Family Gap Year Itinerary: The PERFECT Year Of Family Travel
Are you considering taking a family gap year, long-term travel or an extended trip but don’t know where to start with an itinerary?
After months of planning, our family of five took off on an eleven-month adventure around the world with three kids on sabbaticals from work and school.
Here is our family gap year itinerary to encourage and guide you to plan your adventure of a lifetime.
Family Gap Year Itinerary
Duration: 11 months (326 days)
Countries visited: 25
Continents: 6
Once we’d decided to travel, we spent time planning and finalising our around-the-world itinerary with our three children. Setting a budget was a major factor in determining which countries and experiences we could consider.
Once our budget was agreed upon, we could balance the more expensive ‘must-do’ bucket list destinations and activities against longer stays in countries where we could stretch our money further. Asia is often considered the cheapest continent for travel, and with that in mind, we planned to spend more time there than anywhere else on our around-the-world itinerary.
We purchased an around-the-world ticket to flex our travel dates around a pre-agreed selection of 16 countries. This option helped us stop procrastinating at the time, but there were negatives, and it may not be the best option overall.
Our initial plans included four of the seven continents, following the sun, starting in South America and finishing in Asia. With Europe on our doorstep, we didn’t initially include it in the itinerary but added it late into the trip, along with Africa, as we travelled the final leg back to the UK.
➡️Month 1: UK – Brazil – Argentina – Peru
➡️Month 2: Costa Rica – USA, California
➡️Month 3: USA, Hawaii – Australia
➡️Month 4: Australia – Indonesia
➡️Month 5: Philippines – Japan
➡️Month 6: Japan – Cambodia – Thailand
➡️Month 7: Thailand – Vietnam
➡️Month 8: Vietnam – Singapore – Kuala Lumpur – Nepal
➡️Month 9: Nepal – India – Sri Lanka
➡️Month 10: Egypt – Italy – Poland
➡️Month 10: Norway – Sweden
Family Gap Year Itinerary Month One: UK, Brazil, Argentina & Peru
Edinburgh, Scotland – 19th to 20th June
We drove from our home in Scotland to stay overnight in Edinburgh, where our kids sat their music grading exams (one violin travelled with us on the gap year ). Then, we continued by road to England.
England – 20th To 22nd June
England is a well-travelled road for our family. We had a short pit stop for some family goodbyes before our first flight from London across the Atlantic Ocean to South America.
Brazil – 23rd June to 5th July
Rio de Janeiro – (Brazilian and Argentinian) Iguaçu Falls
Brazil was a relaxed introduction to our itinerary, with vibrant cities and beautiful beaches. The wildlife was an instant hit, and consistent warm temperatures (not something we are used to in Scotland!).
Hiking to Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, seeing Sugarloaf Mountain and interacting with our first monkeys are some of the many incredible highlights.
We were impressed with the awesome Iguaçu Falls, the largest broken water cascade in the world. Although most of the Iguaçu River resides in Brazil, neighbouring Argentina is home to more of the Falls, and we took a day trip across the border to appreciate its power and beauty from both countries.
Peru – 5th to 19th July
Lima – Cusco – Inca Trail trek to Macha Picchu – Puno and Lake Titicaca – Puerto Maldono
We immersed ourselves in Inca history while travelling through this colourful country. Peru was one of our bucket list destinations on our gap year itinerary, primarily because we wanted to trek the legendary Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
Arriving in Cusco from Lima, we were unprepared for the effect that staying at a high altitude would have on us. Altitude sickness affected us, but after two nights of acclimatisation, we completed the trail, hitting an altitude of 14500 feet on the scarily named ‘Dead Woman’s Pass’.
With nearly 60% of Peru being tropical rainforest, we also experienced a few nights in the Amazon rainforest and explored the floating villages of Uros on Lake Titicaca.
