Good news Gappers, we are sending gap year students overseas through Leap team programs or Leap VIP, our travel resource to help the independent traveller.
So, get in contact with the experts in pandemic travel and plan your gap year.
Travel with a team of leapers to experience a dynamic volunteering and adventure program.
Seeking travel advice to support my independent, travel plans.
Struggling to help the gapper with their travel plans through covid? We can help.
Dear Gappers and Parents,
Against all the odds, we are one of the few companies to have sent hundreds of gappers away last year to glorious destinations across Africa and Central America either through our team programs or through our lockdown hero Leap VIP. Travelling responsibly and being covid aware being at the forefront of our mind.
How have we done this you might well ask, when the country was in lockdown? Well, it wasn't easy but it was exciting, involving the HOUSE OF LORDS, confirming that Leap programs were legally permitted through the volunteering, education caveat, BESPOKE INSURANCE to cover FCDO advice, EXTENSIVE RISK ASSESSMENTS, with our overseas partners abroad, LEAP TEAM BUBBLES and the COLLABORATION of many supportive families.
Ultimately we learnt to be nimble and solution orientated to keep up with the ever changing hurdles of PCR tests, border closures, flight cancellations, red lists and quarantine. I think we can officially say we are now covid travel experts.
We are immensely proud of what we have achieved, rescuing many projects from the brink of collapse and are all set for the class of 21/22 gappers. Sadly we predict the covid chaos is going to be with us for some time, so we are poised to help you navigate and get away.
What we propose you do is join Leap VIP, our travel resource, which will give you all the latest travel advice, a zoom chat with me to mull over your plans and if you know you want to do a Leap program – put your name down as soon as possible, no-one likes to be on a waiting list.
Watch this quick video so you can meet us, hear about how we set ourselves apart and our covid travel experience: WATCH VIDEO
Milly Whitehead
Co-founder
Travel knowing your safety and the logistics are being taken care of. All our programs are supported by project leaders who are on duty 24/7, guiding and supporting the logistics and team dynamics.
So you can travel responsibly
That was important pre-covid but now our message has come into its own. Never have we been so busy, especially as we have found safety-minded and responsible solutions to navigate the new world we live in. But the message is simple don't dilly dally - word has got out that we are covid travel experts so get your name on our lists.
Experience dynamic and responsible travel programs, carefully crafted to combine country highlights with a mix of 'off-the-beaten-track' rigorous projects and adventures.
Let us help you navigate the ever changing admin required for airports and customs.
Travel as part of a team of like-minded volunteers providing a guaranteed social scene and great campfire moments.
We are opening up more leap gap year programs every month, so keep popping back to see what's happening. We accept any applicant that meets our selection criteria (see booking conditions) and we feel comfortable they are compatible with the program.
Firstly and most importantly - ask yourself If you want to travel independently, with a team and what environment you are after.
The independent backpacker wants to travel with utter freedom, making decisions daily and changing them on an hourly basis.
They are happy to make friends pool side, arrive in new places
with no plans, staying in random places and not worried about routine.
Happy to travel alone or with a friend or 2. Is this you?
Pack animals love meeting new people from all walks of life but walking cold into a hostel night after night isn’t their thing. They need more structure, a plan and in the perfect world a ready-made family of friends to make them happy. The structure gives confidence and comfort for both the gapper, and the parents left at home. Sounds about right?
It's never too early to start planning your gap year - a good place to start is to complete our gap year quiz which will help you work out where in the world you would like to discover.
When do you want to travel. What do you want to
spend your time doing? Do you intend to work, volunteer, or be a free spirit? Are you looking to bolster your CV?
Read our detailed blog on how to plan your gap year here
Covid has really got in the way for travel choices but it's forced us to be creative and opened our eyes to some fantastic lesser discovered destinations. Currently the top destinations for 2022 are:
Central America
Costa Rica - perfect for the cloud forest, beaches, surfing and pura vida.
Guatemala - perfect for Mayan ruins, culture, Lake Atitclan and Antigua.
Mexico - Gapper favourite for beach life and Mayan ruins.
South America
Peru - perfect or culture, Macchu Picchu and Lake Titicaca
Ecuador - perfect for volcanoes, Amazon and Galapagos.
Colombia - perfect for Caribbean, culture, Lost City trek and adrenaline activities.
Argentina - perfect for wine, Iguazu Falls and the Perito Moreno Glacier in Patagonia.
Africa
Kenya - perfect for beach, bush and wildlife.
Namibia - perfect for wilderness, wildlife and conservation
Traditionally, people tend to take a gap year after finishing their A levels and before starting university, but it is becoming popular to take a gap year after finishing university. Both have their pros and cons. However, if you are uncertain what to study at university, taking a gap year can help you decide. In fact, 60% of people taking a gap year stated that doing so helped them with their decision.
While some people worry that taking a gap year early will compromise their education, 90% of gap year students go on to university after they return and 66% of university students said taking a gap year made them take their academic work more seriously.
If you are thinking of taking a gap year before university, then that shouldn’t stop you from applying for university. You simply apply for a deferred entry, which means that you are considered for the following year, or you can ask for a deferment after you have received an offer. Around 7% of UCAS applicants defer their entry to university.
Got a shorter time frame on offer? Go in your university summer holiday and take a 4 week trip with us.
Remember, although we are calling it a gap year, your gap year experience doesn’t necessarily have to take a full 365 days.
Perhaps you only
have a few months of free time. Neither must you decide on a single gap year
experience. You can mix and match several similar or very different
experiences. You can consider back to back gap year programs or take a break,
for instance, to earn some money to finance your next gap year experience.The great thing about gap years is how flexible you can make it to suit your ever changing schedule.
Ah, the age old question.
Money – it’s probably the most important thing to consider before you start planning your gap year, and the most common question we get asked. Ask yourself… do you have enough money? Will your parents help or perhaps match what you earn? We suggest that you need to earn about £300 per week and you will spend between £200 - £250 per week when travelling. Asia is cheaper than South /Central America and Africa.
It is a fact that if you’ve earned the money yourself, you will have more
ownership of your gap year planning, your parents will be thrilled, and
you will make the most of every minute available – just saying...Nothing feels as good as when you have saved every penny for it.
Read our blog here to discover how to fund your gap year and handy hints along the way.
As we know, travelling in the pandemic era is not as simple as it once was. There are now forms needed to enter a country, forms to exit a country, covid testing to be done and that's before you've even arranged your flight.
We have created the brainwave that is Leap VIP - a consultancy service for the independent traveller where we are here to guide and advise you through our VIP service. From phone calls, to zoom calls to unique itinerary planning as well as the all important entry requirements and exclusive access to the corporate team at Trailfinders who will be able to give you personal service while advising on your flights.
Part of what makes Leap VIP so special is that we can put you directly in contact with our in country hosts who get you right into the heart of the country, off the beaten track and mixing with local people and the local culture they are proud to share. This is part of what allows us to crete unique experiences for our Leap VIP members.
Become a Leap VIP member here
