Our over 50s volunteering vacations

Volunteering vacations aren't just the preserve of gap year students or those looking for something to add to their CV, they’re a brilliant way of immersing yourself in a new culture and landscape and of course, making new friends along the way whatever your age. Our over 50s volunteering vacations are all about seizing the moment – why not try out that activity you've always wanted to or learn that skill you've always said you'd master one day? There’s no time like the present. Best of all, we’ve screened our volunteering trips to make sure that they really do make a difference to nature and communities.

Our top Over 50s volunteering vacations

Over 50s volunteering with elephants, South Africa

From US $1880
8 days ex flights
Over 50s group volunteer with elephants adventure in Africa
Small group2026: 18 Oct, 2027: 7 Mar, 3 Oct

Volunteering with bears in Romania

From US $1500
7 days ex flights
Volunteer at a life changing bear sanctuary in Transylvania

Costa Rica turtle conservation experience

From £895 to £4195
8 days ex flights
Help protect turtles by volunteering in Costa Rica

Lionfish spearing marine conservation in Belize

From US $995
5 days ex flights
Help us protect reef ecosystems by hunting invasive species

Whale conservation vacation in the Azores

From £695 to £4195
7 days ex flights
Help assist in integral whale and dolphin conservation
Small group2027: 1 Mar, 15 Mar, 1 Apr, 15 Apr, 1 May, 15 May, 1 Jun, 15 Jun, 1 Jul, 15 Jul

India yoga and women's empowerment vacation

From US $1024
7 days ex flights
Rejuvenate yourself with yoga & volunteering in Kerala
Small group2026: 17 Aug, 24 Aug, 31 Aug, 7 Sep, 14 Sep, 21 Sep, 28 Sep, 5 Oct, 12 Oct, 19 Oct, 26 Oct, 2 Nov, 9 Nov, 16 Nov, 23 Nov, 30 Nov, 7 Dec, 14 Dec, 21 Dec, 28 Dec, 2027: 4 Jan, 11 Jan, 18 Jan, 25 Jan, 1 Feb, 8 Feb, 15 Feb, 22 Feb, 1 Mar, 8 Mar, 15 Mar, 22 Mar, 29 Mar, 5 Apr, 12 Apr, 19 Apr, 26 Apr, 3 May, 10 May, 17 May, 24 May, 31 May, 7 Jun, 14 Jun, 21 Jun, 28 Jun, 5 Jul, 12 Jul, 19 Jul, 26 Jul, 2 Aug, 9 Aug, 16 Aug, 23 Aug ...

Over 50s volunteering in India

From US $1049
14 days ex flights
Use your 50's to travel & do rewarding volunteering in India
Small groupThis vacation departs every Saturday throughout the year

South India community volunteering vacation

From £1590 to £2353
14 days ex flights
Engage with and support forest-dwelling tribal communities

Laos Wildlife sanctuary volunteering vacation

From £795 to £4095
8 days ex flights
Care for animals rescued from illegal trafficking in Laos
Small group2026: 16 Aug, 23 Aug, 30 Aug, 6 Sep, 13 Sep, 20 Sep, 27 Sep, 4 Oct, 11 Oct, 18 Oct, 25 Oct, 1 Nov, 8 Nov, 15 Nov, 22 Nov, 29 Nov, 6 Dec, 13 Dec, 20 Dec, 27 Dec, 2027: 3 Jan, 10 Jan, 17 Jan, 24 Jan, 31 Jan, 7 Feb, 14 Feb, 21 Feb, 28 Feb, 7 Mar, 14 Mar, 21 Mar, 28 Mar, 4 Apr, 11 Apr, 18 Apr, 25 Apr, 2 May, 9 May, 16 May, 23 May, 30 May, 6 Jun, 13 Jun, 20 Jun, 27 Jun, 4 Jul, 11 Jul, 18 Jul, 25 Jul, 1 Aug, 8 Aug, 15 Aug, 22 Aug ...
Contact Us
Call us for a chat about our vacations. We are happy to discuss your vacation and help in any way we can. No bots, queues or awful hold music.
Responsible Travel, Travel Team

Over 50s volunteering vacation highlights

Why over 50s volunteering?

First of all, anyone can be a volunteer no matter their age. What we call our ‘over 50s’ volunteering trips are open to all travelers. However, many of our older travelers make fantastic volunteers. You have the financial means, the free time and decades of transferrable work skills under your belt that you can draw upon if you so choose. Perhaps you’ve retired and have fewer caring responsibilities than in the past. Perhaps you’ve had a career break or have saved up and want to travel the world. Whether you want a very hands-on wildlife monitoring trip or to mix some sightseeing and relaxation with meaningful skills sharing, we’ve got an inspirational trip for you.

Our most popular trips

Our volunteering trips go all over the world. In India, volunteer with elephants or spend time in South India helping empower women in the community by sharing IT, English language or other useful workplace skills. Alternatively, help displaced tribal groups by training healthcare staff, sharing industry-specific skills and teaching English. In South Africa, help endangered wildlife by heading out into the park reserves to track wild dogs, vultures, cheetahs and rhino and provide data for conservationists. At the more active end of the spectrum, we have diving trips where you’ll hunt underwater for invasive lionfish on Belize’s coral reefs and really hands-on wildlife volunteering trips where you’ll spend significant time preparing breakfast, lunch and dinner for hungry bears, cheetahs, wolves, elephants and monkeys.

Our Over 50s volunteering vacations reviews

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Jennifer Roberts24 Jun 2026
Definitely go! It supported conservation as the bears are living in the forest & fed on waste food from supermarkets. Seeing happy bears after being rescued from ghastly circumstances 10/10. read more
Sue Hyslop04 Jun 2026
Numerous exciting boat trips in pretty rough seas watching an array of whale species and a sea alive with dolphins! Brilliant - saw many more whales than I ever expected. Lovely accommodation.read more
Jonathan Gross22 Mar 2026
Having a huge logger head sea turtle swim up to meet the group, or seeing a silky shark up close. This is a great family trip if you enjoy more rustic adventures. I am planning to return at some point in the future.read more
Janet Brooks02 Feb 2026
I really enjoyed the teaching and loved being in Kochi and meeting and working with the other volunteers. Interacting with the local women in the digital skills and English classes. They were so keen to learn.read more
Written by Eloise Barker
Photo credits: [Page banner: Pacific Southwest Region USFWS] [Why over 50s volunteering?: Oyster Worldwide]