Plan My Gap Year (PMGY) Reviews 

Very well planned trip for 44 pupils and 4 staff to Sri Lanka. The team that worked with us were outstanding.
The experiences the pupils had will live in their memories forever.
A great 2 weeks.

I participated in the big five conservation program at kwantu game reserve, south adrica, it was way better than i expected: really nice people, lot of animals and amazing activities

I had an amazing experience during my medical elective in Vietnam with PMGY and would definitely recommend it to anyone considering taking part in one of their programs.

From the beginning, the pre-departure team were very helpful and responsive, which made preparing for the trip much less stressful. Once I arrived in Vietnam, the in-country team were also very supportive and made me feel comfortable and settled in quickly.

I took part in the medical program at Viet Duc University Hospital in Hanoi, which was a really valuable experience as a medical student. The hospital selected was very well equipped and I was guided step-by-step throughout the experience.

The accommodation was also comfortable. I found it very easy to communicate with our contact person as well as the staff. For example, during my time in the pink house, an issue we had with the bathroom's toilets was resolved quickly and upon returning from a weekend trip, everything was working perfectly.

Overall, my experience with PMGY in Vietnam was memorable and I highly recommend to anyone thinking about taking part.

My time volunteering in India was a life-changing experience.
I took part in the medical project for two weeks and it was one of the best experiences of my life.
I met wonderful people and learned so much, even though I would have loved to spend a bit more time in the hospital.
I highly recommend the weekend trip to Dharamshala; the 10-hour bus ride is totally worth it.
The accommodation was comfortable and the food provided was authentic.
Finally, I want to thank the whole PMGY India team for being so helpful and always available.
I highly recommend this program to anyone!

Incredible trip, organised and run by amazing people. I felt safe and had one of the most life changing experiences!

Amazing experience in a lovely place with lovely people. I learnt so much there and enjoyed it at the fullest. Highly recommend volunteering in Cambodia, the local people are the kindest ! Time flies really fast there, I advice living the present moment with the kids and the staff to avoid any regret. Something to do at least once in your life <3

I was doing the medical project in India over summer, and it was incredible!! From staff, to people, to experiences. I had the best time, and even got to see some amazing places of India over the weekends. I met some amazing friends and would go again!!

I did PMGY Costa Rica, doing the Wildlife program. I found the handbook very useful and detailed, preparing me well. The most memorable part of the experience was meeting and bonding with others from around the world. The accommodation was good, and had what was required, sometimes hot water was limited however. I very much enjoyed how relaxed and chill the people and the culture are in Costa Rica.

I did teaching English in Indonesia, by doing this it allowed me to teach children basic English which was an awarding experience. Also enabled me in my free time to travel Bali and really experience everything!

My experience in Arusha (Tanzania) has been one of the best in my entire life. Since the first moment, I was welcomed by everyone as if they had known me for years. I got the chance to meet fantastic people (both volunteers and locals) and to build authentic and cultural connections with the staff of the school where I was teaching maths. Moreover, the experience with the children is absolutely enriching both on a personal and on a collective level. I suggest that everyone should try to volunteer with PMGY, as they are very professional, they always help you when you need it and they have a great organisation (both internationally and nationally). It’s absolutely worth it!!

As a teacher who recently recently involved in leading a school volunteering trip to Sri Lanka, I cannot recommend Plan My Gap Year highly enough.

From the very beginning of the organisation process, the communication from Plan My Gap Year was excellent. We always felt supported, informed and confident that everything was being taken care of. This continued throughout the trip, and from the moment we arrived in Sri Lanka, the level of provision and support was exceptional.

Our in-country lead, Ashika, and his fantastic team were absolutely brilliant. They went above and beyond to make sure that every member of our group was safe, comfortable and able to get the most from the experience. They were incredibly attentive to our medical and dietary requirements, while also making sure our volunteering placements, sightseeing and other activities all ran smoothly.

The trip itself was absolutely jam-packed with incredible experiences. We volunteered at a girls' home, supported an education project and spent time at a turtle sanctuary. Each placement gave our pupils the opportunity to learn, contribute and experience a completely different culture and way of life.

What really stood out was how much effort Ashika and the team put into making the whole experience work for our group. Nothing ever seemed too much trouble, and we always knew that someone was there to help whenever we needed it.

This was genuinely a life-changing trip for both the pupils and staff involved. It challenged us, educated us, created memories that will last a lifetime and gave our pupils experiences that they simply could not have gained in the classroom.

Plan My Gap Year surpassed all of our expectations, and I would have absolutely no hesitation in recommending them to other schools considering a volunteering trip abroad.

A huge thank you to everyone at Plan My Gap Year, Phill based in the UK, and especially Ashika and his incredible team in Sri Lanka, for making our trip so special.

