Instead of soaking up in the sun's poolside or relaxing around the gorgeous hotels, more travelers are spending their vacations, creating trails for the Faroe Islands, delving into the Patagonia's earth, and maintaining robust paths in the mountains of Eastern Europe. They trade relaxation for a sense of purpose.
Volunteer tourism is projected to generate $848 million in 2023, up 6% per year from 2024 to 2030, according to market research firm Grand View Research.
“The new generation is much more interested in environmental awareness and issues,” said Jocien Yaksik, chief executive of Las Torres Patagonia, a Chilean hotel that runs a program called 10 volunteers for 10 days. “When they contribute to the environment, they have a sense of satisfaction.”
But as interest in volunteer travel grows, so does the questions surrounding it. Critics point to everything from the savior complex among tourists to whether volunteering should go to skilled workers in their home countries rather than beginners from abroad.
Meagan Neal, executive director of the Transcaucasian Trail Association, who coordinates volunteers, works to rebuild and maintain hiking trails, work to balance programs in the Caucasus Mountains, and pays while specialising work stays locally and keeps teams as global as possible.
“Where we found that sweet spot, we host international volunteers along with local volunteers,” she said.
Where you can join:
Caucasus
Although no prior experience is required, this volunteer program involves more intensive outdoor work than the average hiking trip. Participants will stay in tents at remote base camps, cook on camp stoves, repair trails for up to 10 days, clear out undergrowth and install signs. Up to 85 participants will be selected for this summer's opportunity.
For his first trip to Georgia, Matt Schultz, 27, from Arlington Heights, Illinois, traveled alongside the Trans-Cakacian Trail, before spending time sightseeing. He believes that it is a better way for volunteers to meet people and explore the country, and he now considers himself a Georgia Peace Legion volunteer.
“The main reason was to meet more locals, develop relationships with them and have a unique outdoor experience,” he said.
Application deadlines vary depending on location: June 1st Azerbaijan, June 15th, Armenia is July 1st, and Georgia is July 1st. The first group will begin in Armenia on June 29th, and the final group will begin on September 7th.
Price ranges from $650 to $850. Volunteers will need to cover their own costs, including program fees and airfares.
At the southern tip of South America, where Chile and Argentina meet, Patagonia's glaciers and vast nature reserves beckon. Near the trekking circuit at Torres del Payne National Park, Las Torres Patagonia will enable international volunteers to help restore the park's popular trails.
10-day initiative 10 volunteers will provide participants with a full paying trip to Patagonia. Future volunteers will apply by participating in the contest on social media. This year, two groups were selected to work in the park for two weeks in April. Trail builders trained them by clearing brushes and vegetation, removing rocks from the paths and shaping the terrain.
“The passion, dedication and testimony from participants this year was very moving,” Yakshik said. Compared to 500 people last year, more than 850 people applied to 10 spots this year.
For volunteers like Genloving, 32, a freelance creative content strategist based in Arlington, Virginia, the experience was eye-opening.
“I spent countless hours on hiking trails, but before this experience I never really thought about what it takes to build and maintain them,” said Loving, who volunteered in 2024.
The organization will launch its 2026 application contest in February, with participants coming in April.
Trainer city, Norway
Located in the middle of the country, about 40 miles from Norway's Helgeland coast, Trainer is one of the smallest municipalities in the country, but one of the richest municipalities in history. The archipelago of about 500 islands is home to Norway's oldest fishing villages and Trainer Festivals. Every year there is a musical event where visitors can enjoy concerts and cave raves in the midnight sun.
Viewing the unique island layers around House by the Sea, Traenstaven Peak, the remote accommodation featured volunteer tourism two years ago. Guests will receive free accommodation to support the community's environmental protection project.
In 2023, volunteers improved the hiking trails on Sanna Island through a partnership between the Municipality of Traena, a nonprofit organization founded by Norwegian cruise company Hurtigruten Group, and the Hurtigruten Foundation. In 2024, three coastal cleanup weekends welcomed 24 participants to Traena.
This year, House by the Sea will host coastal cleanups from September 3rd to September 7th, inviting 25 volunteers to spend about 10-15 hours each day cleaning up garbage, restoring boathouses and social activities. Although no prior experience is required, participants should be prepared for physical work on robust terrain.
Accommodation is located near sea cabins and other local guesthouses. Stays are free, but participants must cover some of their trips and food. Once the 30-day application period begins on May 17th, volunteers can apply through the development company's website, Traena 365.
The Faroe Islands were closed for maintenance, the Open Four Volunteerism Program is one of the most well-known volunteer opportunities. Starting in May, the selected tourist destination will be closed for three days, allowing up to 100 foreign volunteers to participate in helping improve hiking trails, restore village trails, and protect beaches and wetlands. In return, volunteers will receive free accommodation and meals.
Volunteers are selected by combining random selection and experience-based criteria. This year's volunteer pool randomly filled 50 and 30 spots based on the relevant skills of applicants. Participants coming from the US must pay for their flight to the archipelago that is perched between Iceland and Norway. Volunteers from other parts of Europe qualify for discount fares on Fallows' flagship Atlantic Airways.
Eme Hegedus, 35, is a volunteer in 2022 and hopes to return to Fallows. Based in El Puerto de Santa Maria, Spain, Hegos helped build paths and stone steps on the mountains.
“It was a bit rough, but I can't complain because it was a great opportunity,” she said. “Three days were full of beautiful scenery. I was on the top of the mountain. It was amazing.”
When the programme began in 2019, it received less than 5,000 applications, according to Jóhan Pauli Helgason, development manager for the Territory Tourism Bureau Faroe Islands. This year, that number has skyrocketed to over 15,000, with over 20,000 registered in the 2026 program notification, and registrations will begin by the end of this year.
Yukon in Canada
At the heart of Canada's Wild North, the robust apprentice program also leaps in the landscape, giving visitors the opportunity to experience the Yukon. The 2022 launch attracted hundreds of applicants seeking volunteer work in Dawson City, Carmax and Lake Watson.
Volunteers will clear routes, install signs, and participate in guided hikes, helicopter tours and local concerts. They are at least 19 years old and can work legally in Canada, lifting comfortable objects and navigating uneven terrain. No special skills are required. It's motivation to work outdoors and a reasonable level of physical fitness.
Registration for this year's trip, set between September 8th and September 12th, will open in late May.
Participants will cover their travel expenses. Accommodation, food and local transportation are provided.
US East Coast
The Appalachian Trail, a 2,190-mile route from Maine to Georgia, runs through an area that houses more than 38 million people, but is also a wildlife transport corridor. Hikers walking between oak, maple and ash trees can encounter deer, bald eagles, foxes and even black bears.
The non-profit Appalachian Trail Conservancy hosts a variety of volunteer opportunities for travelers looking to explore the US East Coast and restore one of the most notable landscapes.
Parts of the trail are in desperate need of recovery after Hurricane Helen struck Carolina in September, unable to pass through parts of the passage due to uprooted trees, washed-down rock steps and destroyed bridges. Volunteers can work anywhere from the south terminal of the trail in Springer Mountain, Georgia, to the road between Virginia and the Connecticut Line.
Volunteer opportunities including repair of hurricane damage for major outdoor activities are multiple experiences including accommodation. Accommodations range from rustic events to high-end campsites, and volunteers should not expect showers, bathrooms or running water.
Applicants can sign up on the websites of nonprofit organizations where projects are frequently uploaded. Trail crew sessions can host between 6 and 12 volunteers.
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