The 10 [Best Cheap] Volunteer Travel Programs Providers 2023

Are you dreaming of volunteering while traveling abroad? Do you wonder how you can find cheap and trustworthy providers? It can be confusing to find a cheap program with a highly rated company.

Are you thinking about giving back to the world and volunteering in some way? Are you wondering what are the best and cheap volunteer travel programs? Are you looking for the highest-rated and safest international volunteer program providers? 

If you are intent on traveling with a purpose and making a difference, finding an international volunteering opportunity is the way to go. In this ever-changing world, there is no shortage of amazing international volunteering programs, whether it’s volunteering abroad in Costa Rica or Nepal, doing a medical internship in Africa, or teaching English abroad in Cambodia Thailand; if you are ready to make a difference, then we are here to help. 

But why does choosing the right volunteer travel program to have to be so difficult and expensive? While volunteering abroad is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to really make a valuable difference, with so many options available, it can be so difficult to choose the right program. The minute you Google volunteer travel program providers, thousands of results pop up, all claiming to be as good as each other. Some, however, aren’t what they claim to be and others are pure scams, overcharging up to several thousand dollars – so how do you know which one to select? Choosing the wrong company to plan your experience could have irreversible effects on your time volunteering. 

That’s why we’re here to help. At TravellersQuest, we don’t want to see choosing the wrong volunteer travel program and potentially threatening your entire experience. We want you to find a safe and reputable volunteer travel program provider that will leave you feeling fulfilled and satisfied, and will have money left in your pocket too. That’s right, we did the hard work for you. We spent thousands of hours researching and found the best and cheapest volunteer programs for you. 

In this article, we’ll present to you an unbiased selection of the 10 best and cheap volunteer travel providers and the programs they offer.

Keep reading to discover the best travel packages with 10 of the most highly-rated international volunteering opportunities.

Plan My Gap Year (PMGY)

About the Organization:

PMGY is an organization founded by experienced volunteers in 2011 aiming to create rewarding and impactful travel abroad volunteer programs. Originally based in the UK, PGMY now also has an office in the US. They place an emphasis on the social aspect of volunteering, putting you in contact with the people you’re going to live and work with well in advance of the project so that you can get to know each other before starting.

PMGY’s Best Volunteer Programs:

PMGY runs volunteer travel abroad programs in a long list of countries, but the ones we think stand out the most are their projects in Ghana, Ecuador, Cambodia, and Nepal.

Teaching English in Nepal

English is not the local language of the Nepalese, though it is a language that is important to their tourism industry, as the country is one of the most popular destinations in the world. As a result, lots of children, people and even monks who escaped from Tibet require someone to teach them English.

As a teaching English volunteer, you will be either teaching English to young people or teaching English to monks in monasteries. You will live in a Buddhist monastery teaching monks English and learning about their way of life; or you Make a positive impact during your time in this gorgeous country.

Teaching English to the people of Nepal enables them to have a much better future through education and opportunities for advancement in the world. This is a very fulfilling and impactful volunteer travel work.

Volunteering with Children in Ghana

Volunteering in Ghana with Plan My Gap encompasses safe and affordable programs a wide range of volunteer projects in childcare and children with disabilities. Their plight is that they have little access to upward social mobility, education, and solid family relationships.

Your role would be to do your bit to help care for Ghanaian children with special needs in a world where disabilities still aren’t widely understood, cared for, or accepted. You Assist local staff by getting involved in essential education and rehabilitation sessions; help young children develop the skills that will help improve their future job prospects. Teach a variety of subjects such as English, Maths, and Art; gain experience and insight into the health care system.

This is a powerful volunteer travel opportunity that will not only give you much knowledge, experience, and feelings of accomplishment, but it will also help brighten the futures of many children and help leave lasting smiles on their faces.

Volunteering with Children in Ecuador

Volunteering travel experience in Ghana with Plan My Gap encompasses safe and affordable programs a wide range of volunteer projects to do with childcare. Their plight is that they have little access to stable families, upward social mobility, education, and solid loving relationships.

As a volunteer in Ecuador, you can be a helping hand to a beautiful child, teaching them how to clean their clothes, speak English or even sing songs; or spend your days with a generation of inspired students teaching the English while learning about the local indigenous culture; or as a medical student, witness a healthcare system unlike your own, and learn a lot, and much more.

This is a powerful volunteer travel opportunity that will not only give you much knowledge, experience and feelings of accomplishment, but it will also help brighten the futures of many children and help leave lasting smiles on their faces.

Fees:

Plan My Gap Year is very affordable, and most of their travel and volunteer programs are attainable for people on any budget. They charge a $199USD registration fee, which is relatively low, and as an example, the projects featured above range from $304USD to $419USD for 2 weeks of volunteering.

Reviews:

When looking for the best volunteer travel programs it’s important to take into account the reviews online from fellow volunteers. PMGY receives glowing reviews with a 96% score on Go Overseas and a 4.8/5 on Review Center with a combined 500+ reviews between them. Examples of praise from past volunteers are: “I had an absolutely incredible time In Ghana” and “PMGY were always on hand to help and answer any questions”.

