Gap Year Blog
The AV experience is unique. Find out why...
AV Foundation join Cheltenham College to support Kenyan school
We were delighted to welcome Cheltenham college students to Kenya for October half term. The students joined AV to work with the Vanessa Grant Trust at Gogar Primary School. A total of £14,127 was fundraised between Cheltenham College students, Chaplaincy Fund,...
AV Foundation join Oakham School to support Kenyan schools
In 2023, we were delighted to host Oakham School students from the UK for their 12th year in Kenya. The students joined AV for the February half term to volunteer at Mutethia Primary School in Meru county and Sirimon Primary School in Laikipia county, both near Timau....
My gap year in Kenya
Kenya – inland and coast – worlds apart In 2021, Rose Atkinson joined us for 12 weeks on our volunteer program on the Kenya coast for her gap year. Rose was lucky enough to experience both the Africa & Asia Venture (AV) project as well as a gap placement at...
Here’s Why Taking A Gap Year During University Is The Best!
Taking a Gap Year during university is the perfect way to gain experience, feel empowered and still graduate when you planned to! It’s the perfect option if you don't want to take a full year out and you can make sure you really get the most out of the experience....
5 Things to Remember When Travelling to Kenya
If you’re travelling to Kenya this year (or even this week!), there’s a few things to remember to help you get the most out of your visit. We believe in meaningful experiences where you have the freedom to follow your own path and see the world differently. Read on...
Find your own path and be yourself
An AV adventure is about more than just travelling, it’s about making your own rules, creating memories that are just for you and to just be yourself. We don’t believe in the normal route, the well-trodden path, the signposted road. We believe in the road less...
5 reasons to go travelling after your ski season
If you’re trying to decide what to do after your ski season, you might want to consider heading off on a new adventure instead of just going home. There’s a whole host of reasons why you should carry on travelling after your ski season, from learning different skills...
How to take a last minute Gap Year
It’s never too late to take a last minute Gap Year! Even if you’ve got nothing organised and don’t know where to go, there are plenty of opportunities available for a spur of the moment, spontaneous travel experience! Whether you’re finishing your ski season or...
What Makes AV Different?
What makes AV different? Well, we know we’re not alone in wanting something different to the ordinary, standardised travel experiences that many companies offer. We believe in authentic experiences that help you to see the world as it really is, in all its variety,...
5 Surprising Facts about Kenya’s Big Five
The Big Five are world famous - the top five animals that call Africa home - and all of them can be found in Kenya (Kenya's big five). However, there are some surprising facts that you might not know about this host of popular animals. From lions to elephants to...
Find 4 seasons in 1 trip with a Gap Year to India
Experience a whole year of adventures in one trip with a Gap Year to India! India is a country of endless variety and contrasts, home to vast deserts, incredible mountain ranges, tea plantations and beautiful beaches. With just one holiday, you can have all the...
Amazing food to try in Kenya
Tired of Christmas leftovers? As you’re tucking into turkey sandwiches for the third time this week, there is so much amazing food to try in Kenya as well as everything else, we wanted to take your imagination on a journey. Travelling to Kenya includes so many...
Free time over the holidays? Start planning your Gap Year!
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! That’s why we’ve created a very 'AV' 12 days of Christmas for you. Use our 12-day tick list to get planning your Gap Year over the Christmas break. This is the perfect time to start planning for 2020 and get your Gap Year...
Escape the 9 to 5 with a mini Gap Year!
At AV, we believe in the value of the Gap Year experience for every age! That’s why we’ve created a range of programs especially for older travellers, already in full-time jobs. These shorter programs, ranging from 2 - 5 weeks, are perfect for time-limited travellers....
Choosing what to do on your Gap Year and where to go.
Choosing what to do on your Gap Year and where in the world to visit can be really hard. There are just so many options! One word of advice: don’t waste your gap year. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do something really special and meaningful that will stand...
Learn Swahili on a Gap Year to Kenya
Jambo! This is one of the most common forms of greeting in Kenya! If you are interested in a Gap Year to learn language then we can think of no better program than our Gap Year to Kenya. You will be fully immersed in the culture of the community that you live in...
What to do at the end of your ski season
If you’ve already got your season planned out and booked, now’s the time to be thinking about the rest of your year. What will you do at the end of your ski season? At AV we think Gap Years work best with balance, combining the excitement of a ski season with a period...
Enjoy a Gap Year to Kenya with AV in 2020
We are excited to announce our Gap Year to Kenya programs for 2020, starting in January. We have group departures in January, May, July and September (but you can join us whenever you like) so you can organise an incredible adventure in Africa according to your plans...
What Makes the Lepcha People Unique?
There are only 11,000 Lepcha in India. This tiny community is distinct from the rest of the population, distinguished by their ancient language, their mountain culture and fantastic regional food. The Lepcha are from eastern Nepal, Sikkim state and the Darjeeling...
10 reasons to take a Gap Year to India
Travelling to India is one of the best ways to spend your Gap Year and there is a whole host of reasons to choose India as your top destination. Whether it’s landscapes, food, culture or wildlife that captures your imagination, you can find all this and more on our...