Give back while travelling 🙌 Check out these voluntouring experiences ♻️

What is voluntouring?

Voluntouring (volunteering and tourism) is a travel trend where tourists partake in voluntary work that gives back to the local communities they visit. Some examples of voluntouring include, taking part in a beach clean up, providing food for impoverished communities, and animal conservation efforts.

Recommended voluntouring experiences

Since 2017, Airbnb has worked with non-profits to promote their social causes where 100% profits made go to their social projects, waiving any booking fees. Below, we have found several Airbnb experiences we recommend that give back to communities around the globe. We've selected these activities based on positive ratings and great missions.

Paddle with penguins in Cape Town, South Africa

Join a qualified Marine Conservationist on a two-hour paddle out to sea off the coast of Cape Town. On your journey, you'll have the opportunity to see and learn about penguins, seals, and other wild sea creatures that inhabit this body of water. The best part, the £17 you spend on this experience goes directly to AfriOceans Conservation Alliance, that offers Marine Environmental Education to promote Marine Conservation.

Help combat homelessness in Dublin with a guided walking tour

Through this alternative experience, you'll explore the Dublin 7 region of Ireland's capital with a one-hour walking tour that goes over the history of the area where your guide has lived the past decade in, seven of which he was homeless. This tour offers a raw perspective of the homelessness in the city and 100% of the proceeds go to Secret Street Tours, a nonprofit social organization that trains and offers those affected by homelessness a job as walking tour guides.

Snorkelling and reef clean-up in Cuba

Spend three hours off the coast of Havana in Bacuranao beach. Here, you'll be safety debriefed and provided with gear to go snorkelling and explore the nearby coral reefs. Along the way, you'll have the opportunity to safely clean up rubbish in the ocean, helping with marine conservation.

Bring awareness and help fight blood cancer with a boat cruise in Long Beach, CA

Cruise through the canals of Naples, California and learn about the history of the area. You'll also have the opportunity to experience great food, beer, and wine on the boat. 100% of the cost is donated to Music Saves Lives, who brings awareness and helps with matching blood and bone marrow donors to help those affected by blood cancers and leukaemia. Rates start from £248 for an hour-and-a-half tour that can accommodate up to six guests.

Go plastic fishing in Amsterdam's Canals

While on the topic of canals, you can clean up the canals of Amsterdam with this unique sightseeing experience. Though, this experience is currently sold out on Airbnb. You can book a boat tour directly on Plastic Whale's website. Rates start from around £25 per person for a two-hour boat tour exploring the highlights and history of Amsterdam's canals while fitted with long nets to catch plastic in.

Play with rescued dogs on a beach in Croatia

Spend two and a half hours interacting with dogs rescued off the streets in and near Split, Croatia. Bestie Split is the only non-kill shelter in the Split region and works to save all dogs and rehome them to loving families. This experience is currently sold out on Airbnb experiences but is still worth mentioning, and we highly recommend keeping an eye out on availability or donating directly, as 100% of the proceeds go towards rehabilitating the dogs. You still can message the host to see if there's any upcoming availability.

Cuddle with dogs on the beaches of Bali

Continuing with the dog rescuing and beach trend, you can spend three hours cuddling and playing with dogs on a beautiful, uncrowded beach in Bali. You have the opportunity to help dogs learn social skills and 100% of the proceeds go to the Bali Dog Association, a non-profit organization that works to put an end to cruelty and suffering towards stray dogs on the island.

Cook traditional Moroccan recipes for yourself and those in need

A two-hour cooking class in Casablanca with a well-rated Airbnb host, who shares her favourite Moroccan recipes with you. You'll have the opportunity to cook for yourself and wrap up additional food to send off to those in need of a warm meal.