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EF Gap Year - The Globetrotter

EF Gap Year - The Globetrotter

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EF
5 · 10 reviews
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EF

 5 · 10 reviews
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Location
Multiple Locations +3
  • Costa Rica
    • Samara Beach
  • Japan
    • Tokyo
  • Italy
    • Rome
Program Tags
Adventure Travel College Credit Cultural Immersion Hands-On Learning Language Immersion Post-High School Study Abroad Volunteer Abroad
Payment plans

Program Details

Activities
City Exploring Surfing Wine Tasting
Timeframe
Fall Spring
Housing
Apartment Hotel
Age Min.
18
Age Max
22

Pricing

$12,000
Price Details
EF’s Gap Year is a once-in-a-lifetime experience designed for unmatched value. Your $12,000 program covers far more than travel—it’s a fully curated journey. Enjoy immersive language classes in every destination, 2–3 weekly cultural activities, and epic weekend excursions that bring each city to life. All flights, transfers, and airport pickups are seamlessly handled, while premium housing—EF Student Residences—keeps you comfortable and connected. With 24/7 global support, personal mentorship, and built-in travel protection, every detail is covered. From flights and housing to cultural deep dives and lifelong friendships, EF ensures a transformative, world-class adventure worth every moment—and every dollar.
What's Included
Accommodation Activities Airfare Domestic Airfare Airport Transfers Equipment Meals Tour Guide Transportation Travel Insurance Wifi
Jun 11, 2026
Jan 29, 2024
Wish List
20 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Spend 12 unforgettable weeks abroad with The Globetrotter, EF’s multi-destination gap semester through Tamarindo, Rome, and Tokyo—three iconic cities that define adventure, culture, and growth.

In Tamarindo, Costa Rica (Weeks 1–4), surf Pacific waves, volunteer in sea turtle conservation, and hike rainforest trails to Rio Celeste.
In Rome, Italy (Weeks 5–8), explore the Colosseum and Vatican, craft pasta and gelato with locals, and visit Pompeii.
In Tokyo, Japan (Weeks 9–12), dive into neon nightlife, discover peaceful shrines, and take the bullet train to Kyoto’s temples and tea houses.

Travel with a close-knit EF cohort, live in student residences, and enjoy weekly cultural activities plus weekend excursions. With flights, housing, 24/7 global support, and optional U.S. college credit included, The Globetrotter is more than study abroad—it’s a transformative global journey designed to expand your world.

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Program Highlights

  • Earn college credit while traveling the world! With EF Gap Year, you’ll immerse in language and culture, make lifelong memories, and return home with optional accredited credit toward your degree.
  • Our global teams handle all-things accommodations, from activities and excursions to flights, courses, transportation, and so much more! All you have to do is focus on making the most of your year.
  • EF Gap Year is accredited throughout the U.S. by six of the country’s most respected organizations. We are proud to meet their rigorous standards for educational excellence.
  • Global Community – Travel with students from 100+ countries, build lifelong friendships, and join a worldwide network of peers who share your passion for exploring the world.
  • Explore three continents through unforgettable adventures, from surfing in Costa Rica to neon nights in Tokyo and historic ruins in Rome.

Video and Photos

Video thumbnail Play Video
EF Tamarindo campus in Costa Rica with a pool surrounded by palm trees, lounge chairs, and tropical buildings where students live and study abroad.
EF Gap Year students arriving at the EF Tamarindo campus in Costa Rica, walking toward the entrance surrounded by palm trees and tropical sunshine.
EF Gap Year students on the beach in Tamarindo, Costa Rica, posing with a bright pink EF surfboard after a surf lesson, smiling under the sun by the ocean.
A group of EF Gap Year students smiling and posing together in front of the Colosseum in Rome on a sunny day, enjoying their study abroad experience.
Three EF Gap Year students sitting outdoors at a café in Rome, enjoying espresso and juice while surrounded by cobblestone streets and local culture.
Inside the EF Rome campus, featuring elegant high ceilings, ornate frescoes, and a modern study lounge where students gather between classes.
EF Gap Year students in Tokyo learning how to make sushi with guidance from a Japanese chef, practicing cultural traditions through hands-on cooking.
EF Gap Year student visiting Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion in Kyoto, Japan, taking in the tranquil scenery and reflecting by the temple’s peaceful pond.
EF Gap Year students enjoying Japanese street food in Tokyo at night, laughing together while trying local dishes like ramen and skewers under the city lights.

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Impact 🌎

Bringing sustainable practices to the heart of our business starts with understanding the full scope of our carbon footprint. To do this, we joined forces with a global leader in carbon accounting and voluntary climate protection projects: myclimate.
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Program Reviews

5.00 Rating
based on 10 reviews
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  • Housing 4.9
  • Support 4.7
  • Fun 5
  • Value 4.9
  • Safety 4.8
Showing 9 - 10 of 10 reviews
Ellie
Female
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Growing Experience

Aug 7, 2019

Overall I had a fantastic time on the trip. I did the first semester abroad, traveling to Barcelona for my language module and the Dominican Republic for my service module. The tour guides were great for both the welcome tour and the Dominican Republic. I loved living in Barcelona and the amount of freedom we had to explore the city. The organizations we worked with in the Dominican Republic were amazing and overall taught me so much. While my language skills only minorly improved, I feel as if I gained so much independence and confidence because of this trip. The EF staff were also very caring and good communicators, consistently checking in with all of us individually. I think this program though is really about what you make it. I believe that it is important to push yourself and actively participate.

What would you improve about this program?
I think we were all a little bit overwhelmed when we were taken to our various cities and all separated after the welcome tour. I think prior to being dropped off for our first module we should be better educated about the transportation system and where we will be living.
309 people found this review helpful.
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Eliza
25
United States
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing Semester!

Dec 26, 2018

I truly enjoyed my travels with the EF Gap Semester. The staff were all fantastic, especially my tour director of Europe. I went to Barcelona to attend Language school and to the Dominican Republic for service, and I loved them both. Living on my own in Barcelona was a highlight, as I learned a lot about living on my own as well as public transportation. I also learned more Spanish than I could’ve even imagined! When I first got there, I could hardly form a sentence and could only speak in present tense. By the time I left, I was able to have casual conversations and order in Spanish. I gained so much from both experiences, as well as my time on the Welcome Tour and my time at Ashridge. Each piece was very well thought out and I felt safe the entire time, but the directors also weren’t overbearing, we had a lot of freedom! It was an amazing experience! I had trouble adding photos to this, but you can check out some photos from this trip on my gap year instagram @travel.gapyear

What would you improve about this program?
It was the first year, so there were some kinks that could be worked out, particularly with the meals on the welcome tour, but overall it was a fantastic experience.
206 people found this review helpful.
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Questions & Answers

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Helen Abbott

Program
EF Gap Year - The Globetrotter
Job Title
Student Life Coordinator
Helen started her journey with EF as a student on an EF Gap Year program. This inspired her to get involved with the industry and eventually travel as support staff for the programs, acting as a mentor for gap year students!

What is your favorite travel memory?

On EF Gap Year's Voyager semester program last spring, I worked as a Student Life Coordinator. The whole trip was full of incredible memories, but the last day of the program really stands out for me. We wrapped up the 10-week tour in Osaka, Japan, and spent the whole day together as a group, recapping the semester, reflecting, and saying goodbyes. That evening, our entire group of 30 gathered in a park and took turns giving final words and praise for eachother. It really hit me how much EACH student had grown, and I could see myself standing in their shoes just 5 years back. This was the start of the rest of their life post-gap program, and I could tell they had gained so much confidence, independence, and self worth. There were many tears and heartfelt goodbye hugs, and I'll never forget it!

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

I started my adventure with EF around 6 years ago, and I truly think that this company has helped me grow in every aspect, not just professionally. I am constantly inspired by the way that our team truly cares for eachother, for the world, but most importantly, for our students! I have gained an understanding of how creativity, collaboration, and attention to detail can truly shape an experience, and I have seen this play out for countless gap year students.

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

I had one student who was re-applying to colleges during her gap semester because she wasn't satisfied with her options. As a Student Life Coordinator, I was there for her through this process- talking through ideas, helping proofread essays, and encouraging her. While I was on my flight home from the program, I got a text from her that she had been accepted to her TOP school- The Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC! I was so excited for her, and I know that her gap experience (and the way that she was able to reflect on it) helped bolster her application and prepare her for college.

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

If I could go on another program with EF Gap Year, I would choose to do the full, 23 week Gap Year program. This program has it all. The first semester is spent traveling all around the world, hitting Europe, Australia, Thailand. DREAM itinerary. The second semester, students get to choose a more independent path, either studying language at one of EF's global language schools (I'd probably choose Barcelona) or doing an internship in Stockholm, Sweden. The Gap Year gives you the chance to build your travel skills and independence AND the chance to flex your new confidence.

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

My company is unique in a lot of ways, but I'd say that one thing I always find incredible is the size of our reach. EF has over 52,000 employees worldwide, so my coworkers and I have connections everywhere. There are so many opportunities for our staff to get out in the world and not only visit our student groups on the road, but to visit global EF offices as well. I am always proud of my team for being so globally connected and making an effort to understand other cultures and befriend folks from around the world.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

Safety is EF's #1 priority, and this certainly shines true on our gap programs. Each program has two dedicated staff on tour with student groups-- a Tour Director and a Student Life Coordinator. These staff are available any time of day or night, and are both in tune with the local setting of each destination as well as with the needs of each individual student. I supported students through the ups and downs of being away from home, created an atmosphere of emotional safety and belonging on the road, and acted as a mentor and role model for my students. This attention to detail and attention to each individual student, is what makes EF Gap Year great.

About EF

EF is a global leader in international education, offering life changing language and cultural immersion experiences for all ages across more than 50 countries. The company was started by Bertil Hult, a university student with dyslexia, in the mid 60s when language travel was radical. He opened Europeiska Ferieskolan, later on shortened to EF, and...

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