Read more: Things to do in Peru with kids
Family Gap Year Itinerary Month Two: Costa Rica & California
Costa Rica – 19th July to 3rd August
San Jose – La Fortuna – Tortuguero – Punta Uva – Manuel Antonio – Santa Teressa – Laguna Hule
Costa Rica was our first road trip on our world itinerary. Where we explored this beautiful country in our accommodation on wheels. This brought lots of adventure, wildlife, and time to chill that more than compensated for the many problems with the vehicle and tight sleeping arrangements!
Thankfully, the weather was warm enough for us to sleep outside in hammocks, although we made sure they were slung undercover (it was wet season) and that we were well wrapped up to avoid mosquito bites.
Costa Rica is packed full of cloud forests, rainforests, beaches, volcanoes, natural hot springs, and waterfalls. White-water rafting, ziplines, snorkelling and other adventurous activities make this stop on our gap year itinerary special.
USA, California & Nevada – 3rd To 22nd August
Las Angeles – Las Vegas – Yosemite National Park – San Francisco – Santa Cruz – Big Sur
Our time in the USA began in California, where we initially took a break from driving.
We stayed in self-catering serviced accommodation in downtown LA for a few days to relax and see some of the city highlights. Santa Monica, Venice and the California Science Centre were firm favourites before our second road trip.
Our epic journey took us through California and Nevada for almost three weeks.
We have never felt so remote as when we drove for hours through the desert in Nevada, not passing a single vehicle. The weather in California was perfect, and the landscape was outstanding.
Family Gap Year Itinerary Month Three: Hawaii & Australia
USA, Hawaii – 22nd – 5th September
Oahu – Big Island Hawaii
We had many amazing experiences while we drove and trekked through areas and landscapes of outstanding beauty in Hawaii that were nothing like anything we had seen before.
Our kids took their first surf lesson on the famous Waikiki Beach, and we saw more sea turtles in Hawaii than anywhere else we had been.
When we snorkelled in the very clear waters of the Pacific Ocean, the sea life far exceeded our expectations. Looking into the fiery crater of an active volcano in Hawaii was an exciting way to round off this Hawaiian road trip!
Australia – 6th September to 15th October
Sydney – Byron Bay – Gold Coast – Noosa – Whitsundays – Broken River – Daintree – Port Douglas – Great Barrier Reef – Cairns
After stopping in Australia seventeen years ago on a layover to New Zealand, we finally fulfilled our dream of exploring Sydney. This road trip was amazing and definitely a highlight of our gap year.
Australia boasts fantastic family-friendly campsites with plenty of amenities such as pools, big kitchens and adventure playgrounds, making them perfect for families with kids.
We had a great time exploring Sydney for a few days before embarking on a five-week journey along the picturesque east coast to the breathtaking Daintree rainforest before flying out of Cairns.
Our trip had fantastic opportunities to witness the diverse and fascinating Australian wildlife. We played wildlife bingo and were lucky to spot platypuses, cassowaries, kangaroos, possums, snakes, and koalas. We even had a chance to snorkel at the Great Barrier Reef and hunt for thunder eggs. It was an unforgettable experience with kids!
After travelling for almost four months around the world, we sent some of our belongings back home to allow us to travel a little lighter.
Family Gap Year Itinerary Month Four: Australia & Indonesia
Indonesia – 15th October to 1st November
Ubud – Mt Batur – Seminyak – Labuan Bajo – Komodo Island – Gili Trawangan – Jimbaran
This was our kids’ first experience of a major cultural difference on our family gap year.
Our kids became intrigued with Bali’s way of life and adored the food. We had some extremely wet weather in Bali, but it was monsoon season!
We enjoyed visiting many temples and waterfalls, hiking Mt Batur, and staying in homestays.
Beautiful sunny weather returned for us in Flores, where we stayed on a liveaboard and saw Komodo Dragons. Our kids even gained their scuba diving qualifications in Gili Trawangan.
Family Gap Year Itinerary Month Five: Indonesia, Philippines & Japan
Philippines – 3rd November to 12th November
Manilla – Cebu – Bohol
We had high hopes for the Philippines, but unfortunately, we arrived at the end of the cyclone season. Due to the severity of the weather, we adjusted our plans.
