Worldpackers connects travelers looking to exchange their skills for accommodation and food with incredible hosts from all around the world. It has a community of 1,000,000+ travelers and hosts worldwide.
By helping a few hours per day, you get free accommodation on Hostels, Guest Houses, Pousadas, Surf Camps, Ecovillages, Yoga Studios, Home Stays, Campings, NGOs, Permaculture projects, Schools, Startups, Holistic Centers, Farms, Communities, Eco Lodges, and Hotels. It’s a wide range of volunteer opportunities around the world.
Anyone can become a Worldpacker, this site is perfect for:
- People who are traveling alone for their first time: security is very important, there are reviews from other travelers in each project, and hosts go through a verification process. 70% of Worldpackers users are women!
- People who want to make a longer trip, of at least 3 months: volunteering is a perfect way to travel more spending less. Many times what determines how long a trip is, is exactly the budget. Accommodation and food together account for about 70% of the costs of a trip and with Worldpackers you can save on these costs.
- People who want to learn English: Many people are afraid of traveling because they do not know English, or because they know very little. But Worldpackers represents an opportunity to learn and practice English in a cultural immersion, much more than just a language course.
Table of Contents
1. Worldpackers website and social media
a. Website
b. Social media
- Facebook: @worldpackers
- Instagram: @worldpackers
- Twitter: @worldpackers
- Youtube: @worldpackers
- Pinterest: @worldpackerspin
2. What is Woldpackers?
Worldpackers is a collaborative platform where you can travel exchanging your skills for accommodation, it connects you with hosts around the world.
Worldpackers was born through the life experiences of two friends. Riq Lima, an economist who left his job as an investment banker to travel the world for 4 years with little money. And Eric Faria, a certified accountant, who initially traveled to the USA to learn English, but ended up staying for nearly four years exchanging his skills for accommodation.
a. Is Worldpackers safe?
To ensure the safety of all members, the Worldpackers team diligently verifies each host before granting approval to join the community. Additionally, all reviews from worldpackers travelers are thoroughly analyzed to uphold the values of mutual collaboration and learning throughout the exchange process.
3. Countries where Worldpackers has projects
With Worldpackers you can find opportunities worldwide. You can make a search by region, country or city. The regions are Africa, Asia, Central America, Europe, Middle East, North America, Oceania, South America, and Southeast Asia.
4. Types of projects and work
The platform allows you to search for projects by:
a. Type of projects
- Work exchange: exchange your skills for accommodation
- Social Impact: volunteer in NGOs, schools and social projects
- Eco Program: learn Ecovillages, farms & permaculture projects
b. Availability
- Last minute: needs help immediately
- By month
c. How do you help?
- Welcoming & Helping Guests
- Communication & Marketing
- Interacting & Entertaining Guests
- Building & Hands-on Chores
- Teaching & Sharing
- Community work
- Eco Activities
- Kitchen & Bar Tasks
- Improving Websites & SEO
- Household Chores
d. Skills
Gardening, Farming, Bartending, Handyman, Reception, Administration, Web Developer, Social Media, Teaching Languages, Painting & Decorating, Housekeeping, Cleaning, Party Promoter, Tour Guide, Social Work, Photography, Music, Arts, Cooking, Kitchen Hand, Video Making, Teaching Sports, Night Shift, Child Care and Animal Care.
e. Host type
Hostel, Guest House. Pousada, Surf Camp, Ecovillage, Yoga Studio, Home Stay, Camping, NGO, Permaculture project, School, Startup, Holistic Center, Farm, Community, Eco Lodge, and Hotel.
5. Duration of Worldpackers projects
You can agree with your host the amount of time that you’ll be staying.
- Short: stay less than one month.
- Medium: stay one month.
- Long: stay more than one month.
Usually, it varies from 2 weeks to 3 months, but I’ve heard of volunteers staying for more time. Also, if you like your host and want to stay more time you can propose to extend your visit.
6. Compensation
a. Accommodation and food
You’ll usually work 5 hours a day for 5 days (free weekends) in exchange for accommodation. Aside from accommodation, some hosts include meals and even discounts on trips and tours!
b. How to earn money with Worldpackers? (extra, only if you want to collaborate)
If you like to produce content, you can earn money by inspiring others to travel. You need to be an active Member and have positive reviews to apply to the Worldpacker Programs, which are the following:
- Creator: you will get a monthly remuneration to produce content about your volunteering experiences for Worldpackers social media accounts.
