- Credit cards
- View all credit cards
- Banking guide
- Loans guide
- Insurance guide
- Personal finance
- View all personal finance
- Small business
- Small business guide
- View all taxes
Best Adventure Sports Travel Insurance
Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .
Heading out on a vacation can be an exhilarating experience, especially if you’re into adventure activities. However, with increased adrenaline comes increased danger — and decreased coverage from insurance companies.
Being protected in an emergency is valuable when you’re doing something risky, so we’ve gathered some of the best adventure travel insurance policies.
Factors we considered when picking adventure sports travel insurance companies
You’ll want to consider the following facets of travel insurance during a comparison:
Cost . We looked for a mix of affordability and comprehensive coverage.
Types of coverage . Extreme sports insurance isn’t usually included with standard travel insurance, which is why we’ve made sure it’s included.
Coverage amounts . Being underinsured is almost as bad as having no insurance at all.
Customizability . Plans that can be customized offer more flexibility for travelers.
» Learn more: What does travel insurance cover?
An overview of the best adventure travel insurance
To determine the best extreme sports insurance, we gathered quotes from various companies using insurance aggregator SquareMouth. To do so, we input a sample trip of a 33-year-old from Colorado traveling to New Zealand for two weeks. The total trip cost was $3,400, and activities included hiking and camping.
SquareMouth came back with 16 policies offering varying levels of coverage. Among the six we chose as the best, the average cost totaled $147.18 — though you’ll find significantly lower and higher on this list. Here are our picks.
» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now
Top adventure travel insurance options
Let’s take a closer look at our top six recommendations for adventure travel insurance.
What makes Battleface adventure insurance great:
Much lower cost than other options.
Provides primary health insurance.
Includes six customizing options.
Battleface is known for its adventure sports travel insurance, which makes it much more compelling than other products. Even at less than half the cost for other options, Battleface is providing you $100,000 in primary health insurance, $500,000 for medical evacuation and even coverage for pre-existing conditions .
Although its basic plan lacks features like lost luggage reimbursement, you’ll still get standard trip protections such as trip cancellation and employment layoff coverage. The extremely low cost may make this an enticing option for backpacker travel insurance or anyone wishing to save money on their travels.
What makes Travelex great:
Strong travel protections.
$50,000 in primary medical insurance.
Coverage for medical quarantine included.
Here’s a snippet from our Travelex review :
“Travelex’s primary goal is to provide travel insurance protection personalized to the type of trip you’re taking and the style of traveler you are. And regardless of which plan you choose, you’ll always have 24/7 access to travel assistance.”
What makes Tin Leg great:
Coverage for activities such as bungee jumping and skydiving.
No medical deductible.
Strong trip protections.
Here’s a snippet from our Tin Leg review :
“The Adventure Plan … features primary medical coverage and work-related cancellations, plus more lost luggage insurance than the Luxury plan, coverage for accidental death and dismemberment during the trip (excluding flights) and extra coverage for delayed sports equipment. It’s also the only plan that offers medical coverage for adventure activities like mountain biking.”
What makes IMG great:
Up to $300 in reimbursed kennel fees for delays in returning home.
Comprehensive trip protections, including trip delay and trip interruption reimbursement.
Lower-than-average cost.
Here’s a snippet from our IMG review:
“Some policies provide emergency medical evacuation coverage, while others skip this benefit entirely. This benefit may be more important if you travel to a remote location or engage in physical activity such as trekking.
“More comprehensive plans may include other benefits such as assistance with acquiring a new passport, reimbursing reward mile redeposit fees or coverage for pre-existing conditions. If these are something you’re interested in, be sure to check that your policy includes these options.”
John Hancock
What makes John Hancock great:
Trip delay reimbursement after three hours.
No medical deductible.
$750 reimbursement for missed connections.
