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AllClear’s Natural Disaster Cover is an optional Travel Insurance add-on available for an additional premium. It can help cover certain unexpected costs if a natural disaster, such as a wildfire, earthquake, flood or volcanic eruption, disrupts your travel or accommodation.
To be covered, the add-on must be shown on your policy schedule, and the event must not have been known about when you bought the cover or booked your trip. Cover limits and exclusions apply.
What is Travel Insurance with Natural Disaster Cover, and do you need it?
Travel Insurance with Natural Disaster Cover can help with certain unexpected costs if a natural disaster disrupts your trip. It’s worth considering if you’re travelling to a destination where events such as wildfires, earthquakes or volcanic activity could affect your plans. Having this extra protection in place means you can travel with greater peace of mind, knowing you may have support if the unexpected happens.
The scale of recent events shows why it’s worth thinking about natural disasters before you travel.
- In 2025, 1,079,538 hectares of land were burnt by wildfires across the EU. That was the highest area recorded by the European Forest Fire Information System since 2006.
- More recently, by 22 July 2026, 1,254 fires had already been detected across the EU. This was more than double the long-term average of 569 for the same point in the year.
- Flooding can cause widespread disruption too. In 2024, severe flooding affected an estimated 413,000 people across Europe, following extreme rainfall and storms across the continent
- Volcanic activity can disrupt flights and affect your travel plans. Mount Etna in Sicily, Italy is one example. In July 2026, volcanic activity led to flights at Catania Airport being suspended for two days, with dozens diverted to Palermo before services resumed.
- Earthquakes can disrupt trips to popular holiday destinations. In February 2025, a series of earthquakes around Santorini, Greece, led authorities to declare a state of emergency on the island. Thousands of people left by plane and ferry, while safety measures were introduced around ports and areas at risk of landslides.
Natural disasters can affect much more than the immediate area where they happen. Flooding, wildfires, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions can all lead to cancelled transport, closed roads, evacuations or accommodation becoming unusable.
Natural Disaster Travel Insurance can’t stop these events from happening. But having the right protection in place could help with some of the additional costs if an unexpected natural disaster disrupts your holiday.
Simply select Natural Disaster Cover when you get your quote. Always check your Policy Wording to understand exactly what you’re covered for.
Does Travel Insurance cover natural disasters?
Natural disasters aren’t always covered as standard by Travel Insurance. Depending on your policy, you may need to add extra protection if you want cover for unexpected disruption caused by events such as wildfires, earthquakes or volcanic eruptions.
With AllClear, you can add Natural Disaster Cover to your Travel Insurance for an additional premium. This optional extra can provide protection if an unexpected natural disaster disrupts your trip.
Natural Disaster Cover can help with costs relating to:
Extended delayed departure – if a natural disaster causes your scheduled public transport to be delayed
Extended missed departure – if an unexpected natural disaster prevents you from reaching your departure point as planned
Additional travel costs – if you need to make alternative travel arrangements following an insured event
Additional accommodation costs – if you need somewhere else to stay because of a natural disaster
Unused accommodation – if you can no longer use accommodation you’ve already paid for and can’t recover the cost elsewhere
Natural Disaster Cover is designed for unexpected events only. If the natural disaster was already known about when you bought your policy or booked your trip, you may not be covered for disruption relating to that event.
Always check your Policy Wording to understand exactly what’s covered, along with any limits and exclusions that apply.
What is defined as a natural disaster in Travel Insurance?
A natural disaster is a serious event caused by nature that can cause damage and disrupt your travel plans. Its effects can also be felt far beyond the area where it happens.
Natural disasters can include:
- Earthquakes – which can damage buildings and lead to road, rail and flight disruption
- Wildfires – which can spread quickly and lead to evacuations, road closures or accommodation becoming inaccessible
- Volcanic eruptions – which can make areas unsafe to visit and cause flight cancellations or delays due to volcanic ash
- Floods – which can affect roads, airports and accommodation, making it difficult to reach or stay at your destination
- Tsunamis – large waves that can cause flooding, damage and evacuations in coastal areas
- Avalanches and landslides – which can block roads and transport routes or make some areas unsafe to visit
- Hurricanes and severe storms – which can cause flooding, damage and major disruption to your travel plans
You don’t always need to be close to a natural disaster for it to affect your holiday. For example, a volcanic eruption could cause flights to be cancelled in other destinations, while a wildfire could close roads you need to use to reach your accommodation.
Not every event or unexpected cost will be covered. Always check your Policy Wording to understand what your Natural Disaster Cover includes before you travel.
Which natural disasters are covered?
Natural Disaster Cover can help if certain natural events disrupt your travel arrangements. Depending on the terms of your policy, this can include events such as:
Avalanches
Earthquakes
Floods
Hurricanes and severe storms
Landslides
Tsunamis
Volcanic eruptions
Your policy will explain which events qualify as natural disasters and what benefits are available. Check this before you travel, particularly if you’re visiting an area where natural disasters are more common.
Which natural disasters are not covered?
Adding Natural Disaster Cover doesn’t mean every event or disruption will be covered.
