Gap Year Programs After College in Bangkok,Thailand

I had an even better time than I could have imagined. I met some amazing people and definitely made the most incredible memories. I feel like the trip was a good mixture of fun and also cultural enrichment. It was the perfect start to my gap year travels.

I did so many things and had so many experiences as well as making real friends that I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do if it weren’t for the trip. The tour leader Callum was so cool and we all got along really well. The accommodation was nice and clean and you can just put it down to a cultural experience if anything ever went slightly wrong. I saw areas of the world that I had always dreamed of seeing but never actually thought I would and for a very reasonable price overall. On the whole I had a great and unforgettable time.

I am so lucky that I chose Pacific Discovery, they created an experience I will remember for the rest of my life. They made it easy to make new friends and easy to try new things safely. I am so grateful I got to go on this once in a life time opportunity and adventure.

I have recently come back from my gap year and while I was there I spent a month working on the relationships between humans and elephants. So why would I recommend Oyster? I am so glad I picked to do this project with Oyster because they made me feel very well taken care of and looked after me before and during the project. They talk you though everything you need to know before the project takes place and what clothes and necessities you may need to pack. So what does the project consist of? I would do this project a million times if I could, and if you don’t believe me lots of people who were doing the project had already done it before and had come back because of how much they enjoyed it. So the project is on a two week program and you have the option to stay from two weeks to 3 months. The first week is amazing because you build walls for the local community. Some days some of the locals will come and help, or a few kids will come and keep you company, that is amazing because you feel so immersed, it’s definitely a once in a lifetime experience. The second week is spent tracking elephants. This was my favourite out of the two because you learn all about the elephants foot prints. We also managed to see a two day old elephant which we were lucky enough to name !!! So why pick this project? I think this project and Oyster have a lot of selling points. For starters Oyster takes very good care of you and help you organise yourself before the project starts so it doesn’t feel overwhelming. Secondly you are in the middle of the desert, I don’t think you could get anymore rural than that. You don’t really have much service so it’s lovely to disconnect for two weeks. You get to spend some time with lovely people who you may not meet on a day to day basis, people from different countries, locals, and different ages. You camp under the stars which is also amazing. Overall I would always recommend this amazing project, such a special experience!!

Oyster Worldwide responded to this reviewAugust 13, 2024

Wonderful to read about your experience, thank you Emily! The Oyster Team

It was good fun. A good mixture of relaxing and busy, good to experience the culture and do things off the tourist track. I really enjoyed the volunteering part as it was good to experience more of the culture and do something which will actually benefit the community

Honestly was the trip of a lifetime, and something I will never forget! Gapforce were brilliant in addressing any concerns before and during the trip, and managed to create an itinerary which was fab (including most of the activities I wanted to do in South East Asia anyway!!). It was so lovely meeting people from all over the world and making friends for life.

this trip is the best thing I've had in my life so far, full of laughter, happiness and joy! on We had an unforgettable time with the locals and learnt an enormous amount about ourselves and about other countries and ways of life! We weren't forced into anything, we were safe and we had lots of free time! and for me, as I don't normally speak English, I learnt a lot and excelled myself! I can't see anything negative about this trip apart from the fact that I had to go back at the end... Best experience of my life!

This trip was so much better than I ever thought it could be! I was so nervous to travel across the world and meet a bunch of new people from all over - but it turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve ever taken. This trip was the perfect balance of exploring, cultural immersion, relaxing, adventure and so much more! It was planned really well and I’m so happy I was able to take part because without it I’m not sure I definitely would not have been able to see and experience the same things as I did. The tour guides were all so informative and fun and all the day trips were so interesting. I also loved that we were able to have days off to do whatever we wanted every now and then whether that was relaxing, shopping, exploring ect. Like I said before - the trip was balanced just right! I loved travelling in a group and I’m so happy to have met these wonderful people and hope to keep in contact and meet again soon! I highly recommend this to anybody who wants to explore the world without the stress of planning every single detail alone. I’m returning home with a more open mind, 15 new friends and a lifetime of stories to tell<33 Thank you so much! - Heba

the best 8 weeks, such a balance of culture, adventure and making amazing friends. such an iconic guide in Stefan as well, who really made the trip! would do again in a heartbeat and I know everyone else in the group would too

“If you could sum up your experience in 3 sentences, what would you write?” I am more prepared to take on challenges in my life. I will always remember my time in Thailand and how much I have grown because of it. I am grateful for Pacific Discovery’s program for giving me the opportunity to learn through experience.

The last few weeks I have been travelling around South East Asia with Oyster Worldwide, completing my Gold The Duke of Edinburgh's Award.

 This has been a truly once in a lifetime experience, meeting many new people from all around the world and learning about the Asian culture and lifestyle.

