Heli Skiing Travel Insurance Quote

Cover for heli-skiing and heli-boarding, in Europe or worldwide, with no restriction on the number of drops.

It covers heli-skiing as the sole purpose of your trip.

How a heli day works

No queueing for a chairlift, and no hanging about at the top waiting for your friends to catch up.

The pilot drops you and your group at the top of the run, and you ski or board down to the end of it.

The helicopter collects you at the bottom and takes you back up for the next one.

A day is usually four to six runs, sometimes more, which is why the number of drops matters and why we do not cap it.

You go with a guide.

Heli operations run guided as standard — the guide picks the line, assesses the snow and decides what is skiable that day.

What is covered

• Heli-skiing and heli-boarding, unlimited drops
• Cat skiing
• Ski touring, off piste with a guide and without, and your ordinary skiing — all included
• Helicopter tours as a passenger

Emergency medical and repatriation is £10,000,000, with mountain rescue and search and rescue up to £50,000.

Piste closure and avalanche cover pay £75 for each 24 hours, up to £1,000.

Everything below it is included

Heli-skiing sits near the top of the winter sports activities, so the ones beneath it come with it.

You do not need to add off piste, ski touring or ordinary skiing separately.

Personal liability

Personal liability does not apply to heli-skiing.

You are covered for injury to yourself.

You are not covered for claims made against you.

Ask your operator whether they hold a third-party liability policy, and what it covers, before you book.

Heli Guides is a useful place to start when you are checking an operator.

Is heli-skiing not just backcountry?

Geographically, yes.

You are dropped on unpatrolled terrain outside any resort boundary.

For cover purposes it is different, because the policy covers named activities rather than terrain.

Heli-skiing is on the schedule, so it is covered wherever it happens.

Backcountry is not on the schedule, so there is nothing to select and nothing to buy — even on the same slope.

What separates them in practice is that heli-skiing is run by an operator, with guides, avalanche assessment and a safety protocol.

Backcountry usually means going out there yourself.

Canada, and where you need cover for

British Columbia is the home of heli-skiing.

The Bugaboos, the Monashees, Revelstoke and Bella Coola between them account for most of the world's heli terrain, and most of our heli-skiing customers are going there.

Canada is in our worldwide area, not Europe. A Europe policy will not reach it, so take worldwide when you quote.

Heli-skiing also runs in Alaska, Iceland, Georgia, Turkey, Japan, New Zealand, Chile and across the Alps — Italy in particular, since heli-skiing is restricted in France.

Whichever it is, tell us the destination so the area on your policy covers it.

If the heli day is cancelled

Heli operations are grounded by weather regularly, and it is the question we are asked most after whether it is covered at all.

Your policy covers cancelling or cutting short the trip.

A single excursion called off by the operator is a matter between you and them.

Most heli operators work on a no-fly, no-pay basis, or roll the day over.

Check what yours does when you book, because that is where that cost sits.

Cat skiing

Cat skiing is covered.

Access is by snowcat rather than helicopter, on similar terrain, and it is a separate activity from heli-skiing at a lower level.

Driving a snowcat yourself is different again.

Tell us if that is what you are doing.

Common questions

Is heli-skiing covered?

Yes, in Europe and worldwide, with heli-skiing on your policy.

Is there a limit on the number of drops?

No.

There is no restriction on how many times you heli-ski.

Is heli-skiing covered for a single day?

Yes.

The activity sits on the policy for the whole trip, so a single heli day within a ski week is covered.

Can I cover only the days I am heli-skiing?

No.

The activity is on the policy for the trip rather than for chosen days.

Does a heli-skiing policy cover ordinary skiing too?

Yes.

Heli-skiing sits above the other winter sports activities, so off piste, ski touring and your ordinary skiing are all included.

Is heli-boarding covered?

Yes, on the same basis.

Is cat skiing covered?

Yes, as its own activity at a lower level than heli-skiing.

Is heli-skiing the same as backcountry?

It happens on the same kind of terrain, but heli-skiing is an activity on our schedule and backcountry is not.

Do I need a guide?

Heli-skiing is guided as standard.

The operator provides one and you ski the lines they choose.

Book with a reputable operator, and ask about their safety and training procedures and whether they hold third-party liability cover.

Does the helicopter pick me up at the bottom?

Yes.

It drops you at the top, collects you at the bottom and takes you up again, usually four to six times in a day.

I am heli-skiing in Canada. Which area do I need?

Worldwide.

Canada is not in the Europe area, so a Europe policy will not cover it.

What if the weather cancels my heli day?

That is between you and the operator.

The policy covers cancelling or curtailing the trip, not an individual excursion called off on the day.

Is personal liability covered?

No, not for heli-skiing.

Ask your operator what their third-party cover includes.

Can heli-skiing be added to a policy I already hold?

Call us before you travel and we will sort it.

Does an annual policy cover heli-skiing?

Yes, with heli-skiing added to it.

I am already out there. Can I still get cover?

Call us on 0800 043 0020.

It can sometimes be arranged through a different provider.

Is my equipment covered?

Yes.

Own equipment up to £2,000 with a £1,000 single item limit, hired equipment up to £750.

Can I get cover with a pre-existing medical condition?

Yes, where the condition is on our accepted list.

See medical conditions.

Get a quote

Heli-skiing cover is on the quote on this page.

Full terms, conditions and exclusions are in the policy wording.