The length of your trip
The longer your trip, the more you can expect to pay for your insurance cover
What is backpacker insurance?
Backpacker insurance, sometimes known as extended trip insurance, is a type of travel insurance policy that provides for long-stay holidays and trips with multiple destinations. This makes it ideal for backpacking holidays.
What makes backpacker travel insurance different from a standard policy is that it covers the following:
Stays in multiple destinations: Unlike standard travel insurance, which may limit coverage to specific countries or regions, backpacker insurance often provides more comprehensive global coverage. It ensures that you're protected wherever your travels take you.
An extended travel period: Standard travel insurance policies are usually designed for shorter trips, so backpacker insurance offers coverage for extended periods, accommodating the full length of the journey.
A wider range of activities: On standard travel insurance policies you may not be covered for certain higher-risk activities such as hiking, meaning you'll need to get extra coverage. Some backpacker travel insurance policies will cover common backpacking activities automatically.
Do I need backpacker travel insurance?
Backpackers insurance is designed for travellers planning long trips with multiple destinations. Other types of standard travel insurance offer limited cover for these kinds of trips that make them less suitable for long trips abroad. An annual multi-trip policy is a good option if you plan to travel multiple times in a year but there is still a limit of 31 days per trip.
A single-trip policies has cover that's even more limited, with limits to your trip length and cover that's limited to one destination. This means that you would need to buy several single trip policies to cover a holiday to more than one country - in which case, a backpacker insurance policy may work out cheaper.
Who can benefit from backpacker insurance?
Students going on a gap year backpacking trip
Travellers planning extended trips abroad for longer than 31 days
Holiday goers with plans to visit more than one country
What should backpacking insurance cover?
The cover you receive from a backpacking travel insurance policy can depend on your provider and the level of cover you choose. When choosing your next policy, however, these are some of the essential things that you should be covered for:
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Emergency medical treatments
If you require emergency medical treatment, your insurance will cover the fees
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Travel disruption
If your trip is delayed, cancelled or cut short, insurance will cover the affected parts of your trip
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Legal fees
Third-party liability cover will cover legal fees if you are held liable for property damage or injury
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Baggage and belongings
Your belongings will be covered for theft, loss, or damage while you are travelling
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Holiday cancellations
You'll be covered if you have to cancel your trip because of health problems or a bereavement
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Emergency travel and accommodation
If an emergency cuts your trip short, insurance can cover travel, accommodation, and repatriation
What's not covered by backpacker insurance?
While backpacker insurance may be the most suitable type of policy for your trip, there will be various exclusions where the insurer won’t pay out. These can vary depending on the insurer and the coverage you take out, which makes it crucial to check the key facts and documents before selecting a policy. Common exclusions you may find in your policy are:
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Travelling against FCDO advice
You won't be covered if you don’t follow the advice of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) for travel and health and safety warnings
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Illegal activity
You will invalidate your travel insurance cover if you act maliciously or take part in any illegal activity while travelling
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Unattended luggage
Your belongings won't be covered for loss or damage if left unattended or if anything happens to your luggage while in the care of an airline
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Drugs and alcohol
You won't be covered for events that happen while you're under the influence of drugs or alcohol (excluding prescription drugs given to you by a doctor)
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Non-emergency cancellations
Your insurance won't cover any cancellation fees if you are cancelling for reasons other than an emergency, such as changing your mind about your travel plans
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Pre-existing conditions
Long-stay travel insurance may not cover pre-existing conditions and you may invalidate your policy if you fail to truthfully answer medical questions when applying for your policy
Our expert says…
Before backpacking, either on your own or in a group, be sure to check FCDO Travel Advice and sign up for email alerts for your destination. As with any trip it’s important to buy the appropriate travel insurance as soon as you book. Ensuring you’re covered for all pre-existing medical conditions and any activities you’ll be doing whilst you’re away could save you thousands if something goes wrong.
Director, Consular & Crisis (FCDO)
How much does backpacker insurance cost?
