Introduction

Shockingly, a recent Forbes Advisor poll found that over half of holidaymakers surveyed had travelled abroad without any travel insurance. Even if you have travel insurance in place, it may not be sufficient. Comparison website Go.Compare estimates that nearly half of UK holiday makers may be taking part in holiday activities for which they are not insured. This could equate to over 16m policies at risk of having claims rejected due to the policyholder taking part in uninsured activities. For anyone planning higher-risk activities such as diving, trekking, or cycling, adventure sports travel insurance provides cover that standard travel insurance often lacks.

If you are planning to do anything more active than a dip in the pool whilst on holiday, it is vital to check your policy to make sure you are covered. Low risk activities such as swimming, snorkelling and recreational games of tennis or football are usually covered by a standard travel insurance policy but don’t assume a particular activity is included without checking the policy details. There are hundreds of sports and activities which are considered extreme by many travel insurers and require adventure sports travel insurance.

Which Activities are Considered to be Extreme?

Extreme or hazardous activities are considered by travel insurance providers to carry additional risk and less likely to be included as standard. Each insurance provider will have their own classification of extreme activities. The insurance policy wording will state which activities are covered or excluded. If you are looking for extreme sports travel cover or adventure sports travel insurance, it’s important to ensure your policy explicitly covers your planned activities.

The following activities are considered extreme by most travel insurance providers:

  • 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

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:

  • ✅ Medical expenses – including hospital and ambulance fees if you fall ill or are injured whilst abroad. This includes injuries from participating in extreme activities covered by the policy
  • ✅ Repatriation – the cost of getting you back home if you become ill or injured whilst travelling
  • ✅ Trip cancellation – the cost of cancelling your trip if something unforeseen prevents you from travelling (such as illness or injury)
  • ✅ 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 whilst abroad that results in permanent disability, you will receive a lump sum payment

What Doesn’t Adventure Sports Travel Insurance Cover?

As with a standard travel insurance policy, you are unlikely to be covered:

  • ❌ If you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs
  • ❌ If you are not wearing appropriate safety equipment (e.g. a safety helmet for cycle touring)
  • ❌ If you travel to countries or regions against Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office advice (or where they are advising against all but essential travel)
  • ❌ For any pre-existing medical conditions that you don’t disclose to your insurance provider

Here the devil is in the (policy) detail. Some insurers will only insure you for certain activities if there is an instructor present. Many policies will only cover you for activities if they are incidental to your trip and not the sole purpose. For example, whilst riding a bike for a day is typically covered, cycle touring is often not covered if it is the primary purpose of your trip.

It is also important to look out for restrictions on personal liability cover. Often, a policy will cover an extreme activity but personal liability cover is excluded. This is important as it covers you if you are liable to pay damages due to accidentally injuring someone or causing loss or damage to their property.

Can I Take Out Adventure Travel Insurance If I Have a Pre-Existing Medical Condition?

It is possible to take out adventure travel insurance with a pre-existing medical condition. You will need to declare any conditions when taking out travel insurance to see if the insurer can cover it. You may also have to pay higher premiums.

There are several insurance providers who specialise in providing cover for those with a serious medical condition or disability. MoneyHelper, provided by the Money and Pensions Service, offers a directory of specialist providers.

Do I Need Travel Insurance If I Have an EHIC or GHIC Card?

Yes, you do. The Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC, formerly EHIC) entitles UK nationals to free or discounted medical care in an EU country. However, it is no substitute for travel insurance. A GHIC will not necessarily cover all medical costs, nor will it cover emergency flights home. Repatriation costs alone can reach tens of thousands of pounds so it is vital to have appropriate travel insurance.

Which Insurance Providers Offer Adventure Sports Travel Insurance?

A number of mainstream travel insurance providers offer policies which cover extreme or hazardous activities. Some activities may be covered as standard by a policy or you may have to pay extra to ‘add on’ insurance for certain activities. There are also insurers who specialise in adventure travel.

Conclusion

When planning a trip abroad, it is vital to make sure you have the right cover. There are hundreds of activities which are considered as extreme by many travel insurance providers, these may require adventure sports or extreme activities travel insurance. Check the policy wording to understand any restrictions or conditions around the activities you wish to undertake, such as personal liability cover.

Here at Cover My Adventure, we understand that finding the right cover can be a painstaking process so we’ve done the legwork for you.

✅ Check out our guides for choosing the right cycle touring and scuba diving travel insurance and curated list of policies.