Backpacker Travel Insurance

Backpacking should feel exciting, simple and full of possibility.

If something goes wrong - like an illness abroad, a cancelled flight or lost possessions, Backpacker Travel Insurance can help protect you from high costs and stress.

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Over 2 million trips protected last year
abroad and in the UK

What is Backpacker travel insurance?

If something goes wrong - like an illness abroad, a cancelled flight or lost possessions, Backpacker Travel Insurance can help protect you from high costs and stress.

You must be aged 64 or under on the policy start date.

With ERGO Travel Insurance, you also get 24/7 medical support from our Claims Assistance Company, if you are ill or injured during your trip.

Backpacking often means moving between countries, staying in hostels, taking night buses and carrying everything you own. ERGO Backpacker Travel Insurance helps you stay confident and prepared, with cover for:

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Element

Simple and reliable cover for your key needs. This includes emergency medical care abroad, cancellation and travel delay. It gives you the core protection included in every policy.

Protect

This gives you more protection. You get higher limits for emergency medical costs, cancellation and your belongings than our Element cover.

Optimum

This is our most complete cover. It has the highest limits for emergency medical costs, cancellation and belongings.

Choose the Level of Cover
That Suits Your Journey

Protection That Travels with You

Every backpacking trip is different, so we offer three levels of cover to match your plans and budget. All include strong core protection and 24/7 emergency help.

Element

Protect

Optimum

Emergency medical

Up to £7.5 million

Up to £10 million

Up to £15 million

If you become ill or injured while you’re away, we’re here to help. Our 24/7 emergency medical team can support you with treatment, hospital care and, if needed, getting you home safely. Your policy includes cover for medical expenses, repatriation and additional travel or accommodation costs when medically necessary. If you have any pre-existing medical conditions, or if your health changes before you travel, you’ll need to tell us, so we can confirm whether those conditions are covered.

Cancellation

Up to £1,500

Up to £3,000

Up to £5,000

Sometimes plans change unexpectedly. If you need to cancel your trip before you go, cancellation cover helps protect the costs of your pre-booked travel and accommodation. We’ll guide you through what evidence you’ll need and how to make a claim. Cancellation is only for reasons stated in policy – such as illness.

Personal possessions

Up to £750

Up to £1,500

Up to £2,500

If your belongings are lost, stolen or damaged during your trip, our cover may help with the cost of replacing them, up to the limits shown in your policy. If anything is stolen, you must report it to the police as soon as you can. Please ask for a written police report, as we need this for your claim. You should also keep any receipts or other proof that shows you owned the items. These documents will help us review your claim quickly.

Personal accident

Up to £10,000

Up to £20,000

Up to £30,000

Personal Accident cover pays a fixed lump sum if you suffer death, loss of limb, loss of sight or permanent total disablement as a result of an accident during your trip. The amount paid depends on your age and the cover level you choose.

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Flexible Cover for Long, Multi-Country Trips

Backpacking is full of memorable moments and we’re here to help you enjoy them, stress-free. Your policy includes cover for over 40 activities. This includes surfing, snorkelling and trekking up to 2,500m. To see what’s included, check out our activities list. If your activity isn’t listed, just get in touch and we’ll let you know if we can cover it.

We also know that many backpackers take on casual work to fund their travels. That’s why our policy includes cover for non-manual work. Non manual work is covered as long as it does not involve machinery, construction or physical labour. This includes work like bar or restaurant jobs.

We can cover trips up to 550 days subject to eligibility.

And for today’s tech-savvy traveller, there’s optional gadget cover too. You can add this to your policy to protect your smartphone, tablet, or camera, each worth up to £1,000.

Please check your policy documents for the full list. Your cover will be in line with the policy terms.

What Isn’t Covered?

There are some things travel insurance cannot cover. For example:

Medical conditions you haven’t told us about
Travelling against medical advice
Claims involving alcohol abuse or drug misuse
High risk activities not agreed by ERGO in advance
Travel to places the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Illegal or reckless behaviour
Claims caused by events such as earthquakes, tsunamis, epidemics or pandemics
Sea-going cruises

You need to take care of your belongings - and your gadgets if you’ve added Gadget cover. This means keep valuables with you and don't leave bags unattended. When you make a claim, you need to show you owned the item and provide evidence of what happened. If something is lost or stolen, make sure you get a police report before you return home from your trip.

We’ll cover cancellation when it’s for one of the reasons listed in your policy. Cancelling your trip for any other reason is not covered.

Report any delays to your baggage to your travel provider before you leave the baggage reclaim area. They’ll give you a Property Irregularity Report which you’ll need to make a claim for replacement items you buy.

You can claim a benefit for delays of 12 hours or more to your departure. The delay must be caused by one of the reasons listed in your policy. You are covered to abandon your trip after a 12-hour delay where no other transport options are available. Abandonment is only covered for the insured reasons listed in your policy.

If you are unsure about medical conditions or planned activities, our team can help before you travel.

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Upgrade your cover

Add on additional cover to your policy, making to just right for you.

Cover up to £500 on Element, £650 on Protect or £750 on Optimum if your gadgets (including phones, laptops, tablets and smartwatches) are lost stolen or damaged during your insured trip. Gadgets must have been purchased in the UK and you will need proof of purchase if you need to make a claim.

If you're hiring a car this cover will pay up to £2,000 to reimburse you for the excess or deposit that you had to pay under the terms of your rental agreement, following damage to the vehicle.

Winter sports trips and activities are not covered under any section of the policy as standard. Add this cover to ensure you will be covered for unforeseen events such as Cancellation and Medical Expenses incurred during your trip. In addition, you will be covered for: Loss, theft or damage of your winter sports equipment up to: £500 on Element, £750 on Protect and £1,000 on Optimum. The cost of hiring winter sports equipment if your own is delayed in arriving up to: £300 on Element, £450 on Protect and £600 on Optimum. The cost of a replacement ski-pass if yours is lost or stolen up to: £200 on Element, £250 on Protect and £300 on Optimum. The unused proportion of your ski pack if you are prevented from taking part in winter sports following your illness or bodily injury OR as a result of piste closure at your resort up to: £300 on Element, £450 on Protect and £600 on Optimum. Additional travel and accommodation expenses incurred in reaching your resort or returning home as a result of an avalanche or landslide up to: £300 on Element, £450 on Protect and £600 on Optimum.