Israeli insurance companies launched on Wednesday helicopter rescue operations to extract dozens of Israeli trekkers stranded in northern Nepal amid an unusually severe snowstorm that struck the day before, blocking trails and cutting off access to key trekking routes.
The Phoenix insurance company said the storm is expected to continue through Friday, November 1, making both aerial and ground rescues nearly impossible in the high-altitude areas where hundreds of Israeli tourists remain stuck. “The extreme weather has halted all movement and rescue options in the mountains,” the company said in a statement.
Despite the conditions, Phoenix reported that the stranded travelers are currently safe and sheltered in guesthouses along trekking routes, with access to food and warm drinks. However, concerns remain that supplies could run out if the storm persists. The company is conducting evacuations in coordination with the Magnus rescue firm.
Taking advantage of a brief weather window, Phoenix and Magnus launched a helicopter evacuation Wednesday morning to bring insured travelers back to Kathmandu. The company noted that challenging flying conditions continue to delay access to some locations. Still, emergency teams managed to airlift several travelers in need of urgent medical care to Kathmandu for treatment. The evacuations are expected to resume Thursday if weather conditions improve.
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A weather map shows the path of a cyclone moving north toward Nepal, Oct. 29, 2025
(Photo: Roy Levi)
Other Israeli insurers, including PassportCard and Migdal Insurance and Financial, also announced helicopter evacuations in cooperation with Magnus, with additional rescue efforts planned for Thursday.
Israeli trekkers are reportedly stranded in three villages: Samdo, Samagaun and Dharmasala. “Panic is high,” one traveler told Ynet. “Nepali porters abandoned our bags and fled. The locals say they’ve never seen anything like this. We're a week’s walk from the nearest road, and the mountain pass is buried under five feet of snow.”
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A yak walks through deep snow in a village in northern Nepal, Oct. 29, 2025, as a severe storm strands trekkers in the region
(Photo: Roy Levi)
Gali, another traveler, described descending from 5,000 meters as the storm hit. “The descent took four hours under extreme conditions. One group member lost consciousness, and another developed hypothermia,” she said. “We couldn’t be evacuated by helicopter due to the weather and had to sleep in Dharamsala. This morning, we hiked to Samdo, hoping to be rescued. We’ve waited here all day, but nothing has changed.”
Another traveler described how the group resorted to burning yak dung for warmth. “The firewood is buried under snow. We’re worried we’ll be stuck here another night with another storm expected tomorrow. The window for rescue is shrinking fast—it’s getting dark, and the locals say a cyclone is coming.”
PassportCard said in a statement that all travelers are under continuous medical supervision via frequent check-ins with a remote medical team. “There is no confirmed case of hypothermia, though symptoms of cold exposure are being reported, consistent with this kind of weather event. All travelers are currently safe inside huts. One insured traveler was airlifted earlier for medical care. Rescue teams are on standby, awaiting improved weather conditions.”