Up to £15,000 cancellation cover per person on Signature policies
Unlimited medical cover and emergency expenseson Comprehensive and Signature policies
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Excellent 4.7 | 552,384 reviews
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Travel insurance for Iceland at a glance
Staysure’s travel insurance for Iceland holidays offers cancellation cover, unlimited medical and repatriation expenses on Comprehensive and Signature policies and up to £5,000 baggage cover on Signature policies. We can cover more than 1,300 pre-existing medical conditions, and all ages. With more 5-star Trustpilot reviews than any other UK travel insurance provider, we’ve won the Best Company for Travel Insurance for 9 years in a row (2016-2025). Get a quick quote online or call our friendly team to set yours up today.
Few destinations feel more other-worldly than Iceland. The island packs a decade of weather and geophysical drama into every day. A clear sky can turn to sleet in minutes, roads close without warning and 32 active volcanoes rumble beneath the surface.
While it isn't a legal requirement, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) (FCDO) recommends taking out adequate travel insurance for Iceland, and tour organisers and expedition-cruise lines often write it into their booking conditions.
With Staysure behind you, you can explore Iceland and keep your focus where it belongs: on the holiday. We cover every age and more than 1,300 medical conditions, offer unlimited emergency-medical cover on Comprehensive and Signature policies, and have a 24/7 English-speaking helpline.
Does my EHIC or GHIC cover me for travel to Iceland?
While there was a temporary period post-Brexit where these cards didn’t cover Iceland, the UK and Iceland have now have an active reciprocal agreement. That means you can now use a UK-issued GHIC or an in-date European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to access state-provided, medically necessary healthcare during a temporary visit. You’ll pay the same as any local for treatment, but Iceland’s world-class but compact healthcare system means costs escalate quickly if you need specialist care or an emergency evacuation off the Ring Road.
Iceland travel insurance can help bridge that gap, covering emergency medical expenses, repatriation, and the some of the domino-effect costs of weather-related delays that Keflavík airport is famous for. It’s also a requirement for many organised tours to show proof of adequate medical cover before departure.
Why choose Staysure?
Up to unlimited medical emergency expenses
Generous cancellation cover up to £15,000
We’ve given over 13m people peace of mind
Most pre-existing medical conditions covered
Easy to access and amend your policy online
What does Iceland travel insurance cover?
What’s covered?
emergency medical treatment abroad – including hospital care, ambulance transport and overnight stays if you fall seriously ill or are injured while away.
getting you home safely – repatriation cover if you’re too unwell to travel as planned, including specialist medical transport if needed.
cruise cancellations due to illness or injury – including if you're too unwell to travel, or experience a bereavement.
cutting your trip short – cover if something serious happens mid-holiday and you need to return early.
lost, stolen or damaged belongings – including your baggage, passport and personal money.
pre-existing conditions – if you’ve told us about them and we’ve accepted them, they can be included in your policy.
Example: You book a guided hike to the Skógafoss waterfall. Mid-walk you slip and fracture your ankle. The guide calls Icelandic rescue services; our 24/7 helpline issues a payment guarantee for the helicopter lift to Reykjavík and settles the hospital’s treatment fee directly.
What isn’t covered?
cancelling because you’ve changed your mind – cover only applies to unexpected and insured reasons.
missed flights – unless it’s due to a strike* severe weather, or mechanical breakdowns.
undeclared medical conditions – always let us know about any health issues when you get a quote.
unattended items – valuables left alone may not be covered.
activities not listed on your policy – like extreme sports, unless you’ve added them.
travelling against advice of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) – policies won’t cover destinations where the UK government advises against all or all but essential travel.
incidents involving alcohol or drugs – claims related to excessive alcohol or controlled substances won’t be accepted.
going against medical advice – for example, flying too soon after an operation or illness.
travelling for the purpose of receiving medical treatment – including consultations, tests, or planned procedures abroad.
Example: You hike into a restricted geothermal area despite clear warning signs and slip on a crust of ice, scalding your leg in a hot spring. Because the FCDO specifically advises to follow local safety signs, stay on marked paths, and follow local authority instructions, we wouldn’t be able to pay any claim for medical costs or lost excursion fees. A painful reminder that adventure and good judgement travel best together.
Beth Craig
Travel insurance expert
What activities and excursions does travel insurance for Iceland cover?
What our expert says…
“A standard Staysure policy includes cover many of Iceland’s signature experiences as standard. You’ll be covered for indoor ice-skating on Reykjavík’s rinks, leisurely sleigh rides pulled by horses or reindeer and even a swim in the Blue Lagoon without having to pay a penny extra. Select our winter sports add-on (available on Comprehensive and Signature policies) when you get your quote and your cover extends to glacier skiing, guided Nordic ski tours, mono-skiing and snowboarding on marked pistes, off-piste runs that stay within resort boundaries, snowshoe treks up to 2,500 metres and traditional tobogganing on prepared slopes.
