Comparison of the best (and cheap) backpacker insurance in 2025

Choosing a Backpacker Insurance (or a long term travel insurance… it’s the same) for a trip around the world is probably THE most annoying / boring question of the preparation phase. Right, you have decided to set off on an adventure, to discover the world, you are really motivated by this project and then someone tells you :

Yeahh cool project… but did you think about a travel insurance?

That’s where the nightmare begins!

You start searching for information online. You’ve read on travel blogs or in groups and forums that you should get a backpacker insurance for your round the world trip.

But there are several issues: there are almost as many travel insurance options as there are travel blogs. We’re barely exaggerating, especially if you also read travel blogs in English 😉! Plus, they don’t cover the same things, and their prices range from 300 to 1,000 euros a year… You’ve probably also read that with your credit card, you might already have coverage, and that your social security and/or supplementary health insurance could be enough… In the end, you are getting confused and you don’t know what to think anymore! 🙂

But don’t worry, that’s where we step in!

The goal of our guide and comparison of the best travel insurance for backpackers is to gather all this information and present it to you clearly and understandably (because no one like to go through the insurance jargon) in order to help you easily choose the right backpacker insurance for you.

At the beginning of this guide, you will find our answer to the question: “What is the best travel insurance for a round-the-world trip?” based on your situation (solo traveler, couple, family, depending on your age). Next, we have created a comparative table of long-term travel insurance options. Finally, you will find all the important information you need to know to choose your travel insurance coverage wisely. We’ll let you begin reading this extensive topic with the help of the table of contents below.

Are you ready to tackle this big challenge the preparations with us? Come on, let’s do it!

What are the best backpacker insurance in 2025?

If you’re too lazy to read the full comparison below, we’ve prepared a short summary for most travelers. Indeed, the best travel insurance for backpacking will likely vary depending on your situation (solo backpacker, traveling as a couple or family, your age, destination…) and your specific needs.

As you’ll see after reading this post, the backpacker insurance companies most frequently recommended online aren’t necessarily the ones offering the best value for your money. This highlights how marketing strategies can significantly influence the true cost of insurance coverage. 😉

Backpacker insurance with the best quality/price ratio

Whether you’re traveling alone or as a couple, here is the best backpacker insurance to travel around the world. If we would start backpacking again for an extended period today, we would definitely choose this long term travel insurance coverage!

The Traveller coverage from True Traveller insurance is, in our opinion, the long-term travel insurance offering the best value for money.

The basic coverage (without options) is already very solid, with some of the highest coverage limits for medical expenses (10’000’000€) and good civil liability.

What we really appreciate about True Traveller is that their basic package only includes the essentials: medical expenses, repatriation, and personal liability. Plus, they offer very attractive prices! For everything else, you can simply customize your coverage based on your needs by paying small additional fees. For example, if you want to insure your baggage, valuables, try more risky sports, and so on, there are about ten options available. And honestly, they remain competitive in price even when adding several options!

If you’re not from Europe, the best overall travel insurance for backpacking you can have is the Long Stay coverage (-5%) from Heymondo. They have a good coverage with high limits for medical expenses (2’500’000€), a super easy to use app for their customers and interesting prices for solo travelers and couples (+ you get 5% discount using our link 😉 )

I would say their only weaker point is their personal liability limit that only covers you up to 60’000€. It’s better that SafetyWing but it could be a bit higher in our opinion.

The cheapest backpacker insurance

If you have a very tight budget but still want to be covered for the most important aspects of travel insurance (namely medical expenses, repatriation, and personal liability), you have two options in our opinion.

If you live in the EU and are under 40 years old, you can confidently choose True Traveller’s True Value coverage. It offers a €10 million limit for medical expenses, €1 million for personal liability coverage, all starting at just €29 per month. Hard to beat!

If you’re not from the EU, the cheapest travel coverage you can get is the Globe Partner from ACS. Their limit for medical expenses went up to 300’000€ in 2023 (really cool news) and they offer a good personal liability. So it is really the minimum you need to to have if you are backpacking for more than 3 months!

The best backpacker travel insurance for families

Not all insurance companies necessarily offer very attractive family rates. So, there can be significant price differences between insurers if you’re traveling with your family!

If you have one or two children under 10 years old, SafetyWing offers very attractive prices since each policy includes one child under 10. However, we find that the personal liability coverage with SafetyWing is a bit limited. Otherwise, we once again recommend True Traveller’s insurance, which offers very good prices for families with much higher coverage limits than SafetyWing.

If you’re not an EU resident, the best choices you have for families are ACS Globe partner (budget option) or Heymondo Long stay if you need extra coverage limits.

The best backpacking travel insurance for people over 50

We received quite a few comments from senior travelers who felt a bit overlooked when it comes to insurance! Indeed, many insurers don’t even cover travellers over 50. And with others, prices skyrocket rapidly depending on age! So if you’re heading out on a long-term trip (backpacking or not), here are the best options available to you.

You’re under 65-70

If you are under 65-70 years old, you’ll clearly find the best deals with ACS Globe Traveller (under 66 Worldwide), True Traveller’s Traveller coverage (under 65 EU only) and Heymondo Long Stay (under 70 years Worldwide). ACS offers slightly cheaper prices, but True Traveller has much better coverage limits.

If you are above 70

If you are above 70, there are unfortunately few options left and only AVI international has no age limit. Their Marco Polo coverage is quite extensive and their prices do not triple with age (like SafetyWing 😉 ).

Comparison of the best travel insurance for backpackers

If you already did some research online on different websites and travel blogs, you may have noticed that people recommend mostly the same backpacker insurance policies 😉 (usually WorldNomads and SafetyWing). However, as you saw above, there are many other long-term / backpacker travel insurances that have a much better quality/price ratio than those travel coverages everyone talks about (wonder why all the blogs recommend WorldNomads even though they are one of the most expensive option out there 😉 ).

