Insurance Is a Must for Central Asia Horse Riding Tours! How to Choose Coverage for Falls and Emergency Evacuation [Must-Read Before You Travel]
Salamatsyzby! This is Sugi from ASHU TRAVEL, scenic horse riding tours in Central Asia.
"I want to ride a horse across Central Asia all the way to the horizon!"
Many people find ASHU TRAVEL with that dream in mind.
But to make sure your dream riding experience becomes a lifelong memory, there's one thing you must never forget...
And that is overseas travel insurance.
At ASHU TRAVEL, we require everyone joining our horse riding tours to have overseas travel insurance.
In this article, we'll explain from our staff's point of view why insurance is essential for a riding trip and how to choose the right one!
Why Is Overseas Travel Insurance Essential for a Riding Trip?
Our horse riding tours, centered on Kyrgyzstan, call for a different kind of risk management than city sightseeing.
Horses are living animals. There's no such thing as 100% safe
The horses on our tours are carefully raised by local riding instructors and nomads. Our director, Nuriya, always takes a strict look at how the horses are raised and where they ride whenever she inspects a site.
But however well trained they are, horses are living creatures. They can be startled by a barking dog or a small animal darting out and move unexpectedly.
Even if you think, "I have riding experience," you never know what might happen in untouched wilderness. That's exactly why being prepared for a possible fall is a must.
Evacuation from remote areas can cost an enormous amount
Some of our tours visit spectacular spots that can only be reached on horseback.
If you get injured there and need to be rescued by a special vehicle, the cost can easily exceed what an individual can pay.
Even bigger is the cost of transport back to Japan. For injuries or illnesses that can't be fully treated locally, you'd be flown back to Japan on a chartered plane accompanied by a doctor and nurse. In one case of transport from neighboring Mongolia to Japan, it cost about ¥16 million. There is also a record of ¥10.76 million for transport from Shanghai, China, and there have been cases where insurance payouts involving overseas transport exceeded ¥40 million.
Local treatment costs themselves are often cheaper than in Japan, but once you need to be transported, the cost jumps by orders of magnitude.
Be well prepared so that, if the worst happens, you can get the best medical care without worrying about the cost.
Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also says "¥10 million is far from enough"
The ¥30 million figure isn't something ASHU TRAVEL came up with on its own. The Overseas Safety website of Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs clearly warns about Kyrgyzstan.
There are very few medical facilities that meet adequate standards in terms of hygiene and technology. Even for short stays, it is recommended that you take out overseas travel insurance with sufficient coverage that includes emergency evacuation services (for transport to Japan, a limit of around ¥10 million is far from sufficient, so unlimited coverage is desirable).
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Overseas Safety website: "Kyrgyzstan: Basic Safety Data" (updated July 17, 2025)
It even says "unlimited coverage is desirable." ASHU TRAVEL's requirement of ¥30 million or more is the minimum line based on this.
Don't Get It Wrong! 3 Points for Choosing Insurance for a Riding Trip
To choose insurance that works even deep in the mountains of Central Asia, check the following criteria.
① "Medical treatment + rescue costs" totaling ¥30 million or more
At ASHU TRAVEL, medical treatment and rescue coverage of ¥30 million or more is required. If you're worried, a plan with unlimited coverage gives the most peace of mind.
There's one tip for checking this.Depending on the insurance product, the policy document is written in one of two ways.
Combined type: "Medical treatment & rescue costs: ¥XX" → judge by that amount
Separate type: "Medical treatment costs: ¥XX" and "Rescuer costs: ¥XX" → judge by the sum of the two
With many products, the cost of medical transport to Japan falls under "rescuer costs." If you only look at one item and decide "I have ¥10 million, so I'm fine," it won't be enough when you actually need it. Be sure to check both.
② Coverage in the countries you visit
Choose insurance that covers you if something happens in the countries you visit, such as Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan or Uzbekistan. If the coverage area is set to all of Asia or worldwide, it's usually fine, but check just in case.
③ Japanese-language chat support for emergencies
Even if you panic in an emergency, it's reassuring to have a contact point where you can consult in Japanese via LINE or a dedicated app. Even if phone calls don't go through, you may be able to send messages if you have Wi-Fi.
How Much More Does ¥30 Million Coverage Cost?
Hearing "¥30 million," you might think the premium will be much higher. I thought so too at first.
But when I actually got quotes on a comparison site, the difference was tiny.