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Iceland travel insurance for pre-existing medical conditions
We’ve been specialising in travel insurance for people with medical conditions since 2004, longer than almost any other UK provider. That means we’ve put years into making our screening process as simple as possible, our underwriters have lots of experience with complex cases, and the claims team understand the realities of travelling with a health condition. In fact, 97% of customers are able to get medical cover with us.
By being open about your medical history and your current health conditions, we can make sure your policy gives you all the support you need to Dream Big.
Medical conditions we regularly cover
We cover a vast number of medical conditions, including:
For people who have trouble finding travel insurance for pre-existing medical conditions, the British Insurance Brokers' Association (BIBA) has a directory of specialist insurers, like us!
To find out more, or if on the odd occasion we are unable to provide the cover you need, contact BIBA on 0370 950 1790. You can also search BIBA's medical directory online.
Free English-speaking medical help abroad
Travel Doctor, our new online service, connects you with an English-speaking doctor if you need medical support while you are abroad.** It lets you book a video-based consultation to discuss your health needs with a doctor right from your sun lounger.
You can choose a slot that works for you, go through your symptoms, get your prescription and even use Travel Doctor to find your nearest pharmacy, so you can get your meds and get on with enjoying your holiday.
Pick a travel insurance policy and tailor it to you
Shout bon voyage to a one-size-fits-all policy and give a warm welcome to holiday insurance that's all about you. Join over 12 million people who've trusted us with their travel insurance since 2005.
Does Iceland travel insurance cover volcanic eruptions?
Iceland averages one eruption every 5 years, and the ash from Eyjafjallajökull’s last large eruption alone grounded 100,000 flights. Standard Staysure policies cover emergency medical treatment if you are injured during an eruption but don’t automatically cover the travel fallout. Add our travel disruption extension (included on Signature, optional on Basic and Comprehensive) before the ash cloud appears and you could unlock:
cancellation cover if the FCDO or WHO moves your resort to “all” or “all but essential” travel due to volcanic ash
extra hotel nights and meals if flights are rescheduled
new flights home once airspace reopens
refunds for prepaid tours you miss while grounded
Remember, the extension only works for unforeseen events, so buy it as soon as you book.
How to buy travel insurance for Iceland
Whether you prefer getting a quick online quote or speaking to a real human over the phone, we make buying travel insurance both easy and effortless.
1. Run us through your travel plans
To get started on your quote, we’ll go over your travel plans. We need to know who’s coming along, where you’re heading, how long your trip will be, and whether you need insurance for a single trip or annual multi-trip cover.
For cruises, it’s important to include every destination on your itinerary, as well as any flights to and from your port.
2. Tell us about your medical history
Next on the list, we’ll go over some health questions with you so we can make sure you get proper medical cover while travelling. Now is the time to tell us about any health concerns that needed medication, medical advice, or treatment during the last two years.
3. Get your personalised quote
Once we have everything we need, we’ll give you your personalised quote, either online or by reading it out loud over the phone.
You’ll be able to choose your level of cover and add any optional extras that suit your trip, such as cruise travel insurance or winter sports cover. If you’d like more time to think it over, we can also send your quote by email so you can go through it in your own time.
Many experts agree that buying travel insurance as soon as you’ve booked your holiday is the best way to go. By doing this, you’ll be covered during the run-up to your holiday and while you’re abroad.
Despite the benefits of buying early, lots of people leave it to the last minute. Our sales data from July 2025 to January 2026 shows that the majority of travellers purchased their policy within 30 days of leaving, with a significant proportion doing so within just a few days of departure.
Travel insurance can’t be backdated, so it’s best to get it locked in before you are on holiday. If you still have to get your policy in place for future travels, it’s not too late. Simply get in touch with our friendly team to get a quote.
How much is travel insurance to Iceland?
Whether you’re ticking off the Golden Circle on a four-night city-and-geysers break, spending a fortnight touring every fjord on the Ring Road, or booking a once-in-a-lifetime small-ship cruise up to the Arctic Circle, each Iceland itinerary places its own demands on a policy. 3 main practical factors usually shape the price:
Age and health - We cover all ages and more than 1,300 medical conditions,* but if you travel with an ongoing condition, your policy has to be ready to pick up any medical bills. That extra safety net can add a little, but it saves you worrying about hospital invoices later.
Trip length - In 2024, the average length of stay for international visitors to Iceland was 4 nights. These shorter trips will usually cost less to insure than, for example, a 6 exploratory weeks looping the island by camper-van, simply because the policy is standing guard for fewer days.
Policy level and add-ons - Adding optional extras like Cruise Plus, golf cover, or gadget cover widens your safety net, but will nudge up your final quote.
