Hiking / Trekking Travel Insurance

[Din0saurus]

Decided to compile this out of curiosity. The initial plan was to do it on google sheets, but I decided to share it instead since this question comes up every now and then. Feel free to suggest companies I’ve missed and post your ‘thank yous’ to prevent this from being purged.

AIA - Policy Contract
1) Exclusions : outdoor rock climbing, abseiling or trekking (including mountain trekking) above 3,000 meters. This exclusion shall not apply to organised harnessed outdoor rock climbing, harnessed abseiling or harnessed trekking (including mountain trekking) provided:
- it is available to general public without restriction (other than general health and fitness warnings);
- it is provided by a recognised commercial local tour operator or activity provider;
- the Insured is acting under the guidance and supervision of qualified guides and/or instructors of the tour operator or activity provider and the Insured wears the recommended safety equipment and follows all the safety procedures, rules and regulations of the qualified guide
and/or instructor; and
- the activity takes place below 6,000meters

AIG - Policy Wording
1) available to the general public without restriction, other than general health and fitness warnings;
2) provided by a recognised commercial local tour operator or activity provider;
3) provided under the guidance and supervision of qualified guides and/or instructors of the tour operator or activity provider and always subject to you following their advice and/or instruction; and
4) undertaken below six thousand (6,000) meters.

Allied World (No Limit - confirmed by Boiboi321) - Policy Wording
1) Exclusions : hiking/trekking in remote areas, mountaineering requiring the use of ropes or guides, cliff or rock climbing
2) On the definition of "remote", CSO clarified it in the following manner: "non-remote" means areas where there are paths. In other words, if there are no paths, then it is likely to be considered "remote".

World Nomads - Activities
1) Trekking up to 6,000 meters in all countries except Antarctica, within the Arctic Circle and Greenland

QBE? - Can’t find anything on their actual site - thanks to belgarathc
k) Mountaineering;
l) Outdoor rock-climbing or abseiling or
m) Trekking (including mountain trekking) above 3,000
meters. However exclusions (l) and (m) shall not
apply to organized harnessed outdoor rock climbing,
harnessed abseiling and trekking (including mountain
trekking) that are :
- Available to the general public without restriction
(other than general health and fi tness warnings);
and
- Provided by a recognized commercial local tour
operator or activity provider and
- Provided that You are acting under the guidance and
supervision of qualifi ed guides and/or instructors of
the tour operator or activity provider and You wear
the recommended safety equipment and follow
the safety procedures, rules and regulations of the
qualifi ed guides and/or instructors, and
- The activity takes place below 6,000 meters.

5,895m - Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
5,364m - Everest Base Camp, Nepal


Tokio Marine - Policy Wording
1) Hiking or Trekking up to 4500 meters above sea level;
2) Mountaineering that does not necessitate the use of specific climbing equipments or ropes;
3) Rock climbing;
- undertaken on a non competitive, leisure basis with a licensed local operator &/or licensed qualified guides or instructors.


4,130m - Annapurna Base Camp, Nepal
4,095m - Mount Kinabalu, Malaysia

 

[Din0saurus]

4,000m and below

Chubb - Policy Wording
1) Trekking/mountain trekking up to four thousand (4000)
2) Exclusions : Mountaineering - means the ascent
or descent of a mountain ordinarily necessitating the use of specified equipment including but not limited to crampons, pickaxes, anchors, bolts, carabineers and lead-rope or top-rope anchoring equipment.

Direct Asia - Policy Wording
1) hiking or trekking up to 4,000m in altitude without ropes or specialist equipment;
2) trekking, hiking or mountain biking in extreme or hazardous areas, rock climbing, caving, pot holing or
mountaineering or any similar activities that require the use of ropes; - providing you have a licensed guide and are using a registered operator

NTUC - Policy Conditions
1) Exclusions : Trekking, unless it is done for leisure purposes and you are trekking below 4,000 metres, and as long as the trekking you are taking part in is:
- in a place which is open to the general public without restriction;
- organised by a recognised commercial local tour operator or activity provider; or
- under the guidance and supervision of licensed guides or instructors of the tour operator or activity provider and you wear the recommended safety equipment and follow the safety procedures, rules and regulations of the licensed guides or instructors.