You can get backpacker insurance with MoneySuperMarket from £10.40
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Your health
Travellers with existing health problems may need to pay more or buy specialist cover
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Destinations
Certain countries have higher medical fees or higher crime rates and will add to your insurance cost
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Excess
A higher excess can make insurance cheaper but you will need to cover more of your emergency expenses
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Add-ons
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Cover level
Some insurance providers offer different levels of cover - ranging from basic to comprehensive
When to buy backpacker insurance?
It’s a good idea to buy travel insurance as soon as you’ve booked your trip, however many people leave it late to organise, which means they may miss out on cancellation cover if anything happens before their trip.
Booking travel insurance as early as possible often allows you to claim back the cost of your holiday if you have to cancel unexpectedly due to illness, injury, redundancy or bereavement.
However not all insurance policies include coverage for cancellations, so it’s important to check your policy documents for terms and conditions.
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Why compare travel insurance with MoneySuperMarket?
Whether you need worldwide cover, a single trip, or a multi-trip policy, at MoneySuperMarket, we’re here to make sure your holiday planning is a breeze. Here’s what you’ll get:
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Flexible to suit your plans
Get fully comprehensive cover for as long as you need it, whether that's one day or a few months, or single trip or multi trip policy
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Simply pop in a few details about where you’re off to next, pick the best deal for you and get insured for your next trip.
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Guides and expert tips
Keep up to date and find out all you need to know with our latest guides
Can I return home from a trip at any time?
Most backpacker insurance policies will offer some cover for return trips home if you need a break from your travel plans, although there may be limits to this cover. If you choose to return home for any reason other than an emergency, your insurance won't cover any fees if you need to cancel pre-booked activities, travel, or accommodation.
What activities will backpacker insurance cover?
Some backpacker travel insurance policies will offer cover for certain activities as standard. These are usually typical holiday and backpacking activities, like hiking and bike riding. In other cases, you may need to add additional cover for activities like winter sports.
If you're planning to take part in any extreme sports or particularly dangerous activities - such as skydiving, mountaineering, or scuba diving - you are unlikely to be covered by a standard travel insurance. To get cover for these activities you will normally need to take out a specialist travel insurance policy.
How do I claim on backpackers insurance while abroad?
If you need to make a claim while you’re backpacking across the globe, there are a few things you can do to make the process as smooth as possible. Most of all, be sure to keep your policy documents at hand, either as a paper copy or online.
When you claim:
Speak to local authorities, if relevant. If you were the victim of a crime, you might have to tell the police and get a report within 24 hours for some insurers to cover your claim, for example
Contact your insurer, which may have a 24/7 contact number so you can make a claim as soon as possible – in some cases, there may be a deadline of 31 days for it to be accepted. You could also be given a number to call for medical emergencies before going to the hospital or doctor to ensure your treatment can be covered
Keep the evidence, as Insurers are likely to request evidence to support your claim, such as a police report with a reference number, medical forms from a hospital or GP or receipts to prove ownership of items lost or stolen
For a full explanation of how to claim on your travel insurance, read our guide 'How do I claim on my travel insurance?'
Can I still get backpacker insurance if I have a pre-existing condition?
In most cases, you can still get backpacker insurance with a medical condition, however you may need to pay more for your cover. It would only be in severe cases that you would be denied travel insurance cover.
Even though your medical condition will add to the cost of your policy, it's important that you tell your insurance provider about any pre-existing conditions. If you don't, you may invalidate your policy.
Can students get a discount on backpacker travel insurance?
Some providers may offer a student discount on their travel insurance policies if you have a discount code. One place to get student discounts is through Student Beans.
However, you would need to buy your travel insurance policy directly from your chosen provider on their website to apply these discounts.
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Reviewed on 18 Dec 2025 by
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Data based on the minimum price of travel insurance sold through MoneySuperMarket for backpacker cover in November 2025. Prices vary based on your personal details & circumstances.