Frequently Asked Questions

My Gap Year


MyGapYear is more than a travel company. We are a social enterprise that partners forward thinking travelers with unique Adventures designed to give back to the communities in which with operate. At the forefront of a global movement towards sustainable tourism; we offer some of the most unique, off-the-beaten-path and sustainable travel experiences available in the world. To find out more detailed information, head to our ‘About Us’ page.

MyGapYear Knows Adventure

Our team of passionate travelers live and breathe Adventure. We work with you to create Adventures that met every travel style, craft totally unique experiences and check of every bucket list desire.

Sustainable Travel

MyGapYear will always be a social enterprise at heart. Sustainable travel is at the core of our operational model and is an important criteria for all our Adventures.

MyGapYear Value Guarantee

We believe we offer some of the best value and most affordable travel Adventures anywhere in the world. We achieve this by working with exclusively local travel operators in every destination. This saves you money, and supports local economies everywhere we go.

Global Network

We have partnerships with the best travel service providers in the planet. Our global network provides you with exclusive access to some of the most unique and incredible travel experiences in Earth.

Flexibility

Just like any true Adventure, flexibility key. We offer our Adventurers the opportunity to make their trip as organized or flexible as possible. We set on the right path and give you time to explore, the rest of the Adventure for you to create.

Adventure Architects

We deliver complete end-to-end travel solutions to help you create the complete gap year Adventure by taking all the guesswork out of planning your upcoming Adventure so that you can spend more time on the important things like what to pack.

24/7 Services

We don’t sleep, ever! We provide travelers with 24/7 in-country support across four continents. Our dedicated team can answer any question you may have day or night. We also have a knack for getting travelers out of sticky situations.


Adventure Payment


More often than not the fee you pay to volunteer goes towards the cost of things such as housing, food, transport, training, preparation & supervision. It also goes towards the identification of worthy and host organizations as well as the cost of recruiting yourself and other volunteers. For a company like ours to set up the kind of infrastructure we have it takes a lot of time and money. At the end of the day the money you are paying ensures we can continue the good work that we do.

Account Name: My Gap Year Account Number: 10272316 BSB: 064400

IMPORTANT NOTE: All amounts shown are in USD. As we charge in USD please check the current conversion rate using the Commonwealth Bank Foreign Exchange Calculator.

 

In all the destinations we operate, the local currency is tied to the US dollar. In order for us to continue without losing money we have to charge in the currency most relevant to the countries we work in.

We do not offer financial support however we do offer a part payment plan.Additionally, we are strong advocates for the use of fundraising sites such as gofundme.com, fundraise.com, plus a whole host of other websites. We can offer advice and tips on fundraising from our fundraising expert who can share their expertise on how to raise the funds needed to pay for your trip or donate to our cause.

No, we only require a 10% deposit in order to secure your placement. However, after this payment you may choose to pay off the rest of the package in a one-off payment or split payments. The final payment must be made one month before departure but consideration can be made for those experiencing financial difficulties.


Application Process


Anyone! If you have the time, a caring heart & an adventurous spirit then you are already over qualified. So, what are you waiting for? Apply Now.

As we operate overseas sometimes we are unable to meet with prospective Volunteers face to face. However we do offer Skype Information Sessions where you can talk one on one with a MyGapYear Team Member. Please email us to set up a Skype Information Session. We can also put you in touch with our previous Volunteers for more insight into what you can expect from your Adventure.

 

With the exception of our Medical/Nursing Internship Volunteers don’t need any specific skills or qualifications to participate in our Adventures. However if you do have some experience/qualifications you believe may contribute to one or more of our projects (e.g. Doctor, Builder, Plumber) please inform us when you apply.

Yes. Inform us of your requests & we will make every effort to cater to certain dietary requirements. Be mindful that sometimes due to the remoteness of the Adventure extreme dietary requirements will be hard to cater for.

Absolutely! We encourage friends & partners to apply. Make sure you inform us when you apply so we can organize accommodation & other activities accordingly.

In most cases there are no minimum age requirements for our Adventures. However, some exceptions do apply. Please enquire for more information.

No. There are no medical restrictions for any of our projects however for certain programs a degree of fitness may be desired.

Yes. We take groups of all sizes, however we ask that you let us know well in advance if you are planning to travel with a group of 5 or more.

Easy. Just click here ‘Apply Now’ or alternatively the button at the top of the page, fill out all the details & click Submit. Soon after, a MyGapYear Team Member will contact you to help create your perfect gap year Adventure.

Trip Preparation


Certainly. Often our Volunteers combine more than one Adventure for a truly amazing experience. Be sure to tell us which programs you are interested in & we can tailor your experience to create your ideal Adventure.

From the moment of application you will be assigned a MyGapYear Team Member to work with you during the entire Pre-Departure process. Please send as many emails as you like to voice any questions or concerns you have. It’s our job to make sure your trip runs as smoothly as possible. Once on the ground your assigned MyGapYear representative will contact you regularly to check on your process & help fix any grievances you have.

 

We have Volunteer Adventures ranging from one week to one month. If you wish to Volunteer for longer than six months please contact us and a MyGapYear Team Member will work with you to tailor an affordable long term experience.

Vaccinations required will depend on the location of your Volunteer Adventure. You will be provided with a list of required vaccinations in a handbook we will send you once you have paid your 10% deposit. Please consult your doctor for professional advice on which vaccinations are recommended for your particular destination.

Yes. Travel insurance is compulsory for all Volunteers & we require that you send us your Travel Insurance Certificate prior to your arrival. We have partnered with World Nomads to offer great deal exclusively to MyGapYear Adventurers. Please ask us if you would like us to organize travel insurance for you, otherwise you can do it yourself by clicking ‘here’.

Yes. If you are not comfortable organizing your own flights one of our MyGapYear Team Members can do this for you. Often our in-house flight guru can get flights cheaper than found anywhere else.

When your deposit is made, and we confirm your placement, it is non-refundable. If you cancel your booking within 30 days of departure the penalty is 50% loss. Due to this, we highly recommend taking out an all-inclusive insurance policy, so you know your investment is secure.

MyGapYear prides themselves on safe volunteer practices, particularly with projects working with children. Due to this we require every volunteer partaking in a project where they are interacting with children to obtain a police background check. You can apply for one at your local police station or search online on your federal police website. If you are based in Australia, you can apply online for one here.

Of course! We are big travel ambassadors, so if you want to continue or begin your Adventure before your project placement, go for it. Keep in mind you can also combine our projects together.

Organise visas, vaccinations and travel insurance.

Learn about staying safe on your travels.

Learn about bringing your community together.

Learn about bringing your community together.