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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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. 

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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.  

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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, the “White Frontier,” is known for its vast ice sheets and frozen landscapes. Despite being covered in ice, the nation is considered the world’s largest desert because of its incredibly low precipitation levels. The continent is home to many species of cold-resilient fauna, including several species of penguins, like the Emperor penguin, Adèle Penguin, and Gentoo penguin. The ice is a hub for scientific research due to its unique environment, offering insights into climate change, glaciology, astronomy, and more. Travelers will start their journey in Ushuaia, one of the southernmost cities in the world. On the way to Antarctica, travelers can observe the landscape from the shore to see icebergs, whales, albatross, and more. The group will have several days to take in our planet’s southernmost ecosystem before returning to Ushaia. In Antarctica, the group will get the chance to visit penguin rookeries, get a glimpse of a variety of seal species, and keep an eye out for whales.

This is a 13 day trip and costs $7,699. This trip is led by the sustainable travel company G Adventures. All G Adventures trips are led by a local guide, a CEO, Chief Experience Officer, and trip revenue is driven to help the local community.

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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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Sail in Sri Lanka and the Maldives

Explore the wonders off of the southern shore of India, beginning in the scenic Sri Lankan city of Negombo and ending on the sandbars of Malé in the Maldives. The two Indian ocean countries are just over 600 miles apart, and Sri Lanka has significantly impacted  the Maldives’ culture. Travelers can move between the islands in a traditional dhoni boat, a multi-purpose sailing ship used in Sri Lankan and Maldivian cultures for decades. These islands provide plenty of opportunities for relaxing on the beach and enjoying scenic views. Still,  they also offer a great deal of unique cultural experiences. Travelers can visit spice plantations in Kandy and visit the AMBA Estate, an organic farm, guest house and social enterprise in the Uva Highlands of Sri Lanka. Adventurous spirits can also embark on a wildlife safari in Udawalawe National Park. Then, snorkel to shipwrecks and coral reefs in the Maldives and enjoy authentic local seafood. All of these adventures and more are included in this 14-day trip which will cost travelers $2,559 per person. 

G Adventures is a sustainable, small group tour company that has been leading travelers for 35+ years. They have been pioneers in community tourism and their trips directly benefit the local communities they visit. They have a responsible travel effort called G For Good and partner with the nonprofit Planeterra, dedicated to ensuring communities touched by tourism benefit from it. They were rated one of CATALYST PLANET’s  8 Best Sustainable Travel Companies.

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Volunteer With Marine Conservation in the Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef, located just off the coast of Queensland, Australia is considered to be one of the most diverse and spectacular marine features in the world. However, the Great Barrier Reef is also under immense threat. Climate change is threatening the future of the reef, and all the species that call it home. Yet, there is still a lot that humans can do to protect this pristine underwater environment. This volunteer opportunity brings travelers to Cairns in the north of Queensland. Once there, volunteers begin their marine conservation project where they will collect data on the reef, gather marine debris and help rehabilitate sea turtles. All these efforts contribute to research on the Great Barrier Reef, as well as help to protect Earth’s great wonders. 

This volunteer opportunity is offered by International Volunteer HQ. Packages are offered at either 1 or 2 weeks of volunteering, with one week costing $1,010 per person. Volunteers must be adept at swimming in the ocean. International Volunteer HQ focuses on providing volunteer travel opportunities around the world by partnering with local community organizations focused on long-term positive impacts.  

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