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World Nomads Travel Insurance is a travel insurance brand that offers two plan tiers (Standard and Explorer) with trip protection, emergency medical/evacuation, baggage, travel delay and 24/7 assistance. Exact benefits, limits, covered activities, and the underwriting insurer depend on your country (and sometimes state) of residence—so you must review your residency-specific Summary of Benefits and full policy wording at checkout. See World Nomads’ overview of what’s typically covered at What’s covered and confirm the underwriter for your policy via Insurance partners.
Coverage is designed for adventurous travel. World Nomads promotes coverage for more than 150 sports and activities; which activities are included and at which tier varies by your residency. Use the official activities tool to search your activity and see any safety requirements (e.g., altitude/depth limits, use of licensed operators): Adventure sports and activities.
Mountain IQ Travel Expert Mark Whitman has traveled with it for this very reason: “The detailed activity disclosure offer where [you] can quickly search for an adventure or sports activity, like hiking up to 6,000m or water-skiing, and add the activity to [your] policy to ensure full coverage.”
While you’re researching, we recommend also checking out the ‘Stories’ section on their website. You’ll find destination pieces and traveler perspectives, along with links to practical help content like what’s covered, the COVID-19 page (Coronavirus travel insurance), and emergency contacts (Emergency assistance).
World Nomads policies are geared to single trips with digital flexibility—you can often buy a policy after you’ve departed and extend coverage mid-trip; availability and maximum trip length differ by residency, so confirm these details in your country-specific policy wording during the quote flow (What’s covered).
Below we have provided an in-depth World Nomads Travel Insurance review.
World Nomad Review
- In business since: World Nomads operates as a travel insurance brand (not a licensed insurer). Policies are underwritten by different insurers depending on your residency—verify the underwriter shown on your quote/policy at Insurance partners.
- AM Best financial strength rating: World Nomads itself is not AM Best‑rated. Check the rating of the policy’s underwriter. Examples: U.S. policies underwritten by Nationwide carry AM Best A+ (Superior) source; Australia via Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s is A (Excellent) source; Canada via AIG Insurance Company of Canada is A (Excellent) source.
- Policy types: Two tiers—Standard and Explorer—covering trip cancellation/interruption, emergency medical and evacuation, baggage/personal effects, travel delay/missed connection and 24/7 assistance; covered activities and limits vary by residency (What’s covered).
| Pros | Cons |
| Broad adventure activity catalog with searchable tool and safety criteria (see activities) Buy/extend while traveling in many regions (confirm in your policy) 24/7 emergency assistance and online claims (assistance) Optional rental car damage in select countries (rental car insurance) | Pre‑existing medical conditions generally excluded (definitions vary by residency) No Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) option in most markets Benefits/limits and activity coverage vary by residency; must verify your plan wording Traditional delay benefits (not parametric); for automated delay payouts, competitors like Allianz offer “SmartBenefits” (Allianz) |
Standard Plan
- Trip Protection: up to $2,500 per insured (typical U.S. example; confirm your residency’s limits at What’s covered)
- Emergency Medical Insurance: up to $100,000 per insured (verify by residency)
- Evacuation and repatriation: up to $300,000 (verify by residency)
- Baggage loss and theft: up to $1,000 (per‑item sublimits apply; verify by residency)
- Activities covered: varies by residency and tier—confirm your activity via the activities list
Explorer Plan
- Trip Protection: up to $10,000 per insured (typical U.S. example; verify your local plan)
- Emergency Medical Insurance: up to $100,000 per insured (verify by residency)
- Evacuation and repatriation: up to $500,000 (verify by residency)
- Baggage loss and theft: up to $3,000 (per‑item sublimits apply; verify by residency)
- Activities covered: generally broader than Standard; confirm on the activities list and check any safety/operator requirements
The Bottom Line
World Nomads stands out for adventure‑ready benefits, the ability to buy after departure and extend in many regions, and a transparent activities tool. It is a brand, not a licensed insurer; the AM Best rating you should rely on is that of the underwriter named on your quote/policy (verify underwriter). COVID‑19 medical and certain trip protection claims may be covered if you become sick during a covered trip, but general border closures, travel bans, and fear of travel are not covered reasons (COVID-19 coverage). If you want automated, parametric delay payouts, compare alternatives that explicitly offer them (e.g., Allianz “SmartBenefits” via Allianz), as World Nomads provides traditional travel delay benefits.
The Claim
World Nomads claims to provide “inspiration, opportunities and travel insurance to help you fuel your curiosity, find your journey and travel bravely.”
Is it true?
Broadly, yes—within policy limits and the specific wording for your residency. The brand focuses on trip protection plus emergency medical and evacuation and covers a large catalog of adventure activities (Standard vs. Explorer tiers differ; residency matters). Use the activities tool to confirm your exact sport and conditions (activities). For COVID‑19, medical expenses can be covered if you contract the illness on a covered trip; however, government border closures, lockdowns, and fear of travel are generally not covered reasons (COVID-19). As with all testimonials, remember that individual experiences vary; consult multiple third‑party sources and follow disclosure best practices highlighted by the U.S. FTC Endorsement Guides when evaluating endorsements.
