Travel insurance designed for adventures while travelling.
As featured in:
For information relating to policies purchased before 27 June 2024, please check HERE for the list of covered activities.
For policies purchased from 27 June 2024, please see below for information:
For many Irish travellers the need to go exploring the great outdoors and seek some adventure activities is a must when on a holiday. While it’s exciting to try out new adrenaline-pumping activities that you don’t get to do back home in Ireland you should also consider travel insurance when preparing for your next adventure.
Whether you’re picking up a new sport or you’re a seasoned outdoors adventure person, World Nomads offers cover (up to the policy limits) for the following:
Activities and sports cover: travel and outdoor adventures go hand-in-hand, that’s why our policies offer cover for more than 150 sports, experiences, and activities. While some activities are considered less dangerous, other types of activities such as rock climbing require an insurance upgrade and payment of an additional premium.
Emergency medical and evacuation coverage overseas – if you unexpectedly get sick or injured at any time during your holiday, seek medical assistance straight away. Contact our 24/7 Emergency Medical Assistance team to advise them of your situation and sort out any further care requirements. They can contact the hospital where you’re staying to arrange payment for your accommodation, treatment, and medications. We may also cover the cost of your repatriation back to Ireland if your injury or illness is serious enough. However, this must be determined by your treating doctor in consultation with our Emergency Medical Assistance team. Exclusions, and in some cases, excesses apply.
See Travel insurance tip 2 below, if you have private medical insurance (PMI) in Ireland.
Baggage and valuables coverage – if any of your luggage or personal items are lost, stolen or damaged, then you may be covered for the costs of replacing these. Make sure you have your receipts as you’ll need to submit these when you claim. Always report any stolen belongings to the local police and request a police report. If there were any witnesses to the incident, then ask them to accompany you to the police station to give their statement. Witness statements should be included with your other supporting documentation.
Extended stays – if you’re having the time of your life on holiday and don’t want to return home to Ireland just yet, then you may extend your travel insurance policy accordingly. Extensions for Single Trip policies can be approved for up to a maximum of 12 months from the starting date listed on your Certificate of Insurance. Applications for policy extensions must be made prior to 11:59pm IST/GMT on the date that your existing policy expires, however we suggest not waiting to the last day to submit your request.
Trip cancellation costs – few things in life are more disappointing than having to cancel a long-awaited holiday due to unexpected sickness or a last-minute injury. Should you or one of your travel companions become injured or sick after making your holiday arrangements, and need to cancel your trip, then we may cover your non-refundable travel expenses such as accommodation and flights. You will need to provide medical evidence to substantiate your claim.
While many Irish live and breathe their Gaelic games, rugby, and soccer, we also know that our travellers have a vast range of sporting preferences. That’s why we offer cover for over 150 different sports, activities, and experiences. While the list may seem long, by no means do we cover every single sport or activity.
Always make sure that any planned sports and activities that you’ll be doing are clearly stated. If you’re injured playing a sport that we do not cover, then any claim you submit, may not be approved.
World Nomads offers two travel insurance plans, the Standard Plan and the Explorer Plan. These plans both offer cover for expenses in connection with hospitalisation, lost luggage, repatriation, and more. However, the Explorer Plan costs more than the Standard Plan as it offers higher policy limits and more benefits.
Always read through the Policy Wording to decide which plan is best suited for the activities and sports that you have planned. If you’re not sure if something you’re planning on doing while on holiday is covered, please contact us.
Our travel insurance plans categorise sports and leisure activities into four separate levels. Travellers are covered for all sports and activities listed under the level of cover they select, as well as those leisure pursuits assigned to any lower levels. The following is just a small selection of the sports we cover. Please check below for the full list of the sports and activities we cover.
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Travel insurance tip 1: several of our covered activities and sports are listed on multiple levels to reflect the varying degrees of difficulty or intensity. Always check before you go that you have the right level of cover for your desired activities, as you cannot upgrade to a higher level or add any other sports after you buy your policy.
