Thailand

The Land of Smiles: Gap in Thailand

Thailand Gap Program | 40 Days | Ages 17–22 | $13,000

Students in Thailand set up a survey quadrat in shallow water along a palm-lined beach

Student travelers in Fiji glide over a coral reef, trailing bubbles through the clear water

Students take in a curved beach and turquoise bay dotted with small boats, framed by forested hills

Students explore rocks at the base of a limestone cliff along a beach

Snorkelers examine a sea urchin underwater near the reef

Student travelers ride a small boat that floats near shore beneath palm fronds at sunset

Students in life jackets smile for a selfie aboard a longtail boat lined with palm trees

A student swings from a rope swing over a tree-lined beach

Students in helmets and life jackets raft toward river rapids surrounded by forest

A student jumps for joy on a cliffside overlook above a tropical bay

A student learns traditional weaving with a local artisan on a backstrap loom

Students carry farm tools while walking down a muddy rural road

A climber scales an overhanging limestone cliff above a bay with karst islands

Students and local children pose together in front of a schoolhouse near the forest

Students pose with fists raised in a Muay Thai boxing ring

Students bathe elephants in a shallow river

A student crouches beside a local child near a painted wall in a village courtyard

Students kneel around a soil bed with small trowels, planting seedlings under a covered shelter

Students in traditional dress link arms on a beach with limestone islands in the background

Students in matching blue outfits pose beside an elephant's trunk

Elephants cross a shallow river through a grassy savanna

An elephant wades into a river, curling its trunk toward the water

A school trip pauses as students pose on the tiered limestone formations of a cascading waterfall in the jungle

Students pose on temple steps flanked by ornate naga serpent statues

Workers plant rice seedlings in a flooded paddy under a cloudy sky

A student crouches with a camera above terraced rice fields in the hills

Students in helmets and life jackets raft through whitewater rapids

Students sit together on a smooth rock outcrop surrounded by lush jungle greenery

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From remote fishing villages to modern cities, sacred ruins to tropical islands, this 40-day gap year program traverses Thailand, exploring the wonders and riches of this ancient kingdom at the heart of Southeast Asia.

The route runs north to south, from the temples of Bangkok and the ruined capital of Ayutthaya, through the wildlife of Khao Yai, into the mountains, hilltribe communities and Mae Hong Son Loop around Chiang Mai, and down to the mangroves, limestone cliffs and reefs of the Andaman coast.

The spring 2027 departure runs straight through Songkran, the Thai New Year, and you will spend all three days of it in Chiang Mai, home to the largest celebration in the country. You will also wash retired elephants, restore mangrove forest alongside the fishing families of Mod Tanoi, and climb the cliffs of Railay.

Explore the history, encounter traditional cultures, learn to live like a local, and contribute 64 hours of community service along the way. You will gain a real understanding of the region, its people and your travel mates, and make memories for a lifetime.

The Land of Smiles: Gap in Thailand

Thailand · 40 days · Ages 17–22

★ 4.9 (218 Trustpilot reviews)

Program details last verified August 18, 2026