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Volunteer Holidays

If you can only get a few weeks off work, would prefer not to be away from home for too long, or are looking for an alternative to the usual package holiday then why not try one of our volunteer holidays?

Volunteer holidays are an excellent way to see new places and learn about new cultures on a more intimate level than the average tourist.

How do volunteer holidays differ to a normal holiday?

Your experience on a volunteer holiday will be 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 experiences you get as a tourist as you will have hands on interaction with the community and environment of your chosen destination.

By taking part in a volunteer holiday you will be giving something back to the area that you stay and although volunteer holidays can be hard work, many people find it a life changing experience. During your volunteer holiday you will work alongside local people, learning all about their lifestyle and culture and many people find that this really helps to put life into perspective.

Another great benefit of volunteer holidays is that you will meet like-minded people. Through team work and shared living, you will find that you forge bonds with your fellow volunteers very quickly, many of whom will become life-long friends - not something you usually get on a typical beach holiday, and brilliant if you are travelling alone!

Finally, just think how good your CV will look when you include your participation on a volunteer holiday. Perspective employers will realise that you have many sought after qualities such as determination and motivation and will see you as someone who is willing to work in a team, work hard and face new challenges! Or, if you are retired just think of the stories you will be able to tell your friends and family about what you achieved!

Volunteer holidays

What types of volunteer holidays are there?

Through Gap Year For Grown Ups you can choose from many volunteer holidays throughout the world. Many people volunteer for long periods of time during an extended career break, but we have lots of shorter options available if you can only spare a couple of weeks or would prefer to do some independent travelling before or after volunteering.

The first thing to do is decide where you would like to travel to, or, what sort of volunteer holiday you would like to participate in. To help you narrow down your decision our volunteer holidays can be broadly divided into three main categories;

‘People' based volunteer holidays
‘Wildlife and animal' based volunteer holidays
‘Conservation' based volunteer holidays

The Gap Year For Grown Ups website is the best place to start researching your volunteer holiday, but as soon as you need some extra help or advice then simply drop us an email, give us a call or even come in and see us at our office in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.


	America Tours

Gap Year for Grown Ups USA Tours give you the opportunity to get to know America in-depth. Our USA tours range from 7-64 days long and they cover anywhere up to 31 states in a single trip!


	Animal Rescue Centre Costa Rica

At the rescue centre you can play an active role in the rehabilitation of wild animals that have been rescued from captivity. Volunteers have the chance to work in close contact with wildcats such as cougars and jaguars, birds, such as toucans and parrots, and numerous other exotic animals.


	Animal Rescue Centre Guatemala

This rewarding project revolves around an Animal Rescue Centre offering care and rehabilitation to wild animals that have been captured and sold on the black market. The rescue centre is the largest of it's kind in Latin America and volunteers will have the opportunity to work with many different species of exotic animals.


	Animal Rescue Volunteer Ecuador

If wildlife is a passion of yours then this is a great project for you. The Ecuador rescue centres are a sanctuary for injured and rescued animals; dedicated to releasing the illegally captured animals back to their natural habitat.


	Argentina Spanish Language School

If you wish to volunteer but are not confident at speaking Spanish, we strongly recommend that you enrol in a course at our Spanish Language School prior to commencing your project, and really make the most of your Argentinean experience.


	Australia - Learn to Sail

If you fancy taking to the open seas (well, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park) and finding your inner sailor, then learn to sail in one of the most beautiful areas of the world! If sunbathing on deck just doesn’t do it for you and you want to feel the wind in your hair as you do…something with the rigging, then an Aussie sailing course is right up your galley!


	Australia 7-day PADI Scuba Course

Join Real Gap’s PADI Scuba Diving Course for the chance to spend seven exhilarating days gaining an internationally recognised PADI scuba dive qualification, around the Great Barrier Reef in Cairns, Northern Queensland.


	Australia Island Experience

This programme gives you the unique opportunity to take part in a project where you contribute in a practical way to the conservation of the Australian environment. Time will be spent in the Wollongong region and on Montague Island, a protected wildlife reserve that is an offshore sanctuary for seals, penguins and sea birds.


	Australia Tall Ship Sailing

Experience the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef and the beautiful white sand of the Whitsunday Islands on a six-day voyage of discovery. Get involved in the day to day working of a traditionally rigged vessel, hoisting sails and steering or you can simply sit back, relax and watch other people doing all the hard work!


	Australia Wildlife Sanctuary Volunteer

Learn about Australian wildlife and become involved with the upkeep of an incredible wildlife sanctuary. Not only will you help out with general daily tasks such as feeding, fencing and planting you will also be heavily involved in on-going projects relating to conservation, habitat and wildlife.


	Australia's Ultimate Road Journey

This unique 10 day Nullarbor tour offers you the chance to cross almost two-thirds of the continent, a massive 2800km, from Adelaide to Perth, taking in aspects of the lesser-known southern coast. What better way is there to experience the ‘real’ Australia?


