Travel insurance for kayaking and rafting
Everything you need to know about travel insurance for kayaking and rafting
- As featured in:
As featured in:
- What kayaking and rafting do we cover?
- What do those river grades mean?
- Choosing the right policy for you
- What is covered by World Nomads Travel Insurance?
- What's not covered
Going kayaking or rafting on your vacation?
Exotic sunsets, the water lapping at your bow, hurtling down river rapids; experiences on the water are often the most unforgettable part of any holiday. From paddling with the family in the Florida Keys, to sea kayaking the turquoise waters around Indonesia’s Raja Ampat archipelago, get your next holiday flowing on a kayaking or rafting adventure.
What Kayaking and Rafting do we cover?
When you get a travel insurance quote for your kayaking or rafting trip, you need to double-check your policy wording the Adventure Sports & Activities list. Level 1 activities are automatically covered when you buy your policy. You’ll need to pay an additional premium to be covered for Level 2 and Level 3 activities such as kayaking outside coastal waters and sea kayaking beyond three nautical miles. You’ll need to list the activities you plan to participate in when you buy your policy.
The following categories have coverage under our plans:
- Kayaking
- Sea kayaking
- Sea canoeing
- White water rafting
- Black water rafting and cave tubing (grades 1-5)
- Hydrospeeding (grades 1-5)
- River boarding (grades 1-5)
- Snow Rafting
What do those River Grades Mean?
Several activity options above mention International River Grades which can be described as:
- Class 1: Easy
- Class 2: Novice
- Class 3: Beginner/Intermediate
- Class 4: Advanced
- Class 5: Expert
- Class 6: Extreme and Exploratory Rapids
We offer coverage for river grades (also known as classes) from Class 1 to Class 5. We do not offer coverage for Class 6 rapids.
When you are about to head down the river or rapids, always be aware of the rating. Read more about the International River Grading System from the American Whitewater association.
Choosing the Right Policy for You
We offer two plans – Standard and Explorer – each offers different limits and sub-limits of coverage. It is up to you to choose what plan has the right level of coverage to meet your travel needs and that matches your specific activity plans.
In addition to kayaking and rafting, we over coverage for more than 150 adventure activities, sports, work and volunteer experiences for our Canadian nomads. If you don’t see an activity you wish to pursue in the policy wording, please contact us.
What is Covered by World Nomads Travel Insurance?
Our policies may cover you on your kayaking and rafting adventures (up to the policy limits) for:
- Emergency medical: Emergency medical coverage could come in handy if you suffer an accident or injury that results in you going to the hospital. Note, you need to be covered under your province’s GHIP, otherwise coverage will be limited to $40,000.
- Ambulance transportation: your water adventure may be far away from medical facilities. World Nomad plans cover the cost to transport you to the nearest qualified medical service provider.
- Emergency evacuation and repatriation: If your treating physician recommends to us that you return to your home province because of your emergency medical condition, we may be able to via the most cost-effective itinerary to return you home, subject to approval from our 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team. Make sure you contact our emergency assistance team before seeking emergency medical treatment or evacuation.
- Trip cancellation or interruption: if your trip is cancelled or interrupted due to an unforeseen event like an illness or injury, you may be able to recover your nonrefundable, prepaid travel expenses.
- And more! Check out what else is covered on our policies.
Rafting and kayaking: What’s not covered
While there are several kayaking and rafting adventures we can offer coverage for, there are also things we just won’t cover. These include, but are not limited to:
- Any Class 6 kayaking or rafting trips – sorry, but that’s a no-go for us.
- If you travel against medical advice.
- Any pre-existing medical condition unless otherwise expressly stated in your policy.
- Participation in a sport or activity which is shown as being excluded in your policy wording.
- Expenses you incur after you return home.
- Travel within your home province.
- Working or participating professionally as an athlete in any activity or sport.
This is only a summary of coverage and does not include the full terms and conditions of the policy. It is important you read and understand your policy as it contains benefits, conditions, exclusions and pre-existing condition exclusions. If you do not understand your coverage, of if you have questions about your coverage, just ask us.
Safety Tips and Handy Hints for your Paddling Trip
- Before you launch, remember to check the International River Grading of the river or water you’re on so you won’t invalidate your coverage.
- Kayaking and rafting are physically demanding – make sure you’re up to it. Plan a trip within your capabilities.
- Check the weather, check your equipment, and check the credentials of your instructor/guides.
- Wear the right gear – it can get cold on the water and being cold and wet can lead to hypothermia.
Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you
Trip Cancellation
Protect your hard earned vacation from unexpected cancellation.
- Explorer Plan: $5,000
- Standard Plan: $2,500
Trip Protection
- Unexpectedly hospitalized?
- Travel buddy unfit to travel?
- Close relative suddenly dies?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Insurance
Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.
- Explorer Plan: $10 million
- Standard Plan: $5 million
Emergency Medical Insurance
- Need meds quick?
- Accidentally injured?
- Suddenly sick?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Evacuation & Repatriation
We’ll get you to hospital or home quickly.
- Explorer Plan: $500,000
- Standard Plan: $500,000
Emergency Evacuation & Repatriation
- Banged up abroad?
- Need a hospital urgently?
- Medevac home?
Help starts here.
Protect your gear
Covers the theft, damage or delay of your bags, tech and sports gear.
- Explorer Plan: $3,000
- Standard Plan: $1,000
Protect your gear
- Passport or tech stolen?
- Airline lost your gear?
- Bags delayed?
Help starts here.
- Emergency Medical Expenses
- Emergency Dental for Injury or Sickness
- Bedside Companion Travel and Subsistence
- Emergency Professional Services
- Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation
- Return of Travel Companion/Dependent Children
- Return to Your Trip Destination
- Return of Remains
- Travel Accident
- Flight Accident
- Trip Cancellation
- Trip Interruption
- Trip Delay
- Baggage and Personal Effects Theft or Damage
- Baggage and Sporting Equipment Delay
- Travel Documents Theft or Damage
- Sporting Equipment Theft or Loss by a Common Carrier
- Covered Adventure Sports listed in Policy
Assistance Services Included
- LiveTravelTM Emergency Assistance
- Worldwide Travel Assistance
- Adventure Travel Hotline
- 24/7 Security
- Travel Medical Assistance
- Bag Trak
24/7 emergency assistance
Whether you need medical or dental assistance or advice, emergency evacuation or travel assistance, our team 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?
Telephone +1 866 878 0192 (toll-free from Canada and the Continental U.S.) or +1 416 646 3723 (collect from anywhere else in the world)
Contact the team
Before your trip, check the latest government advice for any travel alerts for your destination.