Here’s a snippet from our John Hancock review :
“The Gold plan provides the greatest benefits, including a much higher limit for emergency medical and lost baggage reimbursement. Other than that, however, the Silver level is fairly similar, enjoying the same 150% reimbursement rate for trip interruption and a three-hour window for trip delay to kick in.
“The Bronze level is the least expensive, but it’s not all that far off from the cost of the Silver level. At this rate, you’ll be looking at far less coverage for emergency medical and trip delay, though you’ll still have $200 in coverage for change fees and 100% of costs incurred for trip cancellation.”
HTH Travel Insurance
What makes HTH Travel Insurance great:
$500,000 in primary medical coverage.
$1 million in medical evacuation.
High-limit travel protections.
Here’s a snippet from our HTH Travel Insurance review :
“HTH offers several types of travel medical insurance, as well as trip protection plans that include coverage for trip cancellation or interruption, baggage delays, and accident or sickness. … The cheapest plan … included 100% of the trip cost in case of cancellation, up to 150% of the trip cost in case of trip interruption and a variety of other benefits, including medical insurance coverage.”
What does travel insurance cover?
You’ll find a wide variety of coverage types offered by travel insurance policies. This is true whether you’re purchasing a single-trip or annual travel insurance plan.
Accidental death insurance .
Baggage delay and lost luggage insurance .
Cancel for Any Reason insurance .
Emergency evacuation insurance .
Medical insurance .
Rental car insurance .
Trip cancellation insurance .
Trip interruption insurance .
How to choose the best adventure travel insurance policy
Travel insurance can be good to have while you’re away from home and can provide coverage when your plans go awry. Standard plans will generally include coverage for trip interruption, lost luggage and emergency medical situations.
However, they also usually include a provision excluding adventure sports from their policies, so it’s important to read over your plan documents thoroughly. Companies like SquareMouth also allow you to filter travel insurance plans by the types of activities you’re doing, which may make it simpler to find one that fits your needs.
» Learn more: How to find the best travel insurance
If you want to buy adventure sports travel insurance
Participating in adventure sports or extreme activities can be thrilling but also riskier than the average traveler’s trip. Because of this, if you’re interested in purchasing travel insurance, you’ll want to be sure it provides coverage for your planned activities — whether you’re camping or cliff diving.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:
Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express
Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
on Chase's website
1x-10x Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.
60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
1x-2x Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services, and select streaming. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.
50,000 Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Call us on 01494 484800 Open Mon - Fri | 9:00 - 5:30
Award-Winning, Flexible
EXTREME SPORTS TRAVEL INSURANCE
- Worldwide protection available
- Over 500 sports covered
- UK's leading sports insurance provider
Buy your Extreme Sports Insurance online in minutes
10% OFF ONLINE*
Independent Service Rating based on 4664 verified reviews.
Our Extreme Sports Insurance policy options
Put simply, we offer three different policy options…
1. Travel Insurance
Going abroad to take part in an extreme sport? Our Sports Travel Insurance provides cover for over 500 sports and includes cover for emergency medical and repatriation costs, trip cancellation and much more.
2. Travel Insurance Bolt-On
If you have a travel insurance policy with another provider, such as your bank or buildings society, but it does not include cover for extreme sports, we can provide a bolt-on style of protection.
3. Sports Accident Insurance
Our Sports Accident Insurance is designed to protect you whilst taking part in an extreme sport in the UK. The policy provides a range of benefits including personal liability and income protection.
Making claims clearer
AVERAGE PAY OUT
FOR EACH TRAVEL INSURANCE CLAIM**
OF OUR POLICY HOLDERS
NEEDED TO MAKE A CLAIM**
OUR AVERAGE CLAIMS RATING
ACCORDING TO OUR FEEFO SCORE***
Get an instant quote for Extreme Sports Insurance
Join thousands of sports enthusiasts who choose us every year
Or Call us on 01494 484800
Why choose us
30 years experience.
We have been providing tailored Sports Insurance policies for over 30 years, and today protect more than 57,000 customers a year.
