Gap Year Programs in India

SAS as a recent high school graduate was one of the best decisions I have ever made in my life. I am so grateful for the opportunity to sail on the Fall 25 voyage as an international gap year student. The experience as a whole was so unique and I truly do not believe that you can find such a program anywhere else. The accommodation was so surreal because I got to wake up and see the waves as we sailed across the world. The community SAS builds is welcoming and kind because whenever I had a problem on the ship or in port, I never once felt alone or stranded. There will always be someone in your corner, which I appreciated. A massive thank you especially to the crew members on the ship who always make an effort to get to know your name, check in and give you a smile or laugh whenever you're stressed by travel planning, relationships and/or academics. The food does get quite repetitive if I'm being honest but it's truly a blessing to have such skilled crew members who can create delicious and nutritious meals in the middle of nowhere on the ocean. Pro tip: always get your cake first cause everyone loves the cake and it's always the first to go. In terms of academics. there are a variety of courses and I loved how everything always tied back to our in-port experiences, which allowed us to reflect on our SAS journey deeply, which I think was a crucial aid in how I developed and matured as a person. This was a great bridge between high school and university because I feel that I came out more mature, socially aware and ready for adult life. I also never felt that I couldn't make new friends because everyone is so open and you get to interact with a lot of diversity due to the various represented cultures, backgrounds, religions, nationalities etc. Til now, I am so grateful for the friends I made on SAS and we keep in touch almost daily as we plan our reunion trips. If I had one piece of advice for whoever's reading this, is that you will never truly see and understand the world around you until you're interacting with various people on the ship and in port. So do it!!! You will never regret SAS, I can promise you that :p

I have recently come back from my gap year and while I was there I spent a month working on the relationships between humans and elephants. So why would I recommend Oyster? I am so glad I picked to do this project with Oyster because they made me feel very well taken care of and looked after me before and during the project. They talk you though everything you need to know before the project takes place and what clothes and necessities you may need to pack. So what does the project consist of? I would do this project a million times if I could, and if you don’t believe me lots of people who were doing the project had already done it before and had come back because of how much they enjoyed it. So the project is on a two week program and you have the option to stay from two weeks to 3 months. The first week is amazing because you build walls for the local community. Some days some of the locals will come and help, or a few kids will come and keep you company, that is amazing because you feel so immersed, it’s definitely a once in a lifetime experience. The second week is spent tracking elephants. This was my favourite out of the two because you learn all about the elephants foot prints. We also managed to see a two day old elephant which we were lucky enough to name !!! So why pick this project? I think this project and Oyster have a lot of selling points. For starters Oyster takes very good care of you and help you organise yourself before the project starts so it doesn’t feel overwhelming. Secondly you are in the middle of the desert, I don’t think you could get anymore rural than that. You don’t really have much service so it’s lovely to disconnect for two weeks. You get to spend some time with lovely people who you may not meet on a day to day basis, people from different countries, locals, and different ages. You camp under the stars which is also amazing. Overall I would always recommend this amazing project, such a special experience!!

Oyster Worldwide responded to this reviewAugust 13, 2024

Wonderful to read about your experience, thank you Emily! The Oyster Team

The last few weeks I have been travelling around South East Asia with Oyster Worldwide, completing my Gold The Duke of Edinburgh's Award.

 This has been a truly once in a lifetime experience, meeting many new people from all around the world and learning about the Asian culture and lifestyle.

 From volunteering at an ethical elephant sanctuary in Chaing Mai, Thailand to partying on a yacht in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam, I enjoyed every second of it. 

 Oyster Worldwide have been super professional and helpful throughout the whole experience and made a complex and daunting trip, a breeze in the park!

Oyster Worldwide responded to this reviewJuly 20, 2023

Sounds like you made the most of your time Bailey and had a wonderful tour - thanks for sharing!

I chose India because it scared me. Traveling to a place that is so foreign for 3 months, without a phone, with a group of 11 other strangers, seems extremely daunting. However, I knew that taking the leap of faith would make me grow. And to say that it did is an understatement. If you want to learn the tools to live a more fulfilling life, develop a worldview, and be exposed to the inequalities that we are often sheltered from, then Carpe Diem is the program for you. The wisdom and lessons I gained have made me a more compassionate and open-minded individual. The way they organize the trip makes you feel like you are immersing yourself in the culture, rather than just being a tourist. We were lucky enough to learn about meditation and Buddhism from the Dalai Lama in his temple. We practiced our Hindi with vibrant kids living in slums. We ate our way through all of the samosa, thali, and chai shops. None of that would have happened without Carpe Diem's longlasting connections to the communities and people of India. The 11 other people in my group also became the most inspiring community I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. We laughed till our stomachs hurt, danced with locals, cried, loved, meditated, and grew together. After 3 years, we still keep in contact because the connections made will truly last a lifetime. I can't recommend this program enough! Take the leap of faith!

