Before you book
Last updated 27 October 2026 · Applies to all China Hike treks
China Hike operates multi-day trekking itineraries in remote mountain terrain. This document sets out the risk management standards applied to every departure, the insurance cover provided with each booking, our altitude and emergency procedures, and the responsibilities accepted by each hiker. It also answers the questions most commonly raised before booking.
Every departure is operated to the same standard, regardless of price tier or group size. Route planning, guide assignment, equipment and evacuation arrangements are identical across all treks.
Every hiker on every China Hike departure is covered by a comprehensive travel and trekking insurance policy, arranged and paid for by us and included in the published trek price. There is nothing to add at checkout and nothing for you to arrange before you fly.
Cover runs for the full duration of the trek, on and off the trail, and is written for the kind of travel we run. It provides a high level of cover for accidental injury and emergency medical treatment, and it has no altitude limit. It does not cover search and rescue or helicopter evacuation; getting a hiker down and to medical care by guide and vehicle is something we arrange ourselves as the operator, as described below.
The right policy depends on your route, your dates and your own circumstances. If you would like the full schedule of benefits, limits and exclusions before you book, or a copy of the policy wording to show your own insurer or your family, write to us at chinahiketravel@gmail.com or contact us on WhatsApp and we will send it to you promptly.
Before departure you receive, in writing, the policy summary for your specific trek and the insurer's twenty-four hour emergency number. If anything happens on the trail, we deal with the insurer on your behalf and handle the paperwork — you concentrate on getting well.
What the policy does not replace. The policy covers you during the trek and is not a substitute for your own travel insurance, which we recommend you hold for the journey to and from China and for anything you plan either side of the trek. Alongside the policy, and separate from it, China Hike maintains its own operational arrangements: pre-identified medical facilities serving each route, a guide on standby to descend with any hiker who needs to leave the trail, and support vehicles at the roadheads. These are services we provide as the operator rather than benefits of the insurance policy, and they are described under Altitude management and Emergency response procedure below. If you would like advice on what to look for in your own policy, ask us before you book.
Altitude illness is the principal medical risk on our high routes. It is managed through preparation before departure, a conservative ascent profile, close supervision on the trail, and the resources to act quickly where symptoms appear:
Disclosure required. Hikers must declare any cardiac or respiratory condition, any previous severe altitude reaction, and any relevant medication. Hikers with a history of high-altitude pulmonary or cerebral oedema must obtain medical advice before booking and disclose the history to us. Where a disclosed condition cannot be safely accommodated on the chosen route, we will decline the booking and refund in full.
Mountain terrain in China is subject to seasonal conditions and to closure of individual sections at short notice. Where conditions affect a route, the following applies.
Following booking, each hiker completes a medical and fitness declaration. The information is restricted to the hiker, the assigned guide and the operations lead, and is used solely for route, pacing and safety decisions. It is not used for marketing purposes and is deleted three months after the trek concludes, unless an incident report requires longer retention.
The policy is contracted by China Hike as the operator. If an incident occurs, we deal with the insurer on your behalf — reporting the claim, submitting the documentation and following its progress — and we make no charge for doing so. The outcome of the claim is determined by the insurer under the terms of the policy. Where a claim is declined or only partly met, we set out the reasons in writing together with the routes available to you.
It depends on your passport. Citizens of the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and most European countries can currently visit China visa-free for up to 30 days. US citizens are not on that list: you either apply for a tourist (L) visa, or use 240-hour visa-free transit if you arrive from one country and fly on to a third. Entry rules change, so we confirm the requirement for your passport when you enquire and again before departure. Where a visa is required, we provide the supporting documents normally requested, including a letter of invitation and a confirmed itinerary.
30 days visa-free. Nationals of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Slovenia, Slovakia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia and Sweden can currently enter China visa-free for tourism stays of up to 30 days. United States: a tourist (L) visa, or 240-hour visa-free transit when your flights continue to a third country — ask us whether your routing qualifies. The 30-day policy currently runs to 31 December 2026 and is subject to renewal. We confirm the rule for your specific passport when you enquire and again before departure. Last verified 22 October 2026.
Yes. Comprehensive travel and trekking insurance is arranged and paid for by China Hike and is included in the published trek price. It covers accidental injury and emergency medical treatment, with no altitude limit. It does not cover search and rescue or helicopter evacuation. The policy summary and the twenty-four hour emergency number are issued before departure, and all claim documentation is administered by us. If you would like the full schedule of benefits, limits and exclusions before you book, write to us at chinahiketravel@gmail.com or contact us on WhatsApp and we will send it. The policy does not cover flights or cancellation of your booking — see Insurance cover above.
Payment details are sent with your confirmation. A deposit confirms the place and the balance falls due before departure; the applicable proportions and deadlines are set out on our Cancellation & Refunds page. No booking is concluded until availability and the final price have been confirmed in writing.
Cancellation must be notified in writing; we acknowledge within 24 hours. The refund payable depends on the period remaining before departure and is set out in full on our Cancellation & Refunds page. Where China Hike cancels a departure on grounds of weather or conditions, the hiker may elect an alternative trek, a later date, or a full refund including the deposit. The included insurance policy does not cover cancellation initiated by the hiker; hikers with uncertain plans should arrange cancellation cover independently.
We grade our routes 1 to 3. Grade 1 and 2 routes involve walking days of up to about 15 km on good paths and suit hikers who walk regularly. Grade 3 routes involve longer or steeper days on mountain trails, often back to back. Altitude is listed separately on every route page — the highest point and the altitude you sleep at — because a gentle day can still reach 4,000 m or more. None of our routes involves technical climbing. Where there is doubt as to suitability, we will advise on the appropriate route before booking.
No. These are trekking routes rather than mountaineering objectives. Hikers require broken-in boots with ankle support, layered clothing for cold mornings, and a daypack. A complete packing list is issued after booking.
Guiding, all ground transport within the itinerary, accommodation, meals as listed, permits and entrance fees, luggage handling where the route permits, and insurance cover. International flights and visa costs are not included. Full inclusions are listed on each route page and restated with your itinerary.
Acclimatisation is built into the ascent profile, and the lead guide closely monitors the condition of every hiker throughout the trek. Hikers are asked to report any symptom promptly, and supplementary oxygen and a group medical kit are carried on the high routes. Where a hiker does not improve, the descent is arranged at once, accompanied by a guide, at no additional charge. See Altitude management above.
Where a closure is anticipated, an alternative of comparable length and difficulty is proposed and communicated the preceding evening wherever possible. Sections judged unsafe are not walked. Where an entire route becomes unviable, the hiker may select an alternative trek, transfer to a later date, or receive a refund. See Adverse weather and route closure above.
Between two and six hikers. Six is a fixed maximum and applies to every departure.
Yes. A substantial proportion of our hikers travel independently and join a scheduled departure with other hikers. Where rooming permits, hikers are paired with another hiker of the same sex. Where same-sex pairing is not possible, or where a hiker prefers a room to themselves, a single supplement applies. The amount varies by trip and is confirmed with your quotation; please ask us and we will state it before you book. Private departures are available from two hikers.
Yes. Bespoke itineraries form a significant part of our work. Please provide your dates, party composition, preferred daily distance and the places you wish to see. We will advise on feasibility and provide a quotation.
Enquiries. Questions arising before booking should be directed to chinahiketravel@gmail.com or to us on WhatsApp. We would prefer to resolve any uncertainty in advance rather than during a trek.