.svg)
Gap Year Programme
India Itinerary
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT + cloud forest + golden triangle
Your 4-week adventure begins in southern India's Fort Kochi, where you'll help children grow in confidence through spoken English lessons and classroom renovation. Weekends are for adventure - cruising Kerala's backwaters and trekking the Western Ghats, before heading north on a Golden Triangle road trip from Delhi to the Taj Mahal, uncovering India's colour, contrast, and heart along the way.
Fort Kochi
Arrive + Settle in
Your adventure begins in Fort Kochi, a coastal gem where India’s spice-trade past meets a creative, cosmopolitan present. You’ll settle into our volunteer house tucked within the fort’s old walls - palm trees swaying, rickshaws buzzing past - and meet the team you’ll share the next four weeks with.
That first evening, tuck into a spicy welcome feast and start to feel India’s rhythm: warm air, laughter, and the scent of cardamom everywhere.Mornings begin the local way — yoga under the palms before a guided wander through Kochi’s kaleidoscope of life: colourful colonial streets, painted doorways, spice markets, and those famous Chinese fishing nets silhouetted against a fiery sunset.
Fort Kochi
Community Project + Exploration
This is where purpose kicks in.
You’ll walk through the gates of your first partner school - greeted by bright faces and curious smiles - ready to help students practise their English through games, stories, and conversation.
It’s not about perfect grammar, but confidence, connection, and laughter as you help them find their rhythm and refine their English accent.
By mid-afternoon, you’ll be free to explore Fort Kochi’s rhythm - weaving through Broadway Market’s spice-scented lanes, joining a football game with locals, or sipping chai by the waterfront as the sun goes down.
Kerala Backwaters
Houseboat Trip + Star-lit Dinner + Beach Swim
After a lively week in the classroom, it’s time to slow down and breathe.
You’ll head out to the Kerala Backwaters for your first weekend - gliding along mirror-still canals on a traditional houseboat, watching village life unfold on the banks: fishermen casting nets,women washing saris, children waving from palm-lined paths.
As dusk falls, share dinner on deck beneath a canopy of stars before sleeping to the soft rhythm of water lapping beneath you. The next day brings pure relaxation on Marari Beach - swim in warm turquoise water, sip fresh lime soda, and let India’s gentler side sink in.
Raksha School
Teaching + Exploration
Your second week takes you to Raksha, a remarkable school supporting children with diverse learning needs.
Here, you’ll get creative - painting, music, sensory play, and endless smiles - helping students build confidence and expression in a way words alone never could.
It’s heart-led volunteering at its best, and you’ll quickly see how small moments can spark real change.
Western Ghats
Trek
Time for a change of pace - and altitude.
You’ll escape to the misty Western Ghats for a three-night trek around Anaerangal Lake, one of India’s most beautiful and biodiverse regions.
Expect trails through tea plantations, spice gardens bursting with cardamom and pepper, and glimpses of tribal village life along the way. You’ll stay in stylish Indian tents, share home-cooked curries, and wake to mist drifting over the hills — a perfect pause between projects. (Moderate challenge level — around 4–5 hours walking per day.)
Kochi
Creative Projects + Celebration
Back in Kochi, it’s time to roll up your sleeves for your final project - transforming classrooms at Raksha with fresh paint, murals, and creative colour.
It’s your chance to leave a tangible mark and brighten the space where future students will continue learning English from volunteers like you.
As your southern chapter comes to an end, you’ll celebrate in style - maybe a Bollywood movie night, an evening of dancing, or a farewell dinner by the sea.
The South will feel like home, but there’s still one final adventure ahead.
Golden Triangle
Delhi + Agra + Jaipur
Now for a complete contrast - the North.
You’ll fly to Delhi and dive straight into India’s cultural heartbeat:·
Delhi – where ancient monuments meet bustling spice markets. Practise yoga at dawn, explore Mughal ruins, and feast on the best street food you’ll ever taste
Agra – sunrise at the Taj Mahal will stop you in your tracks, and wandering AgraFort will make history come alive
Jaipur - the Pink City’s magic awaits. Ride up to Amber Fort, lose yourself in the bazaars, and learn traditional block printing from local artisans.
It’s a whirlwind of colour, chaos, and culture - the perfect finale to your southern serenity.
Delhi
Departure
Your final morning in Delhi is slow and reflective - one last coffee, a fewdeep breaths, and that “can’t believe it’s over” feeling.
You’ll fly home with sand in your bag, colour on your clothes, and a whole new perspective on what it means to travel, connect, and make a difference.
Kickstart your Gap Year
Life’s too short to stay on the side lines. In just 4 weeks, The Leap offers you the chance to make an impact, challenge yourself, and grow in ways you never imagined. Found your perfect Leap? Then book yourself on.
