Transformative Volunteering & Community Service Tours &...

Transformative Volunteering & Community Service Tours & Trips

631 Transformative trips. Tours from 209 tour companies. 1,503 reviews. 4.8/5 avg rating.

26 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
My selections:
Volunteering & Community Service
South Africa – Wildlife Conservation Experience
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5/5 Excellent
87 reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Full schedule

Visits

Johannesburg, Kruger National Park

Highlights

  • Going behind the scenes of the conservation efforts to protect endangered species
  • Visiting an elephant sanctuary to learn about South Africa's gentle giants
  • Tracking the “Big 5” throughout Kruger National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
  • Learning firsthand about wildlife conservation from experts at the country’s largest reserve
  • Reading and playing with disadvantaged children who want to learn English
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Themes

50 plus, Birding, Cultural, Eco, Sustainable & Green Travel, Education / Learning, Family Friendly, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Safari, Transformative, Volunteering & Community Service

What travelers are saying

"I recently returned from the Costa Rican wildlife safari. I was a bit concerned with Covid however every place was extremely clean and had places for you to wash your hands before you even walked in. This was a trip I was actually supposed to go on in 2020 however it was postponed, waiting so long the expectations were high. I was definitely not disappointed! Patricia our guide was absolutely wonderful, extremely knowledgeable and cater to our every need. I would highly recommend this vacation. Also everyone that I met in the community was extremely gracious and kind. The majority of these people work on tourism and unfortunately in the last year have not had any. Booking this trip would not only be an amazing adventure for you but it would also be amazing for the people in the community"

Trip dates & details
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Peru Children of the Andes
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5/5 Excellent
87 reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Andes Mountains, Cusco, Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley

Highlights

  • Discover remnants of a well-preserved historic civilization
  • Experience a thriving modern culture and Relish in the beauty of local hand-woven textiles
  • Breath-taking mountain peaks, and artifacts from one the most powerful empires in human history.
  • Meet local artisans, musicians, and grassroots leaders who’ll share their contributions to Andean society
  • Enjoy the magical ancient city of Machu Picchu, as well as other archaeological sites in the Sacred Valley

Themes

50 plus, Cultural, Education / Learning, Local Immersion & Homestays, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Transformative, Volunteering & Community Service

What travelers are saying

"I recently returned from the Costa Rican wildlife safari. I was a bit concerned with Covid however every place was extremely clean and had places for you to wash your hands before you even walked in. This was a trip I was actually supposed to go on in 2020 however it was postponed, waiting so long the expectations were high. I was definitely not disappointed! Patricia our guide was absolutely wonderful, extremely knowledgeable and cater to our every need. I would highly recommend this vacation. Also everyone that I met in the community was extremely gracious and kind. The majority of these people work on tourism and unfortunately in the last year have not had any. Booking this trip would not only be an amazing adventure for you but it would also be amazing for the people in the community"

Trip dates & details
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Tanzania: Safari & Service
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5/5 Excellent
87 reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Full schedule

Visits

Arusha, Lake Manyara National Park, Mt. Kilimanjaro, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire National Park

Highlights

  • Volunteering with local children at a village primary school
  • Meeting local families and learning about Tanzanian society firsthand
  • Seeing zebras, elephants, lions, rhinos and more on an African safari
  • Hiking to a waterfall on the side of Mount Kilimanjaro
  • Seeing firsthand the nomadic lifestyle of the Masai
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Themes

50 plus, Cultural, Eco, Sustainable & Green Travel, Education / Learning, Family Friendly, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Safari, Transformative, Volunteering & Community Service