Why we selected Plan My Gap Year:

When deciding to place Plan My Gap Year at the top of this list, we were influenced primarily by three factors. First, their affordable fees make them a great alternative for anyone regardless of budget. Second, their rave reviews indicate an ability to deeply satisfy volunteers from various backgrounds. Finally, their focus on the social aspect of volunteering is quite unique and is something we think will enrich their volunteer travel program experience.

RCDP International Volunteers

About the Organization:

RCDP International Volunteers was founded in 1998 in Boulder Colorado and was the first volunteer organization to offer programs to Nepal. This company is one of the best cheap volunteer travel programs providers in the world. They have expanded greatly since then, first to nearby India, Sri Lanka, and Tibet, before going global in 2008, adding destinations across Africa and Latin America. Since then they have established trips to 18 different countries and have served more than 18,000 volunteers.

RCDP’s Best Volunteer Programs:

Out of the 18 countries that RCDP offers travel abroad volunteer programs in, we think their packages to Sri Lanka, Costa Rica, and India are their strongest.

Volunteer in Elephant Program in Sri Lanka

If you are passionate about helping care for elephants and visiting the country of Sri Lanka, then this Sri Lanka volunteer travel opportunity is for you. The elephants in this program, especially the sick and young, need as much care and love as children do as they are traumatized and treated badly by the country’s tourism industry.

As a volunteer, you will be feeding them, cleaning them, and loving them as these elephants are domesticated and used for carrying loads and tourists around the jungles of Sri Lanka which can put a huge strain on them. No longer working elephants, they were seldom cared for well and when they were worn out or sick, they got abandoned. The center is currently looking after 8 of these elephants and since the beginning has cared for over 60 elephants. At Randeniya, Hiriwadunna, Kegalle in Sri Lanka, where the project is located, the elephants are raised in a lush environment.

As a volunteer for this volunteer travel program, you will be making a fundamental and positive difference in the lives of many elephants and helping to preserve one of the country’s most beautiful animals, and one of the most stunning gentle giants of the earth.

Volunteer in Costa Rica Sea Turtle

If you are passionate about saving the sea turtle and you have always wanted to go to Costa Rica, then this volunteer program is for you! There is a need to study the habitats of sea turtles in order to understand how they live and what they are exposed to so as to keep them healthy and safe in a natural environment. Right now they are in danger.  

This sea turtle conservation volunteer travel project located in the Osa Peninsula, close to Corcovado National Park, aims to do just that, and with your help, the project can keep the turtles living long and thriving lives and be self-sustainable. You’ll help nurse sick sea turtles back to health and study the habits and lifestyles of the sea turtles to form conclusions about what can be done to help make them as comfortable as possible in their natural environment. Other activities include beach cleanings, which can help these turtles remain safe and healthy as the beach is constantly being filled with debris, wood, and garbage brought by nearby rivers.

As a volunteer for this travel program, you will be making a fundamental and positive difference in the lives of many sea turtles and helping to preserve one of the world’s most stunning creatures.

Medical Volunteering in India

If you are a healthcare professional or in medical school, this is a unique chance to get hands-on experience in one of the most densely populated countries in the world. India is one of the most densely populated countries in the world yet still, most of the people living there do not have access to proper healthcare or cannot afford it. 

Through this medically focused program, you’ll be able to gain medical experience in a fascinating country with a diverse and lively culture and work with local doctors to treat Indians. As a volunteer in a health care project, you will assist local doctors and medical staff with the treatment of patients. You will not be involved in independently treating the patients but you will shadow local medical practitioners. You can also involve yourself in other hospital activities such as record keeping, blood pressure checking, and temperature measuring. 

As a medical volunteer in India, you will be making a valuable contribution to the lives of many while also enhancing your skills and desirability in the career marketplace. For medical students, this is a great way to learn more about a healthcare system outside of your own.

Fees:

Fees with RCDP are very low, with project fees dipping as far as $100USD after paying a $279USD registration fee. Their best volunteer travel programs in Nepal are especially affordable, and as mentioned is a particular focus for RCDP.

Reviews:

RCDP receives great reviews, with a 9.2 on Abroad Review and 94% on Go Overseas with over 300 former volunteers reporting in. Reviews of their volunteer travel programs include glowing statements such as “by far one of the best experiences I have had in Asia”, and “absolutely brilliant experience”.

Why we selected RCDP International Volunteers:

We selected RCDP for their extremely extensive experience, great feedback from volunteers, and eminently affordable fees, especially to destinations like Nepal or Uganda.

Global Vision International (GVI)

About the Organization:

Global Vision International is an incredibly prolific volunteer abroad organization with accolades from esteemed universities and publications like Stanford, NYU, and National Geographic. GVI is one of the best volunteer travel programs providers in the world. The organization was founded in 1998 in the US and offers travel and volunteer programs to a wide variety of destinations.

