View our top suggestions and ideas to make your sabbatical one to remember. There are options all over the world, for short and long durations. So whether you have 1 month, 3 month break or longer, let our guide inspire you to make your trip even more amazing.
1. Book a Tour
Traveling independently can be amazing, but sometimes it can be lonely and you can miss out on things. By booking a group adventure tour will get to visit new destinations, learn about the history, eat and drink in recommended local restaurants, meet new people and get taken to the best sights. You will also have a lot of fun and get a stress free experience.
2. Carnival in Brazil
Time your break during February and experience one of the most magical street parties in the world by booking a Rio de Janeiro Carnival Package! Join thousands of people from all around the world to experience the vibrant atmosphere, music and dances which make this one of the greatest fun things to do in the world. Search Brazil gap year travel ideas.
3. See Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu really is one of the most amazing places in the world, so why not go see it? There are lots of Machu Picchu trips available to join all year round, make sure you book early thought as spaces fill up quick. View Peru gap year trips.
4. Do Something Scary
Doing something scary and new is a great way to help you remember your trip. It doesn’t matter how dangerous it is as long as it’s something you wouldn’t think of doing normally. You’re not looking to put your life in danger. You’re looking to find a story to tell. It could be kayaking or as big as sky diving! Travelling is all about new experiences and the scary experiences are the first ones you’ll tell your friends about when you get back.
5. Contribute to Community Development Initiatives
There are so many opportunities to lend a hand while you’re travelling. Doing a bit of charity work here and there can sometimes turn a less than perfect trip into something brilliant and it doesn’t do any harm to leave a trail of good deeds in your wake. You could take part in volunteering programs to help people, building and construction projects, NGOs and the environment. You could meet some amazing people when you’re doing good and help change some lives.
6. Sample Local Cuisines
Never leave a location without trying the local food. Rather that eat at the five star restaurants that the travel guide recommended to you, choose somewhere that is authentically local. Visit the small family restaurants and street vendors. Ask locals for recommendations and never turn down an opportunity to try a delicacy or a home cooked meal. Keep an open mind and you might discover that you’re a lot more adventurous than you thought you were.
7. Get TEFL Certified
Taking an online TEFL certification course opens up a whole world of opportunities, the main one getting a worldwide recognised qualification to teach English abroad. There are classroom courses available to take in the UK, Europe and worldwide. You can even take an online TEFL course and study from anywhere in the world.
8. Train to Become a Safari Guide
If you want to use your sabbatical to consider a totally different career path you could consider booking a safari guide course and become a qualified field guide in Africa. This is an incredible job where you will get to lead tours to see the amazing exotic animals helping people to have holidays of a lifetime. Not many careers compare to this!
9. Work Abroad
If you like the idea of going to work abroad there are so many different jobs available, a lot of which do not require any previous experience. You can find summer jobs abroad or year round positions where you will get to live in a different country and make money to fund further travels.
10. Learn to Scuba Dive
Never been scuba diving? What are you waiting for? You can book dive courses in so many destinations worldwide, from short taster sessions to longer PADI certification courses.
11. Be Social & Have Fun
Travelling is one of the best things in the world, be open minded to new cultures and people. Try to do as many social activities as possible and hopefully you will make friends for life!
12. Become a Travel Writer
Love to travel? Got an interest in writing? Or would you just like to share your experience or advice? Get in touch with us to learn more information about becoming a travel writer for Gap Year World.
13. Get Lost
Getting lost is one of the best ways to get an in depth look at what there is to see. Of course, you shouldn’t just wander into the wilderness without a map, but if you’re in a city or town forgo the taxi for a day and talk a walk. Go where the mood takes you.
You never know what sort of interesting things you’ll find hidden in away in the places that the guidebook doesn’t talk about. Of course, you should still keep safety in mind, but over planning where you go and when can deny you a lot of great experiences.
14. Visit an Elephant Sanctuary in Thailand
One of the most magical experiences on our list is to visit an elephant sanctuary. You will get to get close to beautiful elephants in an ethical surrounding where elephants are free from harm. View our guide to taking a gap year in Thailand.
15. Climb Mt Kilimanjaro
Looking for the ultimate challenge? Search Mount Kilimanjaro tours and embark on the ultimate experience of your life.
16. Improve Lives of Refugees
Join a volunteer program with refugees and help others in need. This will provide you with possibly the most rewarding experience of your life! There are options in Europe and all over the world.
17. Become a Ski or Snowboard Instructor
Book a place on a ski instructor course and start a new job working at some of the best ski resorts in the world.
18. Study or Intern Abroad
Why would I want to study or join an internship when travelling we here you ask? Well, there are so many placements available where you can boost your learning and help your future career. Okay, this isn’t the most exciting way to spend a break from work but it can really help you to boost your CV and career prospects.
19. Take Lots of Photographs
You can never have enough photographs and a once in a lifetime trip should never be forgotten. Get a good quality but small camera. That way you can easily carry it around while you travel and can whip it out to snap a pic at any time.
Take pictures of anything and everything. Also, don’t just take photographs of the scenery. Although the scenery is beautiful the photographs you’re going to treasure the most are the ones of friends and family. You could book a photography holiday where you will get to take pictures with locals and your your new travel buddies.
21. Become a Kung Fu Master in Asia
Ever done any martial arts? Or keen to learn? Book a martial arts course abroad! Okay you be able to become the next Bruce Lee but you will get to do something healthy, improve your confidence and learn some great self defense and martial arts skills.
22. Help Wildlife
Passionate about animals? Or like the idea of going to help conservation efforts? There are so many incredible volunteer programs with animals abroad. You will get to learn more about different species, meet inspirational people, get amazing photos and enjoy one of the most rewarding experiences of your life.
Popular options include:
• Elephant volunteer programs in Africa and Asia
• Sea turtle volunteer programs
• Volunteer with lions in Africa
23. Learn a New Language
Learning a new language can open up a whole world of opportunities and make the whole traveling experience easier. By knowing a few basic words and phrases it can really help you get around, book accommodation and also make new friends. There are so many options, you could book a Spanish course in Spain, a Portuguese courses in Brazil or a Russian course in Russia!
24. Don’t Go Home
If you have a desire to be more than just a tourist then you might want to consider extending your sabattical. There are jobs all over the world which can be applied for in-advance on once in your preferred destination.
You will get to immerse yourself in a new culture, make money and see spectacular sights in your spare time. Popular options include taking a TEFL certification course and teaching English abroad, working in Australia, becoming a safari guide in Africa or applying for hotel jobs.
Hopefully our list has given you some ideas for amazing things you could get up to on a sabbatical