It was eye-opening to live like locals, especially when we travelled in a Jeepney in Manilla and explored Cebu. Bohol was our favourite family stop on the Philippines leg of the itinerary, where we visited Chocolate Hills and saw Tarsiers.
Japan – 12th November to 2nd December
Tokyo – Hakkone – Kyoto – Nara – Hiroshima – Osaka – Nikko
Japan was a major shock for us! It was the only country in which we struggled to communicate. From pristine streets to bright lights and outstanding cultural experiences, Japan met our expectations.
The fast and efficient Shinkansen was our chosen mode of transport, taking us from Tokyo to Hiroshima. Although we didn’t catch the famous cherry blossom season, we were spoilt with amazing autumn colours.
The three weeks passed too quickly, despite this being longer than we had originally planned for in this amazing country. Japan is a great country to visit with kids.
Family Gap Year Itinerary Month Six: Japan – Cambodia – Thailand
Thailand – 2nd December to 10th January
Bangkok – Chiang Mai – Krabi – Khoa Sok – Elephant Hills – Phuket
Thailand has impressive pristine beaches, culturally dense cities, and delicious cuisine. We started and finished our time in Bangkok, a capital that kept us busy with markets and temples.
Flights to Changi Mai and Krabi ensured we experienced some of the diversity Thailand has to offer.
We had a very different ‘first Christmas away from home’ experience in an ethical elephant sanctuary in the jungle of Khoa Sok. Our New Year was also memorable, spent on a ‘hot’ beach in Phuket. The Thai street food was outstanding, and their signature dishes of mango smoothie and Pad Thai we well received by our kids.
Cambodia – 5th to 10th December
Siam Reap – Angkor wat – Phnom Penh
A must-see for us while in South East Asia was the largest temple complex in the world, Angkor Wat. After our initial stay in Bangkok, we jumped the Cambodian border to Siam Reap. Angkor Wat is a magical place that should be on everyone’s travel bucket list.
A long bus journey to the capital, Phnom Penh, allowed us to explore the country’s dark history before returning to Thailand and continuing our family gap year.
Family Gap Year Itinerary Month Seven: Thailand & Vietnam
Vietnam – 10th January to 5th February
Hanoi – Ha Long – Tam Coc – Vinh Moc Tunnels – Hué – Hoi An – Ho Chi Minh City
Vietnam has a rich history, spectacular natural beauty, and a diverse culture that felt very traditional everywhere we stayed. During this part of our gap year itinerary, we travelled by bus, train, and plane to cover the large distances between destinations.
We started in Hanoi, where the traffic is possibly the craziest in the world. We then sailed through the magnificent Hay Long Bay and cycled in Tam Coc, which was an excellent start to our journey through Vietnam.
We celebrated the Lunar New Year in Hué and explored the dark history of the Demilitarized Zone before experiencing Hoi An, an ancient city of canals and light. Delving into the economic heart of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City, we found a taste for many different Vietnamese foods and enjoyed the culture before flying to Singapore.
Family Gap Year Itinerary Month Eight: Singapore, Malaysia & Nepal
Singapore – 6th to 9th February
Singapore
A brief stopover in Kuala Lumpur took us to Singapore (the first addition to our original around-the-world itinerary). We were all wowed by how green and clean the city is. We explored on foot, bus and train, covering a large amount of Singapore in a short time.
We also saw many iconic buildings and were impressed with the Botanic Gardens and nature reserves that allowed us to see native species up close. Sentosa Island is a great family-friendly beach location, and the Garden Rhapsody light and sound show is spectacular. Even the water vortex at airport departures is outstanding!
Malaysia – 5th to 13th February
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur was originally intended to be a single-night stop but was extended into a few day’s layover. Here, we checked out some sights, including the Petronas Towers and Batu caves, before chilling out ahead of our next bucket list destination.
