Which sports are automatically covered by my policy?

Having fun is what holidays are all about – which is why we include over 150 sports and activities you will automatically be covered for, whether you fancy abseiling, canoeing or riding in a hot air balloon. The full list of what is included is laid out in the policy wording  and can also be found below.

 

Before you head off on your travels, it’s important to check that you’re covered for everything that you have planned.

 

Here’s the full list of activities included in Columbus travel insurance policies:

 

Abseiling ‡, Aerobics, Aikido (non-contact training only) *, Angling, Archaeological digging *, Archery *, Assault course, Athletics (non-competitive, track only), Badminton, Bamboo rafting (only on inland waters) *, Banana boating, Bar/Restaurant work, Baseball *, Basketball, Beach games, Biathlon (training only) *, Billiards, Blading (no stunts), Board sailing *Ω, Body boarding Ω, Boogie boarding *Ω, Bowling/Bowls, Boxing (non-contact training only), Bungee jumping ‡, Cable car ride, Camel riding (excl trekking) *, Canoeing (incl white water up to grade 3) *Ω, Catamaran sailing (within European waters only, no racing) *, Clay pigeon shooting *, Climbing (on climbing wall only), Cricket *, Croquet, Cross country running, Curling, Cycling (excl BMX, mountain biking & touring) *, Dancing, Darts, Dinghy sailing *Ω, Dragon boat racing *, Elephant riding/trekking, Fell walking (below 2,000 metres), Fishing, Fives, Flag American Football, Flying as a passenger in an aircraft (private plane, small aircraft, glider or helicopter), Football, Fruit or vegetable picking (under 3 metres), Glass bottom boats, Go karting *, Goalball, Golf, Gorilla trekking, Gym - Fitness, Gymnastics, Handball, Helicopter rides (passenger only), Hiking (2,000 to 4,000 metres altitude, no overnight stay), Hiking (below 2,000 metres), Hobie Cat sailing *Ω, Hockey (field), Horse riding (maximum 7 days, no polo, hunting, jumping) *, Hot air ballooning (passenger only), Hot dogging (grade 1-3), Hot springs, Hydro zorbing, Ice skating (rink only), In-line skating (no stunts), Jet boating (passenger only) *, Jogging, Judo (training only) *, Jujitsu (training only) *, Karate (non-contact training only) *, Kayaking (incl white water up to grade 3) *Ω, Kendo (non-contact training only) *, Kickboxing (non-contact training only) *, Kite surfing/boarding (on a lake) *, Korfball, Llama riding *, Marathon running (training only), Martial arts (non-contact training only), Modern pentathlon (training only) *, Mopeds (maximum 125cc) *, Motorcycling (maximum 125cc) *, Mule trekking *, Netball, Non-manual labour – excl animal sanctuary/ refuge work *, Octopush, Orienteering, Ostrich riding *, Paintballing *, Parachuting (single jump/tandem only) ‡, Parasailing/parascending (towed by boat/ over water), Pedalos *, Pilates, Pony trekking, Pool, Power boating (passenger only) *, Rackets, Racquet Ball, Rafting (incl white water up to grade 3) *Ω, Rambling (below 2,000 metres), Reverse bungee, Rifle range ‡*, Ringos, River bugging (Grade 1-3) *, River sledding *, River tubing *, Roller blading (no stunts), Roller skating (no stunts), Rounders, Rowing *, Safari in vehicle/on foot (not involving use of firearms), Sailing (incl yachting and catamaran, within European waters only, no racing) *, Sand duning, Sand skiing, Sandboarding, Scuba diving (to 30 metres), Sea fishing, Shark diving (cage only) ‡, Skateboarding (no stunts), Skydiving (single jump and tandem only) ‡, Sledging or sleigh riding (passenger only, pulled by horse, reindeer or dogs), Small bore target shooting ‡*, Snooker, Snorkelling, Soccer, Softball, Speed boating (passenger only) *, Sphereing, Spinning, Squash, Surfing *, Swimming Ω, Swimming with dolphins, Sydney Harbour Bridge walk, Table tennis, Taekwondo (non-contact training only), Ten pin bowling, Tennis, Touch Football, Trampolining, Tree top trekking, Trekking (2,000 to 4,000 metres altitude, no overnight stay), Trekking (below 2,000 metres), Triathlon (training only) *, Tubing, Tug of war, Tuk tuk ride (passenger only), Volleyball, Wakeboarding *, Walking (2,000 to 4,000 metres altitude, no overnight stay), Walking (below 2,000 metres), Water hockey, Water polo, Water-skiing (no jumping) *Ω, Whale watching, Wheelchair basketball, Wind tunnel flying ‡, Windsurfing *Ω, Yachting (within European waters only, no racing) *, Yoga, Zip-lining/trekking, Zorbing

 

‡ No cover under the Personal Accident section

* No cover under the Personal Liability section

Ω Covered on inland waters or within 12 miles from the coast only

 

How can I add cover for more sports and activities?

