Travel Insurance for Hiking and Adventure: What UK Travellers Need to Check

Would your travel insurance pay if you needed a helicopter off a mountain in the Alps? Most of us buy a policy, tick the box and never read the small print. However, hiking, via ferrata, skiing and other adventure activities are exactly where the small print matters most.

We think travel insurance is really important. As I wrote in how much our 2-week Croatia holiday cost, if you can't afford insurance, you can't afford to travel. We always use InsureandGo, but luckily we have never really needed to claim, so I can't tell you how good they are when things go wrong. That is why I've researched what UK hikers really need to check, using official guidance from GOV.UK and the NHS, so you can choose the right cover for your next adventure.

Quick answer

• Check the activity list. GOV.UK says standard policies usually exclude winter sports and some adventure activities. You may need an add-on or a specialist policy.
• A GHIC is not travel insurance. It doesn't cover mountain rescue, private treatment or flying you home.
• Mountain rescue isn't free everywhere. In the UK it is free to the casualty. In Slovakia the law says you have to pay the rescue costs.
• Look for search and rescue cover. For example, BMC Travel Insurance includes £100,000 search, rescue and recovery cover, as of 2026.
• Alpine club membership (like the Austrian Alpine Club) includes rescue cover, but it is a top-up, not a full travel policy.
• Declare medical conditions and read the exclusions before you go.

Why a normal policy may not be enough

A basic travel policy is usually built for beach holidays and city breaks. GOV.UK's advice is to check that your policy covers all the activities you may do on holiday, including sports and adventure tourism. Standard policies usually exclude things like bungee jumping, skydiving and winter sports. Some activities need an add-on or a specialist insurer.

Medical bills abroad can be huge. GOV.UK gives these examples of what you could pay without insurance:

• A broken leg in Spain, with hospital treatment and possibly getting you home: £25,000+
• A quad bike accident in Greece, with surgery and possibly getting you home: £80,000+
• A stomach bug treated in a US hospital, possibly with evacuation: £150,000+

Now imagine a twisted ankle on a ridge, far from any road. That is where search and rescue cover comes in.

A GHIC is not travel insurance

The UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) is free, and you should definitely carry one. It lets you get necessary state healthcare in the EEA and some other countries. If locals pay for a treatment, you may have to pay too. In Switzerland it works for British, Swiss and EU citizens and some others.

However, the NHS is very clear that a GHIC does not cover:

• ski or mountain rescue
• treatment in a private clinic
• being flown back to the UK

The NHS advises having private travel and medical insurance for the whole trip. One good thing to know: GOV.UK says some insurers waive the excess if you use your GHIC, so check your policy.

Who pays for mountain rescue?

This really depends on the country.

• England and Wales: mountain rescue teams are volunteers. Mountain Rescue England and Wales says the service remains voluntary and free to the casualty.
• Slovakia: since 1 July 2006 the law says a person in a mountain area has to pay the Mountain Rescue Service (HZS) for their rescue or search. Under-18s are exempt. The HZS website lists local companies that sell mountain rescue insurance, some from €0.99 a day. I mention this in my guide to the Suchá Belá gorge in Slovak Paradise.
• Elsewhere in Europe: rules and costs vary, and a helicopter rescue can be expensive. So don't assume it is free. Check that your policy covers search and rescue in the country you are visiting.

What to check in your policy: a hiking checklist

Before you buy, open the policy wording and search for these things. If something is unclear, call the insurer and ask. Get the answer in writing if you can.

• Activities: is hiking or trekking covered? What about scrambling, via ferrata, glacier walking or canyoning? If the insurer groups activities into levels or categories, find out which one your trip falls into.
• Altitude: is there a maximum altitude? Check the highest point of your route, including any huts where you sleep, against the limit.
• Guided or not: some activities may only be covered with a qualified guide.
• Search and rescue: is it included, and how much is the limit? Does it include helicopter rescue?
• Medical and repatriation: how much medical cover is there, and does it include emergency transport and getting you home? GOV.UK notes that ambulance costs are often charged separately.
• Winter sports: skiing and snowboarding usually need an add-on. Check off-piste rules and ski equipment cover too.
• Medical conditions: declare any existing conditions, pending treatment or tests. GOV.UK warns that not declaring something may make your insurance invalid.
• Alcohol: most policies don't cover accidents after drinking too much.
• Trip length and destination: make sure the dates cover your whole trip. Some policies won't cover places where the Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel.
• 24-hour helpline: save the emergency number in your phone.