Here are just a few of our travel insurance exclusions. For the entire list, please check your Policy Wording.
Before selecting a plan, it’s best to know what types of sports and activities you and your travel buddies will be enjoying when you’re travelling. These are just some of the questions for you to consider when picking a travel insurance plan:
Travel insurance tip 2: Irish travellers, if you require any medical treatment during your trip while outside of Ireland (and as soon as you're medically able to do so) you’ll need to contact your private medical insurance (PMI) provider (if applicable) and follow their emergency medical procedures and claims procedures. Where your PMI provider cannot provide assistance, get in touch with our 24-hour Emergency Medical Assistance Team as soon as reasonably possible before incurring medical costs, and also please provide us with details of your PMI provider to help us coordinate your care. For more information on what to do please refer to Section 8 Medical Sections of Cover in your Policy Wording.
Are you fit enough for that?
Holidays offer a selection of leisure activities, many of which you may not have ever tried. Before you go trying new experiences, think about your fitness and plan your activities accordingly. Whatever you’re planning, make sure it’s something you’re physically capable of.
The right gear
When participating in a sport or activity, always wear safety gear. For example, you must wear a helmet when cycling or riding a scooter. Before embarking on that mountain-climbing adventure, ask yourself if you have the right equipment required for such an undertaking.
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).
Keep a watch on your sporting equipment
Nothing beats the feeling of elation that comes from being victorious in a game of sport. Yet before you rush off to hit the bar with your teammates, it’s a good idea to lock up any sporting equipment first. All too often valuable sporting gear and bags are left unattended or even worse, forgotten about.
Opportunistic thieves can take advantage of these situations. No matter how safe you think your sporting gear is, never leave it unattended. If you can’t take your equipment with you or back to your hotel, then place it in a locker or keep it locked in a room.
This is a summary only. It does not include all terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions of the plans described. Please refer to the Policy Wording for complete details of cover and exclusions. If you are unsure of your level of travel cover, please contact us for help.
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 to see the activities covered by the plans available to you.
We offer cover for:
Adventure, Sport and ActivitiesList of Activities covered; including Level 2, 3 and 4 Upgrades: |
UPGRADE FOR LEVELS 2, 3, 4 ACTIVITIES |
---|
Adventure, sport, work, study and volunteer activities |
Level |
Special Conditions that apply |
Special Exclusions that apply |
---|---|---|---|
Abseiling (rappelling, rapping, rap jumping, deepelling, abbing) |
1 |
(a) |
(iv) |
Aerial safari |
1 |
(a) |
(iv) |
Aerobics |
1 |
|
|
Athletics |
1 |
|
|
Badminton |
1 |
|
|
Ballet |
1 |
|
|
Banana boat rides |
1 |
(a) |
|
Baseball |
1 |
|
|
Basketball |
1 |
|
|
Biking (see Cycling, Mountain biking) |
|
|
- |
Black water rafting (Cave tubing) (grades 1-3) |
1 |
(a) |
(iv) |
Boating (inland and coastal waters); see also Speed boating and Sailing |
