Gap Year Programs in Multiple Countries

GoEco offers more than 60 wildlife and animal conservation volunteer opportunities and internships worldwide! Our programs focus on the welfare and conservation of various species, both wildlife and domestic animals. We offer volunteer opportunities and internships at wildlife rescue centers, wildlife sanctuaries, wildlife reserves and animal shelters. All of our programs are vetted and are in line with our ethical values - only ethical and supervised interactions are allowed. A few examples of our offers include working with rescued sloths in Costa Rica, rehabilitating vervet monkeys in Malawi, observing and collecting data on Africa's Big Five species and doing survey dives with whale sharks in Mozambique, just to name a few.

Visit two of South America’s most iconic countries—Peru and Ecuador—and discover the lost lands of the Incas! Start your adventure in South America with intensive Spanish lessons, then step up the adventure with an epic trek across the Andes to Machu Picchu on the remote Salkantay route—over icy mountain passes and through mysterious cloud forests to the remains of a fallen civilization. Then, it's time to explore Ecuador's natural beauty. From surfing and whitewater rafting to hiking and exploring volcanoes, Ecuador has it all! For your second project, you will spend three weeks deep in the Ecuadorian rainforest and complete vital conservation work. Get face-to-face and hand-to-paw with rainforest inhabitants while volunteering at a rescue center for wild animals. And learn the secrets of life in the rainforest directly from an Indigenous community while staying at an eco-lodge. Finish your epic journey with a visit to one of the most famous national parks on Earth, the Galapagos Islands! Hike, sail, and snorkel your way around the islands made famous by Charles Darwin. You will then return to Quito for the final trek to the center of the world!

A region accentuated by the colorful robes of Buddhist monks, the vivid greens of rice fields and jungle forests, and the cultural diversity of hill tribe communities—this is the ultimate Southeast Asia semester. Each country offers a unique cultural experience unto itself, and each faces the challenge of reconciling urban expansion and industrialization with indigenous land rights, free movement of nomadic peoples, and equal access to resources. This semester, walk among ancient temples, traverse mountainous jungles, and explore the clear blue water of Thailand’s beaches. You’ll explore tradition, globalization, and human rights against the backdrop of two of Asia’s most complex nations. Immerse yourself in community life through homestays and visits to remote villages. Emerge with your self-awareness and perspective forever altered. 2025: CLOSED Spring 2026: February 25 - May 6 Fall 2026: September 24 - December 4

Experience an unforgettable 10-week Gap Year Semester through New Zealand and Australia, two of the world’s most amazing travel destinations. This Pacific Discovery program is designed for students taking a gap year, seeking an alternative study abroad, or looking to combine travel with purpose. Journey across dramatic landscapes, from the fjords of New Zealand to the tropical reefs of Australia. Hike, surf, snorkel, and dive while building global perspective through hands-on conservation and meaningful service learning. Learn directly from Māori and Indigenous Australian communities through authentic cultural exchange. Along the way, develop real-world skills in leadership, teamwork, and sustainability with the option to earn U.S. college credit. With experienced instructors by your side, you’ll gain clarity, confidence, and lifelong friendships while exploring two iconic destinations for adventure and growth. Whether you’re preparing for college, building your resume, or redefining your education through travel, this immersive journey will leave you inspired and ready for what’s next. Inquire today to start your New Zealand & Australia Semester with Pacific Discovery.

Our host families volunteer to open their homes to you and welcome you in as a member of their families. This means they truly want to share their language and culture with you while learning about your language and culture. Instead of paying for language courses, our host families believe that hosting a native English speaker is a better way to learn the language and make friendships that last forever. In exchange for room and board, you are required to tutor your hosts in English for 15 hours per week. It’s your job to assess the level of each family member upon arrival and work closely with them to meet their individual needs. We will offer tutoring materials to help you prepare for the lessons before departing. But remember, you don’t need to stay indoors doing grammar exercises out of a textbook. Everyday conversation is oftentimes the best way to become fluent. We encourage you to learn the local language as well!

Global dental healthcare with International Medical Aid's (IMA) Dental Internships for pre-dental undergraduates, dental students, dentists, and dental hygienists, offers an extraordinary chance to work in some of the world's most underserved regions—East Africa, South America, and the Caribbean. Under the mentorship of professionals, interns delve into the complexities of dental care, from public health education to community hygiene clinics, addressing dire needs where dental services are scarce. IMA, founded at Johns Hopkins University, is a not-for-profit dedicated to not just providing care but enhancing the communities we serve. We forge ethical, sustainable initiatives focused on preventing disease at its source, going beyond the conventional internship. With comprehensive support, local guidance, extensive safety training, and structured housing, interns enjoy a secure environment to grow and learn. Our program includes everything from AADSAS statement reviews to personalized admissions counseling, aiding your journey to dental school. Experience an internship and become a part of a global movement towards better dental health with IMA.