In the table below, you will find the best (and cheapest) backpacker insurance providers in 2025. This travel insurance comparison is the result of a lot of research (also from feedback or discussions with other travelers) and we sincerely hope that it will help you find the best cheap backpacker insurance for your long trip.

Last update: 10.05.2025

How to use the interactive backpacker insurance comparison table?

The table below is interactive and allows you to compare the backpacker insurance coverages you are most interested in. Here’s how to use it:

• Check the travel coverages you want to compare (for better readability, check no more than 4-5 on desktop and 2-3 on mobile)
• You can remove all the lines you are not interested in by clicking on the crosses and hide some parts you don’t need by clicking on the sub-headings
• To reset the comparison table, simply refresh the page.

If you have any suggestions or remarks, do not hesitate to leave us a comment.

The backpacker insurance comparison table

	Subscribe	Subscribe	Subscribe	Subscribe	Subscribe	Subscribe (-5%)	Subscribe	Subscribe	Subscribe	Subscribe (-5%)
Price / months (less than 35-40 years old)
Solo traveler (Out of USA / Canada)	39€	62,5€ / without options (108€ with Asia)	50€ for 28 days	92€ to 96€ depending on the offer (43€ to 45€ in Europe)	61€ to 69€	55€ to 59€ (44€ to 47€ in Europe with the EHIC) / without options	46€ to 62€ / 66€ to 88€	29€ to 50€ (15€ to 26€ in Europe) / without options	39€ to 64€ (20€ to 33€ in Europe) / without options	46€ / without options
Solo traveler (USA / Canada included)	55€	119€ / without options	92€ for 28 days	107€ to 113€ depending on the offer	69€ to 88€ (depends on the duration of the trip to the USA – here 3 months in the US)	66€ to 104€ (depends on the duration of the trip to the USA – here 3 months in the US) / without options	85€ to 113€ / 110€ to 145€	35€ to 60€ / without options	46€ to 77€ / without options	81€ to 84€ / without options
Couple (Out of USA / Canada)	78€	125€ / without options (216€ with Asia)	100€ pour 28 jours	184€ to 192€ depending on the offer (86€ to 90€ in Europe)	116€ to 131€	105€ to 109€ (84€ to 87€ in Europe with the EHIC) / without options	88€ to 120€ / 125€ to 168€	59€ to 100€ (31€ to 52€ in Europe) / without options	77€ to 128€ (40€ to 67€ in Europe) / without options	92€ / without options
Couple (USA / Canada included)	110€	238€ / without options	184€ for 28 days	214€ to 226€ depending on the offer	132€ to 167€ (depends on the duration of the trip to the USA – here 3 months in the US)	116€ to 154€ (depends on the duration of the trip to the USA – here 3 months in the US) / without options	163€ to 216€ / 210€ to 276€	71€ to 120€ / without options	93€ to 153€ / without options	162€ to 169€ / without options
Family of 4 (out of USA / Canada)	156€	225€ / without options (389€ with Asia)	100€ for 28 days / if the kids are less than 10	368€ to 384€ depending on the offer (173€ to 179€ in Europe)	219€ to 247€	175€ to 179€ (140€ to 143€ in Europe with the EHIC) / without options	111€ to 150€ / 161€ to 214€	74€ to 125€ (38€ to 65€) / without options	97€ to 160€ (50€ to 83€)/ without options	184€ / without options
Family of 4 (USA / Canada included)	220€	432€ / without options	184€ for 28 days / if the kids are less than 10	428€ to 452€ depending on the offer	250€ to 317€ (depends on the duration of the trip to the USA – here 3 months in the US)	186€ to 224€ (depends on the duration of the trip to the USA – here 3 months in the US) / without options	210€ to 277€/ 272€ to 357€	88€ to 150€ / without options	116€ to 191€ / without options	324€ to 338€ / without options
Price / months (older than 35-40 years)
Solo traveler (out of USA / Canada)	not available	62,5€ / without options (108€ with Asia)	82€ to 174€ for 28 days	60 years + : 136€ to 142€ (64€ to 66€ in Europe)	67€ to 187€	73€ to 80€ (59€ to 64€ in Europe with the EHIC) / without options	65 years + : 111€ to 117€ / 119€ to 124€	not available	42,5€ to 96€ (22€ to 50€ in Europe) / without options	46€ / without options
Solo traveler (USA / Canada included)	not available	119€ / without options	152€ to 342€ for 28 days	60 years + : 158€ to 167€	78€ to 271€ (depends on the duration of the trip to the USA – here 3 months in the US)	88€ to 140€ (depends on the duration of the trip to the USA – here 3 months in the US) / without options	not available for 65 years +	not available	51€ to 115€ / without options	81€ to 84€ / without options
Couple (out of USA / Canada)	not available	125€ / without options (216€ with Asia)	164€ to 348€ for 28 days	60 years + : 272€ to 284€ (128€ to 132€ in Europe)	127€ to 355€	138€ to 145€ (111€ to 116€ in Europe with the EHIC) / without options	212€ to 223€/ 226€ to 236€	not available	85€ to 191€ (44€ to 100€ in Europe) / without options	92€ / without options
Couple (USA / Canada included)	not available	238€ / without options	304€ to 684€ for 28 days	60 years + : 316€ to 334€	148€ to 515€ (depends on the duration of the trip to the USA – here 3 months in the US)	153€ to 205€ (depends on the duration of the trip to the USA – here 3 months in the US) / without options	not available for 65 years +	not available	102€ to 230€ / without options	162€ to 169€ / without options
Details of the insurance policy
Contract duration	max 12 months (renewable 2 times with the approval of the insurance company)	max 12 months	from 1 to 12 months (indefinitely extendable)	from 2 to 24 months	from 3 to 24 months	from 3 to 12 months renewable	36 months max	18 months max	18 months max	12 months max
Maximum Age	less than 40 years old	less than 66 years old	less than 70 years old	no limitation	less than 80 years old	less than 50 years old	less than 80 years old (less than 65 years old for USA/Canada)	less than 40 years old	less than 65 years old	less than 70 years old
Country of residence for the coverage	Worldwide	Worldwide	Worldwide	Worldwide	European union	European union	Worldwide	European union	European union	Worldwide
Subscribe during the trip	waiting period of 8 days	waiting period of 8 days	no waiting period	waiting period of 15 days	waiting period of 12 days	waiting period of 12 days	waiting period of 5 days	waiting period of 48h + supplementary costs	waiting period of 48h + supplementary costs	waiting period of 72h
Refund of unused months	not possible	not possible	pay as you go	possible	possible	in the form of a credit	not possible	not possible	not possible	pay as you go
Langue de la police d’assurance	French & English	French & English	English	French	French & English	French	French	English	English	English
Medical coverage
Medical expenses abroad (max per person/year)	100% of the costs up to 300’000€	100% of the costs up to 150’000, 300’000 or 500’000€ depending on the option (except USA Canada 500’000€)	100% of the costs up to 220’000€	100% of the costs up to: 100’000€ – 300’000€ in Europe, 200’000€ – 500’000€ in the world except USA & co, 300’000€ – 1’250’000€ in USA & co depending on the offer	100% of the costs up to 200’000€ out of USA Canada / 1’000’000 € in USA Canada	100% of the costs up to 300’000€ out of USA Canada / 1’000’000 € in USA Canada	100% of the costs up to 250’000€ / 100% of the costs up to 500’000€	100% of the costs up to 10’000’000€	100% of the costs up to 10’000’000€	100% of the costs up to 2’500’000€
Excess	no excess	no excess	no excess	no excess	no excess (except 35€ in USA Canada)	no excess (except 30€ in USA Canada)	no excess	150€ (option to reduce to 0€)	90€ (option to reduce to 0€)	200€
Medical expenses in case of Covid (outbreak)	Yes medical expenses (indicated on the insurance certificate)	Yes medical expenses (indicated on the insurance certificate)	Yes medical expenses (possibility to obtain a certificate)	Yes medical expenses (possibility to obtain a certificate)	Yes medical expenses (possibility to obtain a certificate)	Yes medical expenses (possibility to obtain a certificate)	Yes medical expenses (possibility to obtain a certificate)	Yes medical expenses (indicated on the insurance certificate)	Yes medical expenses (indicated on the insurance certificate)	Yes medical expenses (indicated on the insurance certificate)
Emergency medical expenses in your country of residence	No (except for students Max 15’000€)	No (except for students Max 15’000€)	Every 3 months, 30 days of coverage in your country of residence (15 if it is the US)	15’000€ max up to 30 days following a medical repatriation or a temporary return	Yes, Max 1’000’000€ for hospitalisation, 15’000€ for the rest (30€ excess)	Continued medical coverage for 1 month in your home country	20’000€ max up to 30 days following a medical repatriation or a temporary return	No	No	No
Daily amount in case of hospitalization	not included	not included	90€ per night at the hospital	not included	30€/day from the 6th day (max 300€)	50€/day (max 500€)	not included	12€/day (max 240€)	20€/day (max 360€)	not included
Emergency dental care	300€	300€	900€	500€	600€/year	300€	300€	300€	420€	included
Dental expenses following an accident	600€	600€	covered up to the medical expenses limit	real cost (max 10 sessions)	440€ per tooth, max 1300€	300€	600€	300€	420€	included
Repatriation / Assistance abroad
Medical Repatriation – Emergency Medical Transportation	100% of actual costs	100% of actual costs	100% of actual costs (max 90’000€)	100% of actual costs	100% of actual costs	100% of actual costs	100% of actual costs	100% of actual costs	100% of actual costs	100% of actual costs (max 500’000€)
Medical repatriation in case of Covid (Outbreak)	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes
Return of accompanying policyholders	not included	Round trip ticket	not included	Return ticket	Return ticket	Return ticket + accommodation expenses (max 500€)	not included	Return ticket	Return ticket	Return ticket
Presence of a family member in case of hospitalization	Round trip ticket plus 80€/night (max 8 nights from the 7th day)	Round trip ticket plus 80€/night (max 8 nights from the 6th day)	Round trip ticket plus accommodation and food costs for max 15 days (max 5’300€)	Round trip ticket plus accommodation and food costs (max 2’000€)	Round trip ticket plus 80€/night (max 10 nights)	Round trip ticket plus 50€/night (max 10 nights)	Round trip ticket plus 80€/night (max 10 nights)	Round trip ticket plus accommodation costs	Round trip ticket plus accommodation costs	Round trip ticket plus accommodation costs
Non-medical repatriation (natural disaster, terrorism, war)	not included	Transfer to a neighbouring country or home country (only in case of unstable political situation)	evacuation to your home country or to the nearest safe location (max 8800€)	not included	not included	not included	not included	as an option	as an option	up to 1’000€ in the event of a natural disaster
Accidental death / repatriation	Repatriation of the body (100% of the actual costs) and 8’000€ accidental death benefit	Repatriation of the body (100% of the actual costs) and 10’000€ accidental death benefit	Repatriation of the body (100% of the actual costs, max 18’000€) and 22’000€ accidental death benefit	Repatriation of the body (100% of the actual costs) and 15’000€ accidental death benefit	Repatriation of the body (100% of the actual costs), 2’000€ for coffin and 12’000€ accidental death benefit	Repatriation of the body (100% of the actual costs) and 8’000€ accidental death benefit	Repatriation of the body + coffin costs (100% of actual costs) and 12’000€ accidental death benefit	Repatriation of the body (100% of the actual costs) and 6’000€ accidental death benefit	Repatriation of the body (100% of the actual costs) and 12’000€ accidental death benefit	Repatriation of the body (max 100’000€) and 5’000€ accidental death benefit
Early return in case of death or hospitalization of a family member	Return ticket in case of death only	Return ticket in case of death only	Return ticket (max 4’400€)	Round trip tickets (max 10’000€)	Round trip tickets	Round trip tickets	Round trip tickets	Return ticket (round trip as an option)	Return ticket (round trip as an option)	Return Ticket
Search and rescue expenses	3’000€	5’000€	not included	4’500€	3’500€	5’000€ (25’000€ with AVA Sport+ option)	5’000€ / 6’000€	not included	18’000€	included
Legal expenses	3’000€ lawyer’s fee and 7’000€ criminal deposit	3’000€ lawyer’s fee and 7’000€ criminal deposit	not included	3’000€ lawyer’s fee and 7’500€ criminal deposit	13’000€ lawyer’s fee and 7’500€ criminal deposit	3’000€ lawyer’s fee and 7’500€ criminal deposit	3’049€ lawyer’s fee and 15’245€ criminal deposit	9’000€	18’000€	Included in the personal liability<
Personal Liability
Bodily injury	4’500’000€	4’500’000€	22’500€	1’500’000€	4’500’000€	4’500’000€	1’500’000€	1’000’000	2’000’000	60’000€
Property damage	450’000€	450’000€	22’500€	750’000€	450’000€	450’000€	450’000€	1’000’000	2’000’000	60’000€
Excess	100€	100€	no excess	100€	80€	80€	150€	150€ (option to reduce to 0€)	90€ (option to reduce to 0€)	no excess
Baggage / valuables
Theft, loss or destruction of baggage	1’150€ (during the round journey and in addition to the carrier insurance)	2’000€	2’700€ (max 450€ per item and only for air/boat trips)	3’000€ (max 1’500€ per item)	2’000€	2’000€ (only during flights) option to take AVA Tech+	250€ / 500€	as an option (1’200€)	as an option (2’500€)	1’200€
Max refund per valuable item	1’150€	2’000€	450€ (900€ as an option)	max 1’500€ / item	max 1’000€ / item	max 1’000€ / item (option to take AVA Tech+)	100€	as an option (125€)	as an option (300€)	max 600€ (1’200€ as an option)
Exclusions for valuables	camera, phone and computer not covered	phones not covered	camera, phone and computer covered in option	none	camera, phone and computer not covered	none	none	none	none	electronic equipment as an option
Delayed luggage delivery	not included	150€	not included	300€	150€	not included	not included	as an option (30€ every 12h up to 90€)	as an option (40€ every 12h up to 120€)	200€
Included / excluded activities
Motorbikes less than 125cm3	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Trekking / Hiking	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes (if done with professional guides above 1500m)	Yes	Yes	Yes (less than 3500m)	Yes (less than 3000m, higher as an option)	Yes (less than 3000m, higher as an option)	Yes (less than 3000m, higher as an option)
Mountaineering	No	as an option	as an option (less than 6000m)	No	No	No	No	as an option	as an option	No
Surfing	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
KiteSurfing	Yes	Yes	as an option	Yes (with professional guides)	Yes	as an option	No	Yes	Yes	as an option
Rafting / Kayaking	Yes	Yes	as an option	yes (with professional guides)	Yes	Yes	No	oui (more dangerous as an option)	oui (more dangerous as an option)	kayaking yes, rafting as an option
Diving	Yes	as an option	as an option	Yes up to 5m without PADI (45m with PADI)	Yes up to 40m	Yes	free diving up to 50m	Yes up to 18m (deeper as an option)	Yes up to 18m (deeper as an option)	up to 20m as an option
Parachute	No	Yes	as an option	No	No	No	as an option	as an option	as an option	No
paragliding / hang-gliding	No	as an option	as an option	No	No	as an option	Yes	as an option	as an option	No

Why prepare for the worst before embarking on a backpacking trip?

Some of you might think:

Why prepare for the worst when we’re about to embark on an extraordinary adventure?

Well, yes, after all, no one’s forcing you to get a travel insurance for your round-the-world trip! Especially since it might cost a certain budget for backpackers… But ask yourself: is it really worth it?

Even if you’re healthy and have never had an accident up to today, it doesn’t mean you’re invincible. While traveling, you’ll probably have some bad days, or you might be tired or distracted. Additionally, you’ll cross countries with rules different from those you’re used to. Sometimes, luck simply won’t be on your side, and you’ll find yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time. Do you really want to risk paying hundreds or even thousands of euros in case of problem (health issue, accident, etc.)?

Traveling with peace of mind—it’s better, isn’t it? We definitely enjoy ourselves more when we know we’re covered just in case and that we won’t impact our whole family in case something goes wrong ;). In short, it’s one less mental burden to worry about. Of course, the decision is yours, but if you’re reading these lines, it means our opinion is somewhat important to you.

So our recommendation is that if you’re going backpacking for a while, don’t be reckless and buy a cheap backpacker insurance at least!

Coverage features: Why do you need a travel insurance for backpacking?

We first started with our review of the best travel insurance for backpacking because people often look for this information first and don’t necessarily want to read all the details about travel insurance.

But we’re still going to explain what long-term travel insurance is for and when you actually need it. I mean, it’s quite a budget so it’s worth understanding why you’re spending that money. Let’s start by looking at what these long-term travel insurance are for and the coverage features they offer. This way, it’ll be easier for you to decide whether you need such a insurance plan!

