Career Break Travel Stories

Round The World Travel Stories

Tailor-made Round the World Trip - Francis Hughes
My trip exceeded all my expectations. The language school "Guayasamin" in Quito was very good and my teacher excellent.
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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 - Ann-Marie Davies
First opportunity (there was no such thing as a "gap year" back in my day!) after a rather messy break-up with an ex-partner, it seemed a better way to invest my money!
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Tailor-made Round the World Trip - Janet Casey
Have had a lot of fun this month. It has often been hot, tiring and dirty work, but it has been a fantastic experience, and I am now a huge fan of koalas!
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Tailor-made Round the World Trip - Ann Bunyan
I have worked in communities, got close with nature, met amazing people, embraced terror (extreme adventure activities) and learned about 5 different cultures.
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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, Thailand) - David & Mary Snuggs
We encountered a wider range of people than we ever would at home and have developed a deeper understanding through living and working alongside people from other cultures.
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Africa Travel Stories

Experiences of Botswana

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

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 Malawi

Malawi Teaching & Medical Projects - Marcia Watson
Well it is definitely the rainy season now & the country has transformed as there is now green grass peeping through & all the locals are out in the fields madly planting maize.
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Experiences of Namibia

Namibia Wildllife Sanctuary Volunteers - Pauline Gooding
It was something I had been looking into doing for a couple of years, and I felt I needed to do it before I was too old to enjoy it!!
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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

South Africa Wild Coast Teaching Volunteers - Sarah Blessington
The South Africa team were outstanding; they provided support in, and out of the school environment, and made us feel at home and constantly gave encouragement...
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South Africa Field Guide Course - Anna Lake
A giraffe walked past the school room window - us volunteers got really excited and were rushing for our cameras... the children who see this everyday, were just in fits of giggles!
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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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South Africa Wildlife Conservation Course - Geoff Collins
After a bit of a party most of the group went off the sleep. We then all laid down and stared at the Stars. Saw Juniper and Scorpio and even more than the night before.
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Experiences of Zambia

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 Israel

Archaeology programme in Israel - Nadine Ross
She became a local celebrity when she discovered 264 gold coins dating back 1,300 years.
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Experiences of India

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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Volunteer India Goa Project - Lisa Tumblety
The children were just beautiful and even though they are extremely poor they are really happy children - I will always remember that.
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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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Rajasthan Volunteer Project - Patricia Cuomo
The visit to the Taj Mahal was well up to expectations and the 3 days in Jaipur were very good. We all really enjoyed staying with our host families.
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Experiences of Nepal

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

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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Orangutan Experience, Malaysia - Sally Howse
We were so lucky as we went early morning and it was an occasion when a number of orangutans came to feed including a huge male called Ritchie.
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Experiences of Mongolia

Mongolia Volunteering Experience - Annette Scott
Go with the experience - don't try and fight it. It is a much safer place to be than I expected. Embrace the people, they are kind, generous and intelligent.
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Experiences of Sri Lanka

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

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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Thai Adventure - Sally Howse
As soon as [the elephants] caught sight of the food they practically ran - not a comfortable experience and ever so slightly terrifying if you're on top!
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South America Travel Stories

Experiences of Costa Rica

Costa Rica Schools & Day Care Volunteer - Jo O'Donoghue
You get out of things what you put in. It is certainly a summer that I will not forget in a hurry and is an experience I will repeat in another country in the future.
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Experiences of Guatemala

Guatemala House Building Volunteer - Claire Dean
I really liked being outside doing physical labour with a positive outcome. I enjoyed the interaction with the families we were building for despite the language barrier!
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Guatemala: Spanish School & House Building Volunteer - Nick Sanders
All the kids were helping to paint. The closer we got to finishing the more and more excited they got. So proud, so happy and with such big smiles.
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Experiences of Ecuador

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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Ecuador Spanish Language School - Sarah Collins
I really like my teacher and the school organises lots of activities such as trips out, cooking and salsa classes.
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Ecuador Animal Rescue: Amazon - Janet Sussex
One amazing day trip was a walk up the Cotopaxi volcano; I made it up to the snow line and mountain biked down!
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Experiences of Argentina

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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Eastern Europe Travel Stories

Experiences of Moldova

Moldova Orphanage Volunteer - Sigbjorn Pilskog
She was always a big smile and of course not aware of her serious illness. It's difficult to describe such emotional moments. I believe it has to be experienced!
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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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Australia & New Zealand Travel Stories

Experiences of Australia

Australia: Conservation Volunteers, Tall Ship Sailing - Paul Barber
Although the work could be hard and tiring it was more than compensated for by the fantastic scenery and wildlife.
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Australia: Conservation Volunteers Australia - Terry Palmar
I particularly loved meeting all the other volunteers - such lovely, lovely people, and I hope to stay in touch with some of them!
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