Travel with Purpose: Volunteer Around the World [Tips & Locations]

Traveling with purpose through volunteering is an exhilarating and fulfilling adventure that immerses you in a new culture and empowers you to make a meaningful difference in the world. 

Further Travel aims to enrich the lives of adventurous, conscious students and travelers. We offer programs, payment plans, and full itineraries for thousands to enjoy volunteering and immersion abroad.  

See how meaningful volunteering can enrich lives through our guide to purposeful travel in Bali, Thailand, South Africa, and The Maldives.

How to Travel with Purpose by Volunteering Abroad

Purpose-driven volunteering can be an exciting and rewarding experience that allows you to immerse yourself in a new culture while making a positive impact. 

Whether you choose to volunteer in South Africa, Thailand, Bali, or The Maldives, you will have the opportunity to contribute to important work while learning from local communities and experiencing the beauty and diversity of a new region. This is a great chance for college students, young people, and anyone making summer plans.

Volunteering abroad can provide a unique opportunity for personal growth and self-discovery as you navigate unfamiliar situations and build connections with people from different backgrounds. Nearly 1 million international students from across the world will choose to study abroad this year, and what if they all chose to do something meaningful and positive for their host country? 

Whether you are interested in environmental conservation, education, healthcare, or community development, there are a variety of purposeful volunteering programs available that can help you make a meaningful impact while exploring the world.

Valuable tips you should take to find the right travel volunteer program for you include:

1. Review many unique programs
2. Be ready to apply, prepare, and volunteer
3. Join special programs on vital international projects

Review Many Unique Programs

When deciding on your volunteer-focused travel abroad, review potential opportunities carefully to ensure that you select a reputable, ethical organization that aligns with your values and goals for travel. 

When reviewing opportunities in South Africa, Thailand, Bali, or The Maldives, start by looking over details of the travel and volunteer experiences below. You should also:

• Look for reviews from past volunteers to gain insight 
• Consider the volunteer work itself, including training and support
• Understand the commitment and the cost of the program

Be APT: Apply, Prepare, and Travel

Traveling abroad for a volunteering program involves planning and preparation to ensure a safe, rewarding experience. Start by researching the local culture, customs, and laws of the country you will be visiting to ensure that you are respectful and aware of any potential differences. 

To guarantee you’re ready for travel, ensure that you:

1. Obtain any necessary visas, vaccinations, and travel insurance well in advance of your departure date. 
2. Make sure that you have a valid passport with at least six months remaining before expiration. 
3. Pack appropriate clothing and gear for the local climate and work you will be doing.
4. Be certain to bring any necessary medications or personal care items. 

Finally, make sure that you have a clear understanding of the logistics of your travel— including transportation to and from your accommodations—and any additional costs or fees associated with the program. With careful attention to the details, you can have a meaningful experience volunteering.

Join Special Programs on Vital Projects

Whether you want to teach English or train young athletes in South Africa, save turtles in Bali, look after elephants in Thailand, or restore entire beaches in The Maldives—there’s an opportunity for you on this list. 

With these four opportunities for traveling with purpose, find the location, cause, and organization that’s right for you through Further Travel.

Opportunities to Travel with Purpose Through Volunteering

Gain a travel-with-purpose experience that comes with the opportunity to explore, volunteer, and enjoy special excursions:

• South Africa: See the world and teach English or Sports in a top destination.
• The Maldives: Enjoy and preserve some of the most beautiful beaches.
• Bali: Assist conservation and education efforts over a 10-day program.
• Thailand: Stay at Thai temples and support elephant and dog sanctuaries.

We provide you with a comprehensive overview of each program to help you decide which is best-suited to your volunteer and travel goals. 

We highlight the best benefits of each program, including the unique experiences and personal growth opportunities that you can expect to gain from your participation.

Teach English or Sports in South Africa

Experience the beauty and culture of South Africa while teaching, joining in rewarding community projects, and participating in epic enrichment activities. 

Through Sports Coaching and English Teaching, you can make a difference in the lives of South African youth by bringing a positive attitude ready to make a difference, inspire learning, and use valuable skills! It’s the best way to travel South Africa.

Camp South Africa allows you to choose your start date and payment plan with a small deposit, gaining access to your long stay in comfortable quarters with:

• 5 weeks of adventure
• Lounge area
• Seasonal swimming pool
• Air-conditioned rooms

The best thing about visiting South Africa with Further Travel's program is the positive memory it leaves with program participants and volunteers bonded through language and sports instruction. But, you can’t ignore the chance to surf in the world-renowned Jeffrey’s Bay either!

Help The Maldives “Save the Beach” Initiative

Have you ever seen white sand beaches with clear seas, skies, and an underwater world waiting to be explored? 

