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36 Responsible Travel Tips | Two Wandering Soles

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We've found that responsible travel is not always easy. It can be confusing. There are fuzzy lines, and we've screwed up before. But it's a learning process, and little by little we're getting better at responsible travel and ecotourism. These tips will help you make a positive impact where

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(Activist travel company)

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We are often asked what are the key things that travellers need to know when it comes to being responsible on their journeys around the world. Few people actually go out of their way to be irresponsible, after all, but sometimes we just need a few reminders about how to get things right while on the road. Responsible tourism is all about leaving a positive impact on not only the environment, but also the people who live in the places we choose to visit. The result being not only a more ethical and responsible trip when it comes to travellers' impacts, but also a more authentic, exciting and culturally immersive one for them too. Here is a quick guide to some of our top tips on how to be a responsible traveller.

Before you book your holiday

Ask to see the holiday company's policy for responsible tourism. It should be on their website, but if it isn't, pester them for it. It is only through customers seeking change that some organisations actually start to consider taking action themselves. The good news is that at Responsible Travel, as a market place for the world's leading small travel companies, we insist that all our members have a responsible tourism policy. That they are fully au fait with the principles of responsible tourism and are doing their utmost to minimise negative environmental, social or cultural impacts, respect human rights and support the local economy in countries where they bring tourists.

Ask your hotel or accommodation our 10 simple questions to see if they really are as eco, green or ethical as they claim to be.

Plan your route to minimise carbon emissions - travel by train where possible, minimise internal flights and use other public transport methods when necessary. If you are booking your trip through a travel company that only connects with airports, ask them if they will support you in helping organise train travel and sorting out your transits from train stations when you arrive and depart. And if you have to fly, book direct flights avoiding transfers and stay for longer, taking fewer and longer holidays if you are going long haul.

For many people, it is important that a travel company or accommodation has an accessibility policy, and supports travellers with special needs. From wheelchair users, visually impaired, people with autism, or those in recovery from illness. Don't be afraid to ask that your needs are catered for. A responsible tourism holiday provider should be switched on to this, and provide barrier free and inclusive holidays when possible. And that you have all the information you need before you travel to make your holiday a happy one. For more details on this see our accessible Tourism guide.

Read up on the principles of Leave No Trace. They are mostly common sense, but it is amazing how many people travel with no sense of their footprint at all. From leaving wildflowers or shells where you find them, to hiking responsibly, there are good simple reminders on their list of seven principles.

Read up on local cultures and learn a few words of the local language - travelling with respect earns you respect. It is amazing how far asante (Swahili), dhanyavad (Hindi) and shukran (Arabic) will get you. Our travel guides, all written by expert travel writers, are packed with cultural gems of wisdom as well as responsible tourism issues to be aware of before you go to country or certain region.

Remove all excess packaging. Although we all like to treat ourselves to bits and pieces before we travel, be aware that in many places recycling, or waste disposal full stop, is tricky. So leave packaging at home. And, even better, consider buying some things when you are there, thereby also supporting the local economy.

Bring environmentally friendly products with you, especially if travelling off the beaten track. So, this means eco friendly sun creams, soaps, deodorants and so on, if you want to keep the environment as pristine as you found it. Especially if you are going to spend a lot of time in the water.

Ask your travel company for specific tips relating to responsible travel in your chosen destination. Will you need to be covered if visiting religious sites? How are local attitudes to LGBT travellers? Is there anything that is considered a faux pas socially?

Ask if there are useful gifts that you could pack for your hosts, local people or schools. Even better, you may be able to purchase these things once you arrive - thus supporting local traders and businesses.

Ask whether there are local conservation or social projects that you could visit on your trip. Please note, however, that we do not support visits to orphanages on holiday. You can read more about our stance on that.

Be aware of any excursions on your trips that involve wild or captive animals. There are a lot of issues regarding responsible wildlife viewing, which you can read more about here in our wildlife guide. But, in short, riding elephants is generally a no no, captive orcas are a definite ethical minefield, and petting tiger cubs or any wild animal is just wrong. And don't even get us started on canned hunting.

