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Travel insurance when Kayaking or Rafting

Everything the Irish need to know about travel insurance for Kayaking & Rafting

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Travel Insurance when Kayaking or Rafting

Paddling on a velvet lake at sunrise — or holding your nerve over gripping whitewater, Irish travellers love the action of life on the water. From beginner to expert you’ll find your flow on one of the world’s great waterways on your next kayaking or rafting adventure.

Rafting and Kayaking activities: Is cover available?

Both our Standard and Explorer Plans offer many of the same benefits including cover for Level 1 sports and adventure activities such as kayaking, sea kayaking, canoeing, and for river boarding for grades 1-3 and whitewater and blackwater rafting for grades 1-5 as long as you’re with a fully qualified and licenced guide.

Make sure you specify all the activities you have planned for your trip when you get your quote - you can’t add them afterwards. Terms and conditions apply, check your Policy Wording for details or contact us.

As much as we would like to offer insurance for every scenario, unfortunately that is not possible.

Note: we won’t cover any loss, claim or expenses relating to or arising from damage to any sporting equipment while in use, and not for loss, damage, or theft of any sporting equipment left unattended.

What’s covered?

Whether you’re taking a leisurely paddle through the French countryside with the family, or facing off against the roaring Salmon River in the US, both our Standard and Explorer Plans offer cover for the unexpected if your next kayaking or rafting trip hits troubled waters.

World Nomads offers cover (up to the policy limits) for:

  • Overseas emergency medical treatment for sudden injury or illness.
  • Overseas emergency medical evacuation and/or repatriation back to Ireland if required.
  • The non-refundable costs of curtailing your trip if you must return home early due to a sudden injury to you, your immediate relative or travel companion.
  • The Explorer Plan offers cover when official ‘Avoid All or All But Essential Travel’ advice is unexpectedly issued for your destination after you’ve received your Certificate of Insurance (and within 7 days of your departure), which causes you to cancel your trip.
  • Reimbursement or replacement of lost, stolen or damaged baggage or personal items (including your passport) up to the benefit limits. Remember to keep copies of your original receipts if you need to make a claim.
  • Replacement costs of buying essential clothing and toiletries if your checked-in baggage is delayed for more than 24 hours (keep those receipts).
  • Our family policies can cover 2 adults and up to 6 children under 18. Plus plans can be extended (Single Trip only) while still travelling for up to 12 months from your original departure date (conditions apply).

You may also have access to World Nomads Coronavirus cover for certain events. Our plans offer:

  • Emergency medical cover, evacuation and/or repatriation if you’re diagnosed with Coronavirus (COVID-19) while overseas
  • Cover is offered for some Coronavirus-related events, such as cancellation following certification from a medical practitioner that you are too ill to travel due to COVID-19.

Note: please read your Policy Wording carefully as benefit limits, conditions and exclusions apply; as Coronavirus cover varies depending on your country of residence and the plan you’ve chosen.

Why consider travel insurance when I’m going kayaking/rafting?

If your luck changes and you are injured or get sick, the World Nomads 24/7 Emergency Medical Assistance Team is here to help you. Call the emergency medical assistance team as soon as possible in the event you know you will be admitted as an inpatient for at lesat one night so we can direct you to the nearest medical centre. In the worst case we may be able to preapprove the costs of your emergency evacuation to the most appropriate facility for your care. We may even bring you back home to Ireland to recover (if it's deemed medically appropriate).

Traveller’s Tip: Irish residents please keep in mind that you’ll first need to contact your private medical insurance (PMI) provider (if applicable) and follow its emergency medical procedures and claims procedures. Cover available under this travel insurance policy is in excess of any cover provided by your PMI. Also, provide us with details of your PMI provider to help us co-ordinate your care. Where your PMI provider does not cover you, contact our 24/7 Emergency Medical Assistance Team before incurring medical costs.

Before you cast off, check that our Emergency Medical Assistance Team can reach you if you get into trouble. Remember if you (or someone in your party) do not contact us before your emergency medical and transport costs are incurred, this may affect your cover.

What’s not covered?

Some things we don’t cover include:

  • Any pre-existing medical conditions as explained in your Policy Wording.
  • Grades higher than those noted in the Policy Wording; extreme or hazardous activities (other than those listed) or locations.
  • Not using a professional qualified and licenced guide or operator where required.
  • Speed boating on white water or outside coastal waters.
  • Any search or rescue operations to find or rescue you from a life-threatening situation.
  • If you refuse to be repatriated or evacuated for treatment where it is recommended by our Emergency Assistance Team.
  • Unattended baggage or personal items.
  • Loss or expenses that relate to or arise from being under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
  • The policy excess that is payable per person per insured event.

Traveller’s Tip: before you launch your vessel, check the International River Grading of the river you’re on so you won’t invalidate your policy cover. The scale is used for various water sports and activities, such as black and white water rafting, river boarding, white-water canoeing, stand up paddle surfing, and whitewater kayaking. 

This is only a summary of coverage and does not include the full terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions of the policy. You should read your policy wording in full so you understand what is and isn’t covered. That way there won’t be any surprises if you need to use it. If you have any questions, please get in touch.


Kayaking & Rafting: travelling smarter and safer

Here at World Nomads, we love to find ways to help you enjoy your travels: from travelling smarter to travel safety and we endeavor to source the most up to date information about travel destinations. If you are going Kayaking or Rafting in another country, check out our Travel Safety content - if you are going kayaking in some obscure location, check with us first and avoid known banjo plucking hot spots!

Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you

Trip Cancellation

Been working hard for your trip?

We'll work hard to protect it.

Trip Protection
  • Unexpectedly hospitalised?
  • Travel buddy unfit to travel?
  • Close relative suddenly dies?

We’ve got your back.

Emergency Medical Expenses

Feeling fit and healthy? What if you get sick or injured?

Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.

Emergency Medical Insurance
  • Need meds quick?
  • Accidentally injured?
  • Suddenly sick?

We’ve got your back.

Emergency Medical Transportation

Know where the nearest suitable medical facility is?

Don’t stress, we’ll get you there quickly.

Evacuation and Repatriation
  • Banged up abroad?
  • Need a hospital urgently?
  • Medivac home?

Help starts here.

Protect your gear

Love photography, filming or sport?

Cover your bags, tech or gear.

Protect your gear
  • Passport or tech stolen?
  • Airline lost your gear?
  • Bags delayed?

Help starts here.

  • Emergency Overseas Medical & Dental Expenses
  • Emergency Medical Evacuation & Repatriation
  • Trip Disruption
  • 24-Hour Medical Assistance Services
  • Baggage
  • And more (depending on your country of residence)
*This is a general summary only. Restrictions, exclusions and limitations will apply. Coverage may not be available for all countries, states or provinces. Benefit limits may vary depending on the plan chosen. Get a quote for full details.

24/7 Emergency Medical Assistance

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