The advent and rise of "Voluntourism" has created some of the most interesting and unique opportunities seen in the travel community in years. Volunteer opportunities have existed abroad for decades, but the function was almost always purely in a service capacity.
Nowadays, people are still looking to volunteer abroad but are also looking to relax a bit and maybe have a laugh. To respond to these rising interesting, both travel companies and volunteer agencies have responded with a variety of offerings to meet different interests and travel agendas.
Many volunteer projects have a built in element of fun, by working with children in interesting settings like as a sports coach or rebuilding playgrounds and community centers. Other projects are set in wildlife sanctuaries where volunteers are able to care for and play with many of the animals on hand.
Aside from being in a foreign countries, some tour providers go the extra step to really enhance the travel experience. Rather than stay and volunteer in one location, volunteers tour a country by train or bus and stop at different projects along their journey. Each projects brings a different landscape, challenge, volunteer group and community base.
One point of notice with these types of projects: As these "Tours" are often coordinated by travel companies and not necessarily non-profits. Be sure to look into what exactly you will be doing on the projects daily and ask the company to be as transparent as possible with the way your fee's are handled.
These volunteer travel companies are fully entitled to operate as a business, but if your main priority is to volunteer with a travel component built in, be sure the company is taking care of that need just as carefully.
Activities:
Working with Children,
Community Development,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 2-12 weeks Price: $1,200.00 Description: Explore South Africa, Experience the culture and assist important childcare projects on this 2 week and up volunteer program
Activities:
Working with Animals,
Conservation,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 5, 7, 9, 11, or 13 weeks Price: $2,090.00 Description: Join an array of hands on conservation programs in this world famous archipelago
Activities:
Teaching,
Community Development,
Working with Children,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 2-10 weeks Price: $1,790.00 Description: Receive personal development opportunities while interning on childcare programs
Activities:
Working with Animals,
Conservation,
Unique Opportunities,
Building
Length: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 or 12 weeks Price: $1,280.00 Description: Work with desert elephants in a remote and beautiful region of Namibia
Activities:
Unique Opportunities
Length: 21 days Price: $3,690.00 Description: Come to Patagonia to master kayaking and leadership skills on this three-week training course
Activities:
Unique Opportunities,
Conservation,
Working with Animals
Length: 5 or 10 weeks Price: $3,640.00 Description: Receive personal development opportunities while interning on rainforest conservation programs on the Caribbean coast
Activities:
Conservation,
Teaching,
Working with Animals,
Working with Children,
Unique Opportunities,
Community Development
Length: 6 months Price: $6,800.00 Description: Gain skills and first-hand field experience to support a career in neo-tropical conservation, including a qualification in biological survey technique...
Activities:
Teaching,
Community Development,
Working with Children,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 4, 8 or 12 weeks Price: $2,590.00 Description: Teach English and work with children in local communities in South Africa
Activities:
Conservation,
Working with Animals,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 2-4 weeks Price: $1,450.00 Description: Assist with the conservation of the endangered langur monkeys of Java Island, Indonesia
Activities:
Teaching,
Community Development,
Working with Children,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 2-12 week durations available. Price: $1,590.00 Description: Learn Spanish, volunteer with young children in an indigenous community, and explore South America.
Activities:
Teaching,
Community Development,
Working with Children,
Unique Opportunities
Length: From 2 to 12 weeks Price: $1,660.00 Description: Explore Honduras, experience the culture and assist important childcare projects
Activities:
Teaching,
Community Development,
Working with Children,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 6 months Price: $7,990.00 Description: Assist essential community education projects on this six month internship scheme while learning Spanish. Paid or unpaid work positions available for ...
Activities:
Teaching,
Working with Children,
Community Development,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 4, 8 or 12 weeks Price: $2,590.00 Description: Teach in local schools and care for orphans and disadvantaged children
Activities:
Building,
Conservation,
Community Development,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 1 or 2 weeks Price: $1,190.00 Description: Provide assistance on ecological and economic construction solutions for a Costa Rican farming community
Activities:
Building,
Teaching,
Conservation,
Community Development,
Health Work,
Working with Children,
Skilled Work,
Unique Opportunities
Length: one to 40 weeks Price: $1,995.00 Description: We have a place for you!
Do you have one or two weeks to truly make a difference? Lend your heart and hands to vulnerable children and youth, commun...
Activities:
Conservation,
Working with Animals,
Teaching,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 12 weeks Price: $500.00 Description: Participate in this very unique volunteer project in Rwanda
Activities:
Teaching,
Community Development,
Working with Children,
Skilled Work,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 12 months Price: $4,990.00 Description: Spend a year teaching children in tropical Costa Rica!
