Winter Sports
Cover

Travel Insurance for Winter Sports including cover for hundreds of pre-existing medical conditions

Destinations

Ski Pack

Medical

What is winter sports travel insurance?

Whether you’re obsessed with the mountains or a snowboarding first timer, Winter Sports Travel Insurance lets you hit the slopes with peace of mind.

It covers you for the risks that go hand-in-hand with snow, ice and high altitudes.

A standard travel insurance policy won’t usually cover these risks, but you can add Winter Sports Cover to your Comprehensive and Signature policy.

You get cover for:

  • Loss, theft or damage to equipment and ski passes
  • Equipment hire fees if your equipment is lost, stolen, damaged or delayed
  • Unused ski-school or ski-instructor fees
  • Cover for avalanches and landslides


Our Comprehensive and Signature Annual Multi-Trip policies come with Winter Sports cover included. With a Comprehensive policy, you’ll have cover for two trips, up to a total of 21 days. But if you upgrade to a Signature policy you get even more cover, with 28 days of protection for two trips – so you can enjoy your winter holidays for longer!

What activities does Winter Sports Insurance cover?

Your Winter Sports add-on covers the following activities:

  • Glacier skiing
  • Guided cross-country skiing (Nordic skiing)
  • Ice-skating (outdoor)
  • Mono-skiing (on-piste)
  • Skiing or snowboarding (off-piste on recognised and authorised areas only)
  • Skiing or snowboarding (on-piste)
  • Snowshoeing
  • Tobogganing


These activities are only covered on a non-competitive/non-professional basis.

Benefits of Travel Insurance including Winter Sports

Not only do you get the same benefits as a standard Travel Insurance policy you will also get the following benefits with the Winter Sports Travel Insurance extension cover:

Ski Equipment

Medical Expenses

Piste Closure

Winter Sports Cover FAQ's

Frequently Asked Questions about Winter Sports Cover

What's covered with Winter Sports Travel Insurance?
  • Winter sports equipment:
    You can be covered for hiring replacement equipment if yours gets stolen, lost or damaged. You’ll need to give us receipts and written confirmation of the original purchase and its replacement hire. We’ll take into account the age of your lost items to work out a claim.

 

  • Ski pass:
    You can be covered if your ski pass is stolen, lost or damaged. For this cover to apply, you’ll need to have been carrying it with you at the time or have left it in a locked safe.

 

  • Ski pack:
    You can be covered for the unused part of your ski pack if you’re unable to take part in winter sports because of illness or injury. A ski pack includes ski-school fees or ski instructor fees and the cost of any lift pass you booked.

     

    You’ll need to be medically certified as being unfit for your activity, and you’ll need to send us a medical certificate that states that you couldn’t take part.

 

  • Winter sports equipment delay:
    You can be reimbursed if your equipment is certified by the carrier to have been misplaced for more than 12 hours on the outward journey of your trip.

 

  • Piste closure:
    You can be covered to travel to another area if you can’t take part in activities at your pre-booked resort for more than 24 consecutive hours because of total closure of the lift system caused by lack of snow.

 

  • Avalanche or landslide:
    You can be covered for reasonable extra accommodation and travel expenses if avalanches or landslides affect access to the ski resort or cause public transport services to be cancelled.
Will I be covered for accidents or incidents when taking part in winter sports?

Any medical emergencies caused by taking part in winter sports (like ski accidents or incidents on the slopes) can only be covered if you have added the Winter Sports optional extra to your policy.

If you haven’t added the add-on, you’ll still be covered for medical emergencies – just as long as they’re not directly related to winter sports.

Do I need Winter Sports Cover for a sleigh ride?

Reindeer-drawn sleigh rides are included as a standard activity with our travel insurance, so you won’t need to take out Winter Sports Cover if this is the only activity you’ll be doing.

If you’re planning on taking a sleigh ride drawn by a husky dog or any other type of animal (and aren’t planning on taking the reins), we can still cover you, but we won’t cover you for any Personal Accident or Personal Liability claims.

