Hiking holidays are on the rise but are Britons downplaying the dangers?

Key takeaways

• Searches for hiking holidays are surging in the UK, reflecting a shift towards active travel but raising concerns that many travellers may underestimate the risks involved.

• Hiking injuries abroad can lead to extremely high emergency costs, including mountain rescue, evacuation and specialist medical care, which are often not fully covered by standard travel insurance.

• The level of insurance needed depends on the difficulty, altitude and duration of the hike, with more demanding routes requiring specialist trekking or high‑altitude cover.

UK Google searches for hiking holidays have increased in recent months. For instance, “dolomites hiking holiday” have increased by 540% in the last 12 months, generating over 400,000 searches in the same period.¹

The trend reflects a shift toward active travel, but many holiday-goers may underestimate the risks that hiking trips can pose.

Prepare for emergency costs if you're hiking abroad

Inflation has affected healthcare costs globally, with emergency medical treatments in many countries costing UK tourists hundreds or even thousands of pounds in some locations. So, without insurance, it's possible for a broken leg or a bump to the head to completely ruin a holiday.

But in remote destinations, it’s not just the healthcare costs you need to worry about if something goes wrong on a hike. Emergency transport, mountain rescue, specialist care and transfers to distant hospitals can be expensive depending on where you are in the world.

In the US alone, around 4,000 to 5,000 hiking-related injuries occur each year, and emergency helicopter rescues can cost around $12,000 on average.²

That’s why it’s so important to make sure your travel insurance covers hiking activities and includes sufficient medical and evacuation cover before you set off.

Alicia Hempsted
Insurance Expert

Be prepared for things not to go according to plan

Hiking might seem like a low-risk activity, but anyone picking up a hiking hobby shouldn't underestimate how dangerous it can be. The rise in popularity of walking and hiking across the UK has resulted in a massive increase of emergency callouts of people in need of rescue.

Many of these emergency callouts are the result of hikers underestimating the environment and travelling underprepared, but even experienced hikers can get sudden injuries, and even the most serene locations can be unpredictable.

No matter how safe the landscape seems or how familiar you are with the route, you should always be prepared for an emergency when you set out on a hike. That means packing essentials like a map, compass, torch, and water, dressing appropriately, and having an exit plan in case things go wrong.

What insurance do holiday hikers need?

The type of insurance you need for a hiking trip can depend on how far you’re going, how high you’re climbing and how challenging the route is.

If you're buying travel insurance for a hiking or trekking holiday, a standard travel insurance policy may only cover you up to certain distances or altitudes.

It’s unlikely to provide full cover if trekking is the main purpose of your trip or involves more demanding routes. Treks above 2,000 metres, multi-day hikes with overnight camping, or trips requiring specialist guides may need additional cover. 

Higher altitudes require even more specialist policies - typically high-altitude insurance for treks between 4,000 and 6,000 metres, and mountaineering cover for anything above that.

These policies often include benefits, such as worldwide search and rescue, higher equipment cover, as well as accident and cancellation protection.

<sup>Sources
1. Search data taken from KeyWordTool, correct as of March, 2026. 
2. Kuru Footwear</sup>