1 |
(a) or (b) |
Excludes: white water; (v) |
Boating (outside coastal waters); see also Speed boating, and Sailing |
2 |
(a) or (b) and (c) |
(iv); (v) |
Bowling / Bowls / Pétanque / Boules |
1 |
|
|
Boxing (gym or outdoor training) |
2 |
|
Excludes competition, bouts |
Bungee/Bungy jumping |
2 |
(a) |
|
Camel riding (day tour) |
1 |
(a) |
(v) |
Camel trekking (overnight/main mode of transport) |
2 |
(a) |
(v) |
Camogie |
2 |
A helmet must be worn. |
(iv); (v) |
Camping up to 3,000 metres (see also Hiking, and Mountaineering) |
1 |
|
|
Camping up to 4,500 metres (see also Hiking, and Mountaineering) |
2 |
|
|
Camping up to 6,000 metres (see also Hiking, and Mountaineering) |
4 |
|
|
Caving (sightseeing/tourist attraction/recreational only) |
1 |
(a) |
Excludes: where ropes, picks or other specialist climbing equipment is required |
Cheerleading |
1 |
|
|
Clay pigeon shooting |
1 |
(a) or (b) |
(v) |
Cricket |
1 |
|
|
Cruising (cruise ship) |
1 |
|
|
Curling |
1 |
|
|
Cycling/Biking (incidental to the trip) |
1 |
|
(v) |
Cycling (independent cycle touring) |
3 |
|
(v) |
Cycling (on an organised tour) |
2 |
(a) |
(v) |
Dance (ballet, ballroom, capoeira, salsa, interpretive dance) |
1 |
|
|
Darts |
1 |
|
|
Dogsledding / Sleigh rides (horse drawn): on recognised trails |
1 |
(a) |
Excludes: remote areas; racing; time trials; endurance events |
Dragon boating (inland or coastal waters only) |
1 |
|
|
Elephant riding |
1 |
(a) |
|
Elephant riding (overnight/main mode of transport) |
2 |
(a) |
(v) |
Fishing/Angling (ice) |
1 |
(a) or (b) |
|
Fishing (inland or coastal waters): sports / leisure only |
1 |
|
|
Fishing (outside coastal waters, deep sea fishing): sports / leisure only |
2 |
(a) or (b); and (c) |
|
Fitness training |
1 |
|
|
Flag football / rugby / soccer / gridiron: non-contact |
1 |
|
|
Flying (as a fare paying passenger in a licensed scheduled or chartered aircraft or helicopter) |
1 |
(a) |
|
Football (Gaelic football) |
2 |
|
(iv) |
Football (Soccer) including 5 a side |
1 |
|
|
Frisbee / Ultimate Frisbee |
1 |
|
|
Glacier walking / Ice walking |
2 |
(a) |
|
Go karting |
1 |
(a) |
(v) |
Golf |
1 |
|
|
Gym training (aerobics, spinning, Zumba, body pump, weight training, cross training, cross fit) (See also Boxing, and Martial arts) |
1 |
|
Excludes power lifting |
Gymnastics |
1 |
|
|
Handball / Tchoukball |
1 |
|
|
Hiking / trekking / rambling / bushwalking / fell walking: up to 3,000 metres, on recognised routes |
1 |
|
|
Hiking / trekking / rambling / bushwalking / fell walking: up to 4,500 metres, on recognised routes |
2 |
|
|
Hiking / trekking / rambling / bushwalking / fell walking: up to 6,000 metres, on recognised routes |
4 |
|
|
Hockey |
1 |
|
|
Horse riding (leisure/social /non-competitive riding) |
1 |
(a); a helmet must be worn |
Excludes: hunting; (v) |
Hot air ballooning (ballooning) as passenger only |
1 |
(a) |
(v) |
Hurling |
2 |
A helmet must be worn |
(iv); (v) |
Hydro foiling / Kite foiling |
1 |
(a) or (b) |
Excludes: jumping; (v) |
Ice skating (indoor); excludes ice hockey |
1 |
|
|
Ice skating (outdoor) on a commercially managed rink; excludes ice hockey |
1 |
(a) |
|
Jet boating: as a passenger, inland / coastal waters only |
1 |
(a) |
|
Jet skiing: inland / coastal waters, grades 1-2 only |
2 |
(a) or (b) |
(v) |
Kayaking / Canoeing / Sea kayaking / Sea canoeing: inland/coastal waters, grades 1-3 only |
1 |
|
|
Kite boarding / Kite surfing (on land or water); land surfing |
