Travel Insurance: Adventure activities & sports covered by World Nomads

For information relating to policies purchased prior to 1 September 2021 12:00am UTC, please check the Policy Wording provided with your purchase. You can contact us if you need this sent to you again. For policies purchased on or after 1 September 2021 please see below.

World Nomads travel insurance provides coverage for a range of recreational sports and activities overseas.

The best way to make sure your plan includes the level of travel insurance coverage you’re after for a specific activity or level of adventure, is to check the level of coverage you need to match your specific activity or adventure and add it when you purchase your plan.

  • The Standard Plan includes all level 1 activities

  • The Explorer Plan includes all level 1 and 2 activities.

  • Additional premiums are required for level 2 and 3 activities, although some of these level 2 premiums may not apply if you purchase the Explorer Plan.

Activities can’t be added later, so take the time to check the level of coverage you think you’ll need upfront and make sure you add it at the time of purchase.

There’s also some activities we don’t cover at all. Excluded activities mean just that none of our policies will cover you if you decide to do a sport on the excluded list like cliff diving or stunt flying. And if you select the wrong level of coverage or don’t add it, then you may not be covered for that activity.

Lastly, while we like to think we know most adventure sports World Nomads love, if a sport or activity is not listed, it may have slipped by us or it may not be covered. Check with us if you’re not sure before you decide to give it a go.

For a  list of the kinds of sports we cover and their conditions and exclusions, please refer to your policy.

Note: Some of these activities have specific restrictions. Also, terms such as "We, You, Special Conditions and Special Exclusions" have specific meanings in the following list and are defined in the policy. Other terms, conditions, limits and exclusions may apply. Please check the policy wording for details.

 

