World Nomads Travel Insurance offers great coverage that I’ve depended on for countless adventures around the world. However, weighing your options between World Nomads standard vs explorer coverage can be an annoying and mind-breaking task. Don’t sweat! In this guide, we’ll share everything you need to know to choose the travel insurance that’s right for you.
Note: This article may contain affiliate links
The major advantage of World Nomads over other travel insurance, like SafetyWing or Revolut Travel insurance, is their extensive coverage of adventure sports and adventure travel in general. Unfortunately, comparing the World Nomads Standard Plan vs. the Explorer plan can get a little confusing, as can be deciding whether it is worth the extra cost when deciding whether it is worth it to pay a little extra upfront instead of paying for unexpected emergency medical expenses later.
The main difference between the two plans is which adventure sports are covered under the travel insurance. To make it easier to pick which coverage is best for you I’ve organized a list of the covered sports. If any of your planned sports falls in the explorer plan, opt for the explorer plan. If not, save your hard earned cash and stick with the standard plan and the other coverages (trip interruption, emergency medical, lost baggage) will be more than enough
Below you’ll find a list of all adventure sports covered by World Nomad’s Travel Insurance and the policy you’ll need to purchase for that specific coverage
For the full original list, updates, and World Nomad’s fine print (Terms and Conditions) please visit World Nomad’s full list of covered adventure sports.
Contents of this Guide to Choosing the Right Travel Insurance for Your Adventure: World Nomads Standard vs Explorer
- Standard Policy Adventure Sports Coverage
- Explorer Policy Adventure Sports Coverage
- Excluded Adventure Sports Not Covered by World Nomads
- Common Trip Issues: Are they covered under your preferred World Nomads Coverage?
- Review of World Nomads Coverage Limits with Coverage Explanations
- What isn’t covered under World Nomads
ADVENTURE SPORTS COVERED UNDER WORLD NOMADS STANDARD POLICY
| Acrobatics (gymnastics or trapeze) | Standard Policy |
| Aerial safari | Standard Policy |
| Aerobics | Standard Policy |
| Air guitar | Standard Policy |
| Airsoft | Standard Policy |
| American football (Gridiron) | Standard Policy |
| Angling | Standard Policy |
| Archery | Standard Policy |
| Athletics | Standard Policy |
| ATVs | Standard Policy |
| Au Pair / Nanny (paid or volunteer childcare) | Standard Policy |
| Backpacking | Standard Policy |
| Badminton | Standard Policy |
| Ballet | Standard Policy |
| Ballroom dancing | Standard Policy |
| Banana boat rides | Standard Policy |
| Barefoot water skiing | Standard Policy |
| Baseball | Standard Policy |
| Basketball | Standard Policy |
| Bicycle polo | Standard Policy |
| Bicycle touring | Standard Policy |
| Bikepacking | Standard Policy |
| Black Water Rafting (grades 1 – 5) | Standard Policy |
| BMX (on road / off road / on track / cross country) | Standard Policy |
| Boating | Standard Policy |
| Bobsled (non-snow track) | Standard Policy |
| Bobsleigh | Standard Policy |
| Bowling (lawn, ten-pin, nine-pin, candlepin, duckpin and five-pin bowling, bowls, pétanque & boules) | Standard Policy |
| Boxing (gym or outdoor training) | Standard Policy |
| Broomball (hockey) | Standard Policy |
| Bungee/Bungy jumping | Standard Policy |
| Bushcraft | Standard Policy |
| Bushwalking | Standard Policy |
| Butoh | Standard Policy |
| Camel riding / trekking | Standard Policy |
| Camping (up to 19,685 feet/6,000 meters) | Standard Policy |
| Canoeing | Standard Policy |
| Canyon swing | Standard Policy |
| Canyoning | Standard Policy |
| Capoeira Dancing | Standard Policy |
| Cave tubing (grades 1 – 5) | Standard Policy |
| Caving (sightseeing/tourist attraction) | Standard Policy |
| Cheerleading | Standard Policy |
| Clay pigeon shooting | Standard Policy |
| Competing at international events as a national representative | Standard Policy |
| Cricket | Standard Policy |
| Croquet | Standard Policy |
| Cruising (crewing on a cruise ship) | Standard Policy |
| Cruising (passenger on a cruise ship) | Standard Policy |
| Curling | Standard Policy |
| Cycle touring | Standard Policy |