Hire a local guide - you'll discover more about local people, their culture, the landscape and its wildest, most wonderful spots by hiking, biking or sailing with a local expert. Plus, this is a fantastic way to support the local economy. In many countries, from Kenya to Sri Lanka, poachers have changed their ways to become conservationists and guides, and the more we support that and show that wildlife tourism works, the better.

Be careful what you buy. Do not buy products made from endangered species, hard woods or ancient artefacts. Shells and coral should stay where they belong too, and if you're considering buying gems locally, research the legality and ethics of this before you go.

Respect people and their local cultures. Our travel guides give insight into many of the issues here, destination by destination, from not invading people's spaces by taking endless photographs without asking, being unnecessarily noisy, to dressing inappropriately or disrespecting religious traditions. The most important thing to remember is that you are visiting people's homes, so think how you would want to be treated if the roles were reversed.

Use public transport, hire a bike or walk when convenient - it's a great way to meet local people on their terms and reduce pollution and carbon emissions.

Use water sparingly. Carbon footprint gets a lot of attention, and rightly so, but water is a vital resource and often a scarce one in tourism destinations. So, if you are being asked to monitor your usage, it is for a good reason. There is very little of it. And if a hotel has five swimming pools, a golf course and you are taking three showers a day in a country that has drought issues, think again. Water is a human right and yet tourism is one of the biggest exploiters of it.

Write to your travel company, hotel or tourist board with any comments or feedback about your holiday, and especially include any suggestions on reducing environmental impacts and increasing benefits to local communities. You will find independent holiday reviews from travellers on many Responsible Travel holidays.

For any serious issues regarding human rights abuses or wildlife exploitation for tourism, you may also want to contact relevant charities, from Amnesty International to WWF. Or indeed the Ministry of Tourism, if there is one, in that country. Using social media to spread the word is a good way too. We love to post the happy pictures on social media all the time, so spreading the word about unethical practices helps too.

If you've promised to send pictures or gifts to local people remember to do so; many are promised and not all arrive!

And last, but not least, enjoy the memories, reflect on your experience and start planning your next trip.

For more details on the history of responsible tourism, the big issues and debates, see our in depth responsible tourism guide.

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Top tips for travelling responsibly. Helping Dreamers Do.

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We are often asked what are the key things that travellers need to know when it comes to being responsible on their journeys around the world. Few people actually go out of their way to be irresponsible, after all, but sometimes we just need a few reminders about how to get things right while on the road.

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(Travel blog)

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How to be a responsible traveller: our 26 best responsible travel tips | The Common Wanderer

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26 simple and effective responsible travel tips to help you get the best out of your travels while leaving the world a better place. Includes advice on ethical travel, the environment, plastic, people, culture and animals.

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(Online travel magazine)

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8 Ways to Be a More Responsible Traveler

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Tourism is one of the world's largest industries - making up about 10 percent of global GDP, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council - and it shows no signs of slowing down. But the economic boon that tourism brings can have detrimental effects on the people that live in popular destinations, and even on the destinations themselves.

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(Travel blog)

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As people who live on the road 365 days of the year, we are lucky enough to encounter all kinds of different cultures and environments on a daily basis. Through our personal experiences, we have become big advocates for sustainable tourism.

We believe that through the ways we travel, the regions we decide to visit, and the choices we make on how we spend our money and where can have a positive impact on communities and families that are not as fortunate as ourselves.

Another name for it is 'responsible travel'.

Travelling opens up the doors to a world that is both incredibly rewarding and desperately unfortunate. While many of us back in the 'real world' are more concerned about which new shoes we are going to buy and whether it is time to upgrade our smart phone or not, there are tragic circumstances occurring every day that we are trained to ignore.

But fear not, because there are plenty of ways that travellers can help make a big difference to the people of the world by simply being more mindful and educated about the decisions we make when overseas.
Here are 10 ways to help you become a responsible traveller.
1) Volunteer Some Of Your Time

Whether you are travelling for two weeks or two years, volunteering a portion of your time to worthwhile causes and with reputable organisations can make a world of difference.

