We gotta get out of this place

"We gotta get out of this place

If it's the last thing we ever do

We gotta get out of this place

'cause girl, there's a better life for me and you".

These lyrics are from The Animal's 1965 hit 'We gotta get out of this place' and let's face it who doesn't feel like that a fair proportion of the time?

Truth is, more and more people are taking the opportunity and getting out and exploring the world. Learning about different lifestyles, cultures and places. Who knows where such an adventure could lead you?

Time and again I hear people saying they want to do something, but they don't because they don't know what to do. Look on the gap year bulletin boards and you'll see young people talking about going to Oz to 'find themselves', but isn't this becoming a bit 'samey', like interailing did in the 1990's?

Do something different

How about raising funding to install a fresh water supply to a remote Nepalese village and then go and visit the people you have helped? Or build a hospital and school in Kenya and spend time with the local people and exploring the environment. Climb and mountain bike a series of high mountain trails in the Andes or canoe the upper reaches of the Amazon. Climb Pico de Orizabe, the highest peak in Mexico and camp in a rainforest, trek the ancient Inca trails in Peru or visit India and the Taj Mahal, trekking through the coldest and highest inhabited place on earth with less rainfall than the Sahara. Canoe Beaver Creek and a section of the Yukon in Alaska or stand on the summit of Mt Blanc, Western Europe’s highest mountain.

If you really want to get out of your comfort zone and try something really different, have you thought about trying an expedition? Leading Edge Expeditions is part of a UK based charity that approves expeditions across the globe. They've been running for 19 years and have sent out over fifty major expeditions.

Experience not profit

What truly makes our trips different is that they are NOT run for profit. On a Leading Edge Expedition prices are kept at a reasonable level so young people can afford them and all the expedition leaders pay their own travel costs in full. We've heard all sorts of horror stories from people who have been on commercial trips and been fed sweet potatoes for two weeks. Don't be fooled that is not character building......

In 2005 Leading Edge Expeditions have a very full programme of trips attempting all the exciting things I've described above. Check out their website at www.gapyearexpeditions.org.uk for more details.