Thank you all — diolch yn fawr! ❤️

PMGY were absolutely superb in supporting both my daughter and me as a very anxious parent!

My daughter had the most fantastic volunteer experience and trip to Bali. From our initial enquiries, arranging flights and insurance, completing paperwork and organising all the logistics, PMGY were brilliant. No question was ever too daft, and I always received a prompt, friendly and reassuring response.

Once in Bali, my daughter had the most wonderful time. Her hosts were incredibly friendly, the food was great, the accommodation was excellent, and the schools were varied and really interesting. The organised activities were great fun too. The trip to Gili was particularly special — I’m sure I only heard a fraction of what happened, but I know it created memories that will last a lifetime!

The other volunteers were so friendly, and as a 17-year-old solo traveller, my daughter was incredibly well cared for. This put my mind at ease and allowed her to make the absolute most of such an amazing opportunity.

I honestly can’t recommend PMGY highly enough. They provide a fantastic, safe and exciting introduction to world travel, while giving parents the reassurance that their children are in very good hands. We couldn’t have asked for a better experience.

I loved the option to go to diffrent hospitals during medical experience and how since we was midwifery they tried to keep it midwifery specific for me and my group however I did feel like the placements weren’t explained well and it was every man for himself once on the wards and no guidence on what to do or how to go about the wards what you allowed to do so felt a little arkward once actually in the hospital however we go stuck in found our own way and we really really enjoyed it and met lots of lovely nurses and midwives and the opportunity was amazing I can’t express it enough and the other opportunities I have been able to experience while I was there I probably never will again. The fact that they have their own tuk tuk services makes life so much easier and the kindest drivers, the food is amazing cooked by the sisters all the options really suprised me how much I would enjoy the local food however also the option to order take away in the evening where they order it through a group chat is an amazing easy way to grab something to eat outside of canteen hours

Exceptional Experience and Complete Peace of Mind

As a parent, my biggest concern when my daughter travelled to Sri Lanka for two weeks was, quite simply, her safety. From the moment she arrived, Plan My Gap Year exceeded all my expectations.

The communication throughout was excellent. The organisation, structure, and support provided gave me complete peace of mind while she was away. It's clear that participant welfare is a top priority, and as a mother, that reassurance was invaluable.

My daughter came home inspired by the experience. She spoke highly of the local team, describing them as caring, supportive, and genuinely passionate about what they do. She also loved the way the programme engages with local communities and creates meaningful, life-changing experiences for volunteers.

I would not hesitate to recommend PMGY to both students and parents. Thank you to Philip Russell and the entire team for running such a professional and well-managed programme. A truly outstanding experience.

Amelia, UK

I had the best time!! It was my third time volunteering with PMGY and once again I don't regret a second of it. I did teaching and childcare, and working with the children fullfilled me with so much joy and love! Also I met so many wonderful people there, other volunteers but also the staff there.
Can only recommend this project, I loved every second of it!!

I volunteered in Sri Lanka on the turtle conservation project and I loved it! Before I went, I received lots of support including a handbook and fast email responses to any questions.
In country, each morning we did the turtle project which involved feeding, cleaning tanks, beach cleans and sand moving. It was very hands on, quite physical and gutting fish was gory but still enjoyable. The staff were so kind and knowledgeable, being involved in this project was the highlight of my time there. A plus for me was how organised it all was, optional afternoon activities were available and the weekend trip was great as all I had to do was turn up. The accommodation was good, the bedrooms were dormitory style and they accommodated a my requests such as extra bedding, the view from the upstairs balcony was beautiful and the pool was always in use.
I couldn’t recommend this more, this is an amazing, stress-free experience with a lot of support and guidance available.

Incredible and would recommend to anyone

The London’s House organization is very good especially if it’s your first experience. The sister’s food was tasty.
I expected a more impactful project (childcare), doing something really useful for the community.

Everything was incredibly well organized. The staff was always there to support me and help me make the most of my experience. I met some amazing people and made some great connections.

I spent 2 weeks in Bali on the Teaching English course. During these 2 weeks part of the job role included to go to different schools and teach basic English and to also practice conversational English with students from kindergarten, elementary schools and to the college/university students (English levels varied between students and schools). Each day was rewarding and would recommend the programme to first time volunteers like myself. The support available before and during the programme was fantastic and being able to get quick responses from the PMGY team for any questions or concerns really helped ease any anxiety I had. There’s plenty of free time to explore the country after volunteering or on the weekends (helps having Friday to Sunday free) and my biggest regret is not being there for longer - for teaching I would recommend staying for 3 weeks, 1 week to get used to your role and then having great fun over the next 2 weeks. Staying in the volunteer house was the best part of the experience, meeting new people and learning about their experiences as well as organising nights out with the same people are experiences I will always remember.