gap year

I have looked at two trips for my gap year if I choose to go away for a few months. I have chosen the European pioneer trip which is 36 days and going to 18 different countries. I have also looked the big Aussie adventure. Which will last up to at least 12 months, I will be over there doing paid work as well on the east coast.

European pioneer

DURATION- 36 DAYS TRIP CODE- EEEDLL

I would be traveling Europe over 36 days on a multi-country tour through 18 different countries. Enjoying diverse European destinations like: France, Greece, Eastern Europe to the Baltic States, Italy, Germany, Spain and the Swiss Alps, this is just a handful of the places I would be going to. I will be visiting old medieval cities such as Prague, Budapest, and Bruges to major cities like Rome and Paris. Just reading about the tour online makes me more excited to possible to go on the European tour.

DAY 1: London to Paris, France. Cross the English Channel to the chic city of Paris. ‘City Lights’ evening tour included. Dinner included.

Day 2: Paris. Explore Paris at your leisure on a free day. A gourmet picnic by Eiffel Tower is included. Optional evening activities: River Seine cruise or cabaret show. Breakfast and dinner included.

Day 3: Paris to Swiss Alps, Switzerland. Travel to the Swiss Alps and the village of Lauterbrunnen, near the Jungfrau Mountain. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 4: Swiss Alps. Enjoy incredible views on an optional visit to the summit of Jungfrau Mountain. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 5: Swiss Alps to Avignon, France. Travel to the wine-growing Rhone Valley and visit the ancient walled city of Avignon. Breakfast and lunch included.

Day 6: Avignon to Barcelona, Spain. Visit the Roman Aqueduct of Pont du Gard. Bus into Barcelona for afternoon city tour. Breakfast and dinner included.

Day 7: Barcelona. A free day to explore beautiful Barcelona. Breakfast included.

Day 8: Barcelona to French Riviera, France. Visit a perfumery for a fragrant experience, then on to the stylish French Riviera, home to the rich and famous. Breakfast and dinner included.

Day 9: French Riviera. Free day to explore Nice and enjoy the beaches and shopping. Evening visit to a casino in Monte Carlo, Monaco. Breakfast included.

Day 10: French Riviera to Venice, Italy. Enjoy the Romeo & Juliet romance of Verona en route to Venice. Breakfast and dinner included.
Day 11: Venice. Explore the unique city of Venice on a walking tour and enjoy a vaporetto ride on the Grand Canal and a lace-making demonstration. Don’t miss out on the optional gondola ride. Breakfast and dinner included.

Day 12: Venice to Florence. Photo opportunities at the Leaning Tower of Pisa before arriving in Florence. Afternoon city tour including leatherworks. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Day 13: Florence to Rome. Free morning in Florence. Travel to the ‘Eternal City’, Italy’s capital, Rome. Explore Italy’s ancient capital on a walking tour. Breakfast and dinner included.

Day 14: Rome. A free day to explore the incredible Italian sights of Rome, such as the Collosseum and Roman Forums. Breakfast included.

Days 15-16: Rome to Athens, Greece. Overnight ferry from Italy to Greece. On to the ancient city of Athens. 2 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 1 dinner included over these 2 days.
Days 17-19: Athens to Mykonos. 3 nights on the amazing Greek Island of Mykonos. 3 breakfasts and 1 dinner included.

Day 20: Mykonos to Athens. Return ferry journey from Mykonos to Athens. Breakfast included.
Day 21: Athens to Meteora. Visit to unusual 14th Century cliff top monasteries at Meteora. Breakfast and dinner included.
Day 22: Meteora to Tirana, Albania. Head off the beaten track into unspoilt Albania. Luxury hotel stay in capital city, Tirana. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Days 23-24: Tirana to Dubrovnik, Croatia via Montenegro.  Travel to Croatia via Budva in Montenegro. Destination: the amazing walled Croatian city of Dubrovnik and a walking tour. 2 breakfasts and 1 dinner included.
Day 25: Dubrovnik to Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Visit Mostar and then on to the fascinating city of Sarajevo for a guided tour. Breakfast and dinner included.
Day 26: Sarajevo to Belgrade, Serbia.  A sombre visit to Srebrenica, site of the 1995 Bosnian massacre. Visit Serbia’s beautiful capital, Belgrade for an orientation tour. Breakfast included.
Day 27: Belgrade to Budapest, Hungary.  Visit two cities in one: Budapest in Hungary, divided by the mighty Danube River into Buda and Pest. Orientation tour. Breakfast and dinner included.
Day 28: Budapest. Free time to enjoy thermal baths or buzzing bars. Breakfast included.
Day 29: Budapest to Vienna, Austria. Visit the home of classical music, Vienna. Optional evening classical music concert. Breakfast included.
Day 30: Vienna to Prague, Czech Republic via Mauthausen.  Visit to former concentration camp at Mauthausen. Next pitstop: Prague, for a walking tour of this gothic city. Breakfast and dinner included.
Day 31: Prague.  A free day today to discover the delights of this vibrant Eastern European city. Breakfast included.

