Volunteering Tours & Trips
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10 best Volunteering tour packages
Compiled by
MelissaVolunteering travel expert at TourRadar
- Vietnam Adventure & Volunteering - 17 Days
- Cape Town & Garden Route Voluntour 14D/13N
- 7 Days Community Based Tourism
- Thailand Voluntour 15D/14N
- 3 Nights / 4 days Elephants Jaipur Tour
- 15 Days Discover Kenya Safari & Community Integration Package
- Giraffe Center, Elephant Orphanage & Bomas of Kenya Guided Day Tour in Nairobi
- Children Volunteer + Jaipur Sightseeing Tour 4 Days
- Galapagos Experience: Volunteer & Travel 2 weeks
- Galápagos Experience: Volunteer & Travel 10 days
Vietnam Adventure & Volunteering - 17 Days
57 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The country people, food, and accommodation were all incredible.”
Community work in Hue spans 3 days, building chicken farms and sanitation facilities. Partner with local NGOs while enjoying Vietnamese culture through homestays, cooking classes, and performances.
Duration 17 days Destinations Hanoi, Halong Bay, Ninh Binh, Hue, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta Age Range Ages 18+ Operator Way To Travel From
- NZ$3,383
Give 5 full days to teaching English and life skills to children aged 3+ in Cape Town's Du Noon and Wolwerivier townships. Mix service with adventures in Tsitsikamma and Wilderness National Parks, plus wildlife viewing at Addo Elephant Park.
Duration 14 days Destinations Cape Town, Table Mountain, George, Robben Island, Franschhoek, Hermanus, Betty's Bay, Sedgefield, Wilderness National Park, AlbertiniaSee all destinations Age Range Ages 10+ Operator Bamba Travel From
- NZ$2,642
7 Days Community Based Tourism
2 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“This is a really good tour. Lots of highlights in this incredible country. Strongly recommended.”
Des, traveled in November
At Gorilla Guardians village, participate in cultural exchange and community service, help local pottery artisans in Rubavu, and join traditional activities. Support conservation while experiencing authentic Rwandan village life.
Duration 7 days Destinations Kigali, Butare, Kibuye, Gisenyi, Musanze Age Range Ages 7+ Operator New Horizon Africa Safaris From
- NZ$2,850
Volunteer work in Chiang Mai spans eight full days, with options in teaching, childcare, elderly care, or monk teaching. Thai language instruction and weekend cultural trips to nearby provinces included.
Duration 15 days Destinations Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lampang Age Range Ages 10+ Operator Bamba Travel From
- NZ$3,586
3 Nights / 4 days Elephants Jaipur Tour
6 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The afternoon tours around the city are fantastic, the guest house owner attention is outstanding.”
Thierry, traveled in December
Care for elephants at Jaipur's Elephant Village starting at 5 AM daily. Tasks include bathing, food preparation, enclosure maintenance, and working with mahouts while living with Indian families.
Duration 4 days Destinations Jaipur Age Range Ages 16+ Operated in English, German, Italian, French, Spanish Operator Volunteering With India From $356
50% Off- NZ$178You save $178
Meaningful service awaits at Heritage of Faith and Hope Children Center in Nairobi for 8 days. Choose between teaching, meal preparation, tree planting, or youth empowerment. The program concludes with game drives in Maasai Mara and Lake Nakuru National Park.
Duration 15 days Destinations Nairobi, Maasai Mara National Reserve, Lake Nakuru National Park Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Gracepatt Ecotours Kenya From $4,944
5% Off- NZ$4,697You save $247
Giraffe Center, Elephant Orphanage & Bomas of Kenya Guided Day Tour in Nairobi
2 Reviews by TourRadar travelers
At the Giraffe Centre and David Sheldrick elephant orphanage, aid wildlife conservation initiatives. Visit the beads factory to understand local craftsmanship and watch traditional performances at Bomas of Kenya.
Duration 1 day Destinations Nairobi, Nairobi National Park Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Gracepatt Ecotours Kenya From $472
5% Off- NZ$449You save $24
Children Volunteer + Jaipur Sightseeing Tour 4 Days
“We had a really great time participating in the program with the staff and students.”
