Location
  • Ireland
Length
4 - 12 weeks
Program Tags
Adventure Travel Cultural Immersion Hands-On Learning Volunteer Abroad
Merit-based funding, Payment plans, 529 Plan eligibility
Health & Safety

Program Details

Activities
Kayaking Trekking
Timeframe
Fall Spring
Housing
Guesthouse
Primary Language
English
Age Min.
17
Age Max
22

Pricing

Starting Price
17000
Price Details
Program fees include all meals, housing, activities and transport within Ireland and the full 24/7 support of the Irish Gap Year team.
For more information on whats included in our program fees please visit our website www.Irishgapyear.com/info/frequently-asked-questions
What's Included
Accommodation Activities Airport Transfers Equipment Meals Park Fees Tour Guide Transportation Wifi
What's Included (Extra)

All food, accomodation, activities, travel within Ireland and full, 24/7 support from the Irish Gap Year team are included.
Please see our website www.irishgapyear.com/info/frequently-asked-questions for more details on what's included in the Adventure and Leadership Gap Year Program

What's Not Included
Airfare Travel Insurance
What's Not Included (Extra)

Flights and medical insurance

Jan 05, 2024
May 10, 2024
76 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Irish Gap Year’s Adventure & Leadership Gap Year Program will take you far off the beaten track, deep into Irish culture and nature where you will learn much about yourself.

You will become immersed in our community and Irish culture, be challenged physically through outdoor adventure and mentally through our leadership workshops and volunteering in our community.

The rugged natural beauty of Ireland and warm heartedness of the people offer a unique setting for your journey of self-discovery. Throughout this program you will develop a deeper level of self-awareness, independence, group dynamics and self-governance. We hope that you will take with you a way of thinking and self-awareness that will last a life time.

You don’t need to be outdoorsy to enjoy and benefit from the Adventure and Leadership Program, it’s all about a willingness to participate and pushing your perceived boundaries.

Video and Photos

Diversity & Inclusion

BIPOC Support

We welcome students from all walks of life and backrounds and have hosted many BIPOC students on our programs.

LGBTQIA+ Support

We welcome students from all walks of life and backrounds and have hosted many LGBTQIA+ students over the years. Ireland and Europe in general are quite progressive with regards to LGBTQIA+ policy, lifestyle and support. Irish Gap Year provides support to our LGBTQIA+ students to help them feel secure and safe during their time with us.

Impact

Sustainability

Irish Gap Year is a Carbon Negative Company, meaning we remove more C02 from the amosphere through our ecological volunteering than we create as an organization (including student flights to Europe).

Irish Gap Year Director, Ryan Allen is the Chair of the Gap Year Association's Sustainability Commitee and created the Association's Climate Action Plan in 2023.

Program Highlights

  • Expeditions around Ireland: Each expedition on the Adventure and Leadership Program is unique with its own area of focus and theme. The expeditions are 3 to 5 days each and will and bring you far off the beaten track and face to face with Ireland’s hidden
  • Community Immersion: Live in your own magnificent Victorian home on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean on Ireland's rugged Northwest coast. Your home is cozy, quirky and quaint. Here you'll learn invaluable independence building skills with your peers!
  • Volunteer in the Community: Make a meaningful and positive impact on our community as you volunteer on farms, animal shelters, with local youth groups, Clean Coasts Ireland and other local organisations.
  • Develop your Leadership and Communication Skills: Our leadership workshops are fun, interactive and experiential. You'll learn much about yourself and others as you are challenged to work within a team on a wide range of projects.
  • The People: Irish people are amongst the freindliest and funniest people you'll come across anywhere and our gappers always love getting to know the locals. They're quirky sense of humor and unique outlooks on life won't disapoint!

Program Reviews

4.84 Rating
based on 172 reviews
  • 5 rating 84.3%
  • 4 rating 15.12%
  • 3 rating 0.58%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Housing 4.7
  • Support 4.8
  • Fun 4.85
  • Value 4.75
  • Safety 4.9
Showing 1 - 8 of 172 reviews
Default avatar
Lauren
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

IGY- Invigorating Grand Yass

I did the Adventure and Leadership program and had a good experience. I had a great time hiking around, fell in love with surfing, and just loved exploring Ireland. It’s a really beautiful country, and the local people are typically super friendly. Bundoran (the town you stay in) is a super pleasant place. There’s plenty to do— pubs, a theme park in certain months, plenty of places to eat, and wonderful walking paths. You’re right by the water which is super nice. I often go to watch the sunsets in the evening, looking out at the ocean. It’s truly spectacular. If you enjoy a little adventure and are enthusiastic about spending a lot of time outside (even if the weather isn’t always perfect) I think you’ll love this program.

