The Leap Reviews

"It was all I had hoped for and with much more. I felt I had a glimpse of a gap year which is exactly what I had wanted.

I loved staying in the hostel at Monte Verde, testing my nerve on the zip wires and finding I could do it. A great mix of fun and learning."

"My son has just had an amazing 4 weeks in Costa Rica with The Leap. Great organisation of the trip, amazing experiences & views, varied & interesting accommodation, lovely staff and wonderful team mates - would definitely recommend."

"Five Stars to Milly and her team for organising a wholly wholesome and wonderfully colourful time on the paradise island of Sri Lanka for our midlife trip. The well-managed blend of work and play suited me very well.

Each bit of volunteering taught me a great deal about myself and my own strengths: it turns out I can do more and be more than I had realised."

"Coming back from my Leap adventure, I honestly feel like a different person. Volunteering, travelling, and living alongside amazing people from all over the world taught me more than I ever imagined. It pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best way, gave me lifelong friends, and showed me the kind of impact we can make when we work together. It’s the best decision I’ve ever made."

"Exceeded my expectations. The accommodation at Tekanda Lodge was top notch as was the delicious food. The charity aspect was very rewarding and enjoyed the activities especially yoga before breakfast.

Great to see the work assisting artisan tea plantations in the Central Highlands after the beache phase. Just fabulous."

"Throughout we were looked after with kindness and thought. Gently pushing us out of our comfort zones from where I feel we all flew away from our cosy safe nests. In all this I think the Midlife Leap is very clever.

We were able to experience a country, get under the skin of it and see it properly, feel comfortable without it seeming we were on a ‘holiday’. Which we weren’t.'

"The Leap Organisation is a professionally run outfit with excellent staff here in the UK and with the Leapers abroad. The trip to Costa Rica was so well organised, great programme and fantastic experiences.

I would highly recommend and our second daughter is looking at trips for summer 2025. Thank you so much for everything. Our daughter has made memories and friends for ever."

"Our personalised itinerary had everything we asked for and more; we wanted our pupils to really immerse themselves in the local community and complete acts of service which would be genuinely meaningful and the Leap more than delivered.

I never expected a school trip to be SO magical.  I cannot recommend the Leap and the Kenya experience more highly.  They have given us memories to cherish for a lifetime."

"This trip was far more than just an adventure. It challenged us in ways we hadn’t anticipated, opening our eyes to different ways of living and requiring us to be resilient, organised, and adaptable.

It’s given us a new perspective on the world, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to make a difference, even in small ways."

"I just wanted to let you know that I’m safely back in the UK and missing Costa Rica already. A huge thank you to you though, as I had an absolutely wonderful time – everything was so well organised, and so comprehensive.

All the volunteering was great and I felt enriched by the end of it and well prepared for the little bit of solo travelling I did. I’m so so glad I went and will really treasure the time I spent there."

"The last five weeks have been the best of my life. The amount of incredible memories made and beautiful people met is amazing. Such an eye-opening, unforgettable adventure, something everyone should experience."

"Just wanted to drop you a note and say from the bottom of my heart how fabulous our trip to Peru was. It was the perfect combination of challenge and fun, mixed together with a bunch of amazing women and life-affirming experiences. It was a privilege to be part of the group."

"Although this is from a personal point of view, I wanted to share the great personal development this trip gave me. I believe travel and any unknown/unusual environments affect and shape any individual. It altered my being in a way I find hard to articulate, it changes and challenges you more than any 9-5 working existence ever could."

"The most brilliant company for gap year trips - would highly recommend - organised but also independent - two of mine have done it now and had the best time."

"A huge thank you for all you have done. Ines has had an amazing time - I would say life changing in a way. She is even talking about applying to become a team leader after university. I know how much effort goes into all of this and you do it so smoothly."

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"The trip was out of this world; we have exhausted ourselves working out with Milly the adjectives which might encapsulate our feelings after the adventure of a lifetime.

I definitely feel different to how I feel after a great holiday as this trip made me dig deep personally to haul myself up those high hills in the thin air and  I was very taken aback by my reaction to the communities and the way of life of so many people that we met."

"I absolutely loved The Leap Midlife Sri Lanka trip. It was such a tonic. There was a real sense of adventure but without any associated hassle.

Milly and the Sri Lankan team couldn’t have been any more helpful or accommodating; nothing was a problem and they were also excellent company. I felt bereft when the trip came to an end and I’m so delighted to have done it I would definitely book with The Leap again."

"I genuinely didn’t think I would get the opportunity to backpack again and feel like an intrepid teenager. We were able to stay, visit and get involved with local NGO projects in areas not usually accessible to the average traveller."

"Our daughter has had the most amazing time in Kenya, The Leap group have been fantastic with details and organisation throughout, I always felt we were in good hands.

The breadth of volunteering and involvement has been wonderful to see and I know this will have changed her life forever. Thank you"

"I think the programmes you are offering may well change the course of their lives not only for the future of the planet but also by giving them opportunities to work hard together at the same time as having fun.

Huge thanks and congratulations, I’m telling everyone how fantastic you are."

"The lost city trek was amazing –  loved all aspects of it and really enjoyed the trekking and team aspect. Very helpful when we had an issue with a lost bag before the programme had even started, thank you that was much appreciated."

"Well where does one start with The Leap. First of all a big pat on the back for my daughter in finding them on Instagram. She booked her trip to Colombia and met her fellow Leapers for the first time at Heathrow.

OMG what fun she had, so much so she booked on to the Costa Rica trip. She has made friends and memories of a lifetime. Massive thank you to Milly and Zoë – your pre-departure Zoom chat, your email confirming arrival, weekly reports and fab pics. What more can we ask for as anxious parents? Truly spoilt but worth every penny. We can’t thank you enough."

"This is a fantastic gap year programme which two of my children have enjoyed in Kenya. They’re kept busy every day but loved that they were doing something really valuable for local communities. In their free time they have fantastic fun and make friends that last well beyond the trip itself."

"What surprised me most about the Midlife Leap was the incredible camaraderie. We arrived as strangers but left as true friends, bonded by the challenges, the laughter, and the shared sense of adventure. It reminded me how important it is, at any age, to step out of the routine and connect with like-minded souls. I feel re-energized, inspired, and part of something bigger."

"This trip has left me with a group of life long friends from around the world, experiences that will affect me forever and skills to help me through life.

Everyday was a new adventure, from building hatcheries for turtle eggs to teaching English at a local school to playing volleyball with the Costa Rican coast guards to watching a turtle lay eggs. I would highly recommend this trip."

"Our daughter had a trip of a lifetime in Africa with The Leap. She met life long friends and had incredible experiences. Her only complaint was that the programme was too short. Thank you to Alice and Milly for all their help and expertise along the way."

"Having not been backpacking at the traditional backpacking age this Midlife Leaper’s trip was an opportunity too good to pass up. It was a chance to leave the husband and kids behind, to experience a little bit of what kids do while travelling and to spend quality time with girlfriends, old and new."