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Yosemite Rocks

Yosemite National Park. Edward Stojakovic. CC BY 2.0.

Roadtrip California and Experience Yosemite National Park

July 16, 2024

Yosemite National Park set the model for all national parks in the United States. Known for its giant Sequoia trees, Yosemite covers an area of more than 750,000 acres and almost 95% of the park is restricted as wilderness and home to a large variety of plants and animals. In addition, the park is home to one of the tallest waterfalls in North America: Yosemite Falls, reaching 2,425 feet. One of the most popular hikes in Yosemite is the Half Dome Hike, which is a 12-hour, 14-mile round trip hike with huge elevation gain, cables, and exposed terrain. At Santa Monica, everyone can cruise the shoreline and shop at the local farmers market (for some last-minute necessities). Highway 1 has a lot to offer for everyone, including the sights of Santa Margarita, Carmel, Monterey and Santa Cruz. After a visit in San Francisco, everyone will go to the main event. Upon visiting Yosemite, travelers can purchase produce in the central valley. Once in the park, everyone can hike to Tuolumne Grove, home of the iconic Sequoias. Everyone will be in the park for about three days. This gives the group a chance to see sights like El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall, the Half Dome,  Nevada Falls and more! Departing Yosemite, everyone will go back to Socal to relax at Hermosa Beach. The trip ends upon arrival in Los Angeles.

This is a G Adventures 18-to-Thirtysomethings trip catering to 18–39-year-old travelers. 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. Starting at $2106 per person, this experience lasts over the course of 9 days. Transportation between destinations, some meals and accommodation will be included.

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Tags Focus: Ages 18-35, Cost: $1000 - $2500, Focus: Adventure, Focus: All Travel, Focus: Wildlife, Duration: 0 - 2 weeks, Continent: North America, Country: USA

Amazon volunteer program. Courtesy of Maximo Nivel.

Volunteer to help in the Peruvian Amazon

July 16, 2024

Peru is one of the most bio-diverse countries in the world and has a stunning variety of landscapes, from mountains to beaches and rainforests. The country is home to the source of the Amazon River and the historical Incan settlement of Machu Picchu. In fact, the Peruvian Amazon is the second-largest stretch of the Amazon and includes thousands of different animal species. The forest’s tropical climate also has lots of the country’s natural resources. However, construction and commercial mining have led to the deforestation of the Peruvian Amazon, which threatens the unique and endangered species that live there. Volunteers will work to plant trees, monitor animals and remove non-native species to combat deforestation. Additionally, volunteers will get to learn about the tree species of the Peruvian Amazon and its inhabitants. 

This Maximo Nivel volunteer program has the goal of helping communities while giving volunteers a one-in-a-lifetime experience. All Maximo Nivel volunteer programs are supported by professional program managers, multilingual teams, and 24/7 in-country support. This project ranges from one-to-four weeks and  costs $685 for one week and $1295 for four weeks. Airport transfers, breakfast and dinners, four-to-six hours per day (Sunday to Thursday), letter of recommendation, emergency contact number and accommodation are included.

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Tags Continent: South America, Country: Peru, Duration: 0 - 2 weeks, Duration: 2 - 4 weeks, Cost: $1 - $500, Cost: $500 - $1000, Focus: All Volunteer, Focus: Wildlife, Focus: Community Development

Volunteer to Help With Costa Rica’s Dental Care

July 2, 2024

International volunteers can become a tremendous benefit to local dental professionals that work with limited resources, funding and support staff. Participants can assist dentists and dental hygienists during consultations, cleanings and treatments.

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Tags Continent: North America, Country: Costa Rica, Duration: 0 - 2 weeks, Duration: 2 - 4 weeks, Cost: $1 - $500, Cost: $500 - $1000, Focus: All Volunteer, Focus: Global Health
Northern Lights in Alaska

Adventure in Alaska

July 2, 2024

Alaska, the last frontier, is renowned for its stunning natural beauty, including vast glaciers, towering mountains, diverse wildlife, and breathtaking landscapes. It's a top destination for outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing, and wildlife viewing. The 49th state is also home to rich Indigenous cultures, like the Aleut, rich history, and prime spots to witness and experience Northern Lights. Travelers will arrive in Anchorage and get acquainted with each other and their leaders. The journey begins with a drive through the iconic Seward Highway on the Kenai Peninsula. In Kenai Fjords National Park, travelers will hike the Harding Icefield Trail and enjoy a scenic boat cruise through the fjords to see glaciers and marine life. In Talkeetna, participants will learn about local flora, take a scenic flight over the area, and visit the Iditarod Sled Dog Museum. Denali National Park offers stunning sights, including moose, bears, and caribou.  Before departing from Anchorage on the final day, travelers can join the group for a farewell dinner.

This is an eight day trip and costs $1,934. 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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Tags Cost: $1000 - $2500, Country: USA, Continent: North America, Focus: Hiking + Outdoors, Focus: Adventure, Focus: Wildlife, Duration: 0 - 2 weeks
Couple Walking Beach in Costa Rica

Discover Costa Rica Through Conservation

July 2, 2024

Costa Rica, the “Land of Pura Vida,” is celebrated for its laid-back lifestyle, focus on happiness, and deep appreciation for nature and simple living. Renowned for its stunning natural beauty, ecotourism, biodiversity, adventure activities, peacefulness, and stability, this small country boasts around 5% of the world’s biodiversity, with 25% of its land dedicated to national parks, wildlife refuges, and biological reserves. Travelers will start their 14 day journey in the capital, San Jose, where they will get to know each other and their leaders. In Tortuguero National Park, the group will enjoy a guided boat trip through tropical waterways and visit the Sea Turtle Conservancy, the world’s oldest nonprofit organization dedicated to sea turtle protection. In La Fortuna, they will learn about coffee production. Next, in Monteverde, a nature lover’s paradise, travelers can go ziplining, visit the Monteverde Institute, and explore butterfly gardens and local forest trails. At Manuel Antonio National Park, they will witness abundant wildlife, including monkeys, armadillos, sloths, iguanas, and countless bird species. The journey concludes with a return to San Jose for a farewell dinner, with departures scheduled for the following day.

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. Starting at $2324 per person, this experience lasts over the course of 14 days. Transportation between destinations, some meals, and accommodation will be included.

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Tags Country: Costa Rica, Continent: South America, Duration: 0 - 2 weeks, Cost: $1000 - $2500, Focus: Wildlife, Focus: All Travel

Buildings and marina in Split, Croatia. Peter Safranka. CC0.

Volunteer to Create Impact in Croatia

June 28, 2024

Split is a city on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea in Croatia and is known for being a gorgeous coastal town with numerous historical sites. Lots of people visit the city to see the ruins of the Palace of Diocletian, along with other historical residences and churches, with the city’s old architecture beautifully set against the coast. On this trip, volunteers will work with the Content Creator for Impact project to run campaigns and create awareness about important social issues. They will also help local NGOs work to take action on a number of issues, such as women’s rights, marine conservation, and environmental issues. Additionally, volunteers will work with design software to conduct tasks such as creating infographics, designing brochures, editing videos, and building animations. This is a minimum 2-week and maximum 12-week trip offered by International Volunteer HQ. All IVHQ volunteer programs include airport pickup and accommodation, program orientation, and 24-hour IVHQ staff support. This project costs $1100 for two weeks and $5,200 for 12 weeks.

IVHQ is a volunteer travel company with 338 projects in 50 countries, rated #1 Volunteer Travel Company by Go Overseas for 7 years in a row. It is a cost-effective option with some programs as low as $20 per day with accommodation and meals included. They are a Certified B Corporation, 100% carbon neutral, and every project aligns with a UN Sustainable Development Goal.

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Tags Continent: Europe, Country: Croatia, Cost: $500 - $1000, Focus: Journalism + Media, Duration: 1 - 6 months, Duration: 2 - 4 weeks

Amalfi Coast, Italy. Courtesy of G Adventures LTD.

Explore Italy’s Amalfi Coast

June 24, 2024

In Southwest Italy, overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, sits one of the most acclaimed Mediterranean regions. The Amalfi Coast is home to a collection of quaint seaside towns and stunning landscapes of coastal cliffs, sprawling vineyards, and lemon groves. The romantic coastline stands in sharp contrast to the bustling city of Naples just an hour north, where this trip begins and ends. Travelers will stay in a converted 17th century monastery in the historic town of Furore, which they will have ample time to explore between exciting ventures to the best the region has to offer. Day trips include visits to surrounding towns, such as the coast’s namesake, hikes up mountains overlooking the sea, a ferry ride along the coast, and even a guided tour of the ruins of Pompeii. Upon return home to Furore, travelers will enjoy daily home cooked Italian dinners, often accompanied by cooking demonstrations.

This is an eight day trip and costs $1,364. 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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Tags Country: Italy, Continent: Europe, Focus: Art + Culture, Focus: Adventure, Duration: 0 - 2 weeks, Cost: $1000 - $2500
Vineyard in Sorrento Italy Over Ocean

Sorrento, Italy. Courtesy of G Adventures LTD.

