Activity Travel Insurance

If you are thinking of participating in some kind of sporting activity while on holiday, whether pre-planned or on the spur of the moment, then you must check the small print of your travel insurance policy very carefully, especially if it is an activity which your insurer might class as "hazardous", such as parascending off a Mediterranean beach, abseiling down a rock face in the Pyrenees or even just trekking in the foothills of the Alps.

"The issue of insurance for activities is a very complex one for holidaymakers to understand, mainly because of the huge diversity of cover," warns Kim Sullivan of Direct Travel Insurance. Attitudes to different activities vary from one insurance company to another, so a sport which may be included as standard in all insurance policies by one insurer could be excluded by another.

Many insurers give certain activities a "risk rating" and may offer an policy which can be extended for activities such as white-water rafting, flying a microlight or abseiling. The insurance company Primary, for example, offers an "add-on" policy called Primary Active which rates sports in four categories.

Those in the first category, such as windsurfing, rambling, and dinghy sailing, are automatically covered in all its European and worldwide policies (whether annual multi-trip, single trip, family or individual), while sea canoeing, rock-climbing and canyoning - activities it considers more hazardous - are only covered if you opt for the enhanced version.

Even if you are sure that your policy covers the activity you want to try, you should also check the caveats - most insurers will only provide cover if you are participating on an "occasional" or "incidental" basis (that is, the activity is not the sole purpose of your trip). And if you make a claim, you may have to prove you were wearing proper protection, observing local rules (as well as those set down by the sport's governing body) and were accompanied by a qualified instructor.

Also check the excesses - which can be more for certain activities - as well as the personal accident and personal liability, as in some instances these may be waived. The safest bet is to phone your insurer in advance to talk through your plans and check the levels of cover provided. Here is a rundown of what some insurers do, and do not, allow.

Water sports

Worldwide Insure charges no premium for unlimited participation in what it calls "just for fun" activities such as kayaking, sailboarding, sailing in territorial waters (less than 12 miles off shore), scuba diving to 30 metres, banana boating, canoeing (on a river or lake), water-skiing, white-water rafting (grades 1-4) and windsurfing. However, in Europe it charges an additional £3 per day to cover jet skiing, with an excess of £100 on claims resulting from this activity.

Nat West covers water-skiing, windsurfing, jet skiing, and white-water kayaking (up to grade 3), but advises customers to double-check with an advisor before taking part. Preferential will only insure canoeing and rafting in calm conditions and Boots Insurance covers scuba diving to a depth of 30 metres but will not insure jet biking or jet skiing. MRL is the only company I found whose policy does not limit scuba diving to any depth level.

All standard policies sold by Direct Travel Insurance automatically include canoeing and kayaking (up to grade-2 rivers), jet skiing, water-skiing and white-water rafting (if operated within specified guidelines). The depth of scuba diving depends on your qualification (up to 18 metres for unqualified divers) but in all cases, Direct Travel says you need to be accompanied by an experienced person.

Down Under covers up to 14 days of scuba diving (to a maximum depth of 30 metres), white- and black-water rafting, kayaking (grades 1-4), windsurfing and yachting (both racing and crewing, but only inside territorial waters). There is no extra charge for jet skiing, scuba diving (to a maximum depth of 40 metres), sea canoeing and surfing, but personal accident and personal liability are excluded, which means you won't be covered if you damage property or injure someone accidentally. For white- or black-water rafting or kayaking (grades 5 to 6) you have to pay an extra premium. The policy also excludes personal accident and personal liability, with the excess payable on medical claims increased to £300.

Air sports

Boots Insurance says that it covers activities such as parascending and bungee jumping but excludes gliding and parachuting. Direct Travel Insurance covers ballooning if it's an organised "pleasure ride" and bungee jumping (as long as it is adequately supervised), but excludes hang-gliding and microlighting. Down Under covers a reasonably wide range of airborne activities, including a maximum of three bungee jumps, but the policy excludes personal accident and personal liability cover for trips in small aircraft or helicopters and hot-air balloons.

If you pay an additional premium you can also receive cover for gliding, paragliding, and parascending (over land) but the excess under the medical section of cover is increased to £300. The same rules apply to hang-gliding, high diving, microlighting and parasailing, with an excess of £500 for claims resulting from these activities. Worldwide Insure says it will only cover "incidental participation" in abseiling, heliskiing, ballooning, bungee jumping, parascending and parapenting.

Land sports

Generally insurers tend to be extremely cautious of abseiling, potholing and mountaineering - the Boots and Options policies exclude all three. Direct Travel Insurance automatically includes abseiling (as long as it is adequately supervised), but does not include potholing or mountaineering. Down Under's standard policy covers activities such as horse riding (but not jumping) for a maximum of seven days, orienteering and rambling - and even includes camel or elephant riding (but excludes personal accident and personal liability cover on this). Hiking and trekking are covered only below specified levels. Preferential's standard policy covers a wide range of activities such as cycling (but not mountain biking), fell-running or walking (without the use of picks, ropes and guides) and archery, under proper supervision. Primary's add-on policy "Primary Active" includes rock-climbing, and Worldwide Insure allows fell-walking, orienteering, trekking (below 4,000 metres) and pony trekking - as well as "incidental participation" in mountain biking and go-karting.

Insurance costs

Prices vary: expect to pay from around £12 to £22 per adult for a standard policy covering 17 days' travel in Europe, or from £30 to £45 for a standard annual multi-trip to Europe (excluding winter-sports cover). However, check the basic levels before you buy: the Consumers' Association recommends cover of up to £2 million for medical expenses and up to £1 million for personal liability. The company should also have a 24-hour helpline for advice and assistance and access to the Financial Ombudsman, who will arbitrate if a dispute arises between you and the insurer.

Further information

Boots Travel Insurance (0845 840 2020; www.bootsinsurance.com).

Direct Travel Insurance (01903 812345; www.direct-travel.co.uk).

Down Under (020 7402 9211; www.duinsure.com).

Primary (0870 444 3435; www.primaryinsurance.co.uk).

Worldwide Insure (01892 833338; www.worldwideinsure.com).

MRL (0870 876 7677; www.mrlinsurance.co.uk).

Nat West (0800 051 5051; www.natwest.com).

Options Travel Insurance (0870 876 7878; www.optionsinsurance.co.uk).

Preferential (01702 423393; www.preferential.co.uk).