If you have a skill that may be useful in a developing nation, such as medical care experience, an engineering background or have worked in social care, there are a whole multitude of avenues you can pursue to help put your expertise to good use.

But even if you are not highly qualified, you can still find beneficial ways to volunteer. It may be possible to spend a few days teaching English in rural schools, or you can check out different animal conservation projects that are active in the places you are visiting.

Another great idea is to contact a local NGO and ask if they need any supplies brought over.

For some more ideas, check out Pack For A Purpose and Grassroots Volunteering.
A word of warning though - Don't get caught up with the idea of 'Voluntourism' for the wrong reasons. Please do your research before committing to volunteering with an organisation, and think logically - Is spending a day at an orphanage really beneficial to those children? If you have no construction experience, are you suitably qualified to build a hospital in Tanzania? And by you volunteering, are you actually taking a job away from a local who could perform the same task? Instead of paying a high cost to 'volunteer' with a NGO, don't be afraid to admit that perhaps it is better to just donate that money and let the experts handle the task.
2) Shop Locally

When it comes to eating, sleeping and buying souvenirs, choosing where you spend your money can have a massive impact on the community. By having dinner at a hole-in-the-wall restaurant, staying in a family-run guest house or purchasing a trinket from a street vendor, you are helping to inject money directly into the local economy.

Besides creating a more authentic travel experience for yourself, you are also helping someone create a better life for themselves. Buying from a multinational corporation will only see most of your tourist dollars go straight into the pockets of shareholders and business directors.

3) Think Before You Act With Wildlife Activities

When making plans for an overseas vacation, a lot of people have exotic dreams of riding elephants, swimming with dolphins or having their photos taken with tigers, but these irresponsible activities often do more harm than good.

Wildlife tourism is a big business, and most of these operators think about the profits before the well-being of the animals. Remember that for one hour of entertainment for yourself, you could be contributing to a lifetime of distress for the animal.

If you are really interested in visiting a place that houses and protects animals, make sure you contact one that is a registered NGO, and is transparent about their business dealings. A reputable organisation will have no problems in sending you all the information you would like.

4) Respect The Local Culture

One of the greatest rewards we can have when we travel is learning about different cultures and religions. The world and its people are diverse and fascinating, and it is an astonishing feeling being privileged enough to experience it. We must keep in mind how important it is to show respect to those local customs and traditions when we travel.

Many countries are more conservative with their dress sense, and wearing short shorts or singlets may be considered to be inappropriate. Take the time to learn a little bit of the local language (even if it is just 'hello' and 'thank you'), just like you would expect visitors to your home country to do.

Study what the customs are of where you are travelling to to ensure you don't inadvertently offend anyone.

5) Minimise Your Waste

Waste management can be a major issue in most developing countries, and we as travellers often unknowingly contribute to this problem.

The education levels when it comes to recycling and minimising waste in other countries may not be the same as what we receive back home, so it is important to take your own steps to help out the environment.

Say no to plastic bags from shops and instead put your items in a backpack or a cloth bag. Eat and drink in the cafe rather than going for take away (or carry a KeepCup with you, which we always do).

Carry a reusable water bottle with you and fill up from large water jugs that can be found in most hotels and restaurants. Or do what we do, and carry a water sterilisation tool on your travels. We personally recommend a SteriPen.

6) Choose Sustainable Accommodation And Tour Operators

There are thousands of options available to you when it comes to finding a place to rest your head, or choosing an operator to take you out on that unforgettable holiday experience.

It is possible to find businesses that actively work with local communities or have practices that help protect the environment, and these kind of establishments should be rewarded for their efforts.

They may choose to only employ local guides or workers from nearby villages, or provide extra training to help their staff improve their skills.

Some places even donate part of their profits to charitable enterprises, or pay their local staff above-average wages, without you having to do any extra work!

It may take a little bit more research to find these sustainable companies, but the benefits are worth the effort. For a great example of this ideal business model, check out the Mad Monkey Hostels in Cambodia.

