Gap year destinations for 2012
As 2011 draws to a close, thousands of people - young and old - will be thinking about jetting off to sunnier climes in the new year.
Many people will be eagerly planning a gap year adventure for 2012, and counting down the days until the end of their school, college or university year.
But deciding to go on a gap year is the easy part - the hardest decision is selecting a gap year program or planning a travel itinerary.
There are so many options for people eager to explore a different part of the world, and not enough time to visit everywhere all in one go.
As the new year approaches, a number of travel experts have made their predictions for 2012, in terms of the top destinations for UK travellers.
Some of the gap year favourites, such as Australia and New Zealand, are set to be popular as ever, it seems.
Gregg Anderson, general manager of western long-haul markets at Tourism New Zealand, noted that 230,000 people visited the country from the UK last year.
Many come to explore the volcanic landscapes and witness stunning scenery, but others see New Zealand as a home away from home, he claimed.
"UK travellers feel safe in New Zealand as it's relatively small, accessible and a really easy country to travel around. There is no language barrier, we have a stable economy and a low crime rate," he noted.
Where Australia is concerned, the fact that it is a year-round destination means there is always an influx of gap year visitors.
Rodney Harrex, general manager for the UK and Northern Europe at Tourism Australia, said no matter what time of year you visit, there will be great weather to be found somewhere.
"Warm weather is to be found in the southern states between October and March, but when it begins to cool in the south, northern more tropical parts of the country, including the Great Barrier Reef in Tropical North Queensland, are at their best as they are dry, hot and sunny," he stated.
Mr Harrex said the nation offer "unique experiences" in stunning surrounds, with fantastic cities, multiple World Heritage sites and a vast expanse of outback.
A little close to home, African destinations are also likely to be high up the travel agenda in 2012.
Angie Sloan, regional director of the Kenya Tourist Board, said the East African nation is likely to be very popular with Brits, due to the large number of activities on offer.
"From glacial mountains with snow-capped peaks and dramatic river valleys, to spectacular wide-open grasslands and coral reefs along the Indian Ocean; Kenya is a paradise for adventure junkies searching for their next fix," she stated.
"Just some of the adventures on offer in Kenya include, white water rafting - the Tana River is located 95km outside of the capital city of Nairobi and is one of the main white water rafting rivers in the country."
In north Africa, Morocco has plenty of appeal for travellers young and old, according to Jamal El Jaidi, events and promotions manager at the country's national tourist office.
He explained that the majority of Brits come to Morocco during winter time, and mainly to the city of Marrakech.
"There is another category of visitors who come to do the tour of the imperial cities, which includes Meknez, Fez, Marrakech and Rabat," Mr El Jaidi added. "The young couples tend to prefer the outdoor activities in the Atlas Mountains."
Other likely destinations include India, with Lonely Planet author Joe Bindloss suggesting Goa as a travel hotspot for 2012.
And Chris Fuzinatto, director of the Brazilian Tourist Office UK, said Rio de Janeiro is welcoming a wave of new visitors having won the rights to host the World Cup in 2014 and the Olympic Games in 2016.
See the different gap year destinations on offer.