3,952m - Yushan, Taiwan
3,886m - Xueshan, Taiwan
3,776m - Mount Fuji
3,726m - Mount Rinjani, Indonesia


AXA - Policy Wording
1) Hiking or trekking up to 3500 meters above sea level;
2) Mountaineering that ordinarily does not require the use of specific climbing equipment and ropes;
3) Rock climbing;


3,210m - Poon Hill, Nepal
3,143m - Fansipan, Vietnam

 

[Din0saurus]

3,000m and below

Aviva - Travel Insurance Policy
1) Exclusions: Trekking (including mountain trekking) above 3000

Etiqa - Policy Wording
1) Exclusions: Hiking or trekking above 3,000 meters from sea level;
2) Mountaineering or rock climbing that entails the use of specific climbing equipment and ropes;

FWD - Policy Wording
1) Exclusions : Hiking or trekking above 3,000m sea level;

MSIG - Policy Wording
1) up to 3,000m above sea level for hiking, trekking or mountaineering;

OCBC - Policy Wording
1) Mountaineering at mountains below the height of three thousand (3,000) metres above sea level;
- Provided always that the above activities are done for leisure purposes only under the guidance and supervision of qualified guides and/or instructors of the local licensed tour operator when carrying out such tourist activities. All other Terms, Conditions, Exclusions, provisions and limitations of this Policy continue to apply.


2,799m - Ijen
2,329m - Mount Bromo
1,950m - Hallasan
1,276m - Mount Ophir

 

[Din0saurus]

Others

Allianz - Policy Wording
1) Exclusions : Your claim arises due to participation by you or any Travelling Companion in trekking trips, skiing trips or expeditions (unless otherwise agreed by us.)

Sompo - Policy Wording
1) Exclusions : participation by You or any Travelling Companion in hunting, caving, potholing, mountaineering or rock climbing necessitating the use of guides or ropes, underwater activities involving the use of underwater breathing apparatus (other than undertaken for leisure purposes), sky diving, hang-gliding, paragliding or parachuting, trekking trips or expeditions (unless otherwise agreed by us), motor rallies or any kind of racing other than on foot or any sports in a professional capacity;

Mountaineering - as an add on. NOT travel insurance.

Austria Alpine Club (UK)

French Alpine Club

 

[Din0saurus]

Thoughts

I was really impressed with Direct Asia for the mountaineering coverage. There’s nothing notable to climb below 3000m but between 3-4000m, there’s enough classics to last more than a lifetime.

But then I realized accidental death is covered but I didn’t read up on rescues and injury. That’s the important thing for me, so I guess there’s more homework to be done.


Please suggest companies that I’ve missed out. Target is to cover everything

 

[belgarathc]

Useful compilation.

Thought I will share from a QBE policy I had. No idea if it is the latest.

4. GENERAL EXCLUSIONS (APPLYING TO ALL SECTIONS)

k) Mountaineering;
l) Outdoor rock-climbing or abseiling or
m) Trekking (including mountain trekking) above 3,000
meters. However exclusions (l) and (m) shall not
apply to organized harnessed outdoor rock climbing,
harnessed abseiling and trekking (including mountain
trekking) that are :
- Available to the general public without restriction
(other than general health and fi tness warnings);
and
- Provided by a recognized commercial local tour
operator or activity provider and
- Provided that You are acting under the guidance and
supervision of qualifi ed guides and/or instructors of
the tour operator or activity provider and You wear
the recommended safety equipment and follow
the safety procedures, rules and regulations of the
qualifi ed guides and/or instructors, and
- The activity takes place below 6,000 meters.

For Chubb, please note that they also have the Travel Pro Enhanced Product.

(f ) Mountaineering;
(g) trekking (including mounting
trekking) above 3000 meters;

Remember if you buy from the insurance companies' partners like Silkair, the policy might be different from what you get from buying direct. Please check before purchase.

 

[artemov]

AIA - Policy Contract
1) Exclusions : outdoor rock climbing, abseiling or trekking (including mountain trekking) above 3,000 meters. This exclusion shall not apply to organised harnessed outdoor rock climbing, harnessed abseiling or harnessed trekking (including mountain trekking) provided:
- it is available to general public without restriction (other than general health and fitness warnings);
- it is provided by a recognised commercial local tour operator or activity provider;
- the Insured is acting under the guidance and supervision of qualified guides and/or instructors of the tour operator or activity provider and the Insured wears the recommended safety equipment and follows all the safety procedures, rules and regulations of the qualified guide
and/or instructor; and
- the activity takes place below 6,000meters

What is "harnessed trekking"?

 

[Din0saurus]

Useful compilation.

Thought I will share from a QBE policy I had. No idea if it is the latest.

4. GENERAL EXCLUSIONS (APPLYING TO ALL SECTIONS)

k) Mountaineering;
l) Outdoor rock-climbing or abseiling or
m) Trekking (including mountain trekking) above 3,000
meters. However exclusions (l) and (m) shall not
apply to organized harnessed outdoor rock climbing,
harnessed abseiling and trekking (including mountain
trekking) that are :
- Available to the general public without restriction
(other than general health and fi tness warnings);
and
- Provided by a recognized commercial local tour
operator or activity provider and
- Provided that You are acting under the guidance and
supervision of qualifi ed guides and/or instructors of
the tour operator or activity provider and You wear
the recommended safety equipment and follow
the safety procedures, rules and regulations of the
qualifi ed guides and/or instructors, and
- The activity takes place below 6,000 meters.

