breaks. Read the fine print and you will usually find an altitude limit — a height above which every claim is void. As of 2026, plenty of standard policies stop at 2,000m, and even many…

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What your policy must actually cover

Do not buy on brand name or price. Buy on the specific clauses below and confirm each one in writing before you pay. Note the split between two kinds of product. Ordinary travel insurance pays your medical and trip costs. Dedicated evacuation membership —…

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The Nepal reality nobody tells you

Here is the part that surprises people. In Nepal, a helicopter almost never takes off for a foreign trekker on the promise of a claim form. The operator wants money on the table first — either your card, cash, or a Guarantee of Payment letter issued by an…

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Before you buy — a two-minute test

Email the insurer one plain question: "Does this policy cover trekking to [your maximum altitude]m in Nepal, including emergency helicopter evacuation and repatriation, with 24/7 assistance and a Guarantee of Payment?" If the answer is anything other than a…

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Everest Base Camp Trek — 14 Days

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