Day 32: Prague to Berlin, Germany. Travel to Berlin, via Dresden, and into Germany’s vibrant capital city. Breakfast and dinner included.

Day 33: Berlin. Take a Third Reich tour or see the Berlin Wall, then enjoy the famous Berlin nightlife on an optional nightlife tour! Breakfast included.
Day 34: Berlin to Amsterdam, Netherlands. Stop off at a farm to learn about cheese and clogs, two iconic products of the Netherlands, before taking a tour of Amsterdam, which ends in the notorious Red Light District. Breakfast and lunch included.

Day 35: Amsterdam. Enjoy an included bicycle tour and explore Amsterdam. A farewell canal cruise with dinner is included. Breakfast and dinner included.

Day 36: Amsterdam to London. Last stop before your tour ends: Bruges in Belgium, a beautiful, mediaeval city famous for beer and chocolate! Take the ferry back from Calais to England then end your European Pioneer tour back in the city of London, where you’ll say farewell to your group. Breakfast included

day to day trip plan

arrival infomation

If I was to go on the European tour I would have to meet the tour group in London, I will be meeting the group at the joining hostel by 6am ready to check in, I would have to be ready for a 7am departure, due to the early start. If I wanted I could stay at the hostel the night before to make sure I am ready for the early morning ahead with no delays. I could stay in a at the hostel for a price of £26- £35 depending on what room I decided on.

The trip would involve me staying in places, 11 nights in a hotel upgrade, 14 nights in hostels, 6 nights in bungalows at European campsites, 3 nights in canvas cabins, 1 night cabin on an overnight ferry from Italy to Greece.

Food will include 35 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 20 dinners will be included in the overall price of the trip. These meals will be catered by on sites kitchens, and some local restaurants.

Accommodation and meals

minimum age and eligibility

To go on this trip I would need to be 18, so I would need to wait until summer 2016 to go, as I am not 18 yet. I would need to make sure my passport is valid for at least 6 months after the last day of my trip. The reason for this is, some countries refuse entry if there is not at least 6 months validity on my passport after your departure date from the country I would be visiting, depending on my nationality. To entre some countries it may require me to have a visa, it would be my responsibility to find out if I would need a visa, and to get one before joining the trip. Because I hold a British passport I wont need a visa to travel Europe and the countries I will be visiting.

the big Aussie adventure

DURATION- UP TO 12 MONTHS TRIP CODE- AUBA

The Assuie adventure will include travel programmes along the Australian east coast, plus the Absolute Oz paid work programme. I will be exploring places like Cairns and Sydney and then find paid work with the work package I will be offered. Again this gap year will be part of a group adventure. I will be starting this adventure in Cairns, gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, from there I will be going to Brisbane where I will spend 2 nights relaxing in Byron Bay, before starting my 5-day learning how to surf. My final east coast destination will be Sydney where I will have a week of fun in the city, and at beach camp before beginning my search for the paid work part of my trip.

trip highlights

Start your Big Aussie Adventure in Cairns with exciting white water rafting, kayaking, a hot air balloon ride and a boat trip to the Great Barrier Reef!
Use our flexible travel pass to travel along the East Coast. You can complete the route in a short time frame or hop on and off to stay longer, as your travel pass is valid for 6 months
Stop off to see all the sights of the East Coast, such as famous Fraser Island or the wonderful Whitsunday Islands along the way and make new friends on this great group adventure!
After 2 days of downtime in Byron Bay, spend 5 days relaxing at Surf Camp and learn to surf from stunning beaches with the help of expert instructors
End up in buzzing Sydney and enjoy a week of fun in the city and at Beach Camp before beginning your job search with our Absolute Oz paid work package!

