Adventure Guide Training
10 or 12 weeks
Our trips push you to go further – physically, mentally, and beyond – to spark discovery at every step. Built for for aspiring expedition leaders, ready to lead from the front, test their limits and train across extreme environments from the mountains of Wales to the jungles of Central America.
Learn & Develop
Build the skills, experience and mindset to lead real expeditions
Action-packed personal development and expedition leadership training
Gain nationally recognised qualifications and hands-on industry experience
Develop the skills to plan, manage and lead expeditions worldwide
Train across diverse environments, from mountains to jungle
Push your limits through a unique and intensive experience
Opportunities for employment with Gapforce for top-performing graduates
Gapforce Leaders
Expert instructors mentoring you every step of the way
Expert instructors mentoring you every step of the way
Itinerary
ARRIVAL & EXPEDITION TRAINING – COSTA RICA, NICARAGUA & PANAMA
Apply your skills in real-world environments
Your journey starts in the jungles of Costa Rica before travelling through Nicaragua and Panama, where you'll develop practical expedition leadership skills in remote environments.
Take part in jungle expeditions, river crossings and remote treks, putting your leadership, planning and problem-solving skills into action in challenging and unpredictable environments.
This is the core training programme completed by all Adventure Guide participants.
UK EXPEDITION TRAINING – WALES
Included on the 12-week (85 day) programme
Continue your training in the mountains of Wales, where you'll refine your expedition leadership skills in a very different environment.
This phase focuses on navigation, group management, risk assessment and wilderness first aid as part of your Summer Mountain Leader Training and other nationally recognised certifications.
Designed to build on your jungle experience, the Wales phase prepares you to lead expeditions confidently across a wide range of remote environments.
SPECIALIST TRAINING MODULES
Develop expertise across key expedition disciplines
Throughout the programme, you’ll train across a wide range of specialist areas, including:
Expedition leadership and management
Wilderness and expedition medicine
Incident management and risk assessment
Jungle survival and leadership
Kayaking, trekking and cycling leadership skills
Project management and teamwork
This comprehensive approach ensures you graduate with both depth and breadth of experience.
ASSESSMENT & DEVELOPMENT
Continuous feedback to maximise your potential
The course is run as a continuous assessment, allowing instructors to track your development and provide ongoing feedback.
You’ll be evaluated across key leadership competencies, ensuring you leave with a clear understanding of your strengths and areas for growth.
A TYPICAL DAY
Challenging, varied and highly rewarding
No two days are the same. A typical day may include field-based training, expedition planning, leadership exercises and scenario-based learning.
Expect early starts, physically demanding activities and immersive experiences designed to build resilience, confidence and capability.
Dates & booking
Change payment currency:
Start date: Tuesday 3rd November 2026
End date: Tuesday 26th January 2027
Start date: Tuesday 3rd November 2026
End date: Monday 11th January 2027
After the course
Step into the world of expedition leadership
On completion, you’ll gain a combination of nationally recognised certifications and in-house qualifications, alongside a Gapforce Adventure Guide Certification.
Top-performing participants may be offered roles leading expeditions with Gapforce, with further support and guidance provided for careers across the wider adventure and outdoor industry.
Graduates have gone on to work as expedition leaders, outdoor instructors, teachers and in international development roles worldwide.
Qualifications & certificates
Industry-recognised training to support your career
Nationally recognised certifications include:
Mountain Leader Summer (Training) (12 week programme only)
Activity First Aid (12 week programme only)
RGS Off-Site Safety Management
British Canoeing Paddle Awards
In-house training and assessment includes:
Expedition Leadership
Expedition Management
Expedition & Wilderness Medicine
Incident Management
You will also be trained and evaluated in the following:
Jungle Leadership
Water Safety Management
Kayaking Skills and Leadership
Trek Leadership
Project Management
Spanish Skills
Cycle Skills and Leadership
In addition to these qualifications and your skills training, the course provides leadership experience in an intensive environment that can be beneficially taken into any field. Our emphasis on your personal development will ensure a tailored and transformative experience.
Career support
Ongoing guidance and opportunities after you graduate
Your development doesn’t stop when the course ends.
You’ll receive careers guidance, industry insight and access to a global network of contacts. High-performing graduates may be offered positions with Gapforce, while others go on to work across expedition travel, outdoor education and international programmes.
It’s a powerful first step into a career in adventure.
Group size
Small groups for maximum development
Group sizes are intentionally kept small, typically between 4 and 10 participants.
This ensures personalised coaching, strong team dynamics and maximum opportunity for hands-on leadership experience.
Is this course for me?
Designed for those ready to lead, challenge themselves and go further
This intensive programme is ideal for outdoor enthusiasts, aspiring expedition leaders and those looking to transition into a career in the adventure industry.
Whether you’re starting out or changing direction, the course provides a structured pathway into expedition leadership, combining professional training with personal growth.
If you’re ready to step outside your comfort zone and take on a truly transformative challenge, this is where it begins.
Start your adventure
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postcards
from previous trips
Never a dull moment.
I went into this program really nervous, not knowing what to expect, wanting to change my career, get into the outdoors, and start my travels with a purpose. This program fulfilled all of that and more, I have come out of my shell now, I have been able to make incredible unforgettable friends and it has helped me make my career in the outdoors. I am lucky to be working in Australia as an outdoor educator 1 year on from having completed my course, and I believe the GapForce program has helped me achieve this.
My highlights from the trip are too long to add into this review, the jungle, the local tribe you get to meet, Costa Rica is amazing, cycling expedition was incredible.
The leaders were amazing, the skills of Gaz and the confidence he has in the jungle is so valuable it makes it feels comforting having him around. Jade is just badass, so confident in the jungle, so knowledgeable about first aid and so many stories to be told especially about cycling. Colin is just something, managed to work with him after I had finished with Gapforce and he is no different, so much laughter and banter you can have with him. Never a dull moment.
Thank you GapForce for an incredible expedition.
Sam | Adventure Guide Training
Click here to read over 100 reviews about our programs on the independent service.
Small Groups
Small groups, big connections.
Life-changing Experiences
Experiences that shape you
Adding True Value to Travel
Travel with real purpose
GapForce for Good
Adventure that gives back
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