GVI‘s Best Volunteer Programs:

GVI’s best travel volunteer programs are located in the countries of Nepal, Laos, and South Africa. The programs are incredibly varied and include internships, teaching, conservation work, and much more.

Volunteer for Public Health Nepal

Nepal is a developing country where the majority of people still have limited access and financial means to receive medical care. In this abroad travel volunteering opportunity, you’ll be able to contribute directly to the health and wellbeing of the communities in Pokhara and surrounding areas, working directly with individuals in local Nepali communities to not only promote healthy lifestyles but also gain valuable experience in healthcare services.

You will work with local staff and students to facilitate workshops concerning a range of health-related topics such as teaching the principles of UNICEF’s Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) program, basic first aid skills, road safety, puberty and menstruation, and vocabulary related to other broad health topics.

You will be making a valuable contribution and difference to the public health of Nepal and its people while furthermore advancing your career in healthcare.

Volunteer with Buddhist Novice Monks in Laos

In this volunteer program, you’ll get the chance to travel to the ancient capital of Laos, Luang Prabang, listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here you will be able to teach Buddhist novice monks and other Lao students English as the country’s people need to be able to speak English if they are to advance their careers or way of life.

Volunteers on this program will contribute to education initiatives from Monday to Friday by teaching English to Lao Buddhist novice monks, as well as other young students in Laos. During your time off you will have the opportunity to explore the incredible and green surroundings of the region by going on river cruises along the Mekong or trekking through the mountains. 

Teaching English to the monks of Laos enables them to have a much better future through education and opportunities for advancement in the world. This is a very fulfilling and impactful abroad volunteer travel program.

Volunteer with Children in South Africa

If you want to make a trip to South Africa and you are also passionate about young children, then this is the program for you. The country is rife with danger and poverty and there are many children who are in desperate need of a helping hand and even parental figures.

This volunteering initiative works with a number of educare centers across Cape Town that provide early childhood development education to local children. As a South Africa volunteer, you will get the chance to teach the children English, which stands them in good stead for the future, as well as is involved in planning and implementing practices that use educational games, song and dance, arts and crafts, gross and fine motor coordination and storytelling to allow these children to have fun while learning and developing at the same time.

This is a powerful volunteer travel abroad opportunity that will not only give you much knowledge, experience, and feelings of accomplishment, but it will also help brighten the futures of many children and help leave lasting smiles on their faces.

Fees:

With no registration fee, GVI is very affordable. Three of the four countries listed above features volunteer travel abroad programs starting at between $400USD and $500USD for two weeks of volunteering.

Reviews:

GVI has a stunning quantity of feedback, with roughly 2700 reviews on Go Abroad averaging out to a 9.55/10, which is excellent as well as a 9.5/10 on Go Overseas with more than 300 reviewers. Great statements from volunteer travel programs reviews include such as “An absolute dream come true”, “I cannot recommend this project enough”, and “everything that I have learned and experienced will better me as a person”.

Why we selected Global Vision International:

Choosing Global Vision International for this list was a no-brainer, with their huge number of reviews, awards, and accolades, extremely varied volunteer travel programs, and lack of registration fees.

Love Volunteers

About the Organization:

Love Volunteers was founded in New Zealand in 2009 by a brother and sister team. They wanted to offer the best volunteer travel programs at low and completely transparent fees, making it clear exactly where their volunteers’ money goes. They aim to maximize the impact made by volunteers, ensuring sustainability and social responsibility. This company is one of the best volunteer travel programs providers in the world.

Love Volunteers‘ Best Volunteer Programs:

For Love Volunteers, we especially liked their travel and volunteer programs in Argentina, Brazil and Morocco, and more. In these countries, you can take part in a varied range of activities and projects like women’s empowerment, supporting HIV victims, and raising awareness of providing educational support.

Community Development Program in Argentina

This is a one-of-a-kind volunteering travel program in Argentina that has multiple ways of lending a helping hand to disadvantaged communities and children as the country is stricken with poverty and unstable social relations.

As a volunteer, you will get the chance to provide educational support for the impoverished and at-risk children of Ciudad Oculta. A heart-warming activity that really helps sick children is Celebrating the birthdays of children of impoverished communities and build their sense of worth by hosting birthday parties for those who would otherwise go without. Other programs include improving the health and long-term wellbeing of the marginalized indigenous community of Perutí.

This is a powerful volunteer travel opportunity that will not only give you much knowledge, experience, and feelings of accomplishment, but it will also help brighten the futures of many children and adults of Argentina and help leave lasting smiles on their faces.

Childcare and Child Development Program in Brazil

If you have always wanted to visit Brazil, make a difference, and equally are interested in exploring the realities of living under the poverty line in the favelas of Brazil, this may be the Brazil volunteer travel program for you.

This incredible project’s aim is to help those who are actively seeking to help themselves escape their life of poverty in the Rocinha and Pavãozinho favelas in Rio de Janeiro. As a volunteer, you’ll have the chance to work directly with children and their families to tangibly help them achieve their goals.

