Claim your free diploma worth $785 with High School Special bookings >
Request Info
Volunteers on a global gap year visit Machu Picchu on a weekend trip in Peru.

Global Gap Year Abroad

Volunteer your way around the world on our epic Global Gap Year group trip

Ready to break free from the ordinary and embark on a life-changing adventure? Join us on our epic Global Gap Year program, designed for students seeking an extraordinary experience before, during, or after college.

This is not your average gap year. Over 28 unforgettable weeks, you'll traverse the globe, exploring six diverse countries across three continents alongside a vibrant community of like-minded adventurers.

We've got all the logistics covered, from immersive volunteer projects to thrilling excursions, so you can simply soak in every moment.

Picture this:

  • September to December: Dive into hands-on volunteer work and cultural immersion in vibrant destinations.
  • Winter Break: Enjoy a well-deserved break to explore independently, embark on side adventures, or reconnect with loved ones back home.
  • January to March: Continue your global journey, discovering new landscapes, cultures, and friendships.

With 24/7 support from our dedicated team in each country, you'll feel confident and empowered every step of the way. This is your chance to:

  • Make a lasting impact through meaningful volunteer projects
  • Immerse yourself in diverse cultures and expand your horizons
  • Forge lifelong friendships with fellow global adventurers
  • Discover hidden gems and create unforgettable memories
Travel the World with Projects Abroad

Global Gap Year Overview:

Peru: 1 - 28 September 2024  

  • 2 weeks Conservation work in the Amazon Rainforest
  • Visit Machu Picchu
  • 2 weeks Community Outreach work around Cusco and the Sacred Valley

Ecuador - Galapagos Islands: 29 September - 26 October 2024

  • 2 weeks Giant Tortoise and Sea Lion Conservation
  • Weekend trip to Santa Cruz
  • 2 weeks Teaching and Community Work

One week independent travel

Kenya: 3 - 16 November 2024

  • 2 weeks Giraffe and Lion Conservation at Soysambu Conservancy
Conservation volunteers on safari in Kenya

Tanzania: 17 November - 14 December 2024

  • 2 weeks - your choice of project in Arusha
  • 2 weeks - your choice of project in Arusha
  • Weekend Safari

Three weeks independent travel

Nepal: 5 January - 8 February 2025

  • 3 weeks Building in Kathmandu
  • Weekend trip to Pokhara
  • Safari in Chitwan National Park
  • 2 weeks Conservation Project in Chitwan National Park

Cambodia: 9 February - 15 March 2025

  • 2 weeks Childcare in Phnom Penh
  • 1 week of exploring and relaxing in Siem Reap
  • Tour of Angkor Wat and surrounding temples
  • 2 weeks Public Health in Phnom Penh

What will I do on this Global Gap Year program?

On this organized group gap year, you’ll get the chance to volunteer in six different countries across three continents. You’ll work closely with our local staff members, learning about issues that affect the local community and making a positive impact everywhere you go. But it’s not all work and no play. You’ll also go sightseeing, have cooking lessons, and experience the local culture!

Trip Highlights:

  • Join Conservation Projects in the African Savannah and Nepal.
  • Care for Animals in the Amazon Rainforest and preserve the fragile coastal ecosystem of the Galapagos Islands.
  • Explore ancient temples at Angkor Wat and marvel at the Incan ruins of Machu Picchu!
  • Go on safaris in East Africa and Nepal.
  • Learn practical healthcare skills with Public Health outreach work.
  • Work with children on Teaching Projects and at Community Events.
  • Visit remote communities with Microfinance and Human Rights Projects.

See below for more details about what you'll do in each country:


What you’ll do in Peru

Volunteers exploring the Amazon Rainforest with staff
  • 2 weeks Conservation work in the Amazon Rainforest
  • Visit Machu Picchu
  • 2 weeks Community Outreach work around Cusco and the Sacred Valley

Travel to Puerto Maldonado and then take a boat ride deep into the Amazon Rainforest, where you'll spend the first two weeks living and working at the Taricaya Conservation Project. Care for animals, support their release program, and help with farming and maintenance. You'll also conduct research and collect turtle eggs from riverbanks.

After two weeks, visit the magnificent lost city of Machu Picchu! After several days of hiking and exploring ruins, your group will travel to the Amazon Rainforest.

For the second two weeks, join our staff in Cusco, Peru. You’ll have daily Spanish lessons and tours of the local sights. At the same time, you'll join community events to teach and care for disadvantaged families. You can help with renovation work for classrooms and local facilities. 