Nepal – 13th to 28th February
Kathmandu – Everest Base Camp Trek
Nepal was a will-we/wont-we bucket list destination from the initial planning our around-the-world itinerary.
We wanted to trek to Everest Base camp, but it is expensive, and having suffered from altitude sickness in Peru, we were very hesitant. After seeking advice, we secured a guide for the trek just weeks before arriving in Nepal ahead of peak season. This was a massive family achievement and a firm highlight of our around-the-world trip.
We also enjoyed some time in Kathmandu but had an unfortunate encounter with a monkey before flying to India.
Family Gap Year Itinerary Month Nine: Nepal, India & Sri Lanka
India – 28th February to 9th March
Jaipur – Agra – Delhi
We felt we had only dipped our toes into India but were impressed with this amazing and intriguing country.
From cows freely roaming the streets in the pink city of Jaipur to watching the sunrise over the Taj Mahal, India claimed a place in our hearts. We immersed ourselves in a traditional homestay during Holi. Delhi was a delight we were not expecting, we all had a positive experience in India with kids.
There is something quite enchanting about this country and we plan to return for a longer stay.
Sri Lanka – 9th to 28th March
Colombo – Hikkaduwa – Mirissa – Udawalawe National Reserve – Ella – Kandi – Sigiriya – Negombo
We were now nine months into our family gap year itinerary and became more fluid with planning our activities.
After arriving in Sri Lanka, we briefly explored Colombo, before travelling down the coast to Hikkaduwa and Mirissa. The season was perfect for the southern beaches.
We surfed the waves in the daytime sun, and in the evening watched as hundreds of tiny turtle hatchlings made their way to the ocean for their maiden voyage. On safari, we observed wild elephants in Udawalawe National Park and hiked in Ella, the delightful tourist town.
The scenic Ella to Kandy train took us through sprawling tea plantations before we explored the majestic Sigiriya for sunrise and sunset. The hikes had added atmosphere from the tropical storm that rolled in, lighting up the sky around us and making the hairs on the back of our necks stand up. Our final few days were spent relaxing on the west coast in Negombo.
Sri Lanka was originally meant to be the final destination on our round-the-world itinerary, but we were travelling faster than planned.
Family Gap Year Itinerary Month Ten: Egypt, Italy & Poland
Egypt – 28th March to 5th April
Cairo – Aswan – Luxor
Our kids wanted to explore Egypt’ wonder of the world. We flew to Cairo via the UAE and took a two-day tour, exploring the Great Pyramids and museums.
We stayed overnight in Aswan before travelling three hours by train to Luxor, home to a fantastic open-air museum, the famous Valley of the Kings. Despite the desert heat, we all enjoyed delving into ancient history and seeing the faces of the perfectly preserved 2,500-year-old mummies.
We concluded our time in Egypt with our families first sunrise balloon flight over the tombs.
Italy – 6th to 12th April
Rome – Vatican City – Pisa – Florence – Venice
We arrived in Italy with kids just before Easter weekend and everywhere was extremely busy. Despite this, we all thoroughly enjoyed our short rail trip through Italy. Travelling from Rome to Pisa to Florence and into Venice using a combination of buses, trains and lots of walking, we spent just a few days in each location.
Adding Europe at the last minute to our around-the-world itinerary made it feel like we were heading home earlier than planned.
Poland – 12th to 19th April
Warsaw – Krakow – Auschwitz-Birkenau – Zakopane
We had planned our round-the-world itinerary to follow the sun. So when we arrived in Warsaw to rain in spring, we were shocked! Some warm, sunny days followed as we explored both Warsaw and Krakow.
A detailed and dark history lesson was delivered during our visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau, bringing the horror of what happened to life. This is another powerful reminder of the atrocities humans can commit.
Our last few days were spent trekking in the Tatra mountains near Zakopane. We entered wintery conditions here but enjoyed a cosy log cabin in the snow.