I had a really great time as a volunteer teaching assistant at a school in Coyhaique, Chile. I was teaching a huge range of ages (4-17) and it was great to be able to interact with classes at various stages of their English development. The teachers I was supporting were amazing and very eager for the help, particularly with the younger years and keeping their interest. I absolutely loved my time living with my host family as they were so welcoming. Being able to speak a little Spanish already definitely helped my integration but they were also incredibly helpful in helping me improve and understanding of my many mistakes! Coyhaique in itself is a smallish town with not too much to offer however there are two national parks surrounding it with some good hikes. It is easy to travel out of Coyhaique by bus (just book in advance) either going north or south and getting to Balmaceda airport is also simple should you wish to go further afield. Having people on the ground in Coyhaique was encouraging as you knew you had support should you need it but we didn't interact much. The Spanish lessons were fine but I feel they would be more helpful to someone of a lower level, as for me, I just needed to practice speaking so the best thing was just being with my host family! Overall a good experience and I'm so glad I did it.

Oyster Worldwide responded to this reviewAugust 09, 2019

Thank you so much for leaving a review!

I had just finished my A Levels and wasn’t sure whether uni was an option for me - so a gap year was on the cards. My friend and I had a passion for animals so decided to go on a trip to see some of the worlds most magnificent. After lots of research, Oysters promise of responsible travel and support was what made us sure they were the best company to go with. I went to South Africa for 4 weeks to volunteer as a wildlife conservationist with the Big 5. I cannot even begin to describe how much I loved the programme. I got to see and experience a culture and lifestyle I never thought possible, made life long friends all over the world and have memories to last a life time. Oyster provided non-stop support as soon as I applied until the very moment I returned home. It would take me a whole book to write all the amazing things I saw and experienced and why Oyster Worldwide was the best choice - cliché as it sounds, taking a gap year with Oyster was the best decision I have ever made and I cannot wait to get on a plane to another one of their awesome projects.

Oyster Worldwide responded to this reviewFebruary 04, 2019

Many thanks for taking the time to review us! <br/><br/>Oyster Team

Costa Rica's Turtle Conservation Project was one thing I will never forget! Such an eye opening and amazing experience. The IHQV program is an amazing way to explore the world in a feasible way. Not only is it affordable but I would have never experienced anything like it! IHQV Brings so much more, more ham any guided tour, more than a resort, and more than anything you could experience on your own. They have demonstrated such strong dedication to make sure every part of the trip is a great learning exprenice while keeping it fun. One of my most memeroble moments would be seeing the indangered leather back turtle lay her eggs. Because the leather back is in such danger it is critical that her eggs are gathered and re-nested in the hatchery where they can be taken care of and monitered to keep them safe from predators. I was lucky enough to be able to personally collect her eggs and dig a new nest to place each egg carfully. It was truley an amazing experience. I wish I could go back to see them hatch! Not only was this such an amazing experience, but every single person I met on this trip through the program m, I will dearly miss. IHQV brings everyone with similar ambitions together and from all over the world. I loved to meet people from the UK, Australia and Italy. Never could I go anywhere and meet such amazing people in one single place. I would recommend this program a million times. Leaving was hard, I'll miss my friends I have made and most importantly all the work that was done everyday to help such a wonderful project!

International Volunteer HQ [IVHQ] responded to this reviewMay 21, 2018

Hi Drew, thank you for sharing your incredible experience on the Turtle Conservation project in Costa Rica! It's amazing that you were able to help in the protection of the leatherback turtles eggs as this is such an important task in the conservation of the turtles. We would love to have you join us again in the future! ^Rachel - IVHQ Costa Rica Program Manager

My time volunteering in Portugal was the most amazing experience. It gave me the comfort and growth to travel and experience new adventures on my own. The staff, locals and coordinators ensured my stay was the best possible experience.

International Volunteer HQ [IVHQ] responded to this reviewApril 09, 2018

Hi Andy - It's awesome to hear about your time on the program, and I'm so glad you enjoyed your experience in Ghana. Our local team is awesome and I'm thrilled to hear you felt supported by them in every capacity during your time on the program. I wish you all the best! ^Caroline - IVHQ Portugal Program Manager