Adventure travel comes with unique risks, whether you’re trekking at high altitude, skiing off-piste or diving in tropical waters. For anyone planning higher risk activities whilst on holiday, adventure sports travel insurance provides cover that standard travel insurance often lacks. There are hundreds of sports and activities which are considered extreme by many travel insurers and require adventure sports travel insurance. These includes the following;
- Assault courses
- Bungee jumping
- Canyoning
- Caving
- Cycle touring
- Gliding
- Gorge walking
- Hang gliding
- Hiking above a certain altitude
- Jet skiing
- Kite surfing
- Mountain biking
- Mountaineering
- Open water swimming
- Paragliding
- Quad biking
- Rock climbing
- Scuba diving below a certain depth
- Shark cage diving
- Sky diving
- White water rafting
- Winter sports
Here, we set out our curated list of adventure sports travel insurance policies and outline what to look for.
What is adventure sports travel insurance?
Adventure sports or extreme activities travel insurance is essential if you want to take part in one of the many activities defined as extreme whilst on holiday. It usually covers the following:
| Feature | Why it matters |
| Emergency medical treatment | Covers treatment if you fall ill or are injured abroad. This includes injuries from participating in extreme activities covered by the policy |
| Repatriation | Transport home if you are unwell and unable to finish your holiday |
| Trip cancellation | Costs of cancelling your trip if something unforeseen such as injury or illness prevents you from travelling |
| Missed or delayed departures | Expenses associated with missed or delayed departures in circumstances outside of your control |
| Lost or stolen baggage | Covers lost or stolen luggage, cash and passports plus the cost of essential replacements if your luggage is delayed |
| Personal liability | Covers you if you are liable to pay compensation due to accidentally injuring someone or causing loss or damage to their property |
| Personal accident | If you have an accident abroad that results in permanent disability, you will receive a lump sum payment |
✅ For more information, see our checklist for buying adventure travel insurance
Adventure Sports Travel Insurance Policies
At Cover My Adventure, our mission is to make finding adventure travel insurance simple. We’ve reviewed leading adventure sports travel insurance policies and narrowed them to the following curated list.
The table below sets out the key features and cover limits of each policy. This includes the prices quoted for annual cover plus a fortnight trip to SE Asia to give an idea of cost. All the insurers below offer a number of policies with varying levels of cover and cost. (Prices as at January 2026 for a 41 year old female traveller with no pre-existing conditions). Some links may be affiliate links.
| Insurer | JS Insurance | Big Cat | Insure & Go | SportsCover Direct |
| Policy | Platinum | Premier | Black | Gold |
| Excess | Nil | Up to £250 | Nil | Up to £90 |
| Medical expenses | £5,000,000 | £10,000,000 | Unlimited | £10,000,000 |
| Personal accident | £50,000 | £25,000 | £75,000 | £25,000 |
| Personal liability | £2,000,000 | £2,000,000 | £3,000,000 | £2,000,000 |
| Trip cancellation & curtailment | £7,500 | £5,000 | £10,000 | £5,000 |
| Personal possessions | £3,500 | £2,000 | £3,000 | £2,500 |
| Activity equipment | £1,500 | Included within above | Included within above | £600 |
| Quoted price: 2 weeks Thailand | £54 | £105 | £80 | £59 |
| Quoted price: annual cover | £81 | £174 | £83 | £142 |
| Cover provided for over 75s? | No | No | Yes | No |
This information was compiled in January 2026, prices and policy details are subject to change. Before you buy, it is important to familiarise yourself with the policy terms and conditions. Some links may be affiliate links.
✅ Click on the links below to visit the websites of our featured insurers and receive a tailored quote
Cover My Adventure’s Methodology
When reviewing adventure sports travel insurance policies, we apply a clear methodology. Policies are assessed based on the unique risks faced by adventure travellers abroad and only those meeting all our criteria are featured on our curated list. By using our site, you support our research into insurance for adventure travellers and easily find cover that fits your trip.
Before You Buy
- Read the policy documentation carefully.
- Check your cover. Check and double check the conditions of your policy and whether your chosen activity is fully covered.
- Declare all medical conditions. Any omissions could void your policy.
- Buy cover as soon as you book. This ensures you are protected for cancellations or unexpected events before departure.
- Once purchased, keep a copy of your policy handy. Then you can easily check cover details.
Final Thoughts
The right adventure sports travel insurance policy depends on where you’re going and what activities you plan to do. Taking time to compare cover limits, exclusions and activity definitions can help ensure you’re properly protected before you travel.