At Projects Abroad, we’re passionate about travel with a purpose. Since being founded in 1992, more than 130,000 volunteers have traveled to over 20 destinations around the world. Our programs will make you step out of your comfort zone and engage with your new friends from around the world. These are long-term projects, led by local people and aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. By taking part in our programs, even for a short time, you will be contributing towards a sustained effort to support the communities that host us! We believe no other provider offers the safety and security to their volunteers and interns that we do. You'll receive 24-hour staff support from our trained staff, alongside a gold standard of safety planning of your trip - so you don't have to worry about a thing. Choose a project you are passionate about from working with children to medical internship, conservation, and wildlife volunteering. We offer projects starting at one week in over 20 stunning destinations across Asia, Africa, Latin America & The Caribbean, South Pacific & Europe. Ready to make a difference? Follow the link to visit our website!

Are you a student or young professional looking to enhance your career prospects through international work experience and hands-on learning? At Intern Abroad HQ, we help students and young professionals turn career aspirations into reality. We organize affordable internships in 20 destinations across 24 career fields that are tailored to meet each individual’s academic, professional, or personal requirements. With over 200 internship programs across Europe, Asia, Africa, Central America and South America to choose from, and options to intern from 2 weeks to 6 months either full-time or part-time, in-country or virtually, we facilitate career-enhancing experiences that work for you, not just the host organization. Intern Abroad HQ is proudly brought to you by the team behind International Volunteer HQ. We have collectively supported over 120,000 program participants since 2007 and are the only B Corp certified provider in our field.

Looking to apply your talent and expertise to a good cause? Find a program that matches your interests and skills through Volunteer World! We are the largest volunteer abroad comparison platform around the globe, enabling you to seek and compare offers from major travel agencies as well as smaller grassroots NGOs and local specialists in more than 80 countries. All these with just one click! Find projects in wildlife, teaching, community development, and several other areas. Simply choose your desired destination and desired travel date, and our search engine will compare the best volunteer abroad programs on your behalf. Whether you wish to gain experience at a wildlife sanctuary in South Africa or teach English at a monastery in Nepal, we've got you covered. Volunteer World guarantees a quick and easy application. We will guide you through this process, as well as help plan your next meaningful trip. We provide free access to quality-checked projects and flexible options. And if anything goes wrong, we've got your back with our qualified support team and our refund guarantee.

Volunteer in Asia and combine your travels with our exciting program which takes you through Kerala in South India, Sri Lanka and Nepal. We believe that travel should be responsible and we also believe that you should see as many new places as possible so that you can expand your mind, broaden your horizons and learn more about the different cultures in our world. This unique volunteering program will help you tick all of those boxes and you will get to explore some of our planet’s most beautiful destinations along the way. This volunteering experience includes English teaching and community development and will involve you working closely with young children of all ages in poor, disadvantaged communities. We also promote community living so you will be housed with compassionate and curious travellers just like yourself, so you will always have someone to share your amazing experiences with at the end of a long day. Not only will our program take you to the most incredible destinations and allow you the chance to give back as you travel, but you’ll meet some awesome people too and maybe even make some friends for life.

This 12-week Gap Year Semester Course is our most expansive and influential program. During the first six weeks, students travel to the UK and France, where they can explore art, architecture, food, culture, and much more. After this, they will travel to Tuscany and stay in Montepulciano, a beautiful hilltop town, for a two-week intensive Italian course. In the second six weeks, they will join other students to study on the Autumn Gap Year Course. They will travel across Italy, visiting Venice, Castelfranco, Bologna, Florence, Siena, and Rome, as well as taking day trips to San Gimignano, Verona, Naples, and Pompei. This program aims to give students the greatest experience of Italy and a better understanding of the "art world." It is an ambitious program that spread from the ancient world in Rome and Naples to the Renaissance in Florence and contemporary art in Venice. Students will learn about the works of Leonardo, appreciate Titian, and understand why Michelangelo is so significant. Students will also be introduced to dozens of other artists, read great poets from ancient and modern times, learn about rhetoric (Cicero), history, and literature, & appreciate architecture.

Travel to Southeast Asia for a 13-day, 20-day, or 31-day adventure of a life time. The tour will take you to see the main tourist attractions and less well known hot spots for a memorable experience! The tour is led by a combination of local and western guides, who are experienced in ensuring that their groups have an amazing adventure. Group sizes are typically about 20. The 31-day tour is a circular journey that starts and ends in Bangkok. We also offer a shorter tours: - 13 days: Bangkok to Hanoi - 20 days: Hanoi to Bangkok The top destinations: Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng, Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hoi An, Phnom Penh, and Siem Riep. For the full itinerary, see our website. Unforgettable activities: elephant sanctuary to bath the majestic animals, watching Muay Thai Kickboxing, zip lining, quad biking, rafting down the Mae Taeng River, Cycle through Northern Thai villages, hiking to waterfalls, staying overnight in a treetop house, traveling on a slow boat down the Mekong River, tubing down the river, rock climbing, exploring the caves, bar crawl, camping on a private beach, island hopping, scuba diving, and visiting Angkor Wat.

Our gap year programs are designed for recent high school graduates who have deferred their college acceptance or will matriculate in the spring semester. Accepted to college as a winter admit and want transferable credit? SEA Gap Programs offers a full semester of credit from our school of record, Boston University. This interdisciplinary program combines insights from the natural and social sciences to deepen students’ awareness of and appreciation for the ocean. Students will take their learning out of the classroom and into the field while developing new leadership, teamwork, and research skills. Inquire today to learn more about upcoming gap programs with SEA.