This is a powerful volunteer travel opportunity that will not only give you much knowledge, experience and feelings of accomplishment, but it will also help brighten the futures of many children and help leave lasting positive impressions for a lifetime.

Volunteer with Women in Morocco

If you have always wanted to visit Morocco, and you are a huge proponent of women’s empowerment, then this program is for you. This abused women program helps support the women of Morocco who have suffered greatly in society. You’ll quickly learn about the plight of women’s rights in Morocco, a male-dominated society where many women are illiterate and lack the opportunities to develop these (and other) fundamental skills.

The project aims to educate girls and young women who are otherwise deprived of education and training. You’ll have the chance to teach women and girls English and provide skill-oriented training by assisting in workshops.

This is a powerful volunteer travel opportunity that will not only give you much knowledge, experience and feelings of accomplishment, but it will also help brighten the futures of many women and help leave lasting positive impressions for a lifetime and shape their successes in the future.

Fees:

While LV’s fees are a bit higher than previous entries on this list, they are still very affordable. They charge a $299USD registration fee, followed by project fees ranging from $439USD to $609USD for volunteer travel programs in the countries featured in the section above.

Reviews:

Their reviews are just as encouraging as their fees, with great scores across Go Overseas, Go Abroad and Volunteer Forever, with over 500 volunteers checking in and giving them respective scores of 9.1, 9.7, and 4.6/5. Reviews include encouraging statements such as: “I feel like I got the perfect blend of insight on everyday life and tourism”, “A wonderful experience” and “Everyone in the volunteer program was friendly and welcoming”.

Why we selected Love Volunteers:

We selected Love Volunteers for this best volunteer abroad travel providers list based on their great transparency, excellent reviews, affordable fees, and commitment to maximizing impact and social responsibility. Clearly, they offer some of the best volunteer travel programs around.

IFRE Volunteers

About the Organization:

Founded in 2006 in Dallas, Texas, IFRE is committed to providing the most affordable travel volunteer programs without sacrificing in any area, always ensuring that volunteers have the best experience and generate the greatest impact possible. This company is one of the best volunteer travel programs providers of the world.

IFRE‘s Best Volunteer Programs:

Out of IFRE’s many great destinations for travel abroad volunteer programs, we think their initiatives in Cambodia, Tanzania, and  Costa Rica, are among their best. These four countries also provide a great deal of variety both in terms of project types but also in cultures, nature, and history.

Volunteer Cambodia Orphanage

If traveling to Cambodia to visit wonders such as Angkor Wat and gorgeous islands alongside doing meaningful work and giving back to the Cambodian populace is something that piques your interest, then look no further. With a huge number of orphanages and abandoned children rife in Cambodia, giving your time to help improve Cambodia’s people of the future is so important.

In this volunteering travel abroad program, you can provide love, care, and attention to orphans who are otherwise overlooked and neglected by society and inspire these children to break the cycle of poverty and improve their lives and the lives of future generations.

This is a powerful opportunity that will not only give you much knowledge, experience, and feelings of accomplishment, but it will also help brighten the futures of many children and help leave lasting positive impressions for a lifetime.

Volunteer Teaching English in Tanzania

In the stunning country of Tanzania, the reality of life for many is that, due to inadequate manpower and resources in rural and disadvantaged areas. a quality English education is nothing but a dream for many.

To ensure young Tanzanians have opportunities in the job market in the future, teaching English volunteers in Tanzania are desperately needed to bridge this gap in resources and provide disadvantaged children English-speaking skills that will stand them in good stead. Through IFRE’s Teach English Tanzania volunteer project, you will get the chance to teach English and impact the lives of kids of all ages.

This is a powerful volunteer travel opportunity that will not only give you much knowledge, experience and feelings of accomplishment, but it will also help brighten the futures of many children and help leave lasting positive impressions for a lifetime.

Wildlife Volunteer Costa Rica

Lovers of wildlife and those wanting to travel to the beautiful country of Costa Rica – this program is for you! The central American country is home to an abundance of wildlife, such as macaws, toucans, jaguars, pumas, ocelots, and more, that are all in peril due to human encroachment into their natural habitat.

If you choose this program, you’ll get the chance to volunteer to travel abroad in a wildlife sanctuary in Costa Rica that rescues and rehabilitates animals that have been injured, orphaned, or are victims of the pet trade. 

This is a powerful opportunity that will not only give you much wildlife knowledge, experience, and feelings of accomplishment, but it will also help save many animals and better their lives.

Fees:

IFRE is among the most affordable organizations on this list. After paying a $299USD registration fee, which is lower for returning volunteers, project fees can go as low as $100USD, which is the lowest price we’ve managed to find for any individual project.

Reviews:

Reviews of IFRE’s volunteer travel programs are stellar, with a score of 8.9 on Go Overseas and 9.1 on Abroad reviews with almost 400 volunteers checking in. Praise from these reviews includes things like: “My experience was phenomenal in every way” and “The entire process of organizing my trip with IFRE was very pleasant”.