2 |
|
(v) |
Kite buggy |
2 |
|
(v) |
Kite flying |
1 |
|
|
Lacrosse |
1 |
|
|
LARP (Live action role play) |
1 |
|
Excludes: battle re-enactments; (v) |
Martial arts (Judo & Karate only) |
2 |
(a) |
(iv) (v) |
Martial arts training (non-contact) |
1 |
|
|
Moped riding/Scooter biking on road under 125cc |
2 |
(b); a helmet must be worn |
(v) |
Motor racing experience (passenger only) |
1 |
(a) |
|
Motorbiking on road under 125cc, including pillion |
2 |
(b); a helmet must be worn |
(v) |
Mountain biking - downhill (using downhill trails and/or mechanical lifts) |
3 |
|
(v) |
Mountain biking - general (off road/cross country) |
1 |
|
(v) |
Mountaineering to 6,000 metres (with ropes, picks or specialist climbing equipment) |
4 |
Do not venture into any area without taking local advice and appropriate rescue equipment. |
(iii) (iv) |
Netball / Korfball |
1 |
|
|
Orienteering |
1 |
|
|
Outdoor endurance course / obstacle course / assault course / trim trail / tough mudder: up to 3 miles |
1 |
|
|
Outdoor endurance course / obstacle course / assault course / trim trail / tough mudder: up to 8 miles |
3 |
|
|
Outrigger canoeing (inland or coastal waters only) |
2 |
|
|
Outward Bound, up to 3,000 metres |
1 |
(a) |
|
Paint balling/Airsoft |
1 |
(a) or (b) |
(v) |
Parasailing: over water only |
1 |
(a) or (b) |
(iv) (v) |
Rambling. See Hiking if above 3,000 metres |
1 |
|
|
Rifle range/sports shooting |
1 |
(a) or (b) |
(v) |
River boarding / Hydro speeding (grades 1-3); see also Canoeing. |
1 |
(a) |
|
Rock climbing (indoor) |
1 |
|
(v) |
Rock climbing: outdoor / traditional / bouldering / sport climbing / bolted / aid climbing / free climbing; see also Mountaineering |
2 |
|
(iv) |
Rollerblading / Roller Skating / In-line skating |
1 |
|
|
Rowing / Sculling (inland/coastal waters) |
1 |
|
Excludes: white water rowing; (v) |
Rugby (League/Union) |
2 |
|
(iv) (v) |
Running, up to marathon distance; racing exclusion doesn't apply |
2 |
|
|
Running/jogging: half marathon distance or less; racing exclusion doesn't apply |
1 |
|
|
Safari tours |
1 |
(a) |
Excludes: firearms; handling and/or work with dangerous animals; e.g. big cats, crocodiles, alligators, snakes, elephants etc. |
Sail boarding (see wind surfing) |
|
|
|
Sailing / Yachting (inland/coastal waters) |
1 |
(a) or (b) |
(v) |
Sailing / Yachting (outside coastal waters) |
2 |
(a) or (b); and (c) |
(v) |
Sandboarding / Sand skiing |
2 |
|
(v) |
Scuba diving, including Shark cage diving; to 30 metres |
1 |
(e) |
Excludes: free diving; cliff diving; (ii) |
Scuba diving (unqualified/learn to dive course/discover dive with qualified instructor) |
1 |
(a) |
Excludes: free diving; cliff diving; (ii) |
Segway tours |
1 |
(a); a helmet must be worn, safety gear |
(iv) (v) |
Skateboarding (ramp, half pipe, skate park, street) |
1 |
a helmet must be worn, safety gear |
|
Skiing (cross country/Nordic skiing on marked trails) |
3 |
(d) |
(i) |
Skiing (snowblading) |
3 |
(d) |
(i) |
Skiing / Snowboarding |
3 |
(d) |
(i) |
Skiing / Snowboarding: (backcountry/outside of resort boundary/alpine ski touring) |
4 |
(d) |
(i) (iv) |
Skiing / Snowboarding: (by helicopter/snow cat) |
4 |
(d) |
(i) (iv) |
Skiing / Snowboarding: (dry slope) |
3 |
(d) |
(i) |
Skiing / Snowboarding: (terrain park within resort) |
4 |
(d) |
(i) (iv) |
Skydiving/Parachuting (tandem jumps only) |
4 |
(a) or (b) |
(iv) (v) |
Sledding / Tobogganing / Snow sleds / Snow sleighs (on snow) |
