Sabbaticals require a hefty dose of bravery and a pinch of planning. Sometimes going it alone can be daunting and you get a big ol’ case of the brain mush – with so many possibilities, where do you even start? I’ve put together these one month sabbatical ideas from things I’ve personally done, with my own tips, hints and suggestions to get you started.
Admittedly, some I did for much longer than four weeks, but they all make fantastic bite size options for your own career break.
So what is a sabbatical and how do I get started?
The genius of a sabbatical trip is that it’s a break from work that’s easy to arrange with your employer – and it’s easy to convince them to told your job until you get back. It may be paid or unpaid leave and it’s a big thank you for working an extended period with that company. Think of it as an adult gap year (or gap month) where you can work, study, volunteer and generally relive being 18 again!
The big question is, however, what to do during your precious sabbatical so that you can get the most benefit. Here are my top suggestions!
Nine one month sabbatical ideas
One month sabbatical getaway trekking in Antarctica
OK, let’s kick things off with the big guns. This truly is the king of all bucketlist experiences. Plus an average Antarctica cruise itinerary is two weeks or more (it takes five days’ sailing each way just to reach the continent), so you’ll need some time.
If you’ve ever dreamed of meeting Emperor penguins, watching a glacier calve or paddleboarding on the seventh continent – now is the time.
How do you do it?
Start with research, research and more research. Or, if you’re lazy, you can just read how I picked a cheap Antarctica cruise. You will need to save a good wedge.
Buy a boat load of cold weather gear and head for Ushuaia, Argentina. A nice buffer of a few days on either side of the cruise is recommended in case your flight or return boat are delayed, so why not check out Argentina’s hot spots while you’re nearby?
One month sabbatical volunteering in Bolivia
Has the thought of helping a charity and giving back got you intrigued? Bloody well done! Mid way through university, I couldn’t quite keep my itchy feet under control and booked an experience in La Paz.
How do you do it?
Like most charity work, booking from abroad (as I did) is the most expensive, and it feels like not too many of the profits reach those who need it. I went with www.icye.org.uk but there are plenty of other tempting options and arranging something locally would be even better.
The project was with an arts and crafts social enterprise that supported homeless youth and prepping all their supplies or supervising their workshops always made me light up inside. What could you do to spread a little positivity in the world? Read more about living in Bolivia here.
One month sabbatical road tripping in Iceland
Stellar landscapes, ice clear waterfalls and incredible remoteness. You want to go to Iceland, but you just don’t know it yet.
With your one month you can stay a while in each of the island’s unique cities – backpacking in Reykjavik, meeting the whales in Husavik on your way from Akureyri and maybe even challenging yourself with the wildness of Isafjordur in the West Fjords – so lost you may see no outsiders for a long time.
All that, and you can drive around the entire ring road stopping at everything from the sapphire Blue Lagoon to the Golden Circle and sleeping volcanoes.
How do you do it?
Well, surprisingly easily. Rent a car and drive on the right hand side. Watch out for tiny bridges which feature a one way route and a blind bend – your horn is your friend here!
In Iceland it’s easy and legal to sleep in your car, which is what I did. You could camp on wild land all around the ring road instead – it was adorable seeing bright little tents pitched on the lawned grass beside every shop and cafe on the road. Those are the budget options, but of course there are hotels and guest houses.
Iceland has large car service stations which include food, microwaves, drinking water and toilets. Between those and large public hot baths, I had everything I needed.
One month sabbatical WorkAway in Australia
It’s flexible and it helps you travel longer – working for accommodation is one of those one month sabbatical ideas that’s really easy to put into practice. It’s a chance to grow skills, see the world and it’s the perfect option if you can’t face budgeting and saving hard for your break.
How do you do it?
After arriving in Melbourne on a working holiday visa, I realised that funds were drying up faster than guacamole at a party with nachos. To cut all that pricey rent out of my budget, I got onto HelpX.net (paid a small joining fee of around 15 euros) and looked for a place where I could stay free in exchange for a little work. You can do exactly the same with the rather more famous workaway.info.
The first place was in Fitzroy and they wanted a little light childcare and cleaning for roughly 5 hours per day in exchange for my bed and board. Not too shabby!
From there I moved to the suburbs and stayed with a lady who was starting her own business, and wanted me to write copy for her. It was a natural fit, so the key is definitely finding a role that really matches your skills. If she hadn’t had internet that ran at pre-millennium speeds, I might still be there. Read more about my work for accommodation experiences here.
One month sabbatical country hopping in Europe
As a European myself, I often appreciate having so many quirky countries just one border from each other. The continent is like a treasure chest of possibility. So how many countries can you set foot it?