Specialist options for hikers and mountain lovers

BMC Travel Insurance

The British Mountaineering Council sells travel insurance built for the mountains. As of 2026, its website lists £10 million emergency medical cover, £100,000 search, rescue and recovery cover and a 24-hour emergency medical helpline. It has several different policies, so pick the one that matches your activity and destination.

Austrian Alpine Club membership

Many UK hikers join the Austrian Alpine Club (Österreichischer Alpenverein), which has a UK branch. Membership includes the Alpenverein Weltweit Service (AWS) insurance. According to the AWS terms valid until 31 December 2027, it includes:

• up to €25,000 per person for rescue from off-road terrain, worldwide and all year, during leisure time
• unlimited repatriation from abroad, for the first 8 weeks of any trip
• up to €10,000 for medical treatment abroad, for the first 8 weeks of any trip
• cover for rescues after accidents during leisure activities, such as hiking and skiing

Trips with planned ascents above 6,000 m are excluded. Also, the AWS cover only pays after any other insurance you have. So I see it as a great top-up for rescue costs, not a replacement for a proper travel policy. €10,000 of medical cover doesn't go far after a serious accident.

Match your cover to your trip

Here is how I would think about it for some of the trips on this blog.

• Waymarked day hikes and lake walks: a good standard policy that clearly includes hiking may be enough. Think of trails like the ones in my guide to stunning Swiss hikes you have never heard of.
• Exposed ridges and big days out: we walked part of the Hardergrat between Suggiture and Augstmatthorn, and hiked Kjerag and Preikestolen in Norway. For hikes like these, I would check the altitude limit and search and rescue cover carefully.
• Via ferrata, gorges with ladders and scrambling: these may count as a higher activity level. Check before you book a trip like the Suchá Belá gorge.
• Ski holidays: add winter sports cover. We skied in LAAX and at Kitzsteinhorn, and a standard policy usually wouldn't cover trips like these.
• Wild camping and multi-day treks: remote places mean longer rescues. See my wild camping equipment checklist too.

Make yourself easy to find

Insurance pays the bill, but it can't call for help. In the mountains there is often no phone signal. A satellite messenger or a personal locator beacon can send an SOS from almost anywhere. The Garmin inReach Mini is the one I recommend for hiking in my guide to personal locator beacons. Garmin has since replaced it with newer models, so compare before you buy.

A few more simple habits help too:

• Carry your policy number and the insurer's emergency number. Share them with your travel companions and family at home.
• Tell someone your route and when you expect to be back.
• Know the local emergency number. 112 works across the EU.
• If something happens, call the insurer's 24-hour helpline as early as you can.

FAQ

Does normal travel insurance cover hiking?

It may cover simple walking, but don't assume it covers harder activities. Check the policy's activity list and any altitude limit. Scrambling, via ferrata and glacier walking may be treated differently from walking on a path.

Does the GHIC cover mountain rescue?

No. The NHS says the GHIC doesn't cover ski or mountain rescue, private treatment or flying you back to the UK. You need travel insurance for those.

Is mountain rescue free in the UK?

In England and Wales, yes. Mountain rescue teams are volunteers, and the service is free to the casualty.

Is Austrian Alpine Club membership enough on its own?

I wouldn't rely on it alone. It covers rescue up to €25,000, but medical treatment abroad only up to €10,000. It works best together with a full travel insurance policy.

Do I need winter sports cover for a ski trip?

Yes. GOV.UK says standard policies usually exclude winter sports, so add winter sports cover or buy a policy that includes it.

Which travel insurance do you use for hiking trips? Have you ever had to claim? Let me know in the comments!