Go on a Trekking Adventure in Ethiopia

The Simien Mountains National Park in northern Ethiopia is known for jagged peaks and breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. After arriving in the capital of Addis Ababa, travellers with a passion for hiking are taken to the city of Gondar just southwest of the Simien Mountains. There, they can tour 17th century royal castles and historic churches donned with ornate paintings. Travelers start their hiking journey in the nearby city of Debark. Once arriving at their campsite, hikers begin trekking up scenic trails through the mountains. For the next several days, travelers will encounter narrow gorges, spectacular waterfalls, grassy plateaus, winding canyons and witness local wildlife. Toward the end of the trek, travelers will visit local towns and see historic religious sites, before returning back to Addis Ababa. 

Travel is booked through Off Season Adventures. This is an 11 night package costing $4,268 per person. Off Season Adventures offers sustainable travel opportunities with a commitment to positive community impacts. 

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Off Season Adventures 

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LEARN MORE ABOUT OFF-SEASON ADVENTURES: LISTEN TO OUR PODCAST INTERVIEW WITH THE FOUNDER ABOUT HIS TRIP TO TANZANIA HERE

Dive to Keep Belize’s Marine Habitat Pristine

Off the coast of Belize, volunteers with a passion for marine conservation can remove invasive species of fish and clear out plastic waste to keep the country’s waters healthy. Once travelers arrive in the village of Placencia along Belize’s southern coast, they are taken to a small private island where they can partake in up to three conservation dives. For those who aren’t experienced divers, the program offers PADI Open Water training to become diver-certified. On weekends, travelers can head back to Placencia and from there explore the rest of Belize. In 2019, volunteers were able to remove 7,841 invasive lionfish, carry away 11,645 pounds of waste and hatch 454 baby turtles.

This experience is organized by GoEco and costs $1,150 for one week. Volunteers can extend the program for up to eight weeks. The PADI Open Water course is an additional $150.

Fundraise to Go Build a School in Panama

On this trip for high school students, travel to the mountainous Veraguas region in western Panama after fundraising to build a school. Team up with skilled construction workers in the Ngabe-Bugle Indigenous zone to build a school for local communities in need of sustainable education infrastructure. In your free time, hike the rainforest in Santa Fe National Park and visit the Panama Canal. School the World, the organization that runs these trips, commits to at least five years of community engagement in order to create schools that run independent of foreign aid. Students are expected to fundraise $3,650 through School the World’s fundraising training program, and this covers all trip costs and fees.

This trip runs throughout the year and lasts one week.

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School the World

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Explore the Far Reaches of Norway’s Svalbard Islands

On this Arctic trip, journey to Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago that lies only 500 miles from the North Pole. Experience “midnight sun” and the Northern Lights as you explore the high Arctic by land and sea, spending half of the trip on the private expedition vessel Togo. Visit the remnants of Norway’s previously robust whaling industry, descend into an abandoned coal mine, and marvel at the glaciers, polar bears and colonies of walruses that call Svalbard home. Svalbard’s main settlement of Longyearbyen is the world’s northernmost city, and the surrounding area offers a vast and pristine natural landscape. Because Atlas Obscura prioritizes sustainable travel, this trip also has an environmental focus—travelers will help collect trash and sea debris throughout the trip.

This 11-day trip costs $8,870 and includes all transportation, accommodation, meals and activities.

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Atlas Obscura

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Journey into the Heart of the Sahara in Algeria

On this Algerian adventure in North Africa, journey through the Sahara Desert, the largest hot desert in the world. Beginning in Algeria’s south, travelers will visit the Tadrart Rouge mountain range along the border with Libya and Niger. Traverse the unique orange sand and black rock formations before viewing ancient rock paintings in Tassili n’Ajjer National Park. Continue on to Algeria’s famous desert towns—Ghardaia and Timimoun—where you’ll visit with the Berber and Tuareg people. Algeria receives few visitors and even less in these remote towns, so this trip provides an opportunity for rich cultural engagement in a seldom-visited region.

This trip costs $2,200 for 18 days of travel. All transportation, accommodation, meals, security and activities are included in the trip cost. 

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Untamed Borders

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Practice Sustainable Coffee Farming in Costa Rica

On this trip, assist local Costa Rican coffee farmers in producing fair trade organic coffee. Coffee is one of Costa Rica’s most important exports, and coffee farmers in this region emphasize eco-friendly agriculture. Before arriving at the project site in Monteverde, a mountainous village famous for its high-quality coffee and eco-tourism, enhance your Spanish skills while living in a short homestay. Volunteers will be involved in every step of the coffee farming process, from harvest to packaging. On the weekend, explore the rich natural wonders of Costa Rica by hiking volcanoes, zip lining above the forest and traveling to the country’s coast.

