Pack protection that lets you roam the world with less worry
Ready for the spontaneity and flexibility of exploring the world with only a few items on your back? Maybe you’re a seasoned backpacker or you want to try backpacking for the first time. While you’re gearing up to go, don’t forget to back up your finances — and ensure you have assistance if you need it — with travel insurance.
Why? No matter what you pack, you can run into travel mishaps like delays, cancellations, and emergency medical expenses. If you choose to travel light, backpacking travel insurance can help carry the financial weight and provide caring support if something goes wrong on your trip.
Looking for backpacker travel insurance? We offer:
Multiple plan options for varying budgets
Access to 24/7 travel assistance on all plans
Emergency medical coverage on multiple plans
What’s backpacker travel insurance?
Let’s start with what it means to be a backpacker. Backpacking is where you explore the world at your own pace, with nothing but a backpack filled with essentials and an open heart ready for new experiences. It’s a versatile and lower-cost way of traveling for longer periods of time and across different countries.
Getting worldwide backpacker travel insurance is like adding a layer of protection that means you can get financial support and travel assistance if you experience mishaps on your trip — whether it’s stormy weather that cancels your flight or an illness you catch while staying in a hostel. If you pack coverage, you can focus on the joy of discovering new places and meeting fascinating people, knowing that if anything goes awry, you're safeguarded against unwelcome surprise costs.
Why would I need backpacker travel insurance?
Maybe you’re thinking you won’t need coverage because you’re not bringing much, or that your U.S. health insurance will take care of any medical costs you may have while traveling. But travel insurance covers much more than what you pack — and your U.S. health insurance likely won’t work in other countries, or even certain U.S. states.
Backpacking can involve multiple forms of transportation and travel between many different locations — meaning it’s more likely for you to have travel delays, trip interruptions, and missed connections. For example: Imagine you’re traveling from Spain to Amsterdam and mechanical issues delay your flight for more than five hours. Your travel insurance for backpacking Europe could reimburse you back for the cost to book a hotel room last minute and meals you need while you wait.
What if your backpack gets lost, stolen, or damaged? It’s likely the only bag you’re traveling with, so you’d need replacement items ASAP. If you packed a Travelex policy, we could reimburse the costs to replace your necessary belongings if you save your receipts and submit them with your claim. Just don’t forget to check your plan’s coverage limit for baggage before you go on a shopping spree — we can only cover up to a certain amount.
Plus, if you get injured or sick while traveling, our 24/7 travel assistance provider can help you find the nearest medical facility, and we can reimburse your emergency medical expenses.
Don’t think you need backpacking travel insurance? It’s especially important if you’re traveling in remote locations where there may not be adequate medical care. Whether you get hurt while hiking in a forest or exploring a hidden beach, our travel assistance provider can arrange and help pay for your emergency medical evacuation and hospital costs so you get the care you need when you need it. Without coverage, you’d be left to arrange your care yourself — and pay for all the bills.
What travel insurance do I need for backpacking?
The right plan for you depends on your travel needs, like your budget and what activities you’re planning. All our plans can work well for backpackers, as long as you’re traveling at least 100 miles away from home. You can compare our Travelex plans here.
If you’re planning a budget-friendly backpacking trip, you may want cheap backpacker travel insurance. Our Essential plan is our most affordable plan, meaning you’ll have a wide range of benefits at a lower price. If you want a bit more coverage but still want to save money on your travel insurance cost, our Advantage plan may be a good choice.
Want to rent a car or try adventure sports during your backpacking vacation? Or maybe you’re traveling with your dog or want protection for your smartphone. With our Essential or Advantage plan, you can choose from several upgrades to add extra coverage to your policy.
Our best option for worldwide backpacker travel insurance coverage is our Ultimate plan. It has our highest benefit limits and most customizable coverage, meaning you can choose to add any of our nine optional upgrades to your policy for extra protection.
No matter which of our Travelex plans you choose, you’ll have access to our 24/7 expert travel assistance provider — so you’re never truly alone on your backpacking adventure. You also get full use of our Travel On app with your Travelex plan, which means you can reach emergency assistance at the tap of a fingertip.
Our Travel On app can also help you travel safer — and make smarter decisions — while you’re backpacking. It can:
- Alert you to nearby safety risks so you can avoid them before they become an issue.
- Tell you important safety and health information about each destination you visit.
- Give you the numbers to local emergency services so you have them handy if you need them quickly.
Plus, it also contains your description of coverage, so if you’re wondering whether or not you’ll have coverage for the adventure activity you’d like to try, you can find out easily.
How do I buy Travelex backpacker travel insurance?
It’s simple — just hit the orange “Get quote” button at the top of the page and enter your destination to start generating your free quote. Once you enter all your trip and traveler details, you’ll see which of our plan and upgrade options are available for you to choose from.
Want help buying your policy? You can call 1-800-228-9792 to reach our award-winning customer service team.