Professional Claims Handling
We work with leading claims handlers to make sure our customers experience a prompt and professional service when making a claim.
Underwritten by Experts
We’re pleased to offer tailored cover from AXA XL, a leading provider of insurance in the sports and leisure industry.
UK Based Customer Service Team
Our highly experienced Sales team are available to help support you with any questions that you might have.
5-Star Customer Service Rating
Thousands of happy customers have awarded us a 5-star customer service score on the independent feedback platform, Feefo.
500+ Sports Covered
Being a specialist in Sports Insurance, we provide cover for over 500 different sports & activities, far more than other providers.
What is extreme sports insurance?
Our Extreme Sports Insurance is designed to protect individuals who are taking part in extreme sports within the UK and abroad.
If you are travelling abroad to take part in an extreme sport, our Extreme Sports Travel Insurance includes cover for medical and repatriation costs, trip cancellation and curtailment, equipment cover and much more.
If you are doing an extreme sport in the UK and need personal accident, income protection or personal liability, our Sports Accident Insurance policy is available.
You can buy your extreme sports insurance online in minutes, just start by getting a quote.
What does our policy cover?
What our policy will cover depends on whether you are doing the extreme sport in the UK or abroad…
Frequently Asked Questions
Our Sports Travel Insurance policy provides up to £5,600 worth of equipment cover. This add-on not only protects your own equipment, but also any equipment you hire during your trip. It also covers your equipment in transit to and from your destination.
Standard travel insurance policies do not always cover extreme sports. Our Sports Travel Insurance is specifically designed to cover over 500 high risk activities such as bungee jumping, skateboarding, ski-acrobatics and many more.
Yes, our Extreme Sports Travel Insurance can generally be taken out even if you have a medical condition. We can almost always offer cover at no extra cost, but occasionally our underwriters may apply special terms if you subsequently needed to make a claim relating to your condition.
You can purchase our extreme sports travel insurance online up until 74 years old. Above this age you would need to call us on 01494 484800 and we will be able to refer your quote to our underwriters. Please note, our quotes are based on your age at the start date of cover.
* 10% online discount applies to our Sports Travel Insurance and Activity TopUp policies only.
** Data relates to Sports Travel Insurance claims from Jan 2023 to Dec 2023 inclusive.
*** Feefo rating relates to Sports Travel Insurance claims review score from Jan 2023 to Dec 2023 inclusive.
Get an instant quote and buy online now!
Out of Your Comfort Zone
The art of backpacking & adventures to get out of your comfort zone – tips and advice, 7 best travel insurance for extreme sports and adventure activities.
Ahhh, nothing better than traveling to practice a sport or take on an adventure activity . Seeing a new country and getting that adrenaline rush from at the same time is just the best!
But with sports and activities, there come risks. Which means this type of trip is one you need to be prepared for. So, an international travel insurance that covers adventure is essential .
It’s worth mentioning that travel insurance is also very important for normal trips. Which means that it’s practically obligatory on a trip where you’ll do adventurous activities or sports since they only make the trip riskier. So, having travel insurance is more than just important.
If you are just looking for a normal travel insurance, I recommend my article with the 3 Best and Cheapest International Travel Insurance in 2020 !
Why do I need special travel insurance for extreme sports and adventurous activities?
Not all insurance companies cover all types of activities.
In other words, if you buy a type of travel insurance that doesn’t cover snowboarding and you get hurt snowboarding, your insurance won’t help you.
Basic travel insurance plans cover basic activities (like “safe” sports, fishing , hiking, snorkeling, etc.). But if you plan to do more extreme sports or adventurous activities such as surfing, diving, skiing, snowboarding, etc…, there’s a good chance you’ll have to add on a supplement to your plan to make sure your specific activity is covered.
What do I mean by adventurous activities and extreme sports?
