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If you need some ideas for a career break, then have a browse through the travel stories below. Read about volunteers experiences of our projects and be inspired to start planning your own trip!
We are often approached by journalists and producers looking for motivational travel stories. Please contact our marketing manager helen.guyver@realgap.co.uk if you would like to tell others about your travel experience.
Click on the links below to read travel stories from...
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Round The World Travel StoriesAround the World Experiences
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Tailor-made Round the World Trip - Laurence Burnham
I have an entirely different outlook on life now, I have realised that no material things are important. Travel truly broadens the mind!
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Tailor-made Round the World Trip - Gary New & Jill Warrillow
We took the amazing Trans-Siberia train from Moscow to China. We toured through China, South East Asia to Malaysia and Thailand followed by New Zealand and Australia.
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Round the World Trip (Tanzania, Australia and Thailand) - David and Mary Snuggs
We encountered a wider range of people than we ever would at home and have developed a better and deeper understanding through living and working alongside people from other cultures.
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Africa Travel StoriesExperiences of Botswana
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Botswana Okavango River Wildlife and Community - Rachael Wood
There are very few places left in the world that are unspoilt by tourism and retain that complete ‘wilderness feel'. But in Botswana at last I discovered it.
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Experiences of Kenya
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Kenya Community Outreach Volunteer - Julie Jones
My experiences can only be described as humbling - the project touched my heart. Everywhere I went I was greeted with warmth, enthusiasm and enormous respect.
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Kenya Camplife Volunteer - Joanne Lunan
The final assembly at the school where the headmaster made a lovely speech, the choir performed for us and the kids sang to us asking us to never forget them, how could we?
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Kenya Camplife Volunteer - Julian and Camilla Kinder
Our highlight was serving porridge to the children. To see them laugh and shout when all you do is play games with them is very rewarding.
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Kenya Camplife Volunteer - Rachael Wood
The headmaster looks in my eyes, sees the tears and says ‘yes, Africa is in your heart'. I will never forget this experience, how could I ever forget these children?
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Massai Elephant Volunteer - Jan Morgan
Made two extremely good friends that I will be in touch with for the rest of my life. Gained a sense of satisfaction and am more aware of how others live every day of their lives.
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Massai Lion Volunteer - Alice Fisher
Seeing a newborn elephant and realising that the conservation bigwigs in Kenya were even more excited about it than we were!! Every day was a new experience - I loved all of it.
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Maasai Lion & Elephant Project - Marie Davies
I can't describe enough how much I enjoyed it. Every single minute... It was like a family in a way I really can't describe.
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Experiences of Namibia
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Desert Elephant Conservation Namibia - Jim Tunnicliffe
I cannot recommend this place enough. In fact I may not, and just keep it to myself! I was very fortunate to locate an elephant herd together with a baby only 1 or 2 weeks old.
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Desert Elephant Conservation Namibia - Xanthe Campbell
The most amazing experience of all was sleeping in a sleeping bag under a canopy of stars and the milky way every night. I never once missed my western comforts of home!
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Noah's Ark Namibia - Wendy Gacme
The best bits were holding a three day old lion cub and bottle feeding baby baboons! While I was away I was able to take stock of my life.
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Experiences of South Africa
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South Africa Field Guide Course - Andrew Airnes
I heard crashing sounds ahead and was just moving my clients uphill away from the track and telling them there was an elephant ahead when it crashed through the trees ahead.
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Wildlife Conservation Course - Matthew Griffiths
As the drumming stopped and silence fell, I heard the rumble of a big (probably very angry) elephant - not more than 10 yards away and shone my torch in the direction.
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Wildlife Conservation Course - Lisa Colton
My trip was fantastic! I truly recommend it to everyone. You get to meet like-minded people and a trip like this gives you a chance to fully immerse yourself in a culture.
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Wildlife Conservation Course - Paula Smith
I was standing in the middle of the African bush surrounded by wild things. FANTASTIC - there's nothing better to make you feel alive than the prospect of being eaten alive!