Example: 8 days, 1 person, age 50, sightseeing (as of August 2026)
PlanMedical treatment & rescue costsPremiumCompany A, P1Treatment ¥10M / Rescue ¥10M¥2,770Company A, P2Treatment ¥30M / Rescue ¥20M¥3,400Company A, P3Treatment Unlimited / Rescue ¥30M¥4,230
Going from ¥10 million to ¥30 million only costs ¥630 more. Even unlimited coverage is only ¥1,460 more. Since these are different plans, things like death benefits also go up, but that's the difference including all of that.
Compared with the tour price, it's about the cost of one or two cups of coffee. I don't think there's any good reason to cut corners here.
* Premiums vary by insurance company, age, number of days and destination. Please check the actual amount for your own conditions.
Isn't horse riding excluded as a "dangerous sport"?
We get this question from time to time. In general overseas travel insurance, we rarely see leisure horse riding listed as a "dangerous activity" in the exclusions.
The "dangerous activities" that insurers list as exclusions include, for example:
Mountaineering (using ice axes, crampons, ropes, etc.) and rock climbing
Skydiving, hang gliding and piloting aircraft
Luge, bobsleigh and skeleton
Competitions, races or practice using cars, motorcycles, motorboats, etc.
Many insurers don't include horse riding on this list, but the scope of exclusions differs by insurer and product. Treatment can also vary depending on conditions, such as competitive riding. To be sure, check the policy terms or key information document before signing up, or ask the insurer.
Is credit card travel insurance enough?
This is the most common pitfall. Here's a rough guide to the coverage amounts of credit card travel insurance.
Coverage itemStandard cardGoldPlatinumInjury treatment costs¥0.5–1 million¥1–3 million¥3–5 million or moreIllness treatment costs¥0.5–1 million¥1–3 million¥3–5 million or moreRescuer costs¥1–2 million¥1.5–3 million¥3–5 million or more
Against the ¥30 million standard, that's short by two orders of magnitude. Even with a gold card, a single card almost never meets the requirement.
If you have several cards, treatment and rescuer costs can often be combined, so adding up the cards you have is one option (there are also rules such as death and permanent disability benefits not being combined, with only the highest amount applying). For whatever is still lacking, top up with insurance that covers just the shortfall.
[Real Story] Insurance Advice from Our Staff Member Sugi
I currently live in Kyrgyzstan on a visa, so my travel insurance isn't the usual kind. Here I'll share my experience from when I traveled around Central Asia as a tourist.
Check the activation conditions of your gold card's insurance!
When I traveled to Kyrgyzstan, I used my gold card's included insurance as a base. However, even with a gold card, treatment coverage is often only around ¥1–3 million, which is nowhere near enough on its own. For tours that included riding, I always added extra coverage.
One thing to watch out for is the "usage-based" condition, where the insurance only becomes valid if you pay for things like your plane ticket with that card.
I always made sure to pay for things like transportation to the airport with that card so the insurance would be activated. Be sure to check whether your card's insurance is "automatic" (valid just by having the card).
Cover the shortfall with top-up insurance
Card coverage alone almost never brings medical treatment and rescue costs up to a total of ¥30 million. In that case, top up just the shortfall with online insurance costing a few thousand yen. A little effort multiplies your peace of mind.
As for the specifics, I consulted an insurance agent I know and signed up through them. You can sign up cheaply online, but the conditions of top-up insurance are hard to understand and a hassle, so it was easier to get advice (personal experience).
Before You Go! Be Sure to Prepare These
A credit card with plenty of room on its limit You may need to pay up front at a local hospital, so be sure to carry at least one.
A copy of your insurance certificate (both on paper and on your phone) Prepare a paper copy and a screenshot so you can see it even without a signal.
Fully Prepared, Off to the Views from Horseback!
Insurance is essential for a trip you can truly enjoy. It's the peace of mind of being well prepared that lets you enjoy the winds of Central Asia to the fullest.
Prepare in advance and dive into the most amazing scenery with confidence!
For horse riding tours in Central Asia, choose ASHU TRAVEL
At ASHU TRAVEL, we offer moving, scenic horse riding tours through the magnificent nature of Kyrgyzstan and other parts of Central Asia.
A Japanese- or English-speaking guide accompanies you, so there's no need to worry about language
Meals, accommodation and transfers are all included, so first-timers can relax
Scenery you won't find on ordinary sightseeing tours and deep experiences of nomadic culture
https://ashu-travel.com/tour/
Sway on horseback into untouched nature. Your own "map" of the world is sure to be redrawn.
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