Care for Elephants at a Wildlife Rescue in Thailand

Thailand’s Surin province is home to more than 300 elephants, many of them treated inhumanely for street begging and circus performances. The harsh treatment these elephants endure can lower their life expectancy by at least 50%. On the “Thailand Elephants” trip, participants will be working at the region’s only "elephant refugee camp.” Volunteers’ tasks are dependent on the camp’s specific needs but could include the preservation of elephant habitat, the construction of shade shelters and enclosures, and the preparation of food for the elephants. This weeklong trip costs $905.

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Globe Aware

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Take a Trek with Northern Thailand’s Hill Tribes

Thailand is celebrated for its unique mix of modern culture and historical roots. Take part in this hands-on immersion experience by spending five days with members of the Black Lahu and Karen tribes. Thailand’s bustling cities will seem far away as visitors take part in the daily customs and rituals of the country’s northern hill tribes. Those enrolled on this trip can learn about traditional farming techniques, sample regional delicacies, explore stunning jungle scenery and test their artistic abilities through bamboo weaving. The cost of this trip includes all scheduled activities and accommodations along with most meals and in-country transport. This five-day experience starts at $369 per person. 

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Experience Life as a Mongolian Nomad

Venture into the world of nomadic living! From the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar, you will journey by horseback or oxcart to the realm of 21st century nomads. Within Gorkhi-Terelj National Park, nomadic families still live in gers, ride horses and make their own garments. You will have the chance to experience these customs and more as you live with a local host family and get a taste for nomadic life on the Mongolian plains. The cost of this trip includes daily workshops/activities, in-country transport, accommodation and most meals. 

This eight day experience starts at $849 per person. 

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Experteer Around the World

Are you interested in helping global communities and travel, but want more than a two-week volunteer trip that may or may not help the community you visit? Check out this organization that offers “experteering” experiences. You will be selected for your existing professional skill-sets and placed in a role where they can be maximized with an international social enterprise.

MOVINGWORLDS

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Volunteer to Help Rebuild Cambodia

Cambodia has a long, violent history of war and genocide, but since the mid-90’s, peace has come to the country and is a safe place to visit.  The years of war, however, left a lasting impact on the Cambodian people, leaving most of them in extreme poverty and with a countryside strewn with unexploded landmines.  As a volunteer time will be spent in Siem Reap, near the famous Angkor Wat temples, helping with a variety of projects—from teaching English at the Buddhism Association School to distributing wheelchairs to the Cambodians who are left injured by the leftover mines.  Upon arrival on this trip, volunteers will receive a set itinerary that will include different projects to participate in, depending on the need for volunteers at the time.  During downtime, volunteers can explore the Angkor Wat temples and the floating village on the Tonle Sap Lake, or simply wander the streets of Siem Reap. 

Explore the Land of Fire and Ice in Iceland

Looking to experience the wonders of a small island nation in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean?  Come see what Iceland has to offer! Stand in awe of the Northern Lights, explore the charming capital of Reykjavik, sail to the renown Vestmannaeyjar Islands, and see the Eyjafjallajökull volcano, which erupted in 2010 halting air traffic across Europe.  If you’re a Game of Thrones fan, it will be fun recognizing the picturesque spots along Iceland’s coast where the series was filmed. You’ll also experience the stunning natural beauty of Thingvellir National Park, which contains hot springs, volcanic craters, and gorgeous waterfalls that create rainbows right in front of your eyes.  While in Iceland, you’ll stay at a boutique farm resort and enjoy breakfasts and dinners with the group.  After visiting Iceland’s many natural treasures, from glaciers to geothermal spas, you’ll come away fully impressed by the diversity of this unique country.  

UNDER30EXPERIENCES

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Work in NYC Office of Doctors Without Borders

Become a paid intern in the dynamic NYC office of Doctors Without Borders and thereby help MSF provide medical care to those most in need in nearly 70 countries. Internship commitment is 4 months and interns are paid $15/hour for full-time work. Interns must pay own travel and lodging to NYC. This is a competitive program, apply here. Those with less availability might consider being an unpaid volunteer.

DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS

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Be A Clean Water Courier

Waves for Water (W4W) provides clean water solutions worldwide through projects funded by the “Clean Water Courier” program. Operating across dozens of countries, W4W’s mission is to provide access to clean water to every single person who needs it.  The nonprofit’s philosophy is to empower people to take initiative, step outside their comfort zones and create unique personal experiences. W4W was born out of a love for discovery, travel and adventure and the group wants its volunteer model to similarly encourage and empower individuals during their trips.

For prospective travelers, Waves for Water has teamed up with surf company Hurley to develop an independent volunteer program called Clean Water Couriers. It is not a traditional volunteer model, but more of a do-it-yourself method meant to be utilized by travelers who want to make a positive contribution to local communities. Each person creates their own travel experience and then crowdfunds on the site to buy water filters to distribute while on their trip. W4W provides the online platform and serves as a resource for information about the filtration systems and how participants may donate them on the ground. Travelers can make a huge difference in the lives of people and communities in distress by packing a few water filters for their trips. The filters are compact and easy to use and can provide up to 100 people with clean water for up to five years. They cost $25 to $50 each.

