Am I insured on an expedition or when climbing at high altitude?
In short
Am I insured on an expedition? Only if your policy expressly includes it. The German Alpine Club (Deutscher Alpenverein) member cover pays rescue up to EUR 50,000 but excludes expeditions with goals above 7,000 metres. When climbing at high altitude beyond that, you need expedition insurance, there from EUR 47 for 17 days or EUR 83 for 34 days.
Premiums of the German Alpine Club expedition insurance, per person.
Example
Typical range
Up to 17 days, up to age 64
EUR 47
Up to 34 days, up to age 64
EUR 83
Up to 56 days, up to age 64
EUR 167
Up to 98 days, up to age 64
EUR 359
Up to 34 days, over age 64
EUR 414
Premiums according to the Alpine Club, October 2026; membership of a section is required.
Other expedition tariffs may differ.
Norman Nammert can obtain further quotes as an insurance broker.
Worked example
Climber, aged 42, expedition to a 7,000 metre peak
Seven weeks in Central Asia, Alpine Club member, plus annual travel health insurance that excludes expeditions.
Member cover
does not apply, goal above 7,000 metres
Annual travel health insurance
does not apply, expeditions excluded
Expedition insurance up to 56 days
EUR 167
Rescue per event
up to EUR 50,000
For EUR 167 the gap above 7,000 metres is closed; she checks her accident insurance separately for a high altitude exclusion.
Where normal cover ends on an expedition
Travel health insurance (Auslandskrankenversicherung) is built for holidays. Many policies set an altitude limit for mountain sports or exclude expeditions. Check whether your terms mention expeditions, high altitude climbing or a set number of metres.
The German Alpine Club member cover applies worldwide to mountaineering activities. It does, however, exclude expeditions with destinations above 7,000 metres, trips to countries with a travel warning from the German Foreign Office and mountain sports on package tours outside Europe.
Plan
Alpine Club member cover
Expedition insurance
Glacier tour in the Alps
yes
not needed
Trekking in Nepal up to 6,000 metres
yes, unless a package tour
possible as a top up
Expedition to a 7,000 metre peak
no, goal above 7,000 metres
yes
8,000 metre peak
no
yes
Country with a travel warning
no
check the terms
What expedition insurance covers
The Alpine Club expedition insurance applies to private trips abroad with no altitude cap, so expressly also above 7,000 metres. It pays search, rescue and recovery up to EUR 50,000 per event, medical treatment abroad and repatriation organised by the insurer.
You must be a member of a club section and have your permanent residence in Germany. You can choose 17, 34, 56 or 98 days; longer trips are handled on request.
Rescue and repatriation when climbing at high altitude
On the mountain there are two separate costs: rescue from the mountain to the nearest hospital and, later, repatriation home. Your cover must include both.
Rescue cover of EUR 50,000 is enough in most regions. If a helicopter flies several times or a search takes long, costs can be higher. Ask what happens if the limit is exceeded.
Do not forget accident and liability cover
Expedition insurance pays costs but no lump sum for permanent injury. Check whether your private accident insurance (Unfallversicherung) excludes high altitude climbing and expeditions or covers them only for a surcharge.
For damage you cause to others, such as falling rocks, you need liability cover that applies abroad. The member cover includes sports liability up to EUR 6 million.
When you do not need separate expedition insurance
For glacier tours in the Alps, via ferratas and trekking below 7,000 metres, member cover together with good travel health insurance is often enough, as long as its terms do not exclude mountain sports.
On an organised expedition the operator sometimes has group cover. Ask to see the terms before you skip your own. Norman Nammert can check your existing policies for gaps as an insurance broker.
Step by step
Note the target altitude, length and country.
Read the terms of travel health, accident and member cover for altitude limits.
Check the German Foreign Office travel warnings for the destination.
Take out expedition insurance matching the length of the trip.
Keep the emergency number and policy number with your kit.
Checklist
Altitude limit of every policy known
Rescue and repatriation both covered
Policy length covers the whole trip with a buffer
Accident insurance does not exclude high altitude climbing
Liability cover valid abroad
Common mistakes
Relying on credit card travel insurance
Choosing too short a period and having to extend
Overlooking countries with a travel warning
Assuming statutory health insurance pays for mountain rescue abroad
Questions and answers
Frequently asked
From what altitude is a trip an expedition?
Each policy defines this itself.
The Alpine Club member cover excludes expeditions with goals above 7,000 metres;
other policies set the limit lower.
Does statutory health insurance pay for rescue?
Do not count on it.
Outside the EU and countries with a social security agreement it does not even pay for treatment.
For rescue and repatriation you need private cover.
Am I covered trekking to Everest Base Camp?
With the Alpine Club member cover usually yes, as the goal is below 7,000 metres.
Also check your travel health insurance for an altitude limit.
Is expedition cover available without club membership?
Yes, some travel insurers offer tariffs for expeditions and high altitude climbing.
Terms vary widely, especially on altitude and rescue limits.
