Program Reviews

Working with various organizations in fields like wildlife conservation, maternal health, and tourism, was one of the most rewarding times of my life. We traveled everywhere from cities, to suburbs, to completely remote jungle. As someone who is looking to go into wildlife biology, I was immediately hooked by this program when I saw that there would be a partner where we’d track orangutans, and another time where we’d work with a marine biologist. They were exactly what I was hoping for! I loved every moment of working with them, and I’ll treasure those memories for the rest of my life!

This was a good gap semester. Though it’s very structured and you aren’t really able to go off on your own or with some group members to do something. I just wish it was more chill- there’s obviously some things that cannot happen since they’re reliable for us, but it’s just frustrating. Surfing and scuba in Bali is also only 3 days, even though Fiji has such good spots. This program taught me a lot and I had a lot of fun with everything we did. It gave me a lot of opportunities that I wouldn’t have otherwise had.

I really enjoyed this trip a lot and I recommend it for anyone who is interested in Sumatran, Balinese, or Fijian culture. The food was great everywhere we went and the people were incredibly kind at all of our home-stays. You get a good taste of everything across the trip and learn about a wide variety of things. I also really liked my instructors and I thought they did a very good job leading the program. Overall it was so much fun and if you’re thinking about doing a gap year and want to travel to this area I very highly recommend this.

Great gap program. A highlight from this trip was SCUBA diving and surfing. I definitely learned a lot of new things and skills. Very structured program similar to travels I’ve done with my high school in structure. Another highlight was the local partners. Throughout the entire trip we had amazing guides who curated activities and days for us in which we learned so much and saw so much of the places we were in as well as being great friends to us. They made sure we got the most out of each destination.

Lots of fun activities, seeing cool places/things, meeting cool people. I loved the people at Yes Sumatra, that was the highlight of my trip. Housing can be very rustic, but you’re never any one place for more than a few weeks. Showers can be hit or miss. Laundry can be hit or miss. Definitely pack plenty of underwear and wet wipes, please for the love of god take your hygiene seriously on this trip. The constant monitoring and rules can be frustrating, sometimes there’s not enough down time for my preference.

Taking a gap semester in Bali and Fiji was honestly one of the best decisions I’ve made. It gave me a rare chance to step away from the constant pressure of school and focus on experiences that felt meaningful, exciting, and actually beneficial for my personal growth. Instead of rushing straight into the next academic step, I was able to slow down, reset, and gain a new perspective on what I want for my future. The balance between travel, personal development, and simply enjoying everyday life made the entire experience feel both productive and refreshing at the same time.

This was an experience that is hard to sum up. We did so many things and saw so many places. I had a great time I feel changed as a person. I’m very grateful for the experiences I got to have. None of it would have been possible if not for my sense of complete safety provided by my two instructors. Also our partners who gave us such a unique experience and understanding of each country. The chosen projects were diverse so there was really something for everyone in our group but we all seemed to enjoy each one.

This was an incredible experience, I learned an insane amount though home stays and interacting with people. For me there was too much downtime on program but the activities were a blast. There was a variety of activities from Rhinos to shadowing a student to home stays, we did a bit of everything and learned along the way. My instructors and group were incredible. Bonding and becoming friends, and all the little moments of us interacting as a group was one of my trip highlights. I would definitely recommend this program!

My time in East Africa was an experience I will never forget. From cultural exposure, to adventurous activities, and beautiful nature/animals, I loved it all. Highlights consisted of rafting the Nile, home stays in rural bomas, safari, and an all girls secondary school in Kenya. There was a perfect combination of activity and reflection time, and it felt packed but restful. I came out with new insight and valuable experiences. I highly recommend to anyone who is interested in culture, adventure, and fun!

I had an amazing time! Katherine and Sabrina are outstanding people who love adventure. They have such good energy and have become someone I can rely on.

I thoroughly enjoyed with program with all of its aspects. The animals were my favorite part by far, getting to be so close and experience them in their natural habitat. Another great aspect is how you become a family with the other members on the group. Spending so much time together and experiencing so much together it’s hard not to become one.