Looking to have a mix of volunteering and adventure on your career break? Whether you want to join a volunteer project for two weeks or two months we have plenty of volunteering projects for you to choose from. Make a difference on your career break, choose from our page of leading gap year specialist and responsible operators.
These full and frank independent Volunteering vacations reviews are from travelers who have booked directly through responsibletravel.com. They are not edited by us or any of the companies we work with. Find the real story, from real travelers below.
Being up close and hands on with the elephants was amazing. You dont realise how gentle and inquisitive they really are. Don’t be scared of them, embrace it, you’re never going to get a chance to be this close again...Absolutely amazing. Would definitely go and say hello if I’m visiting Thailand again. 
(more)10/10 thanks...i was impressed at the companies commitment to minimising the impact on the environment and to maximise the impact locally (more)I went to the Wildlife Rescue Centre in Thailand, this was a fantastic project helping animals who had been mostly kept as pets. It’s hard to say what was the most memorable part of this vacation as there was so much variety and different experiences, it’s difficult to decide what was the best part of it.
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The best moments were the tree frogs, manu poison frog and the rainbow boa! I really enjoyed the construction of the bird hides and biogarden even though sometimes it was really hard work! Pancakes for breakfast were great!
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Romania is a beautiful spectacular country, so from the moment I was traveling from Bucharest to Brasov I knew that I had come to a really excellent destination. I was very impressed by the people who run the sanctuary on a daily basis particularly Laci & Emi and Mateusz our driver! (more)
An amazing experience. Value for money as well as contributing than the usual tourist to this wonderful archipelago. Who knows how much longer we'll be able to visit (they have to do something to control numbers of tourists soon to help preserve the islands). Go while you still can!
(more)Meeting the bears and being able to really make a difference to their day-to-day lives with enrichment, feeding and cleaning; some of the things we were doing (such as enrichment to keep the bears active and happy) wouldn't get done unless we were there to help out! (more)Meeting the people of Laos, especially the Monks and Novices, and seeing the Laotian countryside. It was the most formative experience I have ever had. I would urge any and all people to apply (more)
Excellent vacation, highly recommended. I will definitely be traveling with responsibletravel and I have already told everyone I know about your website. Keep up the good work.
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I don't know where to begin to say what was the most memorable part... it was all so amazing! (more)It was an experience like no other. At the time, I found it very difficult, but on reflection it has been the most amazing and thought provoking trip I have ever been on.
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I enjoyed my experiences with everyone and learned more about what it is to be mindful of others. (more)
Be prepared for it to cost more than you expect. Be prepared for the heat and exhaustion, and have fun! (more)
Overall this vacation was brilliant I had no idea what to expect before I went but I had so much fun, met lots of lovely people, learnt about a new culture and felt I was able to give something back to the community. (more)
I feel I helped both the children on my project enjoy themselves, and also give the carers a break, having a knock-on effect on the children. Overall it was an amazing experience. I think everyone should do this at least once as it's a real eye-opener. (more)The most memorable part was the opportunity to act as foster mother to a baby baboon for a few days. (more)The most memorable part was the fantastic welcome from the local people - they were so appreciative and really pleased to see us. (more)
Getting close to wild animals and being "groomed" by monkeys was the most exciting part...Good. (more)We invite every traveler who books a vacation via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the vacations they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same vacation can have different views!