Adventure Sports, Activities & Experiences

Level

Special Conditions that apply

Special Exclusions that apply

Abseiling (rappelling, rapping, rap jumping, deepelling, abbing) See also Climbing and Mountaineering 2 Special Condition (a) Special Exclusion (iv)
Acrobatics 1    
Aerial safari 1 Special Condition (a) Special Exclusion (iv)
Aerobics 1    
Air guitar 1    
Alpine ski touring (see Skiing) -    
American football (Gridiron) 1   Special Exclusion (iv) and (v)
Angling (see Fishing)  -    
Athletics 1    
Australian Rules Football (AFL) 1   Special Exclusion (iv)
Backpacking (up to 4,500 meters)   Special Exclusion (iii)
Backpacking (up to 6,000 meters) 2   Special Exclusion (iii)
Badminton 1    
Ballooning (See Hot air ballooning) -    
Banana boat rides 1 Special Condition (a)  
Baseball 1    
Basketball 1    
Biking (see Cycling, Mountain biking or Snow biking) -    
Blackwater rafting (cave tubing) (grades 1-5) 2 Special Condition (a) Special Exclusion (iv)
Boating (see Speed boating, Sailing) -    
Bobsled/Bobsleigh 2 Special Condition (a) Special Exclusion (i) and (iv) and (v)
Bouldering (see Rock climbing)  -    
Bowling (lawn, ten-pin, nine-pin, candlepin, duckpin and five-pin bowling, bowls, pétanque & boules) 1    
Boxing (gym or outdoor training) 2   Policy excludes boxing competition or bouts.
Bungee/bungy jumping 1 Special Condition (a)  
Bushwalking (up to 4,500 meters)   Special Exclusion (iii)
Bushwalking (up to 6,000 meters) 2   Special Exclusion (iii)
Camel riding/trekking 1 Special Condition (a) Special Exclusion (v)
Camping up to 4,500 meters (see also Hiking and Mountaineering) 1   Special Exclusion (iii)
Camping up to 6,000 meters (see also Hiking and Mountaineering) 2   Special Exclusion (iii)
Canoeing (inland/coastal waters, grades 1-3 only)  1    
Canyon swing 1 Special Condition (a)  
Canyoning 2   Special Exclusion (iv)
Capoeira dancing (see Dance)  -    
Cave diving / Cavern diving 2 Special Condition (e) Policy excludes cliff diving.
Special Exclusion (ii) and (iv)
Caving (sightseeing/tourist attraction) 1 Recreational visit only  
Cheerleading 1    
Clay pigeon shooting 1 Special Condition (a) or (b) Special Exclusion (v)
Climbing (see Rock climbing or Ice climbing)  -    
Cricket 1    
Croquet 1    
Curling 1    
Cycling (up to 4,500 meters – all styles including touring and organised tours) 1   Policy excludes Yungas Road/Death Road. Special Exclusion (v)
Cycling  (up to 6,000 meters – all styles including touring and organised tours) 2   Policy excludes Yungas Road/Death Road. Special Exclusion (v)
Dance (ballet, ballroom, capoeira, salsa, interpretive dance) 1    
Darts 1    
Dirt boarding 1   Special Exclusion (v)
Diving (see Scuba diving, High diving, Cave diving, Free diving)  -    
Dodge ball 1    
Dogsledding (on recognized trails) 1 Special Condition (a) Policy excludes remote areas, racing, time trials and endurance events
Dragon boating (inland or coastal waters only) 1    
Dune buggy 1 Special Condition (a) or (b) Special Exclusion (v)
Elephant riding/trekking 1 Special Condition (a) Special Exclusion (v)
Equestrian activities (see Horse Riding) -    
Fell running/walking (see Hiking)  -    
Fencing 1   Special Exclusion (v)
Fishing 2 Sports / leisure fishing only.
Special Condition (a) or (b); and Special Condition (c)
Policy excludes commercial fishing and rock fishing.
Fitness training 1    
Floorball 1    
Fly by wire 1 Special Condition (a)  
Flying (as a fare-paying passenger in a licensed scheduled or chartered aircraft or helicopter) 1 Special Condition (a)  
Flying (as a passenger of a private light aircraft) 1   Policy excludes stunt flying/aerobatics and commercial flying. Special Exclusion (iv) and (v)
Football (Soccer) including 5 a side 1    
Freediving (up to 50 meters) 3   Policy excludes cliff diving.
Special Exclusion (ii) and (iv)
Frisbee 1    
Glacier walking/ice walking 1 Special Condition (a) Special Exclusion (iii)
Gliding 1 Special Condition (a) or (b) Special Exclusion (iv) and (v)
Go karting 1 Special Condition (a) Special Exclusion (v)
Golf 1    
Gym training (aerobics, spinning, Zumba, body pump, weight training, cross-training, crossfit) (See also Boxing and Martial arts) 1   Policy excludes Power lifting
Gymnastics 1    
Handball 1    
Hang gliding 3 Special Condition (a) Special Exclusion (iv) and (v)
High diving up to 10 meters 1   Policy excludes cliff diving
Hiking up to 4,500 meters (scrambling, hillwalking) on recognized routes 1   Policy excludes where ropes, picks or other specialist climbing equipment is required. Special Exclusion (iii)
Hiking up to 6,000 meters (scrambling) on recognized routes 2   Policy excludes where ropes, picks or other specialist climbing equipment is required. Special Exclusion (iii)
Hockey 1    
Horse riding (leisure/social, non-competitive equestrian, dressage, show jumping, eventing) 1   Policy excludes racing. Special Exclusion (iv) and (v)
Hot air ballooning (ballooning) 1 Special Condition (a) or (b) Special Exclusion (v)
Hunting (excluding Big Game) 1 Special Condition (a) or (b) Policy excludes Big Game Hunting. Special Exclusion (v)
Hydrofoiling (see Water skiing)  -    
Ice climbing (see Rock climbing and Mountaineering)  -    
Ice hockey 1   Special Exclusion (iv) and (v)
Ice skating (indoor or outdoor) on a commercially managed rink 1 Special Condition (a)  
Ice walking (see Glacier walking) -    
In-line skating (see Roller skating or Roller blading) -    
Jet boating (inland/coastal waters only) 1 Special Condition (a) or (b) Special Exclusion (v)
Jet skiing (inland/coastal waters, grades 1-2 only) 2 Special Condition (a) or (b) Special Exclusion (v)
Kayaking (inland/coastal waters, grades 1-3 only) 1    
Kite boarding (on land or water) 2    
Kite buggy 2   Special Exclusion (v)
Kite flying 1    
Kite surfing 1    
Kite wing (land, water) 2   Special Exclusion (iv and (v)
Korfball 1    
Lacrosse 1    
Land surfing 2   Special Exclusion (v)
Martial arts training 2 Special Condition (a); non-competitive only Special Exclusion (iv) and (v). Policy excludes cage fighting, mixed martial arts, kickboxing, Muay Thai and competition or bouts.
Martial arts training (non-contact) 1    
Moped riding/Scooter biking 1 Special Condition (b); and a helmet must be worn Special Exclusion (v)
Motor racing experience (passenger only) 1 Special Condition (a)  