Depending on the package, a long term travel insurance may include a combination of the following:

Medical emergencies and expenses abroad

A nasty sore throat in Thailand? An infection in Australia? An ankle sprain in Peru? The flu in Argentina? A dental abscess in Chile?

Those situations can happen to anyone, and medical costs can quickly skyrocket if you don’t have insurance. This is especially true in the USA and the Canada, where hospital expenses could put an entire family in trouble! Your coverage must therefore absolutely include 100% of medical expenses abroad in case of an accident or illness. Whether it’s an emergency, a simple medical consultation (doctor, dentist…), medical tests, urgent or non-urgent hospitalization, surgery, prescription medications, or medical transport – you need to be covered.

All long-term travel insurance policies we recommend in this article reimburse these expenses from the very first euro. The coverage limit should obviously be as high as possible. The insurer offering the highest coverage limit is True Traveller.

Some travel insurance policies include a deductible for medical expenses. This is the amount you must pay out of your pocket before being reimbursed for the remaining costs. It ranges from €0 to €225 within our selection of insurance policies, and is mostly added when you’re traveling through the United States and Canada, countries where medical costs are especially high. At ACS, there is no deductible, just like Chapka (unless you’re traveling in the U.S. and Canada).

Most good travel insurance policies will also guarantee the presence of a family member in case of hospitalization. They then cover the cost of the plane tickets and accommodation expenses for a close family member or friend. No one ever wants to be alone during those times!

Personal liability

Personal liability is often an aspect we overlook when reviewing insurance coverage. Yet, accidents can happen quickly. For example, you might break something in your hotel room or injure someone during an activity. And the material or bodily damages caused unintentionally to a third party can quickly escalate.

A good travel insurance should cover the costs of repairs, your potential medical expenses, and costs for any legal procedures. Therefore, it’s important to have a coverage limit that is in a similar range than the medical expenses. The personal liability coverage limits vary between material or bodily damage. Among our selection of travel insurance plans, the one offering the highest limit for material damage is True Traveller, while those with the highest bodily injury coverage are ACS and Chapka. Keep in mind that insurance companies often apply a deductible to liability coverage, typically ranging from €0 to €150.

Please note: backpacker insurance policies include a personal liability coverage, but it does not cover you in case of damage caused while driving a vehicle (except for scooters <125cc)! When renting a car or motorcycle, you will need an additional insurance to cover the costs, in case of accident, to your vehicle, the vehicle you hit, or medical expenses for any person you might injure… we’ll go into more detail about this in the exclusions section.

Legal expenses

In the event of misconduct and criminal charges against you (such as a trial following an accident or altercation), travel insurance covers legal fees. And if a bail is required because you are in jail or about to be, the insurance will advance the necessary funds, but you will need to reimburse that amount later. In any case, avoid getting into trouble with the law ;). Chapka offers the best coverage with 13,000 euros for attorney fees and a bail advance of 7,500 euros.

Repatriation (medical evacuation coverage)

In case of emergency, you must absolutely have insurance that covers the cost of potential medical repatriation or an early return:

• Following an accident or illness, and if your condition allows it, you are transferred or repatriated to undergo surgery or continue your treatment in the nearest hospital, or even in your country of residence, because the treatment cannot be carried out locally.
• If you are repatriated, cover includes the return ticket for insured companions (i.e. people travelling with you that have the same insurance coverage).
• If you have to return to France (or to your country of residence) because a close family member is hospitalised or dies, the return ticket is covered.
• You are hospitalised abroad and a close family member wants to be with you. In addition to the plane ticket, most insurance companies also cover hotel costs, with a maximum of around 80 euros per night.

Be aware that a medical repatriation can cost up to 40,000 euros! In these urgent situations, there are usually no other options. So, to avoid putting your families in trouble, it’s best to have a travel insurance that covers the repatriation! (all insurance policies in our comparison table cover repatriation)

Death

We would never consider the worst-case scenario in such an adventure, but the coverage varies depending on the insurance company. In the event of death:

• repatriation of the body is covered;
• a death benefit (accidental or not) is paid to your relatives (spouse, children, etc.);
• the coffin or funeral expenses are covered up to a certain amount.

Out of all the long-term insurance policies presented in this post, Safety Wing offers the highest death benefit, even if it’s still a small consolation.

Baggage cover (theft, loss or destruction)

A well-known situation for backpackers: you arrive at your destination, but not your backpack, or it arrives damaged. It’s also possible that your belongings get damaged during a bus ride or, worse, stolen. For these kinds of cases, some travel insurance companies will reimburse you at least part of the total value of your gear. Be sure to check what is considered baggage by the insurance company, such as electronic devices. Also, familiarize yourself with delays compensation and the conditions if something occurs during transportation or your trip. Note that some insurance policies apply a small deductible.

Then again, the costs and the importance of a theft / damaged luggage are in general far less important than the health related issues. So we recommend you not to be obsessed with this kind of coverage… Of course it’s annoying if your camera gets stolen but it’s not the end of the world either 😉

Valuables / Expensive items ( computers, cameras, lenses, tent, jewellery… )

Rarely included in travel insurance (or only for very small amounts), it can be worthwhile for people carrying expensive gear to have a travel insurance that covers theft or destruction of some equipment. However, be sure to carefully check the terms and conditions of the coverages: whether it includes or excludes violence, assault, during transportation, whether electronic devices are covered, etc… The best insurance for valuables in our opinion is GObyAva, which offers compensation up to 1,000 euros per expensive item and (with little exclusions).