What activities are not covered by Winter Sports travel insurance?

You won’t be covered for the following activities on any of our travel insurance policies:

  • Bobsleigh
  • Freestyle skiing
  • Heli-skiing
  • Ice hockey
  • Ice sailing/ice windsurfing
  • Luge
  • Off-piste skiing or snowboarding (outside recognised and authorised areas)
  • Paraskiing
  • Skeleton, ski jumping, ski racing, ski slope or ski stunting
  • Skidoo
  • Snow mobiling

If you’re planning to take part in an activity that isn’t listed here, please get in touch.

Will I be covered to take part in activities if there’s an avalanche risk?

You’ll only be covered by your Winter Sports Travel Insurance if resort authorities classify the avalanche risk as 1 or 2. You won’t be covered if you take part in activities in areas classified as avalanche rating 3 or above.

Resort authorities classify avalanche risk as follows:

  • 1 = Low
  • 2 = Moderate
  • 3 = Considerable
  • 4 = High
  • 5 = Very High.

Travel Insurance for Skiing and Winter Sports

Travel Insurance for Skiing and Winter Sports is a specialized form of travel insurance that provides coverage for individuals who participate in skiing, snowboarding, or other winter sports while on vacation. Standard travel insurance policies may not cover the risks associated with these activities, so additional or specialized coverage is often necessary for these adventurous travelers.

Here are the key features of skiing and winter sports travel insurance:

Medical Coverage for Sports Injuries

  • Emergency Medical Expenses: Covers treatment and hospital stays due to injuries sustained while skiing, snowboarding, or engaging in other winter sports.
  • Medical Evacuation and Repatriation: Covers costs of transporting you to the nearest suitable medical facility and, if necessary, returning you to your home country for further treatment.

2. Ski Equipment Coverage

  • Loss, Damage, or Theft of Equipment: Covers your own equipment or rented gear if it’s lost, stolen, or damaged during the trip.
  • Delayed Equipment: Compensation for renting replacement equipment if your skis, snowboards, or other gear are delayed by the airline.

3. Piste and Avalanche Closure

  • Piste Closure: Offers compensation if bad weather or lack of snow causes the ski slopes to close.
  • Avalanche Coverage: Covers additional expenses if an avalanche prevents you from reaching your resort or delays your return.

4. Ski Pass and Lesson Coverage

  • Unused Ski Passes: Refunds for unused ski passes, lift tickets, or lessons if an injury or other covered event prevents you from skiing.
  • Prepaid Activities: Compensation for prepaid activities or lessons that you cannot attend due to illness or injury.

5. Personal Liability

  • Provides protection in case you accidentally injure someone else or cause damage to property while skiing or snowboarding.

6. Off-Piste Coverage

  • Off-Piste Skiing: Some policies may cover off-piste skiing (outside of designated trails), but usually with conditions, such as requiring a guide or staying within resort boundaries.

7. Trip Cancellation or Curtailment

  • Covers non-refundable costs if you need to cancel or cut short your trip due to illness, injury, or other covered reasons (like severe weather).

Important Considerations:

  • High-Risk Sports Exclusions: Some insurance policies may exclude extreme activities like heli-skiing or off-piste without a guide, so check the policy details.
  • Age Limits: Some policies may have age restrictions for winter sports coverage.
  • Pre-Existing Medical Conditions: Make sure to declare any pre-existing medical conditions, as these might affect your coverage, especially for winter sports injuries.


Winter sports travel insurance ensures you’re protected against the unique risks involved with skiing, snowboarding, and other snow-related activities, providing peace of mind for your adventure.

Considering Age when finding Travel Insurance with Winter Sports Cover

Winter Sports Travel Insurance for Over 65s

Whilst we do offer no age limit across our Travel Insurance policies, when selecting Winter Sports Travel Insurance cover extension, there is a maximum age limit of 75. Cover varies by insurer and some Travel Insurance, including winter sports cover, contain exclusions. Always check the policy wording for your chosen insurer.

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