The trip starts at $790 for one week, but volunteers can spend up to a year in Monteverde. The trip cost includes in-country transportation, accommodation, meals and activities. 

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GoEco

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Research Dolphins off the Coast of Italy

Join dolphin researchers on a boat near the Italian island of Ischia during this marine-based volunteer opportunity with GoEco. On this trip, work directly on dolphin conservation efforts by collecting data, recording bioacoustics and photographing animals for identification purposes. Other highlights include scuba diving, exploring the historic village of Ischia Ponte and traveling to the famous isle of Capri. Volunteers must be at least 16 years old and need to be comfortable living on a boat for the entire experience. This trip runs from the middle of May until the end of September, and begins at $1,190 for a one-week trip with the option to extend for up to three weeks.

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GoEco

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Road Trip through Northern Pakistan

Journey through northern Pakistan on this two-week trip organized by Untamed Borders. In recent years, Pakistan has grown in popularity as security improves. This trip provides the opportunity to visit a country that is seldom explored yet stunningly beautiful. Visit the Karakoram and Hindu Kush mountain ranges, known for being some of the most beautiful on Earth. Explore Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, before flying north to Chitral. Experience an animistic culture in the Kalasha Valleys before adventuring on rope bridges, exploring glaciers and journeying into the high mountains. At the end of the trip, take the famous Karakoram Highway back to Islamabad. This trip is perfect for adventurous travelers looking for a remarkable off-the-grid experience. 

This trip costs $2,950 for two weeks.

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Untamed Borders

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Explore the Galapagos Through Sustainability

On this family-oriented 8-day trip, immerse yourself in the wildlife and natural environment of the Galapagos. This archipelago off of the coast of Ecuador offers some of the most awe-inspiring wildlife in the world -- on this trip, you can visit iguanas, giant tortoises, sea turtles, sea lions, and more. Purposeful Nomads prioritizes sustainability on all of the trips they offer, so travelers will also have the opportunity to support local efforts in sustainable agriculture. You will visit San Cristobal Island, known for the pristine Puerto China beach, and Isla Lobos, home to the blue-footed boobie birds. This trip is perfect for families wanting a Galapagos experience that is adventurous and immersive.

The trip costs $2,850 and includes meals, accommodation, and private transportation. 

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Purposeful Nomad

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Visit Tanzania and Zanzibar in the Offseason

Take a trip to Tanzania and Zanzibar with Off Season Adventures to visit Serengeti National Park, home to exotic wildlife such as giraffes, zebras and crocodiles, and the Ngorongoro Crater, a volcanic crater turned into a conservation area that is home to Africa’s “Big Five” animals: lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and buffalo. This trip starts in Arusha, where travelers have a chance to explore the city or take part in a farm tour, market tour or cooking class. Arusha lies at the base of Mount Meru and also provides views of Mount Kilimanjaro. Throughout the trip visitors will experience multiple national parks including Serengeti, Tarangire and Lake Manyara. In Zanzibar, an exotic Indian Ocean island known for its beaches, travelers can explore Stone Town, take a sunset cruise and relax along the beach. This trip is by Off Season Adventures, an organization that organizes travels in the offseason to promote economic stability. Since tourism is one of the largest sources of income for Tanzanians, the lack of visitors in the offseason can lead to economic struggles. Off Season Adventures also donates 5% of each trip package to invest in local communities and the environment. This trip runs in November and costs $2,095 for the eight-day tour to Tanzania and an extra $750 for the 12-day tour that also includes Zanzibar. 

To learn more about Tanzania and Off Season Adventures, check out CATALYST’s Travel and Purpose Podcast in which Tanner Knorr, owner and founder of Off Season Adventures, is interviewed about his experience founding a sustainable travel company. 

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Off Season Adventures 

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Do Long-Term Volunteering and Hiking in Tanzania

Tanzania is one of Africa’s most renowned destinations. Home to Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's tallest mountain, and Serengeti National Park, home of the wildebeest and zebra migration along with local wildlife such as giraffes, rhinos and lions, Tanzania is a country with exotic animals and a rich culture. On this trip, travelers have the opportunity to volunteer in the Kilombero and Mvomero districts of Tanzania. Kilombero, located in the Morogoro region, is made up of vast flood plains, while Mvomero is situated near farms and rivers.

