EKTA travel insurance
Online policies for trips from the UK and Europe. Check the activity list against your plans.
- UK and EU residents
Price shown on booking
on EKTA
Get insurance that covers cancellation, medical care and the activities you'll actually do. In Iceland, check the volcano and glacier small print.
Key takeaways
- The Blue Lagoon's terms let it cancel for natural disasters with no refund, so check your policy covers cancellation for natural disasters.
- If weather cancels an aurora tour, operators give a refund or a new date, but your hotels and car are still booked.
- Check that glacier walks, ice caves and snowmobiles are covered, along with the medical and rescue limit, as many policies list activities separately.
- No policy pays out when cloud hides the aurora; a longer trip, freedom to move and a free-retry tour booked on your first night help.
An Iceland winter trip has a few risks that ordinary trips don't: a volcano closing the Blue Lagoon, storms cancelling tours and flights, glacier activities, and night driving on icy roads. Iceland is also expensive: restaurant and hotel prices were 173 against an EU average of 100 in 2025, so a lost night costs more here. Insurance won't bring the aurora out, but it can cover what you've paid for. This page is general information, not insurance advice; it was checked between 17 and 23 September 2026, and terms change, so read your own policy.
What can go wrong in Iceland
- Volcanic closures. The Blue Lagoon sits on the Reykjanes peninsula, where an eruption ran from 16 July to 5 August 2025 and the ground was rising again in September 2026. Its terms allow it to cancel for natural disasters or "any other irregularity outside the company's control" with no refund.
- Weather cancellations. If an aurora tour is cancelled for weather, operators give a refund or a new date, but not the free retry. Storms close roads and can close ice caves for days. Your hotels and car are still booked.
- Glacier activities. Ice caves and glacier walks carry real risk: an ice wall collapse at Breiðamerkurjökull killed a visitor in August 2024.
- Winter driving. Ice, wind and dark roads. Rental car damage cover is its own question; read the rental terms as closely as the travel policy.
- Beach waves. Sneaker waves at Reynisfjara have killed visitors; it's a place to stay well back, not to test your cover.
Little warning
In February 2024, warning time before an eruption was just 35 minutes.
Questions to ask before you buy
In short Ask whether it covers natural-disaster cancellation, missed or cancelled tours, glacier walks, ice caves and snowmobiles, medical and rescue costs, travel delay and rental car excess.
Read the policy wording, not the summary.
| Question | Why it matters in Iceland |
|---|---|
| Does it cover cancellation for natural disasters? | The Blue Lagoon and others don't refund for volcanic closures |
| Does it cover missed or cancelled tours? | Weather cancels tours; some tickets are non-refundable within 24 hours |
| Are glacier walks, ice caves and snowmobiles covered? | Many policies list activities separately |
| What's the medical and rescue limit? | Glacier and remote-road accidents can need a rescue |
| Does it cover travel delay? | Winter storms can disrupt travel plans |
| Is the rental car excess covered? | Winter driving on ice and gravel roads |
Where to get a quote
Two insurers, by where you live. Compare them with your bank card's cover and anything you already have.
VisitorsCoverage
A comparison site for US travellers' trip and medical insurance.
- US residents
Price shown on booking
on VisitorsCoverage
Things insurance can't fix
Cloud. No policy pays out because the aurora didn't show. The protection there is:
- a longer trip
- the freedom to move
- a tour with a free retry, booked on your first night
See the best time to go for how many nights to plan.
Travel insurance for Iceland: FAQs
Do I need travel insurance for Iceland?
It's wise for a winter trip: volcanic closures, weather cancellations and glacier activities are all real risks, and Iceland is expensive.
Does travel insurance cover volcanic eruptions in Iceland?
It depends on the policy. Ask specifically about natural disasters, and whether it covers closures of attractions as well as flight disruption.
Are ice caves and glacier hikes covered?
Often only if listed. Check the activities section of the policy wording before you book.
What's the emergency number in Iceland?
112.
More for an Iceland winter trip
Sources (7)
- Blue Lagoon: day visit packages and prices (checked 2026-09-17)
- SafeTravel: eruption in Reykjanes, current status (checked 2026-09-23)
- Vatnajökull National Park: statement on ice cave tours and glacier walks, 2024 (checked 2026-09-17)
- Elding: northern lights by boat, schedule and prices (checked 2026-09-17)
- SafeTravel: Reynisfjara black beach safety (checked 2026-09-17)
- Eurostat price level indices 2025 (restaurants and hotels), via Statistics Norway (checked 2026-09-17)
- SafeTravel Iceland: driving in winter (checked 2026-09-17)