Spending a gap year backpacking Southeast Asia provides the ultimate opportunity to happily inundate your sensations with everything and anything exciting and unfamiliar.
Whether that be setting your taste buds on fire (from spice, sure, but how about from that potent fish sauce that Southeast Asia loves so much?), relaxing along glorious beaches, or finding inner peace in the ancient traditions and religious practices intrinsic to the region! When you gap year travel in Southeast Asia, you can experience every adventure that exists under the scorching sun.
For even the most seasoned travelers, experiencing the other side of the planet is going to come with surprises and moments that are inevitably new—and that’s the fun in it, right?
Once you’ve made the effort to get yourself halfway around the world (probably on a 24-hour flight, no less!), staying just a short while is no longer an option. That’s right, we support you, gappers!
You’re going to want to make your time worth it, and guarantee that you leave with zero regrets. No worries...we’ve got you covered. Only you can take the initiative to transform your Southeast Asia gap year dream into reality, but we’re delighted to start you off with some tips.
Why take a gap year in Southeast Asia?
The decision to dedicate a year of your life to anything is enormous, and the best way to honor yourself in that process is by ensuring that the decision is worth it. The benefits of spending your gap year in Southeast Asia are plentiful; here are just a few highlights.
1. This region is affordable.
Cost efficiency is a perk for any length of travel, but when you’re trying to stretch your funds across multiple countries and even more months, making economical arrangements is crucial.
When traveling in Southeast Asia, you won’t be beholden to staying in run-down hostels or living off the snacks you collected on your flight over. In fact, that famed, sizzling Southeast Asian street food is amongst the cheapest and most authentic you’ll be able to find. Say hello to a year of 20-cent pork and sticky rice combos and 50-cent pho.
2. The culture is warm and welcoming.
The climate isn’t the only sunshiney reason to travel Southeast Asia. Famously nicknamed the Land of Smiles, Thailand’s standard of happiness is consistently upheld throughout all of the region. What better way to take in new traditions and experiences than surrounded by people who are eager to share their culture with you?
Plus, a gap year in Southeast Asia ensures exposure to entirely unique celebrations and traditions such as illuminated lanterns floating into the night sky on Loi Krathong in Thailand, flamboyant cross-dressing in the streets of Manila to bring in the new year, or body piercing festivals in honor of a Hindu god in Malaysia….You could see it all on your gap year abroad in Southeast Asia!
3. You will never be bored.
When taking a gap year abroad, heading to a place that not only fills all of your days but actually requires 365 of them (at least!) is a must. There is no concise answer for where to travel in Southeast Asia, because the region is replete with opportunities and adventure that is sure to keep you occupied at all times—even if that adventure consists of lazy days lounging on an Indonesian island.
You can make your way through the astonishing temples of Yangon, Myanmar by motorbike, learn to surf or scuba dive off the coast of Thailand, spend your days in the monkey forests of Indonesia or the elephant sanctuaries of Cambodia, or get your fill of shopping, museums, and city life in Singapore. Whatever combination of activities you choose, a gap year in Southeast Asia promises to be full of stimulation and new sensations.
Things to know before you go
For some, the joy of travel involves jumping into the unknown. Still, it can be incredibly valuable to have a few tips for the best ways to travel in Southeast Asia before you board that flight, and we don’t mind arming you. Whatever’s not covered here, you can rest assured the hospitality of the region will carry you through.
1. Yes, Southeast Asia does have seasons!
It’s true—more than half of the year is sunny, hot, and oftentimes humid, but seasons in Southeast Asia do exist. Sure, “winter” might only drop to a balmy 70 degrees, but the real concern is rainy season…or monsoon season, if you will.
Rainfall can (and often does) persist for days at a time, resulting in floods, power outages, and at their worst extremes, typhoons and tsunamis. The rainy season timeline varies from country to country, so you’ll want to keep that on your radar as you plan your destinations.
2. The people are polite, and you should be, too.
Modesty is extremely prevalent in Southeast Asian culture, and while being unaware of etiquette might be forgiven of foreigners, you will do yourself and your host culture both a service by learning some of the facts. Revealing shoulders and knees is seen as impolite, and touching of any kind is typically forbidden (respect your Southeast Asian friends by greeting them with a prayer-hands bow, instead of trying to force a handshake).
