Gap Year in China

All travelers need to acquire a visa from a Chinese Diplomatic Mission or Consulate in their country for entering or visiting China. There are a few Visa exempt countries as well passport holders of which are allowed to enter and stay in China for a period of up to 90 days while nationalities of Hong Kong, Macau are given the option of either acquiring a visa or a permit prior to their travel, depending on their nationality. Here’s all you need to know about the Chinese Visa application procedure.
 

Whatever suits you best! It’s completely your choice whether you want to go for a soul-searching solo adventure or some roof-raising time with your bunch of BFFs, or have a romantic getaway with your partner- our programs will accommodate you in any which way. If you are coming in a group of more than 5, we can also provide you with customized packages as well as amazing discounts.

Most of our adventure tours do not have a single supplement. This means that accommodation will be provided on a twin sharing basis, and if you are traveling alone, you’ll be sharing a room with another one of GDA’s traveler of the same sex. What could be better than bonding with your new travel mates and making amazing new friends along the way of your journey? 

Some tours have optional single supplement for couples and solo travelers and a private room can be availed at an extra cost. The cost and details vary by trip so we suggest you to get in touch with your coordinators regarding the same beforehand. 
 

If you’re traveling alone you’ll find some awesome travel mates along the way, and if you’re coming in a group, then you’ll get a chance to add a few more crazy adventurers into your gang. In case you want to get in touch with others who are traveling to China, you can join our Facebook Group and chitchat with your fellow travelers!
 

You need to buy your Medical and Travel Insurance before setting out for your trip. GDA also provides the insurance facilities, at an additional cost.
 

We advise our participants to get in touch with their physicians regarding vaccination requirements and get the ones as instructed. Apart from routine vaccines, like your yearly flu shot, Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, MMR vaccine it is recommended to take shots for Hepatitis A&B, Polio, Malaria, Typhoid, Rabies and Japanese Encephalitis for traveling in China. If you’re traveling to China from a country that is at risk from Yellow Fever then you’ll need to show proof of your immunization against Yellow Fever.  
 

You will need to carry extra money for personal expenses, add-on tours, eating out while traveling in China. For basic personal expenses, a budget of 40-45 USD per week is more than sufficient barring the extra costs of add-on activities. If you’re planning on using credit/debit card in China, it is advised to let your bank know about your travels beforehand so that they don’t suspicious of your account activity. We also advise all our participants to keep an emergency fund of 200 USD only to be used in case of any emergencies, if one arises. 
 

You will be on the move a lot so our advice for you is to pack light. A mix of casual wear and layering is generally the way to go when you’re visiting China. Winter in Northern China might be a bit of a weather-shock for some of you traveling from tropical countries cause it gets quite cold around these months (November-March). Heavy double layered jackets, woolens, fleece, and windbreakers are a must to keep yourself warm.

Southern China’s winter is comparatively mild and snow is quite rare as well. A pair of sweaters and some full sleeved shirts and t-shirts of warm fabric will do the trick! The summer months are long and hot with plenty of rainfall and some great sun as well. It gets really sticky and humid, so casual clothing in cotton or any other breathable fabrics should be on your packing lists. Consider keeping an umbrella or a rain jacket as summertime in China also means heavy rainstorms. 
 

Yes! We always advise our travelers to get some pre-nights and post-nights booking done if they want to explore more upon arrival or continue with their travels after the tour ends. In most cases, we can arrange additional accommodation at our starting or ending hotels, excluding European tours. If we are unable to provide you with the extra nights we will give you the name of a hotel you can contact directly. Please also note that extra accommodations must be booked outside of 30 days of departure.
 

Most of our adventures, apart from the volunteering programs do not include Airport transfers. We advise our travelers to arrange for a Taxi on Arrival as it is the most economical and efficient way to go about this. If you would prefer a pre-arranged transfer, we can provide the same for you at an additional cost from your point of Arrival. Do get in touch with your coordinators for more information.