Travel insurance for Thailand
Get a travel insurance quote in minutes for your trip to Thailand
Expert tips for Thailand travel insurance
Catriona Rowntree’s top travel insurance tips for Thailand.
Catriona Rowntree
Travel
Video Transcript
Hello there. I’m Catriona Rowntree, host of Australia’s longest-running travel and lifestyle show, Getaway.
Now, I have visited more destinations than I can count, but Thailand will always be one of my favourites,
so I know just how important it is to consider purchasing travel insurance for your trip to Thailand.
Glittering temples, tropical beaches. Thailand really has something to offer everyone.
It’s known as the land of smiles for very good reason. The locals are friendly, and they are food obsessed.
I love that! Thailand is typically a safe place for tourists, but purchasing travel insurance
is never a bad move to give you peace of mind. Purchasing a policy with cancellation cover as soon as you make a booking or pay any deposits
could prove handy. This ensures you have immediate cancellation cover if you need to cancel your trip due to unforeseen circumstances.
Next up, search for a policy that suits your holiday needs. Most travellers need cover for medical expenses, cancellation
fees and lost luggage. But you may also need to consider additional cover if you’re planning on renting a vehicle or maybe going on a cruise.
You know, all policies have limits, conditions and exclusions. So, make sure that you understand these before you take off.
So, for example, petty theft is common in Thailand, especially when you’re in busy areas like the markets
or maybe if you’re staying in budget accommodation. So, if you leave your luggage or possessions unattended and they’re stolen, your claim may not
be accepted. As fun as Thailand’s party scene can be, be careful when partying, as your cover could be invalid if you suffer a loss while intoxicated.
Navigating what travel insurance is right for you doesn’t have to be difficult, and you have come to the right place.
Compare the Market can help you compare travel insurance policies online in minutes. So you can travel with confidence.
Why take out travel insurance for Thailand?
Travel insurance for Thailand can help protect you against unexpected costs if your trip doesn’t go to plan, such as emergency medical issues, lost or stolen belongings and trip cancellations or delays. Depending on the policy you choose, the insurance may cover overseas medical expenses, emergency medical evacuation, lost or stolen luggage and trip cancellation or travel delays. Expenses can quickly add up, especially if you need hospital treatment or assistance while overseas. Having travel insurance can offer financial protection and give you peace of mind, so you can enjoy your holiday without worrying.
Preparing against the unexpected can help compensate you in the event your trip doesn’t go to plan. If you’re deciding whether to take out travel insurance for Thailand, consider these benefits:
- It can provide financial protection when things go wrong on your trip, including injuries, illnesses, delays and more.
- Petty theft, such as pickpocketing, is common in Thailand. Your travel insurance cover can reimburse you for the cost of your stolen or damaged items. Bangkok has been named the global pickpocketing and scam capital, with the crime common in tourist hotspots like Chiang Mai and across the country.
- If a natural disaster occurs, you may be covered by your cancellation cover for rescheduling your journey.
Travel insurance can help mitigate common risks when travelling to Thailand or Southeast Asia, making it essential to sort before you pack your bags!
How much is travel insurance for Thailand?
Travel insurance for a three-week trip to Thailand can cost from $155.68 to $356.93,1 but the policy’s cost will depend on your age, trip length, destinations, level of cover and any pre-existing medical conditions. This quote is based on two travellers, aged 30, with no dependents, using our comparison service as of July 2026. The best way to estimate the cost is to compare quotes based on your specific travel plans, as premiums will vary between insurers and policies.
Reviewing cover options, excesses and exclusions can help you choose a policy that suits both your travel plans and budget. If you’re planning activities such as scuba diving, scooter riding or hiking, you may be suited to an insurance plan that has an ‘adventure’ add-on. These policies may include higher medical or evacuation benefits than other cover options, as well as inclusions such as search and rescue costs, cover for equipment and reimbursement for prepaid tours or expeditions. Australian government advisory service Smartraveller recommends taking out this policy if you are keen on outdoor activities, as even a minor injury could leave you with medical bills that could cost more than $1,000.2
Expert tips for choosing the right travel insurance for Thailand
Our travel insurance expert, Adrian Taylor, has the inside knowledge for you on choosing a suitable travel insurance policy for your trip to Thailand.
Adrian Taylor
Chief Executive – General Insurance
Get protection against illness and injuries
Drinking unfiltered water – or even ice cubes made with local water – can cause you to fall ill and food poisoning is common. In that case, it’s important to have medical cover to financially protect you against illness or injury while overseas. Also, be sure to only visit reputable medical providers when seeking medical care.
