Insurance Policy
Your Safety is Non-Negotiable
Mountaineering at extreme altitudes carries inherent risks. To ensure you have access to the best medical care and emergency evacuation services without financial ruin, comprehensive specialized insurance is a mandatory requirement for all Alpinist Climber Expeditions (ACE) participants.
1. Mandatory Coverage Pillars Your policy must specifically include and explicitly state coverage for the following:
- High-Altitude Evacuation: Coverage for emergency helicopter rescue up to at least 6,000m (19,685ft) or higher, depending on your specific peak.
- Medical Repatriation: Coverage for international medical transport back to your home country in the event of severe injury or illness.
- Trip Cancellation & Interruption: Protection for your expedition investment should you need to cancel due to unforeseen medical emergencies or if the expedition is cut short.
- Extreme Activity Rider: Standard policies often exclude "mountaineering with specialized equipment" (ropes, ice axes, crampons). Ensure your policy includes a "Technical Mountaineering" or "Extreme Sports" rider.
2. Recommended Providers While you are free to choose your provider, our guides and previous climbers have had the most reliable experiences with:
- Global Rescue: The industry leader for medical evacuation and security extraction.
- Redpoint (Ripcord): Comprehensive travel protection designed specifically for elite adventurers.
- World Nomads (Level 2): A popular choice for trekkers, though often limited to lower altitudes (check your specific peak elevation).
- Austrian Alpine Club (Europeans): Excellent for mountain rescue, though supplementary travel insurance is often needed for medical costs.
3. The Submission Process
- Review your Policy: Send your draft policy to our logistics team 60 days before departure.
- Verify Altitude Limits: Double-check that your policy does not have an "altitude cap" lower than the summit of your target mountain.
- Final Confirmation: A digital copy of your insurance certificate and the 24/7 emergency contact number of the provider must be uploaded to your ACE climber portal 30 days prior to arrival in Kathmandu.
| Feature | Standard Travel Insurance | ACE Required Expedition Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Max Altitude | Usually capped at 2,500m - 4,000m | Unlimited / 8,000m+ |
| Helicopter Rescue | Only for "medically necessary" | Search & Rescue + High-Altitude Extraction |
| Technical Gear | Excluded | Included (Ice axe, ropes, crampons) |
