Travel as a volunteer

Have safe and life-changing experiences by collaborating with verified hosts from our community, and make a positive impact on the world!

Become a member!

Why try volunteer travel?

  • Make a real, positive impact in the world
  • Collaborate, learn, and exchange experiences with hosts
  • Get immersed in the local culture and practice languages
  • Develop new personal and professional skills
  • Connect with locals and international travelers
  • Travel to new places affordably by saving money on lodging

What you offer

Each host will require your help for a certain number of hours per week.

Welcoming guests

Teaching & Sharing

Hands-on activities

Marketing & Communication

Kitchen & Bar

Cultural activities

What's the average hours requested by the Worldpackers hosts?

25h

per week

The maximum hours allowed is 32 hours per week

What you get

In exchange for your help, you get accommodation and other benefits unique to each host.

And, obviously, new friends, learning, and connections of course!

Always

Accommodation
Usually shared or private rooms

Really often

Meals
Laundry

May include

Local transportation
Bikes or airport pick-up
Activities
Tours, parties, local discounts, etc
Classes
Language classes, yoga, permaculture, etc
And many other!

What isn’t included

Tickets
It’s solely the traveler’s responsibility to arrive at and depart from their destination. So plan far enough ahead to get good prices!
Financial assistance
Worldpackers and our hosts are not responsible for any costs you may accrue during your stay, so plan to have enough spending money for your trip’s duration and the places you’re traveling.
Required documents
Do your research on visas, passports, travel and health insurance, and any other kind of document you need to travel, ok? Learn more
Payment
Remember that this is an exchange, not a job, so you’ll be helping a host in exchange for accommodation and other benefits!
Travel planning
Worldpackers is not a travel agency, so it’s up to you to find hosts and plan your volunteer trip, alright? But of course, the WP members can get their questions answered by contacting our Support team :)

Who can volunteer

Anyone over 18 years old
Anybody who wants to have life-changing experiences and is at least 18 years old - there’s no age limit to participate!
No experience necessary
To be a worldpacker, you don’t have to be a professional in any certain area - your resumé here is your knowledge, as well as your desire to help and make an impact.
Opportunities for all language levels
You don’t necessarily need to speak a specific language , but each host requires a certain proficiency level in a given language - including English. It’s also a great opportunity for you to practice another language ;)
Travel is for everyone
We believe travel is a universal right, and we support everyone’s right to travel, no matter what their nationality, gender, age, condition, etc. Pick the position that best matches your skills, and chat with the host about any questions you may have.

Who are our hosts

They’re friendly people who open their doors for travelers to have a collaborative exchange. Worldpackers hosts are open to exchanging learning experiences, and foster an atmosphere of connection through mutual, responsible, sustainable help.

Check out all of our hosts

What thousands of Worldpackers are saying about it

Brazil

5

Howzit Hostel was my first volunteering experience and I couldn’t have picked a better place to start this journey.
The volunteers stay at a separate house from the hostel and it helps with the bonding process with other volunteers! I had a blast during my staying and would definitely recommend :)

United Kingdom

5

Loved my time volunteering with Johnny and his family. The work was challenging but not too much and got to do a good mix of activities. Three lovely meals a day and was never hungry. Facilities were good considering the remote location.

United Kingdom

5

I loved my time at the refuge! Johnny and the team were so lovely and really made you feel at home. We had a good amount of work / chill time and the area is just beautiful. It’s a very basic set up but for spending time off the beaten track in Costa Rica it is perfect!

Wanna learn even more?

Watch all videos of the Academy certificate and learn everything about how the volunteering experience works, the responsibilities of all parties involved and how to make the most of it!

Watch the videos

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I travel with a friend or partner?

Sure! To do so, you need to choose the Worldpackers couples/friends plan, which allows you to apply to and confirm only two-person trips during the plan’s validity.

Can I travel as a family and/or with pets?

If you’d like to take children, minors, or animals with you, you first of all have to ask your host about the possibility. Hosts may not want to accept these travel companions because of unsuitable living situations, so a good conversation to get you on the same page will clear everything up for you.

What do I do in terms of a passport and visa?

You are responsible for all of the documents needed to enter another country and arrive at your destination, be they visas, documentation, insurance, or vaccinations, for example. As every country has different requirements, it’s a good idea to check your destination country’s embassy website. Learn more about Visas and Immigration.

Does Worldpackers offer any financial assistance?

No. Worldpackers is a community based on win-win, collaborative relationships, where exchanges are opportunities for learning, development, and cultural exchange. For our volunteer experiences, you can easily see what is and is not included on each position’s page: accommodation, meals, trips, lessons, etc. All other related logistics are the sole responsibility of the traveler.

Can hosts charge supplemental fees?

Social and ecological hosts may indeed charge a supplemental fee. This is because they are nonprofits, and can ask for a contribution from travelers during their volunteer period. To learn which hosts request these fees, all you have to do is look through a position’s description, where you will find the cost in question, if any.

Are tickets included?

Worldpackers is a platform that connects hosts and travelers to foster collaborative experiences, exclusively. All other related logistics are the sole responsibility of the traveler, such as airfare, local transportation, passports, visas, insurance, etc.

Become a member!

Have life-changing experiences. Develop new skills. Make a positive impact.

Choose a plan