Going on a gap year has almost become standard practice for post-college students who want to bridge the gap between education and a long life of work. But with more people taking control of their own destiny, rather than following a formulaic career path, a new type of long-term traveller has emerged: the grown-up backpacker. Outbacker, a specialist travel insurer for backpackers and gap year students, has found a 17pc rise year-on-year in 30-somethings taking extended time off to travel. Ciara chats to listeners