Volunteering Tours & Trips
Picture travel that involves giving back to communities you visit. Trips might mean teaching English, conservation work, construction projects, working with animals or kids. It could be anywhere, like Costa Rica, Tanzania, Nepal, or Thailand. Durations vary from a week to months, costs usually cover accommodation and meals, and work is genuinely needed. It's challenging but rewarding.
- Choose from 50+ tours
- 1,000+ verified reviews from TourRadar travelers
- 24/7 customer support
- E
Elaine • traveled in October
We had a fantastic time with the elephants, helping to take care of them and make chapati for them. The programme is well organised, and the staff were lovely. The 5am tuk tuk ride to work was fun, even with the crazy traffic in India!! The host family we stayed with were very welcoming and the meals were lovely. The sightseeing tours in the tuk tuk in the afternoon were very informative and we had plenty of time to visit the forts and take photos. Elaine
3-Day Jaipur Volunteer & Elephant Care Homestay Experience - J
Jan • traveled in November, 2024
I have recently returned from this brilliant trip from start to finish. It was great fun & we packed so much in, we really got to see so much of beautiful Vietnam. Jane & T ensured we had the best trip. We completed 3 days ‘give back’, this was such a fantastic & humbling opportunity to meet & give back to locals. Thank you Vietnam ?? I would love to return ❤️
Vietnam Adventure & Volunteering - 17 Days
Our traveler's Moments
Tanzania & Zanzibar Island: African Safari, School Construction & Education, Swim with Dolphins
SantoloTGThierry
3-Day Jaipur Volunteer & Elephant Care Homestay Experience
MGMichelle
Vietnam Adventure & Volunteering - 17 Days
Nicaragua Pacific Coast: Sea Turtle Conservation, Environmental Restoration, and Volcano Sandboarding
Riley
Hill Tribes of Northern Thailand: Environmental Conservation, Education, and Elephant Trekking
ava
Northern Laos: Wildlife Conservation, Permaculture, and Meditation Practice with Monks
Elisa
10 best Volunteering tour packages
Compiled by

MelissaVolunteering travel expert at TourRadar
- Casablanca to Marrakech Private 6-days
- 3-Day Jaipur Volunteer & Elephant Care Homestay Experience
- Vietnam Adventure & Volunteering - 17 Days
- Giraffe Center, Elephant Orphanage & Bomas of Kenya Guided Day Tour in Nairobi
- Children Volunteer + Jaipur Sightseeing Tour 4 Days
- 15 Days Discover Kenya Safari & Community Integration Package
- Dunes, Wildlife & EHRA Experience
- 5 Day Wild Skye Volunteer Adventure
- Spain, Portugal & Morocco: A Small-Group Tour
- Classical North Indian Tour
Visit Casablanca's Hassan II Mosque, then head to Chefchaouen's blue streets before reaching Fes. Walk through the UNESCO medina, check out El Quaraouiyine Mosque and the old tanneries. Ride camels into Erg Chebbi dunes and stay at Tiziri Camp with Berber music under the stars.
Duration 6 days Destinations Casablanca, Rabat, Chefchaouen, Meknes, Fes, Ifrane, Midelt, Errachidia, Merzouga, ErfoudSee all destinations Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Cultural Morocco Tours From $1,487
20% Off- US$1,190You save $297
3-Day Jaipur Volunteer & Elephant Care Homestay Experience
6 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The programme is well organised, and the staff were lovely. The sightseeing tours in the tuk tuk in the afternoon were very informative.”
Elaine, traveled in October
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 $400
50% Off- US$200You save $200
Vietnam Adventure & Volunteering - 17 Days
57 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The experiences were all second to none. We were so well looked after.”
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
50% Off- US$1,899
Giraffe Center, Elephant Orphanage & Bomas of Kenya Guided Day Tour in Nairobi
2 Reviews by TourRadar travelersAt 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 $265
5% Off- US$252You save $13
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 $300
50% Off- US$150You save $150
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 $2,775
5% Off- US$2,636You save $139
For 11 days, you'll help EHRA build protective walls around water sources, playing a vital role in desert elephant conservation. The project has successfully constructed over 220 walls since 2003, working with local communities. Your time will be split between hands-on construction and wildlife monitoring duties.
Duration 21 days Destinations Windhoek, Otjiwarongo, Etosha National Park, Halali, Damaraland, Brandberg Mountain, Skeleton Coast Park, Hentiesbaai, Swakopmund, SolitaireSee all destinations Age Range Ages 18-60 Operator Chameleon Safaris Namibia From
5% Off- US$5,041
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.





















