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See the sights in Europe, work with communities in Thailand, and intern at a business in Sydney.
The Globetrotter is perfect for the impact-driven culture-seeker looking to maximize their gap semester. Spend your semester circling the globe and experiencing radically different environments across three continents. You’ll return home with a new sense of purpose and a passport packed with stamps.
After an immersive two-week tour of Europe’s most iconic cities, you’ll move on to Thailand, where you’ll support and collaborate with local social enterprises and established NGOs. From there, you’ll close out your global gap experience with a professional internship down under in Sydney, Australia.
Upcoming travel dates:
Spring 2023: Jan. 20 – Apr. 7
Program Itinerary
Click here to download this itinerary as a PDF.
Note: This itinerary is subject to change due to availability and local conditions at the time of departure.
EUROPE
2 Weeks
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Europe: Orientation
Dive right into your EF Gap Semester with a tour of four iconic European cities: London, Amsterdam, Paris, and Barcelona. Your EF Tour Director will make sure you see the big-name sights as well as the underground must-sees. Bond with your cohort as you get comfortable and confident navigating new places together.
THAILAND
4 Weeks
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Service Learning: Diving Right In
Land in the capital city of Bangkok, a city teeming with succulent street food, ultra-modern skyscrapers, and gleaming temples. Get your bearings with help from your Field Director who will take you to Bangkok's greatest highlights including a boat tour and cooking class where you'll learn to make Pad Thai and mango sticky rice.
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Service Learning: Making an Impact
In mountainous Chiang Mai, you'll work with our NGO partners on projects that focus on social and environmental issues and emerge with a better understanding of the issues Thailand faces and what local leaders are doing to help solves them. In between projects, flex your independent travel skills as you enjoy some free days to explore Chiang Mai at your own pace.
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Service Learning: Evaluating & Moving Forward
Wrap up your service learning projects and head to southern Thailand for a couple of days to relax, recover, and refocus your energy on the gorgeous beaches of Krabi and Koh Samet – one of Thailand’s 1,400 tropical islands. Head back to Bangkok, where you’ll enjoy a farewell dinner with your group to reflect on your time in Thailand before flying out.
SYDNEY
4 Weeks
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Global Internship: Starting Out
Fly to Sydney and settle into your new apartment! Get a taste of independent living as you settle in, learn to navigate the city, stock up on groceries, and start your internship. During your first week, expect to learn more about the organization, get to know your colleagues, and begin a few projects. Spend free time exploring the streets and beaches of Sydney.
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Global Internship: Finding Your Groove
Once you’ve settled into your new city and your new job, you’ll be feeling right at home in Sydney. Enhance your professional skills as you work on different projects at your internship. Spend your evenings grocery shopping, cooking, exploring your new city, and hanging with new friends. Enjoy free weekends, during which you can plan a trip to a nearby city or national park.
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Global Internship: Signing Off
During the last week of your internship, wrap up any big projects you were working on and get feedback from your mentor. Enjoy your last few days as a young professional in sunny Sydney. Enjoy a final group dinner as you celebrate your accomplishments during your internship.
PORTUGAL
Portugal
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Portugal: Wrap-Up
Meet up with other Gap Semester students in gorgeous, sunny Portugal to flex what you've learned, learn how to share your gap story, and discover new skills to help you manage the transition home. Most importantly, celebrate all that you have achieved alongside your cohort.
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Expand your thinking in Thailand
Take your time in Thailand so you can soak up the succulent street food, ancient ruins, ultramodern cities, and sustainable agrarian communities.
On your gap, you’ll work with local NGOs and community members to conserve its precious natural environment, join sustainable community development efforts, and help care for elephants.
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Take a deep dive in Sydney
An English-speaking city of more than five-million, and an economic hub with vibrant finance, manufacturing, and technology industries—Sydney is an ideal internship destination.
While on your gap, you’ll build fundamental business skills by immersing yourself in the key activities of an international company or non-profit organization, and have plenty of free time left over to soak up Sydney’s famous culture and warm sunny weather.
Ready to get started?
Our Gap Year Consultants are ready to answer any questions you may have and enroll you on our program.
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