Page 3 iGap travelguide 2023
P. 3
iGap Travel Guide
Taking a gap year is all about independence and discovery – cramming as much as possible
into those 12 marvellous months is a great way to see the world before immersing oneself in
the world of work or university. If you want your experience to be as culturally and historically
diverse as possible, there’s only one destination for you: Europe.
In recent years, a cliched rite of passage has emerged amongst youthful travellers who are
opting to take a year out to travel across Southeast Asia, Australia or even the U.S. Yet, with
world-leading transport links and 45 independent and unique countries sprawling across
200,000 square miles (much larger than the U.S.), Europe’s breadth of cultural vibrancy and
hop-and-go accessibility are undoubtedly unrivalled by any other continent.
With a short-stay Schengen Visa, you can travel between some of the world’s most
fascinating cities as freely as your heart desires. You could be chowing down on fish and
chips in London one afternoon, eating croissants in Paris the next morning, and partying in
Berlin’s best techno clubs that very night – without the need to travel to any airports. Paving
the way for an evolved way of travelling, the visa enables country-hopping all year round as
many of the exciting destinations are only a couple of hundred miles apart.
In this edition, we aim to provide plenty of insight and inspiration for your year abroad by
showcasing a wide range of different travel opportunities found across the continent. Tatiana
Tsierkezou introduces the beautiful beaches, history and culture of her native Cyprus. Ieva
Staveckaite takes you on an adventure to budget-busting destinations across Eastern Europe,
including a country she holds close to her heart: Lithuania. Jonathan Price explores wild
camping opportunities across Scandinavia. We also share the many highlights of some of
Europe’s most popular destinations such as Amsterdam and Iceland. We hope you enjoy.
EDITOR’S
LETTER
James Drakeford
Editor in Chief
Taking a gap year is all about independence and discovery – cramming as much as possible
into those 12 marvellous months is a great way to see the world before immersing oneself in
the world of work or university. If you want your experience to be as culturally and historically
diverse as possible, there’s only one destination for you: Europe.
In recent years, a cliched rite of passage has emerged amongst youthful travellers who are
opting to take a year out to travel across Southeast Asia, Australia or even the U.S. Yet, with
world-leading transport links and 45 independent and unique countries sprawling across
200,000 square miles (much larger than the U.S.), Europe’s breadth of cultural vibrancy and
hop-and-go accessibility are undoubtedly unrivalled by any other continent.
With a short-stay Schengen Visa, you can travel between some of the world’s most
fascinating cities as freely as your heart desires. You could be chowing down on fish and
chips in London one afternoon, eating croissants in Paris the next morning, and partying in
Berlin’s best techno clubs that very night – without the need to travel to any airports. Paving
the way for an evolved way of travelling, the visa enables country-hopping all year round as
many of the exciting destinations are only a couple of hundred miles apart.
In this edition, we aim to provide plenty of insight and inspiration for your year abroad by
showcasing a wide range of different travel opportunities found across the continent. Tatiana
Tsierkezou introduces the beautiful beaches, history and culture of her native Cyprus. Ieva
Staveckaite takes you on an adventure to budget-busting destinations across Eastern Europe,
including a country she holds close to her heart: Lithuania. Jonathan Price explores wild
camping opportunities across Scandinavia. We also share the many highlights of some of
Europe’s most popular destinations such as Amsterdam and Iceland. We hope you enjoy.
EDITOR’S
LETTER
James Drakeford
Editor in Chief
