If you're joining one of my walking holidays, you'll need suitable travel insurance that includes cover for the walking activities we'll be undertaking together.

Although walking in Andalucía does not legally require mountain rescue insurance, I believe having the right insurance is simply the responsible thing to do. It gives you peace of mind before you travel and helps protect you from unexpected costs should something unforeseen happen during your holiday.

My Advice

To help ensure everyone is properly covered, I ask all walkers to have suitable travel insurance. This is one of the booking conditions for Andalucía on Foot.

The important thing is simply to make sure your policy is appropriate for the type of holiday you've booked. Many travel insurance policies already include this level of cover, while others allow you to add it as an optional extra. If you're unsure, simply check with your insurer before you travel.

Once you've arranged suitable insurance, it's one less thing to think about. You can simply look forward to enjoying your walking holiday.

Is Walking Insurance Required by Law?

No.

There is currently no legal requirement in Andalucía for recreational walkers to have mountain rescue insurance simply because they are walking on public footpaths or marked trails. If someone requires assistance, rescue services, including the Guardia Civil's specialist mountain rescue teams (GREIM), respond as part of their public service.

However, rescue arrangements and charging policies can vary across Spain, particularly where negligence is involved. That's why I recommend checking exactly what your policy covers before you travel, so you know it's appropriate for the holiday you've booked.

What Should Your Insurance Cover?

When choosing your insurance, I recommend checking that it includes:

• Walking activities appropriate to the holiday you've booked.
• Emergency medical treatment.
• Medical repatriation.
• Cancellation and curtailment cover.

Some policies also include additional assistance or evacuation benefits for walking holidays, so it's worth seeing what's included.

Where Can I Find Suitable Insurance?

If you're a member of a walking club or association, check whether your membership already includes walking or mountain rescue insurance. Many organisations offer the option to extend their cover to include walking holidays in Europe.

You can also arrange insurance specifically for the duration of your holiday. If you're based in the UK, I've found Sports Cover Direct to be one of the easiest providers to arrange suitable cover through, which is why I recommend them.

Before taking out a separate policy, check whether your existing travel insurance already includes the walking activities you'll be undertaking. You may find that your existing policy already provides everything you need.