Travel Insurance Checklist

By Michele D'Agostino
Scenic view of mountain icy landscape Svalbard Secret Atlas

Travel insurance that provides cover for emergency repatriation in the case of a medical emergency is compulsory for all trips sold or operated by Secret Atlas and is a condition of booking. We will ask for a copy of your insurance certificate prior to departure. 

We cannot legally provide you travel insurance advice, but we have put the following guide together to assist you in finding the right insurance for you. What we recommend your insurance policy covers:

  • Evacuation (including by helicopter) to the nearest hospital for accident, injury, and other medical reasons

  • Medical expenses (at least $50k)

  • Repatriation

  • Emergency evacuation (at least $250k)

  • Cancellation, curtailment, and suspension

  • Personal liability

  • Loss of luggage and personal effects

  • Death and illness

We also recommend that you take out cancellation insurance that covers you in the event you have to cancel your trip due to illness or injury. 

Our destinations are remote and we advise seeking expert advice from a travel insurance company to ensure you have the sufficient levels of cover in place for your destination and planned activities. 

It is mandatory that your insurance covers flights and hotels in case the vessel is delayed or the trip cancelled. We cannot recommend one company and encourage you to get several quotes.

Planning a polar expedition? Get the insurance right before anything else.

Evacuation from Antarctica or Svalbard is extraordinarily expensive without the right cover. Our specialists can tell you exactly what to look for — and what to avoid.

We recommend that you check the following with your insurer:

  • Emergency medical repatriation (to home country), including any associated expenses abroad, covering at least $500,000

  • Activities carried out on the expedition are included, such as skiing, hiking, kayaking, paddleboarding, and sailing

  • That your insurance covers you for the geographical area you are visiting

  • Make sure the date your insurance starts and ends is when you are back in your home country to ensure that you are covered until you arrive home (not when your cruise ends)

  • Ensure cancellation insurance covers you from the time of booking

  • Disclose any pre-existing medical conditions to your insurance company

Red Point Travel Protection offers comprehensive travel for adventure seekers to remote destinations; available for US residents. 

WorldTrips is a full-service organisation offering a comprehensive portfolio of travel medical and trip protection insurance products designed to address the insurance needs of travellers worldwide. 

Travel Insured offer individual and family travel plans for US residents. 

Allianz offer coverage against certain losses related to COVID-19 and any future epidemic for US residents.

Travel Guard offer a wide variety of travel protection plans and unique services for residents of the US, Australia, Canada, Germany, Norway, Italy, and Israel. 

StaySure provide cover for UK residents, even for countries listed as against all but essential travel. 

World Nomads offer general travel insurance. Available to travellers from over 140 countries. 

Battleface provide cover for adventure, exploration, and sports for UK, USA, and most European residents. 

Travel & General provide cover for different winter sports activities for UK residents. 

MPI Brokers offer coverage for skiing for UK residents. 

ERV is the leading provider of insurance solutions in the areas of travel and leisure for Swiss residents. 

Ergo cover risk for all types of travel for German and international travellers. 

Guests in zodiac taking photos in Krossfjord with Secret Atlas

Svalbard Spring Photo Tour

78°13’N, 15°38’E

Landscape photographers adore Svalbard in the early season, when puzzle-piece sea ice and snow-enrobed shorelines glow under pastel sunrises and sunsets.

  • 12 guests
  • 8 — 10 days
Zodiac expedition with guests

Svalbard Spring Photo Tour with Randy Hanna

78°13’N, 15°38’E

Head north with world-renowned photographer and tutor Randy Hanna, capturing the frozen Arctic landscape of Svalbard in the spring.

  • 12 guests
  • 10 days
Dark and moody mountains in Svalbard

Svalbard Spring Micro Cruise

78°13’N, 15°38’E

A frozen fairytale of iceberg-strewn fjords, snowy peaks, and puzzle-piece sea ice – as animals take their first steps following winter.

  • 12 guests
  • 8 — 10 days
Icy mountains scenic view glacier Secret Atlas

Svalbard Summer Micro Cruise

78°13’N, 15°38’E

Set sail in summer, when Svalbard blooms with life, the best time to spot wildlife in Europe’s last great wilderness.

  • 12 guests
  • 10 days
Svalbard-summer-Sophie-Dingwall-Secret-Atlas

Svalbard Summer Solstice Micro Cruise

78°13’N, 15°38’E

Our longest photo tour sails when the midnight sun is at its zenith, providing 24-hour photo opportunities in the company of your pro photographer guide.

  • 12 guests
  • 10 days
Arctic fox photography ice Secret Atlas

Svalbard Summer Photo Tour with Paul Goldstein

78°13’N, 15°38’E

Paul Goldstein is a nature-photography heavyweight, a go-hard, all-hours maestro – and the perfect guide to take your wildlife photography up a gear (or 10) in Svalbard.

  • 12 guests
  • 10 days
Svalbard summer sunset over mountains

Svalbard Circumnavigation Micro Cruise

78°13’N, 15°38’E

The big one. As the sea opens up under the midnight sun, take the unique opportunity to circumnavigate Svalbard, Europe’s last great wilderness.

  • 12 guests
  • 12 days
Svalbard landscape in Autumn by Virgil Reglioni Secret Atlas

Svalbard Autumn Photo Tour with Virgil Reglioni

78°13’N, 15°38’E

Set off on a late-season adventure, when sunsets and sunrises cast spellbinding colours the archipelago, and capture the meltwater waterfalls of the Austfonna ice cap with top polar photographer Virgil Reglioni.