7) Lower Your Footprint

There are a lot of great ways to lower your environmental impact when you are travelling. Instead of always taking taxis to get you from A to B, see if a local bus can get you to where you need to go.

If the distance you need to go isn't too far, walk instead of jumping on public transport for one or two stops.

If you really want a great way to explore an area, rent a bicycle! Not only is it good for the environment, but it is good for your travelling budget and your health too!

8) Look At The Bigger Picture When Bargaining

In regions like Latin America and South East Asia, bargaining for products is a part of the culture. It can almost be like a game! But please think about the bigger picture when bartering for that souvenir.

Before you start haggling over $1, think about how far that extra bit of cash could go for the person you are dealing with.

Look at the bigger picture! If you don't think twice about staying in an expensive hotel and drinking overpriced cocktails by the pool, don't then try and bully a local out of a couple of bucks.

9) Don't Give To Beggars

Now this one really is a hard one, as most of us feel completely heart broken when we see people (especially children) begging in the streets. But it is important to remember that begging only encourages local people to continue asking tourists for money.

As a result, there are many destinations that end up with people begging who are pretending to be worse off than they are in order to extort money off of foreigners.

When it comes to children who ask for money, in places like Cambodia parents often take them out of school to beg on streets, and in the worst cases they may be part of a larger network run by unscrupulous characters who keep the money for themselves.

Obviously use your discretion with this one, but if you really want to help out, perhaps buy the person some food or water instead. Also try and seek out local organisations who work with under privileged people in the area and ask if they require any assistance.

10) Educate Others To Be Responsible Travellers

Being a responsible traveller might come naturally to some, but others may just not be aware about the implications their actions can have when they are abroad.

If you see someone unintentionally doing something that is detrimental to the environment or to the local people and culture, perhaps mention something in a friendly way.

Start discussions about responsible travel with people in your hostel, hotel or who you are on tour with. It is only through education that we can help spread the word about sustainable tourism.

Before you head out on your gap year learn how to be an ethical and sustainable traveller.

If you have any other questions, thoughts or ideas, or are a business looking to implement sustainable practices, please feel free to get in contact with us.
Remember, our actions can have a big impact on the world while we travel. Make sure it is a positive one.

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10 Ways To Be A Responsible Traveller | NOMADasaurus Adventure Travel Blog

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As people who live on the road 365 days of the year, we are lucky enough to encounter all kinds of different cultures and environments on a daily basis. Through our personal experiences, we have become big advocates for sustainable tourism.

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(Adventure tour company)

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Responsible travel is about the attitude you take and the choices you make when travelling - to respect and benefit the local people, their cultures, economies and the environment.

While it's up to all of us to be conscientious globetrotting individuals, Intrepid makes it easier by building responsible travel fundamentals into each and every one of our trips. When you hit the road with us, you leave lighter footprints, invest your travel dollars in local communities, show respect and curiosity for different cultures and traditions, and experience genuine connections with the people you meet along the way.

Our style of travel involves:

Real life experiences which promote cross-cultural understanding.

Using public transport (where possible).

Staying in smaller-scale locally owned accommodation (where possible).

Buying locally produced food and drink, and purchasing souvenirs from local artisans.

Spreading the economic benefits of travel by purchasing from a range of local suppliers.

Minimising plastic waste (where possible).

Careful management of limited energy and water resources.

Avoiding the exploitation of the vulnerable - including women, children, animals and endangered species.

Intrepid's responsible travel policy

Our Responsible Travel Policy outlines our commitment to preserving the environment, supporting local communities, protecting the vulnerable and giving back to the places we travel. All our trip leaders, suppliers and staff are trained on these principles, and are core to us delivering sustainable, experience-rich travel.

Explore the different parts of our Responsible Travel Policy by clicking on the headings below.

Intrepid promotes positive and meaningful exchanges between our business, our travellers and the local places we visit. We do this by:

* Respecting different cultures in all destinations we travel to.
* Respecting local religions, religious places and rituals.
* Observing and respecting local customs and etiquette.
* Encouraging local interaction and understanding of the local way of life.
* Emphasising appropriate dress standards.
* Asking permission before photographing.
* Forbidding the use of illegal drugs on our trips.
* Portraying destinations fairly and respectfully in our communications and marketing material.