Why we selected IFRE Volunteers:

The incredibly low fees with IFRE volunteers are what makes it stand out the most. But additionally, from what we can tell they also do a great job ensuring that their volunteers are well taken care of, have life-changing experiences, and also get to make a real difference while on their volunteer travel abroad programs.

Global Crossroad International Volunteers (GCR)

About the Organization:

Also founded in Dallas, Texas, but this time in 2003, Global Crossroad focuses on delivering top of the line support to its volunteers during their volunteer travel programs and has been featured in well-known publications like the New York Times, Lonely Planet, and USA Today. This company is one of the best volunteer travel programs providers of the world.

GCR‘s Best Volunteer Programs:

While GCR runs travel volunteer programs in 18 different countries across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, but we think they do their best work in Ghana, Thailand, and Ecuador  where they offer a wide range of projects from construction work to supporting teenage mothers.

Volunteer in Ghana Orphanage

Known as the “Gold Coast” because of its abundance of gold minerals, Ghana is a country located in the rich Gulf of Guinea in West Africa. While teeming with culture and beauty, at the same time the country is affected by severe poverty, with many Ghanaians lacking enough opportunity for a better future. Children leaving home in search of better prospects sadly end up on the streets under harsh conditions.

There are many orphanages on the ground in Ghana trying to alleviate the problem, however such humanitarian institutions lack resources and manpower. As a volunteer in Ghana, you’ll be making a positive impact on the lives of orphans.

This is a powerful volunteer journey abroad opportunity that will not only give you much knowledge, experience, and feelings of accomplishment, but it will also help brighten the futures of many children and help leave lasting smiles on their faces.

Volunteer Teaching in Thailand

If you’ve always dreamed of going to Thailand and simultaneously wanted to make a difference, teaching English to Thai kids who could use the skill for future employment in the country’s highly important tourism industry would be very beneficial.

Not only would you be traveling to one of the most exotic destinations of the world, and meeting kind and welcoming people, but you would also be shaping the realities for future generations. English lessons would be between 8am and 3pm in the towns of Ayutthaya and Surin.

This is a powerful volunteer travel program that will not only give you much knowledge, experience and feelings of accomplishment, but it will also help brighten the futures of many Thais who seek future employment or to advance their careers in the tourism industry.

Volunteer in Ecuador in Orphanage

With the growing plight of orphans in Ecuador, the time is now to try and help. If you are passionate about helping transform the lives of children, and you would love to visit the beautiful tropical country of Ecuador, then this Ecuador volunteer travel program is for you.

You will be working at an orphanage that provides refuge to abandoned Ecuadorian children, providing much needed care to these poor kids; you’ll also be teaching them basic English, spend quality time playing with them, help with their homework, and make sure they go to school.

This is a powerful volunteer travel opportunity that will not only give you much knowledge, experience and feelings of accomplishment, but it will also help brighten the futures of many children and help leave lasting smiles on their faces.

Fees:

GCR’s fees are low, charging a standard $299USD registration fee followed by project fees that can go as low as $150USD. While volunteer travel abroad programs with GCR can vary by country, they generally don’t exceed around $400USD.

Reviews:

Like all the entries on this list, reviews for GCR are great. They have more than 400 reviews online with an average score of 9.2 on Go Overseas and 8.8 on Abroad Reviews. Former volunteers in their volunteer travel programs heap glowing praise on the organization like “The volunteer program was great and very well organized!” and “I will always remember this incredible trip!”.

Why we selected Global Crossroad International Volunteers:

We selected Global Crossroad for their good reviews, low fees and wide recognition from various esteemed publications that verify what their volunteers are saying.

GoEco

About the Organization:

GoECo is a US-based volunteering abroad opportunity provider that was founded in 2006. It is a leading eco-tourism company with a varied selection of ethical, best volunteer travel programs in the world. The company’s team is made up of experienced and passionate specialists who are eager to organize the volunteering vacation of a lifetime. The company has over 150 extraordinary community, wildlife and environmental initiatives in its database all over the world, ranging from partnerships with all kinds of community groups to renowned global organizations.

Go Eco‘s Best Volunteer Programs:

Out of all the destinations that Go Eco runs travel volunteer programs we think that they’re at their best in Israel, Zimbabwe and Guatemala, where you can even take part in an excellent efforts, such as:

Israel – Desert Wildlife Program

If you are passionate about wildlife and have always wanted to visit Israel, this program is for you. Here is a unique wildlife conservation volunteer travel abroad program featuring spectacular, desert landscapes of the Arabah that also entails helping re-populate the nature reserve with the region’s native species.

Beginning in Tel Aviv, you’ll have the chance to work with unique, desert wildlife species from tiny tortoises to leopards and oryxes and gain experience in animal care through working alongside professional wildlife reserve rangers and more.

This is a powerful volunteer opportunity that will not only give you much wildlife knowledge, experience and feelings of accomplishment, but it will also help save many animals and better their lives.

