"One whole year abroad? How on earth do I plan that! ?". Actually it’s not as hard as it sounds. Although it’s called a gap year, most people don’t travel for quite that long. Trips of 1 to 6 months are much more common and we can help you plan every aspect of your gap year to make sure you really make the most of it!
So how do you start planning? This section of the GapGuru website is designed to give you gap year ideas and pointers on how to plan something truly amazing. This includes advice on flights and insurance, visas and vaccinations and finances and fundraising, as well as information on a few special GapGuru extras that come under skills and training.
But before all that, let’s start with basics...
What to do
Well you’re not going to get very far with your planning if you haven’t decided this! You can do almost anything on your gap year and if you go with GapGuru you’ll have a choice of almost 100 different volunteer, teaching and internship projects! Which one you choose will depend on what you want to get out of your trip and what kind of experience you’re looking for. Those looking for work experience should consider an internship while animal lovers might want to take a look at our range of conservation projects. If you’re feeling a little spoilt for choice or want more gap year ideas then just give us a ring and we’ll find a programme that’s perfectly suited to you.
Where to go
While some people plan their gap year around what they want to do, others decide where they want to go first, then look at the options available there. Which destination you choose will depend on your own personal interests – maybe you want to go somewhere you’ve never been before, or perhaps you’d like to make use of your language skills. Your gap year destination may also be decided by budget. Flights to long-haul destinations like Sri Lanka will cost more than countries closer to home, but they’ll often have a lower cost of living once you’re there. Too much to think about? The best advice is to do some research yourself, but we’re more than happy to give you gap year ideas and make some suggestions!
Who to go with
Should you go it alone or travel with family and friends? There are benefits to each and your choice will depend on the kind of person you are and if you actually have anyone to go with!
Travelling alone
The best thing about travelling alone is that you can do what you want to and pick an itinerary that matches your own interests and budget perfectly – no need for compromise! You might imagine that lone gap year travellers are overflowing with confidence, but this doesn’t have to be the case and most don’t stay solo for long. If you’re travelling with GapGuru we’ll do our best to hook you up with other gappers nearby, but backpackers are a friendly bunch anyway, so whether you’re staying at a hostel or homestay, you’re certain to make friends. Going it alone also means that your gap year will be a real personal adventure and you’ll come back with amazing stories all of your own!
Travelling with friends/family
Travelling with family or friends means you can share and enjoy the experience with someone close to you. While you’re likely to make lots of friends while you’re away, by travelling with someone you already know it means there’s no pressure to be outgoing and you’ll never have to spend time alone in a foreign city. It can help you deal with homesickness and culture shock and give you someone to share decisions with, as well as the costs of transport, meals and anything else you’ll need. If you’re taking a gap year with GapGuru then travelling with family or friends can even save you money! Take a look at our Special Offers page for more information.
Once you’ve decided the what, the where and the who, then it’s time to get stuck into the nitty gritty of gap year planning. Explore the pink tabs at the top of this page to find useful information to get you started or get in touch for more gap year ideas.