What Type of Gap Year Traveller Are You?

Year 12 students are counting down the days until exams are over and while study is currently top of mind, so are gap years. Young minds are wandering to far-flung places, time off and new overseas experiences.

Gap years are an opportunity to learn something new, give something back through meaningful volunteer work, or develop skills to enhance a fresh CV.

Now is the time to plan to make the most of this valuable year away. Gap years are an opportunity to learn something new, give something back through meaningful volunteer work, or develop skills to enhance a fresh CV.

Whether it's learning a new language, a new skill or developing a new career path, gappers will return home with something significant for their future other than bar hopping and full moon parties.

GVI, one of the most widely respected volunteer travel and gap year specialists in Australia, offers safe, responsible travel expeditions, and exceptional training and career development opportunities to its gap year volunteers. The exciting and unique programs GVI offers are carefully created by the team to ensure volunteers return with new and valuable skills, lifelong friends from contrasting cultures and memorable, life changing stories.

Read on for the ultimate gap year inspiration list from GVI including adventure, community and volunteering opportunities in some of the most remote and dramatic locations in the world:

Best for the soul: Volunteer with novice Buddhist monks in Luong Prabang, Thailand

Be a part of one of the most intriguing and inspiring GVI programs and experience this rare opportunity to work closely with novice monks. Volunteers will be based in the beautiful ancient city of Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World heritage site, located in northern central Laos surrounded by Buddhist temples and monasteries. Volunteers will teach the monks English, improving the quality of the young men's education. In return, volunteers will learn about the life of these young men, their culture history, religion and language and food.

Placement length and starting price: From 2- 14 weeks, prices start from $1,796 per person

Best for the thrill seeker: Jaguar Conservation in Jalova, Costa Rica

Forget bungee jumping and white water rafting, true thrill seeking volunteers can come together to work and live in Costa Rica's rainforest assisting in the protection of endangered Jaguars. Accessible only by boat and within the boundaries of Tortuguero National Park, the tight-knight group will experience life at the research station, learning about the wildlife and their habitat and searching for signs of jaguars and their prey species, by setting up remote cameras and conducting beach patrols. Furthermore, volunteers will contribute to the long- term development and management of wildlife conservation efforts along Central America's Caribbean coast. During the program volunteers will gain a holistic understanding of the Costa Rican rainforest and its ecosystem by also conducting important research on turtles (seasonal) and aquatic birds. Through hands-on training students will have the opportunity to understand the rainforest and the variety of wildlife that depend on its future whilst free time can be spent admiring Tortuguero's amazing scenery, incredible beaches and through dawn patrols, spectacular sunrises as the backdrop.

Placement length and starting price: From 2- 12 weeks, prices start from $1,995 per person

Best for the aspiring teacher: Volunteer to Teach English to adults inPhang Nga, Thailand

Thailand is known and loved by gap year travellers for its tropical beaches, hidden caves and lush rainforest, however in the southern province of Phang Nga GVI is offering volunteers to experience Thailand in a new light, guaranteeing a truly individual view of Thailand that would escape regular holiday-makers. Volunteers are invited to receive TEFL (Teach English as a Foreign Language) training and earn the well-respected TEFL certification whilst leading English classes for local adults. Once certified, volunteers will lead their own classes in local community centres and schools, giving the locals the valuable opportunity to learn English and aim for a better future. Hard work is rewarded with weekends exploring the Thai culture and language, experiencing and exploring the authentic local meals and relaxing in stunning surroundings.

Placement length and starting price: From 2- 12 weeks, prices start from $1,986 per person

Best for water babies: Learn to scuba dive whilst delving into Marina conservation in Yucatan, Mexico

Travel to the exotic turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea and immerse yourself in a tropical paradise whilst learning to scuba dive and earning your PADI. Volunteers will have the responsibility of monitoring the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the second largest barrier reef in the world. Volunteers work directly on coral reef and fish monitoring, conduct turtle nesting surveys (seasonal) and assist with community programs to raise local environmental awareness amongst many other tasks. There is time to enjoy and experience a vibrant and colourful culture, joining in with community programs, teaching English and raising the environmental awareness of the local community.

Placement length and starting price: From 4-24 weeks, prices start from $3,411 per person

Best for the practical and hands on type: 

Get in there and help develop important infrastructure in areas such as clean water, agriculture and income generation in the forests of the Dawsamu District or the white sand beaches of the Yasawa Island chain in the western region of Fiji.

The perfect project for those who like to get their hands dirty and see real change in front of them! Join the GVI team in the forest or coastline of Fiji, working alongside the local community to help achieve critical projects, such as building fresh water harvesting systems, creating much needed vegetable gardens and helping rural communities set up income generating projects. When not constructing, digging or working closely with the local residents, volunteers can explore the striking local beaches, snorkel or dive the crystal waters, visit hot-springs and discover Fiji's forests and volcanic islands.

Placement length and starting price: From 2-24 weeks, prices start from $2,176 per person

To find out more on volunteering abroad and to keep in touch with exciting news and developments, check out www.gviaustralia.com.auand become a fansonFacebook.