Zimbabwe – African Wildlife Orphanage

This is a superb chance to volunteer travel abroad at one of the largest and most successful wildlife sanctuary and rehabilitation centers in Africa. While experiencing the beautiful country of Zimbabwe, you’ll also be able to make a progressive impact through volunteering in this project which encompasses working with and learning about a range of animals, including monkeys and lions.

As a volunteer, you will provide care for injured animals that cannot be released into the wild, assist with releases whenever possible and work alongside animal professionals at this world-renowned center and a range of other ethical wildlife interactions and volunteer tasks.

This is a powerful abroad volunteer travel opportunity that will not only give you much wildlife knowledge, experience and feelings of accomplishment, but it will also help save many animals and better their lives.

Guatemala – Antigua Medical program

Although Guatemala is a beautiful country to visit, much of the country lives below the poverty line and many either do not have access to decent healthcare or do not have the financial means to afford medical services.

This is a wonderful opportunity for those thinking about doing a medical internship – why not become a medical travel volunteer in Antigua? Not only will you be able to experience all the amazing things the beautiful country of Guatemala has to offer, including the colonial region and highlands, you’ll also gain hands-on experience in medical care, enhance your CV with clinical skills, work one-on-one with a medical professional and even have daily language Spanish lessons.

This is a great travel volunteering abroad opportunity that will not only give you much medical knowledge from another culture, as well as allow you to experience and feelings of accomplishment, but it will also help save many lives of people in Guatemala. 

Fees:

While GoEco’s volunteer travel abroad project fees can be a little higher than others in this list, they make up for that fact in large part by charging no registration fees for their travel abroad volunteer programs. The projects featured above run from $770USD for 2 weeks of volunteering.

Reviews:

GoEco’s commitment to ethical volunteer travel has allowed them to reap the rewards in terms of excellent feedback. They enjoy a 9.76 on Go Abroad and 9.4 on Go Overseas with almost 600 volunteers reporting back in. Exemplifying their reviews are statements like: “The entire experience was way above our expectations” and “made a bunch of friends as well as feeling like I was genuinely making a difference”.

Why we selected Go Eco:

We selected Go Eco for a place on this best volunteer travel programs providers list due to their unparalleled commitment to the environment and sustainable development, lack of registration fees and stellar reviews across the board for their volunteer travel programs.

Projects Abroad

About the Organization:

Projects Abroad was founded in 1992 by Dr. Peter Slowe, an English professor in the United Kingdom. The company focuses on providing excellent gap year experiences and some of the best volunteer travel programs for those looking for a career break. This company is one of the best providers of the world.

Projects Abroad‘s Best Volunteer Programs:

Projects Abroad’s best travel volunteer programs take place in the countries of Senegal, Belize and Jamaica. Here you can take part in a wide range of activities and travel abroad volunteer programs and internships in fascinating areas such as micro finance, conservation work in the Himalayas and more.

Volunteering with Children in Senegal

Initially, talibés (street children) were sent to live in a daara to learn about the Quaran and Islam and help young men better integrate into society. This is no longer the case however, as following the economic crisis, the daaras could no longer support the children properly. With minimal financial support, the living conditions suffered and the children were forced to beg for money and food. Most talibés end up living on the streets. They have no formal education and often suffer from malnourishment and disease.

As a volunteer working with children in Senegal, your role is to focus on early childhood development and other important skills, like speaking English. As a volunteer, you will run regular language lessons to help improve their English and French language skills; organize educational games and activities to promote their development and make learning fun; and provide assistance to the local staff when they need a hand with additional activities

This is a powerful volunteer travel projects that will not only give you much knowledge, experience and feelings of accomplishment, but it will also help brighten the futures of many children and help leave lasting smiles on their faces.

Volunteer Sports Coaching in Schools in Belize

In Belize, there are many schools with disadvantaged children who require help to have fun exercise and healthy lifestyles. Childhood obesity is also on the rise in Belize because families can’t afford to eat healthier foods.

As a volunteer, you’ll plan and run classes to help children improve their fitness. Now only will you get the chance to coach sports to children at disadvantaged schools, but you’ll also get to implement creative coaching techniques and expand your horizons by learning new skills.

This is a powerful volunteer travel programs that will not only give you much knowledge, experience and feelings of accomplishment, but it will also help brighten the futures of many children and help leave lasting smiles on their faces.

Volunteer Teaching in Jamaica

 In Jamaica, there is a high illiteracy rate, especially in rural areas. Classes are overcrowded, and teacher don’t have enough support in the classroom. There is also a gap between the quality of education in underprivileged communities, and slower learning or disadvantaged children are often left behind. This volunteer travel program aims to improve literacy in Jamaica.

You’ll work with children, teenagers, or adults, and give more people access to education. You will work in a primary or secondary school. You can also volunteer in our community literacy programme for adults. 

This is a powerful volunteer travel program that will not only give you much knowledge, experience and feelings of accomplishment, but it will also help brighten the futures of many children and adults and help leave lasting smiles on their faces.

