Manaslu Trek Insurance: Altitude Cover and Helicopter Rescue

Travel insurance is required for every trek with us, and for Manaslu it has to be the right kind. The Manaslu Circuit crosses Larkya La at 5,106 m, days from the nearest road. Many standard travel policies stop at 3,000 or 4,500 m, or pay for a hospital transfer but not a helicopter from the trail. This page shows what cover your trek needs and what to check before you buy.

Check the cover your trek needs

Pick your trek to see its highest point and the altitude your policy should cover.

Which trek are you doing?

Budget Manaslu Trek (5,106 m)Budget Tsum Valley Trek (3,700 m)Ilam Tea Garden & Scenic Cultural Tour (2,100 m)Lower Manaslu Trek (3,220 m)Lower Manaslu Volunteer Trek Program (2,100 m)Manaslu Annapurna Three High Passes Trek (5,416 m)Manaslu Base Camp Trek (5,106 m)Manaslu Circuit Camping Trekking (5,106 m)Manaslu Circuit Trek (5,106 m)Manaslu Circuit Trek On A Heli (5,106 m)Manaslu Circuit Trekking & Larke Peak Climb (6,249 m)Manaslu Circuit Yoga Trek (5,106 m)Manaslu Larke Pass Trek (5,106 m)Manaslu Larkya La – Pass Camping Trek (5,106 m)Manaslu Luxury Trek 2026 (5,106 m)Manaslu Photography Tour (5,106 m)Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek (3,700 m)Mt. Manaslu Mountaineering Expeditions (8,163 m)Nepal Mid-West Himalayan Tea Garden Tour (2,100 m)Ponkar Lake Trek (3,965 m)Short Manaslu Circuit Trek 2027 (5,106 m)Tsum Valley Manaslu Circuit Trek (5,106 m)Tsum Valley Yoga & Meditation Retreat Trek (3,700 m)Check cover

Manaslu Circuit Trek: highest point 5,106 m

Trekking cover to at least 5,500 m

This trip reaches 5,106 m. Many standard policies stop at 3,000 to 4,500 m, so you usually need a trekking or adventure add-on. Insurers often sell cover in bands such as 4,500 m and 6,000 m: choose the band at or above 5,500 m. 6,000 m cover gives a safe margin.

Your policy also needs helicopter rescue from the trail, not only hospital transfer. See the checklist below.

Five things to check in your policy

Read the policy wording, not only the sales page. Look for these:

1. A written altitude limit at or above your highest point. The limit should be in the policy or on your certificate. If you are rescued above it, the claim can be refused.
2. Helicopter rescue from the trail. Look for words like “search and rescue”, “mountain rescue” or “evacuation from a remote area”. Some policies only pay to move you between hospitals.
3. Trekking named as covered. Some policies treat trekking as an adventure activity that needs an add-on. Climbing with ropes, such as Larke Peak, is usually separate again.
4. A 24-hour emergency line that can guarantee payment. Helicopter companies in Nepal usually fly once the insurer, or its assistance company, confirms it will pay.
5. Cancellation and medical cover. Hospital care in Kathmandu, repatriation home if needed, and trip cancellation for reasons the policy lists.

Where to buy

What happens if you need a rescue on our treks

1. Your guide checks you first. For altitude sickness the first treatment is to go down, on foot or by horse where that is safe.
2. If you need to be flown out, your guide calls our Kathmandu office. Phone signal reaches most villages on the route.
3. We call your insurer’s emergency line with your policy number and the doctor’s or guide’s report, and ask them to approve the flight.
4. Once the insurer approves, the helicopter flies to the nearest landing spot, weather permitting, and takes you to Kathmandu.
5. You go to a hospital in Kathmandu for treatment, and we stay in touch with you and your family.

That is why we ask every guest to send us their policy number and their insurer’s 24-hour emergency phone number before the trek.

Our promise: no unnecessary helicopters

Nepal has had cases of trekkers being pushed into helicopter flights they did not need. Our guides never do this. We only call a helicopter for a real medical emergency, when walking down is not safe or fast enough. Insurers check flight records, and an unnecessary flight can leave you paying the full bill yourself. A helicopter rescue from the Manaslu area can cost several thousand US dollars.

Common questions

Is travel insurance required for the Manaslu trek?

Yes. Our terms require comprehensive travel insurance covering medical treatment, helicopter evacuation to the trek’s highest altitude, cancellation, personal accident and baggage. Send us your policy details before the trek starts.

What altitude should my insurance cover for the Manaslu Circuit?

At least 5,106 m, the height of Larkya La. Many insurers sell cover in bands, so 6,000 m cover is the usual choice.

Does the Tsum Valley trek need high-altitude cover?

Yes. Tsum Valley reaches about 3,700 m at Mu Gompa, above the 3,000 m limit of many standard policies. Use the checker above for your exact trek.

Can I buy insurance after I arrive in Nepal?

Most international policies must be bought before you leave home. Buy it when you book, so cancellation cover starts straight away.

Do you sell insurance?

No. We are a trekking company, not an insurer, and this page is general information, not insurance advice. If you have a question about your policy, ask your insurer. If you are not sure whether it fits your trek, ask us.