Activities:
Teaching,
Community Development,
Working with Children,
Health Work,
Skilled Work,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 12 months Price: $7,990.00 Description: Teach math, science and English in Rwandan public high schools!
Activities:
Conservation,
Working with Animals,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 2 weeks Price: $1,550.00 Description: This unique 14 day conservation experience combines wildlife conservation projects with safari field guide training
Activities:
Conservation,
Teaching,
Community Development,
Working with Animals,
Working with Children,
Unique Opportunities,
Building
Length: 11 weeks Price: $6,030.00 Description: Join this South Africa expedition to assist on a desert elephant project in Namibia and teach children in Cape Town as you explore Southern Africa
Activities:
Conservation,
Community Development,
Working with Animals,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 14 days Price: $1,790.00 Description: Volunteer for 10 days on critical construction projects and then go on a 4 day safari to view the big game you're helping to conserve
Activities:
Conservation,
Working with Animals,
Community Development,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 2, 5, 7 or 10 weeks Price: $1,390.00 Description: Assist with dolphin research programs, terrestrial wildlife projects and teaching projects on this multi-focused expedition in Kenya
Activities:
Working with Animals,
Conservation,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 2 or 4 weeks Price: $1,990.00 Description: Volunteer in Africa and survey endangered gorillas and chimpanzees on this conservation and community development project
Activities:
Teaching,
Community Development,
Working with Children,
Skilled Work,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 11 months Price: $1,500.00 Description: Teach math, science and English to children in Guyana!
Activities:
Teaching,
Community Development,
Working with Children,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 2 to 10 weeks Price: $1,190.00 Description: Short term volunteering on an educational project in Kenya
Activities:
Teaching,
Working with Children,
Community Development,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 2 weeks Price: $1,590.00 Description: Assist on educational programs for underprivileged children in rural communities of Rajasthan
Activities:
Teaching,
Community Development,
Working with Children,
Skilled Work,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 3 months Price: $3,990.00 Description: Teach English to children and adults in Ecuador!
Activities:
Working with Children,
Teaching,
Community Development,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 2-10 weeks Price: $1,790.00 Description: Receive personal development opportunities while interning on care, education, counseling, arts and sports projects for impoverished children and orph...
Activities:
Teaching,
Community Development,
Health Work,
Working with Children,
Skilled Work,
Unique Opportunities
Length: approx. 6 months Price: $4,990.00 Description: Teach English, math, science, or computer literacy in Namibia!
Activities:
Teaching,
Community Development,
Working with Children,
Skilled Work,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 3 months Price: $3,990.00 Description: Teach English at middle school summer camps in China!
Activities:
Community Development,
Working with Animals,
Unique Opportunities
Length: From 2 to 12 weeks Price: $1,390.00 Description: Assist on an ecological and sustainable organic farm in Costa Rica and explore this amazing country in your free time
Activities:
Teaching,
Community Development,
Working with Children,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 2-12 weeks Price: $1,990.00 Description: Receive personal development opportunities while interning on education projects with indigenous children in Guatemala
Activities:
Teaching,
Community Development,
Working with Children,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 6, 9 or 12 months Price: $4,900.00 Description: Volunteering, Cultural immersion, Adventure Side Trips and a 100 hour TEFL course
Activities:
Conservation,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 5, 7 or 10 weeks Price: $3,350.00 Description: Learn to scuba dive and volunteer on crucial marine life and coral reef research programs in Mexico
Activities:
Working with Animals,
Conservation,
Unique Opportunities
Length: From 4 to 20 weeks Price: $1,740.00 Description: Help conserve the Vervet monkey by joining this pioneering rehabilitation project
Activities:
Teaching,
Community Development,
Working with Children,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 5 or 10 weeks Price: $2,900.00 Description: Get your TEFL certification to teach English, and work in local Thai communities
Activities:
Working with Children,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 2 weeks Price: $1,590.00 Description: Help out on childcare and adventure projects in and around Cape Town
Activities:
Conservation,
Community Development,
Teaching,
Working with Animals,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 6 months Price: $3,250.00 Description: Work with a world renowned primate conservation charitie
Activities:
Teaching,
Community Development,
Working with Children,
Skilled Work,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 10 months Price: $3,390.00 Description: Teach English to kids in rural middle or high schools in Chile!
Activities:
Conservation,
Working with Animals,
Unique Opportunities
Length: From 2 weeks Price: $1,990.00 Description: Research wild cats on the Yucatan Peninsula
Activities:
Teaching,
Community Development,
Working with Children,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 20 weeks Price: $6,500.00 Description: Start a career in international development and education by taking an internship in environmental education and community-based sustainable developme...