We work to maximise the benefits generated by tourism for local economies and communities. We do this by:

* Employing predominantly local staff and leaders within our operational teams (either our own Destination Management Companies, or suppliers who employ locals).
* Designing and operating trips to feature local suppliers or suppliers who directly benefit the local community and economy.
* Encouraging our travellers to purchase from local suppliers and use local service providers, as well as supporting social enterprises, local trade, arts and crafts.
* Purchasing sustainable and locally produced goods and services rather than imported products.
* Ensuring we have fair employment practices in place (and using suppliers who have similar employment practices).
* Involving the local community in decision making.
* Paying relevant taxes.
* Issuing each of our suppliers with our Supplier Code of Conduct to influence our supply chain to operate in a more sustainable way.
* Not engaging in any form of bribery, corruption or fraudulent activities.

We aim to contribute to the preservation of natural and built environments in the destinations we visit, and to reduce the negative impacts our operations may have on the environment. We do this by minimising the use of resources (energy, water, waste) and reducing our carbon emissions in our offices, on our trips and in the destinations we visit.
In our offices
* Implementing energy conservation initiatives (such as more efficient lighting/equipment).
* Ensuring better waste management by using 'avoid, reuse, reduce, recycle' principles.
* Adopting better purchasing practices (eg. sourcing products with post-consumer recycled content).
* Implementing water-saving initiatives to reduce consumption.

On our trips
* Using local transport where safe, reliable and feasible, and when this is not feasible, using private, locally owned transport.
* Ensuring our vehicles/fleets are well maintained and fuel-efficient.
* Encouraging travellers to minimise their waste and water usage on the trip.
* Encouraging our suppliers to adopt more sustainable practices or choosing suppliers who already have greener practices in place.
* Eating at local eateries (limiting food miles).
* Shopping at local markets offering local produce, items, souvenirs etc.

In the destinations we visit
* Understanding the environmental issues in destinations and minimising our direct impact (eg. if there's a local deforestation issue, we'll avoid purchasing and using firewood for a campfire).
* Ensuring our passengers preserve and do not contaminate the local water supply.
* Observing all national and marine park visitor rules.
* Using a 'take in, take back out' system of waste management in remote regions and national parks.
* Using established or existing tracks and paths.
* Minimising the use of intrusive devices (such as lights) and keeping noise to a minimum at culturally significant sites and other sensitive places.
* Discouraging travellers from touching fragile environments (eg. coral or formations in caves).

We protect and look after people - in particular, our most vulnerable - by observing basic human rights principles as outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and ensuring we are promoting among our staff, travellers, local communities and suppliers/business partners, their right to be treated with dignity, equality, freedom and respect.
How we protect women and minorities:
We promote equality through:
o Supporting enterprises run or staffed by women and/or minorities where available (such as local co-operatives, education initiatives etc.)
o Seeking women and minorities to be represented in decision-making that affects their local communities where possible.
o Ensuring we are not taking part in any activities or using suppliers/services that discriminate against, exploit or traffic women and/or minority groups.
How we protect children:
We protect children (those 17 years of age and under) from all forms of abuse:
o We do not employ children, nor do we use suppliers or patron places that allow children to perform work that is illegal or likely to jeopardise the child's health, safety or morals.
o We put in place strong measures to ensure that Intrepid's respective suppliers, travellers and partners are not involved in the exploitation of children, including training relevant employees/leaders on child protection and raising awareness among our passengers on how to report incidents of child exploitation.
o We promote credible initiatives that safeguard and assist in the positive development of children (eg. schools and childcare initiatives).
o We do not visit children's shelters or orphanages on our itineraries or on press/media trips.

You can read more about how we aim to protect children by reading our Child Protection Policy.

