Best Destinations for Gap Year Travel

Planning your gap year travel can be both exciting and overwhelming. With the world at your feet, deciding where to go—and when—can make all the difference in your experience. Whether you want endless summer vibes, cultural experiences, or a budget-friendly backpacking trip, timing is very important. In this blog, we’ll break down the best destinations for each season so you know where to go when - all in the name of gap year planning.

Asia

Asia itself is a vast continent, but most gap year travellers tend to gravitate to South East Asia. This doesn’t mean you should discount other parts of this vast continent, but SE Asia is popular with gap year backpackers due to it being:

• Relatively cheap. Your money will go a long way in this part of the world.
• Backpacker friendly. If you haven’t done much travel before and want to ease yourself into it then places like Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand are very easy to navigate.
• You’ll meet lots of fellow travellers. Lots of people are drawn to Asia’s cheap prices, awesome culture, and backpacker scene.
• The culture is as fascinating as it is ancient. There’s lots of famous landmarks to explore, from Angkor Wat in Cambodia to Ha Long Bay in Vietnam.
• Flights between countries are relatively inexpensive.
• If you’re a foodie then Asia is an obvious choice – food is both cheap and delicious.
• Fancy discovering Asia but with a team? Join our Cambodia programme.

Best time to go:

Cambodia:

November – April

Bali:

April – October

Monsoon season: November – March

Laos:

October – April

Nepal:

October – May

Monsoon season: June – mid-September

Sri Lanka (west and south of the country):

November – March

Monsoon season: April – October

Thailand:

November – March

Vietnam:

North: October – April

Central: February – April

South: December – February

Africa

Not for the faint of heart, backpacking around Africa presents both challenges and epic highs when it comes to gap year travel. From climbing Mount Kenya, to watching the sun set over a game reserve, fortune favours the bold in this vast continent. Best for:

• Travelling around Africa isn’t as easy as some other parts of the world, the infrastructure can be tricky to navigate if you're new to backpacking. If you're confident though, Africa offers an experience unlike any other. Fancy joining a team programme? Join our Kenya programme.
• If you're an animal lover then you're in the right place, from scuba diving to game drives, you could spend years in Africa and still be blown away by the diversity you’ll see there in the beach and bush.
• Africa is so large and each country within it is packed with its own culture, traditions, and rich history. There's so much to see and learn.
• If you want to get off the beaten track and get away from the backpacker crowds then this is the place to do it.
• English is widely spoken across many countries in Africa. This isn’t to say that you shouldn’t make the effort to learn a few words and phrases in the local language, but English is the most widely spoken language across the African continent.

Best time to go:

Kenya:

December – March, June – October

Rainy season: April – June

Tanzania:

June – March

Rainy season: April – May

Zimbabwe:

May – August

Rainy season: November – January

Namibia:

April – August

Rainy season: December – March

Botswana:

June – October

Rainy season: December – March

Rwanda:

June – October

Rainy season: March – May

Uganda:

June – October

Rainy season: April – June

Central/South America

Central and South America are filled with contrasts. Some countries are super backpacker-friendly, some are not for rookie travellers. This part of the world has rocketed up in popularity over the last few years and you can really see why. Best for:

• There are some real big-ticket bucket-list items to explore, from Chichen Itza to Machu Picchu.
• This part of the world is very used to backpackers, so the infrastructure is pretty well set up for travellers. Flights are inexpensive, and there are lots of inter-country buses.
• If you want something gritty then parts of South America really tick that box. Definitely not soft landings if you haven’t done much travelling before, but if you’re a pro then it offers a real challenge.
• If you want to see it all in terms of geography then you’ve come to the right place. Beaches, rainforests, volcanoes, deserts, Central and South America has it all.
• Fancy joining a team programme with us? Browse our Central and South America programmes.

Best time to go:

Central America:

December – April

Rainy season: June – October

South America:

September – November

Rainy season: January – March in Peru. June - Sept in Colombia.

The ultimate way to acclimatise and find your feet with a team of like-minded individuals in the same age group as you. Yes please, tell me more

Europe

For many of us, Europe isn’t what we think of when we talk about backpacker travel. That doesn’t mean we should discount our neighbouring countries. Best for:

• The obvious advantage of Europe over other continents is that you can pack loads into your itinerary in a short amount of time. Only got two weeks over a summer to squeeze in some travel? Not a problem.
• Whilst some parts of Europe are expensive, there are still countries that are very cheap to travel around if you're on a budget.
• Europe has many cultural sites that are just as special as other parts of the world. From Pompeii to the Pantheon, there’s a wealth of culture and history.
• Perhaps the easiest continent to traverse, with Interrailing, cheap flights, and a whole range of methods of transport. Roads and infrastructure are good, so you’ll have no trouble zipping around.

Best time to go:

Best time: May – September are generally warmest and driest. It can get very hot in high summer.

Australasia

If you fancy a trip down under then add Australasia to your list. It may be a trek to get there, but it’s definitely worth it for the laid-back pace of life and chilled vibes. Best for:

• If natural scenery is your thing then you’ve come to the right place. Mountains, the Outback, rainforests, and of course long stretches of golden beaches, Australasia has it all.
• Australia itself may be pretty expensive, but it’s really easy to get a working visa and earn some money during your travels. From fruit picking to cattle ranching – the work is hard, but it’s a great way to experience life in this huge country.
• Australia and New Zealand are both English-speaking, so you don’t have to worry about anything getting lost in translation.
• It may be the smallest continent but there’s still so many gems like the Great Barrier Reef, Uluru, and the sweeping vistas of New Zealand to experience.

Best time to go:

Australia:

December – February

Low season: June – August

New Zealand:

December – May

Low season: June – August

We're sure we've given you lots to think about, but if you're still in a muddle with your gap year travel plans then give us a call and our friendly team of experts can advise. The good news is that no matter the time of year, there'll always be somewhere in the world with decent weather. Get in touch.

FAQs:

When do most people start their gap year travels? We've found that most of our Leapers begin their gap year in January/February. They usually finish school and have a summer of festivals and celebrations before getting a job and working and saving as hard as they can until Christmas, setting off on their adventures in the New Year to all manner of different countries.

How long should I plan to travel for? From past experience we usually find that the sweet spot is around 3-4 months. Lots of gappers start on a month-long team programme before onward travelling with their new friends for another couple of months to explore the world.

Travel fatigue is a real thing, and whilst it sounds like a great idea to go travelling for 6+ months, it can be tiring (and expensive) to be gone that long. Don't forget your travel insurance.

Where's the best place to meet fellow travellers? You'll find other travellers in just about every country you visit, especially if you're staying in hostels! If you're worried about setting off solo then consider joining a team programme first and then travelling on with the people you meet there.