- The event was already known about – Travel Insurance is designed to protect you against unexpected events. If a natural disaster was already happening or was known about when you bought your policy or booked your trip, you may not be covered for any disruption linked to it
- You decide not to travel – Being worried about travelling isn’t usually enough to make a claim. If your trip can still go ahead but you decide you no longer want to travel, your cancellation may not be covered
- You can get your money back elsewhere – If your airline, hotel or tour operator offers you a refund or alternative arrangements, you should speak to them first. Your Travel Insurance won’t normally pay for costs you can recover elsewhere
- The event doesn’t meet the policy definition – Not all severe weather will count as a natural disaster. Your policy will explain which events are included and the circumstances in which you can claim
How is severe weather defined in Travel Insurance?
Severe weather and natural disasters can sometimes overlap, but they don’t always mean the same thing.
Severe weather could include heavy rain, snow, strong winds, storms or extreme temperatures. A natural disaster is generally a more serious event that causes significant damage or disruption. The important thing is to check why your trip has been disrupted and what your policy says about that situation.
If severe weather affects your holiday:
- Check for updates from your airline or travel company
- Follow instructions from local authorities
- Keep receipts for any additional expenses
- Keep evidence of cancellations or delays
- Contact AllClear if you’re unsure what your policy covers
How does FCDO travel advice affect Natural Disaster Travel Insurance?
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) publishes travel advice to help British travellers understand potential risks at their destination. Its advice can change when a natural disaster makes an area unsafe. This could happen following a major earthquake, wildfire, flood or volcanic eruption.
The FCDO may advise against all travel or all but essential travel to a country or a particular part of it. Travelling against FCDO advice could invalidate your Travel Insurance, so it’s important to check the latest guidance before you leave.
The government recommends taking out appropriate Travel Insurance and checking that it meets your itinerary, planned activities and potential emergency expenses.
Before travelling:
- Check the latest FCDO Travel Advice for your destination
- Check advice for any countries you’ll travel through too
- Sign up for FCDO travel advice email alerts
- Follow instructions from local authorities if an emergency happens
- Contact your airline or tour operator if your plans are affected
If the advice changes after you book, don’t automatically cancel your trip yourself. Speak to your travel provider first to find out what options are available, then check how your Travel Insurance applies.
Travel Insurance with Natural Disaster Cover FAQS
Your safety comes first. Follow instructions from local authorities and emergency services, including any advice to evacuate.
Keep an eye on FCDO travel advice and stay in contact with your airline, tour operator and accommodation provider. If you need to move somewhere safer, keep your travel documents, essential medication and other important belongings with you.
Once you’re safe, contact your travel providers to find out what alternative arrangements they can offer. Always keep receipts and evidence of any additional costs in case you need to make a claim.
Natural Disaster Cover is designed for unexpected events. If a natural disaster was already known about when you bought your Travel Insurance or booked your trip, you may not be covered for disruption caused by it.
Contact your airline, tour operator or accommodation provider first. They may be able to rearrange your booking, offer an alternative or provide a refund. If you can’t recover eligible costs elsewhere, your Natural Disaster Cover may be able to help.
Keep any cancellation emails, booking confirmations and receipts. These could be important if you need to make a claim.
Follow the advice of local authorities and make sure you’re somewhere safe. You should then contact your airline or tour operator to find out what alternative travel arrangements are available.
Check the latest FCDO travel advice and let family or friends know where you are.
If you’ve added Natural Disaster Cover, contact AllClear to find out how your policy could help. Depending on your circumstances and policy terms, you may have cover for certain additional transport or accommodation costs.
Travel Insurance can cover some disruption caused by wildfires if you have the appropriate protection. With AllClear, Natural Disaster Cover is an optional extra. It may help if an unexpected wildfire affects your transport or means you can’t use your booked accommodation, subject to your policy terms.
Timing matters. If the wildfire was already a known event when you bought your policy or booked your trip, you may not be covered for disruption relating to it.
If you’re travelling somewhere with a higher seasonal wildfire risk, check the FCDO travel advice before you leave and follow any instructions from local authorities.
It’s best to think about the protection you need when arranging your Travel Insurance rather than waiting until a potential natural disaster appears in the news. Natural Disaster Cover is designed for unexpected events. Once an event becomes known, you may not be able to claim for disruption caused by it.
Think about your destination, the time of year you’re travelling and the type of trip you’re taking when deciding whether Natural Disaster Cover is right for you.
No. Natural Disaster Cover is an optional extra that you can choose to add to your AllClear Travel Insurance for an additional premium. If you choose it, check that Natural Disaster Cover appears on your policy.
As with any Travel Insurance benefit, terms, limits and exclusions apply, so read your Policy Wording to make sure you understand your protection before travelling.
With a background in journalism and years of experience across travel insurance, finance, and medical topics, Mellisa has a gift for turning complex information into reassuring guidance. As Content Manager at AllClear, she communicates on insurance so people can travel with peace of mind.
Our content is created and reviewed by a dedicated team of experts
^ Based on UK companies in the 'insurance' category on Trustpilot, as of July 2025. AllClear Gold, Gold Plus and Platinum policies achieved Which? Best buy. AllClear Gold Plus and Platinum has been 5 Star rated by Defaqto.