GeoffPaisley, traveled in March
Share knowledge teaching English and mathematics at Jaipur's Children Program center. Mornings focus on volunteering, while afternoons feature visits to Amber Fort, Wind Palace, and Albert Museum.
Duration 4 days Destinations Jaipur Age Range Ages 12+ Operated in English, German, Italian, French, Spanish Operator Volunteering With India From $534
50% Off- NZ$267You save $267
At the 200-hectare Biological Station, join conservation efforts through reforestation and environmental education. Practice organic agriculture with locals while snorkeling at Kicker Rock and hiking Sierra Negra Volcano.
Duration 14 days Destinations Quito, San Cristóbal Island, Isabela Island, Santa Cruz Island Age Range Ages 18-58 Operated in English, Spanish Operator Lead Adventures From
50% Off- NZ$6,431
Join the Simbaña brothers on San Cristóbal Island removing invasive species and planting endemic vegetation. Mix conservation work with snorkeling at Tintoreras Islet and hiking Sierra Negra Volcano.
Duration 10 days Destinations Quito, Isabela Island, Santa Cruz Island, San Cristóbal Island Age Range Ages 18-60 Operated in English, Spanish Operator Lead Adventures From
50% Off- NZ$5,273
What people love about Volunteering Tours
- Vietnam Adventure & Volunteering - 17 Days
Wow! I was apprehensive about travelling to Vietnam, but I shouldn’t have been. Mat & Jane at Way To Travel were amazing with their knowledge and experience, and Vietnam was amazing too. One of my main concerns had been about safety, but I felt I couldn’t have been in safer hands. Jane seemed to know everyone everywhere we went but I think it is just that she’s such a likeable person it just seemed that way. Mat must have been born to do this job, he just knew the right places to go, the right people to see & exactly what we would all love to do on the tour. It was like going on holiday with your best friend but to a destination he knew everything about. Way To organised everything, you literally just turn up & they have it all sorted - just perfectly, accommodation, transport, activities, everything. I had the most fantastic time. I can honestly say this was the best holiday I’ve had. The places we went were awesome. The boat we were on in Ha Long Bay was unbelievable & the location so beautiful with so much to see, I thought it couldn’t be bettered but Ninh Bin managed it. The bungalows were great, and what a peaceful place to live. But we definitely saved the best until last. Hoi an has to be the best place in the world. I can’t wait to go back to Vietnam just to go there again (although we will be trying as many other places as possible having now seen what a wonderful country this is to visit). We stayed in a very fancy hotel in the most perfect location. I think you can tell I’m in love with Hoi an. I think I’ve only ever written reviews when I’ve had a complaint, but my only complaint about Way To Travel is that I had to come home, I just wanted to do it all again.
- 3 Nights / 4 days Elephants Jaipur Tour
The tour is immersive to get in contact with local people and culture and it is an amazing chance to interact with the elephants in a respecting way. The experience was incredible, we spent some time with four big elephants which were very curious and always hungry! The mahouts were encouraging and the volunteering staff very welcoming and kind: our coordinator Pradeep was the best! He and the driver Totaram were willing to help us in every way. We met and spend an amazing time also with another volunteer and the guesthouse family and all of them were very helpful and sweet! We would like to come back again in the future.
