Hi I am a 16 year old guy from the UK. Who wants to take a gap year out after college before I go to university. I really need help on how you start to plan an around the world travel, I also need help on places to go or places to see. And what types of transport shall I use .Thankyou

Hi - where do you start - research, research, research

First you need to draft an itinerary of wher you want to go and what to see. This forum should inspire you with many ideas. Other forms of inspiration are the old Palin programmes. Take a walk to to a book shop and peruse through the rough guides and lonely planet guides for ideas.

Once you have a few ideas of where you want to go, you will need some flights to get you there. Most people book RTW flights, however there are many types so it's best to ge the one that will meet your travel requirements. In the UK STA Travel and Roundtheworldflights.com are specialist in these sort of tickets.

You will also need to look at:

- Travel insurance (you will need the 'backpacker type')
- Medication and vaccination to cover the areas you visit (Malaria, Yellow Fever)
- Determine Entry and Exit requirement when visiting countries in the itinerary This may include providing proof of vaccination, showing proof of your onward travels and needing a Visa. whether you need to arrange a Visa in the UK, or can get online / on arrival, if so at which entry point

- plan your budget before booking this stuff and establish whether you will need to work on-route to subsidise further travel. If so you will need to think about where you are allowed to work also.

I'll highlight some things I thing you should not miss (based upon my travel experience)

North America

Niagra Falls
NY
Yellowstone National Park
Las Vegas
Universal Studios (LA)
San Diago Zoo

South America

The Pantanal and Amazon
Iguassu Falls (makes Niagra look like a toilet flushing)
Itaupu Hydroelectic Dam (largest Dam in the world)
Salar Uyuni (Salt Flats in Bolivia)
Inca Trail (Peru)
Pategonia (Trek W at Torres Del Paine National Park) - also see Perito Moreno Glacier

Austrailia:

Red Centre
Cairnes region (Great Barrier Reef and beaches)
Surfers Paradise

South East Asia

Thailand:

Elephants in the North (Chang Mai)
Bangkok - Imperial temple (dont see too many temples though, you'l get templed out) Better go to Cambodia for other temples
Beaches in the South

Cambodia:

Siem Riep (Angkor Watt Temple Complex)

Malaysia

Beaches in the North (Langkawi)
Pennang / Georgetown
Kuala Lumpur (Amazing City)
Western Peninsula (Sarawak and Borneo - Treck Mount Kinabalu)

Indonesia

Volcanoes and Beaches

That should get you started.

Haha, you UKers, you need to give more information young sir! What are you interested in? Nature or big cities? The Americas or Asia? The Med? The world is your oyster, you just need to narrow it down a bit and we can give you some specific advice

Hey Jake

What a great idea! Just make sure that you actually keep the motivation to go back to uni after... haha. Unlike myself, I'm sure you will!

The first response to your post was excellent. I agree completely. But don't forget to check flights, airfares, accommodation etc that are offered AT STUDENT RATES. You will need an International Student Indentification care. An "ISE". Check it out!