Chulu West Travel Insurance
Chulu West is a beautiful trekking peak located in the Annapurna region of Nepal, standing at an altitude of 6,419 meters (21,055 feet). It offers stunning views of the surrounding peaks, including Annapurna and Dhaulagiri.
Trekking or Climbing?
Chulu West is also classified by the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) as a "Trekking peak". However, it requires more than just trekking to climb! You will need to have some basic mountaineering skills and experience, including using crampons, an ice axe, and a climbing harness.
What insurance do I need?
As Chulu West involves some climbing and mountaineering, standard trekking insurance may not necessarily cover you. You will need mountaineering insurance that covers up to 6,419 meters to ensure you are fully covered. Some insurers may offer coverage for Chulu West under "Trekking" insurance, which could be less expensive than Mountaineering insurance. However, it's crucial to confirm with the insurer that you are fully covered before purchasing any policy.
Medical & Rescue Cover
Trekking at high altitudes can be dangerous, and it's essential to have insurance that covers medical and rescue expenses in case of an emergency. Make sure that your insurance policy covers you up to the your maximum altitude (the cover will not be valid for any altitude, if you go above the maximum limit), and that it includes helicopter evacuation if necessary.
Insurers
There are several insurance providers that offer trekking insurance for Nepal. Here is a list of some of the most popular options:
Click the button below to find out which insurers will you cover you:
Trekking Peaks:
In Nepal, there are 28 "Trekking Peaks" (which require a permit to climb) but this is misleading as all of them require climbing or mountaineering, with rope, crampons and ice axes required. However, the easiest ones, Island Peak and Lobuche East can be attempted with no prior experience with certain agencies.
| Peak name | Difficulty (French grade) | Max. altitude |
|---|---|---|
| Mera Peak | PD | 6,476 m (21,247 ft) |
| Island Peak (Imja Tse) | PD+ | 6,189 m (20,305 ft) |
| Lobuche Peak | PD+ | 6,119 m (20,070 ft) |
| Kyajo Ri | D | 6,186 m (20,295 ft) |
| Yala Peak | F+ | 5,700 m (18,700 ft) |
| Pisang Peak | PD | 6,091 m (19,978 ft) |
| Chulu West | PD- | 6,419 m (21,055 ft) |
| Tent Peak | F | 5,663 m (18,580 ft) |
Trekking agencies
Generally, there are two types of trekking agencies; locally ran and operated agencies and foreign agencies. Often the foreign agencies will actually use local agency, while somtimes providing an aditional international mountain guide.
The advantage of an international agency is that you can trust that all arrangements will be made and you will have a point of contact that speaks your native language. However, often you will end up having the exact same trekking experience as if you had gone directly with a local agency.