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Experiences of Zambia
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Zambia Medical and Orphan Volunteer Programme - Frank Vaughan
I have fulfilled my dream of doing some charity work and as a result of fund raising we managed to give over £6000 to local projects. I plan to go back again when I save up!
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Zambia Medical and Orphan Volunteer Programme - Annette Gane
Amazing, humbling, unbelievable, the best thing I have done in my life (I am 60 next month and I have had an interesting life!)
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Zambia Medical and Orphan Volunteer Programme - Julie Oakman
I wanted to give the children a treat and took my class to see Victoria Falls. Only 2 out of 16 had ever been before, even though every day they could see the spray rising up.
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Asia Travel Stories
Experiences of India
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Volunteer India Goa Project - Karin Heinrich
One of the most rewarding experiences was when a little boy who did not show any interest in writing exercises finally took a pencil and started to write.
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Himachal Pradesh Teaching Project - Susan Felton
I felt brilliant on this trip and I learnt so much about myself. I loved meeting people from different cultures and countries.
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Himachal Pradesh Teaching Project - Donald McLellan
I knew India would provide a rich cultural experience. The children were very happy and appreciative but like all kids they were also quite mischievous and a handful at times.
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Himachal Pradesh Teaching Project - Carol Mason
The yoga classes were excellent and the camp and village felt like home. Just jump straight in there, enjoy every part of it and experience every minute of every day.
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Rajasthan Teaching Project - Lisa Murgatroyd
I made the difficult decision to end the relationship after 6 years and go on my own. I knew then that this would give me the confidence to go on and travel independently.
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Rajasthan Volunteer Project - Irene Silas
..everyone heard us coming, as we were the only camel with bells. I reached the campsite devoid of all dignity but would not have missed the experience for the world.
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Experiences of Nepal
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Nepal Volunteer Teaching Project - William Carter
Then all the children from the orphanage came running out of school calling my name and trying to grab my hands it was a moment that I will never forget!
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Experiences of Malaysia
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Malaysia Orang-Utan Experience - Stevie Burges
If I had actually had any expectations, which I didn't, this trip would have exceeded all and any expectations I might have had.
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Experiences of Sri Lanka
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Sri Lanka House Building Volunteer - Gillie James
It was a good feeling to be part of a worldwide aid programmes. The people are SO poor but very charming and smiley!
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Experiences of Thailand
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Thai Adventure - Alys Nutter
There were lots of highlights to the trip. I enjoyed The Grand Palace in Bangkok as it had wonderful architecture, colours and an interesting history.
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Thai Adventure - Nikky Cowan
Everybody was so kind and patient and I really did have the time of my life and that is probably why I am finding it so hard to settle back into the ‘rat-race'!!
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Thai Adventure - Jenny Bashford
I retired just before my 60th birthday and decided that I would throw caution to the wind, give up my job, my mortgage and just go travelling. It was so unlike me to do this!
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Experiences of Ecuador
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Ecuador Street Children Volunteer - David Hughes
I worked at a refuge, helping street kids with their homework, teaching basic English and playing games - rewarding, enjoyable and I really felt that I had made a difference.
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Ecuador Street Children Volunteer - Jacqui Chin
I had a fantastic time! I really enjoyed my volunteering at the home for street kids. I went to the coast with the kids on their holiday, it was a great time to get to know them.
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Ecuador Medical Assistant and Spanish Language School - Lauren Moorcroft
The teaching hospital atmosphere of the place made for a great place to get stuck in and learning alongside the interns. The hospital staff are more like a family than colleagues!
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Experiences of Argentina
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Learning Spanish & Youth Outreach - Buenos Aires - Ron Johnson
When the home team scored and their fans were celebrating, the entire stadium moved slightly from side to side!
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Experiences of Moldova
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Moldova Teaching English Programme - Steve Marsh
The programme is great. Leana, the English teacher is fantastic, she works under amazingly difficult conditions, tries really hard to enthuse her students!
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