Before packing and flying away, this ultimate trip needs a few preparations. The unexpected can happen, and that’s where backpacker travel insurance becomes essential. As there are many offers for travel insurances, it can be difficult to choose one. Here’s everything you need to know about choosing the best backpacker insurance, with tips, comparisons and exclusive discounts to help you save.
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Compare travel insurance
Comparing the plethora of travel insurances out there is a tedious affair. First, have a look at what the backpacker travel insurance policies include. If you’re going on a round-the-world trip, they should definitely cover the majority of countries. You might have to decide whether you want to travel to the USA & Canada or to high-risk countries, as those are often excluded from a standard policy.
Furthermore, they should offer a 24-hour emergency assistance. They should cover your luggage and personal belongings, travel documents, a minimum of 1,000,000 EUR of medical expenses and personal liability, repatriation, trip cancellation and curtailment costs. It’s a big plus if you can extend your insurance as you can’t plan your trip in detail. You might change your mind a few times on such a long journey.
There are a plethora of comparison websites with search engines that spit out an overwhelming number of travel insurances. It’s difficult to make a general comparison though, as individual interests and plans differ. We have been working successfully with the partners listed below. If their policies don’t meet your needs, you will surely find a travel insurance provider that offers what you want, when doing your own research.
We receive a fee when you get a quote using these links. We do not represent the insurances companies. This is not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.
Established in 1999, Go Walkabout aims to provide quality insurance cover to UK residents. With the Long Stay & Backpacker Plans, you can find the perfect coverage for your trip around the world for a maximum duration of 2 years.
🎁 10% OFF with code: ABG10.
SafetyWing Insurance is designed to meet the medical and travel needs faced by Digital Nomads and remote workers while they are travelling the world. Nomad Insurance option provides coverage for those traveling outside their home country in case of illness or injury. Remote Health option is a fully-equipped health insurance for freelancers that works regardless of where you live, work or travel. Work from your home country, or any country you choose. Your insurance travels with you.
True Traveller offer three Policies on single trips, called True Value, Traveller and Traveller Plus. True Value is designed for travellers under 40 years of age, and is designed for last minute travellers and backpackers. The Traveller policy is designed for holiday makers and adventurous travellers alike, and Traveller Plus gives enhanced medical and cancellation cover.
There are also other companies on the market that can cover you for your trip. Among them, World Nomads with a core concept of offering the ability to buy a travel insurance policy and extend it again and again as needed. World Nomads aims to cover trip essentials. Even if you run out of travel insurance or leave without it, you can still purchase it.
To view the details of these policies, please refer to the general conditions of each insurance company.
Why Do Backpackers Need Travel Insurance?
Even if you’re young and healthy, accidents and emergencies can happen. In Australia, medical care is expensive for non-residents, and without insurance, you could end up paying thousands.
In summary, a good backpacker insurance policy covers:
- 🏥 Emergency medical treatment & hospital stays
- ✈️ Trip delays and cancellations
- 🎒 Lost or stolen luggage
- 🛠️ Injuries from farm work, hospitality or construction
- 🧗 Optional: adventure sports and gear.
Trips out of the European Union
During a trip to countries of the European Union, you are covered by the health care system of your country. For UK citizens, you should have a UK Global Health Insurance Card or a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). The UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) replaces the EHIC and lets you get state healthcare in Europe at a reduced cost or sometimes for free.
You can apply for or renew your European Health Insurance Card if you’re from the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland. This health card will allow you to get state healthcare in other EEA countries and Switzerland at a reduced cost or for free depending on the situation. Outside of Europe, you will no longer be covered by the Social Security of your home country.
Credit card cover
If you use a standard Visa or MasterCard, the covers are virtually non-existent.
However, some Visa Premier or MasterCard Gold cards offer you travel insurance if you pay for your flight ticket using the card. However, they are usually limited to travel periods of less than 90 days. Also be cautious as the banks use high deductibles and have several exclusion clauses. In most cases these credit card travel insurances are insufficient but, discuss with your bank all the pros and cons.
Cost of medical care overseas
The highest risks are obviously related to your health. A simple fracture could cost you thousands of dollars, potentially even more if there are complications. On top of the financial aspect, logistics also can cause a financial nightmare if you require repatriation. If you are planning to travel to Australia, the country has high-quality healthcare, but it can be expensive for non-residents. Insurance can cover these costs.
Health Risks in Australia
Watch out for spiders — some species are poisonous and can cause serious harm if you don’t treat the bite quickly. The most infamous one is the Redback spider (Red-backed Black Widow). It’s small, often hard to see, and lives all over Australia.
You should also stay alert around sharks, crocodiles, jellyfish, and snakes. Pay attention to the yellow and black warning signs that indicate animal hazards. Always check where you step, and follow local safety rules when swimming — stick to areas with shark and stinger nets.
Some beaches ban swimming altogether due to jellyfish or shark risks, so check in advance — especially if you surf. In the Northern Territory and Queensland, many free camps are near crocodile habitats. Read recent reviews from other travellers on apps like WikiCamps to stay informed and safe.
How to choose your travel insurance plan?
To get the best backpacker travel insurance, it is not enough to choose the one that everyone else recommends to you or the one you hear about the most. Although the popularity of an insurance provider is a positive indication for their reliability, you should make your choice based on your individual needs and the way you travel. Generally speaking, here are some coverage criteria that you need to consider when choosing your worldwide travel insurance.