How to get cheaper holiday insurance for Iceland?
Want to shrink the costs of your travel insurance while still getting the most out of your policy? Keep these tips and tricks in mind before you buy:
buy your policy early – taking out travel insurance soon after booking your trip can keep you covered if you need to cancel before you travel.
choose a higher excess – a higher excess will help to lower your premium, but be sure to choose an amount you’re comfortable paying if needed.
skip the add-ons – by not adding things like cruise or gadget cover if you don’t need them, you can lower your overall cover cost.
declare your medical conditions – being open about your health history helps to ensure the right cover is in place.
combine travellers on one policy – make sure all your travel companions are on the same policy, such as our family travel insurance, to save on cover costs.
keep your baggage light – by taking only what you need, you can lower the baggage limit on your policy and bring your premium down.
find a discount – make sure you swing by our discounts page before you buy so you can save on your policy.
The big-ticket costs travel insurance can help with
From October 2024 to October 2025, emergency medical expenses were our most common claim, and for good reason. Hospitalisation for a stomach bug in the USA with medical repatriation back to the UK could set you back £150,000+, according to the UK government.
In reality, the biggest claims are often more costly. While the average emergency medical claim on our worldwide policies was about £3,000, the highest we paid was closer to an eye-watering £350,000.^
Over the same period, our second most common claim on worldwide policies was cancellation. If you need to pull the plug on your holiday, we can help you recover the prepaid costs – with the average cancellation claim on our worldwide policies coming in at around £2,000, and the highest reaching more than £50,000.
Voted Best Travel Insurance 9 years running
The British Travel Awards have recognised us as the Best Company for Travel Insurance nine years in a row (2016-2025). This achievement is based on the votes of real customers, showing the trust travellers place in us.
This award is only given to travel companies that provide stellar service to their customers. It shows that we prioritise customer service, round-the-clock support when you need it most, and a reliable and speedy claims process.
Excellent 4.7 | 552,384 reviews
We get double the love of other insurers
Customers give us twice as many 5-star reviews as any other travel insurance company. That’s over 340,000 glowing reviews and counting.
Excellent discussion with Staysure rep…
Excellent discussion with Staysure rep who understood the issues I wanted to discuss and came up with a satisfactory solution
Mrs Marion Needham,
Very helpful and thorough
Very helpful and thorough
Paul Lewin,
Staff helpful and knowledgeable
Staff helpful and knowledgeable
Barbara,
Other Iceland travellers often ask...
Small-ship expeditions that circle Iceland or link Reykjavík with the Faroe Islands, Greenland or Svalbard can be insured under a Staysure policy. Just let us know you’re going on an expedition cruise when you get a quote with us, and your standard benefits then travel with you.
For sea-specific risks like cabin confinement after a virus on board, missed port departures when sea ice forces a detour, itinerary changes, or unused Zodiac excursions, add Cruise Plus (available on Comprehensive and Signature policies). It also extends to river cruises, so you stay protected whether you’re riding Atlantic swells or drifting quietly down Iceland’s glacial sea inlets.
If your cruise leaves Iceland, you’ll need to tell us every destination on your itinerary when you buy your policy to make sure you’re covered.
Iceland sits on a live geological rift with 32 active volcanoes; statistically, one of them erupts every five years. Since 2021 the Reykjanes Peninsula just outside Reykjavík has produced multiple lava flows, and travellers still remember 2010, when Eyjafjallajökull’s ash cloud grounded more than 100,000 flights across Europe. A standard Staysure policy will always cover emergency medical treatment if you are injured during an eruption, but it is the travel fallout that can hurt wallets.
Add our travel disruption extension (included on Signature, optional on Basic and Comprehensive) before the ash cloud appears and you could unlock:
cancellation cover if the FCDO or WHO moves your resort to “all” or “all but essential” travel due to volcanic ash
extra hotel nights and meals if flights are rescheduled
new flights home once airspace reopens
refunds for prepaid tours you miss while grounded
Remember, the extension only works for unforeseen events, so buy it as soon as you book. Eruptions already in the news or forecast by local authorities are considered “known events” and can’t be insured retroactively. A good reason to buy holiday insurance to Iceland as soon as you book!
Iceland often serves four seasons in a single day: gale-force winds can ground domestic flights, sudden snow can close Route 1, and heavy rain can wash out hiking trails. A standard Staysure policy already helps if weather stops you in your tracks. Medical treatment for hypothermia after an unexpected white-out, extra transport costs to reach a rerouted hotel, or missed-connection expenses when a storm delays your Keflavík flight all sit within your core benefits (up to your policy limits).
For bigger disruptions like airport closures, government-issued travel warnings or multi-day road blockages, add our travel disruption extension, included on Signature and optional on Basic and Comprehensive. The upgrade refunds your holiday if the FCDO or WHO advises against travel after you’ve booked, pays extra accommodation while you wait for the next safe window, and covers new flights home if conditions deteriorate mid-trip.
