Gap Year Features
Gap Year Features are your inspiring and insightful stories on gap years, backpacking and travelling. They come in the forms of interviews with celebs (more the travel celebs than the David Beckham's), Q+A sessions with gapyear.com members, and first-hand accounts of backpackers and travellers. In short, Gap Year Features is one of the coolest sections of the site.
If you think you've got what it takes to write a feature for us then send us an email at editor@gapyear.com. You're the ones out there living life to the full, you're the ones with the stories to tell, and you're the ones we want to hear from! Who knows, maybe you'll be the next rising star in our Gap Year Features!
Features for May 2013
Finding Food in Laos
Ben Turland's back with a bang and he's telling us all about finding food in Laos. From larb to tam mak hoong, it's got it all, so see what to eat when you're there!
Visit the Gold Coast for Rugby this Summer
Gordon Price shares his thoughts on the upcoming Lions tour and tells us why the Gold Coast is this only place to be this summer.
Backpacking in Cuba
Cuba is one of the hottest destinations at the moment. Luckily for us, we've got Rena Papatheofilou to tell us all about her experiences backpacking in Cuba.
What Happens on Tour?
It's fair to say gapper Phil Inman has been around the block. If there's one thing he's discovered is he really likes tours. As in, he really really likes tours.
What is the Real World?
When you've been travelling you'll be asked the question "how are you going cope when you get back to the real world?" What does Ben Allen say? Fuck the real world.
Features for April 2013
The Step by Step Project
The Step by Step Project is the brainchild of Sara Pretelli, a London based photographer, and she wants to show the world through her eyes, or at least her feet.
Volunteering in Kenya
Tina Thornburn has continued he 'day in the life of a volunteer' and she's told us all about her experiences of volunteering with monkeys and teaching children in Kenya.
Road Trippin’ the States
Road trippin' the States is one of those iconic trips; everyone should do it. That's why Pete Churchill has told us all about his trip driving up the West Coast of the USA.
The Wonder of WWOOFing
Have you thought about WWOOFing on your gap year? No? Then make sure you read Kailea MacGillivray's feature on the wonder of WWOOFing; we think it'll change you mind.
Who Will Win the Havana Club Gap Year?
The 18 finalists have been chosen for the Havana Club Gap Year competition - but who will be crowned winner? There's only one way to find out, Havana!
Confessions of a Camp Counselor
What do camp counselors really get up to at Summer Camp? Rebecca Root spills the beans and tells us all about it... and it's not all about looking after kids.
Features for March 2013
Win a Pair of Festival Tickets, Every Friday!
We're giving away a pair of festival tickets EVERY WEEK throughout the summer in our epic #GYCFestivalFriday Giveaway. Enter on Facebook to be in it to win it!
Saying Goodbye to my Family
If there's one person to highlight how a gap year can benefit you, it's Darren Crocker. In this feature he opens up and describes the time he left for his gap year.
The Return of Glastonbury Festival
Glastonbury Festival is one of the biggest festivals in the world. Organiser Michael Eavis decided to skip last year, thanks to the Olympics, but it's back with a vengeance...
Win a Trip to Thailand and Laos!
Win a trip to Thailand and Laos in our fun Easter game on Facebook. A Stray Travel Tour from Bangkok to Vang Vieng and a £500 flight voucher included!
Huaka’i hele: Travelling with Purpose
Will Hardy wanted a different type of gap year. That's why he went to volunteer in Hawaii and Kilauea Volcano soon became his office for three months.
Departures: the Best Travel Show Ever
At gapyear.com we're always on the lookout for inspiring people and inspiring programmes. That's why we want to tell you all about the TV show Departures.
Finding Food in Thailand
Ben Turland has been tasting some tantalising treats and he tells us all about finding food in Thailand. Check out what some of the hottest things are to eat. Literally.
Features for February 2013
My Week Backpacking in Rio: Carnival Time!
Ed went backpacking in Rio for Carnival, where he made some friends, got a photo with Christ and partied his little Speedos off on the Brazil beaches. Sounds amazing!
Win an iPad AND your Biggest, Baddest Bucket list!
Mention gapyear.com when you enter My Destination's latest competition Biggest Baddest Bucket List and you'll be in the running to win an iPad too...
Our Fred Takes a Mini Gap Year in Fiji
Fred went out to Fiji to sample the gap year lifestyle. He found sun, smiles and plenty of adrenalin-fuelled activities to keep him busy, as well as some Bounty Rum.
Enter Your #HappyTimes Photo Now to Win a Trip to Fiji for 2!
Win a trip for 2 to Fiji just by sharing your #happytimes photo on our Facebook page. Nights out, holidays, beautiful landscapes and smiling friends all welcome.
