Compare Backpacker Travel Insurance

Using our online comparison tool, powered by our travel insurance partner, CYTI, we ran quotes to review single trip backpacker polices. We based our research on a solo traveller in their mid-20s, backpacking across Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia and Laos for three months.

We assumed that the traveller does not have any pre-existing medical conditions and only included policies that offered at least £5 million in medical cover and £2,000 in cancellation cover.

We then ranked each policy on the following factors:

• Price: The premium (one-off payment) charged for cover
• Gadget cover: How much protection is available for personal devices such as smartphones and laptops as standard
• Excess: the amount deducted from any successful claims payout

Each policy was awarded a Forbes Advisor star rating out of five.

Backpacker insurance is a type of travel insurance policy specifically designed to cover extended trips where you may visit a number of countries and participate in a range of activities.

A backpacker travel insurance policy includes financial protection for any medical treatment you may require while away, as well as for mishaps such as cancellation and lost or stolen baggage.

Many policies also offer cover for gadgets, such as mobiles and laptops, as standard. However, it’s not guaranteed and limits vary so ensure you check the policy terms and exclusions.

Backpacker travel insurance policies vary in terms of what they offer. But typically, policies will cover the following as standard:

• medical expenses and repatriation back to the UK
• cancellations and delays
• personal liability (should the policyholder injure someone or damage their belongings on holiday)
• baggage and personal belongings
• extreme sports such as white-water rafting and bungee jumping
• winter sports such as skiing.

Note that not all policies will cover extreme or winter sports so check carefully before applying. Depending on your plans, it may be worth taking out a separate winter sports cover instead.

If you are planning on taking up volunteering work, check if cover extends to this too.

The cost of a backpacker insurance policy depends on a number of factors.

As with all types of travel insurance, premiums tend to increase with the age of the policyholder, and if they are travelling with a medical condition they had before taking out the policy (known as a pre-existing condition).

Destination also has a part to play in a policy’s price. Insurance for Europe tends to be the cheapest, while cover for travel further afield (particularly for destinations such as the USA, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean where medical costs are very high) will cost more.

While the cost of a policy will be specific to the traveller, the table below illustrates what a backpacker insurance policy might cost for an 18-year-old with no pre-existing conditions travelling for a year.

Source: Moneysupermarket.com Financial Group Limited

As with any type of insurance policy there are also a number of gaps to be aware of. Again, these will vary depending on the policy and the insurer, but the following are likely to fall outside of the policy cover:

• claims resulting from being under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• medical treatment for pre-existing conditions
• claims because vaccination requirements are not met
• claims arising from travel to a destination the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCDO)
• unattended possessions (eg. leaving a bag unattended and it is stolen)
• claims arising from taking part in illegal activity or acting maliciously.

When comparing backpacker travel insurance, it can help to consider the following to get the right cover:

• are all planned activities, such as snowboarding, skiing, scuba diving or quad biking covered?
• are all the trip destinations covered? Premiums may be higher for visiting certain countries
• will the policy cover a change of plans such as extending the trip?
• is there a 24/7 customer helpline for support while away?
• what’s the single item cover limit for personal possessions? Do valuable items require separate cover?

When applying for backpacker insurance it’s important to inform the insurer of any pre-existing conditions. On making a claim, the insurer will investigate. And it could refuse to pay if it finds out false information was provided at application stage, or required information wasn’t disclosed.

Consider the excess, which is the amount payable towards the cost of any claim. The higher it is, the less the policy premiums typically are.

However, bear in mind it may be safer to keep the excess low as the amount to pay will add up if multiple claims are made.

To make a claim while away, take the following steps:

1. Report the incident

For claims involving the theft of belongings, the first step should be to report the incident to the police. Often this needs to be done within 24 hours.

2. Contact the insurer as soon as possible

Contact the insurer with details of the incident and make the claim as soon as possible. Often there is only a short window in which to do this.

3. Get the insurer to accept medical claims

Where medical attention is required, providing it’s not an emergency, get the insurer to accept the claim before going any further.

4. Retain any evidence

Many insurers will ask for evidence to support the claim such as medical bills or police reports. It can also be worth keeping receipts for any essential items bought in the interim, such as food and drink, as many insurers will allow these to be added to a claim.