	Bolivia Spanish Language School

A language course is a fantastic way to start your adventure. Learning the language is the best way to make the most out of your volunteer project. The lessons will help you converse with the locals, introduce you to the culture and it's a great way to meet new people.


	Borneo Pygmy Elephant and Orangutan Conservation Tour

If you want to observe the conservation of proboscis monkeys, orang-utans, and the loveable but rare pygmy elephant of Borneo, along with enjoying homely creature comforts at the same time, then this is the project for you.


	Borneo Tribal Children and Horses Volunteer

This project is packed with the best that Borneo has to offer. It is ideal for people who love the great outdoors, enjoy exotic culture and cuisine, or are looking for a project with genuine nature and conservation value. If you enjoy working with horses, or children, or just want to escape and experience another way of life then this is the perfect project for you.


	Brazil Martial Arts Experience

Looking to learn several exciting new skills with a little bit of Latin flavour? Then look no further, because on this spectacular of a project you can study two different forms of martial arts (one with a Brazilian origin) and learn the local language at the same time! All this AND you get to spend time in what is arguably one of the most beautiful and stylish cities in the world!


	Brazil Pantanal Research and Conservation

Get involved in important conservation work in the world's largest freshwater wetland, the Pantanal in Brazil. The wetland provides a habitat for dense populations of animals and as a volunteer on this project you will help to protect this environment.


	Brazil Portuguese Language School

Learning Portuguese in Brazil before you start volunteering or travelling around Brazil is the best way to start your adventure. You can then travel around Brazil with confidence, converse with locals and gain so much more from your experience


	Brighter Future in Cordoba Argentina

Initially set-up as a day care centre for children of working mothers, the centre now also acts as a shelter for disadvantaged young children. As a volunteer, you will be directly involved with helping educating attendees of the centre as well as acting as a vital support to the already over-stretched staff.


	Canada Camping Tours

Our Camping Tours in Canada are ideal for those who wish to see more of the Rocky Mountains and great National Parks of the West.


	Canada Lodging Tours

Following similar adventures and highlights of the Canada Camping Tours, the Lodging tours are for those who wish to see and do all of the same great things, just with a bit more luxury en route.


	Canada Walking Tour

Travel Canada and really experience what this beautiful country has to offer the more intrepid traveller. Every day, take part in different hikes and treks through Parks and Indian lands.


	Cape Town Volunteer Projects

By participating in one of these volunteer projects you will provide priceless assistance to children and adults in deprived parts of the community. Choose from a range of social voluntary projects and stay in with a local family in the beautiful Cape Province of South Africa.


	Chile Spanish Language School in Santiago

For those participants who lack confidence in the Spanish language, we recommend that you take lessons at our Spanish school in the Providencia district of Santiago.


	Chimpanzee Sanctuary Volunteer

This programme gives you the chance to spend time at a Chimpanzee Sanctuary, assisting experienced handlers and experts in Chimpanzee behaviour.


	Costa Rica Sea Turtle Conservation

A great deal of help is required from local communities and volunteers to enable the continued existence of Costa Rican turtle species. One way in which volunteers can help to address these declining numbers is assisting during the turtle-nesting season.


	Costa Rica Sloth Rescue Programme

You’ll be heavily involved in the day-to-day activities at the sloth sanctuary. In some cases this can include helping to rehabilitate the animals so they can be returned to their natural habitat in the wild.


	Costa Rica Spanish and Salsa

Spend your mornings learning the Spanish language and your afternoons kicking your heels up with tuition in the art of Latin dance! You will learn the Cumbia, the Salsa, Bolero, Merengue, the Chachacha and reggae alongside Costa Rica’s best in an internationally recognised dance school.


	Costa Rica Spanish Language School

Spanish is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, so why not learn it in a friendly and warm atmosphere of our school in the beautiful Costa Rica. A language course truly enhances your trip, as a grasp of the local language will have you chatting with the locals, finding about the real Costa Rica and makes travelling around a whole lot easier.


	Costa Rica Water Sports Adventure

The adrenaline rush is something you can’t buy and the scenery is something you can’t picture. Kite surfing, white water rafting, surfing and more make up an adventurous programme that lets you do something unusual in of one of the most beautiful countries in Latin America.


	Costa Rica Wildlife Rehab

You will be working closely with animals in need of care and rehabilitation after they have been rescued from awful situations, with the aim of preparing them to be released back into the wild.


	Ecuador Marine Conservation and Investigation

As a volunteer, you will play a key role in conserving and researching many aspects of this delicate ecosystem, assessing the state of the most endangered species and helping to manage their population. This project has a great emphasis on diving, and volunteers will be underwater for a large proportion of their time on the project, conducting conservation techniques and underwater research.


	Essence of Indochina

Explore some of South East Asia’s true highlights during this fantastic 18-day tour of Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia.


	Food Lovers Japan