There is no single best travel insurance company for everyone.
The right provider depends on your age, country of residence, destination, medical history, trip length and the activities you plan to do.
A policy that works perfectly for a beach holiday may be completely unsuitable for a high-altitude trek, long backpacking trip or expedition to a remote region.
To make the comparison useful, we have selected seven travel insurance companies for different types of travellers.
Best travel insurance companies at a glance
World Nomads: A broad range of activities
Rise & Shield: Adventure travel and high-altitude trekking
Staysure: Pre-existing medical conditions
OGSure: Seniors without pre-existing medical conditions
True Traveller: Backpackers and people already travelling
SafetyWing: Digital nomads and remote workers
Post Office: Long single trips
These are not ranked from best to worst. Each company has been selected for a particular type of traveller or trip.
Availability, benefits and exclusions can also vary according to your country of residence.
Always obtain a personalised quote and read the current policy wording before buying.
1. World Nomads: Best for a broad range of activities
World Nomads is one of the better-known names in adventure travel insurance.
Its UK policies can provide cover for more than 150 sports, activities and travel experiences. Depending on the activity, you may need to select a particular level of cover when getting your quote.
World Nomads can suit travellers who want one policy for a varied itinerary. For example, you may be hiking, kayaking, scuba diving and cycling during the same trip.
Another useful feature is the ability to buy or extend cover while travelling. Waiting periods and other restrictions can apply when a policy is purchased after departure.
World Nomads may suit you if:
You plan to try several different activities.
You want single-trip or annual multi-trip cover.
You are already travelling or may need to extend your policy.
You want access to 24-hour emergency assistance.
Watch out for: You must declare the activities you intend to do and select the correct activity level. Cover differs between countries, policies and activities.
2. Rise & Shield: Best for adventure travel and high-altitude trekking
Rise & Shield specialises in insurance for adventurous and remote trips.
Its policies cover a wide range of activities, with optional activity packs available for more demanding adventures. With the relevant Adventure Extreme add-on, cover can include guided trekking at altitudes of up to 6,500 metres.
That makes Rise & Shield worth considering for trips such as:
For high-altitude trips, the policy can include treatment for altitude-related illness and medically necessary helicopter evacuation, subject to the policy terms and prior approval from the emergency assistance team.
This is particularly important when booking a trip that goes well beyond the altitude covered by an ordinary holiday policy.
Rise & Shield may suit you if:
You are planning an active or remote trip.
Your trek reaches a significant altitude.
You need cover for several adventure activities.
Medical evacuation would be difficult or expensive.
You want single-trip or annual multi-trip cover.
Watch out for: Standard cover does not automatically include every activity or altitude. You must select the appropriate activity pack and check that your exact itinerary is covered. Helicopter evacuation must normally be medically necessary and approved by the emergency assistance team.
3. Staysure: Best for pre-existing medical conditions
Staysure specialises in travel insurance for older travellers and people with pre-existing medical conditions.
There is no upper age limit, and Staysure says it can consider more than 1,300 medical conditions, subject to screening and acceptance.
When requesting a quote, you will need to answer questions about your medical history, medication, treatment and any recent changes to your health. Your answers may affect the premium, exclusions or whether cover can be offered.
This makes Staysure a useful comparison option for travellers who cannot use policies that exclude their existing medical conditions.
Staysure may suit you if:
You have a diagnosed medical condition.
You take regular prescription medication.
You have recently received medical treatment.
You are struggling to find cover because of your age.
You would prefer to complete medical screening online or by telephone.
Watch out for: A condition is not automatically covered merely because it was declared. You must check the quote, medical endorsement, policy schedule and exclusions to confirm what has been accepted.
4. OGSure: Best for seniors without pre-existing medical conditions
OGSure offers travel insurance designed around older travellers and multi-generational families.
Single-trip cover may be available for eligible travellers up to age 84. Annual multi-trip cover may be available up to age 79.
Policies can include benefits for emergency medical expenses, cancellation, curtailment, baggage, delays and personal liability. Optional winter sports and adventure sports cover may also be available.
OGSure could be a straightforward option for an older traveller whose age makes some mainstream policies difficult to obtain but who does not need claims linked to a pre-existing medical condition to be covered.
That final point is important: OGSure does not cover claims arising directly or indirectly from pre-existing medical conditions. This can also affect cancellation claims involving travelling companions, close relatives or other people on whom the trip depends.
You are aged between 65 and 84.
You want single-trip cover for one holiday.
You are under 80 and want annual multi-trip cover.
You are arranging a cruise, family trip or ordinary holiday.
You do not require cover for pre-existing medical conditions.
Watch out for: Pre-existing medical conditions are excluded. Travellers who need their medical history covered should compare specialist medical insurers instead. Age, trip-duration, residence and destination rules also apply.
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5. True Traveller: Best for backpackers and people already travelling
True Traveller is designed with backpackers, gap-year travellers and longer independent trips in mind.
One of its standout features is the ability to arrange cover after you have already left your home country. You cannot claim for anything that happened before the policy was purchased, but it can be useful if an existing policy expires or you forgot to buy insurance before departure.
Its backpacker policies include a selection of activities as standard, with additional activity packs available for more demanding pursuits.
True Traveller also allows eligible customers to extend their insurance while they are still travelling.
True Traveller may suit you if:
You are backpacking for several months.
You are taking a working holiday.
You have already left your home country.
You may need to extend your trip.
You want activity cover tailored to backpacking.
Watch out for: Residence and age restrictions apply. Higher-risk activities and high-altitude treks may require an upgrade, so check the exact altitude and activity wording rather than relying on a general reference to hiking.
6. SafetyWing: Best for digital nomads and remote workers
SafetyWing provides travel medical and health insurance designed for digital nomads, remote workers and people who move between countries.
Its Nomad Insurance can be purchased while abroad and is structured around ongoing international travel rather than one traditional two-week holiday.
This flexibility can make it useful for people travelling indefinitely, working remotely or spending extended periods outside their home country.
However, travellers should pay close attention to the difference between travel medical insurance and comprehensive holiday insurance.
Depending on the plan, benefits for cancellation, interruption, baggage and delays may not work in the same way as a conventional single-trip policy.
SafetyWing may suit you if:
You work remotely while travelling.
You move between countries regularly.
You need cover that can be purchased abroad.
Your main concern is unexpected medical treatment.
You do not have a fixed return date.
Watch out for: Check the benefits carefully if you have expensive prepaid flights, accommodation or tours. A nomad-focused medical policy may not offer the same cancellation protection as a traditional comprehensive travel insurance policy.
7. Post Office: Best for long single trips
This makes it worth comparing if you are planning an extended holiday, long family visit or slower journey that does not fit within the usual 30-day or 60-day trip limit.
The maximum duration depends on your age and selected policy. Post Office also offers annual multi-trip and backpacker policies, so it is worth comparing the three if you travel frequently or plan to be away for more than a year.
Post Office travel insurance may suit you if:
You are planning one extended trip.
You want a choice of cover levels.
You prefer a familiar UK provider.
You need an alternative to backpacker insurance.
You want to compare single-trip and annual policies.
Watch out for: Although single-trip policies are available across a wide age range, the maximum trip duration decreases for older travellers. Check the permitted duration for your age before buying.
How we selected these travel insurance companies
We chose the companies in this guide based on the types of traveller they serve rather than price alone.
The main factors considered were:
Medical and emergency evacuation cover
Adventure activity options
Maximum trekking altitude
Pre-existing medical condition rules
Age limits
Maximum trip duration
Cover for people already travelling
Suitability for backpackers and digital nomads
Availability of single-trip and annual policies
Access to emergency assistance
We have not given the companies arbitrary scores or star ratings. Travel insurance is highly dependent on personal circumstances, and a five-star policy for one traveller could be entirely unsuitable for another.
How to choose the right travel insurance
Before buying any policy, answer these seven questions.
1. Does it cover every country you will visit?
Include stopovers, connecting countries and any side trips. Do not assume that “worldwide” means every destination without restrictions.
2. Does it cover your planned activities?
Check the insurer’s exact activity list. Pay attention to altitude limits, depth limits, whether you need a guide and whether competitive participation is excluded.
For example, ordinary walking cover does not necessarily include trekking to Everest Base Camp or climbing Kilimanjaro.
3. Are your medical conditions covered?
Declare everything the insurer asks about. That may include conditions that are stable, controlled by medication or currently being investigated.
Never assume a condition is covered merely because the insurer allowed you to purchase the policy.
4. Is the cancellation limit high enough?
Your cancellation cover should reflect the non-refundable cost of your flights, accommodation, tour and other bookings.
5. Does it include emergency evacuation?
This matters particularly for mountains, islands, deserts, cruises and other remote destinations.
Check whether evacuation requires prior approval and whether search-and-rescue costs are treated separately.
6. Is your entire trip covered?
Check the maximum trip duration as well as the policy dates. Annual insurance often limits the length of each individual trip.
7. Is your government advising against travel?
Travelling against government advice can affect your insurance unless the policy specifically allows it. The UK government recommends buying insurance as soon as possible after booking and ensuring it covers your destinations, medical needs and planned activities.
Which travel insurance company is best?
The best travel insurance company is the one that covers your particular trip, activities and personal circumstances.
Choose World Nomads for a varied adventure involving several activities.
Choose Rise & Shield for specialist adventure travel or high-altitude trekking.
Compare Staysure if you need cover for pre-existing medical conditions.
Consider OGSure if you are an older traveller who does not need pre-existing medical condition cover.
Choose True Traveller for backpacking or insurance after departure.
Consider SafetyWing if you are a digital nomad travelling long term.
Compare Post Office for a long single trip.
Do not choose solely on price. A cheap policy that excludes your activity, destination or medical history may prove rather expensive when you actually need it.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need travel insurance for a Skyhook trip?
Travel insurance is strongly recommended for adventure travel, and individual trip operators may have their own requirements.
Your policy should cover the destination, full trip duration, maximum altitude and every planned activity. You can find more general information in the
Skyhook customer FAQs.
Does standard travel insurance cover hiking?
Many policies cover recreational walking or hiking at lower altitudes.
High-altitude trekking, mountaineering, the use of climbing equipment and hiking in remote areas may require specialist cover. Check the exact activity wording and altitude limit.
Which travel insurance is best for seniors?
That depends largely on age and medical history.
OGSure may suit eligible travellers up to age 84 who do not need pre-existing medical conditions covered. Staysure may be more appropriate for travellers who require medical screening and cover for accepted conditions.
When should I buy travel insurance?
Ideally, buy your policy shortly after booking your trip.
Cancellation cover normally begins when the policy starts, so waiting until the day before departure could leave your earlier payments unprotected.
Does travel insurance cover helicopter evacuation?
Some specialist policies, like Rise & Shield, cover medically necessary helicopter evacuation, but conditions usually apply.
The evacuation may need to be approved and arranged by the insurer’s emergency assistance team. Search-and-rescue operations, non-medical evacuations and self-arranged helicopters may be excluded.
This guide provides general information rather than personal insurance advice. Policy benefits, exclusions, age limits and eligibility rules can change.
Always read the latest policy wording and insurance product information document before purchasing cover. Contact the insurer directly if you are unsure whether your health, destination or planned activities are covered.