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Waves for Water

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Quest to the Antarctic Circle From—Argentina to Antarctica

Antarctica is still a pristine ecosystem, with a variety of unique wildlife to see.  Head out on this trip and spend a full week on the Antarctic Peninsula watching pods of whales swim past your ship or penguins waddle along the frozen shoreline.  Start the journey in Argentina, where a waiting ship will take you through the Drake Passage and into the Antarctic Circle. There will be two opportunities for a trip onto the land to search for a rookery of penguins or spot a leopard seal. On deck, listen to lectures about the discovery and human history of Antarctica, or be on the lookout for icebergs and albatrosses! This 2 week trip is $10,399 per person.

Travel to Costa Rica For A Taste of Sustainable Living

Under30Experiences brings together thirty people all looking to learn about themselves and the world for a shared experience that builds lifelong friendships. This Costa Rica trip is actually a 2-in-1 affordable, diverse, and epic experience. You'll not only enjoy the best beach in the country but get immersed in the rainforest and stay at a famous eco-lodge where your food is grown right on site.

Plus, choose plenty of other adventures: hiking, surfing, zip-lining, rafting—see the best Costa Rica has to offer.

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Under 30 Experiences

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Escape into Nature in Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan remains one of the most untouched areas of Central Asia since the country’s declared independence from Russian rule in 1991. Along the southern rim there are traditional, grassroots communities and raw landscapes to explore. A visit to Kel Suu, one of the highest elevated lakes in the world and a trek down the ancient Silk Road caravanserai of Tash Rabat,  a centuries old monastery along a traditional trade route, are a couple of the highlights of a trip through Kyrgyzstan. Visitors can experience the Kyrgyz way of life through the hospitality of locals. They will spend the night in traditional yurts and set out for the day on horseback. 

Those who embark on this thirteen day adventure will find opportunities to see unique facets of nature like the bright red sandstone of Konorchek Canyon and the vast expanse of the Naryn River, or wolves and ibex in their natural habitat. Many of the treks on the itinerary for this trip are challenging and are geared towards travelers interested in a more rigorous itinerary.  This trip starts at $2,750 and lasts 13 days. 

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UNTAMED BORDERS 

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Preserve Agricultural Communities in Turkey

Many families that live in rural areas of Turkey that they have been farming for decades are being forced to move into the cities for new opportunities to make a living. These families live well under the poverty line and moving to cities to make more money often tears them apart. By staying in these communities in the rural outskirts of Istanbul and working the land on the farms, volunteers can help keep farms sustainable and keep families together. Providing free labor can help farmers increase production and make more money. Working in the fields will give volunteers valuable knowledge about raising organic livestock and growing organic crops. Those volunteers who have previous agricultural experience can also share methods and techniques with the community’s local project managers and people. 

Volunteers will live amongst local villagers and experience the culture of these remote towns. One week on this trip will cost $599. Stay up to three weeks working to keep families together and their rich culture alive. 

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LOVE VOLUNTEERS 

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Explore Community, Culture and World-Renowned Coffee in Colombia

On a nine-day journey from Bogota to Cartagena, travelers will see and experience the lively traditions of Colombia. Walk through the revived city streets of Medellin, full of brightly colored houses. Physical improvements and updates to public transportation and community services infrastructure have brought the city back to life. Bogota offers architectural variety from skyscrapers to colonial churches. With the help of professional dancers to teach you the steps, discover why salsa dancing has become an integral part of Latin American social life. In the coffee capital of Armenia, see how one of the nation’s top exports is farmed and spend the night in a traditional hacienda, a Colombian plantation’s estate.

Travel time on this trip will be led by experienced local guides, but will also provide free time to check out the nightlife, art stores and locally crafted beers along the way. 

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Join the Hurricane Maria Clean up Cause in Puerto Rico

Sept. 20, 2017, Hurricane Maria tore through the island of Puerto Rico, devastating the community and taking more than 500 lives. The Category 5 storm destroyed agriculture and infrastructure such as power grids and phone lines, leaving mass destruction for the population to rebuild. The island is still working to rebuild and recover from the effects of Maria, and volunteers on this project can help. Based in Yauco, 80 miles from the capital city of San Juan, volunteers work with local initiatives to rebuild and restore the roofs of more than 1,500 homes impacted by the storm. This restoration project is a grassroots effort, and local leaders work with volunteers to develop  the skills needed to complete these construction projects. 

Yauco is a small town stretching from the cobblestone streets of the inland downtown to the shores of the Caribbean Sea. After work is done for the day, volunteers will explore local beaches, markets and restaurants and can enjoy a cup of Yauco’s coffee, one of the area's major exports. This week-long trip will cost volunteers $1,557. 

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GLOBE AWARE 

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Develop Journalism Skills in the Dominican Republic

Aldeas De Paz works with the local community in the Samana province of the Dominican Republic to tackle some of the populations biggest social issues, including gender equality and women’s empowerment, at-risk youth education, domestic violence and sex education. The projects are community-sponsored and require reliable, publicized documentation. Like many volunteer organizations, Aldeas De Paz relies heavily on donations and volunteer work to sustain certain operations, such as social media and other publications. 

