If you’re planning an adventurous holiday escapade, you might want to check if your travel insurance policy covers everything you want to do.
Whether you’re planning a last-minute holiday, travelling to a cheap country or ticking off your bucket list by visiting the most expensive cities in the world, travel insurance is often the last thing on your mind.
There are other things you might be focused on, like which travel websites to use, when to book flights, choosing the right debit or credit cards for travelling, and sorting out your travel money.
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But not only should you prioritise getting your travel insurance cover sorted but you should also read the fine print carefully, or it might come back to bite you on holiday. And the last thing you want is to ruin your dream vacation by having to foot the bill for something you could have avoided in the first place.
According to the travel insurance experts at Go.Compare, you should always check if your travel insurance cover has the right protection in place for any sports or activities you plan to do while on holiday. That’s because some insurers will charge more for those activities while others refuse to cover them at all.
We explain what activities aren’t covered and how to choose the right travel insurance cover for you.
What activities does travel insurance not cover?
Go.Compare research looked at 892 travel insurance policies to see which ones cover leisure activities. Of the 892, only 3% of single-trip policies included quad biking as standard, and only 21% covered white water rafting automatically.
It also found that activities that you might think of as low risk, such as horse riding or hot air balloon rides are also not covered as standard in some single-trip policies.
Rhys Jones from Go.Compare, commented on the findings, “While you might naturally think of some things – such as white water rafting – as being higher risk than your standard holiday activities, it might come as a surprise to see what your travel insurance will and won’t cover as standard. [E]ven if you think your planned activities are low risk, there’s a chance your insurer might think differently.”
But that’s not all – the research also revealed that many insurers have excluded sports and activities that they previously covered. For instance, the number of insurance policies that covered bungee jumping and horse riding dropped by 7% compared to 2023.
| Activity | % of single-trip policies with standard cover | % of annual policies with standard cover |
|---|---|---|
| Quad biking | 3% | 7% |
| Overwater rafting (Grade 4) | 21% | 24% |
| Jet skiing | 50% | 51% |
| Sea kayaking | 50% | 52% |
| Bungee Jumping | 59% | 59% |
| Horse riding | 70% | 73% |
| Hot air ballooning | 81% | 82% |
| Parasailing over water | 92% | 91% |
| Scuba diving | 93% | 93% |
| Banana Boating | 95% | 94% |
| Snorkelling | 98% | 97% |
| Road Cycling | 98% | 97% |
Source: Go.Compare
Travel insurance add-ons and exclusions
If you take part in sports or activities that aren’t covered by your travel insurance policy, any claim you make is likely to be at risk of getting rejected.
Data from Defaqto and YouGov shows that nearly half of UK travellers take part in activities that aren’t covered by their travel insurance policy. This puts 16.5 million policyholders at risk of being rejected when making a claim, and many who are impacted don’t even realise it.
According to Go.Compare, standard travel insurance policies cover you to dive only up to a certain depth, usually around 18 metres. If you’re planning to go any deeper, you’re likely to need an extreme sports policy add-on, that will cover you for up to 30 metres. It’s a similar scenario with mountain climbing, policies have restrictions on the altitude you can trek to before needing specialist cover. It’s also worth checking whether you need to wear specific sports gear or protective equipment during certain activities, such as water sports or scuba diving.
Factors that could result in your claim getting rejected include: if you weren’t wearing the appropriate gear required for your chosen sport, were behaving recklessly, not following the rules set out by an instructor or were under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Some policies have age restrictions. There’s no maximum age limit that all insurers follow, but it usually falls between 65 to 75 years. If you’re an older traveller and want to partake in more adventurous activities, you will have to check the small print and make sure you’re covered.
How to choose your travel insurance
Before you buy your travel insurance policy, check the list of sports and activities to see what’s covered as standard and what’s an added extra. Which? suggests that if anything on your requirements list isn't explicitly mentioned, you should assume it's not covered. Also, check the policy exclusions and make sure the activity you plan to do isn’t on the “no” list.
The GOV.UK website also recommends checking whether your policy covers you for any pre-existing medical conditions that might affect your sports coverage. Additionally, you may only be covered if you do certain activities in groups, or with a qualified instructor, rather than on your own.
“There are some risks that aren’t covered as standard, so it’s vital you make sure you have the protection you need in case you need to make a claim,” Rhys Jones said. “If your standard policy doesn’t quite cut it, remember you may be able to purchase add-ons to cover specific activities you have planned.”
The majority of travellers will have plenty of travel insurance options to choose from but if you’re older, have pre-existing medical conditions or are taking part in extreme sports, you’re likely to need a specialist insurer. Comparison sites are a good way to find insurance that suits your specific needs, allowing you to plug in your requirements and search from a pool of providers.
Despite the extra upfront costs, making sure you have adequate cover for your holiday activities will save you from stress and significant costs if you need to make a claim and it’s rejected.
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