Cycling tour operators’ insurance is possibly something you have never heard of before but it’s a familiar scenario. A casual weekend ride with friends goes so well that next time more people want to join. Before long your bike shop, club or coaching business that once fixed bikes or ran local rides is organising multi-day trips, overseas training camps or mountain-bike weekends. Exciting — but also legally and financially consequential.

Why this matters

If you combine two or more travel services into a single product for customers (for example accommodation + guided rides, or bike hire + minibus transfers), you may be creating a package. In the UK this is governed by the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 (PTRs), which set out organiser responsibilities including insolvency protection and pre-contract information for travellers.

What counts as a “package”?

Under the PTRs a package is usually two or more distinct travel services sold together for a single trip (typically lasting more than 24 hours or including an overnight stay). Services commonly included are:

• Transport
• Accommodation
• Vehicle hire, equipment hire or other tourist services such as guided rides or coaching

That means a Mallorca training camp that bundles accommodation, bike hire and transfers — even if a local company supplies them — is likely to make you the organiser and therefore potentially liable under the PTRs.

Recent / forthcoming legal updates (quick summary)

The PTRs themselves remain in force, but the UK Government launched a consultation in 2025 to consider targeted reforms to the framework (for example, changes to domestic packages and insolvency arrangements). At the same time the EU is progressing an updated Package Travel Directive to strengthen traveller protections; EU votes in mid-2025 may reshape definitions and insolvency protections across Europe. If you sell to UK customers or to clients from the EU, keep an eye on these developments.

Do you need tour operator liability insurance?

There are two narrow scenarios where you probably won’t need it:

• A one-day trip of less than 24 hours with no overnight stay (e.g. a single-day sportive).
• Occasional, not-for-profit trips for a very small, informal group where costs are simply shared.

Outside these exceptions, if you arrange more than one element of a trip you should assume you need specialist cover. Tour operator liability won’t necessarily be a legal “must” in the sense of a licence, but it’s strongly recommended — and often essential to meet PTR obligations like insolvency protection for customers.

What are you protecting against?

Typical claims that fall on an organiser include:

• Loss of value — e.g. substitute accommodation of lower standard
• Out-of-pocket expenses — extra costs after a breach of contract
• Loss of enjoyment — compensation for distress or disappointment

Supplier negligence (food poisoning at a hotel, unsafe transfer vehicles) and incidents on guided rides (route planning errors, leadership failings) are common triggers for costly claims. Even if guests have personal travel insurance, liability settlements can subrogate back to the organiser.

Other legal and practical obligations

• Financial failure protection: if you are classed as an organiser, you must protect customer funds against insolvency (options include trust/bond arrangements or other approved protections under PTRs).
• Motor cover: transport you provide (guest transfers, follow vehicles) usually requires commercial motor insurance separate from tour-operator liability.
• Staff travel: UK staff working abroad need business travel coverage; standard leisure policies frequently exclude business activities.

Practical next steps

1. Review your current insurance policy for exclusions referencing “tour operator” or “package” arrangements.
2. If excluded, ask your insurer whether tour operator liability can be added.
3. If not, get a standalone tour operator policy (or a combined policy that covers retail, workshop, and tour risks together).
4. Put clear, PTR-compliant terms and pre-contract information on your website and booking pages.
5. Decide how you will protect customer funds (statutory trust, bond or approved alternative) and document the method clearly for customers.

Final word

If your business is expanding into multi-day or multi-element trips — whether road cycling holidays, mountain-bike adventures or triathlon training camps — don’t underestimate the legal and financial exposure. The PTRs already shape obligations for organisers; reforms are under consultation in 2025 and EU rules are also evolving. Protecting customer money, having the right insurance and publishing clear terms are not only good practice — they are central to running a credible and resilient touring business.

Call Yellow Jersey Business — 0333 003 0046 for bespoke cycling tour operators insurance and guidance tailored to road, MTB and triathlon operations.

Sources: Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 guidance and legislation; GOV.UK consultation on updating the PTRs (2025); EU Package Travel Directive reform progress (IMCO committee June 2025). For legal advice, consult a travel-law solicitor for official guidance.