| Dance (ballet, ballroom, capoeira, salsa, interpretive dance) | Standard Policy |
| Darts | Standard Policy |
| Deep sea fishing | Standard Policy |
| Disc golfing | Standard Policy |
| Dirt boarding | Standard Policy |
| Dodge ball | Standard Policy |
| Dog sledding | Standard Policy |
| Dragon boating | Standard Policy |
| Dune buggy | Standard Policy |
| Elephant riding / trekking | Standard Policy |
| Environmental or conservation work (paid or volunteer manual work) | Standard Policy |
| Equestrian activities | Standard Policy |
| Fell running / walking | Standard Policy |
| Fencing | Standard Policy |
| Fishing (deep sea, inland, ice fishing) | Standard Policy |
| Fitness training | Standard Policy |
| Floorball | Standard Policy |
| Flying (as a passenger in a glider or ultralight) | Standard Policy |
| Flying (as a passenger in a private, licensed scheduled or chartered aircraft or helicopter) | Standard Policy |
| Football (soccer) | Standard Policy |
| Frisbee | Standard Policy |
| Fruit picking (paid or volunteer WWOOFing, general farm work, manual work) | Standard Policy |
| Glacier walking (up to 19,685 feet/6,000 meters) | Standard Policy |
| Gliding | Standard Policy |
| Go karting | Standard Policy |
| Golf | Standard Policy |
| Gridiron | Standard Policy |
| Gym training (aerobics, spinning, zumba, body pump, weight training, cross training, crossfit) | Standard Policy |
| Gymnastics | Standard Policy |
| Handball | Standard Policy |
| High diving up to 10 meters | Standard Policy |
| Hiking or tramping (up to 19,685 feet/6,000 meters) | Standard Policy |
| Hockey | Standard Policy |
| Horse riding (equestrian, dressage, show jumping, eventing, polo) | Standard Policy |
| Horse riding (leisure, social, bare back, non-competitive riding) | Standard Policy |
| Hospitality, bar work (paid or volunteer manual work) | Standard Policy |
| Hunting (excluding big game) | Standard Policy |
| Hurling | Standard Policy |
| Hydrofoiling | Standard Policy |
| Hydrospeeding (grades 1-5) | Standard Policy |
| Ice fishing | Standard Policy |
| Ice hockey | Standard Policy |
| Ice Skating | Standard Policy |
| Indoor skydiving | Standard Policy |
| In-line skating | Standard Policy |
| Jet boating | Standard Policy |
| Jet skiing | Standard Policy |
| Kayaking | Standard Policy |
| Kite boarding (on land or water) | Standard Policy |
| Kite buggy | Standard Policy |
| Kite flying | Standard Policy |
| Kite surfing | Standard Policy |
| Kite wing | Standard Policy |
| Korfball | Standard Policy |
| Lacrosse | Standard Policy |
| Land surfing | Standard Policy |
| Lawn bowling | Standard Policy |
| Martial arts (Judo, karate) | Standard Policy |
| Martial arts (non contact) | Standard Policy |
| Microflight | Standard Policy |
| Mongol Rally | Standard Policy |
| Moped riding | Standard Policy |
| Motorcycling (no coverage for motorcycle) | Standard Policy |
| Motor biking (on or off road, trail bike riding) | Standard Policy |
| Motor biking (pillion passenger) | Standard Policy |
| Motor racing experience (passenger only) | Standard Policy |
| Mountain biking | Standard Policy |
| Netball | Standard Policy |
| Obstacle course/assault course/trim trail | Standard Policy |
| Office work (paid or volunteer clerical, non-manual work) | Standard Policy |
| Orienteering | Standard Policy |
| Outdoor endurance / multi-sport (less than ultra distance) | Standard Policy |
| Outrigger canoeing | Standard Policy |
| Outward Bound | Standard Policy |
| Paddle boarding | Standard Policy |
| Paint balling | Standard Policy |
| Parasailing | Standard Policy |
| Parascending (over land) | Standard Policy |
| Parkour | Standard Policy |
| Polar Plunge | Standard Policy |
| Power lifting | Standard Policy |
| Quad biking | Standard Policy |
| Racquetball | Standard Policy |
| Rambling | Standard Policy |
| Raquet ball | Standard Policy |
| Retail work (paid or volunteer shop assistant / store manager, general retail, manual work) | Standard Policy |
| Rifle range/sports shooting | Standard Policy |
| Riverboarding (grades 1-5) | Standard Policy |
| Rock climbing or bouldering (indoor) | Standard Policy |
| Rock fishing | Standard Policy |
| Roller blading | Standard Policy |
| Roller derby | Standard Policy |
| Roller hockey | Standard Policy |
| Roller skating | Standard Policy |
| Rounders | Standard Policy |
| Rowing | Standard Policy |
