Australian Travel Insurance for Everest Base Camp Trek

Hi Mike,

I'm from Oz and I've done a few mountaineering/climbing trips. Here's what I've used in the past:

Insure4less.com.au have a specific alpine climbing plan, see http://www.insure4less.com.au/page/Travel-Insurance-Rock-Climbing</a> - covers treks up to 6500m, with search and rescue cover of $50,000. The alpine climbing plan is normally about 75% more of the normal premium that insure4less charge.

I also recommend becoming a member of the Austrian Alpine Club (UK) - it's open to Australians, at http://www.aacuk.org.uk/benefits.aspx</a> They provide all their members with worldwide rescue and repatriation insurance as part of the benefit of being a member - its' 25,000 euro in cover for rescue, unlimited for repatriation and 10,000eur for medical (in-country).

IHI (www.ihi.com) used to also cover mountaineering/high altitude trekking, but I'm not sure if they do anymore, but you could check it out.

Hope this helps,

• Pei

Hi Pei,

thanks so much for your detailed response.

IHI appears to have recently changed their policy wording and do not now provide this specific coverage.

I have been chasing the Austrian Alpine Club option and I suspect that it is the best option when combined with regular travel insurance. However the rescue cost option has an exclusion for "accidents occurring in the course of taking part in expeditions on mountains with a height over 6,000 metres...". I'm in discussion with their underwriters to confirm just what that means. It appears (to be confirmed) that the word "expedition" has special meaning and does not include an organised trek or a single day attempt on a summit >6,000 metres. However the issue of what "on mountains with a height of over 6,000 metres" means is still live. By definition a trek to EBC is "on a mountain...over 6,000 metres" but I have asked for clarification of whether you are covered if you do not exceed 6,000 metres even though the mountain is higher. I'll report back.

Thanks for the insured4less link - I had been to their site but couldn't find relevant cover and they won't respond to emails ;( I'll chase that one as well.

Regards
Mike

Mike, check out the American alpine club You can join from Australia. Membership gives you $5k (USD) of rescue insurance anywhere in the world with no altitude limits. This is the insurance that I usually use when I'm trekking or climbing a trekking Peak. If you think you need more, you can purchase additional coverage from Global Rescue. A helicopter rescue from Lobuche will probably cost you $5 to 7 k, but the chances that you'll need it, especially if you are acclimating properly, is very low. However, as you mentioned above, you need rescue insurance for your trekking company. I've used various guides and/or trekking companies in Nepal, and they have always accepted this insurance.

Note that this is only rescue insurance. If you don't have adequate medical insurance, you need to get some. Also, if you want trip cancellation insurance, you'll also need a different policy.

After a lot of casting around we went with the option of joining the Austrian Alpine Club, British Section and then they arranged an extension that for 1.60 Euro per day covers rescue on mountains over 6,000 metres. That together with a standard travel insurance did the trick.

Thanks for everyone's assistance.

I am using the insurance which comes when I use my ANZ platinum card to buy my air ticket.They are underwritten by QBE insurance.I just checked regarding A helicopter rescue in case of altitude sickness or accident.As long as my tracking is walking and NOT using ropes (Mountaineering) they will cover the helicopter rescue with a $250 excess.
Stump (Australia)