But don’t focus too much on that either, and make sure to get a backpacker insurance, especially for risks that could genuinely put you in serious financial trouble! After all, your health is more important than your computer 😉

Trip cancellation coverage

Having a flight canceled or delayed is quite common during a round-the-world trip. Unfortunately, travel insurance doesn’t cover these type of setbacks. However, you may be protected through your Visa Premier or Mastercard Gold credit card. In the event of a natural disaster or a widespread strike, it can be worthwhile to get covered against these force majeure situations. It’s already quite unpleasant to have to cancel or interrupt a trip, so you might as well get your money back!! Truetraveller insurance includes a coverage in case of cancellation (the amount depends on the plan you choose) and an additional option to cover you against force majeure.

Covid19 or any other outbreak

What happened in the last few years might push you to be covered for outbreaks. In the case of Covid-19, this meant that with certain travel insurance, medical expenses might not have been reimbursed if you got the coronavirus while traveling. Today, most insurance plans have been upgraded to include this and now properly cover Covid and other pandemics. But at the start of the outbreak, many travelers found themselves abandoned by their insurance providers 🙁 .

Most common exclusions

Now that you know what a travel insurance is for and the situations it covers, it is equally useful to know the situations where you won’t be covered. Yes, insurance policies often include many exclusions that you need to be aware of! That’s why it’s always so important to read the general terms and conditions of your insurance coverage.

Note: this list is not meant to be comprehensive and there are differences depending on the insurance policies, but we have tried to highlight the most important exclusions.

Pre-existing medical conditions

Most backpacker travel insurance plans will not cover medical expenses related to a pre-existing conditions that you had before your departure. Diabetes, hypertension… True Traveller, unlike others, covers a fairly extensive list of pre-existing conditions. You can review this list at the time of purchase, after completing a medical declaration. If your existing condition is not covered, you will need to declare it, and True Traveller will follow up with more details to include it in your coverage.

Bodily or material damage caused while driving a vehicle

Whether it involves damage to the vehicle itself or the one you’ve hit, injuries you’ve done to a person with your vehicle, damages caused while driving a motor vehicle are not covered. In other words, if you have an accident while driving a motor vehicle, your travel insurance will cover your medical expenses but not the costs related to damages to the vehicle itself, another involved vehicle, or medical expenses for another person injured in the accident. Some travel insurance policies offer additional coverage for these situations, as do car rental companies. This detail is clarified in the FAQ section.

Damage caused while driving a Motorbike with over 125 cm3

This is an important case to be aware of in Southeast Asia, for example, where renting scooters/motorcycles is very common among backpackers! Whether it bodily or material damages, you won’t be covered in case of an accident if the vehicle’s engine capacity exceeds 125 cc. Of course, you won’t be covered at all if you’re not wearing a helmet and don’t have the appropriate driving license, regardless of the two-wheeled vehicle you’re riding. As far as we know, only True Traveller offers an optional coverage up to 250 cc. Otherwise, just make sure not to rent a two-wheeler over 125 cc!

Adventure / Extreme sports

Going on a round-the-world trip is, for some, an opportunity to get a little adrenaline rush by trying risky sports like rafting, canyoning, skydiving, or mountaineering. That’s the case of Ben for exemple ;). Unfortunately, to be covered in case of an accident while practicing these activities often requires paying extra for your travel insurance. So, it’s up to you to decide based on the extreme sports you plan to try! Most backpacker insurance policies offer an optional add-on for risky sports. You can compare these options in our comparison table.

Personal liability while working or volunteering

If you plan to work during your trip or are doing a Working Holiday Visa, you need to buy a specific insurance. Most of the insurers mentioned above have options for these situations.

Other exclusions

The previous exclusions are the most common and the most important one to consider. To complete this list, here are the other exclusions to keep in mind:

• non-urgent dental treatment and optical expenses;
• any expenses relating to pregnancy;
• vaccination costs;
• any item purchased during the trip;
• theft without forced entry (or objects not placed in a secure location);
• accidents under the influence of alcohol or drugs;
• damage caused intentionally;
• damage caused by natural disaster, civil war, terrorist attack, nuclear disaster, etc…

Do I really need a long term travel insurance for my backpacking trip?

Now that you have seen what a backpacker travel insurance can be used for, let’s analyse together the scenarios where you may already be insured for some of the above mentioned points. Travel insurance is definitely a budget and it would be a shame to be insured twice for the same thing 🙂 .

Note: Depending on your nationality / country of residence, there could be some specificities regarding your home health insurance, visa application and so on… we can’t obviously cover everything as we are mostly familiar with the french and swiss situation.

Visa application

The visa isn’t necessarily the first thing that comes to mind when talking about travel insurance… However, some countries refuse to issue visas to travelers who haven’t purchased a travel insurance yet. It is therefore mandatory to present an insurance certificate, whether your trip is short-term or long-term, when crossing the border to go to China (including Hong Kong and Macau), Algeria, Cuba, Qatar (for stays longer than 30 days), Russia, Belarus, and Ecuador.

Visa or Mastercard travel insurance

You may have already heard that if you have a Visa or Mastercard credit card, you already have a travel insurance. That’s actually true, but it’s worth looking into a bit more to understand what your credit card covers in case of an issue.

The first thing to know is that if you have a standard Visa or Mastercard, your coverage is almost nonexistent. You absolutely need to have a Visa Premier or Mastercard Gold card to have decent coverage.

Now, if you have a Visa Premier or a Mastercard Gold, you’ll have a satisfactory coverage for medical expenses, personal liability, cancellations, baggage but with some drawbacks:

• The insurance is only valid for the first 90 days of the trip.
• You must have paid for your trip with your credit card.
• The limits are lower than for a regular travel insurance.
• There are a lot of nice little exclusions depending on the cards and banks that you should be aware of (always read the general conditions).
• You will often be reimbursed in complement to your primary health insurance (so you will have to pay in advance and this implies additional paperwork)

For more detailed information about the coverage features provided by these credit cards, take a look at our special blog post about Visa Premier and Mastercard Gold travel insurance.

