Spanish Gap Year - Spain by Train

Name: Spanish Gap Year - Spain by Train
Brand: Spanish Gap Year
SKU: 269232
Rating: 4.65 (20 reviews)

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4.65 Rating

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Location

Spain
- Madrid
- Salamanca
- San Sebastián
- Granada
- Barcelona

Length

4 - 26 weeks

Program Tags

Adventure Travel After College Arts College Credit Conservation Cultural Immersion Drama Hands-On Learning Language Immersion Music Post-High School Social Justice +2

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Program Details

Activities

Canyoning City Exploring Cycling Dancing Mountain Climbing Sightseeing Surfing Trekking Wine Tasting Yoga Ziplining

Timeframe

Fall Spring

Housing

Host Family Hostel

Primary Language

Spanish

Age Min.

Pricing

Starting Price

20000

Price Details

Our Spain By Train program fee is $20,000. This includes:

-Pre-travel preparation: online individual interviews and group meetings
-Onboarding resources: Spanish culture course and language learning subscription
-Access to our online learning & support program and course materials
-Full-board accommodation for the 12 weeks (breakfast, lunch & dinner)
-All transport between locations*
-All classes, workshops and activities
* Does not include travel insurance and airfare

Payment options: to book your place, we require 20% of the program fee. Please contact to us to discuss what payment options are available to you and we can work on an installment payment plan together.

What's Included

Accommodation Activities Airport Transfers Equipment Meals Tour Guide Transportation Wifi

What's Included (Extra)

24/7 support in English and Spanish

What's Not Included

Airfare SIM cards Travel Insurance Visa

Last Updated: Nov 08, 2024

Last Reviewed: May 24, 2024

Wish List

43 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Spain by Train is a 12-week program where you will be immersed in real Spanish culture while you learn Spanish:

-You will visit our capital, Madrid, with its wonderful museums and lively art scene.
-We’ll cycle The Camino de Santiago.
-You’ll take cooking classes in The Basque Country, the foodie centre of the world.
-We will Climb The Picos de Europa, adventure through its canyons and surf the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
-You’ll discover modernist architecture in Barcelona and learn about sustainable agriculture and marine science in Valencia.
-And you’ll experience flamenco music in Granada, with its World Heritage site, The Alhambra.

Spanish Gap Year will be your trip of a lifetime. You will acquire interpersonal and practical skills that will serve you for the rest of your life. You’ll travel by train, the most sustainable form of travel, and experience both Spanish homestays & group accommodation.

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Video and Photos

Sustainable Development Goals: climate action

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Program Highlights

Experience Spanish culture with locals
Learn Spanish while learning local cuisine, dances, history, art and sports
Visit Madrid, Barcelona, Andalusia, The Camino, Salamanca and The Basque Country
Earn 8 college credits from the University of Salamanca
Travel Spain by Train: sustainable travel

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Program Reviews

4.65 Rating

based on 20 reviews

Leave a Review

Rating Spread Gap Year

5 rating 65%
4 rating 35%
3 rating 0%
2 rating 0%
1 rating 0%

Housing 4.7
Support 4.75
Fun 4.45
Value 4.55
Safety 4.95

Good for Students, Foodies, Adventure travelers

Showing 17 - 20 of 20 reviews

Spanish Gap Year is the best way to see Spain, learn about there culture, also while improving or learn Spanish. Being able to live in around a dozen different places in Spain with people with very different backgrounds and lifestyle is a once in a lifetime opportunity. This trip also pushed my comfort levels in a good way and also gave a great opportunity to grow as a person. This program also gave me the chance to make friends that I talk to every day months after the program ended. I’m very glad I went on this trip and I recommend the same for everyone else.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?

I would focus and push my self more to learn Spanish

If you have the opportunity to go, take it! I could have never planned to experience Spain on the level we were able to. I say this because in every area we went to, we were led by locals who were passionate about their homes and very happy to share their culture/experience with us. Whether it was mountain biking, surfing, cooking classes, or guided tours…you can tell every activity and excursion is planned with intention. We didn’t just have fun; we were also given moments to reflect, bond as a group, and expand our perspectives. I carry some of my experiences from the trip into my day-to-day life now that I’m home and I can easily say that I miss it.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?

During one of our cooking classes we made a dish using squids and we baked them in their ink. Pretty different for me but it wasn’t bad!

I felt very cared for by most of the team, all adventures and locations where we stayed were safe and enjoyable. Food was great although you will have to cook for yourself! Which is a great skill to learn over a gap year. Group mates were nice. Spanish experience was incredible and super educational, if you’re looking for an in depth Spanish culture program it’s definitely something to look for. There’s truly nothing else like it. The combination of Spanish education, cultural education, art and history education, sustainability and travel is insane and the price (although a bit high) is worth it for 3 months of travel

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?

We did this amazing canyoning trip and had to jump into ice cold water, slide down slippery rocks and see some amazing views and waterfalls.

This was a fun program where I was able to learn a lot of Spanish very quickly along with exploring almost the entirety of Spain. It was very fast paced but we were able to do and learn a lot. I would recommend it for someone with a love for learning history, language, and culture and a love for adventure. We visited many cathedrals and historical sites, as well as participating in exchanges with Spanish locals, as well as attending a few classes while living with host families. It was a program that really encompassed every single thing to do abroad in one.

Questions & Answers

Staff Interviews

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

What is your favorite travel memory?

There are too many! I think it could be when in this current Spring program, we did a charcuterie board competition as a gapper led activity, which is when a student proposes and design an activity they're passionate about. We were in a beautiful Asturian coastal village called Celorio and we had so much fun!

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

I have found a good balance between control and improvise. When you are working, you want to have everything under control and in this job, I've learned that there are some things (ex: train delays) that will force you to find alternative solutions and improvise. Also, it has allowed me to be more creative in terms of problem solutions, classes, dynamics and learning approaches.

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

The one from a gapper we had in Fall 2023. He came to visit while we were doing the january gap year fairs and he said he was trying to work his way back to Spain because he was so impressed by the culture he wanted to go back and live there! It made me so happy someone appreciated my culture so much they wanted to go back because 3 months weren't enough for him.

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

Spain by Train. I think it gives you a good perspective on how Spain is and allows you to learn a lot about the culture in general: Food, history, experiences, local things, different languages we have here, and also offers a wide variety of adventure activities... Plus, you are staying with host families so you can learn about the local life

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

In terms of uniqueness, the fact that it's the only company that offers a 3-month experience just in Spain to learn in depth about its culture. What I am proud of is the fact that we are have a very effective communication and that we listen to each other's ideas and points of view to improve the company.

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

Being able to listen to your employees and absorb the good ideas they propose. I also believe that having your employees happy has a huge impact on a company's success. If your employees are happy in terms of salary and flexibility, they'll do their job better and will be more invested into the company's culture.

About Spanish Gap Year

Spanish Gap Year is an experiential education organization with HQs in Madrid, Spain. We offer two different gap semester programs: Spain by Train is all about Spanish culture and language, while Future leaders combines internships and entrepreneurship. For further details, please visit our website or follow us @spanish.gap.year