Get cover for your pre-existing conditions
Air pollution in Thailand can be a serious problem. If you have asthma or a similar condition, make sure your pre-existing medical conditions are covered before travelling, but be aware not all conditions may be covered, or you may be required to pay an additional premium for cover.
Consider optional extras
Thailand is a popular cruise destination, but did you know that your regular travel insurance for Thailand typically won’t include cover for cruises? When searching for the best travel insurance for Thailand, it’s important to check your policy and purchase extra cover for cruises, adventure activities and more, depending on your itinerary and general travel needs to have cover for all parts of your trip.
Do I need travel insurance for Thailand?
Yes, travel insurance is recommended for a trip to Thailand, and although it isn’t required for entry into the country, it can help cover any emergencies or unexpected costs such as medical treatment, lost luggage or delays. This can be particularly important in Thailand, where private hospital treatment can be expensive for visitors and popular activities such as scooter riding or swimming at the beach could be dangerous.
For your own peace of mind, it can be a wise idea to buy travel insurance for Thailand. In fact, Thailand saw the highest number of consular assistance cases in the 2024-25 period.3 According to Smartraveller’s Consular State of Play snapshot, there were 1,017 consular cases in Thailand, with about 185 of them being for hospitalisations and illnesses. More than 640,000 Aussies travelled to Thailand during this period, and the Kingdom was the country with the highest number of consular assistance matters (11.1% of all cases globally) with South-East Asia representing about one-third of all cases.
Without travel insurance, you may have to pay for unexpected losses, such as medical bills, completely from your own pocket as the government cannot assist you with these costs.
If one country in South-East Asia isn’t enough for you and you want to visit Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and more, you can visit them all and more and still be covered under one policy – either a single-trip or annual multi-trip travel insurance policy.
What does travel insurance cover for Thailand?
Travel insurance in Thailand can cover a range of unexpected emergencies, such as accidents or injuries and the associated medical costs, trip cancellation and theft or damage to your luggage. However, every insurer and policy is different, so it’s important to read the limits, sub-limits and exclusions in your Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) before taking out insurance. You should also read the Target Market Determination (TMD) and policy wording to check whether the travel policy can meet your needs.
Here are six common situations a comprehensive travel insurance policy could cover you for when overseas in Thailand.
Due to Australia having no Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) with Thailand, you can’t access subsidised emergency healthcare in this country. However, your travel policy may be able to ensure you receive medical treatment for urgent health conditions without having to worry about the costs.
If a tragedy occurs overseas, your travel insurance policy could also provide compensation if you suffer a permanent disability or provide a benefit to your beneficiaries in the event of your accidental death. Without travel insurance, any medical costs you incur overseas must be paid out of pocket.
Something may happen on your trip or back home that forces you to abandon your holiday. If this is the case, your insurer may cover your return and other related trip cancellation and amendment fees.
Here are some examples of when you could be covered if you need to cancel some or all of your trip:
- You or a travel companion requires repatriation or emergency medical evacuation due to a serious medical condition
- A family member’s illness or death requires you to fly back immediately
- Your home in Australia is severely damaged by a natural disaster.
If your belongings are stolen, damaged or lost on your trip to Thailand, you may be able to make a claim provided you report the incident as soon as possible (preferably within 24 hours) to your insurer and the local police. Many insurance policies will also cover the cost of replacing travel documents such as lost passports or visas.
If you’re delayed and miss something important on your itinerary, your policy may cover the lost deposits, cancellation fees and other similar expenses.
Natural disasters in Thailand can also strike at any time. You may be covered for any cancellation fees relating to a natural disaster in Thailand, so it’s a good idea to make sure you read the PDS to understand the cover that’s included in case of a natural disaster.
Your travel insurer may not automatically cover you for adventure activities such as scuba diving, trekking or kayaking, which are popular in Thailand. However, many insurers instead offer this cover as an optional extra you can add to your policy.
If you hire a motorbike, scooter or rental car in Thailand, you may be held responsible for expensive repair costs if the vehicle is damaged or stolen. Some comprehensive travel insurance policies may include rental vehicle excess cover, which can help reduce the out-of-pocket costs you would be liable for.
It’s important to know, however, that conditions can be strict for vehicles such as motorbikes and scooters. It may be the case that you will need to hold the correct licence and comply with local road laws to apply.
What does travel insurance for Thailand exclude?
