Some wins are handed down from a panel of judges. Others are earned — one adventure at a time, one honest review at a time. This one belongs to the second kind.
We're incredibly proud to announce that Pacific Discovery has been recognized as a 2025 Go Overseas Community Choice Award (GOCCA) Winner — named among the Overall Top Gap Year Providers of the year.
The Go Overseas Community Choice Awards aren't decided behind closed doors. There are no hidden rubrics, no industry panels. Every single winner is chosen by the people who matter most: the travelers themselves.
To earn this recognition, providers must collect 10 or more genuine reviews within the calendar year and maintain outstanding average ratings — across more than 15,000 organizations listed on Go Overseas. Pacific Discovery rose to the top.
This is a merit-based award in the truest sense. It's the sum of every participant who came home changed, took a moment to reflect, and shared their story.
A gap year looks different for everyone. For some, it's the year they finally commit to service. For others, it's the journey that resets their compass before university or a new career chapter. For many, it's simply the year they discover who they are when the familiar is stripped away.
To be recognized as one of the Overall Top Gap Year Providers, Go Overseas evaluated scores across the full spectrum of the gap year experience — from support and housing to fun, value, and safety. Pacific Discovery scored at the top across every dimension.
That's not an accident. It's the result of intentional program design, deeply experienced staff, and an unwavering commitment to creating experiences that are genuinely transformative — not just for a week, but for a lifetime.
Every rating behind this award represents a real person — a student who pushed past their comfort zone in a remote village, a young adult who led community projects across borders, a traveler who came home with more questions than answers (the good kind).
We don't take that lightly. This recognition is a reminder of why we do what we do, and a reflection of the trust participants and families place in us every single year.
If you've been considering a gap year — whether you're drawn to conservation, community development, cultural immersion, or pure adventure — there's never been a better time to explore what Pacific Discovery has to offer.
Explore our programs and enquire today →
Let's find the journey that's right for you.
Posted by Doreen Mesman on April 01, 2026