What travelers are saying

"I recently returned from the Costa Rican wildlife safari. I was a bit concerned with Covid however every place was extremely clean and had places for you to wash your hands before you even walked in. This was a trip I was actually supposed to go on in 2020 however it was postponed, waiting so long the expectations were high. I was definitely not disappointed! Patricia our guide was absolutely wonderful, extremely knowledgeable and cater to our every need. I would highly recommend this vacation. Also everyone that I met in the community was extremely gracious and kind. The majority of these people work on tourism and unfortunately in the last year have not had any. Booking this trip would not only be an amazing adventure for you but it would also be amazing for the people in the community"

Trip dates & details
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Belize: Research & Conservation Experience
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4.9/5 Excellent
87 reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Toledo

Highlights

  • Volunteering directly with manatees to monitor conservation efforts
  • Taking a boat to a remote island off the coast of Belize
  • Exploring pristine beaches and rainforests scouting for wildlife
  • Uncovering waterfalls tucked deep in the jungle & exploring mystical caves
  • Snorkeling over colorful reefs in the crystal blue Caribbean waters
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Themes

50 plus, Eco, Sustainable & Green Travel, Education / Learning, Family Friendly, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Transformative, Volunteering & Community Service

What travelers are saying

"I recently returned from the Costa Rican wildlife safari. I was a bit concerned with Covid however every place was extremely clean and had places for you to wash your hands before you even walked in. This was a trip I was actually supposed to go on in 2020 however it was postponed, waiting so long the expectations were high. I was definitely not disappointed! Patricia our guide was absolutely wonderful, extremely knowledgeable and cater to our every need. I would highly recommend this vacation. Also everyone that I met in the community was extremely gracious and kind. The majority of these people work on tourism and unfortunately in the last year have not had any. Booking this trip would not only be an amazing adventure for you but it would also be amazing for the people in the community"

Trip dates & details
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Australia Beachside Wildlife Adventure
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4.9/5 Excellent
87 reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

  • Explore Sydney’s iconic harbor including the Harbor Bridge and the Sydney Opera House
  • Take a ferry across the bay to Sydney’s Northern Beaches
  • Soak in the sun along Australia’s most famous beach – Bondi Beach
  • Enjoy free time to explore Sydney’s cosmopolitan city center

Themes

Eco, Sustainable & Green Travel, Education / Learning, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Transformative, Volunteering & Community Service

What travelers are saying

"I recently returned from the Costa Rican wildlife safari. I was a bit concerned with Covid however every place was extremely clean and had places for you to wash your hands before you even walked in. This was a trip I was actually supposed to go on in 2020 however it was postponed, waiting so long the expectations were high. I was definitely not disappointed! Patricia our guide was absolutely wonderful, extremely knowledgeable and cater to our every need. I would highly recommend this vacation. Also everyone that I met in the community was extremely gracious and kind. The majority of these people work on tourism and unfortunately in the last year have not had any. Booking this trip would not only be an amazing adventure for you but it would also be amazing for the people in the community"

Trip dates & details
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Costa Rica
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5/5 Excellent
8 reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Manuel Antonio National Park, San José

Highlights

  • Curated itinerary to give you access to exclusive experiences
  • Visit one of the most remote corners of Costa Rica
  • Enjoy whale watching on a catamaran

Themes

Cultural, Eco, Sustainable & Green Travel, High Adventure, Local Immersion & Homestays, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Singles Travel, Transformative, Volunteering & Community Service, Scuba Diving

What travelers are saying

"We went to a custom trip to Nepal with the Vacation Project in April and it was the best time of my life. Getting to know new people, traditions and culture was truly amazing. Our guide Rakesh was well prepared and made us feel like we were long time friends, which made the time in Nepal really special. Working with the children in Changu was amazing and all i can hope for is that i made an impact on their lifes, just like they made on mine. I can totally recommend a trip with TVP!"

