Real Experience Programs

Most Affordable – PMGY’s volunteer abroad programs are designed to be accessible to everyone passionate about making a difference. With low fees and high-impact projects, you can create meaningful change without breaking the bank.

Best Support – From the moment you join PMGY, our dedicated international and local team provide extensive, round-the-clock support to guide and assist you through every step of your incredible PMGY adventure.

Safety Prioritised – Safety is PMGY’s number one priority! We’ve taken every precaution to ensure our gap year programs are as secure and well-structured as possible, giving you peace of mind while volunteering abroad.

Extraordinary Experiences – PMGY gives you the chance to immerse yourself in incredible cultural and travel experiences fully. Create unforgettable memories while making a difference in communities around the world.

Friendships for Life – Your PMGY journey doesn’t just end with unforgettable experiences—it’s also about forming life-long friendships with fellow volunteers from across the globe. Prepare to meet like-minded individuals and make connections that last a lifetime.

PMGY’s Real Experience program offers ambitious individuals the opportunity to join together and embark on a thrilling adventure across a country in Asia. Our local team provides a structured, fast-paced, and exhilarating group itinerary featuring a variety of amazing sites around your chosen destination. Depending on the specific Real Experience program, your group may also dedicate time to volunteering projects to give back to local communities, developing and showcasing your skills. On one of PMGY’s gap year adventures, you will arrive in your chosen destination on a set date, joining your group before travelling and volunteering over a 2- or 4-week period. This makes the trip ideal for anyone looking to explore and engage in new experiences in the company of others.

Individuals on one of PMGY’s Real Experience programs have a unique chance to engage in a variety of exciting activities. This may include volunteering in schools or visiting breathtaking sites – there is something for everyone! During your time on one of PMGY’s Real Experience programs, be prepared for incredible views, lifelong friendships, and complete cultural immersion. This adventure is perfect for anyone eager to travel within a safe, structured, and social environment.

From one destination to the next, you won’t need to worry about a thing. All your in-country transport and accommodation will be arranged by our local teams to ensure that your experience abroad is as smooth as possible. Our team will organise numerous activities for you to enjoy and engage in during your trip. For any spare time, our local experts will assist you in discovering the impressive range of activities available during your Real Experience program. Additionally, a portion of your time may be dedicated to making a difference within a community in your chosen country. This will allow you to put your skills and enthusiasm into practice, making a meaningful difference to local communities overseas.

The trip’s group set-up makes gap year adventures with PMGY an exceptional social occasion. You’ll have the chance to meet individuals from across the globe, forming friendships that will last a lifetime. You’ll stay together for your entire adventure, sharing moments and memories that will stay with you forever. You will also have the chance to immerse yourself with members of the local community, making gap year experiences with PMGY even more special.

Our Real Bali Experience offers individuals the chance to engage in both travelling and volunteering in paradise! Out of Indonesia’s staggering 17,508 islands, Bali is by far the most popular for its ancient culture, extravagant temples, spectacular rice paddies, and striking beaches. This gap year Bali experience trip offers you the undeniably exciting chance to explore the wonders of this exotic island while making a positive difference by volunteering at local projects.

Our Real Nepal Experience provides individuals with an epic adventure, combining adventure travel with community volunteering. Tick off all the “must-see” opportunities that this intriguing country has to offer. From exploring the colourful temples and markets of Kathmandu, trekking through the mighty Himalayas, to discovering the charm and wildlife in Chitwan. The whole experience will be fun, diverse, and culturally enriching. Meanwhile, you’ll also be making a positive impact on the local community.

Our Real Sri Lanka Experience allows individuals to spend four amazing weeks of adventures and volunteering in this hugely inspiring country. You can explore the wonders of the island, from cultural gems to paradise beaches, while making a positive difference in wildlife and community projects on the south coast. Sri Lanka is spectacular, affordable, and still uncrowded, so now is the time to go!

Our Real Thailand Experience participants partake in a 29-day affordable volunteer travel trip across Thailand. There are so many sides to the country: beaches, mountains, jungles, paddy fields, bustling cities, peaceful Buddhist temples, and friendly local people. On this incredible 4-week Thailand adventure, you’ll be able to experience it all! Throw in some like-minded people to share it with, a guide to help you get the very best out of your experience, and the Real Thailand Experience trip is not to be missed!

Flights

After confirming your place on a PMGY Real Experience Program, we strongly advise that you book your flights as early as possible. This will help ensure that you get the lowest airfare. You can choose to book your flights independently or we can help you with arranging them.

Your arrival airport and date are dependent on the specific destination you are joining us in:

🇮🇩 Bali – To join the Bali program, you should book your flights to Ngurah Rai (Denpasar) International Airport on the Sunday start date. The airport code is DPS.

🇳🇵 Nepal – To join the Nepal program, you should book your flights to Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu on the Sunday start date. The airport code is KTM.

🇱🇰 Sri Lanka – To join the Sri Lanka program, you should book your flights to Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo on the Monday start date. The airport code is CMB.

🇹🇭 Thailand – To join the Thailand program, you should book your flights to Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok on the Saturday start date. The airport code is BKK.

Travel Insurance

Importantly, having an appropriate travel insurance policy during your time abroad is essential. Therefore, it is mandatory for all of our international volunteers to be appropriately covered across all of their trip dates. This includes your travel to and from the host country, as well as any onward travel. Although PMGY does everything to ensure your trip is safe, inevitably things can go wrong. Therefore, having a travel insurance policy in place helps you effectively deal with any problems you may encounter during your time away.

