✈ Activity travel insurance

If you're a thrill-seeker and planning an action-filled sports trip, your travel insurance policy could protect you against unexpected events and help you afford medical treatment should you have an accident or become ill.

You’re more likely to injure yourself if you’re taking part in an extreme sport, so having insurance is important if you don’t want to be stung with high medical costs. According to the GOV.UK website if you have a fall in Spain and break your hip, hospital treatment and flights back to the UK could cost you £15,000. 

Make sure you check your policy documents for sports and activities that could be covered before getting your travel insurance policy (these are usually listed in the terms and conditions). The activities covered can vary between insurers, but can include:

• Paragliding
• Safari trips
• Cycling
• Golf (although golf equipment cover is usually excluded).

Depending on the activity, some policies offer personal accident and liability cover as standard (these could be limited if you're taking part in more dangerous activities). Your policy might ask you to contact your insurer to check if you're covered for your planned activities; be sure to do this in advance.

Activities that are considered to be 'hazardous' might require additional cover with a higher excess and premium. This could include things like elephant riding, cage diving, bungee jumping or even hot air balloon rides. If you’re in any doubt whether your planned activity will be covered, speak to the insurer.

• Medical treatment, hospital transportation and repatriation back home if you fall ill or injure yourself
• Your holiday and flights could also be covered if you cancel or cut your trip in an emergency
• Valuables, documents, money and baggage cover could also be provided if your items are lost or stolen.

• Declare any pre-existing medical conditions that you or any of your travel party might have, especially if the activity you're planning might aggravate your condition
• Insurers could restrict what activities and sports they allow, so make sure you check any policy exclusions for the activities you're planning and contact your insurer to double check that you're covered
• Don't base your decision purely on price as it could limit the level of cover you receive and it might have higher excess - it's best to find the policy that suits your needs.

If you are the adventurous type that likes to get wet while white water rafting or feel the rush of the air on their face while bungee jumping, then travel insurance could come in handy should anything unfortunate happen.

• Quick and easy quote process that brings you results in minutes
• We have a range of different travel guides and articles to help on your active trip
• Compare travel insurers like Travel Insurance.co.uk and Big Blue.

If you have a pre-existing medical condition, you can still get a quote through Confused.com. These conditions could include cancer, stroke, serious heart, respiratory and terminal conditions.

Some insurers might not cover you if you already have a serious medical condition, or if you have a number of conditions. Others might only offer insurance at a much higher price. If you're unable to find suitable cover, the Money and Pension Service (MaPS) has also set up a directory of insurers willing to cover customers with pre-existing medical conditions.

You can contact the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) or you can telephone 0800 138 7777.