“A gap year can be about backpacking – that’s probably the traditional thing,” Tipp said. “It’s about making friends, about adventure, about culture and experiencing new things.
“A gap year can be for anyone and can be about anything. Do you want it to be an independent experience or do you want to share it with a group of friends?”
Tipp suggested intrepid travellers could also consider volunteering, helping develop eye exotic communities they visit. “They’re not just buzzwords – you can develop some real skills while volunteering,” he said. ” And the people you meet, when you’re working and travelling together, you striker a real bond. And, of course, you get to enjoy yourself as well.”
“By spending six months somewhere, you become integrated – you get a real feel about what it’s like to live in a country. You just have to decide what you want to do, and also think about what kind of skills and experience you bring to the table.”
For anyone considering a stint overseas, gapyear.com is full of handy tips. “That’s something that Gap Year does really well,” Tipp said. “We’ve got a lot of user-generated content from people who have done it, who can help you get ideas for what to do and how to do it.”
