With decades of experience in international travel, Rustic Pathways is expert at arranging high quality, customized gap experiences for motivated students. If you are interested in taking time off from school to travel the world, check out the questions below to learn more about the life-changing gap year possibilities awaiting you at Rustic Pathways.

What Is Gapping The Globe?
Gapping the globe is a special international travel experience that matures you, broadens your horizons, and provides a reality-check at some point between finishing high school and graduating from college. It can be from three months to a year in length, or just a brief January Term adventure that you squeeze in between semesters. It can include travel in one country or many. It can be solo or with a group of friends. It can incorporate service or adventure or both! Rustic Pathways builds the gap program specifically for you.

Who Gaps The Globe?
Every year thousands of high school students, post-grads, and college students take time off for life-changing travel. Students with a desire to spread their wings and learn more about themselves and their world are prime candidates for a gap year. Most universities allow and actually encourage this type of learning experience for young students. They see it as a valuable component of their academic experience.

Why Should I Take A Gap Year?
Gapping lets you travel to amazing countries, immerse yourself in wonderful cultures, and make incredible friends. Gapping also helps you learn new languages, boost your self-confidence, and see the world. Envision yourself dancing to the rhythm of African drums in a small village in Kenya, riding elephants through the jungles of Thailand, living within a thriving rainforest in Costa Rica, chatting with Tibetan Monks, or skiing pristine powder in New Zealand!

When Should I Gap?
Most gap year students choose to take time between their high school graduation and the start of college to explore the world. Others gap between their first and second years in university, during J-Term, or even during their summer vacation. Many of these students are excited to attend university but opt to defer for a period of time in order to gain a broader, more personal global perspective. These experiences are incredibly rewarding in addition to being an excellent preparation for the years to come.

Where Should I Travel?
Rustic Pathways is proud to offer gap year experiences in every country where we operate, encompassing most of Asia, Africa, The South Pacific, and Central America. Within these regions we have extensive knowledge and resources available to create an endless array of extraordinary programs including community service, language immersion, and cross-cultural adventures.

Who Are My Guides?
Rustic Pathways has leaders who are knowledgeable about and personally experienced in almost every region of the world. We have year round residential bases, staff with deep on-the-ground knowledge, and numerous well-established local contacts globally. Our leaders are excited to help plan and lead the perfect customized gap experience for you.

Should I Gap The Globe Alone?
It’s up to you! You can travel by yourself, with a group of friends, or even with your family. You can also have different people join you at different stages along your journey – for example – have your parents meet you in Bangkok for Christmas, your brother or sister summit Kilimanjaro with you for spring break, or a best friend join you on a service project in The Fiji Islands. We can easily coordinate these sorts of activities.

How Much Does It Cost?
Your experience will be customized to meet your specific interests and budget. We can arrange inexpensive village homestays, accommodate you in quality hotels, or arrange for you to stay in one of our affordable bases – you choose! For individual pricing of your gap experience, please contact us.

Will I Get College Credit?
Some universities may give you credit for all or part of your gap experience. Credit will depend on the content of your gap experience, as well as the policies of your university. If you are looking to tie this directly into your college career, Rustic Pathways is more than happy to help you design a curriculum that will accommodate your specific academic requirements.

What Age Do I Have To Be?
There is no set age. Although most students take their gap year when they are 18 or just after they have finished high school, others choose to start their travels a year or two into college. It really depends on you.

Why Should I Consider This?
Many people don’t take the time to stop and consider the options available to them. Take a moment to examine your life, your choices, and your future. There are many different paths available to you and each one affords a valuable learning experience. This is the first step in making a wise gap year decision that may influence your academic path, and indeed the rest of your life. Many students tell us that their gap year helped to define them as an individual. Rustic Pathways is here to facilitate your planning and help you design a gap year that meets your goals. You might find Charlie’s Story at www.whereischarlie.com helpful and stimulating while considering your gap year.