Thailand, Laos, Vietnam & Cambodia Gap Semester | Pacific Discovery
- Thailand
- Vietnam
- Cambodia
- Laos
About Program
Experience an inspiring travel semester abroad on this Southeast Asia gap year program through the Buddhist countries of Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia.
Join us on this epic journey through the remote minority villages of Laos, the diverse landscapes of Vietnam, the world-famous Cambodian temples of Angkor Wat, all the way to the stunning beaches of Southern Thailand. This 70-day gap year semester offers you an enriching fusion of community and animal rescue volunteer projects, cultural immersion, Thai cooking, Buddhist meditation, snorkelling, and of course, non-stop adventure!
Southeast Asia can’t be beaten for the sheer diversity of cultures, histories and landscapes in a geographically small area. Your days will be as varied as the countries you visit, with a fusion of hands-on volunteer work with elephants, connecting with locals during homestays, camping under the stars on an overnight rafting trip, and good doses of jungles and beaches.
Video and Photos
Diversity & Inclusion
BIPOC Support
LGBTQIA+ Support
Neurodivergent Support
Accessibility Support
Impact
Sustainability
We recently embarked on a Net Positive Benefit project where we are qualifying what impacts our groups have on the local communities, taking into consideration carbon emissions +/- social impacts +/- conservation impacts +/- community impacts. On our programs, students engage with non-profit organisations such as Litter Intelligence, Scholars of Sustenance, Ulu Mau puanui, Llama Pack project where they directly work for a better future - planting trees, eradicating invasive weed species, helping local communities and food banks.
Ethical Impact
Program Highlights
- Volunteer in service learning projects in Elephant Conservation
- 2-day rock-climbing and caving introductory course in Northern Thailand
- 3-day Buddhist meditation retreat run by Thai monks in Chiang Mai
- 2-day riverboat journey down the Mekong River
- 3-days hiking and boating in the amazing jungle, rivers and lakes of Khao Sok National Park, Southern Thailand
Response from Pacific Discovery
Dear Hanna,
Thank you for submitting a review. We really appreciate your feedback and are sorry to hear that you felt misled or that the group-structured elements of the program were not what you were looking for in your semester abroad experience.
We find that well structured programs allow for our students to fully immerse themselves in the country, culture and activities during their travel while also ensuring the cohesiveness of the group. As part of our detailed itineraries, the service learning component is a highlight of the trip and are planned around the expressed needs of the community or non-governmental organizations we partner with.
The health and safely of all our students is paramount and decisions are made on an individual basis. In order to deliver the best possible experience for the group, we employ behavioral contracts and uphold these when required. We are sorry that you feel your situation was not managed to your satisfaction.
Wishing you all the best, Zach Johnston, Director.