Gap Year Leaps

academic growth + personal wellbeing + lifelong transformation

Thrive. Flourish. Connect.

The Leap is your essential Gap Year investment.

Beaches and bars? Easy. But if you’re craving purpose, adventure, and impact, The Leap is your launchpad.

Designed as the perfect start to your gap year, a Leap is a 4-week journey that takes you off the beaten track and into the heart of real-world experiences. Rooted in Challenge, Culture, and Contribution, and powered by the strength of a like-minded team, you’ll live and work alongside local communities, build resilience, and come home with a deeper sense of self and the world around you.

This is where your gap year begins - with meaning, momentum, and memories that matter.

Kenyan children playing with a teenage girl on an an adventure gap year programme with The Leap to Kenya

Your Launchpad: to a Meaningful Gap Year

Sure, you could spend your gap year drifting between beaches and bars, but deep down, you’re looking for more. You want to grow, to test yourself, and to experience the world in a way that leaves a mark, not just on you, but on the communities you meet.

That’s where The Leap comes in.

Designed as the perfect launchpad for your gap year travels, The Leap takes you off the typical route and into real-world adventure. You’ll live and work alongside local communities, contribute to conservation and education projects, and gain the confidence, resilience, and global perspective that will shape whatever comes next.

Many of our Leapers continue travelling afterwards, only now, they’re more streetwise, independent, and ready to travel responsibly.

Cambodian school kids playing tug of war with a Leaper on a Gap Year adventure with The Leap

Camaraderie: The Power of the Team

No one takes a Leap alone. You’ll join a team of like-minded people your own age—bringing instant connection, shared energy, and a sense of belonging from day one.

Together, you’ll face challenges, celebrate the wins, and create memories that stick. This team dynamic is at the heart of every Leap, building friendships, confidence, and a supportive environment that makes the whole experience genuinely life-changing.

“The Leap were amazing from start to finish. Always on hand and super supportive. A truly brilliant experience for my daughter after a gap year that hadn’t gone to plan.”

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A person viweing machu picchu in peru on a gap year leap to peru with the adventure programme company The Leapu

Feel Good, Go Further

A Leap is designed to boost your wellbeing, helping you reset, recharge, and reconnect with what matters. Through outdoor adventure and meaningful projects, you’ll build confidence, resilience, and a real sense of purpose.

Alongside the personal growth, you’ll gain valuable skills and achievements—like the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award and UCAS points, that help your university applications stand out.

It’s a journey that supports your mind, body, and future - all in just four unforgettable weeks.

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Gap year kids having fun on a community programme with The Leap

We've Got You – Start to Finish

From the moment you join a Leap team, we’re by your side. We’ll guide you through flights, visas, vaccinations, and insurance, taking the stress out of prep. Before departure, Milly hosts a team Zoom to run through everything from packing lists to safety tips and SIM cards, so you feel ready and confident.

Once you’re on the ground, our experienced guides are with you 24/7, living alongside you, managing logistics, and keeping everything running smoothly and safely. And if anything comes up, our UK team is just a call away.

Seamless, supported, and stress-free, just the way travel should be.

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Every journey leaves a mark. Read about the experiences that changed lives.

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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.
jessica - Costa Rica GAp
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I really appreciated the personal contact that your company provides. I have already highly recommended you to friends and family and will continue to do so (we came to you through a friend, whose sister went to Costa Rica with you a couple of years back).
Mum - cambodia Gap
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It was a great preparation for the next step – living independently at University. And it boosted her capacity and confidence to travel independently enormously.
Mum - Colombia Gap
google reviews 4.9 stars
We’re not here to offer holidays. We’re here to offer transformation.

Through challenge, contribution, and real connection, The Leap is your launchpad into the world, beyond the tourist trail, beyond your comfort zone, beyond the ordinary.

Explore Our Gap Year Leaps

Each Leap programme is intentionally located in some of the most vibrant, adventurous corners of the world - places that spark connection, and curiosity. Whether you're drawn to beaches, jungles, or highlands, our destinations are the perfect base for impact and exploration.

Even better? They're designed to set you up for independent travel afterwards, so once your Leap is complete, you're already in the right place to keep going, with the confidence and connections to do it your way.

Peru Gap Year

Peru Gap Year

HIGH Andes + Amazon Jungle
4 weeks

Discover the ultimate contrast on this 3-week adventure through Peru’s dramatic landscapes. Trek the soaring Andes to iconic sites like Machu Picchu and Rainbow Mountain, then plunge into the vibrant depths of the Amazon rainforest. Immerse yourself in rich Incan culture, contribute to impactful projects, and experience two breathtaking worlds in one unforgettable journey.

"Trekking to Machu Picchu was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and the Amazon took my breath away. I felt like I truly made a difference."

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Colombia Gap Year

Colombia Gap Year

Canyons + jungle + Beach
4 weeks

Brace yourself for a 4-week adventure packed with adrenaline, culture, and jaw-dropping scenery. Trek through the lush Central Highlands, dive into vibrant Colombian culture, and make a real impact through community volunteering. Then, take on the epic Lost City Challenge, a trek through ancient trails and misty jungles, before unwinding on the stunning turquoise shores of the Caribbean.

"The Lost City trek pushed me beyond my limits, but the sense of achievement was incredible. Colombia’s beauty and culture were unforgettable."

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Costa Rica Gap Year

Costa Rica Gap Year

JUNgle + CLoud FOREST + Beach
4 weeks

Embark on the ultimate 4-week, 4-location adventure where conservation meets pure adrenaline. Protect baby turtles on pristine beaches, work on forest and wildlife projects in lush jungles, then switch gears to surf epic Pacific waves, zip-line through soaring jungle canopies, and chase breathtaking waterfalls. Experience the thrill of Costa Rica’s incredible biodiversity while making an impact you’ll never forget.

"Costa Rica was a dream come true! From saving baby turtles to zip-lining through rainforests, every moment was unforgettable."

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Cambodia Gap Year

Cambodia Gap Year

city + Jungle + BEACH
4 weeks

Start your adventure living in Siem Reap for two weeks, exploring the ancient wonders of Angkor Wat and helping with impactful social enterprises that change lives. Then, hit the road for an epic journey into the heart of hidden Asia - venturing into jungles, searching for endangered dolphins along the Mekong, and ending with sun-soaked days on the serene Rabbit Island.

"Cambodia opened my eyes to a whole new world. The projects, the people, and the adventures were life-changing."

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Kenya Gap Year

Kenya Gap Year

beach + bush
4 weeks

Get ready for an unforgettable 4-week adventure in Kenya with our award-winning NGO partners. Dive into marine conservation, protecting vibrant coral reefs and sea life, while contributing to life-changing community projects along the stunning Indian Ocean coast. Then, shift gears for a thrilling safari in the legendary Tsavo National Park, where vast landscapes and iconic wildlife create unforgettable moments.

"From snorkeling with dolphins to seeing elephants in Tsavo, Kenya was beyond my wildest dreams. I left feeling confident and inspired."

explore kenya gap year
three camels in Diani, Kenya, walking along a white sand beach.
A safari land cruiser approaching a herd of Zebra in Tsavo National Park, Kenya.
Leapers having fun in a pool with The Leap
Children riding bikes on a dirt track - Adventure programmes for gap years with The Leap
image of a turtle swimming in the water - one of the sites on a travel and lifechanging adventure with The Leap

Make Your Gap Year Count: Discover, Grow, Explore

A gap year is more than just time off, it’s a chance to explore the world, gain real-life experience, and discover who you are.