Summer ‘voluntourism’ ideas

With summer holidays just around the corner, it’s time to begin thinking about how to spend those precious days off, be it after exams, as a family vacation or simply for those looking for something different this year. For many Brits, holiday time is increasingly taking the form of voluntourism, travel combined with volunteer efforts.

The Leap offer fun and challenging team or solo voluntary work placements in Africa, South America and Asia, providing the opportunity to travel to beautiful and exciting destinations whilst contributing to unique projects and making a real difference to diverse communities around the world.

With NEW ‘Leap’ experiences in Guyana, India and Borneo in addition to favourites including Mozambique, South Africa and Cambodia, The Leap guarantee that every age, taste and need is catered for. Help to protect the gorgeous beaches and wildlife areas we have all come to associate with summer holidays around the world whilst really enjoying them at their best.

A Summer Leap in Borneo (6 weeks from £1,760) offers the chance to travel deep into the jungle and live and learn from two remote and unchanged indigenous tribes. Leapers will become totally integrated in the day to day life of these communities, helping with harvesting, forest regeneration and the development of trails. During time off there will be opportunities to visit the Sepilok Orangutan sanctuary, climb Mt Kinabalu, take a PADI scuba-diving course, jungle trek and kayak.

The India Summer Leap (6 weeks from £1,800) in the Himalayas will allow Leapers to live amongst the local Almora community – Almora is a stunning village set in a verdant mountain valley and is a very spiritual place with Buddhist shrines and monasteries to discover. The team will help a local team with client trekking itineraries, local conservation and community initiatives and enjoy cultural village walks, fishing, mountain-biking and riding on Mawari stallions during time off.
Whether you have 2 weeks or 3 months, The Leap will advise you as to the best way to spend your precious summer time.

The Cambodia Summer Leap (6 weeks from £1,845) offers the vibrant colours, flavours and ancient cultures of Asia. Leapers will stay in Siem Reap, Cambodia’s hippest town where East fuses with West where they will teach the town’s orphans, kids with insatiable energy and enthusiasm and work with rural farming communities. There is also plenty of time to travel and explore the famous temples of Angkor Wat, trek through ancient jungles or just relax with a bottle of locally brewed ‘Angkor Beer’ on the fabulous palm fringed beaches.

For more information please visit theleap.co.uk.