Travel insurance for Thailand will often exclude claims arising from pre-existing medical conditions, alcohol or drug-related behaviour and high-risk activities that aren’t included in your policy. These exclusions are usually things such as your actions while on the trip or your health status before taking out your policy, which can affect the claim. Exclusions will vary between insurers, so it’s important to read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) before you travel, so you can confidently know what is and isn’t included in your cover.
Be on the lookout for these standard exclusions when choosing a travel insurance plan, including:
- Excluded activities. If you want to go motorcycling or scuba diving, you’ll need to check that your policy will cover these kinds of activities or purchase them as optional extras, otherwise you risk not being able to claim.
- Unattended belongings. If you’ve left your belongings unattended, your policy may not cover any loss or damage that happens to them. Some insurers won’t cover the theft of certain items if you left them in a motor vehicle. As a rule, always keep an eye on your belongings, and consider using hotel safes.
- Pre-existing medical conditions. If you have a pre-existing condition, you must disclose it to your insurer to see if they will cover you (sometimes for an extra cost); if you don’t disclose this, you won’t be covered for any costs you incur should your condition cause an issue while in Thailand. The same is true if you were to fall ill because you failed to get the proper vaccinations before you left.
- Accidents caused by being under the influence. You’re unlikely to be covered if you’re claiming for an incident where you were intoxicated or had taken drugs. If the alcohol, drugs or impairment contributed to the loss, injury or accident, the insurer may refuse your claim if this was a significant factor in the claim.
- Illegal and reckless actions. If you act recklessly, dangerously or illegally, you risk any related claims being rejected by your insurer.
Be sure to read the full details of the exclusions in your PDS carefully before taking out insurance.
How do I choose cover for my trip to Thailand?
It’s important to choose insurance for Thailand based on the activities you plan to do, the level of cover you need and any pre-existing medical conditions you need covered. A holiday where you plan to do outdoor adventure activities such as hiking or snorkelling will require different cover than a holiday where you plan to relax by the pool with a cocktail. The right policy will match your itinerary and provide you with enough protection for any unexpected medical expenses, cancellations or disruptions while you’re overseas.
Your health, age, where you’re travelling to and what you plan to do while on holiday will also have an impact on what cover you look for. Before choosing travel insurance for Thailand, consider the following:
- What you need to be covered for, including pre-existing conditions, theft and cancellations.
- What activities you plan on doing, as not all adventure or water-based activities are covered automatically.
- If you plan on driving around – motorcycles and scooters are not included under rental car excess cover.
What do I need to know about safety in Thailand?
Thailand is generally a safe destination for Australian travellers but, like anywhere, it is important to stay alert for scams, theft and local safety risks. One of your biggest safety nets is having adequate travel insurance for medical emergencies and unexpected events, so you aren’t left paying thousands of dollars in unexpected costs.
The main hazards include road accidents, petty crime in tourist areas and adventure activities (hiking, scuba diving), so ensure the policy you choose can cover anything you’re planning on doing.
The Australian government’s Smartraveller recommends steering clear of any areas near the eastern border with Cambodia due to military conflict, as well as three provinces in southern Thailand. Failure to do so can lead to your travel insurance being void, if something happens to you.
Is Thailand safe?
Generally speaking, Thailand can be a safe place to visit if you exercise some common sense. Petty theft, such as pickpocketing, is common in Thailand, especially in budget accommodation, busy areas such as markets, in nightclubs or bars, and tourist hotspots. It’s important to keep valuables and personal effects locked up, safe and out of sight (e.g. hotel safes) and be constantly vigilant when in transit.
When you go out, be aware that drink spiking is particularly common in the night-time entertainment zones in Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket for both men and women.
On a positive note, a Compare the Market analysis in July, 2026, of Numbeo survey data found that Pattaya had notched one of the biggest global drops in crime rating. The popular beach resort town’s rating improved 11.2 points, the seventh largest in the study. And no Thai cities were listed in the top-10 most dangerous cities in the world, the analysis found.
Can I drive in Thailand?
Yes, Australians can drive in Thailand, but you’ll need a current Australian driver’s licence and an International Driving Permit (IDP) to drive a car in the kingdom as well as a motorcycle licence to drive a motorbike or scooter.
An IDP is effectively a translation of your original licence and can be a requirement to hire a vehicle from a rental agency in Thailand. You can apply for an IDP online.
You may have to pay an excess if you damage your rental vehicle. Your travel policy may pay or contribute to the excess, depending on your level of cover. However, this is for cars only, not two-wheeled vehicles.