For Chubb, please note that they also have the Travel Pro Enhanced Product.

(f ) Mountaineering;
(g) trekking (including mounting
trekking) above 3000 meters;

Remember if you buy from the insurance companies' partners like Silkair, the policy might be different from what you get from buying direct. Please check before purchase.

Thank you! I was really curious about QBE and hoping it exceeds expectations but I guess not.

 

[Din0saurus]

What is "harnessed trekking"?

My guess is moving on glaciers. Not steep enough to consider it climbing but enough objective hazard to rope up.

 

[Boiboi321]

Thanks for this thread, very useful!

 

[Boiboi321]

Posting what i posted on Allied World travel insurance from the other thread here:

I called Allied World - CSO confirmed that there is no height restriction on trekking.

On the definition of "remote", CSO clarified it in the following manner: "non-remote" means areas where there are paths. In other words, if there are no paths, then it is likely to be considered "remote".

 

[royalgoldkid]

..........

 

[frotle009]

..........

Going for trekking between 4000-5000m, did a basic comparison of selected plans. Conclusion is that Tokio Marine is good for hiking between 3000-4500m, anything higher QBE would be the best option.

 

[ceecookie]

Another option is to join Austrian Alpine Club which provides all its members complimentary global rescue insurance up to 6000m. Note this is not travel insurance as it covers only rescue, medical and repatriation costs.

Only need to pay annual membership fee. The advantage of this insurance is it has no age limit, unlike the ones listed in the table above.

Link : https://aacuk.org.uk/p-mountain-rescue-search-insurance

 

[happiee]

Is this considering trekking?

I mean its obvious that if we climb/walk up a mountain we would fall under this category.

How about going to places with high altitude and we are touring around or walking around e.g. taking a transport to a lake with high altitude at 5,000+ and doing sight seeing or taking cable car to a place with high altitude say at 4,000+and walk around the area. Would such activity be excluded under typical policies and we have to rely on this clause to get cover?

 

[Crimsom]

Bookmark this thread for future reference

 

[busia_kenia]

Hello..

Going to Central Asia for 6 weeks. Doing some some solo trekking in Tien Shan mountains. And also some hikes with the people whom I'm sharing a ride with along the Pamir highway.

Elevation ranging from 3k to 5k+.

For SG-based insurers, it seems only QBE covers up to 6k? But one of the stipulations is that the trek must be in the presence of a licensed guide. So seems like this is pretty useless after all??

Are Allied World and World Nomads my only options then?

Thanks!!

 

[busia_kenia]

I found this Policy Wording from Hong Leong.

w ww. hlas.com.sg/Portals/0/PolicyWording/HL-Assurance-Travel-Insurance-Policy-Wording.pdf (remove the spaces)

Emailed them to ask about any altitude- or location-based exclusions for trekking. They said "we have no restriction on the altitude or location for hiking or trekking activity. However if the activity involves any mountaineering or rock climbing which requires the use of ropes or guides or special equipment (e.g. crampons, breathing apparatus etc.) then this activity will be under the exclusion clause point 9 on page 14."

 

[Din0saurus]

I found this Policy Wording from Hong Leong.

w ww. hlas.com.sg/Portals/0/PolicyWording/HL-Assurance-Travel-Insurance-Policy-Wording.pdf (remove the spaces)

Emailed them to ask about any altitude- or location-based exclusions for trekking. They said "we have no restriction on the altitude or location for hiking or trekking activity. However if the activity involves any mountaineering or rock climbing which requires the use of ropes or guides or special equipment (e.g. crampons, breathing apparatus etc.) then this activity will be under the exclusion clause point 9 on page 14."

Thanks for this! Gonna be super useful for the bunch of guys who go to Nepal and stuff.

Working link: https://www.hlas.com.sg/Portals/0/PolicyWording/HL-Assurance-Travel-Insurance-Policy-Wording.pdf

 

[artemov]

"Rafting or canoeing involving white water rapids, bungee jumping, jet skiing, underwater activities involving artificial breathing apparatus, ski racing, backcountry skiing or off-piste skiing, ski jumping, hanggliding, parasailing, the use of bobsleigh orskeleton, hunting, pot-holing, mountaineering or rock climbing that ordinarily requires the use of ropes or guides."

I wonder if tandem paragliding and walking on foot in a national park where there are animals that can kill humans are covered.