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Wildlife Research in South Africa Expedition
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4.5/5 Excellent
21 reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Basic - 2 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Kruger National Park, Limpopo

Highlights

  • Experiencing a unique African bush adventure at the heart of a spectacular game reserve
  • Be woken by a dawn chorus and sent to sleep by the roar of lions
  • Mastering radio telemetry techniques and learning to track animals through the bush
  • Getting acquainted with big game and all the main predators, including lion, cheetah, leopard, elephant and rhino
  • Exploring nearby regions to experience such breathtaking views as from the Blyde River Canyon in the Drakensberg Mountains
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Themes

Education / Learning, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Transformative, Volunteering & Community Service

What travelers are saying

"I can honestly say that joining the GVI Turtle and Lemon Shark Conservation Project was the best thing I have ever done. It is an experience I will value for the rest of my life. Right from the very beginning with the field manual I knew this trip was going to be amazing but nothing can prepare you for how stunning it is. I remember one day, I was chilling in the hammock before dinner when I saw a juvenile Lemon Shark and a ray. I called everyone and we watched the shark almost beach itself on a few occasions. However the best experience for me was when I was lucky enough to see not 1 or 2 but 3 Hawksbill Turtles lay their eggs all in one day. It was magical. The staff were so knowledgeable and were always happy to help. I have learnt to cook food for 25 people with very limited cooking equipment and ingredients, loved every Friday BBQ night and made friends for life."

Trip dates & details
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Teach, Read, Learn – Volunteering in South Africa
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5/5 Excellent
6 reviews
Self-Guided / Independent Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

  • To learn, first hand, about local communitychallenges and about the work of Masicorp
  • To form a connection with Masicorp in orderto raise awareness of this organization and thecommunity they serve
  • Have fun! Many travelers say volunteering isthe highlight of their trip - we hope it is for youtoo!

Themes

Education / Learning, Transformative, Volunteering & Community Service

What travelers are saying

"The children were amazing and it was easy to get there and get involved. I would highly recommend checking them out if you have some time during your travels in Cape Town."

Trip dates & details
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26 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
My selections:
Volunteering & Community Service
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Transformative Reviews & Ratings

4.8/5  Excellent
1,503  Reviews
See all Transformative tour reviews
Excellent
1,188
Great
316
Average
1
Disappointing
2
Terrible
10
T

Tour-the COVID tour

May 2020

Written on

How to not go tour Morocco

I booked with G Adventures over a year prior to the tour. The primary reason was the 100% guaranteed departures and 24 hour communication. 1 week before I was to lea...

S

Selfish and Lacking Integrity

Apr 2020

Written on

Its my money not yours. No service means no pay!

I am so fully disheartened and disgusted by the handling of G Adventures with this crisis. We paid over 7,000 for our honeymoon tour in Morocco. It was fully paid fo...

E

Emma

Oct 2015

Written on

Extremely well organised, great mixture between organised

Extremely well organised, great mixture between organised and free time. Great travelling by train

J

John

Oct 2015

Written on

The format of the trip enabled two

The format of the trip enabled two significant factors to coincide to make the entire experience overwhelmingly positive. 1. Our trip guide - Yuri Awanohara, made th...

F

Fenella

Oct 2015

Written on

Great introduction to the country. Variety of

Great introduction to the country. Variety of activities and all well planned by guide Yuri

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Transformative Tour Selection Trips

  • Transformative travel may sound like a lofty term, but it really is one of the best ways to describe certain tours. Keep an open mind!
  • These kinds of tours are often challenging emotionally. You may find yourself in the midst of poverty, or learn about some devastating effects on local wildlife due to human activity.
  • Discovering and learning about different cultural perspectives is a key component of transformative travel. Ask a lot of questions and listen closely - you may be surprised as your perspective begins to shift.
  • Being out in nature is another key component on transformative tours. Reconnect with your soul on a fundamental level through outdoor meditation and invigorating activity.
  • The world today is very individual focused. Particularly younger people are used to maintaining their own world from their palm - across social media platforms and other apps. Transformative travel will present you with the unique opportunity to challenge this way of life and participate in a community atmosphere off the internet - both with your tour companions and with the people you meet.

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