Many people take a gap year after high school or before college. The idea is to experience the world fully before getting caught up in regular, everyday life. A gap year is more than just taking a break, though: it can also be something you put on your resume and a way to build skills.
What are the most memorable ways to spend a gap year, especially through travel
Taking a slow railway odyssey
First stop: a slow railway odyssey. Instead of taking inexpensive short-haul flights, ride the train and see the world as it really is, not through an aeroplane window.
The classic example is the Trans-Siberian Railway. Many people do not have time to do this later in life, going all the way from Moscow to Vladivostok, or even down into Mongolia and China. If you have the chance, it lets you see the entire interior of the Asian continent.
Another option is the Eurail circuit in Europe. You can buy a special card that takes you all the way down into the Balkans, nearly to Turkey. It is memorable because it forces you to embrace boredom. You spend hours looking out the window and enjoying the dining cars, and you realise just how enormous the world is when you are not stuck in front of a smartphone screen or a computer.
Costa Rica and Galapagos conservation
Another memorable gap-year travel experience is to go to the Galapagos Islands or Costa Rica and work with wildlife. For many people, this is the gold standard. When you’re monitoring turtle nesting sites and involved in reforestation projects, it changes how you see the world and shifts your priorities. Suddenly, you put nature first instead of your own comfort.
Doing this for a year or more builds a deeper connection to the natural environment that you won’t forget. It also gives you perspective on climate change and helps you realise that modern cities are entirely dependent on the nature around them. If that were to disappear, they would no longer be able to survive or function, and lifestyles would have to change dramatically.
Thru-hiking on a long-distance trail
Thru-hiking a long-distance trail is not something you want to do for an entire year, but it can be a great experience for a month or two. Once you learn how to thru-hike, it is a skill that stays with you forever, and it makes you more resourceful when you are out in nature.
You may have to survive on your own for weeks at a time, adapting to the circumstances, weather, and surroundings. The most popular thru-hiking route right now is the Camino de Santiago, a social and cultural pilgrimage to the cathedral in northern Spain. Many people start in the middle of France, but you can join the route at any point. You can also hike the Appalachian Trail in the U.S. It is a real test of physical and mental endurance. The landscape is unforgiving, and it goes on for miles. If harsh weather hits, you may need to set up camp not just at night, but also during the day, to protect yourself from storms.
If you want the most incredible scenery and photos to take with you for life, Te Araroa in New Zealand is one of the best. It runs close to the Lord of the Rings film set and takes you through some of the most stunning mountain ranges anywhere on earth.
When you thru-hike, your brain resets after 500 miles. The stresses of modern life seem to disappear, and you focus on the essential elements of living, like finding enough food, water, and shelter to survive. You are no longer worried about what people are saying on social media, which can be a liberating experience for many.
Alpine survival
Alpine survival can also be a great way to spend your gap year. On this trip, you’ll be battling the elements and discovering how harsh nature can be in certain environments. Think of it as a ski trip with cross-country elements. You’re ploughing through snow and having to manage your body temperature all the time.
Alpine survival is deeply rooted in European and Swiss history. For centuries, the Alps were seen as a formidable, impenetrable barrier, especially during the Middle Ages. Today, modern practices, techniques, and equipment make it more conquerable, but surviving and living there still requires learning a lot of skills.
Work exchange
Another memorable way to spend your gap year is to join a work exchange programme, especially if your funds are tight. Work exchanges are the ultimate life hack because all you need to do is work a few hours a day in exchange for room and board.
For example, if you want to go to Europe, you could work harvesting grapes at a vineyard in France and live there for free. You could spend the rest of your time travelling around the area, taking photos and journaling. You could also teach English in a rural Thai village or help run hotels in Central America.
What’s nice about these programmes is that they’re usually not restricted by the labour laws that apply in your home country. You’re not a tourist, either. You’re a member of the community, and you can learn real, practical skills while you’re there. These skills will stay with you for a lifetime, and you may be able to redeploy them to earn a full-time living once you get back home.
Learn a legacy skill
Lastly, consider using your gap year to learn a legacy skill. These skills are becoming more valuable because they are becoming rarer over time.
For example, if you’re interested in cooking, you could learn how to make classic Italian or Thai cuisine. You could also learn a new language by travelling in Central America or by becoming a yoga teacher in some far-flung part of India. Once you have these legacy skills, you can add them to your list of achievements and accomplishments.
Featured image: Jonas Horsch
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