Volunteer Vacations

When you hear the word “vacation” some of the first images that come to mind is time spent away from work or school.  To some of us, vacation conjures up thoughts of lounging on warm, sandy beaches somewhere on a tropical island.  Others think of swooshing down a ski slope or exploring some of the world’s most famous ruins, museums, historical sights and so forth. However, today people of all ages are looking to combine time away from work or school by mixing pleasure with purpose. For this group of people, “volunteer vacations” are exactly what they are looking for as a getaway.

According to the Travel Industry Association (TIA), more than one quarter of Americans are interested in spending their vacations volunteering – and this number continues to grow.   Click here to read The Washington Times article “Volidays”.

As the world gets smaller with each advance in telecommunications and our global awareness grows, tourism in its traditional sense starts to feel empty of meaning. Volunteering is one way to travel responsibly—but it is not a vacation! Immersing oneself in a culture by living with a host family and working at local community centers can be both amazing and challenging at the same time. We actively seek individuals who are dedicated to volunteering and furthering UP’s mission of fostering cross-cultural understanding for our Quest volunteer abroad program. If this is the kind of meaningful experience you are searching for, then we encourage you to contact us for more information.

Overview

United Planet offers people of all ages and nationalities, both skilled and unskilled, the unique opportunity to volunteer abroad, and at the same time, enjoy the beauty, environment, people and history of the country where they choose to volunteer.  Through our Quest volunteer abroad program, individuals can choose to take part in: Short-Term Quests (1-12 weeks), Long-Term Quests (6 months to 1 year) or in customized Group Quests.  With the help of local partners, UP’s Quest program provides volunteers with life-changing experiences via cultural immersion while supporting communities in more than 40 countries. United Planet volunteers can expect to work between 30 and 40 hours per week at their project placement. As part of your program fee, you will also take part in cultural activities and go on excursions to sites of historical and archaeological importance, such as Petra or Machu Picchu.

Program Costs

The costs for United Planet’s volunteer abroad programs are dependent upon the location of the project and duration of your stay. The estimated cost per volunteer for a one week program starts at $1,445.

This fee includes the following:

If you are interested in finding out more about United Planet’s volunteer abroad programs, please contact us at Request Info, 1-800-292-2316, or 1-617-267-7763 to learn how you can take part in an extraordinary experience.  The United Planet team will work closely with you both before your departure and during your stay to provide a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience. 

Learn more about United Planet's Volunteer Abroad Programs in over 40 Countries from 1-52 weeks