Travel Insurance for Pilgrimages like Shikoku or Mount Kailash: Risks Covered

Posted on: Jul 7, 2025 | 3 mins | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

Travel Insurance for Pilgrimages like Shikoku or Mount Kailash: Risks Covered

For centuries, foot pilgrimages have attracted spiritual seekers, adventure aficionados, and culture buffs. The Shikoku Trail of Japan and the sacred Mount Kailash of Tibet double up as physically arduous challenges and deeply spiritual walks. Foot tracks, however, come with inherent risks affecting your health, security, and financial resources. Getting the best travel insurance becomes essential to secure a good footing against these. This series of posts explores the peculiar risks that foot pilgrimages such as the Shikoku Trail and Mount Kailash pose and how you can get adequately covered through travel insurance.

Why are Foot Pilgrimages Unique Travel Experiences?

The physical endurance, long-distance walking, and sometimes cherry-high altitude challenges with spiritual or religious overtones make foot pilgrimages different from regular vacations or adventure treks. The Shikoku Trail roughly covers 1,200 kilometres around Japan's Shikoku Island to take pilgrims through rural villages, mountain passes, and 88 Buddhist temples associated with the Buddhist monk Kūkai. Likewise, the Mount Kailash pilgrimage involves a sacred circumambulation route around this iconic peak at some of the highest altitudes and often under harsh weather.

These pilgrimages are exceedingly rewarding yet somewhat riskier due to exertion, remoteness, and cultural barriers, being some of these dangers including Mountain highs of altitude sickness on Mount Kailash; mounting fatigue, injuries, or even greater risks are encountered on the Shikoku Trail.

Common Travel Risks for Foot Pilgrimages

Protecting yourself requires knowing the common travel hazards that may occur on foot pilgrimages.

1. Injury and Physical Strain

Running, walking, or trekking over uneven terrain may sprain the ankle, cause blisters, muscle cramps, or a painful fall, especially if you are not acclimatised or physically prepared for walking. Pilgrims on the Shikoku Trail have documented instances of sore feet and aching knees from continuous walking, whereas Mount Kailash poses serious risks of slips and falls on the icy trails.

2. Altitude Sickness and Weather Extremes

Trekking over 5,000 meters, or 16,400 feet above sea level, on Mount Kailash is known to give altitude sickness attacks of headache, nausea, and dizziness. Sudden spells of cold and storms then add up the health risks.

3. Health Emergencies and Access to Medical Facilities

The remote location of some distant-kosh pilgrim routes might not appear to have advanced medical centres with immediate availability. A small injury or sudden illness can become grave without immediate treatment. The high Tibetan plateau or remote mountain stretches on Shikoku pose such problems.

4. Travel Interruptions

Unexpected interruptions come from natural disasters, political unrest, or failures in transportation. For example, the annual monsoon rains might cause untold disruption to your transport over Shikoku, or border/travel restrictions might set serious limits at Mount Kailash.

5. Theft and Loss

Most pilgrimages do happen to take place in relatively safe areas, but it is never prudent to assume that there's no possibility of theft or loss of personal belongings on a long journey.

Why Is Travel Insurance So Important for Foot Pilgrimages?

Because of such risks on the go, it would be necessary to choose travel insurance for your safety and a good investment.

The Best Travel Insurance for Foot Pilgrimages Usually Covers:

1. Accidental injury and medical expenses:

Covers the costs of treatment of injuries, illness, or emergencies related to the pilgrimage.

2. Emergency medical evacuation:

In high-altitude areas like Mount Kailash, this ensures you can be transported to an appropriate medical facility in the case of an emergency.

3. Trip cancellation/interruption:

Reimburses your prepaid expenses if your trip is cancelled or cut short for reasons covered under the policy.

4. Baggage loss or theft:

Insurance against the financial loss of stolen or lost luggage and valuables.

5. Coverage for high-risk activities:

Some policies offer coverage specifically for physical activities involved in the pilgrimage, which is vital, as there are policies that exclude hiking or trekking.