| Rugby (Leage/Union) | Standard Policy |
| Running / walking (less than ultra distance) | Standard Policy |
| Running of the bulls (spectator) | Standard Policy |
| Safari tours | Standard Policy |
| Sail boarding | Standard Policy |
| Sailing | Standard Policy |
| Salsa dancing | Standard Policy |
| Sandboarding | Standard Policy |
| Sandskiing | Standard Policy |
| Scooter riding | Standard Policy |
| Scrambling (up to 19,685 feet/6,000 meters) | Standard Policy |
| Scuba diving (to 165 feet/50 meters) | Standard Policy |
| Scuba diving (unqualified/learn to dive course/discover dive with qualified instructor) | Standard Policy |
| Scuba diving to 50 metres | Standard Policy |
| Sculling | Standard Policy |
| Sea canoeing | Standard Policy |
| Sea kayaking | Standard Policy |
| Segway polo | Standard Policy |
| Segway tours | Standard Policy |
| Shooting (rifle range / sports) | Standard Policy |
| Skateboarding (ramp, half pipe, skate park, street) | Standard Policy |
| Skeleton | Standard Policy |
| Ski joring | Standard Policy |
| Skidoos | Standard Policy |
| Skiing (cross country/nordic skiing on marked trails) | Standard Policy |
| Skiing (dry slope) | Standard Policy |
| Skiing (on piste or off piste within resort boundaries) | Standard Policy |
| Skiing (power assisted skiing) | Standard Policy |
| Skiing (snowblading) | Standard Policy |
| Sledding/Snow Sleds/Snow Sleighs (on snow) | Standard Policy |
| Sleigh rides | Standard Policy |
| Snooker | Standard Policy |
| Snorkelling | Standard Policy |
| Snow biking | Standard Policy |
| Snow kiting | Standard Policy |
| Snow mobiling | Standard Policy |
| Snow rafting | Standard Policy |
| Snowboarding (on piste or off piste within resort boundaries) | Standard Policy |
| Snowboarding (dry slope) | Standard Policy |
| Snowshoeing | Standard Policy |
| Soccer | Standard Policy |
| Softball | Standard Policy |
| Spearfishing | Standard Policy |
| Speed boating | Standard Policy |
| Speed flying | Standard Policy |
| Speed trials | Standard Policy |
| Sports coaching paid or volunteer (ball sports, surfing, swimming) | Standard Policy |
| Squash | Standard Policy |
| Stand up paddle surfing/paddle boarding | Standard Policy |
| Stilt walking | Standard Policy |
| Stoolball | Standard Policy |
| Surf boat rowing | Standard Policy |
| Surfing | Standard Policy |
| Swimming | Standard Policy |
| Swimming with whales/whale sharks | Standard Policy |
| Table tennis | Standard Policy |
| Target Shooting | Standard Policy |
| Tchoukball | Standard Policy |
| Teaching (paid or volunteer work) | Standard Policy |
| Ten pin bowling | Standard Policy |
| Tennis | Standard Policy |
| Theme parks / fairgrounds | Standard Policy |
| Tobogganing | Standard Policy |
| Trail bike riding | Standard Policy |
| Trail running (up to 19,685 feet/6,000 meters) | Standard Policy |
| Trampolining | Standard Policy |
| Tree Climbing (trees up to 10 meters) | Standard Policy |
| Trekking (up to 19,685 feet/6,000 meters) | Standard Policy |
| Triathalon (less than ultra-distance) | Standard Policy |
| Tubing on rivers | Standard Policy |
| Tubing on snow | Standard Policy |
| Tuk Tuk (as a passenger) | Standard Policy |
| Ultimate frisbee | Standard Policy |
| Unicycling | Standard Policy |
| Volleyball | Standard Policy |
| Volunteering (childcare, teaching, environmental, wildlife or animal care, WWOOF) | Standard Policy |
| Wake skating | Standard Policy |
| Wakeboarding | Standard Policy |
| Walking (up to 19,685 feet/6,000 meters) | Standard Policy |
| War games (online gaming) | Standard Policy |
| Water polo | Standard Policy |
| Water skiing | Standard Policy |
| Weight training | Standard Policy |
| White water kayaking | Standard Policy |
| White water rafting | Standard Policy |
| Wildlife and animal care (paid or volunteer manual work) | Standard Policy |
| Windsurfing | Standard Policy |
| WWOOFing (general farm work, fruit picking, manual work) | Standard Policy |
| Yachting | Standard Policy |
| Yoga (class, alone/home practice) | Standard Policy |
| Yoga (yoga teacher) | Standard Policy |
| Yungas Road (Death Road) | Standard Policy |
| Zip line | Standard Policy |
| Zorbing | Standard Policy |
For the full original list, updates, and World Nomad’s fine print (Terms and Conditions) please visit World Nomad’s full list of covered adventure sports.