Discover A Coastal Town in Italy

June 24, 2024

Sorrento is one of Southern Italy’s most acclaimed destinations, overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea on the Western point of the gorgeous Amalfi Coast region, a landscape of stunning cliffs occupied by romantic sea-side towns. Sorrento predates the Roman Empire, with ruins dating back to around 600 BC. Today, it is hailed for its numerous small ceramics and lacework shops, and is the home of Limoncello liqueur production, which travelers will have the chance to experience. Travelers will stay on an organic lemon farm, hosted by the local family that runs it, and get an authentic glimpse of what life on an Italian agriturismo is like. While there will be ample opportunity to explore Sorrento itself, travelers will also take numerous day-trips around the region, including hiking the “Path of the Gods,” taking a scenic boat ride along the coast, visiting the luxurious island of Capri, arriving and departing from the city of Naples, and even taking a guided tour of the ruins of Pompeii. Travelers will return each evening to the agriturismo and enjoy delicious food and drink under a Mediterranean sunset.

This is a seven day trip and costs $1,349. 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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Tags Country: Italy, Continent: Europe, Focus: Adventure, Focus: Art + Culture, Duration: 0 - 2 weeks, Focus: Agriculture + Farms, Cost: $1000 - $2500

Explore the Culture and History of Iraqi Kurdistan

June 20, 2024

This area is known for its rugged mountains, rich cultural heritage, and unique Kurdish identity. The region offers opportunities for outdoor adventures such as hiking, trekking, and exploring ancient archaeological sites.

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Tags Continent: Asia, Country: Iraq, Duration: 0 - 2 weeks, Cost: $1000 - $2500, Focus: Art + Culture, Focus: Adventure

Vang Vieng, Laos. Courtesy of G Adventures LTD.

Journey from Laos to Thailand

June 13, 2024

Travelers will then visit the city of Luang Prabang, where monks walk through the streets every morning! This city is known for its Buddhist temples and travelers will have the chance to explore such monuments and even visit the Royal Ballet Theatre. Travelers will then stop by Chaing Kong on the bank of the Mekong River before crossing into Thailand and arriving in Chiang Mai. Thailand is located just south of Laos and is a historically Buddhist country.

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Tags Continent: Asia, Country: Laos, Country: Thailand, Duration: 0 - 2 weeks, Focus: All Travel, Cost: $1 - $500

Sri Lanka. Courtesy of G Adventures LTD.

Visit Sri Lanka’s Spice Gardens and Seasides

June 13, 2024

Travelers will begin the trip in the city of Negombo, a historic fishing city with sandy beaches. Then, travelers will visit Sigiriya, a historical palace ruins on top of a two-hundred-meter-high rock surrounded by a network of gardens.

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Tags Country: India, Country: Sri Lanka, Duration: 0 - 2 weeks, Cost: $500 - $1000, Focus: All Travel, Focus: Ages 18-35

Community Development Volunteer Program in Quito, Ecuador

May 6, 2024

Volunteers can make a difference in the local community by helping feed disadvantaged children and adults, supporting initiatives at a local shelter, helping with maintenance and renovations at schools, and assisting in community gardens.

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Tags Continent: South America, Country: Ecuador, Focus: All Volunteer, Focus: Community Development, Cost: $1 - $500

Volunteer in a Costa Rican Animal Shelter

April 9, 2024

On this trip, volunteers will work to help abandoned animals and wildlife. Volunteers have the opportunity to work in dog and cat shelters to support educational programming about the treatment of animals, veterinary care, obedience training and much more.

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Tags Cost: $500 - $1000, Cost: $1 - $500, Duration: 2 - 4 weeks, Duration: 2-4 weeks, Focus: All Volunteer, Country: Costa Rica, Continent: South America, Focus: Wildlife

Joshua Tree National Park. Konstantinos Dafalias. CC BY 2.0

Experience the Joshua Tree and Southwest National Parks of USA

April 9, 2024

Here, travelers will get to enjoy an included pizza dinner while looking out onto the Grand Canyon and will have the opportunity to go on a helicopter tour or enjoy the scenic views of the Colorado River—which flows throughout the canyon—on a hike.

