Sports travel insurance
Award winning cover for 500+ sports
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Medical treatment & repatriation
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Cover for events and competitions
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Trip cancellation & disruption
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Save 10% online*
Award winning insurance
Recognised for our specialist approach
to sports and travel insurance.
Trusted by 75,000+ customers
Exceptional-rated cover from thousands of active travellers.
Backed by AXA XL
Buy with confidence with cover
underwritten by a leading insurer.
What does Sports Travel Insurance cover?
Our Sports Travel Insurance combines specialist sports cover with essential travel insurance.
Unlike many standard travel insurance policies, cover for hundreds of sports and activities can be included.
You’ll find specific sport protection for sports equipment, activity fees and search & rescue, designed to address the specific risks that come with active travel, training, competition and participation abroad.
In addition, this policy can provide cover for emergency medical expenses and repatriation, as well as travel disruption, missed departure, luggage, personal effects and personal accident, liability cover and more.
Make sure you select all the relevant activities you plan to participate in, to ensure you have full coverage.
Our policies provide three different types of cover: Sports Travel Insurance, Sports accident, and Activity Top-Up. Please ensure you select the most suitable cover for your activity, when you get a quote and always review your policy documents.
Sports equipment is excluded under our bolt‑on.
Only a summary of the policy’s coverage is presented on this page. Please refer to policy documents for full details of what is and what is not covered, when you get a quote.
How much does Sports Travel Insurance cost?
The cost of your sports travel policy depends on where you travel and other specific details.
Factors such as your age, destination, how long you’re away, the sport you’re taking part in, your chosen cover limits, and any additional equipment cover.
Review an example price and get a quote tailored for your trip.
Quote example
£16.84**
Example quote is based on:
- Sport Selected Cycle Touring
- Sports Group Group 2
- Package Bronze
- Policy Single Trip Travel Policy
- Duration 2 days
- Destination Europe
- Emergency Medical Treatment £10,000,000
- Trip Cancellation £1,000
- Sports Equipment Cover £200
- Search & rescue £15,000
- See more benefits when you get a quote
**This example is based on a real quote from our website on 26/08/2026 for a 2-day, single trip, adult policy. It is shown for illustrative purposes only. If your circumstances or requirements differ, your quote may be higher or lower. The quote you receive will be based on the information you provide about your activities. Get a quote for pricing tailored to your requirements.
Why do you need sports travel insurance?
Sports-specific protection may be excluded
Some standard travel insurance won’t cover sport & activity participation abroad.
Minor incidents can lead to major costs
A fall, collision or equipment issue can disrupt more than just your plans.
Sports equipment gets damaged
Valuable equipment required to do your sport needs replacing as an unexpected cost.
Hear more from our experts
“Activity-based travel often comes with increased risks, even with careful preparation. So, it’s worth checking you have specialist sports travel insurance before you go.
Good preparation, local safety guidance and the right equipment can reduce the risks, but accidents and disruption can still happen.
Our sports-specific travel policy can cover you for those situations that don’t go to plan; injury costs, cancellations, delays, search and rescue costs, and other unexpected expenses, helping you avoid big bills and big disappointments down the line.
We’ve supported active travellers for more than 30 years, so you can enjoy your trip knowing experienced help is there when you need it.”
Chris Trotman – Head of Sales & Underwriting at SportsCover Direct
Thousands rate how easy it is
We’ve refined our process to make buying sports insurance abroad simple but thorough, with cover designed around the activities you take part in, from training trips and competitions to active holidays overseas.
Our Claims Record
Average pay out for each insurance claim
£1,599.09
How to make a claim
Choose your policy, find the forms you need
Download and complete forms
Submit your claims for review
A Recent Claim Example
“One of our policyholders became unwell while in South Africa to play Cricket. They sought medical treatment and were treated for suspected appendicitis, with symptoms of stomach cramps, high fever and nausea. Because they secured our Sports Travel Insurance, they were covered to seek medical treatment.”
Total Paid Out
£5,971.47
Claim Type
Medical Assistance
Policy Type
Sports Travel Insurance
Incident
Medical assistance
Policy Excess Applied
£90.00
Location
South Africa
Disclaimer
Data relates to all SportsCover Direct Insurance claims from Jan to Dec 2025 inclusive. Claim example from 2025.
Medical cover explained
We provide cover that considers your medical circumstances. Complete a medical declaration to ensure you’re properly protected, as part of the quotation process.*
*Please note, just because you’ve declared a medical condition or injury doesn’t mean it is automatically covered. The insurer needs to assess it first and will inform you by email if any terms apply.
