Watch: ‘I’m on a gap year at 31 – it’s never too late to travel’
A woman taking a solo gap year at the age of 31 hopes to help ‘break’ the stigma that travel is only for the young.
India Jolly, from Plymouth, Devon, had always wanted to travel around South East Asia, but every time she had the savings to go, she ended up going back to university to study.
After taking a temporary maternity cover job as a curator at a museum, she took the opportunity to save up to travel and booked her flights before she could change her mind.
Jolly saved £11,000 for the trip and left for Bangkok, Thailand in June 2024.
She hopes to travel through Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam for four months before heading to Australia on a one-year work visa.
“It’s something I’ve wanted to do since I was 20,” she explains.
‘It’s something that’s always been in the back of my mind, but whenever I’ve had the chance to save up to travel, I’ve gone back to university.
“It still feels quite surreal.”
Jolly first caught the travel bug when she spent five weeks in America after graduating with a degree in history in 2016.
After seeing an elephant sanctuary on social media, she wanted to travel to Asia, but Jolly struggled to save.
“I started my master’s degree in history and completed it in 2019,” she explains.
“Then it was the pandemic. I wasn’t having a good time, so I went back to college.
“I completed a master’s degree in heritage in 2020.”
After a year of finding a job, she knew this time she had to take the plunge and book a flight before she could change her mind.
She spent the year planning and saving and left on her trip in June 2024.
Jolly hasn’t booked anything in recent weeks in case she makes friends along the way and her route changes slightly.
“I’m looking forward to going to Chiang Rai to see the temples,” she says.
“In Cambodia I want to do Angkor Wat.
“And they have giant rats trained to find unexploded bombs.
‘I have a big list of museums.
“I just like learning things.”
India wants to inspire people to travel, regardless of their age.
“There are so many assumptions,” she says.
‘There is an assumption that you should get married at 30 and have children who don’t travel around.
‘I try to break those expectations.
“Societal pressure is all in our heads.”
The rise of the gap year for adults
After completing their studies, many recent college graduates consider taking a gap year before the real adulting begins, but taking time out to travel isn’t just for adolescents.
A recent survey of over-50s by travel insurer AllClear shows they are planning to travel more than before, while a further poll from Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) found that almost four in ten over-60s are throwing caution to the wind and booking the trip of your life.
But what’s driving this rise in mid-career travel?
Rob Burley, travel tour operator expert and founder of GP Traveller, says there are numerous reasons why adults take time off later in life rather than straight after university, with many having the financial freedom to do so.
“Many travelers I meet along the way want to be financially stable before embarking on their big trip,” he explains. “This way money worries don’t get in the way of adventure!”
Having a little more life experience is another potential factor. “Adults often feel better prepared for challenges after they’ve been alive for a while,” Burley continues. “And can adapt better when plans change.”
For many adult travelers, some mental health and well-being factors also play a role.
“As professionals climb the career ladder, the pressure and demands can lead to burnout, causing people to take a step back and reassess their life priorities,” explains psychologist Barbara Santini.
“Unlike a young person’s exploratory gap year, adults often use this time for important personal transformation or to escape the rigors of their routine work lives.
“Another factor is the demographic trend of delayed milestones,” Santini adds. “Adults today, especially in Western societies, are reaching life milestones such as marriage, owning their own home and raising children later than previous generations. This delay provides a unique window in which a gap year becomes feasible and attractive later in life. “
Of course, this trend is also supported by changes in workplace dynamics and the digital revolution.
“The increase in remote work options allows individuals to explore the world or spend time on personal projects without sacrificing their careers,” Santini continued. “Additionally, there is a growing awareness and prioritization of work-life balance, which encourages taking breaks for personal development and health.”
Tips for starting a gap year for adults
Strategic planning: It is critical to plan carefully to limit the impact on your career trajectory. “Discuss possible sabbaticals with employers or consider transition points between jobs,” Santini advises.
Goal-oriented activities: Choose activities that align with your long-term goals. “Whether it’s further education, volunteer work or travel, make sure these activities enrich your personal or professional growth,” says Santini.
Financial preparedness: Create a robust financial plan to finance your gap year. “Consider the cost of travel, the cost of living, and the possible absence of a steady income,” Santini suggests. “Financial planning can make the difference between a stressful gap year and a satisfying one.”
Network maintenance: Santini recommends staying in touch with professional contacts and maintaining an active presence in your professional community even when you are away. “This connectivity will ease the transition into the labor market,” she adds.
Flexibility is key: Expect bumps and embrace them. “Keeping an open mind allows you to fully experience a place,” Burley advises.
Seize the day! Be open to new people and adventures. “Some of my best memories came from spontaneous moments,” he adds.