Daffodils Travel does not sell, administer, or underwrite travel insurance. What we do: tell you exactly what coverage South Asia destinations require — including the high-altitude evacuation coverage that standard US policies often exclude — and refer you to trusted providers.
Daffodils Travel is a ground itinerary specialist. We have partnered with Arch RoamRight to offer our clients access to travel insurance options.
Nepal and Bhutan require high-altitude medical evacuation cover that standard US policies frequently exclude.
The five questions below should be answered in writing by any insurer before you purchase.
The coverage you need varies significantly by destination. India and Sri Lanka have different requirements from Nepal and Bhutan. If your circuit includes Nepal or Bhutan, your policy needs specific attention before purchase.
The large evacuation and transfer costs shown further down this page are paid from the Emergency Medical Evacuation benefit, not from your medical-expense limit. So a policy with, for example, $50,000 in medical expense paired with $500,000–$1,000,000 in evacuation is well-suited to high-altitude South Asia. Compare the two limits separately — don’t look for a single “medical” number.
This is the single most expensive oversight in South Asia travel planning. Standard US policies frequently exclude high-altitude activities. The exclusion is in the policy documents — not in the summary brochure. It must be confirmed in writing before purchase.
Ask every insurer: "Does this policy cover helicopter evacuation from above 4,000m in Nepal or Bhutan?" If they cannot confirm this clearly in writing, choose a different policy.
Most figures below are paid from your policy's Emergency Medical Evacuation benefit — the transfer from a local hospital to an international-standard one (Bangkok, Delhi, or Singapore). The initial response to get you to the nearest facility is typically covered under your Emergency Medical Expense benefit. Evacuation and medical expenses are two separate limits — and for Nepal and Bhutan, the evacuation benefit is the one to keep high.
These five questions apply to any South Asia itinerary. The answers reveal whether the policy is genuinely adequate — or whether it will fail at the moment you need it most.
Do not accept verbal answers. Ask by email or via the insurer's web chat so you have the response in writing.
For Nepal and Bhutan: Questions 1 and 2 are what we strongly recommend. A policy that cannot answer both clearly and positively in writing is not adequate for high-altitude South Asia travel.
The most important question for any Nepal or Bhutan itinerary. Standard exclusions often apply from 3,000m or 3,500m. The answer must be explicit and in writing. If the answer is 'it depends on the activity', ask again specifically for trekking and mountain terrain.
On most policies, evacuation is a distinct benefit from medical expense, usually with a much higher limit. Confirm the evacuation benefit explicitly and note its limit — this is the figure that matters most at altitude.
Festival-season India and Bhutan Tsechu accommodation is often booked 6–12 months ahead, fully non-refundable. Confirm that the policy covers cancellation of pre-paid bookings — not just airfares. Confirm whether Force Majeure is covered and what the definition of Force Majeure includes.
Many standard policies exclude 'adventure sports' without defining the term clearly. Trekking above certain altitudes, jeep safaris, surfing, rafting, and even whale watching excursions in rough seas can fall under exclusions. List your specific planned activities and ask whether each is covered.
In a medical emergency at altitude, the assistance number is the difference between a good outcome and a bad one. Some assistance providers are excellent. Others are generic call centres with no South Asia ground network. Ask who provides the assistance service and whether they have experience in Nepal and Bhutan specifically.
Travel insurance is most valuable when arranged soon after your first trip payment. With Arch RoamRight, purchasing within 21 days of your initial trip payment can unlock benefits that are not available later — including a waiver of the pre-existing medical condition exclusion and “cancel for work reasons” coverage. We recommend arranging your policy as soon as your first payment is made. Eligibility, conditions, and exclusions are governed by the policy — refer to the policy for full details.
We refer clients to Arch RoamRight for its well-regarded claims service and 24-hour travel assistance, competitive pricing, and convenient tools such as online claims filing. As always, the policy you choose — and whether it fits your trip —is your decision.
We have partnered with Arch RoamRight to offer our clients access to travel insurance options. The choice of provider and the specific policy purchased is entirely the client's decision and responsibility.
Arch Insurance Company
Important: Daffodils Travel does not sell, underwrite, or administer travel insurance. We have partnered with Arch RoamRight to offer our clients access to travel insurance options. The choice of provider, the specific policy, and all insurance decisions are entirely the client’s responsibility. Daffodils Travel accepts no liability in connection with any insurance policy purchased or not purchased by a client.
Referral providers are reviewed periodically. This Travel Insurance — is the single source of truth. If our referrals change, this page is updated first. Any other Daffodils document that references insurance providers defers to this page.
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Once we deliver your completed itinerary, we will confirm which coverage questions are relevant to your specific routing and destinations.