 From volunteering at an ethical elephant sanctuary in Chaing Mai, Thailand to partying on a yacht in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam, I enjoyed every second of it. 

 Oyster Worldwide have been super professional and helpful throughout the whole experience and made a complex and daunting trip, a breeze in the park!

Oyster Worldwide responded to this reviewJuly 20, 2023

Sounds like you made the most of your time Bailey and had a wonderful tour - thanks for sharing!

I was unlucky to start my trip already under the weather with a stomach bug and felt overwhelmed arriving into such a different atmosphere, however our leader Magnus was super reassuring and got me all the right medication/support to quickly get me back on my feet and able to enjoy the experiences around me! That remained the same throughout the trip, whether you had a query big or small he would approach the situation with no judgement and a level head to ease any worries. I chose this trip due to its organised nature and group aspect as I had concerns about travelling solo for my first backpacking style trip. It definitely met my expectations in that regard as I didn’t have to do any planning of activities or transport but it also made me realise I would’ve liked more freedom because there were activities we missed out on due to the tight schedule. Overall a really rewarding trip, with amazing people and lots of really cool new experiences - you won’t regret going!

I chose this trip because of my initial worries about being a solo female traveller with no experience. The description of the expedition in the brochure detailed a mixture of volunteering, exploring and relaxing and I can confidently say the trip ticks all three boxes. You truly get an authentic experience as you volunteer at the amazing elephant sanctuary (a real highlight of the trip), explore temples or visit waterfalls, celebrate local traditions and appreciate a new culture and cuisine. For someone who wants to gain proper travelling experience and exposure to an entirely different way of life whilst simultaneously staying safe, with the guarantee of making friends and lifelong memories, I really can’t recommend this trip enough. Our team leader Magnus really made the trip, consistently making everyone feel at ease and comfortable, and often going over and above to make you feel reassured in nerve wracking situations that will naturally come with being in an entirely new and different country. His support and knowledge was the best safety blanket as a first time traveller, whilst also a good insight into how to manage mix-ups and what to do when things go wrong. Overall, the trip is the perfect springboard for those looking to gain confidence and experience proper backpacking travel, and by the end of it, you’re ready for the freedom to lean away from a tight group itinerary and embrace the spontaneity of solo travelling that you’re impatient to start it all over again by yourself, or even with the friends you made along the way!

I went to Southeast Asia for 2 months and the the trip was we really something not to forget . We got given a really detailed tour of Thailand Cambodia and Vietnam : the culture , food etc and had a great aray of different activities . My personal favourites were the jungle hike in pai and temple visits in siem riep . We also had a tour guide who was really good and organised and took us on all these activities and made sure everyone was safe . Would definelty recommend the trip

It was an incredible experience that will never be forgotten. We discovered a lot of new things in the group: breathtaking places, a new culture, new food, etc. We were given a good impression of the whole country and I was very convinced. The local people in Thailand, but also in the group were very nice. An experience you should have made!

Since I’ve already done a Pacific Discovery program I had really high expectations going back into this, and it absolutely didn’t disappoint. This was one of the best experiences of my life and I feel like everything truly was amazing and incredible! Pacific Discovery really has changed my life. I was so excited to get to do another program this semester, and it really was another incredible amazing experience. There is so much I could say, but I think I’ll leave it at saying that there is no other program I would’ve rather done. I truly will cherish this experience for the rest of my life and the growth I’ve felt within myself has been surreal.

Great program, great experience, great explanation of the program! I would recommend this as a way to explore as a traveller and not a tourist but still hit all the important things a culture has to offer.

Pacific Discovery was a perfect addition to my gap year. Every day of our trip was better than the previous, and our group felt like family by even the 2nd week. I’m so glad I chose to come on programs and would choose it again after completing. It beyond exceeded all expectations!!!

This trip has been the best 8 weeks of my life and I have extremely enjoyed experiencing different cultures and meeting new people. My expectations were completely exceeded and I never thought that I would see as much as I did. I would recommend this trip to everyone thinking about travelling. Throughout this trip I felt that the money was well distributed, however in Thailand I felt budget money for food was slightly restricting. Furthermore, I also felt that visiting Kampot was slightly unnecessary as there was not a huge amount to do. However, the leadership on this trip was amazing, a great balance between being professional and engaging and socialising with the participants. Overall, I had thoroughly enjoyed this trip and I would definitely consider doing another trip similar.

Loved the activities, cycling, visiting waterfalls and snorkelling. The hostel, white rabbit, in Siem Reap was incredible and felt safe and happy throughout my stay. Liked it how we had a variety of hostels and continuously moved about it made it feel as if we saw everything. Personally, I didn't see the point of seeing Kampot, it was a lovey hostel but the town itself didn't make an impact on the group, and the mountain tour was a little bit on the dull side. Nonetheless, loved the rest of the trip and would highly recommend to others. thank you.