Travel insurance also typically doesn’t cover medical care if you get into a road accident in Thailand while on your motorcycle, scooter or moped unless you have purchased an appropriate motorcycle and scooter add-on to your policy. However, your insurer won’t cover any medical claims at all if you drive without a licence or appropriate headgear and have an accident. This cover is especially important if you plan on riding around Bangkok or other Thai cities, as roads in Thailand can be challenging for inexperienced drivers.
What do I do if there is an emergency in Thailand?
In an emergency, you can call the Thai emergency services, fire or police on 191, or an ambulance on 1669 (1724 in Bangkok), and ask for any services you need. There is a speciality number for a tourist police service, 1155, who can help aid with translation to connect you to the service you need.
At the next opportunity you can call your insurer and explain the incident (within 24 hours if possible) and ensure you have documentation about the accident. It is possible to call the Consular Emergency Centre in Canberra on (+61) 2 6261 3305 or the Australian embassy in Thailand (at Bangkok and Phuket) on +66 (0) 76 317 700.
Travel insurance may be overlooked as people think they can rely solely on the embassy for help in a major emergency. The Australian Embassy is not responsible for getting you home, and the assistance available through consular services will depend on the circumstances. A suitable travel insurance policy is a way to have the peace of mind knowing you are covered for a range of emergencies.
Are there any travel restrictions in Thailand?
As at July 2026, the Australian government was advising tourists against travel to or within 10 km of the Thai-Cambodian border due to armed clashes between military forces. There have been reports of violence and the presence of landmines in the provinces of Sa Kaeo, Buriram, Si Saket, Surin, Ubon Ratchathani, Chanthaburi and Trat. There are multiple Hindu and Khmer temples and monuments, including a UNESCO World Heritage site, Preah Vihear Temple.
Smartraveller also warns of an ongoing risk of terrorism, with popular tourist areas potentially being targets for attacks. The Australian government continues to advise against travel to Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat provinces in southern Thailand.
Travel insurance companies can refuse to pay claims if you travel to a destination against government advice, with insurers relying on advice and travel alerts from Smartraveller and the Australian government. Policies may refuse cover if you travel to a destination that government advice recommends avoiding, meaning you will have to pay the full cost for treatment, evacuation or cancellation.
Common mistakes travellers make in Thailand
We all make mistakes, and it’s common to make mistakes when you’re in a new country on holiday. According to travellers online, some common mistakes travellers make in Thailand include:
- Download rideshare apps: Local apps such as Grab and Bolt will often offer better value than tuk-tuks and taxis. With a fixed price on the app, it makes getting around less stressful with less haggling. Make sure you download before you land.
- ATM withdrawals: Travellers warn that Thailand’s fixed ATM fees can become expensive if you make multiple small withdrawals. Some ATMs in Thailand also have limits on how much you can withdraw, so plan your cash in advance or get a travel card.
- Read motorbike exclusions carefully: Many travellers discover too late their motorbike insurance won’t pay if they’re riding a scooter without the correct licence or International Driving Permit (IDP), so before you travel to Thailand make sure you have it sorted.
- Drinking tap water: Even long-term expats in Thailand generally use bottled or filtered water, as tap water can get you sick.
- Make sure your travel insurance suits you: Don’t just buy travel insurance, check what activities you’re covered for. Thailand is home to plenty of fun outdoor activities such as scuba diving or hiking, so it’s best practice to ensure you are covered for everything Thailand can offer.
Meet our travel insurance expert, Adrian Taylor
As a General Insurance expert with over 13 years’ experience in financial services, Adrian Taylor believes in educating customers about the importance of travel insurance so that anyone can kick back and make the most of their time away from home. While no one wants a disrupted holiday, a suitable travel insurance policy can provide a financial safety net for yourself, your belongings and your trip in case things go wrong.
Want to know more about travel insurance?
1 Compare the Market. Comparison service for travel insurance. The quote is based on two adults, aged 30, travelling to Thailand for three weeks with no dependents. The insurance policy has a $10,000 limit for trip cancellation and a $5,000 cover for luggage, with a $0 cover for rental car excess and no pre-existing conditions. No extra cover was included for activities like cruise cover or snow sports. Accessed July 2026.
2 Smartraveller.gov.au. Going overseas for sports and adventure. Accessed July 2026.
3 Australian Government: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Consular State of Play 2024-2025. Published February 2026. Accessed July 2026.