Motor biking 1 Special Condition (b); and a helmet must be worn Special Exclusion (v)
Motor biking pillion passenger  (see Motor biking)  -    
Mountain biking (up to 4,500 meters – all styles including touring and organised tours) 1   Policy excludes Yungas Road/Death Road. Special Exclusion (v)
Mountain biking  (up to 6,000 meters – all styles including touring and organized tours) 2   Policy excludes Yungas Road/Death Road.
Special Exclusion (v)
Mountaineering up to 6,000 meters (with ropes, picks or specialist climbing equipment) 3 We recommend you do not venture into any area without taking local advice and appropriate rescue equipment. Special Exclusion (iii) and (iv)
Netball 1    
Obstacle course/assault course/trim trail (see Outdoor endurance)  -    
Orienteering 1    
Outdoor endurance 1    
Outrigger canoeing (inland or coastal waters only) 1    
Outward Bound 1 Special Condition (a)  
Paint balling/airsoft 1 Special Condition (a) Special Exclusion (v)
Parachuting 2 Special Condition (a) or (b) Policy excludes parachuting from a hot air balloon.
Special Exclusion (iv) and (v)
Paragliding/parapenting 3 Special Condition (a) or (b) Special Exclusion (iv) and (v)
Parasailing/Parascending 2 Special Condition (a) or (b) Special Exclusion (iv) and (v)
Quad biking 1 Special Condition (a) or (b); and a helmet must be worn Special Exclusion (iv) and (v)
Racquetball 1    
Rambling (See Hiking) -    
Rap jumping 2 Special Condition (a) Special Exclusion (iv)
Rifle range/sports shooting 1 Special Condition (a) or (b) Special Exclusion (v)
River boarding/hydro speeding (grades 1-3) 2 Special Condition (a)  
Rock climbing (bouldering) 1   Special Exclusion (iv)
Rock climbing (indoor) 2 Special Condition (a) Policy excludes soloing. Special Exclusion (iv)
Rock climbing (outdoor/traditional/sport climbing/bolted/aid climbing/free climbing); see also Mountaineering 3   Policy excludes soloing. Special Exclusion (iv)
Roller hockey 1    
Roller skating 1   Policy excludes stunting
Rollerblading 1   Policy excludes stunting
Rounders 1    
Rowing/sculling (inland/coastal waters) 1   Special Exclusion (v)
Rugby (League/Union) 2   Special Exclusion (iv) and (v)
Running/jogging (up to marathon distance) 1   Policy excludes Running of the Bulls.
Safari tours 1 Special Condition (a) Policy excludes handling and/or work with dangerous animals including big cats, crocodiles, alligators, hippopotamuses, snakes elephants or bears
Sail boarding (see Wind surfing)  -    
Sailing 1 Special Condition (a) or (b); and Special Condition (c) Special Exclusion (v)
Sandboarding/sand skiing 1    
Scuba diving (to 30 meters) 1 Special Condition (e) Policy excludes cliff diving. Special Exclusion (ii) and (iv)
Scuba diving (to 50 meters) 3 Special Condition (e) Policy excludes cliff diving. Special Exclusion (ii) and (iv)
Scuba diving (unqualified/ learn to dive course/ discover dive with qualified instructor) 1 Special Condition (a) Policy excludes cliff diving. Special Exclusion (ii) and (iv).
Sculling (see Rowing)  -    
Sea Kayaking/ Sea Canoeing (see Kayaking)  -    
Segway tours 1 Special Condition (a); and a helmet must be worn Special Exclusion (iv) and (v)
Shark cage diving (see Scuba diving)  -    
Skateboarding (ramp, half pipe, skate park, street) 1    
Skiing / snowboarding (on piste, off piste, heli-skiing, heli-boarding) 2 Special Condition (d) Special Exclusion (i)
Skydiving (solo) 3 Special Condition (a) Policy excludes skydiving from a hot air balloon.
Special Exclusion (iv) and (v)
Sledding/Tobogganing/Snow Sleds/Snow Sleighs (on snow) 2   Policy excludes remote areas, racing, time trials and endurance events.
Special Exclusion (i) and (iv) and (v)
Sleigh rides 1 Special Condition (a) Policy excludes remote areas.
Snooker 1    
Snorkelling 1    
Snow biking (on piste or off piste within resort boundaries) 2 Special Condition (a) Special Exclusion (i) and (iv) and (v)
Snow kiting 2 Special Condition (a) Special Exclusion (iv) and (v)
Snow rafting 2 Special Condition (a) Special Exclusion (iv) and (v)
Snowmobiling 2 Special Condition (a) Policy excludes remote areas, racing, time trials and endurance events.
Special Exclusion (iv) and (v)
Soccer 1    
Softball 1    
Speed boating (inland/coastal waters only) 1 Special Condition (a) or (b) Policy excludes speed boating on white water or outside coastal waters.
Special Exclusion (v)
Spelunking (see Caving)  -    
Squash/racquetball 1    
Stand up paddle surfing/paddle boarding 1    
Stilt walking 1    
Stoolball 1    
Surf boat rowing 1    
Surfing 1    
Swimming 1   Policy excludes swimming outside coastal waters. 
Swimming with whales/whale sharks (inside or outside coastal waters) 1 Special Condition (a)  
Table tennis 1    
Tandem skydiving 2 Special Condition (a) Policy excludes skydiving from a hot air balloon.
Special Exclusion (iv) and (v)
Tchoukball 1    
Ten pin bowling (see Bowling)  -    
Tennis 1    
Theme parks / fairgrounds 1 Special Condition (a)  
Tough Mudder (see Outdoor endurance)  -    
Trail bike riding (see Motor biking)  -    
Tramping (see Hiking)  -    
Trekking (see Hiking)  -    
Tubing on rivers (see also Black water rafting) 1 Special Condition (a) Special Exclusion (iv)
Tubing on snow 2 Special Condition (a)  Special Exclusion (iv) and (v)
Tuk Tuk (as a passenger) 1 Special Condition (a) Policy excludes tuk tuk racing. 
Ultimate Frisbee 1    
Via Ferrata 2    
Volleyball 1    
Wake skating 1    
Wakeboarding 1    
Wakeboarding (see Water skiing)  -    
Walking (see Hiking)  -    
War games/military simulation (see Paint balling/airsoft OR Rifle range/sports shooting)  -    
Water skiing/wakeboarding 1 Special Condition (a) or (b) Policy excludes jumping. Special Exclusion (v)
Weight training (see Gym training) -    
White water kayaking/canoeing (see Kayaking/Canoeing)  -    
White water rafting (grades 1-5) 2 Special Condition (a) Special Exclusion (iv)
Windsurfing (inland or coastal waters only) 1   Special Exclusion (v)
Working - Non-manual work 1   Special Exclusion (v)
Working - manual work 2   Special Exclusion (v)
Yachting (see Sailing)  -    
Yoga (class, alone/home practice) 1    
Yoga (teaching) 2 Special Condition (b) Special Exclusion (v)
Zip line 1 Special Condition (a)  
Zorbing 2 Special Condition (a) Special Exclusion (iv) and (v)

