Career Break & Volunteer Specialist - Gap Year for Grown Ups
Volunteer Holidays
Career Breaks Career Break Destinations Voluntary work abroad Paid Work Abroad Teach English Abroad Sports Career Breaks Adventure Travel Learn New Skills Round the World
Where to?
Destination
Activity
How long
Departure Month
Career Break Brochure Request Contact Gap Year for Grown Ups How To Book a Career Break
Volunteer Holidays
Career Break Special Offers
Who We Are
Career Break Advice
Career Break Travel Stories
Travelling alone
Career Break Travel Insurance
Career Break Questions
Your Real Gap Profile - Your most recently viewed pages
 
 

Book with a deposit of just £195
You are here > Home > Volunteer Holidays

Volunteer Holidays

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.

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.

Volunteer Holidays

America Small Group Tours
Discover the USA through one of five amazing tours. Take in the big cities, the national parks, the Wild West, the coastlines or the mountains. Our hassle-free tours are a great opportunity to make friends as you travel. From £663

More Information
Animal Rescue Centre Guatemala
Play a vital role in rehabilitating wild animals that have been maltreated. Get involved in their daily care, feed them, monitor their behaviour and make sure their enclosures are clean. From £599

More Information
Animal Rescue Volunteer Ecuador
Ideal for anyone interested wildlife. Work in one of three centres, caring for animals such as lions, monkeys and many others. Feed them, keep their enclosures clean, build new facilities and help educate the local community. From £549

More Information
Argentina Spanish Language School
Learn one of the most melodic languages in the world, through fun, friendly lessons. Small classes, cultural activities and modern teaching methods make for rapid progress. Ideal if you plan to travel or do a project in South America.    From £599

More Information
Australia 7-day PADI Scuba Course
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. From £399

More Information
Australia Island Experience
Carry out conservation work on the Wollongong coastline. Help with tree planting and seed collecting – and see plenty of wildlife. Afterwards, you can relax on nearby Montague Island and learn about its history and heritage.
From £1099

More Information
Australia Koala Sanctuary Volunteers
Ideal for anyone fond of wildlife and the outdoors, as you will be helping sanctuary keepers to care for animals such as koalas, kangaroo and other native Australian species. From £329

More Information
Australia Northern Territory Tour
Family Friendly! The very best of the northern territory on a 12-day tour! Enjoy incredible views of Uluru (Ayers Rock), trek through Kings Canyon, swim in Litchfield National Park waterfalls, sleep under the stars, take a dip in thermal pools at Katherine Gorge and Croc spot on Mary River! From £589

More Information
Australia Sailing Courses
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. From £499

More Information
Australia Tall Ship Sailing
Family Friendly! Sail round the beautiful Whitsunday Islands and soak up the sun. Swim in the sea, learn about hoisting the sail, hike on the islands – or just lie back and consider which drink to have. From £399

More Information
Australia Wildlife and Island Experience
The rare opportunity to work closely with some of Australia’s most endearing wildlife. In addition to feeding and maintenance duties, you will assist staff during wildlife handling tours with the public, including breakfast with the koalas! From £899

More Information
Australia Wildlife Sanctuary Volunteer
Help with the day-to-day running of a wildlife centre. Feed and handle the animals, show them to the public, take part in guided night walks and get involved with ongoing conservation projects. Perfect for animal lovers. From £699

More Information
Australia's Ultimate Road Journey
Family Friendly! See the best-known and best-hidden attractions of Australia with a 10-day tour from east to west. Swim with dolphins, have a go at sand boarding, explore the Flinders Ranges – and make new friends along the way. From £599

More Information
Bolivia Spanish Language School
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. From £549

More Information
Borneo Pygmy Elephant and Orangutan Conservation Tour

Help ensure pygmy elephants are given the protection they need, by collecting data and educating the public about their importance. Observe orangutans and other native Borneo species, go on a river safari and learn to survive in a jungle.

From £999

More Information
Brazil Floating School Project and Capeiora
Take part in a truly unique project. Give English lessons in the morning, help build the touring, floating school in the afternoon then learn capoeira from locals in the evening. No experience needed, just enthusiasm! From £749

More Information
Brazil Martial Arts Experience
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…! From £899

More Information
Brazil Pantanal Research and Conservation
Work on the largest freshwater wetland in the world. Track and capture peccaries, observe behaviour, collect data and carry out censuses. Keep an eye out for giant river otters, jaguars and much, much more! From £1299

More Information
Brazil Portuguese Language School
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. From £649

More Information
Brazilian Beats and Learning Portuguese
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. From £749

More Information
Brighter Future in Cordoba Argentina
Light up the lives of children and adults from a poor part of Argentina. Play with the younger ones and assist with their workshops, and help women develop the skills to become self-sufficient. From £349

More Information
Canada Camping Tours
See Canada’s stunning scenery with two refreshingly natural tours. Experience the best of the Rockies, with itineraries that take in highlights such as Yoho, Banff and Glacier National Parks, British Columbia, Whistler and Vancouver Island. From £789

More Information
Canada Lodging Tours
Explore the highlights of the Rockies, which hold national parks, hot springs, turquoise lakes, glaciers and much more. Accommodation is in motels, cabins and lodges for whose who prefer not to camp! Several different itineraries available. From £1156

More Information
Canada Walking Tour
Walk your way across some truly stunning scenery. Start in British Columbia and take in Banff National Park and the Icefields Parkway, Yoho National Park and its renowned Iceline Trail and more. All hiking abilities catered for. From £897

More Information
Cape Town Volunteer Projects
The time you give to these projects will benefit Cape Town’s underprivileged communities tremendously. Live with a local family and choose from projects including Healing Through Horses, Marine Conservation and Penguin Rescue and Cape Town for Orphans. From £949

More Information
Chile Spanish Language School in Santiago
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. From £499

More Information
Chimpanzee Sanctuary Volunteer
Get to know the ins and outs of this South African sanctuary. Study the history and behaviour of chimps, sanctuary management, environmental issues and sustainable tourism. You’ll take home a recognised sanctuary management certificate. From £649

More Information
Costa Rica Animal Rescue
Get up close to jaguars, parrots and other wildlife. The creatures have been held captive, but will hopefully be returned to the wild. Help nurse them back to health and educate the public about the centre’s work. From £499

More Information
Costa Rica Discovery Tour
Family Friendly! Explore rainforests, discover golden sandy beaches, trek in volcano country and spot a multitude of wildlife on a 14-day, family friendly tour of Costa Rica. From £1149

More Information
Costa Rica Sea Turtle Conservation
Continue successful efforts to stop the decline in turtle numbers. Take part in beach patrols, tag flippers, escort baby turtles to the beach, collect eggs to be put in the hatchery and litter-pick the beach. From £499

More Information
Costa Rica Sloth Rescue Programme
Work with some unusual but very friendly creatures at a wildlife society. It’s a hands-on experience, which allows you to feed and exercise baby sloths, monitor eating habits, help with specialist care and more.
From £449

More Information
Costa Rica Spanish and Salsa
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. From £599

More Information
Costa Rica Spanish Language School
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. From £599

More Information
Costa Rica Water Sports Adventure