Are you looking to get off the beaten tourist track, see the world and give back while volunteering abroad?
International Volunteer HQ offers the world’s largest range of top-rated volunteer abroad programs with an incredible variety of volunteer work available across 40+ volunteer countries.
This is the most impactful way to have an affordable vacation!
- From only $20 per day for your accommodation and meals
- Volunteer for as little as 1 week or up to 6 months
- Choose from a wide range of volunteer projects to align with your travel goals and the causes you care about
- Get unlimited free changes up until 14 days before you start
To help narrow down your options, discover the top 10 volunteer abroad programs backed by thousands of trusted volunteer reviews.
Volunteer in Tanzania
If you want to volunteer in Africa and spend your weekends on safari or blissing out on the white sand beaches of Zanzibar, IVHQ’s Tanzania program is sure to capture your heart.
- Choose from 7 project options, including Childcare, Medical and Teaching
- Prices from only $24 per day
- Includes accommodation, meals, airport pick-up, orientation and 24/7 in-country support
- Accommodation is in either a volunteer house or homestay in Arusha
- Incredible add-ons available, including safari, Mount Kilimanjaro and Maasai village tours
Looking for a conservation volunteer program in East Africa? Check out IVHQ’s Zanzibar volunteer program, which you can easily add to the start or end of your Tanzania trip.
Recommended by Mariana
IVHQ Travel Expert“Tanzania is IVHQ's most popular destination in Africa. It's a fantastic program where volunteers can get involved in 7 different projects helping the local community in Arusha while having the opportunity to visit the fantastic natural attractions the country has to offer, such as the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro and the famous Serengeti National Park. This program appeals to a diverse range of volunteers, from young to mature volunteers, families and teens including 16 and 17 year-olds traveling solo.”
Volunteer in Bali
IVHQ’s Bali program has forever been a popular option for international volunteers. With volunteer opportunities based in the cultural hub of Ubud, the island of Nusa Penida or the coastal town of Lovina, there is no better place to immerse yourself in the local culture while giving back on community-driven projects that genuinely value your support.
- Choose from 9 project options, including Childcare, Construction and Renovation and Health Education
- Prices from only $26 per day
- Includes accommodation, meals, airport pick-up, orientation and 24/7 in-country support
- Accommodation in a volunteer house within a traditional Balinese village in Ubud or in a volunteer house with a pool and tropical garden in Lovina
- Popular Turtle Conservation project based on island of Nusa Penida
- Complete your volunteer experience with the popular Introduction Week add-on
Recommended by Ella
IVHQ Travel Expert“Bali is one of IVHQ’s most popular destinations and why would it not be when it's located in such a beautiful paradise! Bali has natural beauty and is known for its amazing welcoming culture. You have the opportunity to help in the local communities in either Ubud, Lovina or Nusa Penida with the choice of 9 different projects. As a volunteer, your role is to support and work alongside the locals and make a real difference in their lives!”
Volunteer in Costa Rica
If you’re an eco-traveler, adventure-seeker or just want to explore a tropical paradise as a volunteer, Costa Rica has it all. Whether you’re passionate about conservation, increasing access to education or healthcare, or working with animals, IVHQ’s Costa Rica program has projects to suit volunteers of all ages and interests.
- Choose from 15 project options, including Turtle Conservation, Animal Care, Childcare and Healthcare
- Prices from only $32 per day
- Includes accommodation, meals, airport pick-up, orientation and 24/7 in-country support
- Accommodation in homestays or dormitory-style lodging
- Incredible add-ons available, including volcano treks, coffee plantation tours, adventure sports and a popular mini adventure
Recommended by Kaila
IVHQ Travel Expert“Costa Rica is a unique destination for volunteers because it offers such a diverse range of project options: from supporting community projects in the capital city San Jose or the tropical paradise Manuel Antonio, to volunteering within a sustainable coffee farming community in the Central Highlands, or living on the coast while supporting our Turtle Conservation project. Whether you're traveling solo, with a friend or as a group, Costa Rica is the place to be.”
Volunteer in Victoria Falls
This wildlife conservation volunteer program in Africa offers a once–in-a-lifetime opportunity to live within a private game reserve in Victoria Falls where your backyard is home to the African Big 5: lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo.
- Wildlife Conservation volunteer project available year-round
- Prices from only $55 per day
- Accommodation in private rooms and located within the conservation center
- Program based on a private game reserve in the province of Matabeleland North, Zimbabwe
If you want to explore this incredible part of Southern Africa but want help local people in the community, check out IVHQ’s Zambia volunteer program. Volunteer opportunities in Zambia include Construction and Renovation, Elderly Care, Childcare, Medical, Rural Teaching and Teaching.
Recommended by Claire
IVHQ Travel Expert“This is an incredible opportunity to help with the upkeep of the reserve for the amazing animals that call it home (including the endangered Black Rhino). You will get to see the animals daily, camp out on the reserve and get to visit and spend time with children at a local at-need community school. All this while being a short drive from the Victoria Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world.”
Volunteer in Peru
Whether you want to volunteer in the bustling capital city of Lima or the tourist hub of Cusco, volunteering in Peru is the ultimate opportunity to immerse yourself in the local community and deepen your knowledge of the South American culture and Spanish language. And of course no trip is complete without a visit to Machu Picchu!