For this volunteer trip, participants will travel to the Samana province to document the grassroots projects completed by the organization. Volunteers work closely with the team’s social media manager and local media outlets to create videos, television and radio broadcasts, documentaries and social media content. Being present on the island, volunteer groups will also assist in the day-to-day operations of the organization’s projects and spread awareness about the island community and the challenges they face. 

Travelers will receive free Spanish lessons regularly over the course of their program as well as school credit, if applicable. This trip can last from two to 13 weeks, with the price for two weeks starting at $1,236. 

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ALDEAS DE PAZ

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Eat Your Way Through Peru

There are many factors contributing to Peru’s unique and widely admired culinary culture. The country's land is subject to extreme biodiversity, allowing for access to a large selection of ingredients. This selection, coupled with Peru’s ethnic diversity and long, rich history, have created a food scene like no other. Peru’s capital city, Lima, is home to four of the world’s top 50 restaurants. Three of them have made the list multiple years in a row. 

Travel to Lima, Nazca and Ica to explore the cultural and historical sites of Peru while enjoying authentic food along the way. On the trip, you will pass through small towns and metropolitan cities, visiting ancient burial grounds and pre-Incan historical sites like the mysterious Nazca lines. The lines are massive geoglyphs of animals, plants and other figures, etched into the sand around 500 BC. End your days with dinner at some of Peru’s most well-known wineries, enjoying the world-renowned food and wine. The tour will last six days and costs $2,495 USD per person. 

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Promote Conservation on a Photography Safari in South Africa

Through social media, conservation trusts and foundations have the opportunity to promote their work and educate the public about the wildlife they are working to protect. This kind of exposure can help educate the public, bring in donations and present opportunities for the foundations. Creating a full portfolio of photographs of the animals can assist in research as well. On this trip volunteers will have the chance to hone their photography skills and take shots of many species in the wild, including elephants, rhinos, leopards and smaller creatures like chameleons, lizards and more than 500 species of birds. 

This project is hosted in Kruger, South Africa and will last four weeks, beginning with one week of photography courses with professional wildlife photographers. After that, the weeks will be filled with safaris and tracking animals to try and document their movements. The photos collected will be uploaded to a research database used by many research programs in the area. When they aren’t taking photos and working on social media posts or research databases, volunteers will also assist in the maintenance of the land. 

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KAYA  

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Be a Human Rights Activism Intern in Costa Rica

Costa Rica has one of the most advanced economies in Latin America, and one of the more progressive cultures. They lead the region in education, healthcare and politics, but  communities are still oppressed and discriminated against. These communities include refugees, women and the LGBTQIA+ population. This internship will place individuals, based on their personal interests, with different NGOs, social organizations and government agencies to be a part of a community and work alongside social workers and other experts. In addition, they will develop their skillsets through work like community outreach, education research and fundraising. 

The Maximo Nivel campus in the University District of San Pedro gives its interns great amenities and optimal space to complete their work. The area is also surrounded by restaurants, shopping and nightlife, and has a large student population. The campus is also just a ten-minute drive from downtown San Jose. Internships last 4-9 weeks and participants will leave with valuable skill sets, a deeper cultural understanding of Costa Rica, and a letter of recommendation. 

Wander from Tokyo to Kyoto Through the Backroads of Japan

The famed appeal of metropolis Tokyo and cultural sightseeing of Kyoto can distract visitors from other destinations. This is not to say that Kyoto and Tokyo should be skipped by any means, and this trip will take you through both, but it provides the chance to make many stops in overlooked destinations, providing travelers with a well-rounded experience. In Matsumo, visitors learn about ancient samurai culture and tour an ancient palace. Natural hot springs are available for relaxation, and homestays in small, grassroots communities allow travelers to fully immerse themselves in the quaint side of Japanese culture. Travelers will traverse through the Japanese Alps and bike through the city of Hagi, getting a comprehensive tour of all that Japan has to offer. 

The journey from Tokyo to Kyoto will take 11 days, with all the stops listed above and many more. Travelers will pay $3,199 USD per person and the group will be accompanied by experienced guides known as Chief Experience Officers, and will spend their nights in comfortable, authentic accommodations. 

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Explore the History that Built Modern Ethiopia

Ethiopia is one of the few countries in Africa that was not colonized, which has given it the opportunity to develop a very pure and unique history. It is also one of the world’s oldest countries and has had over 2,000 years to build that culture. As a result, Ethiopia has both vibrant city life and natural scenery for visitors to enjoy. The capital city of Addis Ababa offers a vibrant lifestyle, a museum of natural history, and scenic hikes. Gondar is filled with grand historic castles. There are massive rock churches to explore in Lalibela, and the ancient ruins of the kingdom of Axum. Both are UNESCO world heritage sites. 

This country’s powerful and independent history can be discovered on a nine-day, eight-night tour of Ethiopia from Off-Season Adventures. On this trip, travelers will be escorted by experienced drivers and provided with plenty of time to explore. The trip will cost travelers $3,687 per person and will include entry into all historical sites in the itinerary. 

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OFF SEASON ADVENTURES  

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