What you’ll do in Ecuador - Galapagos Islands

Volunteers cleaning a beach with sealions around them
  • 2 weeks Giant Tortoise and Sea Lion Conservation
  • Weekend trip to Santa Cruz
  • 2 weeks Teaching and Community Work

You'll fly to San Cristobal and support the Giant Tortoise and Sea Lion Conservation project in this unique location. Our partnership with the Galapagos National Park gives us exclusive access to the wilderness Darwin once studied. The work is hands-on, with the added benefit of learning from expert conservationists. You’ll do things like:

  • Monitor and survey wildlife, including Giant Tortoises at a breeding center, and sea lions and birds out in the wild
  • Help control invasive animal species that threaten Indigenous wildlife, which is critical for environmental stability
  • Eradicate alien plant species and help local plants thrive
  • Support the community by participating in beach clean-ups and raising awareness of how people can protect animals and the environment

During your final two weeks here, you'll also have the chance to volunteer with children on the island. Help children learn through play, run educational games, and teach English. You can also work with small groups of kids in the community for sports coaching.


What you’ll do in Kenya

A volunteer surveying giraffes at Soysambu Conservancy
  • 2 weeks Giraffe and Lion Conservation at Soysambu Conservancy

Experience the ultimate African adventure by living and working in the heart of the savannah at Soysambu Conservancy for two weeks. Support Giraffe and Lion Conservation work in Kenya. You’ll get hands-on experience and learn from expert conservationists, while doing things like: 

  • Research endangered species and monitor local populations
  • Set camera traps
  • Raise awareness about the importance of protecting the environment
  • Remove invasive plant species
  • Maintain natural water holes for the animals
  • Build hides for bird watching and observing wildlife

Each day, you will get to explore the savannah and see wild animals around every corner!


What you’ll do in Tanzania

Microfinance volunteers working with local women
  • 2 weeks - your choice of project in Arusha
  • 2 weeks - your choice of project in Arusha
  • Weekend Safari

Travel by private bus from Kenya to Tanzania! You'll live and work around Arusha, at the base of Mt. Meru, for four weeks. The city is located near the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Park.

Join two projects for two weeks each. Choose from:

In addition to your projects, you’ll also enjoy cultural enrichment through a basic Maasai Language Course and be involved in a community development project. This provides a fantastic way to get to know local people and immerse yourself in the culture. Over the weekends you'll visit local markets and spot wild animals on a safari. 


What you’ll do in Nepal

Rhinos in Nepal
  • 3 weeks Building in Kathmandu
  • Weekend trip to Pokhara
  • Safari around Chitwan National Park
  • 2 weeks Conservation Project in Chitwan National Park

Start your stay in Nepal by supporting our Building Project in Kathmandu. Help ongoing recovery efforts since the 2015 earthquake that devastated the country. Explore temples and markets, taste new cuisine, and discover a unique culture.

You will have a weekend trip to Pokhara in the foothills of the Himalayas. Visit beautiful lakes and learn about more rural and mountain life in Nepal. Take time to relax.

Afterward, you’ll join the Conservation Project in Chitwan National Park for your final two weeks. You’ll help conduct wildlife research and protect the local biodiversity. On any given day you’ll get involved in a range of different tasks, from surveying the rhino population, checking camera traps for Bengal tigers, and providing workshops to local communities.


What you’ll do in Cambodia

Buddhist monks at Angkor Wat
  • 2 weeks Childcare in Phnom Penh
  • 1 week of exploring and relaxing in Siem Reap
  • Tour of Angkor Wat and surrounding temples
  • 2 weeks Public Health in Phnom Penh

You will spend most of your time in Cambodia’s busy capital, Phnom Penh. During your first two weeks, you will join the Childcare Project to support disadvantaged communities in and around the city. The following week will be spent in Siem Reap, where you will visit historic and cultural sites such as the world-famous Angkor Wat! You’ll also visit towns and villages and get involved with community outreach events to highlight various social or environmental issues.

Your final two weeks will be spent back in Phnom Penh with our own Public Health Project. Learn basic health techniques, support check-ups and hygiene workshops. Visit different areas of the city each day!

Throughout your stay, the group will visit various sights such as the Royal Palace. You'll join monks in Buddhist temples for meditation and blessings, learn about the Khmer Rouge Genocide while visiting The Killing Fields, and try new flavors with cooking classes! During your week in Siem Reap, you'll explore the UNESCO temples of Angkor, hidden within a dense jungle. 

What's included with the Global Gap Year Abroad?

Your program fee is all-inclusive and covers:

  • Food and accommodation
  • All project fees
  • Transfers to and from the airport in each country
  • All program-related transportation
  • Various sightseeing tours and activities in each country (including entry to Machu Picchu and Angkor Wat)
  • Safari in Tanzania and at Chitwan National Park in Nepal

Total Price: $21,000

Apply today with a deposit of only $295

The program fee does not include flight, visa or insurance costs. However, our staff will provide pre-departure support to assist you with these arrangements.

Apply Now

Looking for a shorter option?

If you love the look of the Global Gap Year Abroad, but the dates or duration don't work for you, then check out our Gap Projects. These split the journey into three shorter adventures:

Volunteers dance with Maasai

Can't find what you're looking for? 

We’d be happy to talk about creating a custom gap year program for you. Most of our staff have been volunteers themselves, so they’re well placed to answer your questions, big or small.

(+1) 619 320 2424

or

to start planning your project

Our accreditations