Taking a gap year – particularly if you’re travelling alone – can be a daunting prospect.
But with the tiniest bit of effort it’s very easy to meet tons of new friends in every city or town you visit, and also on buses, and in bars. A good way of guaranteeing that you meet likeminded travellers is by including some of the most popular gap year countries on your itinerary.
So with that in mind, I’ve compiled a list of the best places in the world to visit on a gap year, perfect for first time backpackers.
Before I get started, if you are currently thinking about taking a gap year, check out Gap Year World, who offer hundreds of trips and experiences around the globe.
Now, start getting inspired to travel the world and add these countries to your itinerary:
1. Australia
The ever popular giant land of Australia is backpacker central. In most major towns and beach haunts, hostels abound, and the social side of the backpacking lifestyle means there are a number of opportunities for meeting new people. And probably the best thing about it? Everyone speaks English!
So expect no language barrier and little culture shock. Instead, revel in a laidback, beach culture where fun is the order of the day. Many first time travellers head to the east coast, working their way up from Sydney to Cairns, but other popular destinations include Melbourne, a little further south of Sydney, and Perth on the west coast.
Taking a small group tour such of the amazing East Coast is a good way to get started and meet new people. It is also a great introduction to the country as it visits major sites like Bryon Bay and the Whitsunday Islands .
2. Peru
South America’s third largest country embodies sights that many visitors to this beautiful continent come to see.
Here the crumbling remains of the Incas’ Machu Picchu and the beautiful sacred valley lie in the south – two of the most visited historical pilgrimages in the world! There are other archaeological marvels like the Nazca Lines, along with laidback, vibrant cities such as Cusco and Ica, where the friendly traveller scene and great bars could keep you busy for days.
And Peru is huge! More than half is Amazon jungle, meaning there are ample opportunities for tours where you’ll meet new friends and be blown away by sights and sounds. The country is relatively safe, but like most South American countries it’s worth being on your guard. With such a range of landscapes, from volcanoes, snow capped mountains, jungle, desert, colonial cities, and forgotten architecture, you won’t be bored!
3. Thailand
Contrary to popular belief, this magical land has a very friendly, conservative population, and probably ranks alongside Australia as one of the most popular first-time traveller destinations.
With accessible and cheap transport, very affordable accommodation, and a friendly traveller scene, everyone makes new friends here! Head away from Bangkok and you’ll be blessed with ancient temples, pristine beaches, jungle, and limestone wonders.
There are so many amazing gap year ideas and things to do in Thailand. You can live on $15 a day (including a beer or two!) and eat a meal for less than $1. Expect locals everywhere to ask you where you’re from, and make sure you bring your camera to snap relics and landscapes.
4. Singapore
More of a city than a country, this tiny island off the south coast of Malaysia’s peninsular is the most affluent country in south-east Asia – Singapore.
Here modern skyscrapers shoot into the sky next to crumbling British colonial architecture. Although the city’s populace is a welcome mix of Chinese, Malay, and Indian, English is the first language, and all taxis, buses, and metro trains are very easy to use and reasonably cheap. And you can actually drink the tap water here!
There is a host of things to do, like visiting the world renowned Singapore Zoo, sipping a Singapore sling in Raffles Hotel, walking through the beautiful (and free!) Botanical Gardens, and dining in the ubiquitous hawker stalls. These bustling cooked-food markets are everywhere, on street corners, underneath railway stations, and at the top of hi-tech shopping malls! Unusual food abounds, like pig organ soup, so be adventurous.
And although the country is more expensive than others in the region, it’s still nowhere near as pricey as Europe. And an abundant selection of dorm beds make it a social magnet!
5. India
Wow, where do I begin! Are you after architectural delights galore? Or maybe frenetic party beaches, or mountainous hippy towns? Maybe you’re the kind of person who wants to find yourself spiritually… India offers all this and more. An assault on all the senses, be prepared to be blown away by men and monkeys on motorbikes, cows lining the road, a deeply religious way of life and a myriad of scents pouring from every street corner imaginable.
India is still is one of the cheapest traveller destinations in the world, meaning you can live on £10 a day if you are careful. Party all night on the beaches of Palolem, cruise on a converted rice barge through the backwaters of Kerala, and marvel in wonder at the gleaming Taj Mahal. Shop for jewellery in Jaipur, ride the toy train in Darjeeling and explore the ancient temples of Udaipur. With an excellent and efficient train service, you can travel half the country overnight. But just understand that travel in India isn’t as easy as in other parts of the world.
