The least glamorous part of a trip, and the most important. Get the cover and the jabs right, and you can relax into the journey.
Get preparedThe least glamorous part of a trip, and the most important. Get the cover and the jabs right, and you can relax into the journey.
Two things protect a big international trip: the right insurance and the right health preparation. Insurance turns a worst-case medical or evacuation bill into a phone call; a travel-medicine consult six weeks out ensures you're vaccinated, malaria-aware and altitude-ready for wherever you're headed.
We'll advise on cover suited to your itinerary and activities, point you to the right pre-travel health steps, and back it all with 24/7 emergency support while you're away. Family-run since 1974.
Health needs vary by region — the continent guides have the detail.
We'll steer you to the right cover for your itinerary and the pre-trip health steps that matter — and support you 24/7 while you're away.
Start planningBecause a single overseas medical event can cost more than the whole trip — US hospital care in particular is extraordinarily expensive, and medical evacuation from a remote lodge or ship can run into the tens of thousands. Comprehensive insurance covers medical care, evacuation, cancellations and delays. Never travel without it.
Look for strong medical & evacuation limits, cancellation cover, baggage, and — importantly — the activities you'll do (trekking at altitude, diving, skiing, even riding a scooter are often excluded on basic policies). Declare any pre-existing conditions. We advise on suitable cover for your itinerary.
It depends on the region. Yellow fever for parts of Africa and the Amazon; Hepatitis A & B and Typhoid for much of Asia, Africa and Latin America; and routine boosters everywhere. Some countries require proof of yellow-fever vaccination on entry. See a travel-medicine clinic 6–8 weeks before departure.
Malaria risk exists in parts of tropical Africa, Asia and the Amazon — your travel doctor will advise on prophylaxis (some regions are malaria-free). For high-altitude destinations like Cusco, La Paz or the Himalaya, acclimatise slowly and discuss altitude medication. See our Americas and Africa guides.
Check Smartraveller.gov.au for current advice, register your trip with DFAT, keep digital copies of your documents, and carry a small medical kit and any prescriptions in original packaging with a letter for controlled medicines. Cooee trips include 24/7 emergency support.