These are the types of sports and activities that normal types of travel insurance (or at least the basic plans) often don’t cover. This will vary from insurance company to insurance company.
For example, skydiving is an activity that will never be covered by a basic travel insurance plan. However, canyoning may be covered by some plans, but not by others.
When I talk about the 7 best companies below, you’ll see screenshots with what activities are considered adventurous activities or sports (and thus will know what type of plan will cover you).
By the way, if you like to play sports and stay in shape during your travels, check out my article with 9 Tips to Stay Fit During Your Travels .
How to choose the best international travel insurance for extreme sports and adventure activities?
To choose the right plan for you, you’ll need to consider a few factors. From the coverage amount to the activities and sports covered.
First, it’s important that you pay attention to the requirements for your destination (in Europe, for example, you need to have coverage of 30,000 US dollars at the minimum in the Schengen area ).
And remember that the cost-benefit may be more important than the simple price of travel insurance coverage . This is because a difference in value can reflect greater coverage (for more sports/activities) and benefits which make it worth more than a cheaper plan.
Besides this, make sure to read the insurance policies and pay attention to the conditions , exclusions, and service instructions. So you can avoid unpleasant surprises when an emergency strikes, and make sure that your sport/activity will be covered.
The 4 Best Travel Insurances for Extreme Sports and Adventure Activities
A sport/adventure travel insurance is much more specific than one for a leisurely trip and it can be very stressful to spend hours searching the ‘net to find the right insurance.
Plus, it’s much better to know that the insurance you buy won’t let you down.
With that in mind and to help you choose the best insurance for adventures and extreme activities, I made a list below comparing the 4 best travel insurances available.
At the end of the post, you’ll find a table comparing the activities and sports covered, as well as the coverage amounts from each insurance company.
TIP: As always I recommend you get a quick quote online on all the companies I list below. You will only lose a few minutes and you could end up saving a lot just with good research.
(5% discount coupon comfort5 )
World Nomads is a respected and well-known company focused on adventure travel insurance and lots of sports! It’s even the insurance recommended by the largest travel guide in the world, Lonely Planet.
Their coverage is guaranteed and provided together with Bupa, AIG, and Nationwide insurers, depending on which country you are from. It includes emergency service in many languages 24/7.
There are two possible plans offered by World Nomads: Standard and Explorer.
As you can see from the table, the coverage amounts vary greatly. But the same is not true of the price you pay. And both plans cover more than 150 activities!
There are, however, a few activities that are only covered by the Explorer plan (make sure you check for your specific sport/activity before you buy).
Since there are so many activities (even with just the Standard plan), it’s a great option for adventurous travelers who practice lots of types of sports and might need emergency medical coverage.
The price, when you consider all it covers, is really worth it. Just to help you have an idea, I got a hypothetical quote for two weeks in Switzerland, a destination known worldwide for its skiing :
You can get a quote and purchase directly from the World Nomads website.
One of its biggest attractions is the amount of coverage which can be greater than many other insurance providers depending on your country of residency. It usually goes from US$ 100,000.00 to unlimited!!
And considering the pricey costs of sports accidents, if you practice sports (that are included on the list above), World Nomads is a safe choice.
By clicking on this link here and using the coupon code comfort5 , you will get a 5% discount on your World Nomads travel insurance plan.
2) SafetyWing
SafetyWing is a new travel insurance that is really similar to WorldNomads and focuses on covering travelers who practice all kinds of sports.
They are partners of HCC (that I mentioned above) and they are underwritten at LLOYD’s. In other words, it’s a pretty trustworthy company.
Plus, like the other insurances mentioned above, SafetyWing covers people from all over the world!!
One great thing about them is that they have a precise list of all the sports and extreme activities they cover on their website.