Excluded Activities

There is no cover for the following activities:
  1. base jumping, wingsuit flying, cliff diving, martial arts competitions, motorsports, piloting an aircraft, stunt flying/aerobatics, rodeo, bull riding/Running of the Bulls;
  2. taking part in dangerous expeditions; mountaineering expeditions or expeditions to remote and inaccessible regions of the Arctic, Antarctica or Greenland, unless approved by the insurer;
  3. crewing of a vessel more than 60 miles from a protected body of water;
  4. work as a guide where ropes or other specialist climbing equipment is required;
  5. work offshore or underground, including in caves;
  6. work operating machinery or heavy/industrial equipment;
  7. work at height without proper safety equipment. Work at height is further restricted to a maximum of two meters; or
  8. work in close proximity to dangerous animals including, for example, hippopotami, crocodiles, alligators, sharks, elephants, bears, big cats and deadly snakes.
Work (as defined in the policy wording) includes volunteer work, work placements, incidental work and work experience, whether paid or unpaid.

Specific restrictions or exclusions

Special Conditions


(a) You must be with a professional, qualified and licensed guide, instructor or operator.
(b)  You must have the appropriate certification or license to participate in this sport, activity or experience at home. If operating a motor vehicle, the driver must hold the appropriate valid license in their country of residence for the vehicle.
(c) Within 60 miles of a safe haven (a protected body of water used by marine craft for refuge from storms or heavy seas).
(d) Conventional skiing/snowboarding only. It is not a condition of cover that you ski or snowboard with a guide, however, you must follow the International Ski Federation code or the resort regulations; we strongly suggest that you do not venture into backcountry areas without taking local advice and appropriate rescue equipment.
(e) Conventional scuba diving only.  You are limited to your current qualification limit, unless accompanied by a qualified instructor, taking part in a recognized course requirement of your chosen Diving Association. You must hold a current P.A.D.I. (Professional Association of Diving Instructors), B.S.A.C. (British Sub Aqua Club), SAA (Sub Aqua Association), C.M.A.S. (Confederation Mondiale Des Activites Subaquatiques), or equivalent internationally recognized qualification and follow their relevant Association, Club or Confederation rules and guidelines at all times, or you must only dive under the constant supervision of a properly licensed Diving Instructor and follow their rules and instructions at all times.

Special Exclusions - there is no cover for:

(i) Any competition, free-style skiing / snowboarding, ski/ snowboard jumping, ski-flying, ski / snowboard acrobatics, ski / snowboard stunting, or ski racing or national squad training, the use of skeletons.
(ii) Any unaccompanied dive, any dive for gain or reward, any dive which takes you below your current qualification limits, or any dive below 30 meters (or 50 meters if the appropriate additional premium has been paid) under any circumstances.
(iii) Free mountaineering, climbing in remote or inaccessible regions, exploratory expeditions and new routes, high altitude climbing over 6,000 meters, mountaineering expeditions or  activities within Antarctica, the Arctic Circle or Greenland.
(iv) Personal Accident
(v) Personal Liability

This is only a summary of cover and does not include the full terms and conditions 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 contact us.


 


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