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
We went ziplining, and it was such an adrenaline rush but also kind of terrifying.
Pros
  • Beautiful nature
  • Good staff
Cons
  • Cloudy weather
31 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Zachary
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Major Craic

This was my first time in Ireland and staying in a small town like bundoran has been a absolute amazing experience. Bundoran being such a small town makes it so easy to navigate as its easy to learn the roads and business in town. This makes its all the easer to adapt to moving for the 10 weeks. Being in adventure the group is busy most days and being able to go out on the town after a busy week is very satisfying after learning the town. I enjoyed being in adventure as most of my time was filled with different adventure activities we were given each week. This made the freedom we were given during our free time all the better. This has been such an amazing trip and im so glad i did this before going to college. I feel more confident in my traveling skills and my people skills then i did before i left for IGY. The people ive met while on this trip i will truly remember forever as even the leaders and the local people ive met as left such a impact on me. I enjoyed our daily adventures so much as somehow everyday we'd take on a new unique challenge.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
The most important thing to have before coming on a trip like this is having a good attitude.
Pros
  • Surfing
  • Hiking
  • outdoor time
Cons
  • Some intensive hikes early on in the trip
  • Weather
35 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Pablo
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

2024 Adventure and leadership gap year review

The last 3 months have been very fun and was a very great experiences. I would suggest this program to anyone who wants to hikes and learn about and see Ireland. Bundoran is a very nice town with enough restaurants, pub and stores were your not bored but also not being to big or crazy. The houses were very comfortable with each room usually having their own bathroom. The food was ok. The hikes we went on were very beautiful but also a little tough. The staff were very kind and cool. The weather was meh most of the time.

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
We were hiking on a real tall and narrow mountain. I am afraid of hikes so this was not good for me. I got through it by talking to the other students on the program.
Pros
  • You do something different each day.
  • You get to see a lot of Ireland.
  • The houses were very nice and comfortable .
Cons
  • You don’t get to surf to much
  • Irish weather is meh
30 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Megan
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Irish Gap Year

I loved my time in Ireland. Beautiful sights and great workers at IGY. We got to do many awesome activities. Hiking, surfing, swimming, traveling around to different parts of Ireland, group challenges, camping, going into town with all the gappers. Every part of my time in Ireland was its own little adventure in itself. Everyone we met was amazing and the things that we got to do all together as a group were so fun. I enjoyed making new friends and learning how to be more independent but also learn how manage living with a big group. I’m glad that I chose to step outside my comfort zone! 🇮🇪‼️🧗🏽

What was your funniest moment?
Being with my roommate we always had a good time.
Pros
  • surfing
  • hiking
  • good housing
Cons
  • rain
  • mid food
  • windy
33 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Lila
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Yass 🇮🇪🇮🇪 Kayyyy

Okay Irish Gap Year was super fun and the leaders did a great job showing us around Ireland and Living in Bundoran was a great home base, the Group becomes very close and our homes are awesome. The staff is very kind and supportive and the weather can be a bit bad but it is nice to hike in. there are people of all fitness levels here so the pace can be fast but also they stop if someone is struggling. Also if you are bad at surfing like me don't worry because you can just hang in the ocean and its still lit. most people here are willing to explore and do interesting things in free time and there is always someone to hang/ talk to. Bye love you 💖🫶

What was your funniest moment?
Building tarps with my girls was really funny because we are bad at it
Pros
  • Ocean
  • Fun social scene
  • Hiking and farming/gardening
Cons
  • Gloomy
  • Small group
30 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Jacob
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Irish gap year review

I think that this program is a huge help to those going into college. It helps with getting out of your comfort zones and it gives you experience with living with people. The weather is a bit rough and wet but it honestly adds to the experience. The hikes can be a bit rough for those who are unexperienced so a bit of training might be necessary. Also I have to say that surfing will be rough in the beginning but if you stick with it I promise you it will be the most fun thing that you will be doing.

Pros
  • Surfing
  • Shared living experience
  • Hikes
Cons
  • Rain
  • Cold
  • Shane
87 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Laurence
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Happy days

The group is fun, we participate in amazing activities and well Ireland being Ireland, it's always beautiful. We got the chance to do a lot of surfing, hikes, challenges and trips all over Ireland. I loved my time here and it changed me A LOT. I went to Ireland with no intention of going to college after and I still don't want to. Everybody here comes from different situations but everyone will become your friend.The only bad thing about IGY is the food but then again I'm French. I recommend this program to people who are a bit lost in life or just to have a good craic.

Pros
  • The leaders
  • The group
  • The shenanigans
Cons
  • Food
  • not a lot of volunteering
  • Food
89 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Patrick
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Craic 90 Review

A great opportunity to get outside with great leaders, amazing itinerary, and with a tight knit group. The best program for low stakes and high reward; surfing, hiking, city hopping, volunteering, and pubbing is only the half of what you can do here. Coming right out of high school or after one year or college is the perfect time to come here, without being completely overwhelmed. Everyone’s journey leading up to coming here makes this all the more interesting and meaningful. Say yes to IGY!!!!

86 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers