International Volunteer HQ offers volunteer trips for 1 and 2 weeks in over 50 destinations, including Peru, Bali, Portugal and Nepal. These trips that are tailor made for short-term volunteer abroad efforts with programs available for 1 week up to 24 weeks. Volunteering abroad trips are increasing in popularity as people are looking for a unique way to experience a new country, immerse themselves in the culture and give back in a positive manner to the local community.
We’ve compiled a list of our best volunteer trips, no matter what your travel style, so pick your ideal volunteer trip method below and let our experts take care of the rest.
Here are some popular volunteer trip options for different types of travelers:
- For Families: Guatemala
- For Single Travelers: Bali and Mexico
- For Couples: Portugal
- For Seniors: Victoria Falls and Nepal
- For College Students: Peru and Bali
- For High School Students: Costa Rica and Fiji
- For Groups
Volunteer Trips for Families
Taking your family on a volunteer trip abroad is the perfect way to break away from the traditional family resort and truly experience a new culture and country together. Many of IVHQ’s volunteer trips cater well to families with young children and teenagers who want to experience a volunteer holiday and make a valuable contribution to a host community. This allows your family the opportunity to provide hands-on support to important social or environmental projects, While expanding your world view and gaining a richly immersive cultural experience that will ultimately deepen family bonds.
Traveling to Guatemala as a family will leave everyone in awe. From Antigua’s colonial buildings and the ancient Mayan ruins in Tikal, to the captivating Lake Atitlan. IVHQ’s volunteer projects in Guatemala are located in and around the capital of Antigua, with the aim of building capacity within local communities and increasing access to education, healthcare and community development support. Depending on your family’s shared goals and skills, the volunteer program in Guatemala is extremely flexible and there are a number of project options that are ideal for families with children of all ages.
- 1 week: US$320 2 weeks: US$550
- Start dates: Monday of each month
- Popular family volunteer projects: Childcare, Animal Care, Turtle Conservation, Eco-Agriculture Conservation and Construction and Renovation
Volunteer Trips for Single Travelers
Taking a solo volunteer trip is the perfect way to broaden your horizons and challenge yourself to take up meaningful volunteer work in a foreign community. Making new friends, learning from new cultures, discover authentic cuisines and knowing your stay is making a difference is a rewarding way to see the world. You will be blown away with the experiences you can gain and the impact you can have.
Bali has long been synonymous with being an island paradise, and this still remains true today, however there many ways volunteering helps to keep the island beautiful and support the local community. As a single traveler, take a break from the Kuta party scene and head to Ubud, where volunteer projects are based within the local communities and provide a rewarding cultural exchange and positive social and environmental outcomes for the popular island destination.
- 1 week: US$295 2 weeks: US$440
- Start dates: Monday of each month
- Popular Single projects: Childcare, Teaching, Healthcare Education, Turtle Conservation, Environmental Education and Construction and Renovation
Single volunteer trips to Mexico should be on everyone’s must do list - popular for picturesque beaches as part of spring break getaways and food famous the world over. Volunteering as a single in Mexico enables you to explore the true culture of the country and provide beneficial support to a local community, while creating new life-long friendships with the volunteers and locals you’ll be working alongside.
- 1 week: US$270 2 weeks: US$420
- Start dates: Monday of each month
- Popular Single projects: Childcare, Teaching English, Animal Care/Animal Rights, Maya Agriculture and Special Needs Care
Volunteer Trips for Couples
If you and your significant other are looking for a volunteer trip abroad, you want to be in a destination that gives you the opportunity to support meaningful volunteer work, as well as enjoy a getaway in the company of your partner. Whether you choose to combine your skill sets and join a project together, or sign up for separate projects, IVHQ can keep you accommodated in one place. Our flexibility means you can volunteer abroad for 1 or 2 weeks (so you don’t have to quit your job), but if time allows, you can take a volunteer trip for 24 weeks.
Portugal truly is a country of beauty, from Medieval castles to golden sand beaches, you will certainly want to tick this off your bucket list as a couple. Volunteer placements have been designed to work in with the wider city of Lisbon and regardless of which project you choose to support, you will get to experience the real Portugal.
- 1 week: US$375 2 weeks: US$595
- Start dates: First and third Monday of each month
- Popular Couples projects: Environmental Scuba Diving, Construction and Renovation and Food Rescue
Volunteer Trips for Seniors
Volunteer trips for seniors are a great short-term option if you wish to travel with meaning and explore a new destination. Don’t think of your age as a barrier, use it as an asset in mixing with other volunteers and those in the community. Senior volunteers have long been a part of the fabric of IVHQ programs and we have some fantastic volunteer opportunities for seniors and retirees.
