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Semester Program

The Voyager

Program Itinerary

Note: This itinerary is subject to change due to availability and local conditions at the time of departure.

Australia

3 Weeks

Gap semester after high school in Melbourne

Melbourne: Intro to Aussie Culture

6 DAYS

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA

Travel from your home city to the modern metropolis of Melbourne, Australia. Get to know your cohort while discovering the city's unique urban culture, then take a street art walking tour. Experience the Penguin Parade at Philips Island, and the rugged beauty of the Great Ocean Road.

Sea turtle swimming under water on a gap semester

Cairns & the Great Barrier Reef: Going Down Under (the Sea)

5 DAYS

CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA

Arrive in the city of Cairns, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef! Spend a day snorkeling in the world's largest coral reef system with a marine biologist. Enjoy relaxing vibes in Cairns, and get your adrenaline pumping with a rafting experience through the rainforest.

Port Douglas & Mossman Gorge

3 DAYS

PORT DOUGLAS, AUSTRALIA

Head to Port Douglas, one of Australia’s most spectacular beach towns. Visit Mossman Gorge and the Daintree Rainforest, where you’ll learn about conservation and sustainable practices, and the Indigenous communities that live there.

What's a gap year in Sydney

Sydney: Soaking Up the Sun

6 DAYS

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

Travel from Cairns to the cosmopolitan city of Sydney. Sight-see in the capital of New South Wales and visit the iconic Opera House, world-class beaches, and yacht-studded harbor. Embrace Aussie culture as you take a surf lesson on Manly Beach.

Thailand

4 Weeks

Floating market in Bangkok on a EF Gap Semester

Bangkok: Cuisine & Culture

5 DAYS

BANGKOK, THAILAND

Thailand's vibrant capital city is known for its floating markets, food culture, street life, and timeless temples, offering a feast for all five senses. Explore all the city has to offer with your local Tour Director.

Thailand temples on a Gap semester

Chiang Mai: Temples & Mountain Life

8 DAYS

CHIANG MAI, THAILAND

Take a night train to Chiang Mai in the mountains of Northern Thailand. Explore some of the stunning temples and learn about the unique cultural, culinary, and linguistic traditions of of Northern Thailand. Spend two days participating in service learning focused on environmental conservation.

Two small children play with water on a EF Gap semester

Krabi: Coastal Environmentalism

7 DAYS

KRABI, THAILAND

Make memories learning about, engaging with, and relaxing on the beautiful beaches of Krabi, home to iconic islands known for their beautiful coral-fringed beaches, mangroves, and rainforests.

Dock on the ocean in Thailand on a EF Gap semester

Koh Lanta: Elephant Conservation

4 DAYS

KOH LANTA, THAILAND

Head from Krabi to nearby island Koh Lanta. Work with a local non-profit on their elephant conservation efforts. Learn about the ethics of animal protection.

Gap semester program at a night market

Bangkok: Wrap-up

2 DAYS

BANGKOK, THAILAND

Wrap up your Thailand travels back in Bangkok. Enjoy free time to explore more of this bustling city: expand your palate, explore the night markets, and tour the temples. Celebrate your adventures with a closing group dinner before jet-setting off to Japan!

Japan

3 Weeks

Two women walk towards temple in Tokyo on a gap semester

Tokyo: City of the Future

7 DAYS

TOKYO, JAPAN

Spend several days absorbing the unbelievable city of Tokyo, Japan's capital that mixes the traditional with the ultra-modern. Visit Buddhist shrines, take a walking tour through the bustling commercial center of Shibuya, practice rolling sushi at a sushi making class, and spend free time exploring on your own.

Hakone, Japan gap semester program

Hakone: Iconic Volcano Views

2 DAYS

HAKONE, JAPAN

Travel west of Tokyo to Hakone, a mountainous town located in Japan's Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Enjoy scenic views of the iconic Mt. Fuji from a cable car, and take a boat ride on Lake Ashinoko.

Gap Year after high school in Kyoto

Kyoto: Japan's Religious & Cultural Heritage

6 DAYS

KYOTO, JAPAN

Explore the castles and temples of Kyoto, Japan's religious and cultural capital. Take a Zen meditation class, enjoy free time to explore this historic city on your own, and visit nearby Nara to see its famous park filled with sacred deer.

Hiroshima, Japan gap semester program

Hiroshima: Understanding the Past, Present, & Future

2 DAYS

HIROSHIMA, JAPAN

Visit Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park & Museum to learn about the dark history and bright future of this city. Take a boat to Miyajima, Island of the Gods.

Osaka, Japan gap semester program

Osaka: Wrap-up

5 DAYS

OSAKA, JAPAN

Spend time exploring the port city of Osaka, Japan's culinary capital. Take an unforgettable trip to Japan's Universal Studios. Enjoy a celebratory closing meal with your cohort and reflect on your growth throughout the course of your program.


Program fee

Tuition for this 10-week program is $21,500, and payment plans are available. For detailed budgeting information, see a full program guide available here.

Tuition includes:

  • Flights & transportation

    Round-trip flights and local transfers to each stop of your itinerary

  • Accommodations & meals

    Your accommodations and some of your meals on the trip

  • Activities & excursions

    Guided excursions and hands-on workshops with local experts

  • EF Global Support Network

    One-on-one mentorship and 24/7 travel support before and during your program

  • Guided learning

    Program leadership and direction by full-time EF Field Directors and Student Life Coordinator


Ready to get started?

Our Gap Year Consultants are ready to answer any questions you have and enroll you on our program.

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