
Travel Insurance for Skiing
Get cover for your skiing trip with Redpoint protection
Whether you're planning a splurgy stay at a top ski resort in France, a solo snowboarding adventure in Whistler, Canada, or a family outing on the most popular slopes in the US, you'll want to think about ski insurance and snowboard travel insurance before you hit the slopes.
Even for the most experienced skiers, though, winter sports come with some elevated risks, and the season's snowy or inclement weather can affect your carefully laid trip plans. Travel insurance is a way to protect your trip costs, and give yourself peace of mind that if things go wrong on your ski or snowboard trip, you should be covered.

Medical, health, & safety for ski trips
Skiing and snowboarding are exhilarating winter sports, but they’re also more risky than some other popular travel activities. One of the best ways to stay safe is to always select slopes or runs that match your skill or abilities.
If you’re a beginner, take a lesson to get started and gain your confidence on easy slopes. And, of course, no matter your skill level, make sure you have the appropriate gear, including a well-fitted helmet, goggles, and waterproof clothing designed for snow sports.
Wildlife encounters tend to be quite rare on ski slopes because ski resorts disrupt the natural habitat, and the presence of humans scares wildlife away. However, if you’re skiing in a backcountry area, stay alert. Be mindful of local species, such as deer or bears, and avoid feeding or approaching them. Stay on marked trails to minimize disruption to wildlife habitats and reduce your risk of unexpected encounters.
Natural disasters and weather conditions can regularly and significantly impact safety on the slopes. Monitor forecasts closely, as blizzards, avalanches, and sudden temperature drops can create hazardous conditions. If venturing into off-piste or backcountry areas, carry avalanche safety gear, including a beacon, probe, and shovel, and know how to use them. It’s also advisable to ski with a group and inform someone of your plans.
If you’re driving to a ski resort in snowy or icy conditions, take special care. Make sure you have snow tires and/or chains, and drive cautiously and slowly. Also keep in mind that delays or road closures can be common in poor weather. If you’d rather not deal with the stress of navigating mountain roads, consider using shuttle services provided by your ski resort or travel package.
Trip insurance benefits & coverage for skiing
You may be wondering: Does my travel insurance cover skiing and snowboarding? The answer is yes: Many travel insurance companies cover these activities as part of a comprehensive travel insurance policy, including Redpoint.
However, certain exclusions may apply — for example, Redpoint doesn’t provide search-and-rescue coverage for heli-skiing or extreme skiing — so be sure to read the fine print of your travel insurance plan closely to confirm that your intended activity is included.
Here are the core coverage areas you should look for when purchasing skiing and snowboarding travel insurance.
- Trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance: Trip cancellation insurance reimburses your nonrefundable trip costs (such as prepaid lift tickets) if your skiing trip is canceled or cut short due to a covered reason, like illness, severe weather, or family emergencies. As bad weather can often affect ski and snowboard trips, trip cancellation and trip interruption coverage is especially important for a ski vacation. For extra flexibility, you may also want to consider adding cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage to your policy.
- Travel medical insurance: Travel health insurance covers unexpected medical expenses related to any injuries or illnesses that happen during your ski trip. In most cases, your health insurance from home will not be accepted overseas, so any medical costs or medical bills that you incur will need to be paid out of pocket if you don’t have travel insurance. Accidents certainly happen on the slopes, and medical coverage can be costly in other countries. Keep in mind also that you’ll probably need to apply for a waiver if you have any preexisting conditions.
- Emergency medical evacuation insurance: Emergency evacuation coverage reimburses you for transportation to the nearest medical facility or back to the U.S. in extreme or emergency situations, whether it’s by air ambulance or other means. This kind of coverage is essential if you plan to ski on advanced or technical slopes.
- Baggage and personal belongings insurance: This covers loss, theft, or damage to your belongings during your trip. If you are taking any expensive or specialist ski or snowboard gear, you should make sure that your policy covers the maximum value of your sporting equipment.
- Trip delay insurance: Travel delay benefits provide coverage for additional expenses if your trip is delayed before it starts or during any connections or transfers.
Redpoint’s most extensive policy, Ripcord, is the best option for skiing insurance. An extensive plan with high coverage limits and enhanced coverage, it includes generous benefits limits for emergency medical evacuation, search and rescue, trip cancellation, delay, and interruptions, and natural disaster evacuation.
Redpoint’s other travel insurance plans, Cavalry and Harbor, provide international coverage and comprehensive protection for a wide range of situations as well. Cavalry is particularly suited for city travel and luxury cultural experiences, while Harbor offers robust coverage to the budget-minded leisure traveler.
For ski insurance costs and more information, check out our purchase page for more information on sailing travel insurance and get an instant quote today.
FAQs about ski travel insurance

What is insurance for skiing?
Does travel insurance cover skiing?
How much is travel insurance for skiing?
What should your travel insurance cover for a skiing trip?
What happens if a tourist gets injured while skiing?
If you’re injured on a skiing trip and struggling to access care, contact Redpoint's 24/7 emergency helpline at +1-415-481-0610 to find services and providers included under your travel insurance policy's medical coverage.
Protect your trip with Redpoint travel insurance
Redpoint is known for comprehensive, easy-to-understand travel insurance policies that offer coverage to suit any type of trip. Explore our three international travel insurance plans — Ripcord, Cavalry, and Harbor — and get a quote for your next trip today.
