Why Taking a Gap Year is More than Just Travelling

In the words of One Direction, live while you’re young.

This article is presented in partnership with Contiki.

So, you’ve chosen to take a gap year. You’ve hit pause on studying and working and you’re ready to get out and see the world.

While travelling on your gap year is great way to spend your time, there are plenty of ways to get even more out of your year off all while seeing new places.

Enter Contiki: a dream travel experience for 18-35 year olds.

When you travel with Contiki it’s not just about going to new places, it’s about getting the full experience. If you’re taking a gap year, you know there’s no time to waste. Contiki helps you get the most out of it.

(Plus students can get 5% off Contiki trips and Contiki have a huge range of gap year-specific trips)

Here’s the ways you can kick off your gap year right.

Make friends while travelling.

A huge positive about travelling on your gap year is the opportunity to make new friends. You may think “why do I need new friends for?”

But take it from us, you’re underestimating the value of creating memories during group travel.

You could have friends who are travelling with you, or friends who aren’t able to join you. With group travel there’s always someone down to do the activity you’re into.

Need company to go up the Eiffel Tower? Check. Or maybe someone to go paragliding in the Swiss Alps? Done. Or you could just want a mate to explore the streets with you? You got it.

You’ll be surprised how easy (and refreshing) it is to make friends on holiday.

Learning about new cultures.

Taking a gap year isn’t just about ticking destinations off a list, it’s about stepping into a new world and learning about new cultures.

Going to unfamiliar places pushes you to understand how people communicate, celebrate, eat, drink and their day-to-day lives.

These tend to be the experiences that stick with you once you return home. And you never know how the things you’ve learned could impact your professional life one day too.

Creating memories while you can.

Your gap year is a rare moment in your life where you have little to no responsibilities.

It’s the time to say “yes” to spontaneous plans, late nights with friends and make heaps of memories.

On a group trip for example you’ll make memories in the moments of finding hidden local gems, missed buses, shared meals or inside jokes with people you never expect to meet.

They are the type of experiences you’ll share stories about in years to come.

But beyond that, they are the moments that remind you of the confidence you developed when you took a gap year and explored the world and lived independently.

But first: take the stress out of things.

If travelling was as simple as going online and booking a flight, we’d all do it.

But in reality, you have to consider things like internal travel, accommodation, meals and of course, what you’ll be doing at your destination.

When you travel with Contiki they handle all those things. You travel with a trip manager (who know the ins and outs of every destination), your accom is sorted for you and there are experiences tailored to your itinerary.

AKA there’s nothing for you to worry about at all.

Booking a trip on your gap year is super easy. Contiki offers gap-year-specific trips full of other travellers in the same boat as you. Whether you're going from London to Rome, or island hopping in Greece, there's something for everyone. 

And if you’re looking for a group trip, Contiki have heaps of trips to choose from each continent across the globe.

You can also get 5% off Contiki trips with our student deal.

Don’t let your gap year pass you by!