How do you do it?
Pick somewhere central and wander and work your way through every neighbour. You needn’t fly, coach trips are a great way to keep exploring. Once you’re in Belgium, you can’t miss a weekend in Luxembourg. If you’re in Italy, Switzerland and Liechtenstein are great choices.
From Prague in the Czech Republic you hit the jackpot with great connections to Bratislava, Hungary, Poland, Austria and Germany. None of these are too far away from the Czech Republic for your one month break.
Once there, why not try the old ‘throw a dart at the map and see where it takes you’?
One month sabbatical touring Spanish festivals
Time your break right and you’ll hit some of the most intriguing ferias (festivals) in Spain and get a delicious taste of Spanish culture.
How do you do it?
My trip started as a three month break with my sister – and then became a year long life in Barcelona. But, it would fit beautifully into a month too.
Start in Andalucia, around the April Festival of Sevilla, where the whole region shuts down for gorgeous costumes and Easter celebrations. After that AirBnB your way up to Madrid to drink in the culture and then end your trip in the north with Barcelona’s beaches, moreish seafood and good times.
In Catalunya you’ll catch the Carnestoltes Carnival (Lent feasting), Semana Santa (Holy Week) or the day of Saint Jordi – something like the Catalan’s Valentine’s Day.
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One month sabbatical youth exchange – Czech Rep
Like young people and fancy a rewarding position? The European Union runs a heap of ‘paid volunteering’ positions for Europeans under 30 – and they’re a must. I stayed for a year, but there are so many 30 day options, too.
How do you do it?
Start with Facebook groups where these local possibilities get posted. Want to tackle climate change in Moldova? Learn about the media in Barcelona? Take on women’s rights in the South of France? Look no further!
One month sabbatical as an au pair in Italy
Have you ever wished you had the freedom to live abroad? Working as an au pair is one of the easiest ways. Your job is to look after one or many little ones, you live in your host’s house and you should be given wages, language learning classes and at least one full day off per week.
How do you do it?
Every experience is different, but my time as an au pair was simple and lower hours than many other jobs. I found my position by popping up my details at Greataupair.com but there are plenty of other good sites too.
And the time off! Dinner in Milanese restaurants, exploring the narrow streets of Verona and watching a bubbling volcano on Stromboli. One in a lifetime stuff. You can read more about my au pair in Italy experience here.
One month sabbatical teaching English in Peru
Does the thought of real jungle make your heart beat faster? How about seeing the Nazca lines or hiking to the top of Machu Picchu? If you’re in for a true adventure, this one is for you.
How do you do it?
I taught for far longer than a month, but there are programmes where you can teach short term and make very good money.
I’d just say – make sure that staying such a short time, you aren;t doing more harm than good. Instead, choose a school where you’ll learn fast and hard and can run intensive classes over their busy summer period.
I got the job in Peru just by asking – emailing my CV to schools I found on Google and then going through a Skype interview. The school found me a homestay and I taught a few classes a day, with plenty of time for sightseeing afterwards.
How to choose the best sabbatical trip for you
So many options!
Start by narrowing down the budget for your trip – this will give you an idea of the part of the world you can afford.
Next, make a list of activities you enjoy that could translate into your microgap or sabbatical – some of the ideas on this page may help.
Finally, have a chat with your employer about the period of time you could take – a month is a great starting point which shows you are both sensitive to their needs and ready to return soon.
Once you have all these elements decided, you should be well on your way to choosing your break!
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Wow, I think I’ve heard of sabbatical before, but I never knew what it really meant – thanks for explaining that! 🙂
I love the idea, and I’m adding a one-month sabbatical in China! The Middle Kingdom, as some know it, is a gigantic country, which requires years to explore, so starting with a month there is great.
I’d recommend visiting Beijing and Guangzhou – if you’re into history – or Yunnan and Yangshuo – if you’re into nature. <3
Country hopping in Europe is all I ever wanted to do. I wish I could get my life in a position to do so. I more than likely would absolutely love that. I will been encouraging it and envisioning it for myself.
Okay your post totally makes me want to immediately go on a 9 month sabbatical so I can do all of these right away! Definitely think I’d love a European sabbatical. Ever since I was a child, I’ve wanted to volunteer for a month or two in East Africa to assist in the healthcare field (I’m a nurse by profession, so maybe I can make this happen someday!)
I wish more companies in the USA allowed for sabbaticals. I think they are a great idea. I would love to do any of the ones you mention especially Antartica. Or teaching English in Peru.