I've loved travel from a young age, reading travel books and magazines and fascinated by films and TV shows set in distant places. As I finished my degree, I decided it was the perfect time to take a year off and start seeing some of the countries I had always dreamed of visiting. In planning my gap year, I chose a couple of group tours, a great option for anyone wanting a sociable travel experience while also making the logistics of travelling to unfamiliar destinations very easy. This was especially important for me as it was my first-time solo travelling.
My first stop was a classic gap year backpacker destination, South East Asia. I wanted an itinerary that would check off a lot of my must-see locations, and I found the perfect 40 day tour: Epic Indochina: River Cruises & Karst Mountains.
Ticking off Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand, this route struck the ideal balance between busy days exploring lively cities and captivating religious sites, and time to unwind amongst stunning scenery and beautiful beaches. One of the main draws of this part of the world for me was the food! With opportunities to take cooking classes and test out street food at local markets, it was even more delicious than I could have ever imagined.
My favourite place was scenic Laos. Offering laidback cities, breathtaking landscapes and fun outdoor activities - it is the perfect gap year location!
After a few weeks at home, it was time to pack my backpack up again for my next adventure, this time heading off in the opposite direction for a 32 day Epic Peru to Brazil tour. South America had always appealed to me for its impressive scenery and landmarks, so it was an easy decision to include it on my gap year.
As my first time in South America, this pushed me further out of my comfort zone than ever before but also gave me some of my most unforgettable experiences. For example, after four days of hiking the Inca Trail, the reward of seeing Machu Picchu emerge through the clouds at the end felt even more special.
The best part of this trip for me was the many unique wildlife encounters I had. Just two days into the trip and I found myself staring a caiman in the eyes (from the safety of a boat). Watching flamingos standing in a lake against the backdrop of the Altiplano felt as if I had stepped into a David Attenborough documentary. Not all wildlife experiences were so peaceful though - at Iguazu Falls watch out for the hungry ‘empanada birds’ divebombing for your snacks!
With so many highlights to choose from, these are my top ten standout moments from my gap year:
• Playing card games at the end of each day of hiking the Inca Trail
• Riding around Hue on the back of a moped
• Watching the sunset on the salt flats in Bolivia
• Visiting the most peaceful buddhist temples in Laos
• Horse riding at a gaucho ranch in Argentina
• Bamboo rafting in Northern Thailand
• Seeing a family of wild capybara in the Amazon rainforest
• Enjoying the best Pad Thai in Thailand
• Singing karaoke in Chile
• Watching the sunset with a local beer on a boat tour in Koh Rong
Wherever you are planning to go on your gap year, consider a group adventure tour. On the tours I did there was a mix of travellers, some fellow solo travellers and others who joined the tour with friends or as a couple. It was a great way to meet other travellers with different travel experiences and the tour guides were all super friendly and helpful!
Trailfinders offers an excellent range of group adventure tours all over the world and for a variety of durations, which can easily fit into any gap year itinerary.
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Tilly Adams
Content Executive
Tilly is a Content Executive based in our Kensington head office. Tilly has worked at Trailfinders since 2023 and has travelled to 41 countries. Her favourite destinations include South Africa, Thailand and the Galapagos Islands.
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