A new philanthropic trend is prevailing in the travel industry. Not only do these recently-popularized vacations allow travelers to explore new territories, they also provide an opportunity to give back to society.

 

Volunteering while touring. Travelers who sign up to voluntour devote their vacation time to caring for animals, visiting children in orphanages, or helping those suffering from painful diseases. Other popular voluntour trips include caring for nature and building houses for those who are less fortunate. 

 

Besides the benefit of doing something for the greater good, those who voluntour also have the opportunity to tour beautiful surrounding areas. You can help protect sea turtles in Trinidad by night, and tour the breathtaking rainforests by day. You can also help build homes for victims of hurricanes in New Orleans, and then have some fun enjoying the sights and sounds of The Big Easy. 

 

Just about anyone can voluntour. From travelers who enjoy spending time at the beach, to those who prefer to take safaris through Africa – there’s a voluntour program for everyone. For example, Cross-Cultural Solutions offers opportunities for individuals to voluntour in hospitals, schools and orphanages in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe. There’s also The Earthwatch Institute, which offers voluntour trips wherein travelers work with scientists in observing animals and in excavating projects in some of the world’s most beautiful locations.