Activities:
Teaching,
Community Development,
Working with Children,
Skilled Work,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 3 months Price: $4,490.00 Description: Teach and mentor South African youth!
Activities:
Conservation,
Working with Animals,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 weeks Price: $1,800.00 Description: Study whale migration and behavior in a beautiful town on the Brazilian coast
Activities:
Conservation,
Working with Animals,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 20 weeks Price: $7,990.00 Description: Train to be a safari field guide, Study wildlife conservation, and get work experience in one our South Africa?s lodges or with a conservation organiz...
Activities:
Teaching,
Community Development,
Health Work,
Working with Children,
Skilled Work,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 11 months Price: $5,990.00 Description: Serve as a teacher assistant for children orphaned by AIDS, and assist at an orphanage with HIV-positive orphans.
Activities:
Teaching,
Community Development,
Working with Children,
Skilled Work,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 6 months Price: $2,990.00 Description: Teach English in rural middle or high schools in Chile!
Activities:
Conservation,
Working with Animals,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 5 or 10 weeks Price: $3,940.00 Description: Receive personal development opportunities while interning on elephant, lions and big game research programs
Activities:
Teaching,
Community Development,
Working with Children,
Skilled Work,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 3 months Price: $3,990.00 Description: Teach English at high schools in tropical Costa Rica!
Activities:
Conservation,
Community Development,
Working with Animals,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 5, 7 or 10 weeks Price: $3,990.00 Description: Explore the Indian Ocean and help on this high profile conservation project in the Seychelles
Activities:
Teaching,
Conservation,
Community Development,
Working with Animals,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 14 weeks Price: $5,160.00 Description: Wildlife research in the Ecuadorian Amazon, teach children in Peru and visit the Andes of Ecuador
Activities:
Conservation,
Working with Animals,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 12 days Price: $1,400.00 Description: Learn about cetaceans in Europe and assist a scientific team conduct valuable research
Activities:
Teaching,
Community Development,
Working with Children,
Unique Opportunities,
Skilled Work
Length: 11-12 months Price: $4,990.00 Description: Teach English to adult students in Ecuadorian university and community classes!
Activities:
Working with Children,
Community Development,
Teaching,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 2-12 weeks Price: $1,800.00 Description: Receive personal development opportunities while interning at an orphanage outside Cape Town
Activities:
Teaching,
Community Development,
Working with Children,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 9 or 12 months Price: $7,990.00 Description: Undertake a 9 or 12 month placement teaching children in Honduras, learn Spanish and explore Central America.
Activities:
Teaching,
Community Development,
Working with Children,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 9 or 12 months Price: $3,995.00 Description: Undertake a 9 or 12 month placement teaching children in Nicaragua, learn Spanish and explore Central America
Activities:
Conservation,
Working with Animals,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 6 or 12 months Price: $5,190.00 Description: Develop field skills, conservation techniques and part in the long term conservation of South African national parks for one year
Activities:
Conservation,
Skilled Work,
Unique Opportunities,
Community Development
Length: 2, 5, 7 or 10 weeks Price: $1,790.00 Description: Use your diving qualifications to assist coral reef, fish and marine mammal conservation programs in Mexico
Activities:
Conservation,
Working with Animals,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 5, 7 or 10 weeks Price: $3,190.00 Description: Help conserve South African wildlife on this well established conservation program
Activities:
Conservation,
Working with Animals,
Unique Opportunities,
Building,
Teaching,
Community Development
Length: 2-10 weeks Price: $1,200.00 Description: Work along side rural African communities and assist with the preservation of endemic species in Madagascar
Activities:
Conservation,
Working with Animals,
Teaching,
Community Development,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 6 months to 1 year Price: $5,190.00 Description: Spend a year in South Afriaca and play a part in the long term conservation of national parks
Activities:
Teaching,
Community Development,
Working with Children,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 6 months Price: $7,990.00 Description: Assist essential community education projects on this six month internship while learning Spanish. Paid or unpaid work positions available for qualify...
Activities:
Teaching,
Community Development,
Working with Children,
Skilled Work,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 12 months Price: $4,990.00 Description: Teach English at elementary and high schools in Thailand!
Activities:
Teaching,
Community Development,
Working with Children,
Skilled Work,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 3 months Price: $3,990.00 Description: Teach English in rural Polish middle and high schools!
Activities:
Conservation,
Working with Animals,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 5 or 10 weeks Price: $4,740.00 Description: Receive personal development opportunities while working on coral reefs and turtle projects in the Indian Ocean
Activities:
Teaching,
Community Development,
Working with Children,
Skilled Work,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 11 months Price: $0.00 Description: Teach English, math, and various other subjects in high schools in tropical Micronesia!
