Updated Insurance Policy for Peak Climbing of 27 NMA Peaks for Assurance

The Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) has released an updated insurance policy notice to address confusion and provide clarity for trekkers exploring the 27 NMA peaks. This policy ensures better understanding and safety for adventurers in Nepal’s challenging terrains during peak climbing.

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Nepal Mountaineering Association
Established on 1 November 1973 (16 Kartik 2030), the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) is a non-governmental, non-profit, and non-political organization. Serving as the national alpine association of Nepal, NMA is dedicated to promoting mountain tourism, advancing climbing sports, protecting fragile mountain environments, and preserving the cultural heritage of mountain communities. It is the sole national alpine club authorized to issue climbing permits for 27 peaks across Nepal.

NMA operates with the following seven key objectives:

1. Explore Mountain Peaks and Promote Climbing Tourism – Identify and promote mountain peaks for adventure and tourism activities.
2. Issue Climbing Permits – Manage and issue climbing permits in coordination with the Government of Nepal.
3. Protect and Promote Mountain Communities – Preserve the culture, heritage, and well-being of mountain people.
4. Develop Skilled Human Capital – Train and promote skilled personnel to support mountaineering activities.
5. Promote Sports Climbing Tourism – Encourage and develop sports climbing and related tourism in Nepal.
6. Emergency Rescue and Humanitarian Support – Provide rescue, rehabilitation, and humanitarian assistance to individuals and communities in need.
7. Preserve the Mountain Environment – Protect natural ecosystems in mountain regions for a sustainable future.

What NMA Does

1. Production of Skilled Human Capital
Peak climbing is inherently risky and requires well-trained and skilled support staff. Climbers themselves also need different levels of training. Better-trained climbers and support personnel ensure higher safety and encourage the growth of climbing sports. To achieve this, NMA conducts various climbing courses. The Sports Climbing Training School in Kakani and the Mountain Climbing Training School in Manang were developed for this purpose. Training activities will be further institutionalized in the future.

2. Climbing Sports Training
NMA organizes the following types of peak climbing training:

• Basic Mountain Guide Course
• Course I
• Course II
• Course III
• Mountain Leader Course
• Mountain Climbing Instructor’s Course

3. Cleaning & Garbage Management
With the increasing number of visitors and climbers in Nepal’s mountains, the environment faces growing pollution. Trails and base camps require consistent cleaning and garbage management. NMA is actively engaged in such environmental protection and cleaning initiatives.

4. Developing Peak Profiles
Nepal has hundreds of peaks above 5,000 meters that remain unexplored or unnamed. Developing peak profiles is challenging but crucial for the mountain tourism industry. More identified peaks mean more tourism products, which generate income. NMA is currently developing peak profiles in coordination with the Government of Nepal, Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Civil Aviation.

5. Building Porter Shelters
Ensuring basic rights of employees is essential for sustainable tourism. Porters and support staff need safe shelters for rest during climbing activities. NMA has been actively building porter shelters in high passes to support their well-being.

6. Rope Fixing & Safety Enhancement
Certain trail sections are steep, rocky, and risky. NMA manages rope fixing and safety enhancement activities in such areas to minimize risks and ensure climber safety.

7. New Trail Building
Where necessary, NMA constructs new trails to provide easier access to proposed mountain peaks.

8. Policy Building
Based on practical experience, NMA advises the government on tourism-friendly policies. Key focus areas include:

• Disaster preparedness
• Environmental protection
• Safety enhancement
• Climate change adaptation
• Ethical tourism
• Sustainable tourism development

9. Humanitarian Support
As a responsible organization, NMA supports orphans and families of victims of mountain disasters, including guides, porters, and Nepali climbers who die during expeditions. Currently, NMA provides scholarships to 50 students, from primary to university level, many of whom are children of disaster victims such as those affected by Annapurna Hud-Hud (2014) and Everest Avalanches (2015). NMA also assisted in rescue, rehabilitation, and emergency support during the 2015 mega earthquake.

10. Infrastructure Development Support
NMA has contributed to key infrastructure projects, including:

• Climbers Memorial Park in Kakani
• Sports Climbing Training Schools in Kakani and Manang
• International Mountain Museum in Pokhara
• Porter shelters and toilets in high passes
• New access trails to newly explored peaks
• Central Secretariat building

NMA continues planning major projects to support mountain tourism in Nepal.

11. Promotional Events
NMA organizes events to promote mountain tourism, including domestic observances such as World Tourism Day, International Everest Day, World Environment Day, Manaslu Day, Annapurna Day, and NMA Day. It actively participates in international forums like UIAA, UAAA, and IFSC to promote Nepalese mountain tourism globally.

12. Exploring New Peaks and Destinations
NMA is responsible for exploring and promoting new climbing peaks. Expanding available peaks provides climbers with more choices and enhances Nepal’s mountain tourism products.

Insurance Policy Highlights

The insurance policy covers treks up to 6,600 meters with a coverage duration of up to 90 days with age limit up to 65 years, allowing multiple peak ascents. The premium is set at NRs. 8,500. Here are the key benefits:

• Hospitalization Expenses for Illness & Injury: NRs. 400,000 (deductible NRs. 1,000).
• Medical Evacuation (including Helicopter Evacuations, and AMS treatment): NRs. 1,350,000 (deductible NRs. 2,000).
• Personal Accident (Death & Disability): NRs. 1,500,000 (no deductible).

Other insurance policy coverages such as delay of checked baggage, loss of checked baggage, passport, driving license, trip cancellation, interruption, common carrier delay, hijack distress allowance, daily allowance in case of hospitalization, personal liability, and repatriation of remains are not included.

Terms and Conditions of Insurance Policy

• Rescue claims require validation by a registered doctor or agency in life-threatening situations in the event of accidental injury that makes the trekker unable to continue the trip.
• Rescue charges are limited to transport to the nearest safe location for treatment or designated base:
  • Annapurna Region: Pokhara base
  • Khumbu Region: Lukla base
  • Other Regions: Kathmandu base
• The insurance company will reimburse necessary helicopter rescue charges if the patient must be brought to the Kathmandu base for essential medical treatment in a life-threatening situation.
• If the helicopter rescue is shared with members not insured under this policy, costs will be proportionally shared among all rescued individuals.
• The names of all trekkers must be submitted before the start of the trip for coverage eligibility.
• Only Nepali citizens are eligible for coverage under this insurance policy.
• All other terms and conditions of the trekking policy must be complied with.

For rules and guidelines of mountaineering in Nepal, click here.

Prepare thoroughly and stay safe on your Himalayan adventures!