1. Home
  2. Travel insurance
  3. Backpackers

Backpacker travel insurance

Compare backpacker travel insurance quotes and find a great deal

Get a quote Takes about 2 minutes
Retrieve quote

Get backpacker travel insurance from £38.09*

  • Get cover in minutes for trips lasting up to 18 months

  • Help protect yourself against unexpected costs while travelling to multiple countries

  • Get cover for adventure activities like scuba diving and skiing

*The cheapest policy for a European backpacker trip based on 1 adult aged 30, with no previous medical conditions travelling for 1 month. Confused.com data, February 2025.

How do I compare backpacker travel insurance quotes?

We make it easy to compare backpacker travel insurance quotes. Just follow these steps:

Number 1 icon

Tell us about yourself

Tell us about yourself, where you're going, and whether you'll be travelling solo or with a group.

Number 2 icon

Tell us about your cover

Let us know if there's any additional cover you need, or if you have any pre-existing medical conditions.

Number 3 icon

Compare quotes

Compare backpacker insurance quotes from up to 431 trusted UK providers. Choose the policy that best suits your needs.

1Correct as of February 2025

What is backpacker travel insurance?

Backpacker travel insurance is designed to cover you for an extended trip to multiple countries.

Backpacker insurance can cover you for one trip lasting up to 18 months, compared to single-trip travel insurance and annual travel insurance that generally cover only you for up to 31 days per trip.

It's available for individuals, couples, families or groups.

Whether you're a student looking for gap year insurance or simply taking a break to explore the world, a backpacker travel insurance policy makes sure you're covered.

Do I need backpacker insurance?

If you plan on travelling for more than 31 days and want to visit multiple countries on your trip, you should consider backpacker travel cover.

Backpacking is seen as riskier than regular travel, as you might be away longer and travelling to several destinations. Standard travel insurance doesn't normally include enough cover for these types of trips.

Check the entry requirements of the countries you're travelling to, though. Some require proof of an active travel insurance policy or you'll be refused entry.

What does backpacker insurance cover?

Each policy will vary, but here's what you can typically expect from a standard backpacking travel insurance policy:

Tick

Your policy should cover:

  • Medical treatment and repatriation: if you become ill or injured overseas.
  • Baggage cover: in case of loss, damage or theft or your personal belongings such as money, luggage or travel documents should be covered.
  • Delays and cancellations: If your flights or travel arrangements are disrupted or your trip is cut short, you should be able to claim.
  • Returning home: short return trips home are normally covered by backpackers policies.
  • Working and volunteering: your policy could cover things like injuries or damage that occur while you're working or volunteering, though this can vary between providers. Always check your policy documents ot make sure it includes volunteer travel insurance.
Cross

It won't normally cover:

  • Travelling against FCDO advice: if you travel against the advice of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), you won't be covered by new or active travel insurance policies. This is one of many reasons it's a good idea to check with the FCDO before you travel.
  • Incidents that occur while intoxicated: you won't normally be able to claim for things like medicla treatment costs for inuries you sustain while you're under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
  • Injury following reckless activity: if you're injured from reckless or illegal behaviour, you won't be covered by your travel insurance.
  • Undeclared pre-existing medical conditions: any pre-existing medical conditions should be declared when buying a policy. Otherwise, treatment for them or issues associated with them is unlikely to be covered.

How much is backpackers travel insurance?

The price of your holiday insurance will depend on several factors, including how long you're planning on travelling for:

Length of trip Cost2
1 month
£22.56
3 months
£38.09
6 months
£63.58
12 months
£114.28
18 months
£270.34

2The cheapest price for European backpacker travel insurance. Based on 1 adult aged 30 with no pre-existing medical conditions. Confused.com data, February 2025.

What impacts the price of backpacker insurance?

  • What countries you're visiting: Some countries charge more for medical care. Others are further away and include longer or multiple flights that risk being delayed or cancelled. Your insurance price reflects this.
  • How long you're travelling for: The longer you're away, the higher your chance of becoming ill or injured. This increases the chance of you claiming on your insurance, increasing the price.
  • Additional cover: Including extras like gadget cover or sports travel insurance would increase the amount of cover you get. So, it costs more.
  • Pre-existing medical conditions: These can mean you're more likely to need medical care during your trip. So, while you should still be able to get cover for most conditions, it typically costs more.
  • Your age: Travel insurance companies sometimes impose an upper age limit, or offer specialist policies for those over a certain age, for example if you're over 70. This is because the older you are, the more at risk you are of illness or injury.

