Gap Year Programs in Indonesia

SAS as a recent high school graduate was one of the best decisions I have ever made in my life. I am so grateful for the opportunity to sail on the Fall 25 voyage as an international gap year student. The experience as a whole was so unique and I truly do not believe that you can find such a program anywhere else. The accommodation was so surreal because I got to wake up and see the waves as we sailed across the world. The community SAS builds is welcoming and kind because whenever I had a problem on the ship or in port, I never once felt alone or stranded. There will always be someone in your corner, which I appreciated. A massive thank you especially to the crew members on the ship who always make an effort to get to know your name, check in and give you a smile or laugh whenever you're stressed by travel planning, relationships and/or academics. The food does get quite repetitive if I'm being honest but it's truly a blessing to have such skilled crew members who can create delicious and nutritious meals in the middle of nowhere on the ocean. Pro tip: always get your cake first cause everyone loves the cake and it's always the first to go. In terms of academics. there are a variety of courses and I loved how everything always tied back to our in-port experiences, which allowed us to reflect on our SAS journey deeply, which I think was a crucial aid in how I developed and matured as a person. This was a great bridge between high school and university because I feel that I came out more mature, socially aware and ready for adult life. I also never felt that I couldn't make new friends because everyone is so open and you get to interact with a lot of diversity due to the various represented cultures, backgrounds, religions, nationalities etc. Til now, I am so grateful for the friends I made on SAS and we keep in touch almost daily as we plan our reunion trips. If I had one piece of advice for whoever's reading this, is that you will never truly see and understand the world around you until you're interacting with various people on the ship and in port. So do it!!! You will never regret SAS, I can promise you that :p

I did a semester in Indonesia over my gap year in 2022 and it has shaped my life since. The friendships and connections have continued three years later and I have been back to visit and practice the language since. What a beautiful experience!

Pacific Discovery truly was an amazing program of self discovery and adventure. I could not have asked for a better experience with the lasting connections and memories I have made through my program.

Pacific discovery has been the most thrilling and fun trip I have done in my lifetime. Whether it be the people I’ve met or the countless activities we have done every day is a new adventure and journey.

If you want to go on an adventure of a lifetime with people that you will never forget, don’t wait to discover pacific discovery. This program will not only be exhilarating, but will challenge you in just the right way.

Pacific Discovery offers programs that are not only unique, but once in a lifetime experiences. If you want to see as much as possible of a country and deep dive into different cultures, Pacific Discovery is just for you!

10/10 would recommend, made memories that will stick with me for my entire life and made some amazing friends

Hands down the coolest way for students to travel and experience the world safely and in a group dynamic. Extremely happy our daughter had this experience to grown and learn and live!

Traveling Australia and Bali with an amazing group of people for 10 weeks were some of the best times and memories of my life. I learned so much about myself and the world, and I feel like I am leaving the program a more confident version of myself!

This was a super great experience and allowed me to mature and find myself in a safe and immersive environment

I grew both mentally and physically by being out in different situations that were outside of my comfort zone! I would recommend PD to people because there is a lot of learning we do throughout program and a lot of new experiences as well. Take chances even with knowing the unknown! I would say that my overall experience was amazing especially with all of the different wildlife encounters that came with it!

I'd recommend this program to others because it gives you once in a lifetime opportunities to immerse yourself in extraordinary culture. You learn how to travel responsibly and you create great friendships and learn how to have healthy communication.

I have become more patient with my decisions and learned to think them through. Also to live in the moment and take everything life has to offer as I experience it. Lastly, I have become more confident in independent travel after visiting and exploring the places we’ve been to.

I absolutely adored my time on the Australia / Bali semester with Pacific Discovery. It was a perfect mix of adventure, cultural immersion, service and personal development mixed in with a bit of city time. I have never grown so much as an individual as I did on this trip. I am more confident in myself and my relationships, more independent and ultimately have a better perspective on life and the world. If you’re thinking about doing a PD trip, take the risk and go for it! You won’t regret it.

Costa Rica's Turtle Conservation Project was one thing I will never forget! Such an eye opening and amazing experience. The IHQV program is an amazing way to explore the world in a feasible way. Not only is it affordable but I would have never experienced anything like it! IHQV Brings so much more, more ham any guided tour, more than a resort, and more than anything you could experience on your own. They have demonstrated such strong dedication to make sure every part of the trip is a great learning exprenice while keeping it fun. One of my most memeroble moments would be seeing the indangered leather back turtle lay her eggs. Because the leather back is in such danger it is critical that her eggs are gathered and re-nested in the hatchery where they can be taken care of and monitered to keep them safe from predators. I was lucky enough to be able to personally collect her eggs and dig a new nest to place each egg carfully. It was truley an amazing experience. I wish I could go back to see them hatch! Not only was this such an amazing experience, but every single person I met on this trip through the program m, I will dearly miss. IHQV brings everyone with similar ambitions together and from all over the world. I loved to meet people from the UK, Australia and Italy. Never could I go anywhere and meet such amazing people in one single place. I would recommend this program a million times. Leaving was hard, I'll miss my friends I have made and most importantly all the work that was done everyday to help such a wonderful project!

International Volunteer HQ [IVHQ] responded to this reviewMay 21, 2018

Hi Drew, thank you for sharing your incredible experience on the Turtle Conservation project in Costa Rica! It's amazing that you were able to help in the protection of the leatherback turtles eggs as this is such an important task in the conservation of the turtles. We would love to have you join us again in the future! ^Rachel - IVHQ Costa Rica Program Manager

My time volunteering in Portugal was the most amazing experience. It gave me the comfort and growth to travel and experience new adventures on my own. The staff, locals and coordinators ensured my stay was the best possible experience.

International Volunteer HQ [IVHQ] responded to this reviewApril 09, 2018

Hi Andy - It's awesome to hear about your time on the program, and I'm so glad you enjoyed your experience in Ghana. Our local team is awesome and I'm thrilled to hear you felt supported by them in every capacity during your time on the program. I wish you all the best! ^Caroline - IVHQ Portugal Program Manager