Consider the Length of Your Stay
First, it is important to determine how long your trip will take. You will be travelling around the world, so it won’t be a short one! A Round The World flight ticket is usually valid for twelve months. Ensure the policy covers the entire duration of your trip. Some policies offer extensions if you decide to stay longer. Also make sure your insurance covers worldwide travel.
You get travel insurance for a single trip for up to 6 months or multiple trips for long term travellers. Check that the travel insurance plan you intend to purchase covers you for your entire trip or that it can be renewed even if you are already on the roads.
Weight the travel-related risks
When determining the risks you may be exposed to, you should think about:
- The countries of destination and the seasons you will be travelling there. You might need medical and evacuation coverage depending on your destination. Find out, what countries are covered by the travel insurance of your choice.
You usually have to choose between a worldwide coverage including or excluding US, Canada, and the Caribbean. So if you intend to travel in those countries, make sure you include them in your insurance plan. - The mode of transport you will use. The risks won’t be the same if you are riding a bike or if you only fly from point A to B.
- Standards of food hygiene and sanitation in the countries you are visiting.
- Your health. If you have a medical condition for example, you will probably need a higher coverage.
- The activities you will be doing. What would be a round the world trip without the fun of doing all kinds of activities. If you plan to participate in activities like scuba diving, hiking, or surfing, make sure your policy covers them. Some of these activities are riskier than others, and not all insurances are equal in coverage. For example, not every insurance company covers sports like scuba diving or surfing.
⚠️ You must be aware that certain countries are not covered. This could be because of a war, the political situation etc. Make sure you verify with your insurance companies that you will be covered in EVERY country you will be visiting.
Overseas medical expenses and hospitalisation
A crucial point of a backpacker insurance is the reimbursement for medical expenses and hospitalisation. You need to know how the insurance will cover you and how your expenses get reimbursed. Remember to keep all of your invoices as well as important forms and documents related to your claim.
Also check if there’s a support service included in the cover. You should be able to contact your insurance quickly and easy at any time (we don’t always have internet reception when travelling).
Repatriation assistance
In extreme cases, repatriation assistance is essential. For example, if you need surgery and you are in a country where medical care is not well-developed, your insurance covers your repatriation. You should also consider whether you want your insurance to reimburse a return ticket in the event of hospitalisation or death of a relative.
Luggage & Personal belongings Cover
When travelling for a long time, you are carrying everything you need with you. You also carry valuable goods such as camera, travel documents, jewellery etc. If your bag gets stolen or lost, you are going to be in a stressful situation having to replace all your belongings.
On a long trip like this one having a high luggage coverage is essential. Insurances offer different levels of coverage for belongings. These range from luggage delay on flights to theft. Carefully read the conditions! It’s often the case that electronic devices such as mobile phones or cameras are not covered.
Civil liability and legal assistance
In some situations (e.g. car accidents), you might be directly responsible for the consequences, in which case you will have to pay the costs. This could be for replacing property of a third party or even medical expenses.
Also make sure that legal assistance is included in the insurance package!
In addition to the criteria in this list, read the general conditions of the insurance. You find information on the conditions of reimbursement, how you make claims, and the cases in which you won’t be covered.
Worldwide travel insurance including the USA and Canada
Perhaps you have already noticed that insurance companies offer worldwide travel insurance including or excluding the USA and Canada. Insurances that include the USA and Canada are more expensive. This is because the health care system in the USA and Canada is much more expensive than in other countries.
Make sure to read the fine print & Check the providers reputation
Understand what is and isn’t covered. Pay attention to exclusions, limits, and deductibles.
Look for reviews and ratings to gauge the insurer’s customer service and claims process.
Tips to Save on Travel Insurance
- 🎟️ Use promo codes like ABG10 for Go Walkabout
- 📆 Book the full duration to avoid paying more later
- 🧳 Only add extras you need (gadgets, sports, etc.)
- 💳 Check your credit card or travel insurance for existing benefits
- 💻 Compare several quotes before booking
FAQ Health Insurance
Don’t panic, you can still purchase travel insurance if you’re already overseas. Unfortunately you won’t be able to make a claim for an incident that already occured. Most insurance companies allow you to subscribe while already overseas (i.e.World Nomads, True Traveller, Safety Wing, etc).
Always check the following is covered: Medical treatment and repatriation, luggage and personal belongings, activities, holiday disruptions and cancellations.
Hopefully you won’t ever have to claim on your policy. However, it will give you peace of mind if something bad happens. Most policies for backpackers aren’t very expensive, so you will be able to find a cover without spending a lot.
Medical care in Australia can be expensive for travelers and visitors. So it is strongly recommended to have travel insurance when travelling to Australia.
Many backpacker policies cover a range of adventure activities and sports. However, the specific activities covered can vary between insurers, so it’s crucial to check the policy for details.
Yes, policies typically have exclusions and limitations. Common exclusions may include coverage for high-risk activities, certain pre-existing conditions, or specific destinations. Read your policy documents carefully to understand these limitations.
Disclose any pre-existing conditions when applying for insurance. Some conditions may be covered, while others might require an additional premium.
Keep all relevant documentation (receipts, reports, etc.) and contact your insurance provider as soon as possible to initiate the claims process.
Updated on 16.04.2025