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Tags Continent: North America, Duration: 0 - 2 weeks, Cost: $1000 - $2500, Focus: All Travel, Focus: Adventure, Focus: Hiking + Outdoors, Focus: Ages 18-35, Country: USA
Cambodia Hammocks and Tables on Beach

Temple LeoTamburri. Courtesy of G Adventures LTD

Explore Cambodia’s Ancient Ruins and Beaches

April 9, 2024

Cambodia, with its tropical climate and beautiful beaches, is known for its rich culture and ancient temples. Travelers will begin this trip in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, and enjoy a night out before driving to Siem Reap, Cambodia the next day. Siem Reap has numerous examples of Cambodian tradition as it is home to various temples, including Angkor Wat, a monumental Buddhist temple and the largest religious monument in the world. While in Siem Reap, travelers will also have the opportunity to attend the Phare Circus, a cultural performance with theater, music and dance, and go on a tour of Tonle Sap (Southeast Asia’s largest lake). Travelers will also get to visit Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. The city is known for its historical architecture and cuisine. Travelers will experience the largest city in Cambodia with a street food crawl and will also have the chance to visit the Silver Pagoda, another famous Buddhist temple. One of the last stops in Cambodia allows travelers to enjoy the country’s warm weather with a visit to a private beach in Koh Rong, the biggest island in the Gulf of Thailand. Here, travelers get a break from the hustle and bustle of the cities; with no transportation on the island except for taxi boats, travelers can enjoy Cambodian seafood and Koh Rong’s gorgeous underwater ecosystem. At the last stop in Cambodia, Chambok Village, travelers will get one more glimpse of Cambodian nature by getting to explore the village and see its beautiful waterfalls. This trip ends in Ho Chi Minh City—also known as Saigon—in Vietnam, where travelers will depart after enjoying some time in the country’s economic hub.

This is an eight-day G Adventures trip for people ages 18-Thirtysomething. 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. This trip is ten days long and costs $522 and includes transportation between locations, accommodations, and some meals.

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Tags Continent: Asia, Country: Thailand, Country: Cambodia, Country: Vietnam, Duration: 0 - 2 weeks, Focus: All Travel, Focus: Art + Culture, Focus: Ages 18-35, Cost: $1 - $500
Thailand Koh Samui Building

Koh Samui Beachside Yoga Class. Courtesy of G Adventures LTD.

Discover Thailand’s Village Hill Tribes and Street Food

April 2, 2024

Travelers begin their trip in Bangkok, Thailand’s capital. The city is home to the Grand Palace, famous Buddhist temples, and Khao San Road, a lively street full of international restaurants and music. Travelers will have the chance to partake in various activities such as a Klong Riverboat Tour and a visit to the Royal Barge Museum.

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Tags Continent: Asia, Country: Thailand, Duration: 0 - 2 weeks, Focus: All Travel, Focus: Art + Culture, Cost: $1 - $500

Roman Colosseum, Italy. Courtesy of G Adventures LTD

Explore the Mountains and Culture of Europe

April 2, 2024

Travelers begin their trip in Paris and will get to spend their first night exploring the City of Love. During their time in Paris, travelers will have their lunch provided during an Eiffel Tower Picnic and will have the chance to visit museums and discover the city for themselves. Travelers will then travel by train to Interlaken, Switzerland

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Tags Continent: Europe, Country: France, Country: Italy, Country: Switzerland, Duration: 0 - 2 weeks, Cost: $1000 - $2500, Focus: All Travel, Focus: Art + Culture

Machu Picchu. Matthew Paulson. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

Climb the Inca Trail and Experience Machu Picchu

March 19, 2024

The travel group meets and enjoys a group night out on the town. Together, they visit local bars and restaurants before taking a bus the next day to Nazca. They can experience a traditional Pachamanca dinner before catching another overnight bus to Arequipa, the “White City.”

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Tags Continent: South America, Country: Peru, Focus: Adventure, Focus: Hiking + Outdoors, Focus: All Travel, Cost: $500 - $1000, Duration: 2 - 4 weeks

Volunteer project, Nairobi. Courtesy of IVHQ.

Volunteer to Help Educate Women in Kenya

March 18, 2024

While in Nairobi, volunteers will work in women’s centers to promote women's education and empowerment through income-generating projects. Volunteers will also help women in under-resourced communities and centers affected by HIV/AIDS.

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Tags Continent: Africa, Country: Kenya, Duration: 1 - 6 months, Focus: All Volunteer, Focus: Women's + Girl's Issues, Cost: $1 - $500, Duration: 0 - 2 weeks, Duration: 2 - 4 weeks

Machu Picchu. Pedro Szekely. CC BY-SA 2.0.

Explore Peru’s Cities and Andes

March 17, 2024

Travelers will start their journey in Lima, where they can get to know each other. Feel free to travel to the bars and restaurants in the capital's happening Barranco neighborhood. Further south in Nazca, there will be free time to explore this historical city. Everyone can see the titular Nazca lines, tour the Nazca Desert Cemetery, and later enjoy a “Pachamanca dinner.”

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Tags Continent: South America, Country: Peru, Focus: Adventure, Focus: Art + Culture, Focus: All Travel, Cost: $500 - $1000, Duration: 0 - 2 weeks
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