The Icelandic Guide

Iceland Travel Insurance: What Cover You Need

· 2 min read Practical
Hikers in Iceland mountains where travel insurance is essential

Contents

  1. What Cover You Need
  2. Medical and Hospitalisation
  3. Emergency Evacuation
  4. Adventure Activities
  5. Trip Cancellation and Disruption
  6. EHIC and GHIC
  7. Recommended Providers
  8. Practical Tips

Iceland is a safe country with excellent medical facilities — but it’s also a country where tourists regularly need emergency services. Sneaker wave rescues, glacier accidents, highland vehicle recoveries, and weather-related evacuations all happen. Travel insurance is not a theoretical precaution in Iceland — it’s practical.

What Cover You Need

Medical and Hospitalisation

Iceland has world-class hospitals in Reykjavík (Landspítali University Hospital) and well-equipped facilities in Akureyri and other major towns. Without insurance or EHIC/GHIC, medical costs for non-residents are high. A hospital stay can run ISK 100,000–300,000+ per day. Repatriation to your home country adds significantly more.

Minimum recommended: ISK 1,500,000 (approximately €10,000) medical cover. For Schengen visa applicants, the minimum is €30,000.

Emergency Evacuation

Helicopter rescue in Iceland’s highlands costs approximately ISK 500,000–1,500,000+ per incident. This is not covered by basic medical insurance. Look for a policy with emergency evacuation cover or mountain rescue cover.

Adventure Activities

Standard travel insurance policies often exclude:

  • Glacier walking
  • Ice climbing
  • Snowmobiling
  • Highland F-road driving
  • Horse riding
  • Lava cave exploration

Check your policy document for the activity exclusions list before purchasing. Policies that include these activities are available — EKTA, World Nomads, and some specialist adventure travel insurers cover Iceland’s typical activities.

Trip Cancellation and Disruption

Volcanic eruptions affecting Keflavík Airport, severe weather causing flight delays, or illness causing cancellation. Standard trip cancellation cover applies for most causes.

Iceland-specific risk: The Blue Lagoon and some South Coast attractions have been affected by volcanic activity since 2023. Check whether ‘natural disaster’ or ‘volcanic activity’ is a covered cancellation reason in your policy.

EHIC and GHIC

EU citizens with EHIC and UK citizens with GHIC (post-Brexit UK version): Access to state-provided emergency medical care in Iceland at Icelandic resident rates. This is a valuable benefit but covers only the medical treatment itself — not emergency evacuation, not repatriation, not trip cancellation, not adventure activity injuries if excluded by Icelandic authorities.

Use EHIC/GHIC to reduce medical costs in Iceland, and supplement with travel insurance that covers evacuation and activity-specific risks.

EKTA (ekta.is): An Icelandic travel insurance provider specifically designed for Iceland travel. Covers adventure activities, medical, and emergency assistance. Particularly useful for single-trip Iceland-specific cover.

World Nomads: Popular with adventure travellers. Covers a wide range of activities including glacier walking, snowmobiling, and highland hiking. Available at worldnomads.com.

Your existing credit card: Some premium credit cards include travel insurance. Check whether it covers adventure activities and emergency evacuation before relying on it.

Practical Tips

  • Keep your insurance documents and emergency phone numbers downloaded offline or printed — mobile signal is absent in some areas where you might need them
  • Photograph your insurance card/document before departure
  • Note the 24/7 emergency assistance phone number for your insurer — call them first in any major medical incident
  • Keep receipts for any medical expenses for reimbursement claims

Frequently Asked Questions

Is travel insurance required for Iceland?
Not legally required for entry (except for Schengen visa applicants, who must show €30,000+ medical cover). But it's strongly recommended. Iceland's medical care is world-class but expensive for non-EEA visitors. Helicopter rescue in the highlands can cost ISK 500,000–1,000,000+. A single uninsured emergency can cost more than the trip.
Do I need adventure sports cover for Iceland?
Yes if you're doing glacier walks, Laugavegur hiking, Silfra snorkelling, horse riding, snowmobiling, or ice climbing. Standard travel insurance often excludes 'adventure sports'. Check your policy specifically for glacier activities, highland hiking, and any activity involving a guide. EKTA and World Nomads include most Iceland activities.
Does the EHIC / GHIC cover Iceland?
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and the UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) give access to state-provided healthcare in EEA countries including Iceland, at the same cost as Icelandic residents. This covers emergency medical treatment but not helicopter rescue, trip cancellation, or repatriation. Supplement EHIC/GHIC with travel insurance.