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IMPORTANT INFO CLICK TO ENLARGE

arrival infomaton

I will have to arrange arrival into Cairns day 1 of the Cairns adventure, an airport transfer is not included, I would have to arrange for one if I wanted one. When I arrive there I will need to go to the transfers desk and tell them which hostels I will be staying at, and I can then jump on a transfer and be dropped off at my accommodation, transfers usually coast £5

accommodation and meals

Cairns adventure

6 nights accommodation in a hostel is included, this will be in shared dorms sleeping up to 8 people, some day trips are also included; a BBQ lunch on the white water rafting day, a picnic lunch on the day trip spent sea kayaking, and lunch during the snorkelling day at the Great Barrier Reef.

East coast travel pass

No accommodation is included as part of the flexible travel pass, but in each overnight location I will have guaranteed accommodation revered for me, so I don’t have to worry about booking any where, accommodation can easily be booked using the unique travel app. A night in a hostel coast around £14 per person on average.

The travel pass also includes some compulsory, scheduled overnight stops in the location off the beaten track, complete with amazing experiences.

-Indigenous camp overnight stay: travel into the rainforest of Tully Gorge National Park, where I will camp, extra costs will include breakfast, dinner, bed, activities.

Emu Park and Cattle Station: 2 nights at the resort and a day trip to the outback.

If I choose to go off and do this independent travel, I will be responsible for paying and finding my own accommodation, my tour guides will be able to advise me on where would be good places to stay.

Meals are included in this trip self-catering can be an options in some points of the trip, but not always available .

Bryon bay and surf camp

I will be spending 2 nights in a unique surf camp in Bryon Bay, breakfast and dinners are included while I will be staying at the surf camp.

I will then spend I a further 4 nights at surf camp, where I will be staying in the beachfront shared dorms, which house 6-8 people, and I will have direct access to the beach. The surf camp is kept hidden in a national marine park north of Coffs harbour, south of Bryon bay, this will also include meals, accommodation, laundry, internet, beach activities which is all included in the price. Chefs on site will prepare food.

Absolute Oz jobs

7 nights of accommodation is included, in the city centre hostel in Sydney and at the beach camp, in Sydney I will be enjoying the modern facilities in shared dorms accommodation with up to 10 people per room. The hostel also has a bar, and restaurant, café and TV room and a self-catering kitchen. The beach accommodation will include similar facilities. The dorms will be surrounded by the rainforest.

Food included: 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 3 dinners and some free drinks during your first week in Sydney and the beach camp.

Paid work accommodation

While working in Australia I can extended my stay in hostels, or rent an apartment, I will most likely be renting with who ever I make friends with on the trip hopefully. I will expect to be spending at least £100- £150 weekly rent.

Minimum age and eligibility

The minimum age requirement will be 18 due to the fact I will need to get holiday working visa, and this visa has age resections, the age limit for the visa is 18-30.

Taking a gap year would really benefit me, as it will show I am willing to move and go places by myself, and not rely on others. Although I have chosen two places to go to, which are part of tour groups, a lot of it is still about being independent and doing things on my own and for myself. I have looked into working in Australia, because it is something I have always wanted to do, and gap year would be perfect to take advantage of the opportunity. Doing a gap year would also help me gain social skills and become more confident in being more independent. I have looked at doing the European tour first as its would be the perfect way to start my break from studying, because I will be visiting cultural cities I have always wanted to go to, and I will still be learning but it would be life skills I would be learning, I have never been away from home by myself before, so it will be a good start to see what life away from could be like. I would then look into starting my Aussie adventure I looked into this one mainly for work experience, but I like the look of the other opportunities, like going to the Great Barrier Reef and the Beach hostel. Again working away from home will prove how well I will cope being away from home and not being dependant on my parents to pay for things and get things like my washing done for me. Working in Sydney will be a great opportunity as it will look good on my CV, because it will show I will be willing to work away from home, and I can get things done and have determination and independence.