If you’re planning on taking a gap year between parts of your education (or even a sabbatical from your job), there’s a whole world out there to choose from. Europe, Asia, Central and South America, Australasia… the choice is endless. We’ve picked ten countries that can give you a bit of everything during your extended time there.
New Zealand
Cities? Tick. Stunning landscapes? Yep. Friendly people? Those too. New Zealand is an amazing choice for a gap year because it offers a bit of everything. Get yourself a 12 month working visa and if you’re a city person you can perhaps find bar or hostel work to meet the locals and spend your hard-earned cash on seeing the best of places like Wellington, Christchurch and Auckland. More of an outdoor type? There are seasonal jobs on farms across the country offering room and board and a chance to travel from place to place. Spend your free time either doing some of the adrenaline sports the country is famous for, or maybe rent a camper van and explore at your own pace.
Work, explore, and adventure—New Zealand offers vibrant cities, stunning landscapes, and endless gap year opportunities © Getty Images
Learn more about the best things to do in New Zealand here .
Thailand
A byword for hedonistic, months-long travel, Thailand offers more than just beaches and blue seas . Slow down, live and work there for a period and you’ll really get to know what makes the country tick. You can take a full-time or part-time job, an internship, or do voluntary work for causes as diverse as education, local healthcare, animal welfare or schemes to promote women’s empowerment in the capital, Bangkok . As somewhere to live it’s affordable, with low rent and food prices (you can rent a one bedroom apartment for around $400 — $500 per month, not bad for a national capital) and traveling around the country is cheap as well as relatively safe and friendly, so you can fully experience everything the country has to offer with ease during your time there.
Interested? Check out our guide to Thailand here .
India
For years the quintessential gap year destination — for young and old. In the 60s and 70s it was the done thing to find your way on the hippie trail to the land of spirituality and — ahem — spirituality-inducing substances, and India still holds a draw to this day. The gap between the haves and have-nots in the country is stark and some people find it upsetting, but if you decide to work for an NGO or similar you can make a small, albeit definite, difference. There are schemes around the country so it’s a good way to explore the many regions and cultures, from the mountains to the beaches via the vast and bustling cities, and with festivals both national and local all year round, you’ll find yourself immersed in Indian life and culture before you can blink.
India remains a classic gap year destination—rich in culture, contrasts, and adventure. Travel, volunteer, and immerse yourself in its vibrant festivals, cities, and landscapes © Getty Images
For a taster, here’s our guide to New Delhi .
Chile
One of the safer countries in South America, Chile is known for stunning scenery all the way down its vast length , a capital in Santiago that’s exciting, artistic, cool and welcoming, plus lush vineyards, wide beaches and “the end of the world” down in Patagonia. Work ranges from ranching to farming, harvesting grapes for their variety of wonderful wines, or teaching English in Santiago or Valparaiso (while trying to make sense of the snappy, dialectical Spanish of the country!). You’ll work hard but the money you make will probably go further than in Brazil or Argentina, for example, so it’s well worth consideration if you fancy a bit of South America.
Chile is one of our top destinations for solo travelers: read about those here .
Australia
Another super-popular gap year destination, Australia has for years welcomed travelers from all over the world who want a taste of the big city, beach bum lifestyle. Its cities are modern, clean and friendly, its terrain varies from verdant hills to mountains and the legendary harshness of the outback, and its people are open, fun and proud of being Aussies. There’s no denying it can be an expensive choice, and you’ll always have to check your shoes for spiders, but for lovers of the outdoors, sports, socializing and generally having a bloody good laugh, there are few better picks.
“Australia offers vibrant cities, stunning landscapes, and an outdoor-loving culture. Work, explore, and soak up the sun—just watch out for the spiders © Getty Images
Want more? Here’s our guide to the coolest things to do in Australia .
South Africa
Travelers from the UK, the US and the EU can enter South Africa without a visa for up to 90 days, which makes this country a popular choice for hassle-free travel in a varied and interesting environment. Many gap-year programs mean getting involved with the outdoors, be it working in the many vineyards, becoming part of the huge exo-tourism industry, conservation, marine biology or healthcare. It also means travelers will have the time and money to, perhaps, take a few days to cycle along one of the coast roads, head out on safari to get up-close-and-personal with the lions, giraffes, elephants and such, or just sit in the evening sun with a well-earned glass of wine.
Here’s a guide to everything you need to know about visiting South Africa.
Spain
If you’re looking for a gap year in Europe, Spain might be just the place . It’s modern, safe, affordable and has great transport connections to other countries in the region, as well as within Spain itself. The cities and regions look and feel different — Barcelona is not Madrid is not Bilbao is not Valencia, etc. — and you’ll definitely get the chance to improve your Spanish skills. Work comes in the form of teaching English or, more often now, conservation work, seasonal farming work, or longer-term employment as, say, an au pair. You’ll also be in a country famed for its nightlife, food, vibrant local culture and friendly people.
Need more reasons to pick Spain? Here you go .
Cambodia
One of the lesser-explored countries in south-east Asia )at least compared to tourist favorites like Thailand and Vietnam), Cambodia is a nation of temples and jungles , one that’s sure to attract those with dreams of Indiana Jones-style adventures as well as people who just want to spend a few months on the beach! Phnom Penh , the capital, is an up-and-coming city that’s young, cool and wants to show the world what it can do with its mix of traditional entertainment merged with local artists, breweries, coffee shops and cocktail bars. There are loads of opportunities for work, either slinging drinks in one of these places, teaching English, or getting involved in one of the local schemes such as farming, doing conservation work, building schools or health facilities in the countryside, helping preserve the temples or working in the mangrove swamps. Many nationalities can enter and stay in Cambodia visa-free for 30 days, then get a voluntary work visa to stay for up to three months more.
From jungle temples to trendy city hangouts, Cambodia blends adventure with opportunity. Teach, volunteer, or just unwind on its golden beaches © Getty Images
Make it a trip for two and explore the mighty Mekong river and more of Asia.
Canada
A friendly and welcoming country, Canada is popular with people who want to experience big city life as well as those for whom sheer wilderness appeals. Much like New Zealand (on a much bigger scale), you could choose to work in one of its exciting, multicultural cities like Toronto, Vancouver or Montreal (you can even work on your French of course!), or there’s a selection of work and travel programs that will match your skillset to a seasonal job that could be anything from ski instructor to cook, teacher to au pair. This also gives you the chance to explore the lakes, mountains, plains and general splendor of Canada for up to six months while working. Pretty nice, eh?
Here’s our guide to Canada for beginners.
Costa Rica
One of the jewels in the crown of Central America, Costa Rica is a beacon of biodiversity , packed with forests, mountains and beaches home to hundreds of animal and bird species. Work visas can be obtained for up to 90 days (any longer and you’ll need a residency permit), which means that there’s year-round work as people come and go. Conservation and the environment are, naturally, what most of the work revolves around for gap-year travelers, but make sure you do a bit of research first to establish you’ll be part of a reputable organization. When you’re not working, you can explore the country and its many activities like surfing, hiking, riding, kayaking and much, much more.
Wild jungles, stunning beaches, and endless adventure—Costa Rica is a paradise for nature lovers and volunteers alike. Work, explore, and embrace the ‘pura vida’ lifestyle! © Getty Images
Learn more about Costa Rica and other Central American destinations here .
Those are our top ten gap year destinations
Whether you’re taking extended time out or not — maybe this list has simply given you an idea for your next holiday! — search and book your next trip on Kiwi.com. Our powerful search shows you the best deals around, while the Kiwi.com Guarantee takes the stress and uncertainty out of travel. We hack the system, you fly for less!
