By Matt Fernell, Editor-in-Chief at Finance.co.uk. Last updated 1st February 2023.
For high-adrenaline holidays with extreme sports, standard travel insurance might not cover you for activities like skydiving, rock climbing or skiing.
Extreme sports travel insurance is a financial safeguard against any costs you may have to pay if things go wrong when participating in extreme sports or activities while abroad.
This includes medical costs because many holiday destinations require payment for medical treatments. This type of insurance may also cover you for any damages to equipment that might have occurred.
Some sports and activities are covered automatically in a single trip or annual travel insurance policy, but the majority aren’t. In case it’s not included, you can add them by paying additional fees.
Because extreme sports are higher risk activities, getting the appropriate cover may cost more than standard travel insurance because there’s a bigger chance you may have to make a claim.
Extreme sports travel insurance covers various situations, helping to keep you protected if there’s an issue when doing any of these activities. You’ll get cover for:
Any medical treatment expenses you may have had because of an injury should be covered with extreme sports insurance - up to a specific fee dependent on your insurance policy.
If injured when abroad, you may have to travel back home to undergo treatment or continue your recovery. The cost of your return or re-entry home should be covered when it’s medically necessary or if you’ve missed your previously arranged flight because you were receiving treatment.
If an extreme sports accident has left you with a permanent injury, you’ll receive a lump sum from your extreme sports travel insurance provider.
By making sure your extreme sports travel insurance has personal liability included, you’ll get cover for any damages you may have to pay for if you’ve accidentally injured someone else or damaged their property.
The activities covered could alter depending on your extreme sports travel insurance provider. Many may compile sports within ‘packs’ that you can add to your policy, with each sport or activity within that pack covered.
For example, some might offer a winter sports pack covering activities like skiing and snowboarding, or a motorsport pack, which might cover quad biking and race car driving.
Some of the most common extreme sports you’re likely to find cover for include:
Bungee jumpingParaglidingScuba divingWindsurfingSkiingZip lining
To get the best travel insurance for you, it’s best to know what activities you have planned before you travel, so you can find the right policy that covers them.
Although a lot of sports and activities are covered when you get the standard package offered by extreme sports travel insurance providers, there may be extra activities that you’ll have to add on individually.
These activities have a higher risk of accident or injury, so may require a more expensive fee. Some of the activities that may need extra cover include:
Rock climbingWhite water raftingZorbingQuad biking
The activities that need additional cover aren’t universal across all insurance providers. Some might include different activities in their standard package, so it’s good to check around and compare.
Most travel insurance providers offer a separate winter sports cover package. This could be the best option to get if you’re going on a ski-centric holiday, for example. These types of packages can cover:
SkiingSnowboardingSledgingSnowbladingSnowmobiling
This insurance doesn’t just protect you if you are injured during your activities. It also provides protection if any of your gear or equipment is lost, damaged or stolen.
Additionally, if you’re unable to partake in your winter sports activities for a consecutive period - usually 12 hours or more - then you’ll also get some form of compensation with this type of cover.
Travel insurance is important to financially protect you when you’re abroad. To make sure that you’re not suffering more than you need to if the worst was to happen, be sure to get an insurance plan that provides the appropriate cover for you.
The information provided does not constitute financial advice, it’s always important to do your own research to ensure a financial product is right for your circumstances. If you’re unsure you should contact an independent financial advisor.