Yes, as long as the activity itself is within policy rules. Northern Lights safaris, Golden Circle coach tours, whale-watching cruises and Blue Lagoon time slots count as prepaid elements of your trip. If illness at home forces you to cancel, claim the non-refundable ticket under cancellation. If a medical emergency in Reykjavík cuts the holiday short, the curtailment section of our policy can help refund unused excursions.
Remember, adventure outings need the right add-ons. Glacier-hiking, snowshoeing and snowmobiling (as a passenger with a licensed guide) fall under winter sports cover (available on Comprehensive and Signature policies). Add Cruise Plus (available on Comprehensive and Signature policies) if you’re sailing and want protection for missed landings or cabin confinement.
Yes – Staysure travel insurance can cover flight cancellations if your trip is cancelled for an insured reason, such as unexpected illness, injury, severe weather or mechanical failure. You may be able to claim for unused travel and accommodation costs.
Some flight disruptions (such as airline strikes, weather delays or breakdowns on the way to the airport) may also be covered under the travel delay, missed departure or missed connection sections of your policy, depending on your level of cover.
Make sure you allow enough time for your journey, as claims won’t be covered if you haven’t allowed sufficient time to reach your departure point or have less than two hours between connecting flights.
Geographically it straddles the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, politically it sits outside the EU, yet for insurance purposes Iceland is firmly in the Europe zone. Select “Iceland” on a single-trip quote or choose “Europe” on an annual multi-trip plan and the island, glaciers, geysers and all drops into your cover without the price tag of a Worldwide policy.
Because Iceland is inside the Schengen area, you won’t need an ETIAS travel authorisation until that system launches, but you will face the new EES passport scan at the border if you haven’t already. Your GHIC or in-date EHIC works in state hospitals, though you still pay local co-payments. For everything the card can’t touch, like emergency medical expenses, repatriation, cancellation and baggage, your Staysure policy stands ready.
Staysure’s family travel insurance policies will ensure everyone is protected under one convenient plan, which is often more cost-effective and simpler to manage than buying individual policies for each family member. It covers one or two parents and their dependent children (under 18, or under 21 if in full-time education) – and if one person needs to cancel or cut the holiday short due to a medical emergency, everyone else can be covered too.
If your break includes grandparents, cousins or best friends, a group policy is the way to go. You can buy cover for up to nine people online, or up to 30 over the phone, even if you don’t all live at the same address.
In an emergency, contact the local emergency services first, and then call our 24-hour emergency helpline. Our team will help arrange your care and find the most appropriate place for treatment and follow-up care.
Our helpline is open 24/7, 365 days a year:
Calling from outside the UK: +44 1403 288 414
Calling from USA or Canada: +1 844 780 0639
Calling from Mexico: +1 819 780 0639
Calling from the UK: 01403 288 414
If you or someone on your policy is admitted to hospital or your outpatient treatment is likely to cost more than £350, contact us as soon as possible.
Where you have a valid claim and your medical expenses exceed £350, we will look to settle the bill directly with the medical provider where possible.
If you have a non-urgent medical concern, such as sickness, headaches, or mild pain, contact our helpline first for advice on where to go for assistance.
At Staysure, we believe that age shouldn't be a barrier to adventure, which is why we specialise in travel insurance for pre-existing conditions, and all ages. Our policies are designed to provide the tailored protection you need to travel with confidence at any stage of life, whether you are in your 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, or beyond.
Simply get in touch with our friendly team over the phone, or get a quick online quote, so you can make the most of your trip.
Stay in control of your account with My Staysure
You can make changes to your policy, online and in your own time with My Staysure.
It's quick and easy to make changes to your policy online. If you need to make simple changes such as updating traveller details or renewing a policy that's details are staying the same, just visit your My Staysure account.
Written by: Claudine Nortje, travel insurance expert
Last updated: 30/09/2026
^Discount is 16.67% off base premium and excludes costs to cover medical and add-ons. New annual policies only. Ends 30/09/2026.
*As long as strike action wasn’t common knowledge at the time of booking your trip or taking out your policy – whichever came later.
**Travel Doctor is powered by Air Doctor. Up to 3 appointments per insured person, per policy. Geographical restrictions and T&Cs apply.
†UK’s favourite based on more 5-star Trustpilot reviews than any other provider.
‡These activities will exclude all cover under the personal accident and personal liability sections of your policy.
^Based on Staysure sales data.
^^To claim hole-in-one cover, you must be a member of a recognised golf club affiliated to a national golfing union. You must hold an official national golfing union handicap. The relevant golf course must be affiliated to the golfing union of the country it’s in. Please see our policy documents for more details.
Up to £15,000 cancellation cover per person on Signature policies