Based within a private game reserve, your sense of adventure will be awakened on our Victoria Falls volunteer program. You will gain every experience you’d expect on a wildlife reserve - camping under the stars, spotting wildlife and supporting the development and protection of the surrounding ecosystem. Volunteer projects are based around the reserve and aim to provide a sustainable future for the wildlife that inhabits it.
- 2 week: US$880 (2-week minimum duration)
- Start dates: First and third Monday of each month
- Popular Senior projects: Wildlife Conservation
Nepal will truly ignite your spiritual side. From the towering Himalayan mountain tops, down to the temples and shrines of Kathmandu, your spare time will never have a dull moment. Volunteer projects provide support for children in local villages and teaching English is a vital component of this. In light of the 2015 earthquake, Nepal has been a popular option for those looking to offer construction and rennovation support and there is plenty of work available to support this.
- 1 week: US$250 2 weeks: US$360
- Start dates: First and third Monday of every month
- Popular Senior projects: Childcare, Teaching English and Construction and Renovation
Volunteer Trips for College Students
Short term volunteer trips of 1 - 2 weeks are extremely popular for college students, as it enables you to grow through experiential learning in a global setting and give back to a community that values your support. Breaking away from the traditional college break has been a breath of fresh air for many college students and short-term volunteer trips offer the perfect worldly experience.
Peru is a must do for any college student - with a diverse mix of culture and natural beauty, you will not be short of excursions during your weekend. Inca ruins scatter the area and these are blended with Spanish colonial architecture in the city center, which is only topped by the sight of Machu Picchu. Volunteer projects in Cusco take place in the city center and surrounding villages with options to cater for each level of college study.
- 1 week: US$295 2 weeks: US$495
- Start dates: Each Monday of every month
- Popular College Student projects: Childcare, Teaching English, Medical, Animal Care and Construction and Renovation
Bali continues to be a popular travel destination for college students - with the mix of palm-fringed beaches, ancient temples and warm smiles. Bali will keep you coming back for years to come. Volunteer projects in Bali aim to increase the availability of education in local villages and bolster conservation efforts on the majestic island.
- 1 week: US$295 2 weeks: US$440
- Start dates: Monday of each month
- Popular College Student projects: Childcare, Teaching and Turtle Conservation
Volunteer Trips for High School Students
Volunteer trips for high school students are truly a perspective-changing experience, students have the opportunity to offer their skills and efforts in a cultural exchange, as well as see the world in a different light from their own. High school students have the opportunity to volunteer in school groups under school guidance, or with a parent or guardian during school holiday breaks.
Volunteering in Costa Rica is a great option for high school students on their first volunteer trip. Costa Rica is a country of contrasts and IVHQ offers volunteer placements within the country’s capital, San Jose, which offers an insight into Costa Rica’s Spanish colonial history. Placements are also offered in Manuel Antonio on the Pacific Coast, where you will see a vast contrast in ecosystem and wildlife. Volunteer placements are tailored to each community’s needs, whether you’re assisting with education or improving the ecosystem on projects are suitable for volunteers of all ages.
- 1 week: US$345 2 weeks: US$610
- Start dates: Monday of each month
- Popular High School student projects: Childcare, Teaching English, Turtle Conservation, Eco-Agriculture Conservation and Construction and Renovation
Volunteer trips to Fiji for high school students offer an insightful introduction into a different country and culture, whilst maintaining a laid back environment that’s filled with some of the loveliest people on the planet. Volunteer work is centered around the villages nearby Suva in local schools, as well as local community centers. This provides high school students with the opportunity to see how other school age students live and take part in learning activities.
- 1 week: US$340 2 weeks: US$490
- Start dates: Monday of each month
- Popular High School student projects: Childcare, Teaching and Sports Education and Construction and Renovation
Volunteer Trips for Groups
Volunteer trips for groups encompases all the flexibility for each type of traveler and can be customized to suit your groups members. Groups can enjoy 1 or 2 week volunteer abroad programs across any of our 40+ countries. Examples of group volunteer trips include volunteer trips for nurses in Peru, volunteer trips for families in Thailand and volunteer trips for businesses performing CSR in Ghana. These trips can be customized by daily schedule, accommodation and tours, all to maximize your group’s in-country experience and impact in the community.
Want to learn more about where you can take a volunteer trip? Explore IVHQ’s full range of volunteer travel destinations.