- Tanzania & Zanzibar Island: African Safari, School Construction & Education, Swim with Dolphins
When I first heard of Growth International Volunteer Excursions (GIVE), I had no idea the amount significance it would eventually hold in my life. GIVE is not just an amazing tour, it is a life changing immersion into someone else's culture. On my trip to Africa, I fell in love with a new country, a new language, and a new culture. To hear is one thing, to see is another, but to feel is what GIVE offered me this summer. The village we lived in was more welcoming to us than my own neighborhood is to me. The locals want you to have a good time because you are not only "touring," you are helping. Building a school along side kids who will eventually be attending it, and teaching classes to students who teach you just as much in return is the most rewarding feeling in the world. I will never forget the first night when all of our group members decided to walk out on the beach. We were welcomed by a group of over 40 children running towards us, grabbing our hands to spin in circles, jumping on our backs, and chasing us in games of tag. In that moment all you could see on our faces was pure happiness, for even without a language to speak, we were able to connect. The tour guides have more stories and knowledge than you can imagine. They treat you as equals, and even encourage you to take positions of leadership throughout the trip. There were no set "rules" of what we could and could not do, but there was enough mutual respect that we could trust in them to always lead us in the right direction. Not to mention, the people who go on this trip with you are the best people you will meet in your life. I fell in love with each and everyone of our group members, and by the end of the trip, it was just as heartbreaking to leave them behind as it was to leave the country. GIVE has changed the direction my life is taking me and I will never be able to repay them for that. What I can do though, is make sure that others have the same opportunity as I did, and let them know just how much this organizations means to its leaders, its volunteers, and its countries. I 100 percent believe GIVE deserves the title of Most Amazing Tour, but with or without the ribbon, it will continue to change the world.
What our customers ask about Volunteering Tours & Trips
How long are typical volunteering tours?
You can find volunteer trips anywhere from 5 to 22 days - it really depends on how much time you have and what you want to do. Short programs like the Wild Skye forest conservation trip pack a lot into 5 days, while longer ones like the Galapagos Experience give you 22 days to really get involved in the project and explore the islands. Most people choose something in between, like the 15-day Thailand program or the 6-day women's empowerment project in India, which mix volunteer work with time to experience the local culture.
When is the best time to go on a volunteering tour?
The timing depends on where you're headed. For Galapagos programs, aim for December through May when it's warm (75-85°F/24-29°C) with calm seas - perfect for conservation work. If you're going to Thailand, any time works, but November to February is nice and cool (70-85°F/21-29°C) with less rain. For Scotland's outdoor conservation projects, book between June and September when the weather's milder and you get those long summer days to work outside.
What types of volunteering activities can I expect on these tours?
You'll find all sorts of meaningful work. You might teach English in small village schools in Tanzania or India, help protect wildlife in South Africa's Kruger National Park, or build eco-friendly houses from recycled materials in the Dominican Republic. In the Galapagos, volunteers clear out invasive plants and put in native species at the tortoise sanctuary. At Costa Rica's wildlife centers, you'll help care for injured animals like sloths, toucans and monkeys. One TourRadar traveler put it well: "Teaching young kids from age 3 and developing their English was inspiring - these kids have very little but still smile more than you can imagine."
How much direct interaction will I have with local communities during volunteer projects?
You'll be right in the middle of community life. In Peru's Sacred Valley, you'll live with Quechua families while helping at after-school programs. In Tanzania's Rau Village, you'll spend your days teaching local kids and visiting families to see how they live. You might stay in a family guesthouse, like this beautiful old hacienda in Andahuaylillas, Peru, or in local spots like the beachfront lodge at Playa Las Canas in the Dominican Republic. As one TourRadar traveler said: "Growing very close with certain kids makes it extremely difficult to leave without a tear in sight."
What kind of accommodation can I expect during a volunteering tour?
The places you'll stay are simple but comfortable. Take the Wildlife Rescue Centre in Indonesia - you get a shared twin room with your own bathroom, air conditioning, and access to common areas at the Sanctuary Lodge Yogyakarta. Some spots offer cool experiences like sleeping in tree platforms at the EHRA base camp in Namibia or staying with local families in Nepal. One TourRadar traveler liked their room at the Indonesian wildlife center: "Rooms come with private balconies where you can relax overlooking the forest."
How much time is typically spent on volunteer work versus tourism activities?
Most trips give you a good mix. You'll usually spend 4-6 hours volunteering in the morning, leaving time to explore in the afternoon. The Tanzania Safari & Service program works this way - you teach in the mornings, then head out for cultural activities or safari drives later in the day. In Peru, the Children of the Andes program splits your time between 4 days of volunteering and visits to places like Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley. It's a nice balance that lets you make a difference while seeing the country's highlights.