We oppose any exploitative or illegal practices and those that have a negative impact on animal welfare. As a company we work towards promoting the five freedoms that should be available to all animals, wild or domestic:

o Freedom from hunger and thirst.
o Freedom from discomfort.
o Freedom from pain, injury and disease.
o Freedom to express normal behaviour.
o Freedom from fear and distress.

We conduct appropriate research to ensure we do not promote, visit or participate in any activities that are failing to uphold the five freedoms listed above.

You can read more about how we aim to protect wildlife by reading our Animal Welfare Policy.

We develop meaningful partnerships with organisations and projects that care for the community and environment through fundraising, advocacy or lobbying activities. We only work with organisations who can demonstrate:

* Good governance over their projects (that they are legal, transparent and accountable).
* Integrity to fulfil their mandate and measure and evaluate the impact of their programs.
* They do not participate in any activities that harm people, animals or the environment.

* They do not force religious or political affiliations on others.

* They are not solely reliant on funds from Intrepid Travel.

* Peacefulness in their aims and objectives

We do not offer short-term, unskilled voluntourism opportunities on our itineraries.

For more information about the partners we support through The Intrepid Foundation, please see www.theintrepidfoundation.org.

Intrepid's top 11 responsible travel tips

1. Before leaving home learn as much as possible about the countries you are visiting - the religion and culture, the local rules and values.

2. Learn some language and don't be afraid to use it - simple pleasantries will help break the ice. Keep practising.

3. Learn what's appropriate behaviour and body language. Like the concept of 'saving face" in Asia or giving the thumbs up in western or central Europe.

4. Support locally owned businesses, hotels, restaurants and other services. Eat local food and drink local brands and brews. Use public transport, hire a bike or walk where convenient - you'll meet local people and get to know the place.

5. Think first. It's best not to eat in restaurants, shop in stores or visit local shows, markets or zoos that promote cruelty or exploitation of endangered species.

6. Shop from traditional artisans and for locally made products, helping keep traditional crafts alive and favour local products over imported items. Bargain if that is a local practice, but bear in mind that a small amount to you could be extremely important to the seller.

7. Dress respectfully with an awareness of local standards. Dress modestly at religious sites and check what swim wear is suitable for pools and the beach.

8. Always ask first before photographing or videoing people. Send them back copies of photos to help make it a two-way exchange.

9. Be wary of giving gifts or money to beggars, children and people you have just met. Supporting the community through a local school, clinic or development project may be more constructive.

10. Leave only footprints...take care of the environment as you would your own home. Take out all you take in, to areas away from the cities. Use alternatives to plastic and say 'No' to plastic bags. For cigarette butts, an empty film container makes a perfect portable container.

11. After returning home think how you can support programs and organisations that are working to protect the welfare, culture and environment of where you've been lucky to visit.

Read more about our responsible travel commitments

Read more about responsible travel

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While it's up to all of us to be conscientious globetrotting individuals, Intrepid makes it easier by building responsible travel fundamentals into each and every one of our trips. When you hit the road with us, you leave lighter footprints, invest your travel dollars in local communities, show respect and curiosity for different cultures and traditions, and experience genuine connections with the people you meet along the way.

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(Blog)

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I'm frequently asked about volunteering overseas, and unfortunately I don't know much about it. So today, I'm turning the blog over to friend and volunteer tourism expert Shannon O'Donnell from the blog A Little Adrift. She's been volunteering around the world for years and recently published a book on the subject. She's the expert, so without further ado, here's Shannon's advice on finding good volunteer opportunities.
A foundational motivation underpinning the past four years I've been traveling around the world has been the idea that serving others would help me find clearer direction for my life. There are many ways to better understand and respect other cultures as we travel, but for me, the most effective has been volunteering.

I left home to travel for many reasons, and I had many preconceived ideas about what I would find outside the confines of the United States. Traveling dispelled many of those notions almost immediately, but it was only when I slowed down and spent time volunteering that I was able to sink into the travel experience in a way that goes beyond photographing the major temples, churches, and iconic sites.