That’s what Camp Maldives offers as you tour local markets, plant palm trees, save coral, rid the beaches of pollution, and celebrate with diving, kayaking, and snorkeling. Be ready to save—and enjoy—one of the planet’s most beautiful beaches!

With Camp Maldives, you choose your own departure date, and you can secure your spot to explore the wonders of The Maldives through a small deposit. Joining Camp Maldives gives you access to:

• 16 days of volunteer-focused travel
• Wi-Fi internet access
• Room sizes from 1 to 4 people
• Air-conditioned, fanned rooms
  
  

Throughout the 16-day program, you’ll plant palms, save coral, and eliminate one of the greatest threats to the world’s beaches: pollution. Starting with full exposure to a new culture and region, you’ll jump right in with your purposeful project of protecting their natural ecosystem and beauty. Visit The Maldives for these perks:

Serve Conservation and Education in Bali

If you want to embark on a volunteer-oriented getaway, check out the 10-day Camp Bali Adventure, where you’ll see the Monkey Forest, Git Git Waterfall, and Beratan Lake. 

Beyond energizing white water rafting and ocean experiences, you’ll help the community with local projects, giving you a vacation and volunteering adventure all in one trip!

With Camp Bali, you choose your own departure date, and you can secure your spot to explore the wonders of Indonesia through a small deposit At Camp Bali, you can expect:

• 10 days of activity-filled days
• Wi-Fi internet access
• Personal laundry facilities
• Air-conditioned, fanned rooms
  
  

In the 10-day program, you’ll assist on community projects as you explore the region, beauty, and culture of Instagram-worthy Bali. For nearly two inspiring weeks, you’ll volunteer alongside Bali youth and others to save beaches, teach English, and enjoy natural wonders, fueled by the fresh taste of Bali’s well-known dishes.

Discover Camp Thailand

Camp Thailand offers its Island Explorer package to introduce foreign volunteers to elephant conservation and Thai education. You can make an impact on local communities while building memories in Phuket’s beaches, island tours, and crystal waters.  

With Camp Thailand, you’re offered a 20-day opportunity to serve conservation efforts for elephants while teaching in local schools.

• 20 days of volunteerism and travel
• Wi-Fi internet access
• Personal laundry and sanitation
• Air-conditioned, fanned rooms
  
  

In this 20-day opportunity, you’ll help community projects to thrive by giving your support and attention to conserving elephant sanctuaries and teaching in local schools. Finding the beauty, culture, and delicious food of Thailand, you’ll find that rewarding volunteerism as you see breathtaking islands and meet new life-long friends.

Visit Camp Rescue Paws in Thailand

Make a difference in the animal kingdom by joining our brand new volunteer opportunity, Camp Thailand Rescue Paws. In this program, you’ll travel, volunteer, and help solve the stray animal epidemic in Thailand, while making a few furry friends along the way. 

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Camp Rescue Paws offers the chance to enjoy beach walks, feeding, and playtime with dogs missing their home. There’s also plenty of time for your bonus excursion to an elephant sanctuary, Thai cooking class, or meditations with monks. 

At Camp Rescue Paws, you’ll stay at Khao Tao Temple with Buddhist monks offering space for stray pets to safely live, recover, and heal. As a volunteer, you’ll participate in many different efforts to improve the lives of dogs in Thailand:

• Fieldwork: Learn about stray behavior and feed runs of animals in the local area
• Daily care: Engage and care for dogs while building helpful, healing relationships 
• Health checks: Help the vet team care for bathing, deticking, and sterilizations
• Media opportunity: Promote our mission by sharing your experience online

Save dogs from health complications, isolation, and neglect by tending to their animal needs and building meaningful relationships with them. You’ll also benefit from the culture and charm of Thailand with the unique opportunity to stay and volunteer at an active Thai Buddhist temple. 

Visit our Camp Rescue Paws page today, and discover what volunteers loved about this brand new travel opportunity..

Travel with Purpose Today by Volunteering Through Further Travel

Purposeful volunteering programs offer life-changing exchange opportunities to travel sustainably, with care, and while giving back. 

Whether you want to contribute to environmental conservation, education, healthcare, or community development, Further Travel has a range of programs available that can help you make a difference. With Further Travel, you can participate in meaningful work that supports local communities, while also gaining unforgettable experiences and life-long connections. 

Explore some of the most beautiful, diverse regions on Earth, and see what it means to give back to the world. Don't wait to start your travel with purpose by volunteering—join Further Travel, and embark on an adventure of a lifetime.

If you're seeking purpose, drive, and fulfillment—and you want to make a positive impact while exploring the world—contact us to join one of our life-changing programs today!