I will post this list here plus the sport activities they DON’T cover. It is important to highlight that this is a non-exhaustive list. And keep in mind that these activities are only covered if they are practiced recreationally. They are not covered for organized athletics* or professional sports:
List of Included sports covered by SafetyWing travel insurance
*You are not covered if the activity is organized athletics involving regular or scheduled practice and/or games, or the activity is performed in a professional capacity or for any wage, reward, or profit.
You must ensure the activity is adequately supervised and that appropriate safety equipment (such as protective headwear, life jackets etc.) are worn at all times.
Sports that are excluded from coverage by SafetyWing travel insurance
IMG Global is another well-known company that’s been around since 1990.
They offer several different plans, including insurance options for exchange students and insurance for expats (foreigners who live in other countries) .
The best international insurance for adventure travel from IMG Global is their Patriot Travel Medical Insurance, which you can get for trips as short as 5 days and as long as 12 months.
With this plan, the coverage limit can be up to 2 million USD. But for the specific coverage for adventure sports accidents, the limit decreases considerably.
Plus, the company still uses age to define coverage maximums:
The coverage for sports is extra. So, you’ll need to choose the “Aventure Sports Rider” when getting a quote.
IMG Global’s “Adventure Sports Rider” includes 33 adventure sports and is only available for those under 65:
Still, the plan has potential since it covers activities that aren’t covered by World Nomads’ Standard Plan, like bungee jumping and skydiving (although these are covered in World Nomads’ Explorer Plan). So IMG can be a good alternative if you plan to do these activities during your trip.
Not to mention that the prices are a bit more attractive. Getting that same hypothetical quote, two weeks in Switzerland, with the coverage of adventure sports adds up to the following:
So, although it doesn’t cover as many activities overall and the coverage is less than World Nomads, it’s worth seeing if your sport/activity is on the list I gave above.
You can get a quote directly on their website. They also have multilingual customer service either by phone or live chat on their website.
HCC Medical Insurance is an American insurance company that was purchased in 2015 by Tokyo Marine, another well-known insurance company.
One of the most interesting differences in HCC is that it offers specialized travel insurance options with coverage ranging from leisure trips to missionary trips to exchange students.
The insurance is offered in partnership with Atlas Travel, with a maximum coverage of up to 2 million USD.
The two plans HCC offers for travel insurance are Atlas International and Atlas International Premium .
The first plan has a maximum coverage of up to $1 million USD (and thus is cheaper), while the second has up to $2 million USD .
Between these two plans, there is no difference in the sports/activities covered.
The values are pretty good in that, if you consider the maximum coverage, this is the travel insurance option with the best cost-benefit among the 4 listed.
With the same hypothetical, here’s the cost of my two weeks in Switzerland with HCC:
Both plans include adventure activities without additional cost. The list of covered sports and activities are given by exclusion. In other words, all the adventure sports that are not expressly excluded in the insurance policy are covered .
For your activities to be covered by HCCMI, you must meet these standards.
And with the above precautions, the following activities are included:
These are the sport/activities which are NOT covered by the Atlas Travel plans:
All of the activities that are not on the list of excluded items are covered by the insurance.
One other useful difference is that, before you buy a plan, you can find a list of local HCCMI partners where you can be treated simply by presenting your insurance ID card. Meaning you can avoid the big headache of trying to get reimbursed by your insurance plan.
Table comparing the 4 best travel insurances for extreme sports and adventure activities
Now that you’ve seen the pros and cons for these 4 insurance companies, take a look at the comparative table to help you choose the right insurance for you:
It’s worth mentioning that all 4 insurance companies here are excellent and have a good reputation in their market. So you’re sure to be well-protected if you take out a plan with any of them.
Other options for searching travel insurance for extreme sports and adventures
If you’re still unsure which travel insurance is right for you, take a look at this list of online travel insurance search aggregators. All on this list are great-to-plan and insurance comparison tools.
When searching for the best insurance for you, do not forget to mention that you intend to carry out and physical activities during the trip, in this way, they will present them as the most suitable options for these cases.