What extras can I add on to my backpacker travel insurance policy?

Activities travel icon

Activity travel insurance

If activities like skydiving or scuba diving or rock climbing are on your itinerary, then a standard travel insurance policy might not offer enough cover. So, you may need to add adventure sports cover to your policy.

Explore adventure travel insurance
Winter sports travel insurance icon black on white background

Winter sports travel insurance

If you're planning on taking part in any winter sports activities, like skiing or snowboarding, while you're backpacking, you might need additional cover. These activities are considered high-risk, so are often excluded from standard insurance.

Explore winter sports travel insurance
Mobile insurance icon

Gadget insurance

Taking your tech on your trip? Standard travel insurance should cover your electricals anyway, but gadget cover adds in an extra level of protection to keep your laptops, cameras, phones and drones fully protected throughout your trip.

Explore gadget insurance

We compare 43 trusted travel insurance companies1 to find you our best deals

Big blue cover logo Coverwise travel insurance logo multi trip travel insurance logo Outbacker travel logo Post Office car insurance logo RIAS car insurance logo Tesco logo Virgin money
See all companies

Choosing the right backpacker insurance policy

Travelling solo? Then a single backpackers travel insurance policy should be all you need. But if you're travelling with others, it might be worth considering:

Group travel insurance icon black on white background

Group travel insurance

Taking the whole gang? Group travel insurance allows you to cover up to 10 people under a single policy, whether they live with you or not. Both kids and adults can be covered too.

Explore group travel insurance
Travel family icon

Family travel insurance

Taking the kids? Family travel insurance lets you cover up to 2 adults and 8 children under a single policy. That’s less admin, fewer policies to keep track of and a potential saving too.

Explore family travel insurance
Couples travel insurance icon black on white background

Couples travel insurance

Travelling with a partner? Then a couples policy could save you money - and time! Just bear in mind that you and your travel partner will need to live at the same address to take out a joint policy.

Explore couples travel insurance

Can I get backpacker travel insurance if I have a pre-existing medical condition?

Yes, you should be able to find travel insurance for pre-existing medical conditions, as long as you declare them.

Medical conditions that could fall into this category include, for example, heart conditions, cancer, strokes, respiratory conditions and epilepsy.

However, some insurers may not cover travellers with multiple conditions or certain serious conditions. Others might only offer insurance at a much higher price.

If you can't find suitable cover, the Money and Pension Service (MaPS) has a directory of insurers willing to cover customers with pre-existing medical conditions.

Why compare backpackers insurance with Confused.com?

  • We're regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)

    All of the travel insurance companies we work with are also regulated by the FCA. This means you can be certain that we do things the right way for you, following strict guidelines.

  • UK-based customer support

    If you need help, visit our contact page to get in touch with our UK-based team.

  • We're 100% independent

    This means we're not owned by any insurance company, so the prices you see are the best available based on your information, not who they're from.

  • We value your privacy and security

    We promise to look after your personal details. You can read more on our security and privacy policy page

What our travel insurance expert says

"It's important to consider buying your backpacker travel insurance as soon as you book your trip. This way, you're covered even in the run-up to your trip for things like flights or tour cancellations."
Alvaro Iturmendi - Confused.com travel insurance expert
Travel insurance expert Confused.com logo

Free eSIM with up to 2GB of roaming data when you buy travel insurance**

With roaming charges making an unwelcome return, eSIMs are a convenient option when travelling. eSIMs are non-physical and are embedded into most newer smartphones; meaning you won’t have to put anything physical into your device, it should already be there.

How does it work?

Simply buy your travel insurance, claim your free eSIM, and install it onto your device at the tap of a button. Your eSIM with 2GB of roaming data will kick in on a local mobile network when you get to your destination.

Get a quote
Find out more about eSIMs
Image of a mobile asking you to claim your eSIM reward
**eSIM comes with pre-funded credit and the amount of data received in exchange will vary based on the specific country you select. Compatible devices only. T&Cs apply.

Looking to plan your next holiday?

Our holiday budget calculator can help estimate the cost of your next trip in just a few minutes

Try our holiday budget calculator

Travel insurance for popular backpacking destinations

Australia

Australia is one of the most popular destinations for Brits heading off on a backpacking adventure.

