Program Reviews

I had a great time on South America Explore 2019! I felt safe and supported everywhere we went thanks to the tireless efforts of our guide, Sara. This is the perfect program for someone who wants to travel but doesn’t want to go alone, or have the stress of planning it. I had no friends to come with and didn’t even know where to begin; 2 months later I can say that I’ve made friends that will last a lifetime and I loved not having to worry about where I was going, how I was getting there, or what I was doing since it was all pre-planned. From the coblestoned streets of Cusco to the blue waters of the Galapagos it’s been an amazing journey. The spanish school and nightlife of Cusco made it one of my favorite cities, Mancora was the perfect relaxation stop after the tiring but incredible Machu Picchu trek, Baños is a thrillseeker’s paradise with parasailing, white water rafting, bungee jumping and more, the jungle, animals, and people in Yanacocha/Tamadua made it a dream to volunteer there, visiting the Equator and markets in Quito was incredible, and the Galapagos is the perfect stop to the trip.

Absolutely loved travelling in a group and this program definitely let me do that. Sara our guide was always there supporting us no matter what time of the day/night. There were some tricky situations in the group that were handled very quickly and professionally. What an amazing trip. Highlights: Cusco, spanish classes were great, Machu Picchu was very hard but rewarding, Mancora beach town absolute blast, Baños (white water rafting was amazing but try not to drink the river water or you will get sick), Yanacocha is amazing especially for all animal lovers, Tamandua shuar community was a great way to wind down and in the middle of the jungle, incredible, Quito, slightly more dangerous as it’s a big city but a great night life and cultural experiences all around. Galapagos. Wow, definitely if you have the chance get your ass there right now, what a time to be alive. If you want to see turtles as big as you this is where to go. 10/10 trip, gert lush mind. Out 🎤

I had a really amazing time on my trip. Everyone was really supportive & great at pushing me out of my comfort zone & discovering what I can really accomplish. Our leaders were extremely caring & attentive. I went into the experience really nervous & not sure what I had gotten myself into, but it’s probably the best decision I have ever made. It’s set me up to feel confident to continue traveling on my own. I’ve gotten over my fear of heights by zip-lining, rock climbing & paragliding, I’ve made a couple new friends who I plan to travel with in the future, & it has opened up a “whole new world” full of opportunities that I now know are possible to attain, as in seeing the world. It’s bittersweet that my trip is over but I have come out of it knowing I didn’t waste one moment.

I chose this course both for the adventure aspects and the huge array of qualification you get by doing the course.
Signing up, I was worried about whether this was something I really wanted, given the big investment that has to be made for the course.
If you’re reading this thinking the same, my advice would be just to go for it.
The TEL course changed me more than I could have ever imagined. I feel like I have gained more life skills in 4 months than I have in my 19 years put together. The course certainly pushes you to your limit, but this only allows you to find where your limits are and for me they’ve been much farther than I first thought.
Unlike others on the course, I wasn’t specifically applying to get a job with gapforce, but this didn’t mean I was treated any different- as long as you are prepared to work hard and have a clear reason why you are there everyone is pushed to improve just the same.
Whether you are complete novice or you already have plenty of experience, the course is brilliant at providing for individual needs and because so many areas are covered, each participant is able to find their niche.
The intense environment also means that teamwork is essential, and the bonds that the eight of us had made by the end of the course were truly something special.
I cannot recommend the course enough; if you have a passion for adventure and you are prepared to work hard then it’s really a no brainer.

Enjoyed it all saw everything I wanted to see and more
Got to experience once in a lifetime events
Learned a lot about the country and the culture whilst downing litres of hot chocolate
Had an amazing time in quepos doing the marine conservation and
scuba diving
As the diving usually finished at around 1 we had the rest of the day to explore and chill on the beach. The bus to the next down was very cheap which had great beaches
Learning about the bri bri was amazing and and the jungle section was quite an experience
The turtle sanctuary was a shock but an amazing experience I never thought I would see a leatherback turtle especially one digging it’s nest to lay eggs in was something I will never forget
The food on the whole trip was amazing rice and beans or beans with rice I never got bored of them.
The staff were all great and helpful worth going on

I had a great time on my Costa Rica trip with gapforce. I was really nervous going into it because I had never traveled alone before. Everyone was super nice and supportive, so I quickly made some great friends. I loved every second of the trip and feel that I grew as a person. I spent the first 2 weeks in Quepos on the pacific side learning to scuba dive. That was a lot of fun and our instructors were awesome. Our group stayed at a home stay which allowed us to practice our very beginner spanish and really get a feel for the Costa Rican culture. The last 2 weeks we went to the Caribbean's side. There we volunteered at a macaw sanctuary, a cocoa farm, and a turtle sanctuary. It was a lot of hard work, but it was very rewarding. Overall I had a great experience and met a lot of really cool people. I definitely recommend this trip to anyone looking for an adventure!