1 |
|
(iv) (v) |
Snooker |
1 |
|
|
Snorkelling |
1 |
|
|
Snow rafting / Tubing on snow |
4 |
(a) |
(iv) (v) |
Softball / Rounders |
1 |
|
|
Spearfishing |
2 |
|
(v) |
Speed boating, passenger only: inland/coastal waters only |
1 |
(a) |
|
Squash / Racquetball |
1 |
|
|
Stand up paddle surfing/paddle boarding |
1 |
|
|
Surfing |
2 |
|
|
Swimming (pool; enclosed, inland or coastal waters only) |
1 |
|
|
Swimming with whales/whale sharks (inside or outside coastal waters) |
1 |
(a) |
|
Table tennis |
1 |
|
|
Tennis / Pickleball |
1 |
|
|
Theme parks / Fairgrounds |
1 |
(a) |
|
Trampolining |
1 |
|
|
Triathlon up to full distance / Ironman; racing exclusion doesn't apply |
4 |
|
|
Triathlon up to middle distance; racing exclusion doesn't apply |
2 |
|
|
Triathlon up to sprint distance; racing exclusion doesn't apply |
1 |
|
|
Tubing on rivers (grades 1-2 only) |
1 |
(a) |
(iv) |
Tuk Tuk (as a passenger) |
1 |
(a) |
|
Via Ferrata |
2 |
|
|
Volleyball |
1 |
|
|
Water skiing / Wake skating / Wakeboarding |
1 |
(a) or (b) |
Excludes: jumping; (v) |
Walking (see Hiking) |
|
|
|
War games (online gaming) |
1 |
|
|
War games/military simulation (see Paint balling/airsoft OR Rifle range/sports shooting) |
|
|
|
Water polo |
1 |
|
|
Water skiing (barefoot) |
2 |
(a) or (b) |
Excludes: jumping; (v) |
Weight training (see also Gym training) |
1 |
|
Excludes powerlifting. |
White water rafting (grades 1-3) |
1 |
(a) |
|
Windsurfing / Sailboarding (inland or coastal waters only) |
1 |
|
(v) |
Working: professional, clerical or administrative work; working as a classroom teacher, classroom assistant; au pair, nanny or child minder. |
1 |
|
(v) |
Working: retail, bar or hospitality work involving light duties only. |
1 |
|
(v) |
Working: general work and manual work not involving the use of mechanical or industrial machinery, and not working at a height exceeding 2 metres above ground level. |
2 |
|
(v) |
Yoga |
1 |
|
|
Zip line |
1 |
(a) |
|
Zorbing |
2 |
(a) |
(iv) (v) |
We are unable to provide cover for anyone participating in any sport or activity if you are participating in or training:
Where noted in the List of Activities at
the following Special Conditions and Special Exclusions apply to some activities in addition to all other policy terms, conditions and exclusions.
Special Conditions:
There is no cover for:
Work; working: any work, including volunteer work, work placements, incidental work and work experience, whether paid or unpaid, which can be classified as either:
Level 1 activities in the List of Activities are automatically covered. Your policy can be upgraded to include cover for Level 2, 3 and 4 adventure, sport, work, study and volunteer activities when you select the activity(ies) and pay the additional premium. All activities are subject to the General Conditions:
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Whether you need medical assistance or emergency medical 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 Medical Assistance right now?
For policies purchased on or after 27 June 2024:
Phone: +353 4 69 017 022
For policies purchased before 27 June 2024:
+353 (0) 90 640 6460
Here are our most frequently asked questions about adventure activities and sports insurance. You can also find the answers to other questions in our Helpdesk or you can ask our customer service team.
Before your trip, check the latest government advice for any travel alerts for your destination.