Feet are seen as dirty, so practice awareness for your surroundings, and slip off your shoes in temples, homes, and even some stores if you see that the locals are doing the same. In any foreign culture, it is necessary that you respect their way of life without imposing your own. Take time to learn about tipping culture, bargaining, religion, and politics, and you’ll be delighted by how navigable the cross-cultural communication barrier can be.
3. This journey is not always going to be easy.
You get it, people in this region are friendly. It’s a huge perk that lends itself well to the save face culture of Asia, meaning people don’t express feelings other than happiness...ever. Exhibiting sadness, anger, or irritation simply doesn’t happen, which for a foreigner, can be, well, frustrating.
This overt friendliness also doesn’t mean that you’ll avoid criticism: in Southeast Asian culture, commenting on one another’s body type, weight, skin color, acne, and makeup are all completely acceptable, and while it’s not meant to offend you, there’s a chance that it will.
Your mere foreignness will likely be discussed openly, and one of the trickiest things to adjust to in Southeast Asia is the number of pictures you’ll be dragged into—we’re talking dozens, daily.
And while you’re the one looking foreign to them, there are sure to be a few things that look extremely foreign to you (hint: squat toilets instead of seated, and hoses instead of toilet paper). Whatever it is that strikes you, culture shock isn’t just a negligible phenomenon; it is very real, and very normal to feel.
4. Are you following a trail or are you making your own?
This region has become an increasingly common destination for backpackers, so there are quite a few resources available with suggestions about where to travel in Southeast Asia. If this lifestyle is what you’re after—great! Indulge in the backpacker haven hostels, nightclubs, famed temples, full moon island bashes, and lively beaches.
If you’re looking to stray away from other foreigners and instead foray into the (mostly) uncharted heart of the culture, then we promise there’s a place for you, too. It might take a bit more digging, but gap year programs in Southeast Asia exist in plenty of lesser-known locations, too: check out rural areas in Myanmar, the Philippines, or Nakhon Phanom, Thailand.
5. Gap years are not for the faint of heart.
There is a certain dreaminess that accompanies the idea of a gap year: no expectations and no responsibilities, just learning and growing and enjoying the motion. That’s not even close to the reality, though, especially when you’re building an international experience that’s a full year, or maybe even longer!
Gap years come with their own set of challenges - from financing your time, to explaining the “year off” to your parents, admissions counselor, or employers, to ensuring that all the months abroad are what you’re hoping for.
It can be exhausting to sustain momentum for an entire year, particularly when you’re not involved in classes, an internship, or a job, so the best way to prepare is setting some goals, researching some programs, and taking time with yourself to decide what a gap year means in the context of your own life.
Lucky for you, the best way to travel Southeast Asia is by being jai yen—exercising a cool heart; practicing serenity. Patience is requisite to navigating a gap year abroad, but at least in Southeast Asia, you’ll be in good company.
Where to find gap year programs in Southeast Asia
You have arrived at the best part of the planning process: choosing some locations! Southeast Asia is comprised of eleven countries, all with their own vibrancy. Kudos to you if you can visit them all in your gap year in Southeast Asia, but we’re going to highlight our favorites for a year abroad in particular.
1. Thailand
Have you been able to tell we have the sweetest spot in our hearts for this land? Deeply entwined in Buddhism, the peaceful and reverent nature of this country’s people is going to be almost as striking as the sparkling temples that illuminate every city and village alike. Though the villages are serene, the nightlife is roaring with a jazz scene, LadyBoy shows, and several red light districts across Bangkok and the country’s southern islands.
Adventurous gappers are guaranteed a good time in Thailand, where 1,500 miles of shoreline make for world-class scuba diving, surfing, and kayaking into those famed limestone pillars.
There’s a place for animal lovers too, as Thailand is home to countless elephant sanctuaries, national parks where you can spot tigers and boars, and monkeys swinging their way across every town. Check out this gap year program in Thailand that includes immersive homestays and involves interacting with the environment for meaningful change.
