Covid-19 - Important information 22nd June 2021
International travel has restarted, governed by a traffic light system. The system will help travellers to understand COVID requirements when travelling back to England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland from a green, amber or red country.
Before buying travel insurance, you should think about what could happen if your destination moves from a green list country to an amber or red list country. You may face extra costs and face travel restrictions that won't be covered by your travel insurance policy.
The traffic light system only tells you what you have to do when returning to England or Scotland, as there will be strict border control measures in place. So even if a country is on the green list, you still need to check your destination's entry requirements and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advice for travelling there. If the Foreign Office has advised against travel to your destination and you still decide to travel, you won’t be covered by any travel insurance policy you buy.
A few insurers do offer cover if you're an essential traveler, but if you have any questions, you should check the policy wording or contact your chosen provider before you buy.
What does an adventure travel insurance policy cover?
There’s no set list of activities that are covered under an adventure travel policy. We compare a wide range of travel insurers who offer lots of different levels of cover. It’s up to you though, to check the policy wording before you buy to make sure you’re covered for the activities you plan on doing while you’re away.
Most standard travel insurance policies will include:
- 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 short in an emergency
- Valuables, documents, money, and baggage cover could also be provided if your items are lost or stolen.
The activities covered in a policy can vary between insurers, but they can include:
- Paragliding
- Safari trips
- Cycling
- Golf, although golf equipment cover is usually excluded
- Skydiving
- Horse riding
What is covered exactly, is listed in the policy documents. It’s important to read all the small print before you buy. If you’re unsure about the level of cover your policy provides, we recommend contacting the insurer. You can also use the defaqto rating to see what level of cover a policy provides.
Depending on the activity, some policies offer personal accident and liability cover as standard, but these could be limited if you’re taking part in more dangerous activities. Contact your insurer to check if you’re covered for your planned activities - be sure to do this in advance.
If you’re planning a golfing holiday, you may be covered by a standard travel insurance policy. It’s important to check this before buying, as not all insurers will offer this type of cover as standard. If you’re going on a ski trip, then a ski travel insurance policy should provide you with the cover you need. Not all policies offer off-piste cover, so bear that in mind when you are choosing the right policy.
Need more help?
Are there any activities not covered by an adventure travel policy?
The activities that are covered will vary depending on the policy you buy. Each insurer will have their own list of exclusions, there’s no one size fits all approach. If in doubt, contact the insurer directly.
Can I add activities to my adventure travel insurance at a later date?
The short answer is no. If you decide that you want to do an extra activity that isn’t covered by your policy while you’re away, then you won’t be covered. It’s best that you stick to the activities that are covered in your policy, rather than risk having to foot the bill.
When should I buy adventure travel insurance?
You should buy your policy as soon as you know where you’re travelling to and what activities you’ll be doing. We recommend including all planned activities when getting a quote, to make sure that your insurer will cover all of them in your policy.
What our travel insurance expert says
“When it comes to adventure travel, 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 best suits your needs.”
Jac Morris
Travel insurance product executive
What are the different types of travel insurance?
European travel insurance
it will cover you for any holidays that you've got planned in Europe this year.
Long stay travel insurance
is the perfect policy for those who plan to travel for an extended period.
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