Popular Asian Destinations:
India, China, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia
Quick Asia Facts:
Population - 4 billion
Languages - too many to count!
Visa Information:
You will need a visa to visit Asia. In some countries the process will take some time!
Getting the most from China, Japan, and India
Encompassing the near and Middle East, the far East, China, India, and more islands than you can shake a stick at, the Asian continent is a very diverse place indeed. On most of the other continents you will find English speaking countries, but Asia is where the language can become quite a challenging. Though you could always use that to your advantage by spending some time teaching English in primary and secondary schools.
European explorers have been fascinated by Asia for centuries. The cultures and way of life are so completely different to what we are used to, and there is so much to see and many places to explore. Perhaps the most famous gap year in Asia was taken by medieval merchant Marco Polo. He had so much fun that he stayed there for 24 years!
Asia is home to some of the most beautiful tropical beaches and rain forests in the world, and a trip to Thailand, Sri Lanka or Borneo is a must. Borneo is home to the worlds oldest rainforest and some of the rarest species on the planet, so both wildlife and community conservation work is very important to help protect the natural environment. You could help by joining an amazing Orang-utan conversation project or by assisting community development projects by building new facilities such as schools or community centres.
India
India has one of the fastest growing economies in the world but despite this more than 250 million people live below the poverty line so volunteers are always needed to help those that aren't seeing the benefits of this rapid growth. Most of the gap year providers in this section offer a variety of programmes in India because it really is an incredible and diverse country to visit. No matter what you end up doing, you can't help but get caught up in the sights, sounds and spices of India.
Gap Years in India
China
Although the path throughout Asia has been well trodden by travellers for decades, China is a relatively new part of Asia for the gap year adventurer. There really is the opportunity to create your own adventure and immerse yourself in a culture that is completely different to our own so let your imagination run wild and start dreaming of your own adventure.
Gap Years in China