Gap Year Programme

Leap to India

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT + Hiking + Backwaters + GOLDEN TRIANGLE

Few places burst with life quite like India. The colours, the flavours, the sounds, the sheer energy - it's everything you imagine and more. But this Leap takes you beyond the usual backpacker trail, deep into the lesser-known South where history, community, and purpose collide.

Your home base? Fort Kochi - the fabled port city once at the heart of the world’s spice trade. Here, you’ll spend three weeks living within its ancient walls, volunteering in two local schools where the students are eager to practise their spoken English. Your time will be spent sharing conversation, confidence, and creativity - helping to build real bridges between cultures. From coastlines to cloud forests, this journey is all about contrast, energy, and impact. You’ll experience the buzz of beach life, the calm of misty mountains, and the thrill of wild rainforest - all while getting stuck into hands-on conservation and community projects that matter.

Outside the classroom, weekends open up a different kind of classroom as you trekking through the tea plantations of the Western Ghats, drift along the Kerala backwaters, and soak in the coastal sunsets over the Chinese fishing nets that have become Fort Kochi’s iconic skyline.

And just when you think you’ve seen it all, the adventure shifts north. Your final week sweeps you through the Golden Triangle - Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra - immersing you in India’s most famous landmarks and the remarkable contrasts between North and South. India will dazzle you, surprise you, and change the way you see the world.

Programme Summary

available months:
Jan + Oct + Nov
COST:
2026 £3250, 2027 £3550
Locations:
KOCHI + MUNNAR + DELHI + AGRA + JAIPUR
Accommodation:
Mix of Hotels + camping + volunteer housing
Stay Length:
4 weeks
Environments:
vibrant cities + cloud forest + beach
Team Size:
8 per departure
Social:
Buzzy City Life
FITNESS:
Multi-day mountain hikes
PROJECT TYPES:
Education + community development

Programme Dates + Prices

India Gap Year Nov 26
November 6, 2026
4 weeks
£3250
India Gap Year Jan 27
January 17, 2027
4 weeks
£3550
India Gap Year Oct 27
October 22, 2027
4 weeks
£3550

What's included

  • Pre-departure briefing
  • The Leap t-shirt
  • Airport pick-up and return transfers for team flight
  • Safety and induction briefing on arrival
  • 24-hour emergency back-up, management and support by UK and in-country team
  • All volunteering projects as described
  • Project-to-project transport
  • Accommodation as described
  • Entrance fees to all activities
  • Meals as described
  • 3-day trekking  in the Western Ghats
  • Internal flight to Delhi
  • North India tour

What's not included

  • International flights + visas
  • Private transfers to and from the airport if you do not arrive on the main team flight
  • Travel insurance and medical expenses
  • Food and accommodation if away from the programme
  • Alcoholic drinks and some soft drinks
  • Laundry fees 
  • Any excursions not listed
  • Meals as described on the Golden Triangle tour and beach trip
testimonials

Our reviews speak for themselves

“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.”
OLIVIA
“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”
INES
“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.”
SARAH

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.