ADVENTURE SPORTS COVERED UNDER WORLD NOMADS EXPLORER POLICY
| Sport | Covered By |
| Abseiling (indoor or outdoor up to 22,965 feet/7,000 meters) | Explorer Policy |
| Aviation | Explorer Policy |
| Ballooning | Explorer Policy |
| Bobsled (in snow) | Explorer Policy |
| Bouldering or soloing (up to 22,965 feet/7,000 meters) | Explorer Policy |
| Bull riding | Explorer Policy |
| Camping (up to 22,965 feet/7,000 meters) | Explorer Policy |
| Cave diving (to 165 feet/ 50 meters) | Explorer Policy |
| Cavern diving (to 165 feet/ 50 meters) | Explorer Policy |
| Caving/spelunking/potholing | Explorer Policy |
| Cliff diving | Explorer Policy |
| Cliff jumping | Explorer Policy |
| Construction or renovation work (paid or volunteer manual work painting, using power tools, labourer, operating machinery, roadwork, working at height) | Explorer Policy |
| Deep water soloing | Explorer Policy |
| Deepelling (up to 22,965 feet/7,000 meters) | Explorer Policy |
| Diving | Explorer Policy |
| Fly by wire | Explorer Policy |
| Flying (as a passenger while stunt flying, performing aerobatics) | Explorer Policy |
| Flying (as a pilot or crew of any aircraft) | Explorer Policy |
| Free diving (to 60 meters) | Explorer Policy |
| Free soloing | Explorer Policy |
| Hang gliding | Explorer Policy |
| Heli-skiing / boarding | Explorer Policy |
| High Wire | Explorer Policy |
| Hiking or tramping (up to 22,965 feet/7,000 meters) | Explorer Policy |
| Horse riding (rodeo) | Explorer Policy |
| Hot air ballooning | Explorer Policy |
| Ice climbing (up to 22,965 feet/7,000 meters) | Explorer Policy |
| Jet pack | Explorer Policy |
| Lifeguarding | Explorer Policy |
| Martial arts (cage fighting, mixed martial arts, kick boxing, Muay Thai) | Explorer Policy |
| Medical and health care paid or volunteer work (health education, medical services, medical practitioner) | Explorer Policy |
| Motocross | Explorer Policy |
| Motor racing (driver or passenger in a motor sport show, race, competition or rally) | Explorer Policy |
| Mountaineering, high altitude climbing or expeditions (up to 22,965 feet/7,000 meters) | Explorer Policy |
| Outdoor endurance / multi-sport (ultra distance or more) | Explorer Policy |
| Paid or volunteer high risk work (offshore, underground or caves, commercial diving) | Explorer Policy |
| Parachuting | Explorer Policy |
| Paragliding | Explorer Policy |
| Parapenting | Explorer Policy |
| Potholing | Explorer Policy |
| Rap jumping (indoor or outdoor up to 22,965 feet/7,000 meters) | Explorer Policy |
| Rapelling (indoor or outdoor up to 22,965 feet/7,000 meters) | Explorer Policy |
| Rickshaw Run | Explorer Policy |
| Rock climbing (outdoor up to 22,965 feet/7,000 meters) | Explorer Policy |
| Running / walking (ultra marathon or more) | Explorer Policy |
| Running of the bulls (with the bulls) | Explorer Policy |
| Scrambling (up to 22,965 feet/7,000 meters ) | Explorer Policy |
| Scuba diving – paid or volunteer instructor or guide (to 165 feet/50 meters) | Explorer Policy |
| Scuba diving (Cave or cavern diving to 165 feet/ 50 meters) | Explorer Policy |
| Scuba diving (commercial to 165 feet/50 meters) | Explorer Policy |
| Shark cage diving (to 165 feet/50 meters) | Explorer Policy |
| Ski instructor or guide (paid or volunteer) | Explorer Policy |
| Skiing (acrobatics, free-style, jumping, flying, stunting) | Explorer Policy |
| Skiing (backcountry/outside of resort boundary/alpine ski touring) | Explorer Policy |
| Skiing (by helicopter/snow cat) | Explorer Policy |
| Skiing (racing) | Explorer Policy |
| Skiing (terrain park within resort) | Explorer Policy |
| Skiing with a miniwing (speed riding) | Explorer Policy |
| Skydiving | Explorer Policy |
| Skydiving from hot air balloon | Explorer Policy |
| Snowboarding (acrobatics, free-style, jumping, flying, stunting) | Explorer Policy |
| Snowboarding (backcountry/outside of resort boundary/alpine ski touring) | Explorer Policy |
| Snowboarding (by helicopter/snow cat) | Explorer Policy |
| Snowboarding (racing) | Explorer Policy |
| Snowboarding (terrain park within resort) | Explorer Policy |
| Snowboarding instructor or guide (paid or volunteer) | Explorer Policy |
| Spelunking (caving) | Explorer Policy |
| Stunt flying | Explorer Policy |
| Tandem skydiving | Explorer Policy |
| Tough Mudder | Explorer Policy |
| Trapeze | Explorer Policy |
| Trekking (up to 22,965 feet/7,000 meters) | Explorer Policy |
| Triathalon (ultra-distance or more) | Explorer Policy |
| Tuk Tuk (racing, hire without licensed driver, Rickshaw Run) | Explorer Policy |
| Via ferrata | Explorer Policy |
| Volunteering (medical, health care, construction, renovation projects, NGO support, disaster relief) | Explorer Policy |
| War games (military simulation) | Explorer Policy |
| Wingsuit flying | Explorer Policy |
| Acrobatics (gymnastics or trapeze) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Aerial safari | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Aerobics | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Air guitar | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Airsoft | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| American football (Gridiron) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Angling | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Archery | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Athletics | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| ATVs | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Au Pair / Nanny (paid or volunteer childcare) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Backpacking | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Badminton | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Ballet | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Ballroom dancing | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Banana boat rides | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Barefoot water skiing | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Baseball | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Basketball | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Bicycle polo | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Bicycle touring | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Bikepacking | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Black Water Rafting (grades 1 – 5) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| BMX (on road / off road / on track / cross country) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Boating | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Bobsled (non-snow track) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Bobsleigh | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Bowling (lawn, ten-pin, nine-pin, candlepin, duckpin and five-pin bowling, bowls, pétanque & boules) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Boxing (gym or outdoor training) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Broomball (hockey) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Bungee/Bungy jumping | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Bushcraft | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Bushwalking | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Butoh | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Camel riding / trekking | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Camping (up to 19,685 feet/6,000 meters) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Canoeing | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Canyon swing | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Canyoning | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Capoeira Dancing | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Cave tubing (grades 1 – 5) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Caving (sightseeing/tourist attraction) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Cheerleading | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Clay pigeon shooting | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Competing at international events as a national representative | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Cricket | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Croquet | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Cruising (crewing on a cruise ship) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Cruising (passenger on a cruise ship) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Curling | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Cycle touring | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Dance (ballet, ballroom, capoeira, salsa, interpretive dance) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Darts | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Deep sea fishing | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Disc golfing | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Dirt boarding | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Dodge ball | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Dog sledding | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Dragon boating | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Dune buggy | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Elephant riding / trekking | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Environmental or conservation work (paid or volunteer manual work) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Equestrian activities | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Fell running / walking | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Fencing | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Fishing (deep sea, inland, ice fishing) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Fitness training | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Floorball | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Flying (as a passenger in a glider or ultralight) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Flying (as a passenger in a private, licensed scheduled or chartered aircraft or helicopter) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Football (soccer) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Frisbee | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Fruit picking (paid or volunteer WWOOFing, general farm work, manual work) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Glacier walking (up to 19,685 feet/6,000 meters) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Gliding | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Go karting | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Golf | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Gridiron | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Gym training (aerobics, spinning, zumba, body pump, weight training, cross training, crossfit) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Gymnastics | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Handball | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| High diving up to 10 meters | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Hiking or tramping (up to 19,685 feet/6,000 meters) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Hockey | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Horse riding (equestrian, dressage, show jumping, eventing, polo) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Horse riding (leisure, social, bare back, non-competitive riding) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Hospitality, bar work (paid or volunteer manual work) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Hunting (excluding big game) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Hurling | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Hydrofoiling | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Hydrospeeding (grades 1-5) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Ice fishing | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Ice hockey | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Ice Skating | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Indoor skydiving | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| In-line skating | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Jet boating | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Jet skiing | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Kayaking | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Kite boarding (on land or water) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Kite buggy | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Kite flying | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Kite surfing | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Kite wing | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Korfball | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Lacrosse | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Land surfing | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Lawn bowling | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Martial arts (Judo, karate) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Martial arts (non contact) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Microflight | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Mongol Rally | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Moped riding | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Motorcycling (no coverage for motorcycle) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Motor biking (on or off road, trail bike riding) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Motor biking (pillion passenger) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Motor racing experience (passenger only) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Mountain biking | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Netball | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Obstacle course/assault course/trim trail | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Office work (paid or volunteer clerical, non-manual work) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Orienteering | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Outdoor endurance / multi-sport (less than ultra distance) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Outrigger canoeing | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Outward Bound | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Paddle boarding | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Paint balling | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Parasailing | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Parascending (over land) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Parkour | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Polar Plunge | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Power lifting | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Quad biking | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Racquetball | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Rambling | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Raquet ball | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Retail work (paid or volunteer shop assistant / store manager, general retail, manual work) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Rifle range/sports shooting | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Riverboarding (grades 1-5) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Rock climbing or bouldering (indoor) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Rock fishing | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Roller blading | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Roller derby | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Roller hockey | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Roller skating | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Rounders | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Rowing | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Rugby (Leage/Union) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Running / walking (less than ultra distance) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Running of the bulls (spectator) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Safari tours | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Sail boarding | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Sailing | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Salsa dancing | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Sandboarding | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Sandskiing | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Scooter riding | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Scrambling (up to 19,685 feet/6,000 meters) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Scuba diving (to 165 feet/50 meters) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Scuba diving (unqualified/learn to dive course/discover dive with qualified instructor) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Scuba diving to 50 metres | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Sculling | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Sea canoeing | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Sea kayaking | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Segway polo | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Segway tours | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Shooting (rifle range / sports) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Skateboarding (ramp, half pipe, skate park, street) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Skeleton | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Ski joring | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Skidoos | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Skiing (cross country/nordic skiing on marked trails) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Skiing (dry slope) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Skiing (on piste or off piste within resort boundaries) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Skiing (power assisted skiing) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Skiing (snowblading) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Sledding/Snow Sleds/Snow Sleighs (on snow) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Sleigh rides | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Snooker | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Snorkelling | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Snow biking | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Snow kiting | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Snow mobiling | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Snow rafting | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Snowboarding (on piste or off piste within resort boundaries) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Snowboarding (dry slope) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Snowshoeing | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Soccer | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Softball | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Spearfishing | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Speed boating | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Speed flying | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Speed trials | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Sports coaching paid or volunteer (ball sports, surfing, swimming) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Squash | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Stand up paddle surfing/paddle boarding | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Stilt walking | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Stoolball | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Surf boat rowing | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Surfing | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Swimming | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Swimming with whales/whale sharks | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Table tennis | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Target Shooting | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Tchoukball | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Teaching (paid or volunteer work) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Ten pin bowling | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Tennis | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Theme parks / fairgrounds | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Tobogganing | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Trail bike riding | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Trail running (up to 19,685 feet/6,000 meters) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Trampolining | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Tree Climbing (trees up to 10 meters) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Trekking (up to 19,685 feet/6,000 meters) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Triathalon (less than ultra-distance) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Tubing on rivers | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Tubing on snow | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Tuk Tuk (as a passenger) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Ultimate frisbee | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Unicycling | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Volleyball | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Volunteering (childcare, teaching, environmental, wildlife or animal care, WWOOF) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Wake skating | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Wakeboarding | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Walking (up to 19,685 feet/6,000 meters) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| War games (online gaming) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Water polo | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Water skiing | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Weight training | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| White water kayaking | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| White water rafting | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Wildlife and animal care (paid or volunteer manual work) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Windsurfing | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| WWOOFing (general farm work, fruit picking, manual work) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Yachting | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Yoga (class, alone/home practice) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Yoga (yoga teacher) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Yungas Road (Death Road) | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Zip line | Standard and Explorer Policy |
| Zorbing | Standard and Explorer Policy |
For the full original list, updates, and World Nomad’s fine print (Terms and Conditions) please visit World Nomad’s full list of covered adventure sports.
ADVENTURE SPORTS EXCLUDED FROM WORLD NOMAD’S COVERAGE
| Base jumping | Excluded |
| Mountain guide (mountaineering; rock climbing instructor or guide using ropes or specialist equipment) | Excluded |
| Mountaineering, high altitude climbing or expeditions (over 22,965 feet/7,000 meters, unsupported or solo expeditions, exploratory expeditions or new routes) | Excluded |
For the full original list, updates, and World Nomad’s fine print (Terms and Conditions) please visit World Nomad’s full list of covered adventure sports.
