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Gap Year Travel

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Take time out to explore the world

Thinking about a gap year?

Whether you’re a student finishing school or university, or a parent helping your child plan their next adventure, a gap year is the chance to explore the world, learn new skills, and make memories that last a lifetime.

Boost a CV with volunteering abroad, learn a new language while traveling, or earn while you explore on a working holiday visa. With opportunities in over 60 destinations, KILROY helps students plan a gap year that’s adventurous, meaningful, and fully supported, giving students freedom to discover and parents peace of mind.

Book a free session with one of our travel experts today.

What to do on your gap year

Image of young female traveller wearing a backpack - KILROY

Suggested itineraries

Take the hard work out of planning a trip with our range of customisable itineraries designed for backpackers and adventurous travellers.

These itineraries have been designed to pack in as many awesome experiences as possible, while giving you plenty of time to sit back and enjoy. 

View suggested itineraries

Image of gap year travellers on a safari in Sri Lanka

Gap year programs

Check out our range of customisable gap year programs. These itineraries include a mix of travel, volunteering and working holidays to suit your preferred type of adventure.

And if you find your perfect gap year program on this page, just let us know your dates and we'll do the rest.

View gap year programs

Image of a young woman working in a cafe on a working holiday - KILROY

Working holidays

Ever wanted to live in another part of the world while earning money to fund your travels? Then a working holiday is perfect for you! 

With our range of working holiday arrival packages, we'll hook you up with other young travellers starting their adventure Down Under, in New Zealand or Canada. 

View working holidays

Young Man Volunteering With Turtles

Volunteer projects

Make a difference on your gap year and join a volunteer project. It's the perfect way to add to your CV and improve your job prospects when you get back from your travels. 

We offer volunteer projects in marine, wildlife and environmental conservation, as well as community projects teaching English and helping with construction.

View volunteer projects

Image of a group of travellers reading books on a bench - KILROY

Learn a language

If you're visiting Latin America on your gap year, you can't pass up the opportunity to learn a bit of the local lingo. 

Brush up your Spanish and live like a local in Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama or Argentina with our range of language courses.

View language courses

Image of a novice diver looking happy on a boat out on the ocean - KILROY

Learn to dive

They say everything's better down where it's wetter. But you'll never know unless you get down there yourself!

So if you're dreaming of the laidback beach life on your gap year, head underwater and get your PADI certificate on a diving course.

View diving courses

Image of an outdoor sculpture of the world - KILROY

Round-the-world flights

Can't decide which continent to visit on your gap year? Visit them all with a round-the-world flight ticket!

These special fares allow you to combine multiple stops on one ticket, so you can tick off Asia, Australia and the Americas in one trip.

View round-the-world itineraries

Image of tents set up at Everest Base Camp in the Himalayas in Nepal - KILROY

Trekking expeditions

A gap year is the perfect opportunity to start working your way through your bucket list. And we hope at least one challenging trek is on that list!

Choose from the famous W Trek, the iconic Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu or really test yourself by getting to Everest Base Camp or scaling Kilimanjaro.

View trekking expeditions

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Your gap year, your way

No two travellers are the same. And no two gap years are the same. That's why we're here to create your dream trip - wherever it is you want to go, and whatever it is you want to do. Use these itinerary suggestions as a guide, but that this inspiration and make it your own.

Email us your plans or book a travel advice session with one of our experts to start planning the gap year of your dreams.

Get in touch

Gap Year Programs

Interested in a gap year program with everything taken care of for you? How about a customisable package with a mix of guided tours and independent travel? 

We've got just the thing for you!

We offer a range of gap year programs covering travel, volunteering abroad and working holidays with international flights, tours, accommodation and activities included. 

Check out three of our most popular gap year travel programs below or view our full range to find the one that suits you. 

View all gap year programs with KILROY

Map of the Ultimate SE Asia and Australia gap year itinerary - KILROY

Ultimate Southeast Asia and Australia Gap Year Itinerary

Combine backpacking adventures through Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia and Indonesia with a working holiday Down Under on this epic gap year. 

Find out more

Map of the Ultimate Latin America gap year itinerary - KILROY

Ultimate Latin America Gap Year Itinerary

Travel from Mexico to Brazil on this epic adventure through Central and South America, ticking off 15 countries, learning Spanish, volunteering with turtles and embarking on incredible trekking expeditions along the way. 

Find out more

Map of the Ultimate Africa gap year itinerary - KILROY

Ultimate Africa Gap Year Itinerary

Travel on an overland camping safari from Kenya to South Africa before giving back to local communities with volunteering projects working with children in Cape Town and wild cats in Kimberley near Johannesburg. 

Find out more

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Countdown to your gap year

We get it – while planning your next trip away can be inspiring, sometimes the admin can be draining. That’s why we’re on hand to help you get the most out of your travels with our 'Off to see the world in 80 days' gap year planner.
Check Out Our Ultimate Gap Year Planner!

Gap Year Travel FAQS

 

When's the best time to take a gap year?

Many young people will take a gap year between studying. You might want to take a year out between finishing high school and starting university or higher education. Or you might prefer to take a gap year after finishing your degree and before starting work. The older adults among you might simply want to sack off full-time work for a while and take the gap year you always dreamed of. 

The best time to take your gap year depends on your priorities. You can always defer university for a year and employers won't be put off by you travelling before starting your career. In fact, many companies look for the personal and practical skills that young travellers develop while travelling, so use your gap year to your advantage. 

 

Where should I go on a gap year?

The world is truly your oyster on a gap year! With a round-the-world ticket in your pocket, you can explore multiple continents in one, combining stops in Africa, Asia, Australia and the Americas for a better rate than booking loads of individual one-way flights. 

Australia, New Zealand and Canada are popular destinations for young travellers thanks to their generous working holiday visas. If you're aged between 18-30-years-old (35 for Australia and New Zealand), you can apply for a one-year visa that enables you to work and earn money while you travel. It's a great way of getting to know a country while funding your travels.

Southeast Asia is considered one of the best destinations for a gap year, as it's cheap, easy to get around and you can cover a lot in a short amount of time. Latin America is another great choice - learn just one language and you can talk your way across most of the continent.  

 

How long should a gap year be?

It may be called a 'gap year', but that doesn't mean it has to be exactly 12 months long. You might only have nine months at your disposal, or you might be lucky enough to have a few years free to travel the world. 

Again, how long your gap year should be depends on you - if you're not ready to settle down in a career, then keep travelling! We firmly believe travel makes you a better person. So if you want to take a couple years out of real life to travel, we say 'you go for it'.

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Design your dream gap year

You could be on your way in just three easy steps:

  1. Fill in our Travel Wish List with your travel plans (no matter how loose they might be)
  2. Share your wish list with our travel experts and we'll suggest the coolest experiences, the best flights and share tips on how to put it all together
  3. Let us know what you think of our proposal and we'll work on it until it's just right
Start planning

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