Gap year ideas: top 100 experiences by Wanderlust

Tuesday, 2 August 2011 8:35 AM

In need of some inspiration for where to go for your gap year? Travel experts at Wanderlust magazine have compiled their Top 100 Travel Experiences, featuring meeting the mountain gorillas in Rwanda, snorkelling with manta rays in Bora Bora and jaguar spotting in Brazil, to name just three.

The list was drawn up with the help of Wanderlust readers and is available in their August/September edition and online.

Lyn Hughes, editor in chief at Wanderlust, said: “One element that came up again and again was wildlife encounters – with four out of the top five experiences being wildlife related... those memories are everlasting.”

The top five experiences were cruising the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador; meeting mountain gorillas, Rwanda/Uganda; arriving in Timbuktu, Mali; learning about the lemurs, Madagascar and snorkelling with manta rays in Bora Bora, Polynesia.

“The Top 100 makes for a brilliant traveller’s ticklist,” said Ms Hughes. “I’ve been fortunate to experience 51 out of this 100 and in September I’ll nudge up to 52 when I visit the temples of Bagan in Burma.”

Experience beautiful Costa Rica

Costa Rica bookings 'up 100%'

Gap year favourite Costa Rica is seeing a surge in popularity, with one tour operator reporting bookings up 100% so far in 2011. That's according to Gap Adventures, who offer small group, guided tours for gappers in Costa Rica and beyond.

The Nazca Lines are an astounding sight

Top gap year experiences in Peru

If you're planning to spend part or all of your gap year in Peru, there is a lot for you to see. Should you have time in your itinerary, it's worth visiting a few of the country's most famous landmarks - as well as one or two a little off the beaten track.

Ideas for amazing gap year jobs

Great gap year job ideas

Planning a gap year is really exciting, especially when you're at the stage of picking destinations to visit. It's also worth giving some thought to working while you're overseas; so, we've put together a list of the top gap year job ideas below.

Burma was Wanderlust's big tip for tourism in 2011

Burma voted top emerging destination by Wanderlust

The South East Asian state of Burma has been voted as the Top Emerging Travel Destination in the Wanderlust Readers' Travel Awards 2011. This controversial choice means that Burma is now top of Wanderlust's travel 'to do' list.

The Serengeti: a top wildlife spot

The Serengeti: a top wildlife spot

Lots of people who embark on a trip to Tanzania visit for its excellent wildlife-spotting opportunities. The country is home to plenty of great destinations for you to see some of Africa's majestic creatures, and the Serengeti is perhaps the best place to come face-to-face with these animals.

This month's Wanderlust includes a Bangkok guide

Wanderlust picks out 50 best trips for 2011

Looking for gap year inspiration to kick-start your 2011? Then pick up the latest edition of Wanderlust magazine and browse through their selection of the 50 next new trips for the New Year.

Amsterdam: unmissable on a European gap year

European itinerary ideas for gap year adventures

A gap year in Europe is a brilliant way to explore the sights and sounds of France, Spain and the Netherlands - and if you are looking for some travel inspiration, you have certainly found the right place. Read on to find out more.

Take a houseboat tour of Kerala's backwaters

Ideas for a short gap year stay in Kerala

India is a vast and diverse country, with each of its regions offering a breathtaking assortment of sights and attractions to captivate gap year travellers. This is no different in Kerala, the south-western state known for its beautiful beaches, serene backwaters and fascinating cultural heritage.

Travel Tales: "I walked through a wet forest whilst covered in leeches"

India is full of surprises, as backpacker Sarah discovered

Backpacker Sarah Ward chats leeches, monsoon weather, chilli for breakfast and clubbing in Mumbai - and everything else than happened on her Indian gap year adventure!

Interview with a local: An insider’s guide to London

London guide local interview destination

We chat to Cat Hughes, the mystery traveller behind TravelBite.co.uk's Secret London blog, to get the best travel tips direct from a local Londoner. Discover things you never knew about the UK capital...