We have partnered up with Howden Insurance to create an affordable and comprehensive optional policy. This has been designed with our international volunteers in mind, to cover our participants for all of their travel essentials. The policy is available to anyone across the globe, up to the age of 65 years. The document will cover you for your time on any PMGY destination. You can purchase PMGY Travel Insurance during your online application or you can contact us directly to arrange it.

Our International Team works tirelessly to provide extensive support leading up to your trip. From our online chat service to email support and telephone conversations, we’re always ready to assist. All international volunteers with PMGY receive a comprehensive Volunteer Handbook, which serves as your ultimate guide for planning your volunteer trip abroad. This detailed handbook includes everything from visa guidance to suggested packing lists, ensuring you’re well-prepared for your adventure.

We also have dedicated Facebook groups for each of our volunteer destinations. These groups are a fantastic resource where you can connect with our international and local teams, as well as past, present, and future volunteers. They provide a valuable platform for sharing experiences, asking questions, and staying updated with community news year after year.

Sometimes, it’s hard to imagine yourself volunteering abroad without having been there yet. To help manage expectations and give you a clear picture of what to expect, we offer a variety of engaging and informative videos on our PMGY YouTube Channel. These clips offer a visual insight into life as a PMGY volunteer. In addition, don’t miss our webinars, which run on selected Tuesdays at 4pm UK time. Our International Team provides invaluable advice in these sessions, tailored to help you prepare for your trip.

Each webinar is designed with a specific focus. Our Pre-Departure Webinar covers all the essentials you need to know before joining us abroad. The Program Preparation Webinar is project-specific, offering detailed advice and insights about your placement. Finally, our Safety Webinar provides top tips for managing your safety and wellbeing while volunteering abroad. For those simply curious about PMGY, we also run an Introductory Webinar. This session introduces our organisation, background, goals, and the volunteer opportunities we offer overseas.

PMGY’s Real Experience program are delivered by our dedicated and highly experienced in-country local teams. Every team member is fully vetted by our International Team, ensuring that your experience is both safe and rewarding. Our local community network provides the structure and support you need to make the most of your time on a Real Experience program. From arranging your accommodation and meals to coordinating airport pick-up, in-country orientation, and 24/7 emergency support, our team ensures that every detail is covered, leaving you free to focus on making a difference as a gap year volunteer.

When you arrive for your chosen Real Experience Program, you’ll be welcomed with a detailed orientation provided by our friendly in-country team.

The orientation day is typically divided into two parts:

Theoretical Overview: The first part of the day focuses on key information to help you settle in, including cultural ‘dos and don’ts,’ safety advice, an overview of your project, and team introductions. This session ensures you feel confident and well-prepared before starting your placement.

Practical Introduction: The second part introduces you to your local area. The team will guide you to essential locations such as shops, ATMs, and transport hubs. They will also assist with practicalities such as arranging money exchange and securing a local SIM card. Please note that the exact orientation schedule may vary by country, but rest assured that our local teams will make sure you’re ready for your volunteering journey.

For many first-time travellers, heading abroad can feel both exciting and daunting. At PMGY, we take every precaution to make our gap year experiences as safe as possible. While no experience can ever be 100% risk-free, our robust safety measures provide peace of mind for both volunteers and their families.

Every program has been personally inspected and approved by a PMGY director. We’ve lived in the Volunteer House, experienced the orientation, and worked on the projects ourselves. Through frequent visits and daily communications, we’ve built strong, trusting relationships with our local teams, ensuring that all programs meet our high standards.

In the unlikely event of an issue, volunteers have access to several layers of support:

• PMGY Local Team
• Project Staff
• PMGY International Team

Our programs are continually monitored to evaluate volunteer experiences and ensure high standards. We rely on volunteer feedback to make ongoing improvements to improve gap year experiences and volunteer opportunities. Safety and security are regularly assessed, and participants are encouraged to raise concerns with our local or International Teams, allowing us to resolve issues promptly and effectively.

Pre-Departure and In-Country Guidance

To ensure you’re fully prepared, PMGY provides comprehensive pre-departure guidance and an in-depth safety briefing during your orientation. Our local teams cover all the essentials, including project introductions, emergency procedures, tips for using local transport, and cultural differences. Volunteers also receive a full list of important contact numbers, ensuring you always know who to reach out to.

General Safety Tips

While our local teams work hard to ensure your safety, we encourage volunteers to follow these general tips for an even more secure experience:

• Be modest with jewellery worn in public.
• Avoid drinking tap water.
• Stay vigilant in crowds or near beggars; distractions may be used to target you.
• Be discreet when handling money in public.
• Plan your journeys carefully, especially at night, and know your destination in advance.
• Use only reputable transport providers; recommendations will be provided during your orientation.
• Stay in groups at night and avoid walking alone in dark or isolated areas.
• Keep valuables safe, especially when heading out of the accommodation.
• Be cautious of traffic, always looking left and right before crossing roads.
• Never accept food or drinks from strangers.

By following these guidelines and the advice provided by our in-country teams, you’ll be able to enjoy a safe, enriching, and memorable experience as a gap year participant.

PMGY welcomes volunteers of all nationalities and backgrounds. The minimum age to join the program is 17, and there is no upper age limit. All volunteers need to have a good level of English, although it does not need to be your first language. You do not need to speak the local language; however, learning a few words during your time with us will go a long way and greatly enrich your experience!

All participants must provide a clean criminal background check before volunteering abroad with us. No formal experience or qualifications are required—just lots of energy, enthusiasm, and a willingness to prepare!

To confirm your place on a PMGY program, you need to pay a Registration Fee. The remaining Program Fee is due no less than 60 days before your program start date.

For more information on how to join one of our Real Experience programs, please visit our Application Process.