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Travel Insurance for 150+ Adventure Sports and Activities

Travel insurance designed for adventures while traveling

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World Nomads travelers love experiencing the culture and places they visit, which is why we’ve designed our travel insurance plans to offer cover for more than 150 adventure sports and activities from hiking, zip lining, dog sledding, scuba diving, snow skiing, white water rafting and more.

Coverage varies between plans, so its important to take the time to understand what activities you are likely to do, and the difference between our plans.

Adventure sports, travel insurance and what’s covered by our plans

Sometimes things don’t go quite as expected, so if you take a tumble out of that sled, or fall out of the raft and are injured, travel insurance may be able to help. All our plans include cover for
24/7 emergency assistance: our teams are available to take your call and can help you negotiate the medical systems and possible language barriers wherever you are.

Some of the benefits our policies offer that might help if you’re injured while participating in a covered sport or activity include:

  • Overseas emergency medical treatment: includes cover as needed for hospital stays, medical costs, tests such as x-rays, drugs and medicine.
  • Medical evacuation: if needed – travel insurance can help with evacuation and ambulance services, and in the worst case scenario repatriation back home.
  • Trip interruption: if your trip is cut short because of a medical event whilst participating in a listed adventure sport or activity, you could be reimbursed for your pre-paid, non-refundable travel costs.
  • Baggage: travel insurance may be able to help if your sport equipment is damaged or lost in transit. Note it won’t be able to help if you snap your board while surfing, as exclusions apply to sports equipment in use.
a couple snorkelling
A couple snorkelling. Photo credit: Getty images / isitsharp

What activities are covered?

With more than 150 sports and activities covered under our Standard and Explorer plans, you can get the most out of your holiday. You can find the full list of sports and activities covered here – select your Country of Residence to see those that apply to you. If you’re not sure if something you’re planning on doing while on holiday is covered, please contact us.

Questions to ask when choosing a plan

When choosing a policy, you should consider your plans and any activities you might choose to do, and the cover available. Once purchased, you can’t upgrade your policy – you can however buy a new policy even if you’re already overseas.

We have two policies to choose from – Standard and Explorer. While both plans cover a wide range of sports and activities, activity terms and conditions can vary between them. This means you may find the Explorer Plan has more generous activity conditions and limits than the Standard Plan. You should also note that depending on your Country of Residence, you may be required to add the activity at the time of the purchase, in order to have coverage for it.

When deciding which policy is best suited to your adventures you might want to consider:

  • What kind of activities will I be doing on holiday?
  • What activities are my travel buddies planning?
  • What cover do the two different plans offer for these activities?
  • What exclusions might apply?

It’s important you choose your policy carefully as you can’t upgrade from a Standard Plan to an Explorer Plan mid-trip.

A couple backpacking in the mountains
A couple backpacking in the mountains. Photo credit: Getty images / Jordan Siemens

What’s not covered

There are also things we just won’t cover. These include, but are not limited to:

  • Any pre-existing medical condition unless otherwise expressly stated in your policy.
  • Participation in a sport or activity not listed as covered in the policy wording or agreed by World Nomads.
  • Participating professionally in any activity or sport (eg: medical volunteering).
  • incidents that occur if you are intoxicated with drugs or alcohol.
  • Reckless behavior or taking needless risk.
  • Extreme sports, other than what is listed as covered.
  • Participation as a professional in athletics.
  • Sporting equipment damaged while in use.

Overseas adventure activity tips to help you have a safer experience

Your activity operator should be certified/accredited

Make sure operators are certified and/or accredited by the appropriate body. For example, diving instructors should be registered with the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI).

The right gear

When participating in a sport or activity, always wear safety gear. For example, wear a helmet when cycling or riding a scooter.

Health and fitness

Think about your fitness and plan your activities accordingly. Whatever you’re planning, make sure it’s something you’re physically capable of.

There may be specific terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions that apply depending on what you'll be doing. Of course, always read the full terms, conditions limitations and exclusions in the plan you choose so there’ll be no surprises if you need to use it. And if you’ve any more questions, please get in touch.

World Nomads covers more than 150 activities and sports, and if it’s not on the list you can contact us and we’ll let you know if we’ll cover it.

You can read more about coverage for some specific activities, or select your Country Of Residence and click here to see the activities covered by the plans available to you.

We offer cover for:

  • 24/7 Emergency Assistance
  • Overseas medical assistance
  • Cancellation
  • Baggage

I bit on something hard

A bone chipped my front tooth, on the top row, and cracked it. Blood started to run down so I had an emergency visit to the dentist to repair it.
Claim paid: USD $82.33
B.P. U.S Resident in South Africa.

Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you*

Trip Cancellation

Been working hard for your trip?

We'll work hard to protect it.

Trip Protection
  • Unexpectedly hospitalised?
  • Travel buddy unfit to travel?
  • Close relative suddenly dies?

We’ve got your back.

Emergency Medical Expenses

Feeling fit and healthy? What if you get sick or injured?

Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.

Emergency Medical Insurance
  • Need meds quick?
  • Accidentally injured?
  • Suddenly sick?

We’ve got your back.

Emergency Medical Transportation

Know where the nearest hospital is?

Don’t stress, we’ll get you there quickly.

Evacuation and Repatriation
  • Banged up abroad?
  • Need a hospital urgently?
  • Medivac home?

Help starts here.

Protect your gear

Love photography, filming or sport?

Cover your bags, tech or gear.

Protect your gear
  • Passport or tech stolen?
  • Airline lost your gear?
  • Bags delayed?

Help starts here.

  • Emergency Overseas Medical & Dental Expenses
  • Emergency Medical Evacuation & Repatriation
  • Trip Cancellation or Interruption
  • 24-Hour Assistance Services
  • Baggage
  • And more (depending on your country of residence)
*This is a general summary only. Restrictions, exclusions and limitations will apply. Coverage may not be available for all countries, states or provinces. Benefit limits may vary depending on the plan chosen. Get a quote for full details.

24/7 emergency assistance

Whether you need medical assistance or emergency evacuation, our teams are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year before and during your trip.

Are you in need of emergency assistance right now?

Contact the team

Get an instant travel insurance quote

Simple and flexible travel insurance designed by travelers, for travelers. See why over 3 million travelers have chosen World Nomads for more than 20 years.

FAQ

Here are our most frequently asked questions about overseas medical insurance. You can also find the answers to other questions in our Helpdesk or you can ask our customer service team. If you’re looking for general travel advice, you can ask our community at Ask a Nomad.