Gap Year Travel Programs

29 Aug 2013 by Olga Brighton

Travel Information

The concept of gap year started in the United Kingdom, and for more than two decades, it has become a right of passage for many students who have graduated from high school. However, gap year, which is also known as sabbatical, year out, or time off, is not just limited to students. Career individuals can also take time off work for a few months to a year (or longer) so they can travel and reassess their life.

Planning your gap year travel can easily leave you feeling confused. There are just so many choices available and deciding where to go and what to do, not to mention how you can afford to pay for your trip, can be quite overwhelming.

Top Gap Year Organisations

Here are the top 3 gap year organisations that you should look into:

Raleigh International - The organisation’s mission is to send young volunteers abroad to help the poorest communities in the world such as Borneo, Costa Rica, and Tanzania. It’s essentially a charity that works on sustainable projects that are challenging yet very fulfilling.

I to i - The organisation gives you the opportunity to volunteer in Asia, Central and South America and Australasia, as well as to help you get TEFL qualified so you can teach English. Volunteers work with kids, wildlife and conservation, teach English and even help with construction work.

G Adventures - As its name implies, this organisation offers adventures to a hundred countries, as well as expeditions to the Arctic, Antarctica, and the Amazon. They have independent travels and family travels, and you can book a trip for as low as £349.

Gap Year Opportunities

There are various opportunities in gap year travels. Lots of students spend their gap year studying abroad or applying for exciting programs that are paid, part time or voluntary internships. The nice thing about gap year internships is that you can benefit from working in some of the best places in the world for your chosen program, meet different people, and learn a new culture which all help boost your career opportunities for the future.

You can also spend your gap year doing volunteer work overseas by helping poor communities in third world countries build their homes, create a livelihood program, and even build structures to improve their community. Whatever opportunity you pursue, the outcome would always be the same: having a sense of accomplishment.

Gap Year Ideas and Suggestions

When preparing for your gap year, it’s crucial that you plan ahead. There are many kinds of gap year opportunities to choose from, and more than a handful of organisations you can approach. Making rush decisions would prove to be disadvantageous on your part, and you don’t want to wait until the last minute to decide how you want to spend your gap year.

Choose your accommodations wisely and read reviews so you’ll know where you can find value for money hostels and rooms. It’s also strongly recommended that you buy volunteer travel insurance when you’re working abroad because it covers personal accident, cancellation, emergency medical expenses, baggage cover, personal money and documents, personal liability, and legal expenses abroad. Buying gap year travel insurance is one of the wisest decisions you will ever make for your trip.