Fees:

Projects Abroad does not charge registration fees, and while their fees are some of the highest on this list, starting at about $1350USD, they also offer completely flexible start dates and great service in their travel and volunteer programs.

Reviews:

Projects Abroad gets rave reviews for their excellent volunteer travel abroad programs with scores like 9.2 on Go Overseas,4.6/5 on Volunteer Forever and 9.4 on Trust Pilot. Among the over 1500 reviews you can find glowing opinions such as “the staff were excellent ensuring that we felt safe and secure” and “Taking part of this program has been one of the best decision of my life so far”.

Why we selected Projects Abroad:

We selected Projects Abroad for their excellent reviews, offering the best travel volunteer programs for students, their extensive experience and their great support and service across the board.

International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ)

About the Organization:

Established in New Zealand in 2007 by Daniel Radcliffe following a lifechanging volunteer journey to Africa the following year, IVHQ focuses on providing affordable travel volunteer programs that also provide volunteers with plenty of great experiences all in complete safety and security. They provide excellent support to their volunteers and ensure that all their efforts are responsible and sustainable. This company is one of the best v volunteer travel programs providers in the world.

IVHQ‘s Best Volunteer Programs:

The IVHQ volunteer travel programs that we are the most taken with are located in the countries of Guatemala, Columbia, and Tanzania Here they host a varied range of projects including Homeless support, environmental scuba diving, and even carnival work!

Animal Care Volunteer Program Guatemala

In a country where animals are not often treated as they would be in more developed countries, injured, abandoned, sick, or neglected animals are the norm.

This is a Guatemala animal travel volunteering opportunity where there are a number of placements that have a high demand for assistance; everything from volunteering at a dog and cat shelter and a veterinary clinic to and an exotic animal refuge caring for crocodiles, snakes, lizards, and turtles.

This is a powerful volunteer travel opportunity that will not only give you much knowledge, experience and feelings of accomplishment, but it will also help brighten the save the lives of many animals and make their future better.

Childcare Volunteer in Columbia

Although a beautiful country, Columbia is still rife with much poverty and poor social relations as the country still recovers from ongoing local wars and civil unrest. The life of children can be very testing and dangerous.

As a childcare volunteer in Cartagena, you’ll help teachers in lessons and at mealtimes with a range of standard day-to-day tasks including games, activities, learning and other chores. Volunteers can also support a foundation for children with cancer, where you’ll get to play games, do arts and crafts and socialize.

This is a powerful volunteer travel opportunity that will not only give you much knowledge, experience and feelings of accomplishment, but it will also help brighten the futures of many children and give them care their own parents and teachers could not give.

Medical Volunteering in Arusha – Tanzania

Although a beautiful country, most of Tanzania lives below the poverty line and in rural areas with little access to healthcare nor the means to afford it. The country is in dire need of medical volunteers to help save the day.

This is a medical volunteer travel project that aims to place medical professionals in medical clinics to help to serve vulnerable people in a country where there are many poor communities who have no access to or can’t afford healthcare. Volunteers will be posted in either a local clinic or hospital, shadowing local medical professionals where language is a barrier and assisting with daily duties.

This is an amazing volunteer travel opportunity that will not only give you much medical knowledge, experience and feelings of accomplishment, but it will also help brighten the futures of many lives in Tanzania, while simultaneously improving the country’s health.

Fees:

Considering their high standing, IVHQ’s rates are astonishingly affordable. The organization charges a $299USD registration fee, followed by project fees that are sometimes as low as $260USD, and none of the featured travel and volunteer programs above will run you more than$525USD.

Reviews:

Once again, International Volunteer HQ receives excellent reviews across the board. They enjoy a 9.5 on Go Overseas, 9.53 on Go Abroad, 9.6 on Trust Pilot, and 4.8 on Volunteer Forever. Not only that, they also have a stunning amount of feedback, with over 3500 reviews across these four sites.

Why we selected International Volunteer HQ:

We selected International Volunteer HQ for this list of the best volunteer travel programs due to their affordable rates, extremely high amount of reviews leaving excellent feedback and their often-unique volunteer travel programs.

A Broader View Volunteers (USA)

About the Organization:

A Broader View Volunteers is a US company based in Pennsylvania that was founded in 2007 by a passionate group of strong-willed people motivated to help others in the world who were less fortunate. As one of the best volunteer travel programs providers, the company was founded upon the belief that one person alone can make a world of difference in the lives of others through meaningful volunteer work.

The organization has a number of reputable travel volunteering opportunities, in everything from national parks, orphanages, hospitals, animal conservation centers and women’s shelters to teaching opportunities around the world to help you grow into the global citizen you were destined to be, with a “broader view” of the world. The company is 100% family-owned with a charity and not-for-profit focus.

A Broader View Projects:

The ABV volunteer travel programs that we are the most taken with are located in the countries of Uganda, Chile and Tanzania, encompassing projects in orphanages to HIV initiatives and hospital programs.

Volunteer in Uganda

Uganda, famously referred to the “pearl of Africa” by Winston Churchill, though beautiful, is a country that is in need of volunteers in all sorts of disciplines, as even though it is stunning, it is far from developed.

