Location
Multiple Locations +4
  • Austria
    • Salzburg
  • Germany
    • Berlin
  • Italy
    • Venice
  • Czech Republic
    • Prague
Length
2 - 4 weeks
Program Tags
Adventure Travel
Merit-based funding, Payment plans, 529 Plan eligibility
Health & Safety

Program Details

Activities
Backpacking City Exploring Sightseeing
Timeframe
Spring
Housing
Guesthouse Hostel Lodge
Primary Language
English
Age Min.
18
Age Max
23

Pricing

Starting Price
8000
What's Included
Accommodation Activities Airport Transfers Some Meals Park Fees Transportation Wifi
What's Not Included
Airfare Some Meals
What's Not Included (Extra)

Half of the meals on the European Explorer are included in the programs fees. Approximately half of the dinners (15 dinners) are not included in the program fees.

Jul 30, 2024
May 04, 2025
31 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

The European Explorer Program is a structured, three-week, group expedition that resembles the classic European back-packing adventure of old. The Program combines a hands-on study of European history, culture and current events with small group travel on the world famous Inter-Rail train system.

From Amsterdam to Berlin to Salzburg and the Austrian Alps to Venice, Lake Garda and the plains of Northern Italy, the Irish Gap Year team will guide you on this journey through some of Europe's most iconic places. Of course (in true Irish Gap Year fashion) we'll be going far off the beaten track and exploring some of the lesser known, quirky hidden gems of each region.

Program Themes:
~ European Cultural Exploration
~ Independence Building
~ Train Travel
~ Backpacking
~ Self-Discovery
~ Light Outdoor Adventuring

Video and Photos

Diversity & Inclusion 💙

We welcome students from all walks of life and backrounds and have hosted many BIPOC students on our programs.
We welcome students from all walks of life and backrounds and have hosted many LGBTQIA+ students over the years. Ireland and Europe in general are quite progressive with regards to LGBTQIA+ policy, lifestyle and support. Irish Gap Year provides support to our LGBTQIA+ students to help them feel secure and safe during their time with us.

Impact 🌎

Irish Gap Year is a Carbon Negative Company, meaning we remove more C02 from the amosphere through our ecological volunteering than we create as an organization (including student flights to Europe).

Irish Gap Year Director, Ryan Allen is the Chair of the Gap Year Association's Sustainability Commitee and created the Association's Climate Action Plan in 2023.

Program Highlights

  • Tubing in Munich's Isar River in the heart of the city
  • Visit Austria's highest peak, Kitzenhorn and explore the glacier park
  • Fresh Italian Cuisine!

Program Reviews

4.94 Rating
based on 18 reviews
  • 5 rating 94.44%
  • 4 rating 5.56%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Housing 4.4
  • Support 4.9
  • Fun 4.9
  • Value 4.6
  • Safety 4.85
Showing 1 - 8 of 18 reviews
Default avatar
Hazel
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Review

I had a great time on the trip. Met some great people and visited some great places. I’m so grateful I had the opportunity to do it! I knew I wanted to travel going into my gap year, but didn’t want to do anything longer than a month. This 3 week program was perfect for me and the locations were exactly what I had in mind. Venice and Prague had been on my bucket list for a while and it was cool to explore Austria and Montova as well. I’m glad we got to stay in Clarks house and meet Italians and explore an Italian city.

What was your funniest moment?
Member of the group getting stuck in Prague with tonsillitis
Pros
  • bonding with the group
  • visiting new cities
  • free time
Cons
  • hostel in villach
6 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Catherine
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My adventure

I had an amazing time and I got to see the world, eat crazy food, learn new languages and meet new and interesting people. The Irish Gap year staff facilitated a safe and welcoming environment where everyone felt comfortable to be themselves and have fun. We stayed in several hostels and they were all great, within the hostels we were also able to meet fellow travelers. Group activities and trying new things like boating and bouldering. Many laughs and inside jokes were shared on this experience. Thank you so much Irish Gap Year.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
We went up a mountain to a ski festival and it was so cool getting to see all the snowboarders doing tricks and the lively environment. We even played Ninja on top of the mountain which was fun and a way to keep the chill away.
Pros
  • Independence
  • Exploring
  • Trying new food
6 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Anna
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

3 weeks abroad

To be completely honest after having lived in Dublin for two months I was feeling a bit fatigued and was ready to go home. However spending this time backpacking and staying in new locations was almost refreshing in a way! Every single location we visited was beautiful and filled with things to do. I made some wonderful friends who I hope to see as soon as we get home! With such a small group it’s easy to get very close with these people which is exactly what happened with us! I think this program is the perfect way to help get someone out of there shell! Especially new students

