If you can only get a few weeks off work, don't want to be away from home for too long, or want an alternative to the usual package holiday, then try a volunteer holiday! Explore and learn about new cultures on a more intimate level than the average tourist with one of our volunteer holidays.
How do volunteer holidays differ to a normal holiday?
Volunteer holidays are completely different to the normal kind of holiday that most people are used to. Rather than lying on a beach and doing a spot of sight seeing, you will be fully immersed in the culture and community of the place that you choose to visit. Volunteer holidays take you beyond the usual tourist experiences; you'll have direct interaction with the community and you'll be giving something back to the area that you visit. Volunteer holidays can be hard work but most people find it a life changing experience!
Another great benefit of volunteer holidays is that you will meet like-minded people. Through team work and shared living, you'll forge bonds with your fellow volunteers very quickly, many of whom will become life-long friends - brilliant if you are travelling alone!
What types of volunteer holidays are there?
Choose from many volunteer holidays throughout the world.
Take a look through our full list of short trip volunteer holidays below.
31 trips have been found based on your filter/sort
Take fun, innovative and fruitful Spanish lessons at one of two language centres. Learn from experienced teachers and take advantage of cultural activities and a home-stay to practise outside of lessons. ¡Olé…!
Head out to some of South-East Asia’s best diving stops to begin or advance your scuba-ing adventures! You will be spending your time on and around the Thai island of Koh Tao, where there will be a number of great PADI dive courses for you to pick from - from complete beginner right up to instructor!
A never-to-be forgotten cruise on a tall ship around the Great Barrier Reef, with the chance to snorkel, swim and discover the area. Learn the basics of sailing or just relax and soak up the sun.
A language course is a fantastic way to start your adventure. Learning the language is the best way to make the most out of your volunteer project. The lessons will help you converse with the locals, introduce you to the culture and it's a great way to meet new people.
The ultimate in rest and rejuvenation! Enjoy surfing lessons, truly heavenly massages in beautiful surroundings. Three options mean your trip can be as active or as restful as you like.
Family Friendly! Train to be a real life Australian cowboy (or cowgirl) and experience life on a ranch in the Australian outback. You’ll be taught the fine art of Australian farming and traditional ranch skills.
Gain the skills and qualifications to explore marine life below the surface. Take part in classroom training, real dives and a three-day trip to the Great Barrier Reef, and get an internationally recognised certificate.
Learn Spanish with students from across the world. Classes are small and friendly and the teachers are qualified native speakers. Cultural activities and home-stays mean plenty of chances to practise.
Make the most of your trip to Latin America by learning Spanish. Experienced teachers will set up role-plays and organise cultural visits and classes to make your stay as authentic and enjoyable as possible!
Family Friendly! Live the life of a cowboy or cowgirl, riding the lush lands of rural New Zealand. Explore Auckland before improving your riding skills, getting to know the sheep and trying your hand at lassoing. Great fun!
Learn enough Spanish to chat with the locals, travel around South America and make your ideas understood on a volunteer programme. Cultural activities and excursions will help you get the most out of your stay.
Learn Spanish from native speakers in fun and friendly classes. Small classes, experienced teachers and lots of conversation practice will have you chatting in no time. Very useful for travelling or volunteering in Latin America.
Learn to sail, in paradise. Start from scratch or build on what you know to gain one of three certificates. Hands-on experience, expert theory tuition and onboard accommodation make for a comprehensive programme.
Study two of the best bits of Costa Rica! Get to grips with the language in the mornings and practise salsa, merengue, reggae, the cha-cha-cha and others in the afternoons. Classes are fun and friendly.
Not only is this a hugely worthwhile programme, it also gives you the chance to experience at first hand these amazing creatures. The nearby beach also offers fantastic surfing and you will get the chance to learn the sport or hone your skills as part of the project.
If you have a passion for Indian food then this is your opportunity to travel to India and immerse yourself in its culture while discovering the mysteries and delights of Indian cooking!
Learn Portuguese and make visiting Brazil a more involved experience. Small, classes, innovative teaching methods, cultural activities and accommodation with a local family make learning quick and enjoyable.
Dive and swim amongst whale sharks, dolphins, and manta rays in the heart of the Carribbean. The reefs are studded with beautiful corals and feature a wide variety of colourful tropical fish. So, you’ll be surrounded by natural splendour, whilst receiving top-quality training in a fantastic part of the world!
Live the outdoor life and pick up the skills needed to work on a ranch. Learn to muster, horse ride and more. Take a paid job and work on a ranch afterwards or just learn for fun!
Study two martial art forms: jiu-jitsu and capoeira. Take lessons with locals, practise the techniques and learn about the history behind the art. You’ll find out why size doesn’t count when it comes to jiu-jitsu…!
Master the basics of rock climbing above a truly spectacular city. Learn the ropes(!), and in your free time, relax on the beach or explore Rio de Janeiro’s many other attractions.
A chance to try some new sports. Learn to surf and kite surf, go white water rafting and take a forest canopy tour. A sunset cruise and Spanish lessons make for the perfect short adventure!
Search for archaeological treasures in a land full of history. Work as part of an official team, digging, sifting soil and recording what you uncover. Professors will offer expert tuition on your finds.
Become fully immersed in Brazilian culture and lifestyle through language lessons, cultural studies, Capoeira and drumming classes and homestay accommodation in the historic city of Salvador.
Spend your time encountering and photographing a large variety of animals and birds, the project also involves you spending time amongst the local communities, communicating to them the areas conservational needs.
Experience the best of Japan’s culture and cuisine with trips to sake breweries, markets, traditional inns and even a castle. Travel from Tokyo to Kyoto, taking cooking lessons and, of course, tasting the food!
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live the life of a real-life cowboy? Then you won’t want to miss out on this fantastic western experience.
Do you have a passion for art and wildlife? If so, join the Wildlife Conservation Art Course. Our wildlife art course offers a unique African bush experience with a focus on observing wildlife in their natural surroundings, capturing images on paper, developing and improving skills and developing the creative instinct.
The Whale Shark is the world’s largest living fish, and the idea of seeing them up close is either scary or exhilarating, depending on whom you talk to. Volunteers on this project will be able to learn about and observe the behaviours of the whale sharks off the coast of Mozambique, during many scuba diving sessions.
Learn everything you need to work in the diving industry. Go from beginner to qualified instructor in ten weeks, developing other useful skills along the way. The classroom is a beautifully blue ocean!
Sample the best of Fiji with a varied project on a beautiful island. Learn to scuba dive, or improve your skills, live with a Fijian family and take part in a conservation programme.
After redundancy, Sally decided to see the world. She enjoyed our South Africa Wildlife Course so much that within 48 hours of arriving back in the UK she booked onto the Malaysia Orangutan Experience and the Thai Adventure! Read more..
