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A gap year isn't just a pause in your academic career or professional life, but a once in a lifetime invitation to explore the world beyond the pages of a textbook and the confines of office walls. An opportunity for you to trade routines for spontaneity, deadlines for daydreams, and screens for sunsets, a gap year offers you a whole new perspective towards life. Whether you are someone who is seeking personal growth, cultural immersion, adrenaline fueled adventure, or simply a deeper connection with the planet, the world out there is wide open and waiting for you to explore it.
From the sun drenched beaches of Southeast Asia to the rugged peaks of the Andes, from romantic alleyways of Europe to the untamed savannas of Africa, every destination and gap year trip from across the globe has its own story to tell, and lessons to offer. A chance for you to embrace the unfamiliar languages, sample exotic flavours, witness some of the most awe inspiring landscapes and meet people who may change your perspective forever, gap year travel programs can often turn out to be an entire revelation in itself. From some of the most inspiring and transformative places, here are destinations that promise to make your gap year not just a break, but a breakthrough.
Whether you are venturing out on a backpacking adventure or on a volunteering stint abroad, here are destinations that are a must visit to make your gap year fruitful
1. Thailand
Among the top gap year destinations in Asia, Thailand hits the most number of points that are necessary to make your gap year a life changing one. From affordable living costs to some of the most delicious food, Thailand is a world destination where you get to experience it all. From focusing on experiencing the culture, nature and the wonder of life to exploring night markets, yoga retreats and the best of technology, Thailand is among the most popular destinations to venture out on a gap year trip. Not only can you soak in the beach and the sun, while experiencing the bustling pace of Thai life, but also take part in programs for animal conservation and teach English during your time here.
2. New Zealand
Another destination among the top gap year travel ideas, New Zealand means hikes, hostels and hobbiton. From breathtaking landscapes and pristine natural beauty, New Zealand is great in terms of gaining working holiday visas, where you can make money while facing the beautiful glacier fed lakes. Offering the perfect backdrop for your gap year goals, New Zealand has something to offer everyone. A great global destination to build on your outdoor leadership skills and live on a budget while working your way across the country, New Zealand is a great gap year destination and for all the good reasons!
3. Japan
From hiking through the misty bamboo forests in Kyoto in the morning, to slurping on to the world’s best ramen in a back alley at a Tokyo diner by afternoon, Japan is a among the best gap year destinations that not only lets you on an immersive experience, but also lets you experience and respect the stillness of nature and life itself. Inventing the future in real time, Japan is a breathtaking journey across time, culture and imagination. Whether you are teaching English in a rural fishing village or learning the art of Zen in a mountaintop monastery, volunteering after a typhoon or soaking in an onsen beneath falling snow, Japan is sure to challenge your worldview and change it forever.
Apart from these international destinations, here are some of the top places in India that are best to seek inspiration and introspection during a gap year
1. Goa
A place where time slows down and immerses your soul, beyond the popular rave and surf, Goa is a melting pot of cultures. From art, music and tropical beauty, Goa boasts of the old Portuguese churches, flea markets and hidden forest cafes that offers you the perfect kind of inspiration during a gap year.
2. Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh
Remote, raw and rugged, Spiti Valley is a dramatic high altitude desert nestled between India and Tibet. An off the grid paradise that is perfect for eco-volunteering, Buddhist monastery stays and venturing out on soul stirring treks, Spiti Valley is a great place for gap year trips where the internet is scarce, but stars are plenty. Perfect for those seeking solitude, connection with nature and ancient wisdom, this land of lunar landscapes should definitely be a part of your gap year travel ideas.
3. Wayanad, Kerala
Kerala’s green soul, Wayanad is wrapped in mist and mystery. A gap year destination that makes for a place for an emerald escape, live in the organic farms of Wayanad, help build sustainable homes, or join wildlife research programs during your time here. Surrounded by spice plantations and tribal villages, this place for a gap year travel program is lush and ideal for those looking for ways to reconnect with the Earth.