A Typical Day in the Life of a Volunteer in Kenya
Katie Baxter is currently living the life volunteering in Kenya. She explains her typical day in the life of a volunteer; we're not going to lie, it sounds like a lot of fun.
Pope Benedict XVI’s Gap Year
Today Pope Benedict XVI announced that he was retiring from the Popeship. He claims at 85 he's too old to continue, but we know it's really because he's taking a gap year.
Geckos Adventures Talk Space, Iceberg Kayaking, Tourism and Dinosaurs
Our mate Spencer from Geckos Adventure Holidays reveals why you should tour with them - the tough part will be deciding on one of the 50 countries they cover.
Finding a Piece of History in Indonesia
Anna Claeys has found a piece of history in Indonesia by following in her grandfather's footsteps. In this feature she gets off the tourist trail to West Papua.
Win a Date in London with our Travel Editor, Macca Sherifi
Newsflash: Our travel editor Macca is up for grabs! Send us your lonely hearts ad and you could win a dream date with him around London for Valentine's Day
Travel Books and Films on #gapyearchat
In this week's #gapyearchat we were talking about travel films and books. Here are some of our favourites and our recommended books to read and films to watch.
Features for January 2013
Barging Through Asia
We thought you'd like to know all about The Harsh Barge, which is why we interviewed Tanner Ballengee & Conner Morton. Do something different on your travels.
Talking Food and Travel on #gapyearchat
This week's #gapyearchat was on food and travel. From deep fried silk worms, to human flesh and Cadbury's chocolate we talked about it all.
Shredding the Slopes in Canada
Josh Taylor took a working holiday in Canada on his gap year. He tells us all about shredding the slopes, hitting the pow pow and what he got up to every day.
Slow Travel with #gapyearchat
We were talking about slow travel, volunteering, working abroad and taking the time to experience and enjoy a country in our latest #gapyearchat.
Travelling to Antarctica and Back
Lucy Grewcock has been to one of the world's least-travelled to places; Antarctica. She tells us all about her experience travelling to the end of the world.
Where Are You Travelling in 2013?
We've been chatting on Twitter about places we'd like to travel in 2013 in our #gapyearchat. Here's what the awesome gapyear.com community had to say.
10 Days of Silence
Finding yourself on your travels may not be for everybody, but Jemma Laing decided to commit hereslf to 10 days of silence in a Buddhist Monastery in Thailand.
Finding Food in India
Ben Turland's been travelling around and finding food in India. Read about some of the best things to eat (and some of the things to avoid) while on the road in India.
Where gapyear.com Most Want to Travel to in 2013
Between us we've travelled the world, but our wanderlust is never satisfied. Here's what a few of the gapyear.com team will be getting up to this year to keep it at bay.
Features for December 2012
Top Travel Hangover Cures
The gapyear.com community have pulled together their best travel hangover cures and cures from around the world to help you through the festivities.
5 Places to Spend New Year’s Eve
Once again it’s that time of year to party like its 1999. It's a couple of weeks until NYE and parties are being prepared worldwide, but where will you be spending it?
Crafty Christmas Present Ideas for Travellers
If you're looking for some creative Christmas gifts that you can make on a backpacker's budget then look no further than these unique and personalised festive ideas.
Where Were You for Christmas?
Christmas is always a strange time to be backpacking and travelling. That's why we're here to tell you that it can be one of the best times to be on your gap year.
Our Gold Coast Competition Winner
We've been chatting to Frances Roach who recently won a trip Down Under with gapyear.com. We found out about the trip and all her favourite places.
My Gap Year Christmas, by 6 Top Travel Bloggers
Find out how six of the best travel bloggers in the industry spent their gap year Christmas and get a few ideas for making your own incredible too.
Gap Year Christmas Wish List
If you're taking a gap year in 2013, now's the perfect time to ask for some travel kit. We thought we’d help you out by showing you what's good to get for Christmas.
Someone Once Told Me
We're always on the look out for people who have done something different in life. Well let us introduce you to Mario Cacciottolo from Someone Once Told Me.
Features for November 2012
Volunteering in Marine Conservation in the Seychelles
Tina Thorburn has been volunteering all over the world - in this 'a day in a life as a volunteer' she talks about her time diving in the Seychelles.
A Taste of Morocco
Tasting the delicious cuisine in Morocco and where you'll find the best fresh fish, how to get a spicy tagine and the hidden messages behind sweet mint tea.
Balancing on the Edge
Want to learn to shred the slopes? Pete Rees tells us about life balancing on the edge and gives us few tips on how to get into snowboarding as a beginner.
Loi Krathong Lantern Festival
Rusja Foster tells us more about her incredible experience at Loi Krathong Lantern Festival after she celebrated the festival of light in Thailand.
Exploring Southern Morocco
Monica's just been to southern Morocco and she highlights what an epic, manic, adventurous and incredible week she had with Intrepid Travel.