Things Keep in Mind when Weighing World Nomads Standard vs. Explorer Coverage
- Existing issues (rash, injuries, etc.) from before your coverage period will not be covered.
- If you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, your issue/accident will likely not be covered, so act accordingly
- If you ride a motorbike without a helmet or under the influence of drugs or alcohol as driver or passenger, any related accident or injuries will most likely not be covered, so act accordingly
- For general global assistance, while covered under World Nomads, contact the following numbers for assistance
- General Global Assistance: +1 954-334-8143 or +1 877-289-0968
- Keep all of the following with you when you travel, to make getting assistance as easy as possible
- Contact number for World Nomads
- A contact number you can be reached at
- Your designated emergency contacts and their phone numbers/contact information
- Your policy number
- A copy of your passport
Common Trip Issues: Are they Covered under World Nomads?
- Theft: Violent and petty crime, including loss of your belongings due to no fault of your own and emergency medical coverage, may be covered under your World Nomads policy, so check the fine print.
- Muggings/robbery/Assault: Covers ambulance transportation, hospitalization, day surgery, outpatient treatment, medications, extra expenses to travel home caused by the incident
- Motorbike accidents: Emergency medical for injuries is covered as long as you were wearing a helmet, riding legally, and not intoxicated
- Adventure sports accidents: Adventure and sport-related accidents (Surf accidents, trekking accidents, etc.) are covered on a sport by sport and activity by activity basis in accordance with the coverages of your chosen policy (standard vs. explorer)
- Illness: Unexpected illness, such as travelers diarrhea, Bali belly, Dengue, etc., or illnesses common to your destination region are commonly covered – along with treatment, hospitalization, and evacuation flights if necessary – confirm to make sure by reading your polic
- Animal Issues: Bites, attacks, and the follow on emergency treatment are generally covered in World Nomads policies
- Emergency medical treatment:
- Emergency medical evacuation: Emergency medical evacuation is covered when recommended by a doctor and preapproved by World Nomads’ 24/7 support team and covers air ambulance, Medevac flights, sea level airlift, helicopter evacuation, and ground ambulance
- Political evacuation
- Delayed baggage: When baggage is delayed more than 12 hours, your policy covers purchase of essentials so you can continue your travels
- Trip delay: Airline flight delays of 6 hours or more trigger trip delay coverage and your coverage will trigger reimbursement for basic expense you have to pay additionally due to the delay in addition to compensation for non-refundable or prepaid portions of the trip forfeited due to the delay.
- Scams: Unfortunately, common scams pulled on travelers likely are not covered by World Nomads insurance, however, if theft or assault has occurred, file a police report and contact World Nomads for help
- Travel accidents: Motorbike accidents (while driving legally and responsibly) and adventure sports accidents are covered generally, but confirm coverage levels and activities in your chosen policy
Note: This is a quick summary of coverages to help in your research however, please visit **World Nomads information** as policies vary in coverage based on chosen coverages and your home country.
Other issues covered by World Nomads (list case plus example)
- Terrorist attacks: Hospitalization, emergency care, medical transport home, trip interruption and travel cancellation
- Emergency dental (overseas): Such as broken tooth, an infection or a injury to your mouth or jaw. General checkups and routine medical (fillings, implants, etc.) are not covered
- Overseas medical: For unexpected medical issues, such as illness, motorbike accidents, or animal attacks, World Nomads covers hospitalization, outpatient medical treatment, prescribed medicines, X-rays, lab tests, and transportation home if required. Additionally, World Nomads has a 24 hour multi-lingual support team to guide you through treatment and confirm your next actions are covered.
- COVID-19
Review of World Nomads Coverage Limits and Coverage Explanations
World Nomads coverage is extensive and great for most travelers. However, you need to understand the primary coverages and coverage limits to be sure World Nomads in general is right for you.
Trip Cancellation Coverage
- Explorer Plan: $10,000
- Standard Plan: $2,500
If a covered emergency causes you to miss your trip, World Nomads’ trip cancellation coverage will reimburse you for any pre-paid, nonrefundable trip costs such as transportation, accommodation, and tours.
Common covered emergencies include sickness or illness, natural disasters, terrorism, and transportation industry strikes.
