THE TOP UNDERRATED GAP YEAR DESTINATIONS FOR 2026/27
2026 | Raleigh International | 7 min read
Adventure Travel
For a year out that gets you outdoors, up mountains and off the beaten track.
Mallorca, Spain
Sunshine, mountains, multi-day hikes and an incredible cycling infrastructure. Plus, you’re surrounded on all sides by the idyllic Med. When all this is just a short-haul flight from the UK and Europe, it’s hard to resist.
Can’t Miss Experiences:
- GR221 long-distance walking route through UNESCO World Heritage Site Serra de Tramuntana
- Cap de Formentor — only accessible by bike or foot
- Palma Old Town — good food, good architecture, worth a day
Add Ons: Interrail through Europe or island hop to Ibiza and Menorca.
Costa Rica
Stunning Pacific and Caribbean coastlines, abundant rainforest, diverse wildlife, and — for the thrill-seekers — active volcanoes you can actually climb. Costa Rica is well set up for independent travellers, with adventure programmes, adrenaline activities and funky hostels throughout.
Can’t Miss Experiences:
- Monteverde Cloud Forest — one of the most biodiverse places on Earth
- Arenal Volcano and hot springs
- Manuel Antonio National Park
- Raleigh’s 19-day coast-to-coast leadership trek from cloud forest to Pacific coast
Add Ons: Bocas del Toro archipelago, Panama or surfing in Nicaragua (if travel advisories permit)
Peru
World-class food, ancient history and some of South America’s most spectacular mountain trekking. Peru is a stone-cold adventure classic for a reason.
Can’t Miss Experiences:
- High-altitude trekking — the classic Inca Trail, or quieter alternatives like Salkantay, Huayhuash Circuit or Ausangate
- Lake Titicaca
- Sunrise at Machu Picchu
- The coastal desert
Add Ons: Bolivia for salt flats and breathtaking scenery. Central America for wildlife, adventure and surf.
Island Hopping and Wildlife Spotting
Ocean swimming, white-sand beaches and wildlife watching. Our top island picks for 2026/7:
The Philippines
The 7641 islands that make up The Philippines are quickly gaining traction in travel circles, and for good reason. Less crowded than Thailand, cheap to get around, and chock full of stunning scenery, this is a truly spectacular and unusual Gap Year location.
Can’t Miss Experiences:
- Ethical whale-shark watching
- World-class diving — particularly in the Visayas and around Palawan
- Island hopping — each group of islands feels like a different country
While you’re there: Hop across to Vietnam or Cambodia, fly south to Australia, or seek out a different kind of wildlife in biodiverse Borneo.
The SCOTTISH ISLANDS
Rugged coastlines, breathtaking wildlife and tourist-free white sand beaches. Hike, cycle and boat between islands, spotting seals, dolphins and whales. Since wild camping is legal, accommodation costs can be close to zero.
Can’t Miss Experiences:
- The Hebridean Way — a 253km walking or cycling route spanning 10 islands
- Skye’s Fairy Pools, followed by a night at the Skye-Walker Hostel
- Sea swimming at Luskentyre Beach, Isle of Harris
Add Ons: Edinburgh for history and stunning architecture — go in August for the Fringe or January for Hogmanay.
BORNEO
Remote jungle, incredible wildlife, tropical temperatures and multi-day trekking routes that offer a glimpse into Borneo’s major conservation. Plus some of the world’s most iconic dive sites.
Can’t Miss Experiences:
- Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary
- Diving at Sipadan Island – parrotfish, barracudas, turtles and even the occasional shark
- Trekking the historic Salt Trail across rainforest and mountains through the heart of Malaysian Borneo
Onward Travel: A short hop across to South-East Asia for classic gap year adventures, or fly to Indonesia for a few weeks relaxing in Bali.
Working Holiday
Australia, Canada and New Zealand offer working holiday visas for UK passport holders, a ready-made social scene and enough space to get lost in for months.
Canada
Mountains, ski season work and wilderness. British Columbia and Alberta for the outdoors – Toronto and Montreal if cities are more your scene.
Can’t Miss Experiences:
- BC’s National Parks – glacial lakes, bears, serious terrain and spectacular thru-hikes
- Kayaking, whale watching and exploring on the Atlantic Coastline
- Winter season in the mountains – skiing, snowboarding, apres!
- Canadian delicacies including maple syrup and poutine
Onward Travel: USA road trip – explore the Northern states or make for New England in the Fall. Alternatively, book a Central America for sunshine – Mexico and Costa Rica both make for fantastic and unusual gap year locations.
Australia
Huge country, huge variety. Reef, outback, cities, wine regions — and a working holiday visa that lets you work while you stay.
Can’t Miss Experiences:
- Great Barrier Reef diving
- A scenic flight over the Whitsundays
- Gold Coast road-tripping
- Melbourne’s coffee and food scene
Add Ons: New Zealand — easy flight across. South-East Asia on the way back makes the long-haul worthwhile.
A quick note on Working Holidays: With living costs sky high in places like Melbourne, Sydney, Vancouver & Auckland, it’s worth considering that even if you’re earning, this kind of trip will still cost a lot of money. If you’re interested in a life outside hospo, in building new CV skills and real work experience – a personal development programme might be a more your style
Up and Coming
The places making serious noise in 2026/7. Beat the tourist trail and lead the way for the gap years of the future.
South Africa
Safari, mountains, coastline, penguins and a seriously good food and drink scene have made South Africa the place to be this gap year season.
Can’t Miss Experiences:
- Big Five game viewing in Kruger National Park — accessible without a luxury budget
- Table Mountain in Cape Town, before visiting the penguins at Boulders Beach
- The Panorama Route — iconic canyons, waterfalls and stunning lookouts
- The Garden Route
- Raleigh’s South Africa Expedition — conservation work, community development and a 205km leadership trek through the Drakensberg and Panorama Route
Add Ons: Fostering ambitions of an even bigger climb? Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro is a worthy challenge with a relatively accessible set-up.
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About the author
RACHEL SILCOCK | Digital Marketing Assistant | Raleigh International
Rachel is the Digital Marketing Assistant for Raleigh International. She’s a huge advocate for the transformational nature of adventure, and when she’s not working you’ll likely find her in the great outdoors, either running, thru-hiking or crewing for hot air balloons.