Case Study-Why A Travel Insurance Was Critical For A Kailash Pilgrim

Take the instance of Jane, a Mount Kailash kora trekker. At 5,200 meters, she suffered from severe altitude sickness, needing treatment and evacuation to the nearest city for help. Had she not had travel insurance covering emergency evacuation, Jane would have been faced with tens of thousands of dollars in medical and transport charges.

Tips for Selecting the Best Travel Insurance for Pilgrimages

Purchasing the best travel insurance always means paying close attention to policy details and their alignment with the requirements of the respective foot pilgrimage journey, be it for the Shikoku Trail or Mount Kailash.

1. Check for High-Altitude Trekking Cover

Most insurance policies exclude high-altitude activities, or they specify a maximum limit in terms of altitude. Check with your insurer whether the altitude at which you will be trekking is covered by the policy. For example, Mount Kailash requires a policy that provides cover above 4,000 meters.

2. Must Provide For Medical Evacuation Cover

An emergency evacuation cover is the most important when local medical facilities are not adequate because this provides for helicopter and ambulance transfers to higher levels of care, effectively saving lives.

3. Check for Policies Covering Physical Activities

Some insurance policies do not offer coverage for trekking, hiking, or pilgrimages. Consider those that specifically mention trekking or hiking or "adventure travel" as being covered. Foot pilgrimages, for their intensity and duration, obviously require this cover.

4. Consider Trip Interruption and Cancellation Coverage

This will safeguard your expenses should unforeseen circumstances intervene to compel a delay or cancellation of your pilgrimage. Some policies may cover these instances caused by illness, injury, or even some occurrences of political and natural events.

5. Look at Customer Reviews and Reputation

Choose those companies with reliable claim processes, as well as good feedback from fellow travellers. This will also be the determining factor on whether you will be able to fully enjoy a relatively stress-laden experience.

Other Useful Advice for Taking a Foot Pilgrimage

Besides getting travel insurance, doing a few more things can help keep your pilgrimage safe:

1. Prepare your body by walking and exercising your stamina, so your risk of injury is low.

2. Before climbing Mount Kailash, allow yourself time to get used to the height and minimise your chance of sickness.

3. Bring needed supplies like medical kits, blister treatments, and the medications for altitude sickness recommended personally to you.

4. Carry your phone and tell family members your travel plans in advance.

5. Use people from the place you travel to guide you. They know the local area and how things work there.

6. The real journey through Shikoku is made possible thanks to some of the best travel insurance.

7. After a lengthy period of heat with few breaks and little shelter, John on the Shikoku Trail had awful blisters and was very hungry. Thanks to his travel insurance, clinic visits in the towns he passed and replacement gear purchases were all handled. Because of the practical help, he could continue his pilgrimage in peace.

In short, be prepared with great travel insurance before you travel. Both the Shikoku Trail and Mount Kailash are examples of foot pilgrimages that mix endurance with a boost to your spirituality. Yet, since there are particular challenges involved—for instance, altitude sickness, injury and travel delays—you should always be well-prepared and have proper protection.

For inspiration on meaningful journeys, read our article on Top 5 International Pilgrimage Sites for a Meaningful Family Vacation to discover unforgettable destinations.

Conclusion

The right travel insurance is a crucial thing to have along on any pilgrimage. It serves as protection for sudden health concerns, booked trips that don’t happen and lost items, so you don’t have to stress amid your journey.

Be sure to get the best travel insurance before you start your next pilgrimage. As a result, you become more confident, better protected and enjoy more peace of mind as your spiritual journey unfolds.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purposes only. For more details, please refer to the policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

Top 5 International Pilgrimage Sites for a Meaningful Family Vacation

Solo Travel Destinations for Spiritual Seekers

10 Most Important Shrines and Temples in Japan

Offbeat International Destinations for Indian Travelers in 2025

Your Ultimate Travel Guide to Sri Lanka