When I first left in 2008 on what I thought would simply be a year-long round-the-world trip, I was overwhelmed by how convoluted and ethically ambiguous the international volunteer industry seemed. Simple searches to find projects I could support on my trip yielded a bevy of companies touting volunteer experiences in the poorest countries in the world and yet costing many thousands of dollars - it didn't make sense, and it nearly discouraged me from doing any work at all.

But once I traveled, researched, and learned, I realized there are many quality, ethical options out there for travelers interested in volunteering, but finding them is tougher than it should be. It's this quandary that motivated me to write my book, The Volunteer Traveler's Handbook.

I know what it's like to want to volunteer and travel but to be confused by the sometimes huge fees, the equivocal ethics, and the sheer number of options. With that in mind, I jumped at the opportunity Matt gave me to share five clear steps on how to find and vet good-fit volunteer projects.

Step One: Understand Development and Aid

During my first year volunteering internationally, I overlooked this first step and instead fueled my volunteer efforts with enthusiasm and little knowledge, and as a result I unfortunately supported a few projects that I now see had fundamental ethical issues. One of the hardest things for new, eager volunteers to understand is that not all organizations - even nonprofits - are doing good, necessary work that ethically develops the communities and ecosystems where we volunteer our time. For that reason, take a step back from the planning and instead learn more about core problems facing development projects when they bring in Western volunteers and ideas.

Two core themes I analyze in my book center on how too many volunteer projects can actually foster dependency on international aid and compromise the dignity of the people they are trying to help. Before you volunteer, your job is to understand the macro-industry around volunteering. I've collected a list of fantastic books, TED Talks, and websites that provide context for international aid conundrums and the interplay between volunteering and development work. Each one of these three books and articles offers a good start toward broad-level understanding:

Step Two: Choose a Good-Fit Type of Volunteering

There are an overwhelming number of ways to volunteer, and since I started traveling more than four years ago, I've tried most of them. I used a placement company on my round-the-world trip to find a monastery in Nepal where I could teach, I've taken recommendations from travelers on the road, and now I most often volunteer independently with small organizations I find organically as I travel. Your next step is to assess your time commitment and your personal volunteer motivations.

Independent volunteering: Independent volunteering is ideal for long-term travelers and those on a flexible round-the-world trip who don't know when or where they might be traveling. There's usually little or no facilitation, so you must arrange all travel, accommodation, and food. In exchange, the fees are low or free. You're traditionally working directly with the project or organization on a very hands-on level.

Placement companies: Middlemen take a fee to match you with a specific type of volunteer project and usually offer a medium level of facilitation. Ideal for very specific or niche volunteer experiences and either short or long time commitments.

Voluntours: These offer a high level of facilitation and are ideal for those on a short vacation who want to pack in a lot of sites with a nod to service integrated into the trip. Voluntours are expensive, and the ratio of touring to service can vary greatly. Usually, the bulk of your fee goes to the tour company itself.

Social enterprises: All travelers can support the small businesses working in their own local communities for change. If you can only volunteer for a very short time, consider nixing the volunteering and instead infusing your money into local communities as you travel. Volunteering is not always the right choice on every trip, but you can still do good by choosing restaurants, shops, and business with an underlying social mission.

Step Three: Research Organizations in Your Interest Area

Now we're down to the nitty-gritty details. Travelers too often skip the first two steps and risk having an unfulfilling trip at best and doing harm with their volunteering efforts at worst. My prep work for a new volunteer trip starts with a search of the major volunteer databases to see what projects exist in my interest area. I then use a spreadsheet or an Evernote folder to track the details.

These websites allow you to sort and sift through the whole gamut of types of volunteering (conservation, teaching, medical, etc.) and requirements (family, timing, location). For now, simply fill your spreadsheet or folder with projects that excite you, and in the next step we'll look at vetting potential volunteer projects.

Grassroots Volunteering: A small, growing resource of free and low-cost organizations and social enterprises all over the world. This site is my personal passion project that I launched in 2011.

Go Overseas: This site collates volunteering placements from many companies and returns a lot of variety in the search results.

Idealist.org: A large database that occasionally returns some fantastic, small, niche organizations.