If you’re looking to enjoy a more active holiday, whether that means taking part in some of the more extreme activities or engaging with unique experiences that carry higher risks.

 

The risk of injury when you decide to embark on an adrenaline-fuelled activity is not to be ignored, for many, that’s part of the attraction. If you want to do the Sydney Harbour Bridge climb, high dive in America or go trekking in Nepal, there is a part of you that knows you’re pushing yourself to the limit and that’s where the thrill lies. Getting involved with these activities in a controlled environment is usually safe to take part in, but you should always ensure you have the right travel insurance in place, just in case something does go wrong.

 

If your taste for adventure stretches beyond what is already included, then the adventure pack add-on could be what you are looking for. It is easy to include in your travel policy, and you can add it when you apply for travel cover with us online. It adds cover for several other activities like white-water rafting and kite surfing. This will ensure you have the protection you need, so that you can enjoy your thrill-seeking adventures knowing that you’ve got the right travel insurance in place.

 

All our policies can incorporate the adventure pack, including our annual cover. This means that you can adjust your policy to suit you

 

You can add the adventure pack to your policy which will cover you for an additional 23 sports & activities including kite surfing and scuba diving between 30 – 40 metres. 

 

You can add the adventure pack when you get a quote online (on Step 3 – ‘Tailor your policy’). If you would like to add the adventure pack to your existing policy please contact customer services and a member of the team will be happy to help. 

 

The adventure pack can be added to your insurance policy for an extra premium, and provide you with cover for:

 

  • Athletics (non-competitive, including field)
  • Blokarting
  • BMX cycling (excluding stunt/obstacle)
  • Breathing Observation Bubble (BOB) up to 18 metres
  • Camel trekking
  • Cyclocross
  • Deep sea fishing
  • Fencing
  • Heptathlon
  • High Diving (maximum 10 metres)
  • Horse Riding (more than 7 days, no polo, hunting, jumping)
  • Kit bugging
  • Kite landboarding
  • Kite surfing/boarding
  • Lacrosse
  • Land yachting
  • Mountain biking (recreational)
  • Rap running/jumping
  • Sand yachting
  • Scuba diving between 30-40 metres (if qualified)
  • White water canoeing (Grade 4)
  • White water kayaking (Grade 4)
  • White water rafting (Grade 4)

 

 

‡ No cover under the Personal Accident section

* No cover under the Personal Liability section

Ω Covered on inland waters or within 12 miles from the coast only

 

If you are seeking cover for particularly hazardous sports or activities, or any that aren’t included in our standard policies or the adventure pack, then we will do our best to accommodate you, please contact customer services and a member of the team will be happy to help. 

 

Will I be covered to play in a tournament?

You’re automatically covered to take part in amateur tournaments for any of the sports listed as covered on your policy (please refer to the policy wording to find out which sports are covered automatically by your policy).  However, we cannot cover you for professional tournaments.

 

What is "walking at high altitude" and do I need to add it to my policy?

Walking below 2,000 metres is automatically covered by your policy, free of charge, as is walking at altitudes between 2,000 and 4,000 provided it doesn’t involve an overnight stay. 


Please note that Machu Picchu is 2,430m.


If you are planning to trek Mount Kinabalu or any other summits or regions over 4,000m but under 5,800m – please contact our customer services team and we will be happy to discuss your requirements on an individual basis. However, please note that Kilimanjaro treks cannot be covered.


Is my sports gear (e.g. golf clubs, scuba equipment) covered?

Cover for sporting gear isn’t covered automatically but can be added to your travel insurance policy. Cover for golfing, ski or snowboard equipment can be added to your quote online – just add Golf cover or Winter Sports cover on Step 3 ‘Tailor your policy’.

  

Cover for other sports equipment can be added to your policy by contacting customer services and a member of our team will be happy to help.


Please note that any loss or damage to sports equipment whilst in use is not covered.