  • 12 guests
  • 12 days
Iceberg scenic view drone shot in Scoresby Sund Secret Atlas

Northeast Greenland National Park Micro Cruise

76°50'N, 23°10'W

The ultimate Greenland experience – a unique two-week adventure into Northeast Greenland National Park, the world’s largest national park, and Scoresbysund, the longest fjord system on Earth.

  • 12 guests
  • 11 — 13 days
Beautiful sunset mountains ice in Greenland Secret Atlas

Scoresbysund Autumn Micro Cruise

70°50’N, 25°00’W

An autumn micro cruise to Scoresbysund, East Greenland. For landscape lovers and aurora chasers – the ultimate expedition of Earth and sky.

  • 12 guests
  • 9 days
Northern lights Secret Atlas

Scoresbysund Northern Lights Photo Tour

70°50’N, 25°00’W

Capture the heavens bursting with light above the monumental icebergs and high-drama landscape of Scoresbysund.

  • 12 guests
  • 8 — 9 days
Viewing the northern lights on the back of a camera in Scoresbysund Secret Atlas

Scoresbysund Northern Lights Photo Tour with Virgil Reglioni

70°50’N, 25°00’W

With 0% light pollution and insane iceberg sculptures, paired with the world’s finest aurora borealis photographer, you’re in for a treat.

  • 12 guests
  • 9 days
Aurora night BearIsland Scoresbysund Virgil Reglioni 2025 October Secret Atlas

Scoresbysund Northern Lights Photo Tour with Randy Hanna

70°50’N, 25°00’W

Photograph the northern lights illuminating the skies above Scoresbysund with nature photography legend Randy Hanna.

  • 12 guests
  • 9 days
king penguins south georgia marco miglionico secret atlas

South Georgia In Depth Expedition Micro Cruise

54°16’S, 36°30’W

15 days devoted entirely to South Georgia. Seven days ashore, early season, before the crowds arrive. Stand among king penguins in their thousands, elephant seals battling, and wandering albatrosses souring above. This is when the island at its most raw. 36 guests aboard Aureum.

  • 36 guests
  • 15 days
Detailed photo of a group of King Penguins in South Georgia

South Georgia and Antarctica Shackleton Special Expedition Micro Cruise

54°16’S, 36°30’W

19 days. South Georgia, Elephant Island, and Antarctica in a single voyage. The three places that define the Endurance expedition, followed in sequence. 36 guests aboard Aureum. Spring breathes new life as South Georgia’s vast king penguin colonies teem with activity. Fur seal pups begin to appear, while wandering albatross soar effortlessly overhead.

  • 36 guests
  • 19 days
Single Gentoo penguin icebergs Antarctica Piet van dem Bemd Secret Atlas

Antarctic Peninsula Expedition Micro Cruise by Air & Sea

54°16’S, 36°30’W

Sail the Drake Passage south from Ushuaia, then fly out of Antarctica direct to Patagonia. Four full days on the Peninsula, 36 guests, six senior polar guides, and a farewell night beneath Torres del Paine. The crossing is the point. The flight is the exit.

  • 36 guests
  • 9 days
Guests hiking frozen sea The Polar Circle Mariano Curiel Secret Atlas

Antarctic Circle Expedition Micro Cruise by Air

54°16’S, 36°30’W

Charter flight from Patagonia. Seven full days in Antarctica. A push for the Antarctic Circle at 66°33'S on every departure. Explore pristine ice, wildlife-rich bays, and iconic sites without crowds, and free from rigid schedules with only 36 guests, the first ship of this size in Antarctica.

  • 36 guests
  • 11 days
Iceberg in Antarctica with chinstrap penguins Secret Atlas

Antarctic Circle Christmas Expedition Micro Cruise by Air

54°16’S, 36°30’W

Christmas Day on the Antarctic Peninsula, in perpetual summer light. A charter flight from Puerto Natales, seven full days on the ice, and a push for the Antarctic Circle at 66°33'S.

  • 36 guests
  • 11 days
antarctica antarctic peninsula damoy point shutterstock secret atlas

Antarctic Circle New Year Expedition Micro Cruise by Air

54°16’S, 36°30’W

Welcome the New Year in Antarctica on a 36-guest Fly & Cruise expedition. New Year's Eve on the Antarctic Peninsula, in light that does not fade. Charter flight from Puerto Natales, seven full days on the ice, a push for the Antarctic Circle at 66°33'S.

  • 36 guests
  • 11 days
King penguins on the beach at Gold Harbour South Georgia Secret Atlas

Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica Micro Cruise

Combine Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica on a 78-guest cruise expedition in Spring. Follow in Shackleton’s footsteps, witness penguin chicks and whales, and enjoy uncrowded, pristine landscapes.

  • 78 guests
  • 21 days

The insurance is the hard part. Get it wrong and everything else falls apart.

Our expedition specialists have seen what happens when travellers are underinsured in polar regions. Book a free call and we'll tell you what cover you actually need — and what questions to ask your insurer.

The Expedition Micro Cruise concept

couple enjoying group experience Secret Atlas
guides teaching photography in the field
Exiting zodiac cruises
Group of people exploring ice in Svalbard with Secret Atlas
Hot tub experiences onboard with Secret Atlas
Close up ice texture Secret Atlas

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