The trip is a three-phase volunteering program lasting up to 10 weeks. However, there are also shorter options for four, five or seven weeks. The first two phases of the trip include living with a host family. The first phase of the trip is the “community” phase, in which volunteers work on water, sanitation and hygiene projects in rural areas. The second phase is the “environmental” phase, where the primary goal is to increase awareness about protecting natural resources. This includes replanting trees in deforested areas, going to schools to talk about climate change and protecting national parks. The third and final phase is a trekking expedition that serves to build leadership and teamwork skills. This phase is a backpacking expedition through the Morogoro region or Tanzania’s southern highlands. The Morogoro region is found in eastern Tanzania and is known for its game reserves and mountain scenery. The southern highlands, on the other hand, are home to vast plateaus and volcanic mountains. The ten-week trip is run by Raleigh International, a young adult-oriented (ages 17 to 24) volunteering company that seeks to promote leadership and civic duty. The trip itself costs $5,500.

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Raleigh International

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Travel in the Footsteps of the Incas in Peru

Peru, found in the northwestern corner of South America, is home to a section of the Amazon rainforest and the famous Machu Picchu, an ancient Incan city found in the Andean highlands. Peru is rich in archaeological sites, especially in the region near Machu Picchu which contains the Sacred Valley, the Inca Trail and the colonial city of Cusco. One way to explore Peru is by hiking the Inca Trail. However, this trip is not for the faint of heart since it requires nearly six to eight hours of physical activity per day. The trip begins with an arrival in Cusco and a short hike to start acclimating to the high altitude. The following day the hike begins in Chinchero and includes some farm work. Chinchero, while a small village, has many Incan ruins and is home to Peruvian weavers. Following a stop in Chinchero, the trip moves to Ollantaytambo where the Inca Trail hike will begin. The following few days of the trip include hiking and camping as well as exploring archaeological sites along the way. The trip ends with a stunning arrival at Machu Picchu and a tour of the ancient ruins before returning to Cusco.This six-night trip is run by Under30Experiences, a travel company that is geared toward creating sustainable travel options for young travelers. The trip itself costs $1,495 with early sign-up and $1,695 with regular sign-up. 

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Under30Experiences

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Savor Yoga and Learn on a Hawaiian Cacao Farm

If you are already visiting Hawaii, consider a unique one-day yoga and chocolate experience with Travel2Change’s outing “Savor Yoga and Learn on a Cacao Farm.” This tour includes a yoga experience at 21 Degrees Estate located in Kahaluu on the island of Oahu, where cacao is grown. The tour is great for those who love yoga and chocolate and want to mix a calm, natural yoga environment with their desire to learn more about the delicacy’s origin. The tour will consist of a yoga session, a chocolate tasting and a lesson on the sustainable practices of the locally owned farm. The trip is organized by Travel2Change, a nonprofit organization based in Hawaii hoping to create sustainable travel options. Their goal is to create tours in Hawaii that give back to the local economy and protect the environment. The program costs $50 and lasts three hours. Information about the availability of the trip can be found on the website’s calendar.

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Travel2Change

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Experience Reindeer Migration with the Nenets in the Siberian Arctic

This intense trip to the Siberian tundra is hosted annually. Its aim is to provide a culturally immersive experience with the Nenets nomads during their 37-mile reindeer migration across the frozen Gulf of Ob. The Nenets are an ethnic group native to northern Russia. They have a shamanistic and animistic belief system that stresses respect for the land and its resources, which can be observed throughout their work with reindeers. During the trip teammates will cross the frozen gulf during the reindeer migration, immerse themselves in the Nenets’ way of life, wear traditional herders’ clothes, experience the reindeer herding festival and travel by sledge, snowmobile and all-terrain vehicle. The trip is organized by Secret Compass, a travel company that aims to explore the “remote wilds of this Earth.” They have an upcoming 17-day trip from March 21 to April 6 of 2021 for a cost of £3,849 ($5,036 as of Aug. 1 with a fluctuating exchange rate). 

To learn more about this experience, check CATALYST’s Travel and Purpose Podcast in which Patrick Barrow, a guide for this trip, is interviewed. 