Activities:
Unique Opportunities
Length: 42 days Price: $5,495.00 Description: Obtain qualifications through an in-depth mountaineering course in Chilean Patagonia
Activities:
Teaching,
Community Development,
Working with Children,
Skilled Work,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 11 months Price: $500.00 Description: Teach English in Chinese middle schools!
Activities:
Conservation,
Community Development,
Working with Animals,
Teaching,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 2, 5, 7 or 10 weeks Price: $1,590.00 Description: Join this unique marine and rainforest conservation project in Costa Rica and explore this biodiversity hotspot
Activities:
Teaching,
Community Development,
Working with Children,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 14 days Price: $1,700.00 Description: Help as a teachers assistant in a township school and see all the highlights in Cape Town on this 2 week volunteer vacation.
Activities:
Unique Opportunities
Length: 1 week Price: $1,750.00 Description: A charity event, fundraising for our various schemes, including food, scholarships, trees, and Plan Ancianos.
Activities:
Teaching,
Conservation,
Working with Animals,
Unique Opportunities,
Community Development
Length: 6 weeks Price: $3,530.00 Description: Work with children, safari in the Kruger National Park and explore Mozambique
Activities:
Teaching,
Community Development,
Working with Children,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 9 or 12 months Price: $7,990.00 Description: Provide long term assistance for impoverished children, immersing yourself in the local Kenyan community.
Activities:
Conservation,
Working with Animals,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 2, 3 or 4 weeks Price: $2,690.00 Description: Join this short term volunteering program researching pink river dolphins in the Amazon
Activities:
Conservation,
Working with Animals,
Unique Opportunities,
Community Development
Length: 2-12 weeks Price: $1,990.00 Description: Receive personal development opportunities while interning on an ecological and sustainable organic farm
Activities:
Conservation,
Working with Animals,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 20 weeks Price: $7,000.00 Description: Support a career in both terrestrial and marine conservation by training and working with GVI in Costa Rica
Activities:
Building,
Community Development,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 14 days Price: $1,990.00 Description: Volunteer for 10 days on a community construction project and then go on a 4 day adventure tour of some of Thailand's best islands and beaches
Activities:
Conservation,
Working with Animals,
Community Development,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 2 weeks Price: $1,390.00 Description: Volunteer on a Dolphin Research project in Kenya for 2 weeks or more
Activities:
Teaching,
Community Development,
Health Work,
Working with Children,
Skilled Work,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 3 months Price: $4,490.00 Description: Teach computer literacy, English, HIV/AIDS awareness, and other skills to children in Namibia!
Activities:
Conservation,
Working with Animals,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 6 months Price: $10,990.00 Description: Gain professional PADI scuba diving qualifications and marine conservation training, followed by a work placement at a dive centre
Activities:
Teaching,
Community Development,
Working with Children,
Skilled Work,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 3 months Price: $3,990.00 Description: Teach English, computer literacy and life skills to children in orphanages in Bulgaria!
Activities:
Building,
Community Development,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 2-4 weeks Price: $1,570.00 Description: Volunteer to assist indigenous communities around Colca Canyon in Peru by building fuel-efficient stoves that will help to improve health levels and r...
Activities:
Teaching,
Community Development,
Working with Children,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 2 to 10 weeks Price: $1,190.00 Description: Help on critical short term teaching projects in rural Thai communities
Activities:
Skilled Work,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 2 years Price: $25,000.00 Description: Train to become a Mountaineering Guide in mountain ranges across the globe
Activities:
Teaching,
Community Development,
Skilled Work,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 11 months Price: $2,990.00 Description: Teach English to adult students in Chile!
Activities:
Teaching,
Community Development,
Skilled Work,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 11 months Price: $0.00 Description: Teach English, math, and basic computer skills to underprivileged women from South Asia as they prepare to attend the Asian University for Women!
Activities:
Working with Children,
Teaching,
Community Development,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 2-12 weeks Price: $2,190.00 Description: Receive personal development opportunities while interning on education projects with indigenous children
Activities:
Teaching,
Community Development,
Working with Children,
Skilled Work,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 12 months Price: $0.00 Description: Teach English, math and science in public high schools in tropical American Samoa!
Activities:
Conservation,
Community Development,
Working with Animals,
Unique Opportunities
Length: 5 or 10 weeks Price: $3,440.00 Description: Receive personal development opportunities while interning on conservation projects in the Amazon rainforest
Activities:
Teaching,
Working with Children,
Unique Opportunities
Length: From 2 to 12 weeks Price: $1,200.00 Description: Teach a variety of sports to over a 1000 children in a township primary school