- Choose from 18 project options, including Teaching, Medical, Construction and Renovation and Amazon Jungle Conservation
- Prices from only $22 per day
- Includes accommodation, meals, airport pick-up, orientation and 24/7 in-country support
- Accommodation in a dormitory-style rooms, volunteer house or homestay
- Epic tours and add-ons available, including Machu Picchu tours, Rainbow Mountain treks and a 1-week Mini Adventure
Recommended by Merran
IVHQ Travel Expert“The coastal capital of Peru, Lima, is a great option if you like the buzz of a big city and great sightseeing options. Make meaningful connections and contributions within a local community, all in a budget-friendly and well supported program. You could even combine your project in Lima with a trip to Cusco (perhaps join our program there too) to visit magical Machu Picchu or other amazing bucket-list Andean sights.”
Volunteer in South Africa
No trip to South Africa is complete without getting lost in the eclectic awesomeness of Cape Town. Merging cool urban vibes, epic surf, natural beauty, cultural discovery and wildlife adventures, Cape Town has it all. For a more authentic and immersive journey, IVHQ’s Cape Town program offers a range of community-driven projects with a focus on cross-cultural exchange and lending a hand where it’s most needed.
- Choose from 5 project options, including Surf Outreach, Animal Care and Childcare
- Prices from only $25 per day
- Includes accommodation, meals, airport pick-up, orientation and 24/7 in-country support
- Accommodation in a volunteer house in a coastal surfing town
- Spend your free-time at the beach and your weeekends on safari!
Recommended by Mariana
IVHQ Travel Expert“Volunteering in Cape Town offers you the perfect mix of experiencing a colorful coastal city with beautiful natural scenery, while becoming part of the local community. You will be accommodated in a relaxed surfing community and can spend your volunteering hours assisting youth development initiatives through education and sports development, or provide hands-on support in caring for at-risk animals at a local animal shelter.”
Volunteer in India - Kerala
Beyond the buzzing city of Delhi, retreat to India’s tropical Malabar Coast and discover the unique vibes and meaningful volunteer work available on IVHQ’s Kerala program.
- Choose from 7 project options, including Women’s Empowerment, Medical, Dentistry and Childcare
- Prices from only $24 per day
- Includes accommodation, meals, airport pick-up, orientation and 24/7 in-country support
- Accommodation in a volunteer house in Kerala
- Incredible add-ons available, including a tour of the beaches of Goa
Recommended by Scotia
IVHQ Travel Expert“Kerala is an amazing volunteer destination if you're interested in volunteering in one of Time Magazine's World's Greatest Places of 2022. There is so much to do in Kerala; from exploring the many small shopping boutiques to sitting down and enjoying the delicious cuisine to visiting the many picturesque beaches, yoga retreats and tea/coffee/spice plantations. The local communities are excited to share their wonderful, rich culture with you, and you can share your own culture in return, while helping to assist these local communities, with the 7 fantastic projects that IVHQ has available in Kerala.”
Volunteer in Romania
For the most affordable volunteer opportunities in Europe with an authentically charming town to immerse yourself in, you truly have to experience the beauty of IVHQ’s Romania program.
- Choose from 7 project options, including NGO Support, Animal Care, Sustainable Agriculture and Teaching English
- Prices from only $27 per day
- Includes accommodation, meals, airport pick-up, orientation and 24/7 in-country support
- Accommodation in a volunteer apartment in Miercurea Ciuc
- Awesome Cultural Orientation Week and affordable language lessons available as add-ons
Recommended by Jasmin
IVHQ Travel Expert“From beautiful old architecture throughout the country to an abundance of unique and diverse scenery, including high mountain peaks to beautifully preserved medieval towns, it is easy to see why Romania is known to be the most bio geographically diverse country in the European Union. Aside from the astounding nature, you also get the opportunity to give back to the local community by taking part on one of the projects that we have to offer.”
Volunteer in Jamaica
For a low-cost trip from the US with an incredibly welcoming community scene and sparkling beaches to discover in your free time, volunteering in Jamaica is an instant draw for international travelers.
- Choose from 11 project options, including Childcare, Marine Conservation, Veterinary Care and Business Development and Community Support
- Prices from only $46 per day
- Includes accommodation, meals, airport pick-up, orientation and 24/7 in-country support
- Accommodation in a dormitory-style volunteer house or local homestay
- Unique tours and add-ons available, including mineral springs, lagoon and city tours, as well as cooking and dance classes
Recommended by Merran
IVHQ Travel Expert“Jamaica offers some great options to gain professional experience or use the skills you already have in a meaningful way and attracts volunteers from a wide age range due to the opportunities for professional development. With time to join in the very popular sightseeing excursions, our fantastic local team will help you combine your volunteer experience with a little vacation time in the sun, immersing yourself in the Caribbean culture.”
Volunteer in Portugal
Lisbon is on the bucket list of many travelers, but when volunteering in Portugal with IVHQ, you get to venture off the beaten tourist track and truly discover the heart of this coastal city.
- Choose from 8 project options, including Youth Support, Environmental Scuba Diving, Food Rescue and Wolf Conservation
- Prices from only $73 per day
- Includes accommodation, meals, airport pick-up, orientation and 24/7 in-country support
- Accommodation in a sustainable hostel near musuems and monuments in Lisbon
- Affordable Portuguese language lessons available as an add-on
Recommended by Jasmin
IVHQ Travel Expert“Portugal is a vibrant treat for the eyes so why wouldn’t you want to volunteer here. You get the chance to visit Europe’s oldest nation while you give back to the local community. The weather, especially during the summer, and the variety of rugged and dramatic landscapes, as well as the 16th to 19th century architecture, also ensure that your visit to Portugal is nothing but spectacular. ”
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