How do travel insurance providers define mountain climbing or mountaineering?

Last Updated: January 29, 2015May 24, 2023

Mountaineering is generally defined as mountain climbing where ropes or guides are normally used. Additionally, some providers  consider you to be mountaineering if you are hiking or trekking above a certain amount of meters, for example 7,000 meters or more.

Mountaineering is generally excluded from travel insurance coverage, however it can be covered by policies with the Sports & Activities benefit. Using Squaremouth’s activity selection matrix, you can denote which activities you plan to participate in during your trip to only search for the policies that can provide coverage for those activities.

This information can vary based on the travel insurance policy. Please review the policy certificate to verify coverage. If you have questions about a specific policy, please contact us directly at 800-240-0369. Our customer service representatives are available from 8am to 10pm ET, seven days a week, and are delighted to help!