2. Vietnam
This country has mastered the art of absorbing tourists without catering to them. The modern day capital city, Ho Chi Minh, and the charming cultural hub, Hanoi, are both brimming with foreign visitors, but it doesn’t stop the locals from enjoying Bon Mi while squatting at tables less than a foot off the ground, or carrying their goods in sacks on beams across their shoulders.
Outside of the cities, the tiers of vibrant, verdant rice fields are sure to leave you stunned in Sapa (a location rife with program choices for gappers!), and the daily life of the Hoi An fishing village will expose you to local kindness and dirty-work chores like nowhere else can.
The best way to travel in Southeast Asia, and Vietnam in particular, is by scooter. It’s worth it to voyage across the country top to bottom, with stops for famous Vietnamese coffee to keep you caffeinated along the way.
3. Cambodia
Angkor Wat is the largest religious complex in the world, and it is not to be missed. You’re going to want to grab a tour guide and catch a sunrise viewing, partly because it’s completely breathtaking, and partly because that Cambodian sun hits fast and hard.
Beyond its ancient history, Cambodia has much with which to endow its historian and humanitarian visitors alike; having been the site of a genocide that killed nearly three million people only a few decades ago, spending time in this country is going to be a humbling experience, rife with opportunity to show compassion.
We recommend taking on a volunteer project here as one of your gap year programs in Southeast Asia, like this Carpe Diem Education option that focuses on studying human rights. You can find other ways to be a considerate tourist through purchasing sumptuous, affordable food and jewelry at the outdoor markets that are common throughout the country.
4. Laos
This Southeast Asian country features some of the most extreme scenes when it comes to expatriate hubs or local immersion. Isaan culture introduces a folk aspect of Laos, where country music and line-dancing steal the show, and the friendly locals are guaranteed to encourage your participation.
This gap year program, located in the more rural areas of the country and centered on community development, is a top choice for gappers looking to make meaningful, lifelong connections.
French influence reigns in Laos as well, and the cobbled streets and pain au chocolate shops of Luang Prabang in particular will leave you questioning if you’re still in Asia or not. Host to some breathtaking waterfalls, Laos boasts quite a bit of natural beauty as well, and its rafting, ziplining, and affordable nightlife make towns like Vang Vieng a backpacker’s Shangri-La.
5. Indonesia
Planning gap year programs in Southeast Asia would be incomplete without discussion of Indonesia. The traveler mind probably jumps to the white sand beaches and mysticisms of Bali (and they do offer some stellar, full-immersion gap year programs), but this is one of only thousands of islands that make up the nation.
Each island offers its own array of natural beauties (active volcanoes, tea plantations, strawberry fields, oh my!), unusual wildlife (oh, hey, komodo dragons!), and cultural and religious festivities (Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, and Christian faiths all have their place).
Enchantingly luxurious and shockingly affordable resorts can be found across the various islands, but a cityscape, museums, and an excellent shopping scene make the capital city of Jakarta a phenomenal Indonesian option as well. The seafood is going to be universally delicious, but your taste buds will be delighted to find that cuisine specialties vary from island to island.
You’re ready to take a gap year in Southeast Asia!
Whatever sort of adventure you find yourself on, we promise it will be transformative. The culture shock and homesickness will come in waves, and a year of journeying is sure to have its exhausting and frustrating moments; but, a year of exposure to a new culture (or more likely, several new cultures!) is going to fill your world with adventure, perspective, and a relationship to humanity that you might not have even realized was missing. We could not be more excited for you!
It’s time to get going; it’s time to start making moves! Besides the pure fun of a gap year abroad, planning a journey of that length requires adaptability, self-awareness, independence, and stamina. Now that you’ve discovered a bit about the splendors—and challenges—it’s time to get into the planning. Where will you go, how long will you stay, what’s your budget? The necessary next steps in your journey to travel Southeast Asia are all up to you!
Get Matched With 5 Gap Year Programs in Southeast Asia for FREE!
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7qLvAm6momZRjsLC5jpqpraGTobK0e8aap2axlZa%2FcMDHoqWgq12pvG63zaiuZp%2BRpXq6scCrZKKmXai8tsDHnpisrF2WwKqt