Your home / primary health insurance

Remember that backpacker insurance companies are not meant to replace your home health insurance. It’s more about emergencies or getting you back home quickly if you really need it! So you always need to be covered in your home country even while traveling.

That said, depending on your home country and your health coverage, you might not need to buy a third party backpacker insurance. It could be more interesting to simply buy a travel extension package to your home health insurance (for example in Switzerland that’s the solution that works the best, in France not at all).

So my advice would be that you check what covers your home health insurance when you travel abroad (usually it’s not much and not long enough for a round the world trip) and see if you could buy a travel insurance plan that covers the important criteria for a good backpacker insurance.

How to choose the best long term travel insurance for backpackers?

We hope we have convinced you that if you are leaving for a long backpacking trip (more than 3 months), you should buy a travel insurance without hesitation. In this case, the question that probably comes to your mind is:

Among all backpacker insurance, which one suits me best?

And the answer isn’t as straightforward as it seems. In the first part, we provided you with the best backpacker insurance options according to us. In truth, there is no such thing as a perfect backpacker insurance! The ideal coverage will vary depending on your trip, your expectations, and your needs. To make things easier for you, let’s walk through the key factors that will influence your choice of travel insurance.

Evaluate your needs

• Trip duration: Most insurance companies offer decreasing prices based on the duration of the coverage (the longer the cheaper).
• Countries visited: If you’re traveling to countries like Canada or the USA, where medical care is very expensive, you’ll probably choose a different insurance than if you’re traveling in Asia only.
• Traveling solo, as a couple, or with family: Some travel insurance providers offer discounted rates for couples and families. Check out our review of the best backpacker insurance for families here.
• Small budget with minimal coverage or larger budget with global protection? Do you want to spend as little money as possible and get coverage for only the most essential things? Or are you willing to spend a bit more to also cover your valuables, for example? Are you traveling with €5,000 worth of photography gear and a North Face tent, or are you more the smartphone and Quechua tent type? Assess your priorities based on what you’re packing in your backpack.
• Risky sports: As mentioned earlier, you often need to pay extra to be insured for certain sports considered high-risk. Are you planning to try extreme sports while backpacking?

Your needs will influence which backpacker insurance you will chose but also the price of your travel insurance! Indeed, the price directly depends on the length of your trip, your itinerary, the number of people traveling, and also on the travelers’ ages! Most insurance companies offer discounts for couples and families.

The most important coverages

Even if you don’t have a huge budget for your insurance, some coverages are non-negotiable and really essential. Any good travel insurance must include the following points:

Medical expenses abroad

Your coverage must absolutely include 100% of medical expenses abroad, whether they are emergencies or not. Even if you’re just seeing a doctor for a bad flu, it should be covered. The maximum benefit limits should, of course, be as high as possible.

Personal liability

Material or bodily damages caused unintentionally to a third party are generally very costly. Therefore, it’s important to have high coverage limits for personal liability.

Repatriation and early return

In the event of serious illness or accident, your insurance must cover the costs of any necessary medical repatriation, the return of insured companions, or an early return in the case of death or hospitalization of a family member.

Support number 24/24, 7/7

Generally, when you need to contact your insurance for an emergency, you don’t have time to wait 5 hours for customer service offices to open… Most travel insurance companies mentioned in this article are reachable 24/7 through a support phone number or an app.

This is the absolute minimum for a good coverage. Your insurance must definitely include these protections!

Secondary coverages

Once you’ve checked these 4 criteria, there are other less critical points to consider that can help you make your decision.

Luggage and valuables cover

Unless you’re traveling with significant equipment (laptop, camera with lenses, the latest phone, drone…), we recommend not focusing too much on these coverages. You and your health are more valuable than material possessions, and if you get some money back in case of theft, loss, or destruction, then it’s just a bonus 🙂

Medical expenses in your home country

In the event of a permanent return following an emergency repatriation, but also in the case of a temporary return (vacation or early return), the medical expenses coverage ends as soon as you set foot in your home country. However, some insurers extend these benefits for a specified period. For example, Chapka covers medical expenses resulting from illness or accident after your return to your country of residence for 30 days.

Search and rescue

You injure yourself during your trek in Patagonia and are no longer able to move. Search and rescue costs cover operations organized by civilian rescuers or specialized agencies to locate and transport you (helicopter, boat, sled…) following your disappearance or an accident that endangers your life.

Based on all the points mentioned above and your priorities, you should now find it easier to select the backpacker insurance that’s right for you. To go further, we have created a detailed comparison at the beginning of this guide and provided our review of the best backpacker insurance options for different situations.

Backpacker insurance in Switzerland

The base health insurance in Switzerland (Lamal) is mandatory once you legally are in Switzerland. This insurance is very expensive (at least 200-250 CHF per month) and only covers medical expenses (no liability, cancellation, or other coverage…).

So, the first question that often comes to mind for a Swiss resident preparing for a round the world trip is: “How do I cancel my Lamal to switch to a long-term travel insurance?”

Well, believe me, the answer to this question is far from trivial; just read a few comments at the end of this post to see for yourself. So much so that we gathered our courage and put together a special guide on travel insurance for the Swiss backpackers.

Backpacker insurance in Belgium

For Belgians planning a long trip, your health insurance fund, equivalent to the French social security system, covers you while traveling within Europe. In this case, you need to request the European Health Insurance Card from your health insurance fund.

For any long term travel outside Europe, you are not covered. To protect yourself against any incidents, you need to have a travel insurance. Among the options listed in the comparison, you can subscribe to GObyAVA, Chapka, ACS, AVI, True Traveller, SafetyWing, and Assur-Travel.

