Mind the Gap..

Thousands of teenagers nervously opened an envelope on their future this week as the country's A-level results were released.

And college leavers across the country will be using their fistful of As (fingers crossed) to bribe their parents into shelling out on exotic trips to far flung corners of the earth.

But it isn't just the kids that are choosing to head away for extended periods. In recent years, the number of grown ups deciding to press pause on their careers for a year out has grown enormously with more and more adults travelling shoulder to shoulder with school leavers in pursuit of adventure and relaxation thousands of miles from home.

The arrival of university top-up fees has also had an impact on gap year travellers. Many more young people are choosing to take a gap year to find out if they are in fact cut out for their chosen degree course because university is such a big financial commitment. "After a year spent on a hospital placement in Ghana, you'll really know if you're cut out for medicine." says Tom Griffiths, founder of year-out specialists Gapyear.com

The gap year market is clearly thriving, so where are travellers going? Big new destinations include South Korea, where the capital Seoul has emerged as a popular destination when visited as a pit-stop en route to Australia - an age-old hot spot for gappers. 2005 saw the land down under issue close to 103,000 backpacker visas.

Inter-railing around Europe is also very popular due to the great value tickets available – InterRail.com's Global Ticket is valid on 30 railway networks across Europe and the month-long pass costs £431 for an adult and £288 for a 'youth' ticket (ages 12-25).

Such is the myriad of different options available for the prospective gapper, that planning a year away can be daunting. Several specialist websites cater for gap year travellers and offer wide ranges of well-organized, and potentially life changing experiences. Gapyear.com is the UK's largest backpacker information site and offers in-depth advice and booking for placements that range from teaching and conservation in Sri Lanka to white-knuckle thrills in New Zealand.

Prices can vary a great deal depending on what you plan on doing. Volunteer placements are most expensive – they usually last a couple of months and cost between £1,500 to £2,500 with average gap year spends ranging from £3,500 up to £6,900. But the price is certainly worth it for the experiences gained – particularly for young travellers looking to make choices about their career.

Overland tours are another option. A great way to meet people, they also enable travellers to see large parts of a country from ground level – and offer a hop-on hop-off freedom that a placement just can't provide. Naturally, if you are away for a whole year, you will have plenty of time to run the gamut of gap year activities – provided you have saved hard enough or can persuade a generous donor to fund your trip.

So, whether you are a student taking time out before the big university plunge, or a 'denture adventurer', here are a few ideas from Tom Griffiths to help kick-start your imagination plus TravelMail's own top tips for getting the most out of a year away...

Top five gap year getaways (in no particular order)...

Trek to Everest Base Camp
Location: Nepal
Operator: VentureCo
You haven't got time to get yourself all the way up to the top of the world, but a trek up to the famous Base Camp is stunning enough.

Sports Development Expedition
Location: Kenya
Operator: Camps International
Spend time teaching and coaching sport to the very, very enthusiastic people of Mukurumuji Camp in Kenya's Shimba Hills National Reserve.

Take the Trans-Mongolian Express
Location: Moscow to Ulaan Bataar
Operator: The Imaginative Traveller
One of the greatest train journeys on the face of the planet. Notoriously difficult to arrange independently though, so take a tour, lose the hassle and see a lot more.

Learn to dive
Location: Thailand
Operator: Personal Overseas Development
Thailand is a great place to learn to dive. The industry is well established there, the prices are low and the seas are beautiful.

Conservation close to home
Location: Scotland
Operator: Worldwide Experience
Just because it's in the UK, doesn't mean an abundance of squirrels are the only highlight. This project lets you work with bears and wolves in the Scottish Highlands.

Essential tips for gap year travel...

Insurance: 1 in 3 backpackers travel without insurance, but it is hugely important. Medical costs can be huge and crippling if they have to be paid privately should something go wrong while you are away.

Don't overspend on kit: It's easy to splash out on the snazziest Arctic-ready rucksack, when in reality something much more affordable will suffice.

Vaccinations: Arrange your vaccinations at least 6 weeks before you intend to travel.

Find out where your Embassy is: If you are going to spend quite a bit of time in any one country, it is worth finding out the location of the British Embassy in case of lost documents or cash.

Check the Foreign Office website: The political situation might change in your chosen destinations during your time away. To be safe, check the Foreign Office's list of 'don't go to' countries. http://www.fco.gov.uk/

Organize your documents: Make copies of your passport (including visas), insurance, and ticket details. Leave these copies along with your itinerary and contact details with friends or family.

For more information on any of the gap year tours and placements listed above, visit www.gapyear.com