ABV has a number of volunteering options for those who want to help, from community development projects that focus on clean waterworks and energy saving programs to chicken projects, vocational skills training, family planning, and reproductive health programs. ABV Volunteers also supports two local orphanages which serve hundreds of local children affected by HIV/AIDS and extreme poverty.

This is an amazing volunteer travel opportunity that will not only give you much medical knowledge, experience and feelings of accomplishment, but it will also help brighten the futures of many lives in Uganda, while simultaneously improving the country’s health.

Volunteer in Chile

If you are interested in visiting the beautiful country of Chile and you also have a passion for helping children, then this is a volunteering travel opportunity in Chile for you. ABV’s volunteer programs are based in the coastal city of La Serena, with initiatives to help improve the daily lives of Chilean orphans and children.

As a volunteer, you’ll be able to contribute to the improvement in literacy levels in the pre-school and provide hours of caring and concern for the young children.

This is an amazing volunteer travel opportunity that will not only give you much knowledge, experience and feelings of accomplishment, but it will also help brighten the futures of many children.

Volunteer in Tanzania

If you’ve always dreamed of visiting the African continent, a trip to the largest of the East African countries might pique your interest. Tanzania offers spectacular landscapes and is teeming with stunning wildlife. ABV’s Tanzania volunteer programs are based around the city of Arusha in northern Tanzania.

You can get involved in the programs that have helped hundreds of families by working in the local pre-school, at local orphanages, in a maternity clinic, regional hospital, and also with HIV awareness outreach projects. Other opportunities include programs for medical outreach, woman vocational support and university led service trips. Many volunteers travel to Tanzania to participate in a safari, but also help the country by contributing to a community-led program.

This is an amazing volunteering travel opportunity that will not only give you much knowledge, experience and feelings of accomplishment, but it will also help brighten the futures of many children and people of Tanzania.

Fees:

Considering their high standing, ABV’s rates are moderately affordable, with quotes for the first week starting from $2895USD. For more information on costs, click here.

Reviews:

Once again, ABV receives excellent reviews across the board. They enjoy a 99% on Go Overseas, 9.99 on Go Abroad, and 4.93 on Volunteer Forever. The volunteer travel programs provider is certainly to be considered should you want to plan a volunteering experience abroad.

Why we selected CCS:

The company makes it its prime aim to create global citizens who have a “broader view” of the world around them and genuinely help make the world a better place.

Other Best Cheap Volunteer Organizations to Consider:

While these were our 10 best providers and their best destinations and travel volunteer programs, there are other volunteer travel providers that even though didn’t quite make it on the list, are still worthy of an honorable mention

Frontier

Company’s location- UK
Year of establishment: 1989
Reviews: 61 reviews on Go Overseas ‎, 674 Reviews on Abroad Reviews, 1014 reviews on Go Abroad

Global Volunteers

Company’s location- UK
Year of establishment: 1984
Awards, Certification: Program Partners:  U.N. and UNICEF, granted Special Consultative Status with the United Nations in 1999,
Reviews: 154 reviews on Go Overseas‎, ‎17 Reviews on Go Abroad

Connect-123

Company’s location- South Africa
Year of establishment: 2002
Reviews: 128 reviews on Go Overseas ‎, ‎125 Reviews, on Go Abroad,

Ubelong

Company’s location- USA
Year of establishment: 2009
Reviews: 154 reviews on Go Overseas:

Volunteers For Peace

Company’s location- USA
Year of establishment: 1982
Awards, Certification: member organization of the Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service (CCIVS) at UNESCO and work in partnership with Service Civil International (SCI) and the Alliance of European Voluntary Service Organizations to exchange thousands of volunteers each year
Reviews: 91 reviews on Go Overseas‎, ‎ 33 reviews on ‎Go Abroad

Eli Abroad

Company’s location- USA
Year of establishment: 2001
Awards, Certification: Program Partners:  U.N. and UNICEF, granted Special Consultative Status with the United Nations in 1999,
Reviews: 31 reviews on Go Overseas, 65 reviews on ‎Go Abroad

Save Volunteering

Company’s location- South Africa
Year of establishment: 2006
Awards, Certification: Program Partners:  U.N. and UNICEF, granted Special Consultative Status with the United Nations in 1999,
Reviews: 91 reviews on Go Overseas, 59 reviews on Volunteer world

Maximo Nivel

Reviews- 97% – ‎1077 reviews on Go Overseas, 9.6-1,039 Reviews on Go Abroad

Conclusion

So, there you have it, the top 10 volunteer providers and their programs. Armed with all this information, you can now choose the best volunteer travel programs for you, ensuring that everything from destination to project type, impact, cultural experiences and social life is all that you want it to be.

Besides these 10 best cheap volunteer travel providers, we have also articles on the 10 best cheap volunteer overseas providers, 10 best cheap international volunteer opportunity providers, 10 best cheap volunteers in Asia providers, and 10 best cheap volunteers in Africa providers.