Medical conditions must be declared
All pre-existing conditions considered
Cover available up to age 74
We'll review your details
Most declarations don't mean exclusion
Any terms will be confirmed by email
Browse covered sports and activities
Browse the sports and activities included within this category. For a complete breakdown of cover levels across all sports groups, explore our sports groups guide.
- Abseiling Insurance
- Adventure travel insurance
- Bikepacking Insurance
- BMX Freestyle Insurance
- Bouldering Travel Insurance
- Bungee Jumping Insurance
- Camel Riding Insurance
- Canicross Insurance
- Canyoning Insurance
- Caving Insurance
- Cycle Touring Travel Insurance
- Cycling Travel Insurance
- Cyclocross Insurance
- Downhill Mountain Biking Insurance
- Extreme Sports Insurance
- Game Hunting Insurance
- Gliding Insurance
- Hang Gliding Insurance
- Ice Climbing Insurance
- Mountain Biking Insurance
- Mountainboarding Insurance
- Mountaineering Insurance
- Orienteering Insurance
- Parachuting Insurance
Why choose us
SportsCover Direct is a specialist insurance provider focused entirely on sport. For over 30 years, we’ve helped athletes, teams and organisations get the protection they need, whether they’re travelling, competing, or training abroad or in the UK.
Covering 500+ sports
Fast online quotes
Established over 30 years
UK-based support team
FAQs
Yes, for example Mountaineering (with ropes or guides); Mountain climbing (with ropes or guides); Ice climbing exclude participation in activities where the altitude exceeds four thousand (4,000) metres above sea level whilst undertaken in any territory detailed within Geographical Zone(s) 2 & 3.
Please refer to policy documentation for full details.
Not online but sometimes this is possible if you call us, depending on circumstances.
No, we only insure amateurs or semi-professionals. We define a professional as someone earning more than £5,000 per year from their sport, doing their sport as a full-time occupation: paid or unpaid, or on a sports scholarship. If in doubt, please email or call us to discuss.
Yes, we cover a wide range of winter sports including skiing, snowboarding, off-piste, dog sledding, snowshoeing, ski touring, cross country skiing and more. Find out more details about our Winter Sports Insurance policy.
Yes, please see policy documentation for full details.
Our highly experienced claims team can be contacted Mon – Fri, 9am – 5pm. Visit our Claims page to find out more information about how to make a claim.
Our policies will cover anyone up to the age of 74 at the time of purchase. An applicant aged 75 or over cannot be covered.
We provide cover for over 500 sports and activities. We split them into seven sports groups, when you select a sport you’re covered for that sport and also all sports in the same sports group and any lower sports groups.
Please click on the following link to view all the sports we cover and their corresponding sports group:
WORLDWIDE EXCLUDING USA, CANADA
WORLDWIDE INCLUDING THE USA, CANADA
We can cover multiple extreme sports that are often not covered on other travel insurance policies. Skydiving, Kitesurfing, Canyoning, Off-Piste skiing, Downhill mountain biking are examples of sports we can cover as part of our Sports Travel Policy.
You can also choose our Activity Top-Up cover, for those who already have basic travel insurance but need a specialist activity covered in the short term.
You would need to contact our emergency assistance providers (International Medical Group) who would make arrangements on your behalf. Please note we are unable to cover you whilst participating in any Activity in territories not mapped on the maps issued by the nearest local authority or more than one-hundred and fifty (150) kilometres from the nearest habitation.
Our Sports Travel Insurance can generally be taken out even if you have a medical condition. We can almost always offer cover at no extra cost. However occasionally, special terms may apply following a claim for a medical condition for subsequent claims. Please check policy documentation for further information, which you’ll find with your quote.
It is important because if you have an accident aboard and need medical assistance, you could be forced to pay a lot of money to receive treatment or be repatriated back to the UK. A comprehensive sports travel insurance policy will cover these costs up to the policy limit.
You may also experience flight delays or cancellation of your trip which results in costing you money. These too will be covered under our Sports Travel Insurance policy.
Yes, we provide cover for your sports equipment.
We’ll cover your sports equipment or that which is hired to you during your trip. We’ll pay for:
- The cost of hiring replacement equipment; or
- The intrinsic value of the lost or damaged sports equipment; or
- The cost of repair of your sports equipment
Get specialist cover in minutes
Covering over 500 sports with quick online quotes and UK- based support, if you need it.
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