I had an absolutely amazing time in Costa Rica! Despite being nervous about travelling alone and not knowing anyone there I felt so comfortable as soon as I arrived. The first two weeks of my trip involved learning to scuba dive, getting to see the coral reefs and the marine life that calls it home was incredible, my instructor Sam was so helpful and a brilliant teacher! I loved exploring the area in my free time and had some of the best moments of my life with the friends I met on the trip. The last two weeks of my trip involved volunteering on a few different projects, which was mostly a great experience, especially visiting a indigenous cacao farm, as well as the turtle conservation, despite not being lucky enough to see a turtle. I didn’t really enjoy the volunteering at the Green Macaw sanctuary; it required lots of digging up mud and because the trip is so full on and the hot, humid conditions it was very hard work. Living in the jungle for a few days was an exciting experience, I had a lot of fun especially on solo night, making my own fire and cooking my own food and quickly got used to the many animals and sounds that seemed pretty scary at first! Our group was able to go out for a few nights out to experience the local nightlife and traditional food which allowed us to relax, have fun and get to know each other better, salsa night was a personal favourite of mine! To sum it up I had an amazing experience with some amazing people and I would recommend this to solo travelers who are looking to do the same.

I would recommend this trip to anybody wanting to travel to South East Asia and meet new people. Within the two months you will go from being a group of strangers to a family. I have had the best two months, experiencing the rich cultures, tasting delicious foods and making lasting memories. During the trip we spent time in cities, more rural areas, travelled to beaches, temples and so much more. The trip is action packed and can be tiring at times but rest days are also included. Not only do you travel with a group of new people but you will also travel with an amazing leader. Our leader Terrence always prioritised our safety as well as our enjoyment of the trip. Everything was well organised And above all I can honestly say that Terrence made these two months better than I could have imagined ! We couldn’t have asked for a better leader.

Taking part in this trip was the best decision I made for my gap year and I would recommend it to anyone wishing to travel around Asia and explore new cultures , experience beautiful landscapes, meet new people from all over the world who become like family by the end and really find yourself while doing it all. The best part about the programme is while doing all this , with activities planned nearly every day for you you have an experienced trip leader who ensures you get the most unique authentic experiences and your safe while doing it all. Our leader Terrence was the best leader we could have had he priotised our experience , feelings and safety throughout and became a good friend aswell . Also for young people who wish to travel alone and meet new people but fjnd goinh completely solo scary this is a great form of travelling to meet a bunch of new people , many who haven’t met before and travel around together - you form strong friendships with these people and go through a lot together which is a huge part of the trip , even if it makes the good byes pretty tough ! Definitely recommend !!!!

If you're looking for a trip to introduce you to the world of backpacking then this is the trip for you. I seriously just had the best 2 months of my life travelling around Southeast Asia with 12 other strangers whom I now consider my family. Before starting this trip the thought of travelling alone seemed daunting but now I am so much more confident in my abilities in travelling and it is all thanks to our star leader, Terence. Throughout all of our excursions, T was exceptional at making sure we were all safe. I never once felt at risk while in his care. He was also very patient with answering our questions to the best of his ability while also encouraging us to be more independent and find out answers for ourselves. T was much more than just a leader however, he was our friend. When other members were going through hardships, he'd reach out to them to help them feel better. He'd show us the best places to eat, cute thrift stores, book shops, etc. Having T as our group leader was a big bonus as the trip really wouldn't have been the same without him.

Be prepared for the busiest 2 months of your life. From bathing with elephants, to rock climbing in caves, and partying in the streets of Bangkok, there was never a dull moment. I have learnt so much about other cultures and lifestyles that I will continue to apply back in my life at home. Its cliche but I really did find myself in SEA. I'm much more confident and assertive day-to-day and I have a better understanding of what I want to do with my life. I would highly recommend this program to anyone of my friends and anyone who wants to change their life for the better.