ARCC Gap: Pacific Islands - Fiji, Sumatra & Bali

My experience with Pacific Islands Gap Semester was one for the books. I've made dear friends that I seemed to get more and more closer with as the trip went on. In addition to that I loved waking up knowing I was going to do something that I've never gotten the chance to do before. We've seen orangutans, swam with dolphins, had dinner with a Balinese princess, drank kava with in a remote fiji village and then proceed to have a massive dance party with the whole village. Everyday the program was throwing these exciting opportunities like these in my face and I was all for it.

This trip has been an eye opener on so many different levels. I have learned how to be a team member with lots of different people and how to adapt to my surroundings. I had the opportunity to see wild, endangered orangutans, help plant trees in the rainforest, cook national cuisines, try new fruits, swim in the beautiful bodies of water, and more. I also have new friends who I will forever remember. I feel more confident in my social skills, and more intrigued by different culture. This experience was 10/10.

I had an incredible experience with the ARCC Pacific Island Gap Semester Program! From start to finish, it was an enriching and transformative journey. The program’s focus on community service, cultural immersion, and environmental conservation allowed me to connect deeply with the local culture and the natural beauty of the Pacific Islands.

The trip was perfectly structured, balancing meaningful volunteer work with adventure and exploration. Whether it was restoring coral reefs, working with local communities, or hiking through lush jungles, I felt like I was truly making a positive impact. Hadley and Katherine were experienced, supportive, and fostered a safe and inclusive environment for personal growth as the trip leaders.

One of the highlights for me was the opportunity to learn about the indigenous cultures and histories of the islands we visited. The hands-on experience, coupled with the opportunity to bond with fellow participants, created lasting friendships and memories. I gained valuable skills in teamwork, leadership, and environmental stewardship that will stay with me for years to come.

If you’re looking for an adventurous, meaningful gap year program that combines service, culture, and nature, I highly recommend the ARCC Pacific Island Gap Semester!

If you are looking for some time to reflect on yourself and discover portions of yourself, this is a good trip for you. If you are looking for adventure, there is also a solid amount of that here as well. Its not so intense, its just right to spend time away from home and learn about different cultures and become tougher as a person. My instructors were great, really spectacular people to be around and it was great to have met them. If I see them after the program I will be really happy. I also felt really safe in their hand.

I want future participants to know that they should not hesitate when choosing this program. ARCC is fun, fresh, and festive, and you will not regret embarking on this wild ride. Fasten your seatbelts as you meet some of the coolest people in the world and find yourself on a life changing (in a good way) quest. The treasure chest waits at the end…will you make it? The answer is yes, and there is certainly a lot of gold to be found.

I’ve had such an amazing time on this trip, and it’s like nothing I’ve ever done before! I absolutely loved our leaders, John and Gillian, and our group was amazing. My favorite parts of the program were our home stays. They allowed for such deep cultural immersion and everyone we met was so friendly. The snorkeling and scuba diving is next level, especially when layered in with learning about reef health. If you want to have the best gap year ever, choose this program! You won’t regret it! And if you somehow do, you’ve still done some cool shit!

John and Gill are literally the lights of my life dude. I have no clue what I’m gonna do in the world without them to be there to do everything for me. if you want a program where the instructors do everything for you, you should do an ARCC trip. it’s like having two really cool baby sitters that baby sit adults taking you around the world and showing you great stuff. they teach you, they guide you, they shape you, they make you fly.

the program was pretty cool too. i did things i never thought i would do. i went places i never thought i would go. i grew in ways i never thought i would grow. do this program to have the time of your life, bro.

This was one of the coolest things I’ve done in my life. I am going to go back to college with so many new perspectives and skills that I know I am going to climb to the top and start my own business and make it big. If you want to have a good time and make it big like me, do this gap year. You can also look into getting my course, a course I developed during this gap year working with the instructors and local partners, to help people have the best time and get rich and be happy all while doing it from a villa in Bali. #WinnersCircle