Emergency Medical Insurance Expenses
If you get sick or injured while you’re traveling, World Nomads will cover hospitalization, outpatient treatment for emergencies, necessary labs and X-rays, and transport home if medically necessary
World Nomads emergency medical coverage limits are:
- Explorer Plan: $100,000
- Standard Plan: $100,000
Emergency Medical Evacuation and Transportation and Medical Repatriation
Medical evacuation covers transporting a patient to a hospital or treatment center to respond to a medical emergency and in order to be treated.
Medical repatriation covers transporting a patient back home at the recommendation of a doctor due to injuries or illness.
Both medical evacuation and medical repatriation are covered under World Nomads with the following coverages:
- Explorer Plan: $500,000
- Standard Plan: $300,000
Protecting Your Gear: Does World Nomads cover your personal belongings?
Yes, World Nomads covers against loss, theft, or damage to your bags and belongings with limits of $3,000 for the Explorer and $1,000 for the Standard Plan
- Explorer Plan: $3,000
- Standard Plan: $1,000
World Nomads, Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) Travel Insurance Explained
Cancel For Any Reason travel insurance is any travel insurance with a clause or option that allows you to cancel your policy after you have already purchased it and receive a refund.
World Nomads does not allow you to cancel a policy after it has been “used” or started, however, World Nomads insurance has a cooling-off period of 21 days from the purchase of the policy that allows you to cancel for any reason your planned coverage and receive a refund of 100% of the premium and fees you paid.
In order for your cancellation to qualify for World Nomads’ Cancel for Any Reason (before traveling) clause, you must not have started your policy and you must not have used your policy.
“You must not have used your policy” according to World Nomads means:
- you haven’t travelled under your policy or started your trip; and
- you have not made a claim and do not intend to make a claim; and
- you are not exercising any other right under the policy.
If all of these conditions apply, and you are within 21 days of your policy purchase date, you can cancel for any reason and receive a refund – whether your vacation dates from work have changed, you found a better destination, you decided to stay longer where you’re at, or your fear of travel simply kicked in, you’ll be covered.
Click here to learn more about how to cancel your World Nomads policy for any reason
24/7 emergency assistance
World Nomads maintains a multi-lingual team available 24/7 to advise you in responding to travel issues and emergencies and to approve use of major coverages, such as medical evacuation or repatriation.
To contact the World Nomads team, keep these numbers handy – General Global Assistance: +1 954-334-8143 or +1 877-289-0968
World Nomads Age limits: Under 70 Years Old
You need to be under 70 years old to qualify for a World Nomads policy.
What isn’t covered under World Nomads insurance
- Preexisting conditions
- Accidents that occur while using or under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Trip delays that are caused by a situation you are
- Any situation that occurs before the policy has started
- Injuries resulting from a fight you started with someone or placed yourself in danger
- Injuries from riding a motorbike without a helmet or under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Lost baggage replacement items that are clearly higher value than the lost items
- Routine medical, anything that happens because of taking drugs or alcohol, preexisting conditions, non-emergency treatment, care or treatment that can be covered under any other insurance
- Routine dental, general checkups, cosmetic dental work, major dental work such as dentures, implants, bridges, non-emergency dental
- Non-emergency issues
- Accidentally leaving your gear behind
- Items stolen due to negligence
- Medications prescribed before your trip
- Items stolen if there is no theft or loss report from the police or authorities
- Continuation of medical care at home
- Any loss related to illegal behavior or activities
- Trip delay or interruption due to not having an appropriate passport, visa, or fulfilled entry requirements at your destination
- Personal delays resulting in missing a flight
- Accidents resulting from participating in a sport or activity not explicitly covered under the chosen policy
- Search and rescue missions
- Claims that lack “proper documentation”
- Evacuation and emergency not authorized by World Nomads
What Next? Is World Nomads coverage right for you?
World Nomads is fantastic insurance, from my experience. Whether you’re adventuring through the Andean mountains of South America and the Himilayas, or diving in the beautiful waters of Southeast Asia, World Nomads coverage has proven reliable enough (for myself and other travelers) that it is very much worthwhile.
However, if you’re a young, nearly broke backpacker on a budget (or a quietly frugal millionaire), is World Nomads right for you?
Honestly, if you are in a travel period wherein you’re not heading to the highest heights or the lowest depths of the planet, you still need travel insurance, however, there are other, better, and cheaper options available.
If you are not adventuring hard at the moment, and have a credit card that can cover your emergency medical expenses in the short term (to be repaid by your travel insurance later) there are other, cheaper travel insurances available that are just as practical.
I highly recommend reading our Safety review, which shares everything you need to know about this travel insurance for nomads that costs roughly $1 per day.