The Ultimate Guide to Extreme Sports Travel Insurance: Everything You Need to Know

December 14, 2023 - Kate

Do you consider yourself to be the adventurous type? The type who enjoys taking risks and taking part in extreme or adventure activities when you travel? Or maybe that’s not really your style, but you’re up for a good thrill every once in a while–especially when you’re in a new place? For the adventurous among us, there is no shortage of adventure activities to try out when traveling, from activities like skydiving to scuba diving, just to name a few.

If this sounds like you, it’s important to make sure that you’ve obtained extreme sports travel insurance. In the unfortunate case that something goes wrong on one of your adventure travel excursions, you’ll want to be protected. But first, let’s dive into how travel insurance defines extreme sports or adventure sports.

Jump Ahead

• What is an extreme or adventure sport?
• Are extreme sports covered by travel insurance?
• How to Buy Extreme Sports Travel Insurance
• Is my sporting equipment covered too?
• 24/7 Travel Assistance
• What’s Next?

What is an extreme or adventure sport?

Insurance companies may define different types of sports separately. Some include categories of adventure sports, extreme sports, and even bodily contact sports. Each might be defined differently in the “General Definitions” section of the travel insurance policy certificate. Although, you might find adventure and extreme sports are listed under the same definition.

Adventure Sports Definition: Some sort of leisure athletic activity that involves greater risk or danger.

Extreme Sports Definition: An activity that involves loss of life or limb, even if you’re the highest-skilled athlete.

Bodily Contact Sports Definition: Typically activities where an opponent becomes unable to continue with the competition such as boxing or full contact karate.

Some policies cover basic, low-risk indoor or outdoor activities in terms of getting injured or involved in a sporting calamity. These standard activities typically protected include hiking without any equipment, basic skiing, or golf. 

However, it’s highly unlikely your standard travel insurance policy would safeguard activities associated with adventure or extreme travel. Don’t worry though –there are special plans for these activities! Just keep reading.

Are extreme sports covered by travel insurance?

Generally speaking, certain activities considered to be dangerous in nature likely won’t be insured under most standard policies. This is because they involve a higher amount of risk of danger or injury by insurance standards. 

Here are a few examples of activities not covered by standard travel insurance:

	Skydiving
	Bungee jumping
	Extreme skiing, heli-skiing or going outside marked areas (Important note: Normal skiing is covered by most travel insurance–just not the riskier kind!)
	Mountain climbing and high-altitude activities where climbing gear such as picks and ropes are involved
	Parachuting
	Hang gliding
	Full contact sports, like football and wrestling
	Boxing
	Scuba diving below 120 feet (40 meters) or without a dive instructor

Important Note: Any type of professional sport where you’re being compensated won’t be covered by any type of travel insurance.

But fear not, brave adventurers! When it comes to insurance, you’ve got options, no matter what it is you plan to do while on vacation or where you choose to visit. Keep reading to learn how to buy the right travel insurance.

How to Buy Extreme Sports Travel Insurance

If any of the above kinds of high-risk sports are on your list, you just need to get a bit of additional insurance via a “hazardous sports rider”. This usually requires you to pay an additional premium, but totally worth the benefits. 

Because you’ll be adding on this rider, that means your base plan will likely also include benefits like:

• Trip Cancellation
• Trip Interruption
• Travel Delay
• Baggage Loss/Delay
• Standard Medical Expense
• Standard Medical Evacuation

Yonder allows you to select specific filters (like below) to display quote results that have coverage for extreme or adventure sports.

Basically, this rider can insure any additional personal or medical expenses you incur as a result of participating in these “hazardous activities”. That way won’t be in a bind if you end up in a rare –but possible– accident.

In addition, this necessary insurance rider would allow coverage for medical evacuations. Whereas, standard policies would exclude evacuation due to participation in extreme sports. Rest assured, most standard policies include medical evacuation coverage due to regular injuries or medical emergencies.

Is my sporting equipment covered too?

Many travel insurance policies do include sports equipment rental coverage. Let’s say the sporting equipment you own and planned on bringing with you on your trip got damaged, lost, stolen, or delayed by your airline. Travel insurance could foot the bill to pay for extra rental equipment. That way, you can still enjoy whatever adventure sport you planned your entire trip around.

Pro Tip: Make sure you keep all receipts for the rental expenses incurred –you’ll have to submit those with your insurance claim.

24/7 Travel Assistance

Should you encounter a travel or medical-related emergency during your trip, each policy on Yonder comes with access to a 24/7 emergency aid team. These teams are trained to help with:

• Helping find the nearest medical facility
• Offering translation services
• Coordinating medical evacuations to name a few.

What’s Next?

So plan that bucket list trip to scuba dive in Belize, trekking in Nepal, or heli-ski in Japan…just make sure you have coverage with travel insurance in case your adventure turns into a misadventure. We hope it doesn’t happen on your trip, but if it does you’ll be glad you took this extra step in getting insurance!

To help you get started with insurance, check out this travel insurance profile we put together for adventure travelers like yourself, and then get a free instant quote here. 

If you’re the adrenaline-seeking type, check out these destinations that are practically made for you!

The world is waiting for you…go out and get it!