Just planning an adventure holiday can get the heartbeat racing. The thought of white-water rafting through some fast flowing rapids or parachuting to earth from 10,000 ft is enough to really get the adrenalin flowing.

But while activities like these are guaranteed to bring you excitement and exhilaration, you still need to use a bit of common sense and make sure you have the correct travel insurance in place.

If you are thinking of trying out a bit of mountain climbing, abseiling, skiing, snowboarding, scuba diving or something similarly awesome, you should be aware that your adventure activities probably won’t be covered by standard travel insurance and you’ll need to take out a special policy.

Getting the right travel insurance won’t just cover you if, heaven forbid, something was to go wrong during your adventure activity. It will also protect you against:

• Cancellations and delays - circumstances change and suddenly you can’t go on that dream holiday you’ve booked. You’ve fallen ill; you’re pregnant; you’ve unexpectedly lost your job or suffered some other crisis. Cancel your trip without insurance and you’ll be out of pocket by thousands of dollars. Insurance will also help if your flight is cancelled or delayed due to bad weather and you have to make alternative arrangements.
• Hospital and medical bills - even people in perfect physical health can fall ill when travelling. Medical treatment in some overseas countries can add up to tens of thousands of dollars if you aren’t insured. Just a day in hospital in the USA can cost up to $10,000 - think of the money a cheap insurance deal could save you.
• Loss or damage to baggage - you’ll be covered if the airline loses or damages your luggage, or if your belongings get stolen during your trip.
• Personal liability - if the worst happens and you were to get involved in an accident or incident on holiday, personal liability coverage can stop you having to pay expensive legal fees.

If you already have a holiday insurance policy, it’s best to double check with your provider to make sure you’ll be covered for your chosen activity. If not, your insurer might be able to upgrade your coverage, although for more extreme activities (ones insurers will deem “higher risk”) you might need to take out a separate policy.

These days it’s really easy to shop around and find yourself a cheap travel insurance deal. There are so many different insurance providers available that it gives holidaymakers a greater choice and puts them in a much better bargaining position. Simply use an online price comparison website to see what deals match your travel plans.