Family Gap Year Itinerary Month Eleven: Norway & Sweden
Norway and Sweden – 19th April to 10th May
Oslo – Norwegian Fjords – Runde Island – Lilliehammer – Gothenburg
After exploring Oslo, we set off on the final road trip of our world itinerary. As winter was late (2023), and there was still a lot of snow, travel was a little trickier in the motorhome than we had expected.
First, we headed west and traveled through the fjords, viewing waterfalls and glaciers and completing many treks. A stay on Runde Island allowed us to see colourful puffins nesting on a blustery hill.
We spent a few nights in Sweden before handing back the motorhome in Norway and boarding our final flight back to the UK.
UK – 10th to 11th May
We stayed overnight with family in England before returning to Scotland with the ‘extra’ luggage that had safely returned from Australia. After eleven months travelling, we moved back into our family home and were reunited with our dog.
Family Gap Year Itinerary Map
Our itinerary involved heading west from the UK to follow the sun around the world, first heading to South America before arriving back in Europe.
Tips For Planning A Family Gap Year
Family gap years can be challenging to execute to suit all family members. Here are our top tips for a smooth trip:
✔️ Discuss Plans With All The Family
Include your children in planning your family gap year. This will allow discussion of what all family members want to experience and any concerns that can be resolved. It will also build up excitement ahead of departure.
✔️ Set A Budget
Setting a realistic budget is one of the most important steps to a successful gap year. Breaking down predicted daily travel costs such as accommodation, food, activities, and transport per person alongside insurance and money for emergencies is essential. Selling unnecessary household items, working remotely or letting your home may boost your budget.
✔️ Plan A Flexible Itinerary
Start with a list of possible destinations and activities before planning a rough itinerary. We went through this process a few times to ensure our direction of travel suited the seasons and included must-do activities such as hikes, surfing and special occassions. Your itinerary should allow flexibility depending on weather, health, and family preferences.
✔️ Choose Destinations Wisely
After making an initial list of destinations, research the location. While popular destinations can be appealing, they can also drain your budget; consider less visited countries with lower living costs.
✔️ Pack Smart
Be selective about your family’s packing list and luggage choices. While some prefer cases, we recommend well-fitting rucksacks for all family members over eight years old. We travelled with five rucksacks (35l, 3 x 65l, and a 75l), which was too much. Aim for bags less than 40 litres.
The kit should match the weather and activities you plan on doing. Clothes can be washed, replaced, or purchased in destinations.
✔️ Consider Education
We are firm believers that education is everywhere and children learn from travel even without intentionally visiting sites like museums.
If you have school-age children, you might consider more formal educational options such as homeschooling, online schooling, world schooling or enrolling them in local schools.
Family Gap Year: FAQs
Taking a family gap year involves parents and kids having time away from routine and familiarity. This often involves adults taking a sabbatical, although some work remotely, while kids step away from attending traditional and worldschools. Families set goals and budget carefully to fulfil a planned itinerary for a set period of time before returning to work and school.
Children generally travel well at any age if the family is happy and has limited stress. The hardest age to travel is different for every family; while some prefer the baby stage, others prefer toddlers, kids, or even teens. Each age has pros and cons, from viewing the world through young eyes to dealing with tantrums at any stage. Assess your family’s readiness to determine if travelling now will work for your family.
Families, especially children, learn a lot from travelling, making every adventure worthwhile. Every new experience holds educational value, cultural experiences and self-growth for children and adults. Family travel does not come without challenges, but these also present opportunities for a rewarding family trip.
When travelling with kids, caution should be widely practised worldwide. It is best to avoid areas with political conflicts, high crime rates, extreme climates, poor healthcare, or prevalent disease outbreaks in the Middle East, Central America, Africa, and Asia.
Final Thoughts: Family Gap Year Itinerary
We hope this has given you inspiration for a gap year itinerary.
When planning the itinerary, involve the whole family and incorporate everyone’s interests. Work together to hit your family gap year goal by setting a budget, time frame, and flexible plan. Remember to confirm a leave of absence from school and work.
We thoroughly enjoyed our family adventure and hope you do with your kids.
More gap year travel and destinations we have explored.