6. New Zealand
Australia is hugely popular with travelers for a good reason, so you could be forgiven about forgetting about it’s smaller, but no less interesting, cousin – New Zealand! However, with a varied landscape ranging from fjords, mountains, plains, subtropical forest, volcanoes and miles of coastline over the two main islands that make up the country, New Zealand is definately not a place to be missed! Head to the skydiving capital of the world, Taupo, for a parachute descent from 12,000 feet, or the South Island’s Kaikoura for some wild swimming with dolphins.
With a population of only five million and a landmass slightly bigger than the UK, the draw of New Zealand is it’s huge areas of pristine wilderness. While a great way to see this is by booking a hop on hop off bus tour like the Kiwi Experience, it is also very easy to buy your own second hand car or rent a campervan. Many dealerships all over the country cater for travellers, meaning you can travel around the wilds of the south island, and stay in fantastic hostels.
Discover the underground labyrinth of the Waitomo caves, where thousands of tiny glow-worms radiate their luminescent energy. Climb the glacier of Franz Josef, or check out the numerous cafes and museums in cultural Wellington – otherwise known as Wellywood because of it’s amazing history of producing cinema! Just understand that New Zealand is not as cheap South-East Asia, India, or Central America, so it’s best to plan what activities you want to do (like skydiving and bungee jumping) and then work your budget around that.
7. Tanzania
With Africa’s highest mountain, largest game reserve and three largest lakes, it’s easy to see why Tanzania is so popular with travellers. With natural wonders to stop you in your tracks, this is Africa at its easiest: a land of relative safety and stability. Tour the colonial wonders of Zanzibar’s Stone Town and its bustling bazaars and grand mosques. Then swim in the day and party all night in laid back Kendwa. Make sure you check out the fantastic food market in Zanzibar Town, it’s one of the best eating experiences in the world if you like seafood!
Climb the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro, and then gaze in wonder at the lions and elephants as you safari in the Serengeti. Stare in awe at the wildlife that lives in the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater, or just take a fishing excursion onto the vast Lake Victoria for some huge Nile Perch action. And while many African countries are not as cheap as most people think, it is possible to survive on £20 a day here. But if you add a safari or trek to your itinerary, be prepared to pay a lot more!
8. USA
The USA is one of the most well known and iconic countries and if you’ve never been, you really have to go. Popular destinations include New York, California, Miami and Chicago. One of the most popular options is to work at a summer camp in America, lots of companies like Camp America offer summer work exchanges allowing you to live and work here for around 3 months during summer! Or if travelling is more of your thing, book a tour to travel Route 66′!
9. Canada
Canada is one of the most spectacular countries in the world with scenery which will leave you speechless. If you would like to experience working a winter ski season then Canada is one of the ultimate countries to go. Use a website like Seasonal Jobs Abroad to apply.
10. France
Everyone needs to visit Paris, it’s the most visited city in the world and home to some of the most iconic tourist attractions on the planet. There is far more to France than just Paris though, and in this country you can find so many gap year jobs and activities here. Popular options include language courses, internships, teaching English and volunteering work.
11. Costa Rica
Costa Rica is one of the most naturally beautiful counties in the world and an essential place to go if you want to explore Central America. You could improve your Spanish, volunteer helping sloths and other animals, climb volcanoes, book Spanish language classes, learn to surf or explore rainforests.
12. South Africa
Visiting South Africa can be a life changing experience. This country is diverse and beautiful, with modern cities, exotic wildlife and endless adventures available. Highlights include visiting stunning Cape Town, going on a safari, visiting Soweto in Johannesburg, seeing a live sporting event, bungee jumping, diving with sharks and much more! A popular thing to do on a gap year in South Africa is to volunteer. There are lots of really rewarding local projects helping children, communities and animals.
A popular option which you might not have considered is to book a round the world ticket which allows you to take in multiple countries on the same trip – definitely consider if you are keen to see as many places as possible.
I hope my list of potential places to visit has given you some ideas for where to go. There are so many other countries which I really wanted to include but which didn’t quite make my list – special mentions to Spain, Brazil, Cambodia, Vietnam, Mexico, China and Fiji! For more destination inspiration check out my travel guides.
Have you ever taken a gap year? Let me know!
