'Snap years' look great on CVs
When it comes to exploring new and exciting destinations, travellers no longer need to take a full year out to reap the full rewards of their adventures.
Tom Hall, travel editor at Lonely Planet, said shorter breaks are becoming more popular and still have personal and professional benefits.
Indeed, in the past, younger travellers may have opted for a gap year to volunteer abroad and enhance their career prospects.
Now however, those with less time and money are choosing snap years, perhaps heading abroad for a few months instead of a whole year.
Mr Hall said snap years can look great on a CV, as people completing these kinds of trips need plenty of "get up and go" as well as strong organisational skills.
Quizzed on the most popular destinations for snap years, he said tours in South East Asia are likely to be big this year.
India and Nepal could also be attractive to travellers on a budget, as they offer excellent value at the moment.
"Indonesia is another destination that's attracting more visitors than it has for a few years, who are venturing beyond Bali to islands further east to meet Komodo dragons and leave the crowds behind," Mr Hall remarked.
Central Asia and the Middle East could also see an increase in visitors this year, he predicted, pointing out that countries such as Jordan and Egypt will be working hard to "woo" travellers with their ancient attractions.
As for getting around during Asian adventure holidays, overlanding is a great option, as it allows travellers to get off the beaten track and into the heart of the countries they're exploring.
Trekking can also be ideal for those planning longer trips and hoping to mix with local people, especially if they camp out and take part in homestays.
Mr Hall said treks often require the support of local people, and are therefore a great way to put something back into the local community.
These real life experiences and local interactions can then be used to make a CV or job application stand out from the crowd.
