Going on an ayahuasca retreat in Europe...will I be able to get travel insurance for the actual retreat?

[Sundiamondtree]

I'm about to book to go on a weekend ayahuasca retreat in Europe, run by a very reputable centre who has places in Netherlands and in Spain. In the Netherlands, these retreats/ceremonies recently lost their legal status, but they are tolerated. And the retreats are open, and upfront online about country location.

I would like to get travel insurance, in the event I am forced to cancel for illness etc - but will I be able to get it for the retreat cost? And if so, where and how to go about it?

Surely the retreat could answer your questions or put you in contact with a recommended insurance company?

Insurance companies mentioned here

mostlyamelie.com/ayahuasca-retreat/

Oh thank you, that's really helfpful

Not convinced you'll get insurance for spinning out on a drugs trip. Flight delay, no worries - but as a consequence of taking something that you know isn't legal/is merely tolerated/isn't regulated or prescribed with the specific intention of altering consciousness and affecting mental health and perception ? Nope.

Insurance in case you finish up off your trolley like so many other ayahuasca enthusiasts? Unlikely I'd have thought.

Such a ridiculous response😂

Mumsnet probably not best place for this. Lots of pearl clutching over ‘drug’ use.

Hope you have a ball, I’m jealous.

No idea but you're living my dream.

ha! I'm nervous excited...we'll see.

I realised that as soon as I posted...so intolerant of so much. Thanks, hope it goes well.🙌

What you're calling intolerance is actually concern for your welfare.

I hope it goes well for you and you get what you want from it and are aware of the risks

I’d love to do this ❤️

Thank you. But those posts above - they were not concerned for my welfare. They don't give a shit about me! They were interested in voicing their intolerance.

Or in my case, I don't particularly give a shit if she wants to spend a shitload of money getting off her nut on unregulated substances whilst claiming it's all spiritual and middleclass totally different to the blokes who fall off balconies whilst on a combination of Coke, Ecstasy and WKD with a Smirnoff top - but I did run a travel insurance office for several years and declined plenty of claims for people on the basis of the specific exclusion of being off one's tits at the time.

What insurance company is going to cover an intrinsically risky and unregulated activity? Most won't cover snowboarding, parasailing or scuba diving, never mind drinking random unidentifiable shit in a pot because 'it'll give you an amazing insight into your soul'. And the companies aren't operating legally, so they're highly unlikely to have a legally enforceable contract of booking - take out the cost of the dreadlocked bloke called Leaf who is really Jeremy Dooms-Patterson, born 1971 in Surbiton and his gear; you're left with a tent and muddy field, so not exactly much in the way of accommodation costs.

You're welcome to do whatever the fuck you like with your body - just don't expect an Insurance company to pick up the tab if it goes tits up or you end up in the nearest private hospital rocking and moaning about the spirits of the Dead instead of coming back to tell everybody about how life affirming and intensely spiritual your experience was.

U.K. based travel insurance wont cover you for medical if the "activity" isn't legal in the U.K.. flights and hotel costs aren't an issue

Let me guess - you're a Daily Mail reader?

So you just want cancellation insurance? Not "if I break a leg doing this I'm covered" insurance?

Sounds fab! Definitely most mumsnetters are daily mail readers :)

Sorry I've no idea but I'd love to know who you are doing it with as I really want to do one too and don't know where to start!

Hi Op, ignore the comments about “getting off your tits”. Such overwhelming ignorance and prejudice. Ayahuasca is nothing like ecstasy or cocaine. It’s a medicine, taking by indigenous people regularly (including by pregnant and breastfeeding women).

I have been attending Ayahuasca ceremonies for years with DH. It’s the most incredible, healing and profoundly spiritual experience of my life. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Ayahuasca - it helped me heal from decades of rape, abuse, domestic violence, self harm and CPTSD in ways that neither pharmaceutical medicines or years of counselling /CBT could.

We have always had insurance for travel but never for the ceremony itself. If it is cancelled I would try and re-arrange it rather than claiming on insurance. Oh and interestingly, we met people attending the ceremonies from the Netherlands and Germany who got the ceremony covered by their own health insurance!

Good luck, have faith and enjoy it.

@LavishAlice would you mind recommending someone to go with? Thank you :)

Thank you so much

I couldn’t give you the names of the shamans we go to (it’s by invitation only). But I would say research it very thoroughly and make sure they have a good reputation. Most in Europe will be likely to. I would ask them about the ceremony and what is involved (some won’t take menstruating women, which rings alarm bells. Most genuine shamans will do - menstruating women have incredibly strong cleansing and grounding every and a real shaman would welcome and celebrate this). Ask if there is a “limpia”. This is a cleansing ritual/prayer at the end of the ceremony - it’s vital to contain the very strong energy/influences. If they don’t offer a limpia don’t go there.

Sorry Op, this did make me giggle.

have a great time though!

Just say what you've said to us to a travel insurer.
Good luck.

*energy