Australia travel insurance

USA

The USA's vast national parks, city breaks, road tripping opportunities and beaches means there's something for everyone.

USA travel insurance

Thailand

Often voted one of the best destinations for backpackers, Thailand is always a popular choice for Brits.

Thailand travel insurance

Schengen Area

If you're planning on interrailing, you might be heading to countries within the Schengen Area.

Schengen travel insurance

Compare backpacker travel insurance quotes

Get a quote

What are the different types of travel insurance?

Activities travel icon

Activity travel insurance

Will cover you if you're planning an action-filled sports trip.

Long stay travel icon

Long stay travel insurance

Is the perfect policy for those who plan to travel for an extended period.

Worldwide travel icon

Worldwide travel insurance

Will cover you for travel to multiple locations around the world.

Extreme sports travel insurance icon

Extreme sports travel insurance

Covers high-adrenaline sports like rock climbing or bungee jumping.

Winter sports travel insurance icon black on white background

Winter sports travel insurance

Covers you for alpine-related incidents.

Water sports travel insurance icon

Water sports travel insurance

Includes cover for water sports like snorkelling and sailing.

Travel business icon

Volunteer travel insurance

Covers volunteer work with animals or involving manual labour while you're abroad.

Long stay travel icon

90 day travel insurance

Will cover trips lasting up to 3 months.

How do I claim on my travel insurance when I'm abroad?

You should keep a note of your policy number and any contact information for your insurer when travelling.

If you need to claim for medical expenses, it's important to contact your insurance company as soon as you can. Ideally, this would be before agreeing to any treatment to make sure you're covered. Keep copies of all medical forms and bills to give to your insurer.

If you're the victim of a crime, most insurers require a police report within 24 hours. The police will provide you with a crime reference number that you should give to your insurer.

If your luggage has been lost and you need to replace any items, you may have to pay for replacements upfront and claim the cost back. Keep receipts for anything you buy as your insurer will need to see them to validate your claim.

For more information, you can read our guide on how to claim on your travel insurance.

Need more help?

Do you have any extra advice for backpackers?

Here’s what you should think about before going travelling:

  • Check visa requirements for the countries you plan to visit. Some countries require visas on arrival, so ensure you have the necessary documents before departing.
  • Remember to get any necessary vaccinations, including Covid-19 vaccinations. Check with your GP for any additional jabs you might need like yellow fever or rabies. You might need to get some well in advance of your trip, so plan accordingly.
  • Tell your bank you're going overseas to avoid any issues with flagged transactions that could result in your card being blocked.
  • Contact your mobile phone provider to check for any potential overseas charges. Be cautious when using free Wi-Fi abroad, especially for confidential or banking transactions.
  • Show respect for different countries and their customers by researching them before your trip.
  • Learn common phrases in the country's national language, such as "please" and "thank you".

Related travel insurance guides

Travellers waiting at airport

ATOL protection: everything you need to know

We take a look at what ATOL protection means and what it covers.

Pregnant woman travelling at the airport

Tips for travelling while pregnant

It's possible to travel safely with the proper preparations. Here's everything you need to know before your trip.

Person handing over passport teaser image

ETIAS: What is it and when does it start?

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System or ETIAS is a new form you need to get before you travel to Europe and the Schengen area in 2025.

Signing travel documents

Travelling to the USA? Then don’t forget ESTA

For any holidays or trip to the USA you'll need as ESTA. We take you through what it is and how to apply for one.

Woman receiving a vaccination.

A guide to travel vaccinations

Unsure what vaccinations you need before you travel? Read our guide to find out what you need to know about travel vaccinations.

Medic holding a tablet

Medical repatriation cover

Medical repatriation covers the costs of getting you home for treatment following an illness or injury abroad. Here's what you should know about it.

Confused.com’s Travel Insurance solution is provided by theIdol.com. theidol.com is a trading style of Investment Discounts On-Line Ltd and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered office; Investment Discounts On-Line Ltd, One Coleman Street, London, EC2R 5AA. Registered in England no: 04231834. theidol.com is part of the Legal & General group.

Our service is free and compares a wide range of trusted household names. Confused.com is an intermediary and receives commission from theidol.com if you decide to buy through our website which is based on a percentage of the total annual premium. We pride ourselves on impartiality and independence – therefore we don't promote any one insurance provider over another.