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Secret Compass

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Explore the Horn of Africa by Visiting Ethiopia and Somaliland

This trip to the Horn of Africa includes visits to Ethiopia’s and Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland. It begins with a visit to Ethiopia’s otherworldly Danakil Depression and continues to the Tigray region’s rock churches and Somaliland’s Laas Geel cave paintings. Erta Ale is an active volcano near Ethiopia’s inhospitable Danakil Depression that continues to produce lava, creating a beautiful lake of magma. Tigray, also in Ethiopia, has many rock churches that are known for their ancient designs and paintings. Finally, on the outskirts of Hargeisa, Somaliland, are intricate cave paintings from possibly as far back as 9000 B.C. The trip is run by Untamed Borders, an adventure travel company that organizes trips to some of the world's most inaccessible places. They specialize in trips to Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, the Middle East, East Africa, Central Asia and the Caucasus. The trip is 10 days long, with seven in Ethiopia and four in Somaliland. The trip costs $3,275.

James Willcox, the co-founder of Untamed Borders, is also one of the organizers of the Somaliland Marathon. To learn more about Somaliland and the Somaliland Marathon, check out CATALYST’s Travel and Purpose Podcast, in which James is interviewed about his experience. 

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Untamed Borders

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Explore Nature and Community in Costa Rica

Starter Costa Rica is a trip to San Jose, Manuel Antonio National Park, Quepos and the island of El Cocal. San Jose is the capital of Costa Rica. It's a large urban center known for its great variety of small coffee shops and local breweries. Manuel Antonio National Park is known for its hiking trails and, like El Cocal, also for its beaches. This trip includes visits to beaches and waterfalls and explores the unique nature of Costa Rica. Activities include salsa lessons and exploring farmers markets. The trip has a moderate physical activity level and most activities involve three to four hours of physical activity per day; therefore, an active lifestyle is recommended. Under30Experiences is a sustainable travel company that promotes local tourism practices across the globe. Originally the company focused entirely on the millennial market, but now trips are open to all age groups. The trip is five days long and costs $695 with early sign-up and $895 with regular sign-up. 

To learn more about Costa Rica and Under30Experiences, check out CATALYST’s Travel and Purpose Podcast where Matt Wilson, co-founder of Under30Experiences, is interviewed about the foundation of Under30Experiences and his life in Costa Rica. 

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Under30Experiences

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Volunteer Near the ‘Smoke that Thunders’ at Victoria Falls

Sitting along the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, Victoria Falls is renowned as one of the largest waterfalls in the world. They are also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the surrounding region boasts Africa's “big five”—lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and buffaloes. The “Volunteer in Victoria Falls” trip includes accommodations at a private game reserve located nearby in Zimbabwe. Work for participants focuses on necessary research at the reserve such as freshwater ecosystem analysis, soil erosion control and animal monitoring. Tasks performed on the ground allow the reserve to protect vulnerable animal populations in the area. This trip is run by International Volunteer HQ, which has helped more than 110,000 people to volunteer abroad in more than 50 different destinations. Volunteering opportunities are available at any time of year for between two and 12 weeks. For two weeks the trip costs $1,020 and the cost is $4,580 for 12 weeks. 

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International Volunteer HQ

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Embrace Sustainability in Tropical Costa Rica

This Costa Rican adventure offers a strong mix of activity and relaxation, requiring moderate physical activity. Travelers can choose from plenty of other adventures: hiking, surfing, zip-lining, and rafting, experiencing the best Costa Rica has to offer. With 25% of its land protected from development, Costa Rica's dense rainforests provide the perfect backdrop for this journey. The “Costa Rica Extended” trip includes staying at an eco-lodge, hiking through jungles, eating organic meals grown on-site, relaxing in natural springs, and experiencing impressive waterfalls.

Under30Experiences brings together thirty people looking to learn about themselves and the world through a shared experience that builds lifelong friendships. This Costa Rica trip is a 2-in-1 affordable, diverse, and epic adventure. Participants will enjoy the country's best beach and immerse themselves in the rainforest, staying at a famous eco-lodge where food is grown on-site.

Travelers should expect to be on their feet for three to four hours most days, so an active lifestyle is helpful. The trip lasts for nine days, with a cost of $1,495 for early sign-ups and $1,695 for regular sign-ups.

Experience the Nomadic Life in Rugged Mongolia

Known for Genghis Khan and the military might of the Mongol Empire, today’s Mongolia remains a proud and stunning land. The “Local Living Mongolia—Nomadic Life” trip provides travelers with an adventurous stay in the country and a chance to experience its beautiful landscapes. The journey begins in the capital of Ulaanbaatar but quickly moves on to the countryside for stays with three nomadic families. Key moments include trips to the Orkhon Valley and Gorkhi-Terelj National Park. On this adventure, expect to take tea with neighbors, ride Mongolia’s famed horses, learn archery and practice making garments. Travelers must be at least 12 to participate in this 10-day-long, $1,189 trip.

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G Adventures

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