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
I tried to branch out a bit on this trip and eat more local foods wherever we were. One thing that I tried and didn’t love was a sardine. not very exiting but I had never had one until then!
Pros
  • Group awareness and travel smarts
  • broadening european knowledge
  • lasting friendships
Cons
  • unpredictable at times
  • long travel days
  • not long enough!!
6 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Alex
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A Irish Gap Year Review

This experience was incredible, not just because of the locations we visited but also the people you got to travel with and meet. And, it helped provide a bit of independence to discover myself. I’d never been outside of the States before, and having this group as a sort of training how to navigate Europe was quite helpful. Made me significantly more confident in being able to embark on independent travels by myself. If you want to be able to hop across Europe and see a wide variety of places and people, the European Explorer program is a great fit.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
Going on a tour of a Soviet Nuclear Bunker in the Czech Republic was definitely surprising but an extremely interesting experience. As someone who really enjoys learning about history, it was very engaging and a singularly unique part of the program this year. And the tour guide grew up in the Soviet era of Czechia, and was hilariously funny.
Pros
  • The Locations
  • La Macchina Fissa
  • The independence
Cons
  • One or two of the hostel beds (A minor con at worst).
  • N/A
  • N/A
3 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Asa
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A formative experience, well worth it

This trip has been a huge highlight of my gap year. We have been to so many amazing places, and the daily itinerary has been jam-packed. We have seen so much beautiful nature and art and have experienced many different cultures and perspectives. I have learned so much about how societies differ in these different places. I have a lot more travel experience under my belt, and I now leave the program with way more confidence in my independence, which is exactly what I was looking for. I definitely recommend this trip.

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
We took a gondola to the top of Salzburg, a mountain in Zell am See. It was very high up, but exhilarating.
Pros
  • Travel experience
  • Natural beauty
  • Unbelievable cathedrals and art
Cons
  • Some long travel days
6 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Allie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Euro Explorer ‘22

This program is amazing at teaching valuable travel skills. We traveled through 4 countries in 4 weeks and got to see so much. I can not speak more highly of the leaders and their adaptability. They all truly do care about each and every student. This program also allows for you to travel without the stress. There is also tons of time to explore on your own or in small groups which adds a much needed independence level. Traveling in a group adds safety and makes everything so much more fun. Throughout the 4 weeks we did lots of city tours and exploring as well as hiking in the alps and swimming. There are a few built in free days but this program is definitely tiring. It is constant moving, living out of a backpack and hostels. It is so much fun but definitely something to be prepared for. Irish Gap Year is an amazing company run and staffed by equally amazing people.

Pros
  • Train travel throughout Europe
  • Structure and social aspect of being in a group
  • Leaders
Cons
  • extra money spent on snacks lunch and meals on free days
  • very tiring both socially and physically
145 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Chloe
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Euro Explorers

The European Explorer program is a chance to explore European cities by train. European Explorers has been a chance for me to learn how to be a solo traveller and be more confident. I have also made amazing new friends and memories. This program is a chance for you to learn how to travel on your own. I think this program has definitely been a struggle in the sense that it can be very tiring but I am so grateful for it as I have grown so much over my time in Europe. I truly have had the best time!

Pros
  • Travel from city to city is paid for
  • Free time
Cons
  • Travelling constantly so can be exhausting if you aren’t up for it
  • Cost (Not all meals are paid for)
157 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Alberta
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

European Explorer 2022

Irish Gap Year’s European Explorer program surpassed my expectations and fulfilled my gap year goals of cultivating independence, making friends/meeting new people and cultural immersion throughout Europe.
Prior to the program I had never travelled abroad and was seriously lacking independence. I had some anxiety about the safety aspect of travel. However throughout the program I felt very safe with the support of our program leaders and my peers.
This program got me out of my comfort zone socially, physically, emotionally, energetically and financially. At the end of this experience I have discovered so much about myself and my personal limits. Additionally, I have grown immensely and made some incredible memories.
The complicated aspects of travel such as making reservations, buying tickets etc we’re all taken care of by IGY. Not having to worry about this component removed a ton of stress for us.
I would strongly recommend the European Explorer program to anyone who wants to build up their independence, travel Europe on their gap year and have a group of peers to travel with!

Pros
  • A group of peers to travel with
  • Not having to worry about booking hostels and train schedules etc.
  • Incredibly thoughtful program leaders who were super supportive.
Cons
  • Long days of train travel were exhausting.
  • I learned travel can be unpredictable, plans that change can be frustrating.
  • The health risk was a con I experienced. I got covid.
140 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers