Why don't we show our phone number?
We are always available to talk to you about your plans, but we do not run call centers to keep the trip costs low. So email is best. You can chat or message us on Skype, email us first. If you really want to call us you can on (+44)02032867065. Remember most of your programme questions can be answered with the get trip notes button too. Please do not contact us to sell advertising.

Choose your Adventure

Gap Year Travel Insurance

Gap Year Travel insurance is mandatory to join one of our programmes. (It does not have to be specific gap year insurance, any travel insurance will do, but make sure it checks and meets all the requirements needed for your trip.

You do not have to use ours below (powered by essential travel), but they are rather good.

Travel
Insurance

Destination :

Trip Type :

Start Date :

End Date :

Number of Travellers:
(aged 0-18) :	(aged 19-65) :	(aged 66-74) :
(aged 19-45) :
Select required sports grade: Help Â»

Essential Travel Ltd and Axa Insurance UK plc are Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Copyright Â© .

GRADE 1
Archery (amateur), Badminton (amateur), Baseball (amateur), Basketball (amateur), Beach games, Bungee jump (1) , Camel / Elephant Riding, Canoeing (Up to Grade 3), Clay pigeon shooting, Cricket (amateur), Cycling (Other than specified), Dinghy sailing, Fell walking, Fencing Fishing, Football (amateur), GAA Football (amateur), Golf (amateur), Hiking (under 2,000 metres altitude), Hockey (amateur), Horse riding (up to 7 days), Jet boating, Jet ski-ing, Jogging, Marathon running (amateur), Motorcycling up to 50cc (wearing a crash helmet - no racing), Netball (amateur), Non manual work (Including professional administrative or clerical duties only.), Orienteering, Outwardbound pursuits, Paintballing, Parascending / Parasailing (over water), Pony trekking, Racquetball, Rambling (under 2,000 metres altitude), River canoeing up to Grade 3, Roller skating, Roller blading, Rounders, Rowing, Running-sprint/long distance (amateur), Safari (UK organised), Sail boarding, Sailing within territorial waters, Scuba diving* down to 30 metres if qualified and not diving alone or accompanied by a qualified instructor (see notes below), Skate boarding, Snorkelling, Squash (amateur), Surfing (amateur, under 14 days), Tennis (amateur), Tour operator safari, Track events, Trekking (under 2,000 metres altitude), Volleyball (amateur), War games, Water polo (amateur), Water ski-ing (amateur), Windsurfing (amateur), Yachting (racing/crewing inside territorial waters)

Scuba Diving * - Click here for more info
Scuba diving to the following depths. Provided you are diving under the direction of an accredited dive marshal, instructor or guide. Alternatively, if qualified, within the guidelines of the relevant diving or training agency or organization and not diving alone: PADI Open Water -18 metres PADI Advanced Open Water -30 metres BSAC Ocean Diver -20 metres BSAC Sports Diver -30 metres* BSAC Dive Leader -30 metres

* We must agree with any equivalent qualification. If You do not hold a qualification, We will only cover you to dive to a depth of 18 metres. You will not be covered under this policy if you travel by air within 24 hours of participating in scuba diving.

GRADE 2 - plus all the above
Boxing Training (no contact), Bungee Jump (up to 3 additional), Black water rafting (Grade 1 to 4) Life jacket and Helmet must be worn, Camel/Elephant Riding / Trekking (Non Incidental), Cycle Touring, Go Karting (Specific use), Horse riding (no Polo, Hunting Jumping), Hot Air Ballooning (non Incidental), Hurling (amateur), Jet Skiing (non Incidental), Martial Arts (Training only), Mountain Biking, Rambling between 2000 metres and 4000 metres altitude, Trekking between 2000 metres and 4000 metres altitude, Safari (non-UK organised)

Scuba Diving * - Click here for more info
Non Incidental/down to 50 metres if qualified and not diving alone or accompanied by a qualified instructor (see notes below) Sea Canoeing, Sea Fishing (non Incidental) Surfing (amateur) Triathlon White water rafting - Grades (1-4) Waterskiing/ Windsurfing / Snorkelling (non Incidental) *Scuba diving - scuba diving to the following depths. Provided You are diving under the direction of an accredited dive marshal, instructor or guide. Alternatively, if qualified, within the guidelines of the relevant diving or training agency or organization and not diving alone: PADI Open Water- 18 metres PADI Advanced Open Water - 30 metres BSAC Ocean Diver -20 metres BSAC Sports Diver -35 metres* BSAC Dive Leader -50 metres

* We must agree with any equivalent qualification. If You do not hold a qualification, We will only cover You to dive to a depth of 18 metres. You will not be covered under this policy if You travel by air within 24 hours of participating in scuba diving.

GRADE 3 - plus all the above
Abseiling, American Football (amateur), Gliding, Kayaking, Motorcycling with a full UK motorcycle licence and wearing a crash helmet (over 50cc - no racing), Paragliding, Rugby (amateur competition), Tandem Skydive (up to 2 jumps maximum), Sand Yachting, Yachting (racing / crewing) - outside territorial waters

GRADE 4 - plus all the above
Canyoning, Hang Gliding, High Diving under 5m (amateur, excluding cliff diving), Horse Jumping (no Polo, Hunting), Kite Surfing, Micro Lighting, Parascending / Parasailing (over land, non Incidental), Rock Climbing (under 2,000m), Rock Scrambling (under 4,000m).

Why you need travel insurance for your gap year

Travel Insurance may seem like an unnecessary and irritating expense when planning your gap year. However, travel insurance is an essential purchase because anything can happen either before you go away or while you are away, which is out of your control and you would be the one having to foot the bill at the end of the day if you have no travel insurance. How to choose a decent gap year travel insurance policy Most travel insurance providers offer policies designed specifically for gap years. These policies will cover you from anywhere between 1 month and 18 months under the following areas:

Europe
Australia and New Zealand
Worldwide (excluding the US and Canada)
Worldwide (including the US and Canada)

You may be tempted to purchase the cheapest policy when you are budgeting for your gap year but be aware the policy may not cover certain items and the excess may be large so you end up paying more in the long run. Therefore look at what the different priced policies cover and go for the one which is most suitable for you. There are a whole range of travel insurance providers to choose from.
The Travel Insurance Guide offers information about each provider and provider reviews from people who have bought their insurance:

What to do while you are away to make it easier should you have to make a claim

Ideally you do not want to have to make a claim while on your gap year. However, you should consider the following to make it easier just in case you have to make a claim:

Make copies of your important documents before you go away such as your passport and travel insurance policy and keep them separate from the originals.
Try not to carry all of your cash with you at all times.
Do not take part in any dangerous activities your policy does not cover you for.
Report lost or stolen possessions to the local authorities within 24 hours of discovering the item is missing.
Contact your insurance provider as soon as you need to make a claim and inquire what evidence you will need to produce.
Do not take part in any illegal activities while you are away.

Overall you should take out a decent gap year travel insurance policy before you go away and you should know exactly what the policy covers. If you do this you will be able to relax while you are away, safe in the knowledge you are covered if something unexpected happens. The Travel Insurance Guide has more information and tips for backpackers and long stay trips which you may find helpful.