- Travel Insurance
Travel Insurance is a travel insurance research aggregator website, that is, it works as an online comparison of different plans and companies.
This is one of the most practical ways to find the ideal travel insurance for you, as instead of going through countless websites and comparing them, you can simply add what you are looking for in an insurance policy. After that, the site will compare services, taking into account customer ratings and price range.
One of the main advantages of using Travel Insurance is that it is possible to find insurance for the most varied profiles. If you are looking to carry out radical and extreme activities during your trip, you are a digital nomad and travel the world working, you are an expatriate starting a new life in another country … There are countless possibilities.
VisitorsCoverage
VisitorsCoverage provides an extensive range of insurance policies, catering to various needs, including specialized coverage for students and business travelers.
A notable advantage of VisitorsCoverage is their exceptional customer service, which operates seven days a week. Additionally, they offer coverage to citizens from over 175 countries.
Their website allows users to apply filters to explore policy options specifically related to Covid-19. This feature proves particularly beneficial as insurance coverage for this condition can vary among different providers.
Here are the pros and cons of comparing travel insurance with VisitorsCoverage:
- Wide selection of plans available.
- Ability to apply specific filters, such as Covid-19 coverage, to streamline your search.
- Excellent customer service.
Currently, there are no identified cons associated with comparing travel insurance with VisitorsCoverage.
AARDY works similarly to Travel Insurance, it is a travel insurance aggregator and aims to help its customers choose the ideal insurance for their profile.
One of AARDY’s areas of focus is customer service, so they boast an exemplary TrustPilot score above any other travel insurer in the US.
Unlike most online insurance companies, this company bets on online self-service and on phone and email service with brokers, thus forming a hybrid system for customers to choose the way they like best.
Another feature of AARDY is the way your quotes are made, in addition to being fast, they also show the information that may interest you the most and compare in a very effective way the plans and companies most suitable for your profile.
Interesting information is that this institution converts 10% of its annual earnings into donations to institutions that help children of soldiers killed in action who need financial help.
- InsureMyTrip
Another great insurance aggregator option that can facilitate your choice and taking out insurance is InsureMyTrip.
By entering this company’s portal, it is super easy to make budgets and comparisons between the best companies and plans for your trip.
One of the biggest advantages of using InsureMyTrip is that this portal has a super strict classification rule. If an insurer receives a bad rating, it will be automatically excluded from the site to avoid complications with future customers.
One of the disadvantages of InsureMyTrip is that they do not provide insurance for expatriates and international students. If that’s the case for you, check out my article 5 Best & Cheapest Health Insurances for International Students & Studying Abroad or 7 Cheapest International Health Insurance Plans for Immigrants & Expats . I’m sure it will be useful!
Conclusion…
Even after this very complete list comparing the four adventure insurances, it’s still important to take some time to read the policies for each of them.
This is because choosing the right travel insurance is highly subjective. Especially if you’re practicing a specific sport or activity (and need to make sure it’s covered by your policy).
The important thing is that you make sure to get travel insurance. Like I said, if travel insurance is important for normal travel, it’s essential for adventure travel.
Your trip will definitely be better if you can travel with peace of mind, knowing that if something happens, you’ll have the help of a reliable insurance company.
And remember, after purchasing your policy, don’t forget to print it out or save it to your phone, as well as the 24-hour “help” phone number.
Planning your next trip?
Already reserved your hotel or hostel? If not, our article with The 6 Best and Cheapest Websites to Find & Reserve Accommodation can help you out. You’ll also find some promotions and discount codes .
Still haven’t booked your plane ticket and want to save big? Take a look at our page with 16 Tips to Save on Flights where you’ll also find the 4 best websites to buy your plane tickets.
And finally, will you need to rent a car during your trip? Then surely our page with The 5 Best and Cheapest Websites to Compare and Rent Cars Around the World will help you choose the best rental car and find a good deal.
Next stop….The DMZ, South Korea
IMAGES