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 International expedition
One of the most exciting and challenging things you can do on a gap year is to go on an international expedition. An international expedition can involve travel in any number of different places but the main idea behind going on an international expedition is to ‘see the world' by visiting a few different regions. Another important factor which separates an international expedition from more standard travel is that an international expedition aims to visit places more ‘off the beaten track.' This isn't to say that you won't visit any major tourist sights on an international expedition, you will - but the aim is also to experience another side to life by seeing places away from all the usual tourist hordes.
One of the best ways to experience the ‘real' culture of a place or country on an international expedition is to do some volunteer work while you are away. Real Gap has loads of exciting and rewarding volunteer programmes available so, whatever field you would like to volunteer in on an international expedition, you are bound to be able to find something that suits your interests. Volunteering on an international expedition is an excellent way to make a positive contribution to the region you are visiting whilst at the same time getting to know its people and culture on a far more personal level than most over travellers ever experience.
The best way to start organising an international expedition is by putting together a list of the countries or regions you would most like to visit. Once you have done this it's then a good idea to spend a decent amount of time studying the Real Gap website and reading up on all of the various programmes in the countries you are interested in. An excellent source of help and advice are Real Gap's team of gap year travel advisers (all of whom have taken a gap year themselves) who will do all they can to answer any questions you may have and help you put together your international expedition.
One of the main things you will need to sort out for your international expedition is obviously your flights. If your international expedition is visiting several countries throughout the world the most cost effective way to travel is usually by purchasing a round the world plane ticket. A round the world ticket often costs little or no more than a return ticket to Australia and is an extremely flexible way of getting about on your international expedition. Again, the Real Gap Team will be able to help organise this and you can also read our ‘Round the World' page for general advice on this form of travel.
Where you go and what you do on an international expedition is entirely up to you - the possibilities are pretty much limitless. The most flexible way to put together an international expedition is by ‘tailor-making' your own individual itinerary by picking out one or more programmes and building your travel around them. Alternatively you could also opt to travel on an international expedition programme Real Gap has already put together, (if a programme exists which covers everything you want to do on an international expedition this is a much easier and less time-consuming way of organising your international expedition).
 What to do on a gap year
Gap Year Advice Main Menu
Below is our full list of international expeditions, see which one you fancy and then call us to discuss!
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Learn the lingo, put it to use in on a project then go and discover some of the country’s most famous landmarks. Soak up the Latin American culture and experience the warmth of the natives. |
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Walk with lions and carry out hands-on work with rhino and elephants in Zimbabwe. Canoe the Zambezi River, stay in national parks and take the chance to observe numerous native species. |
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Sleep under the sky in the African bush, climb Mount Kenya, cross the Samburu and soak up its culture - then go white water rafting, kayaking, river boarding and quad biking on and around the Nile. A proper adventure! |
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Make the trek of a lifetime to the Everest Base Camp and push yourself to your physical limits. Follow it with a Nepalese community project and a jungle safari - experiences you'll never forget! |
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Trek in the Andes, surf on the coast, learn Spanish, go fruit-tasting, make your own chocolate, go canoeing, kayaking and rafting, visit the Inca ruins, practise salsa dancing and volunteer on the Galapagos Islands – leaving might be hard! |
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Experience India from different angles, through the sights of Delhi, the ‘yoga city’ of Rishikesh, the Taj Mahal, pink Jaipur, a tiger safari, a volunteer placement in West Bengal and more. |
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Get totally immersed in Peruvian culture as you’re taken to Lima, Lake Titicaca, Machu Picchu and Huascaran National Park in the Andes. You’ll also study Spanish, stay with a Quechua India family and more besides. |
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Soak up Africa’s fascinating culture as you volunteer in Arusha and Dar es Salaam, go on a four-day safari, live alongside the Maasai near Kilimanjaro, learn about Africa’s history and pick up a few phrases of Swahili. |
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Discover the real Venezuela. Your experiences will include: Learning Spanish, sea kayaking, exploring the paradisiacal beaches, searching for anacondas, horseback riding, visiting the tribes of the Orinoco Delta, trekking through the mountains - and more! |
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Take in the best of Indonesia in a four-week programme. Learn to cook Indonesian-style, meet the locals, visit the temples, explore the beaches and take part in a volunteer project or a week of adventure activities. |
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Experience raw Africa through the plains of Kenya. You’ll cross its breathtaking landscapes by camel, visit nomadic cultures, help refurbish a village school and see a colourful array of wildlife. |
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Get involved in building facilities and running training sessions, to help promote sport and health to poor communities. There’s the chance to enjoy beach parties and Kenya’s fascinating culture, too. |
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Take an overland trip from Nairobi, through the fauna-rich Lake Naivasha National Park and into Uganda. There, you’ll help build essential village facilities before returning to Kenya and setting up camp in Big Five territory. |
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A sporting adventure in a beautiful and largely untouched part of Africa. You’ll learn to scuba dive in the Indian Ocean, canoe past mangroves on the Rio Guvuru, sail on a dhow boat and organise football competitions for local children. |
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