Pro World: A wonderful middleman placement company with community-driven projects and offering internships, volunteering, and study-abroad programs.

Volunteer HQ: Very fair placement fees even with the refundable registration fee taken into account, and they seem to choose projects with a long-term community approach.

WWOOF: Working on organic farms is a wonderful way to give time to farm, agriculture, and sometimes conservation projects. (Matt has previously provided a full guide on how to WWOOF on your travels.)

Step Four: Ask the Right Questions

Vetting the volunteer projects you researched is your next step and allows you to narrow your list. Diligently follow through with this stage of the process because there are heartbreaking consequences to supporting projects that are not sensitive to the needs of the people and places they serve. An example- and a cautionary tale - is the current orphanage scandals reported in Africa and Cambodia; something as innocuous as volunteering at an orphanage often has sad and heartbreaking side effects on the children.

Frustratingly, there are disparate issues within each volunteering niche, so I wrote up a full list of questions to ask your volunteer organization on my volunteer site. The core issues most volunteer projects face come down to:

Where is the money going? Look at placement fees and how much of that fee goes back into the community or projects.

How is the organization working with the community? Have they asked the local community if this project is something that is wanted or needed? Find out if the organization is prepared to stick around and support the project or development work for potentially many years if that is needed, or leave altogether if not.

What is expected of volunteers? What is the exact nature of the volunteer work, and what is the level of volunteer support on the ground?

When you've effectively questioned the organizations and projects that interest you, you're only left with the personal decision of weighing time, costs, and project details to decide which one fits your volunteering goals. My 11-year-old niece and I volunteered during our seven-month trip to Southeast Asia, and my volunteer goals then were quite different than when I travel solo. My various projects over the years have reflected my differing circumstances...as will yours!

Step Five: Take a Deep Breath

The single decision to weave international service into my round-the-world travels changed the direction of my life. I left the US back in 2008 confused about the direction I should take. I left behind my previous dreams as an actor in Los Angeles and hoped that travel and volunteering would help me refocus. It has done that and more: the regular integration of service in my life gave me a new lens through which to experience the world and an ability to experience communities and cultures in a way that simply traveling through a country does not.

Once you've picked your volunteer experience, take a deep breath before you tackle the planning phase and those practicalities. I have travel resources and volunteer resources when you're ready for that, but pause first. It's easy to get bogged down in the details, but the larger picture is very rewarding when you're able to sit down in the airplane - your bags packed, vaccinations done, details planned - and simply anticipate the new experiences and perspectives you're about to face.
Shannon O'Donnell has been traveling the world since 2008; she travels slowly and volunteers in small communities along the way. She recently published The Volunteer Traveler's Handbook, and her travel stories and photography are recorded on her travel blog, A Little Adrift.

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How to Ethically Volunteer Anywhere in the World

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I'm frequently asked about volunteering overseas, and unfortunately I don't know much about it. So today, I'm turning the blog over to friend and volunteer tourism expert Shannon O'Donnell from the blog A Little Adrift. She's been volunteering around the world for years and recently published a book on the subject.

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(Activist travel company)

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Award-winning, Fair Trade certified wildlife conservation!

Small group travel:
2020: 9 Mar, 23 Mar, 6 Apr, 20 Apr, 4 May, 18 May, 1 Jun, 15 Jun, 29 Jun, 13 Jul, 27 Jul, 10 Aug, 24 Aug, 7 Sep, 21 Sep, 5 Oct, 19 Oct, 2 Nov, 16 Nov, 30 Nov, 14 Dec, 28 Dec
2021: 11 Jan, 25 Jan, 8 Feb, 22 Feb, 8 Mar, 22 Mar, 5 Apr, 19 Apr, 3 May, 17 May, 31 May, 14 Jun, 28 Jun, 12 Jul, 26 Jul, 9 Aug, 23 Aug, 6 Sep, 20 Sep, 4 Oct, 18 Oct, 1 Nov, 15 Nov, 29 Nov, 13 Dec, 27 Dec

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Award-winning, Fair Trade certified wildlife conservation!