Backpacker insurance in Quebec

RAMQ

Many Quebecers leave the territory each year, whether to explore Europe or enjoy the sunshine in the South during the Canadian winter (the famous snowbirds). But does the Quebec Health Insurance Board (RAMQ) cover health expenses during a long trip abroad? Yes, you’ll be covered with a valid health insurance card, but it’s not enough.

Note: to remain eligible for RAMQ coverage, you must not leave for more than 183 days, consecutive or not, during a calendar year (calculate online). However, once every 7 years, you may benefit from the seven-year exception, which allows you to leave for more than 183 days per calendar year while still remaining eligible for health insurance.

Regarding medical expenses, you will be reimbursed by Quebec Medicare (RAMQ), but not in full—only up to the current rates in Quebec. Also, you will not be reimbursed at all for any medical services that are not covered within the province of Quebec. For example: you’re in Florida and need urgent hospitalization. RAMQ will cover only about 5% of your total hospitalization costs…

Private insurance

Furthermore, only medical expenses will be partially covered by the health insurance. You won’t have any essential coverage, such as civil liability and repatriation. In short, just travel confidently by signing up for a private insurance! Among all the policies whose terms we’ve read, we would recommend SoNomad for its good value for money, TuGo for its flexibility, Desjardins for its member benefits, and Manulife for its high coverage limits. Find the list of private insurance providers for Quebec residents on this site.

Frequently asked questions

In this section, we answer the last questions you may have before buying a backpacker insurance, and we discuss some special cases.

When should you buy a backpacker insurance?

In our round-the-world trip checklist, subscribing to a travel insurance should be done 3 months before departure. Of course, you can always purchase it the day before you leave, but if this timing has been specified, it’s because finding the right insurance takes time! Between assessing your needs, reading the terms and conditions, comparing offers, and requesting quotes, it can take several days or even weeks. Additionally, some countries require a proof of travel insurance to issue a visa. So, don’t delay this step for too long! Once your itinerary is set, and you’ve purchased your plane tickets, then focus on getting your insurance 😉

Can you buy a backpacker insurance if you’re already traveling?

Yes, you can definitely buy a backpacker insurance during your trip, but it’s not ideal. When the insurance coverage is purchased before departure, you’re covered starting from the first day of the contract. However, by buying an insurance while traveling, you’ll likely face a waiting period. Nearly all insurers implement this, and during that time, you won’t be covered… Among the insurance companies in our selection, only SafetyWing provides immediate coverage. Otherwise, this waiting period lasts anywhere from 48 hours to 12 days.

How much does a backpacker insurance costs?

Argh, now that’s the burning question! Yes, travel insurance is a significant part of your pre-departure budget. But as you probably understood while reading this post, whether you’re going on a round-the-world trip or a long-term trip, it’s an essential expense to travel with peace of mind! Just take a look at our comprehensive comparison to get an idea of the prices depending on the insurance provider.

What should you do if something goes wrong?

What steps should I take in the case of accident, theft or illness?

The first thing to do is call the support number or contact your insurance through the app. They will then detail the steps to take before paying anything: tips on finding a doctor, choosing a hospital… If you had to pay some money upfront (in case of emergency), contact them to find out how to get reimbursed.

Tip: always keep your support number on you, saved in your phone and written somewhere in your wallet or backpack! In case of emergency, you’ll be able to contact your insurance company as quickly as possible.

What should you do if you modify the dates of your trip?

If you change your departure date, you must contact your insurance provider before leaving to have the dates of your insurance policy updated (obviously, this may incur an additional cost if your trip is longer).

If you return earlier than expected, only Chapka Insurance will reimburse you for the months you haven’t used. However, if you return later than planned, you can extend your insurance contract as long as you haven’t exceeded your insurer’s maximum contract duration.

Are you insured if you rent a car or motorbike abroad?

As mentioned above, if you rent or purchase a vehicle during your trip, only your medical expenses will be covered in case of an accident, and only if it’s a two-wheeled vehicle with an engine capacity under 125cc. Any damage you may cause to the vehicle or to a third party involved in the accident is not covered.

For damages you might cause to the vehicle, the insurance options offered by the rental companies generally come with very high deductibles. If that’s the case, you could purchase an excess cover from an insurance company such as Rentalcover.

Regarding liability for medical expenses related to bodily injury you may cause to a third party while driving your vehicle, we are unaware of any long-term travel insurance that covers this type of situation. Check with your insurance if you want supplementary coverage for this case.

How do you insure your vehicle when travelling around the world with a van or bikepacking?

For bikepacking, if you want to be covered against theft or damage to your bike or other piece of gear, you’ll need to look into baggage coverage. There are mainly two companies (from our comparison table) that cover sports gear: ACS’s Globe Traveller with it’s sports equipment coverage option, and Chapka’s Cap Aventure, which will cover your bike up to €2,000.

If you are traveling with your own vehicle, your car insurance should cover damages to third parties (personal liability) as well as damages to your own vehicle (partial or full coverage). The travel insurance will then cover your medical expenses if needed.

Is a backpacker insurance useful for a WHV or an expatriation?

A backpacker insurance won’t cover you in case of an accident that occurs while working (even unpaid work) or volunteering. You’ll need to get a specific coverage for working holiday visas or expatriations. But don’t worry—almost all insurance companies offer options for this type of situation, and we’re preparing a comparison on this very topic soon.

We hope this guide answers all your questions about this topic! And you, which travel insurance did you choose for backpacking?

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P.S. If you buy an insurance through one of our links, you will pay the same (or even get a small discount with AVI, Heymondo or GObyAVA) but we will get a small commission. This has in no way influenced the choice of the insurances presented above but will help us keep creating free and independent content on this blog.