We were also impressed with WorldNomad.com’s Stories section, which delves deep into life-changing experiences across the world. Perusing that section alone will give you insight into the various cultures and unique excursions to be had. On top of all that, the company also makes it possible to donate to community development around the world and provides useful insights to help you be a more responsible and respectful traveler.
“I’ve used World Nomads insurance personally on every trip I’ve taken in the past three years and also highly recommend them to my clients. They cover a very wide range of activities (including extreme adventure activities) and their platform makes it easy to extend, update, and add additional countries to your trip insurance plan.”
Cassandra Brooklyn Founder of EscapingNY
Product Overview
- Pros: extensive adventure activities catalog with a searchable tool; option to buy/extend while abroad (varies by residency); 24/7 emergency assistance; optional rental car damage in select markets
- Cons: pre‑existing medical conditions generally excluded; only two plan tiers and typically no CFAR; activity and benefit differences by residency require careful verification
Features
| Standard Plan | Explorer Plan | |
| Trip protection | up to $2,500 (verify by residency) | up to $10,000 (verify by residency) |
| Emergency medical insurance | up to $100,000 (verify by residency) | up to $100,000 (verify by residency) |
| Evacuation and repatriation | up to $300,000 (verify by residency) | up to $500,000 (verify by residency) |
| Baggage loss and theft | up to $1,000 (sublimits apply) | up to $3,000 (sublimits apply) |
| Number of activities covered | Varies by residency/tier; confirm on activities list | Generally broader; confirm on activities list |
Adventure sports coverage
World Nomads’ travel insurance is built for activities like skiing, scuba diving, trekking, surfing, and more—but coverage depends on your residency and plan tier. Use the activities tool to verify your exact activity and any safety criteria (e.g., helmets, licensed operators, altitude/depth limits). Notable exclusions commonly include professional or paid participation and any record, speed, or endurance attempts. Higher‑risk activities are typically available only on Explorer.
Excellent online learning resources
Beyond destination content and Stories, World Nomads provides practical help, including 24/7 assistance contacts for medical coordination and evacuations (Emergency assistance) and clear coverage explainers (What’s covered). Claims can be initiated online with documentation uploads.
Option to support a cause
When you purchase a travel insurance policy from World Nomads, you can choose to make a small donation to one of the ongoing Footprints projects, which help improve communities all around the world. Donations are processed as micro‑donations at checkout, and The Footprints Network reports that 100% of traveler micro‑donations are passed through to projects; as of 2025, the program has channelled over $5 million to hundreds of projects globally (About Footprints; Projects).
Possible drawbacks
Doesn’t cover preexisting conditions
Pre‑existing medical conditions are generally excluded for medical treatment and are not usually covered reasons for trip cancellation/interruption under World Nomads plans; definitions and look‑back/stability rules vary by residency, so review your policy wording carefully (What’s covered). If you need a waiver or CFAR, compare other carriers that offer these options in your state.
Only two plans
World Nomads offers two tiers—Standard and Explorer. Trip cancellation, baggage, and evacuation limits typically scale up on Explorer, and more activities are generally included at that tier. If you want additional plan choices, a pre‑existing condition waiver, CFAR, or automated delay payouts, you may need to compare other providers.
The competition
World Nomads | HTH Travel Insurance | John Hancock | |
| Our review | Our review | ||
| Available plans | 2 | Varies by state/plan (TripProtector series) | 3 (Silver/Gold/Platinum) |
| AM Best financial strength rating | Varies by underwriter (brand is not rated). Examples: U.S. via Nationwide A+; Australia via Lloyd’s A; Canada via AIG A | Varies by underwriter (often Nationwide A+) | A (Starr Indemnity) |
| Annual plans | No annual plan; single trips with the ability to extend while traveling (rules vary by residency). | Focus on single‑trip; related brands may offer annual options | Primarily single‑trip tiers |
| 24-hour travel assistance service | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
World Nomads vs. HTH Travel Insurance
World Nomads’ two tiers emphasize adventure activities and the ability to buy or extend while abroad (availability varies). HTH Travel Insurance (HTH Worldwide) leans medical‑first with TripProtector trip plans and often offers time‑sensitive pre‑existing condition waivers and CFAR options in many states (verify on your state certificate). If automated, parametric delay payments are important, note that World Nomads provides traditional delay benefits; consider competitors that advertise automatic payouts (e.g., Allianz “SmartBenefits,” Allianz).
World Nomads vs. John Hancock
While John Hancock offers three tiered trip‑cancellation plans (Silver/Gold/Platinum) and commonly provides pre‑existing condition waivers and CFAR in many states, World Nomads focuses on two tiers with an activities catalog geared to adventure travel. Benefits, covered reasons, and add‑ons vary by state for each brand—confirm details on the carrier site before purchase.
