Getting travel insurance for an adventure holiday

Finding the best adventure holiday starts with thinking about what activities you like, what you feel comfortable doing, and where you want to go. There's lots of accessible advice, whether you talk to a specialist travel agent, consult expert sites or research different options yourself. Reading other people's reviews can help you feel confident with your decision.

Quite often, depending on your preferred activities, the best adventure holidays are a little further from home. You might consider destinations such as Costa Rica, Nepal, Peru or South Africa. But you can also find places closer to home, including activities like cycling in Italy.

That depends on the activities you want to do. Some are suitable for beginners, only require an average fitness level and potentially offer on-site training if it’s something you’ve never tried before. But some are more extreme. You’ll most likely need a high level of fitness and some form of certification to go mountaineering, for instance. Be realistic about your fitness and research the holiday to see if you need additional experience. You don’t want to choose a holiday that’s out of your comfort zone and, therefore, potentially unsafe.

There are some risks attached to doing thrilling activities. It means safety should be a top priority. Here are some essential things to remember:

• the activity should be within your abilities
• check if you’ll be at extra risk if you have a medical condition
• only use a reputable company that meets safety standards
• follow safety guidelines and act responsibly
• don’t forget the items and equipment essential to enjoying your holiday
• get the right cover from your travel insurance

There’s no limit. But if you’re doing something new or that will push your limits, you might want to choose a shorter holiday so you don’t overstretch yourself. Or you could start your holiday with an adventure and end it with some time to relax. The most important thing is to choose a stress-free holiday that is within your capabilities.

Anyone can go on an adventure holiday, including those who want to travel alone. Some travel companies offer group tour holidays, ideal for solo travellers, where you can meet like-minded individuals. It’s a great way to share experiences and connect with new people.

They are. You can take a family-friendly adventure holiday that covers the best activities for both children and adults. And many companies offer different types of experiences for various age ranges and fitness levels. Book your holiday with everyone’s abilities and comfort levels in mind.

That depends on where you go, what activities you do, and what accommodation you select. You can choose from something at the more luxurious end of the scale or a more reasonable holiday. Doing some research can help you find something within your budget.

Where you're going and what you're doing will affect what you pack. Take clothing and footwear suitable for the weather and activities you'll be doing. For instance, if you're going hiking, take comfortable boots. And think about what additional items you might need to take. Will you need sunscreen or insect repellent? Would a first aid kit come in handy? And you might want to bring items such as a water bottle and a camera. And most importantly, don't forget to pack any medication you're taking.

Read our guide to pre-travel prep and packing lists.

Travel insurance is highly recommended because adventure holidays tend to involve more risk. It can cover medical emergencies, trip cancellation, lost or stolen equipment and other unforeseen circumstances. As your holiday will probably include physical activity, you can be covered if you're injured before you go away and during your holiday.

Most providers will tell you what is and isn’t covered by standard travel insurance and what limitations apply. If your activity isn’t included, you’ll need to consider having an upgrade or an add-on to cover you. If you’ve chosen a high-risk or extreme activity, you might need a specialised adventure travel policy or sports and activities add-on for an additional premium. Review the policy or contact the insurance company to be sure you’re covered.

You'll want a policy that offers complete cover for your holiday, including medical expenses, emergency medical evacuation, trip cancellation or interruption and cover for lost or stolen equipment. Check the cover limits are high enough and consider if you need any additional optional cover. For instance, do you need personal accident or search and rescue cover? Carefully read and understand the policy's terms and conditions so you know what cover you're getting.

Adventure travel insurance policies may have exclusions or limitations. Common exclusions can include:

• pre-existing medical conditions
• certain extreme activities
• participating in activities without proper safety equipment or certified guides

Read the policy carefully. If anything isn’t clear, check it with the insurance provider so you understand any limitations.

You'll need to carefully review your policy to find out what it does and doesn't cover and if the cover limits are high enough. Review the limitations and exclusions on your policy because standard travel insurance might not cover you. You might need to pay an additional premium to buy an add-on that covers it, or to buy a specialist adventure travel policy if participating in a high-risk activity.

The cost depends on the duration of your trip, where you'll be going and what you’ll be doing, your age, any pre-existing medical conditions, and the cover limits you choose. Premiums for adventure holiday policies can be higher than regular travel insurance, influenced by the increased risk attached to the activity you’re participating in. Consider getting several quotes from different providers to compare the costs.

Whether you're looking at standard or adventure travel insurance policies, if you have medical conditions make sure you find an insurance company that can cover them. You must disclose any pre-existing medical conditions. And you may need to pay an additional premium to make sure you're fully covered. If you're unsure or anything or need something clarifying, contact the insurance provider.

You can buy travel insurance any time after booking your trip, often up to just a few hours before you go. But buying it as soon as possible is recommended. It offers you protection for unforeseen circumstances that could happen before your departure, which might prevent you going.

Each travel insurance provider will give you guidance on how to make a claim. You would usually be expected to tell the insurance company about the incident or loss as soon as possible. They’ll most likely require you to submit supporting documentation, which could include medical or police reports. These should be submitted along with your claim forms. If you’re unclear what steps to take, contact your insurance provider.