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How to buy travel insurance for extreme sports destinations
Feeling adventurous? Here's a guide for your next extreme sports destinations and tips on buying travel insurance
It might be about time for your next adrenaline rush for those who live to chase adventure and always searching for more exciting moments. Whether jumping out of a plane, skiing down a snowy mountain or exploring underwater caves, these extreme sports destinations need to be on your adventure bucket list.
If we haven’t scared you off just yet, and all this sounds like exactly what you’re after, you’re in for an adventure-filled trip not to be forgotten with these extreme sports destination ideas!
Best extreme sports destinations to visit next
Best places to bungee jump
Bungee jumping could be your perfect dose of adrenaline if you like free falling (with a harness on!) into the air. But not just any building; bungee jumping spots worldwide have some of the most scenic views. Whether it’s taking in city skylines, rivers, valleys or lakes, you’ll have plenty to see as you plunge downwards, screaming your lungs out. Here are a few of our recommendations:
- Macau Tower in China. At 233 m, this building has a Guinness World Record as the highest bungee jumping point worldwide.
- Taupo Bungy Lake in New Zealand. Jump against the backdrop of nature to set the scene for your plummet, with a spectacular view of theWaikato River and surrounding cliffs to make the fall even more epic. As you reach the bottom, you’ll briefly touch the crystal clear water in Lake Taupo just before you’re pulled back up to safety.
- Victoria Falls bridge. This bungee jumping point is situated on the Zambia-Zimbabwe border. It’s an added thrill since you might drop into the crocodile-laden waters of the Zambezi River!
| See also: Do you need travel insurance for road trips in New Zealand? |
Best places to surf
Sand, sea and surf – if you’re all about beach life, time to ride the waves. While surfing may not be the first extreme sport that comes to mind, it is, in fact, one of the most dangerous sports in the world. Some surfers even attach themselves to jet skis which take them far out to sea where waves can go up to 70 metres! To try this sport, here’s where you can go:
- Bondi beach. Bondi beach is located in Sydney, Australia, and attracts beginner surfers and experts. South the beach is where more seasoned pros hang out since the proximity to the Pacific Ocean means stronger waves. Of course, the dangers of riptides and sharks are present, but some precautions are implemented. For instance, well-trained lifeguards, demarcating flags and shark detectors (Drone Shark) are present to ensure surfer safety.
- Tanjung Aru. This is a beach located in Sabah, Malaysia. Plenty of surf schools will teach you how to get your feet wet if you’re a beginner surfer. The waves are smaller, but you’ll still have fun riding them.
| See also: Travelling to Malaysia by car? Read this first |
Best places to skydive
Skydiving is a sport where you’ll be dropped thousands of feet above the ground with nothing but a parachute and perhaps a tandem instructor strapped to your back.
Tandem skydiving is the relatively safer option, as you’ll have a tandem instructor to deploy your parachute, navigate the landing and listen to your screams the whole way down on your descent. With all extreme sports, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Travel insurance is a must.
- Skydiving in Palm Jumeirah. This skydiving spot in Dubai offers you a fantastic view for your dive as you take in the “City of Gold” and the palm-shaped archipelago below.
- Pattaya City. Pattaya is well-known in Thailand for thrill-seekers who go there to try skydiving, amongst other extreme sports. Here, you’re dropped from up to 13,000 feet before your parachute is deployed at 5,000 feet, where you start to drift back down to the solid ground.
Best places for volcano boarding
Volcano boarding, also known as volcano surfing, is the act of surfing down volcanic ash on the side of active volcanoes at up to 72 km/h. Yup, this is officially a thing. However, while it sounds fun to thrill seekers, note that you can potentially fall and get cut by rough volcanic ash or be hit by flying molten lava. Therefore, protective gear, including jumpsuits and goggles, is often worn.
Since you can only volcano surf down volcanoes where recent eruptions have generated a hardened lava slope, there are only a handful of places to go.
- Cerro Negro. Located in Nicaragua, Central America, the youngest volcano over there is situated in a stunning landscape. Its eruptions in 1999 have created a smooth surface for those who want to try volcano boarding. Cerro Negro is still active, so do check the travel advisory from the local news over there if you intend to go.
- Mount Bromo. Nearer to Singapore, the scenic Mount Bromo is in Java, Indonesia. This is a volcanic plateau instead of a volcano, so the incline is slightly flatter. Even if you don’t travel to Mount Bromo for this sport, you can hike around the area and observe the sunset.
Best places for white water rafting
Picture rushing down a gushing river passing the most scenic sites as you hang on to a raft for dear life. That’s white water rafting.
While you might think jumping off buildings and planes would be more dangerous, white water rafting presents the danger of falling out of a raft into running water and colliding with rocks as the raft runs the rapids. So here are some places you can try to get a rush down a river.
- Telaga Waja River. Located in Bali, this is a long track. At 18km, the path your raft will take goes up the slope of Mount Abang and passes through Rendang Village, reaching the sea in Klungkung Regency. It’s one of the “must-go” destinations if you want to try white water rafting.
- Kuala Kubu Baru. This river in Malaysia is a slower, smooth descent. So if you’re a beginner, perhaps this track is more suitable for you. There are plenty of companies that offer white water rafting experiences bundled with hotel stays. For more travel promotions, check out our travel offers site.
| See also: Travelling to Malaysia? Check out our travel guide before you go|
Does travel insurance cover extreme sports?
When visiting extreme sports destinations, it’s important to seek the right travel insurance that offers you the best protection.
Compare travel insurance products
How to choose travel insurance for extreme sports destinations
Check if your sport is covered
Not all extreme sports are made equal, and each comes with its level of risk.
This means some travel insurance providers may be willing to take on the risk of surfing which carries a relatively lower risk but are unwilling to compensate you if you injure yourself while mountain climbing, which is generally riskier.
Check the coverage amount
Always check how much coverage you’ll get for each sport. For example, the coverage you’ll receive for extreme sports should include coverage for death or injuries resulting from your chosen activity. This would consist of repatriation to your home country and medical expenses for any injuries.
The amount of coverage will vary from provider to provider. Still, it’s essential to consider the exchange rate of your destination’s currency and the standard healthcare costs there. With that, you’ll get a better idea of how much coverage you need and the best travel insurance policy to suit you.
What if I don’t know which activity I’ll be trying yet?
If you’re looking to be a little spontaneous with planning your trip, you may not have decided yet which extreme sport to try next.
Not to worry. All you need to do is bring a copy of your travel insurance policy to check if the sport you’re keen on trying is covered.
And there you go, you’re all set for your next extreme sports adventure!
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