For 15 months, Thailand has been all but closed to international tourists, a move which has been widely credited with the relatively low covid cases seen in the country since the pandemic began. However, Thailand’s economy is heavily reliant on international tourism and the Thai government has been looking at ways to safely reopen inbound travel. In an exciting first … Read More
Costa Rica placed on the Red List – What does this mean?
What does its inclusion on the Red list mean for travel to Costa Rica? In a turbulent year for international travel, Costa Rica has been a beacon of hope for many intrepid travellers and travel providers alike. With a small population of 5 million people, Costa Rica’s “Pura Vida” lifestyle offers plenty of opportunity to get active in the great … Read More
Covid-19 Update
As the lockdown in the UK remains, and the Foreign Office continues to advise against all non-essential travel, the Gapforce office remains closed, with a core team continuing to work from home. Many doctors have started to use Covid medical vehicles to be able to visit their patients in their homes and provide them with the necessary help that they will … Read More
Can you Travel and Reduce your Carbon Footprint?
Here at Gapforce we are constantly seeking ways to lessen our impact on the environment, reduce our carbon footprint and become more Eco-friendly. We are also equally determined that participants on our programs, whether they be trekking to Everest Base Camp or volunteering on a private game reserve in South Africa, contribute to a more Eco-friendly environment and make steps … Read More
Coronavirus FAQs – update 9th March 2020
What is the Coronavirus You will no doubt have seen a lot of coverage recently about the novel coronavirus. The new strain of the virus which emerged in Wuhan, China, in January is being called COVID-19 and as this is a new strain of the virus there is not much known about it and therefore the World Health Organisation, governments, … Read More
Coronavirus update for travellers
Many of you booked or planning to travel this year will no doubt have concerns about the Coronavirus and how it may affect your travel. The purpose of this letter is to update you on how Gapforce is responding to the situation. First of all, as of today there is no impact on any of our planned trips. However, … Read More
Know Before You Go: FAQS, Expedition Leader Training
Program: Expedition Leader Training Location: UK, Costa Rica, Panama Duration: 16 weeks The Expedition Leader Training Course has a lot of moving parts and a huge number of important considerations, and the build-up to such an adventurous undertaking can seem daunting and fraught with uncertainty. Here we’ve put together our answers to seven of participants’ most frequently asked questions, … Read More
Thinking of working while traveling in Australia?
Thinking of working while traveling in Australia? Every year millions of tourists make the trip to Australia and discover the meaning of, “Aussie life”. Some come to take a break from school, others may be intrigued by Australian culture. But it’s no doubt that staying in Australia long term has become high on traveler’s agendas. Prolonged stay means finding work … Read More
Volunteering with Elephants in Thailand
Gapforce is committed to responsible tourism and protecting animals who are impacted by the travel industry. However, some animal related activities, such as elephant rides, lead to suffering through cruel treatment and inhumane conditions. That is why Gapforce, as part of our Southeast Asia Explorer, supports only thoroughly vetted elephant sanctuaries which pass our strict animal welfare policies so participants can enjoy interaction … Read More
Stepping Off the Beaten Path
So, you are thinking about a gap year… Today, this longstanding British tradition is gaining momentum in the US, with Malia Obama’s decision to take a gap year opening new conversations on direction of education and how to best empower young people to become global citizens. Questions such as these have led to a new era of encouraged college deferrals … Read More