 Volunteer expedition
One of the best ways of truly experiencing the culture and lifestyle of a country is by going on a volunteer expedition. Going on a volunteer expedition enables you to spend quality time living with a community and immersing yourself in local daily life. A volunteer expedition, however, is very much a mutually beneficial two way process. Travellers on a volunteer expedition enjoy the privilege of being welcomed in to a local community whilst, at the same time, members of the community benefit from the vital volunteer work the travellers get involved with. It is just this type of unique experience that distinguishes Real Gap's programmes from more standard travel companies.
If you go on a volunteer expedition on your gap year or career break it may be worth looking in to getting some sponsorship to help fund your travels - check out Real Gap's ‘Gap year fundraising, saving for a gap year' page for ideas on how to raise money for a volunteer expedition. If you like the idea of a volunteer expedition it's possible to tailor-make your own volunteer expedition by combining one or several of Real Gap's volunteer programmes with some travel (speak to one of Real Gap's team of expert travel advisers for suggestions on how to go about this).
If you don't fancy tailor-making your own volunteer expedition, however, an excellent alternative is to travel on a Real Gap ‘Gap Year Expedition' programme. Some of Real Gap's most adventurous and comprehensive programmes are our ‘Gap Year Expedition' programmes to India, Tanzania, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. These programmes combine the ‘must see' sights of each country with travel ‘off the beaten track' and worthwhile volunteer work to provide the ultimate gap year volunteer expedition. For full details on all of the ‘Gap Year Expedition' programmes click on the above link. However, our ‘Volunteer Expedition' page takes a look at some of the hugely rewarding volunteer opportunities you could opt for if you travel on one of Real Gap's ‘Expedition' programmes.
If you travel With Real Gap on a volunteer expedition to India you will experience life in an Indian village located close by to the old colonial hill-station of Darjeeling. Travellers on this volunteer expedition teach in local schools and really become a part of the community - also joining in with any local festivities and celebrations.
Real Gap's volunteer expedition to the beautiful East African country of Tanzania contains two very different, but equally rewarding, volunteer elements. Travellers on this volunteer expedition spend five weeks living with a Maasai tribal community in a picturesque setting close to Mount Kilimanjaro. The time is spent helping the Maasai to learn English while, in return, the Maasai teach participants on the volunteer expedition all about the Maasai way of life. Real Gap's Tanzanian volunteer expedition also provides the opportunity to volunteer in schools and orphanages in the bustling capital city Dar es Salaam.
A volunteer expedition to Ecuador provides a wide range of superb volunteer projects you could get involved with. However if you are passionate about wildlife then, without doubt, the most exciting option to opt for on this volunteer expedition is a wildlife conservation project on the wildlife lovers' paradise of the Galapagos Islands.
Peru is one of the most exciting countries in South America and if you travel on a volunteer expedition there you can choose from a diverse range of volunteer projects - from helping protect the dolphins that frequent Peru's Pacific coastline to campaigning for better working conditions for porters on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
If you travel on a volunteer expedition to Venezuela, as with our other South American programmes, you can choose from several volunteer projects - from caring for animals in a national park to working with vulnerable street children.
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