- Guru: you will earn commission every time someone becomes a member using your Expert code.
- Blogger: write articles for Worldpackers and earn from 50USD to 160USD for each approbed blog post published on Worldpackers platfrom.
7. How much does Worldpackers cost?
In the most basic solo plan you’ll pay 53 USD for an annual membership and you’ll be able to apply to as many hosts as you want and confirm as many trips as you want. And you will also get assistance and support from Worldpackers staff throughout your trip.
Additionally, Worldpackers offers 3 different solo and couple plans that you can see in the table below.
If one of the members is already a solo traveler at Worldpackers, it’s possible to switch plans.
| Type | Trips | Pack | Pack Plus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo | Price: 53 USD/year (49 EUR/year) | Price: 107 USD/year (99 EUR/year) | Price: 139 USD/year (129 EUR/year) |
| Couples & Friends | Price: 59 USD/year (63 EUR/year) | Price: 119 USD/year (128 EUR/year) | Price: 149 USD/year (161 EUR/year) |
| Includes | • WP safeguard: 49 USD refunded if volunteering experience doesn't go as planned • Host response guarantee • Highly responsive support: 7 days/week • Community: connect with other travelers • Give back: part of membership fee donated to projects of social and ecological impact. | • WP safeguard: 199 USD refunded if volunteering experience doesn't go as planned • Priority support • Planning and budgeting for travel: access to video lessons • Make a living while traveling: access to video lessons • Discounts with: Wise transfer, Hostelpass, Pax assistance, Babbel, Yesim and Stasher • All benefits of Trips solo plan. | • WP safeguard: 399 USD refunded if volunteering experience doesn't go as planned • All benefits of Trips solo plan & Pack Solo Plan. |
Click here to sign up and create your profile.
When you buy your membership use the promocode LIFESTYLEHUNTER to have a discount of 10 USD!
8. Requirements
a. How old do you have to be to be a Worlpacker?
In order to make sure everyone can travel alone safely and with legal protection, Worldpackers only allow applications and trip confirmations to people over 18 – there’s no age limit to participate!
b. Do you need a CV to be a Worlpacker?
To be a worldpacker you don’t need to be an expert in a specific field, have diplomas, studies or anything related. Your CV here is your passion, your eagerness to contribute, and your commitment to leaving a positive mark.
My advice is to choose projects where you have previous experience, that will let the host choose you as you’ll be a better candidate from the rest.
9. Application steps
It is easy to participate in Worldpackers, just follow these steps:
a. Check the website
On Worldpackers.com you’ll find the host database.
b. Create your profile
Make a profile with info about yourself, your experiences, photos of travels, and a list of your skills.
c. Search for a host in the database
In the Search Page you’ll find a search engine to find hosts. Search for hosts who offer what you’re looking for. You can filter your search by a specific location, kind of help needed, and time period.
d. If you find a project that you like, register to Worldpackers
You’ll only be able to send messages to the hosts once you’ve registered. When you find the opportunity of your dreams, all you have to do is become a verified member.
e. Contact the host
Once you have registered in Worldpackers you can send a message to the host and agree when will you arrive, how much time are you going to stay and in which activities will you be working.
f. Extra
Hosts can also search for travelers. Worldpackers has a search feature that filters travelers by skill, nationality, and language, and also shows you the travelers who are looking to travel in their area.
10. Real Experience using Worldpackers
Read all about my friend’s experience, the tasks she did, friends she made, the pros and cons, and more.
My friend Mezzo from South Africa worked as a volunteer at a hostel in Cape Town. In this post, she will explain her experience
Read about it HERE.
Extra: Worldpackers Epic Trips
If you are looking for a faster and easier alternative to volunteer abroad without having to send a bunch of applications and having a planned trip, Worldpackers Epic Trips is a great alternative!
The Epic Trips are structured, group-based adventures with a set itinerary and duration, combining volunteering with adventure and skill-building activities. They are more costly due to the immediate acceptance, inclusion of accommodations, meals, and activities, and offer of comprehensive support and guidance.
Cost: from 503 USD to 902 USD (30 USD discount with my code LIFESTYLEHUNTER)
Are you interested in finding opportunities to go abroad? In the Scholarship Finder, you can discover a wide list of scholarships, work opportunities, volunteer projects, contests, entrepreneurial support, and virtual courses!
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Hlw sir, how are you. I am from Bangladesh.i live in Qatar 6 years.we have experience electric and house cleaning work .I am working there hard but not give me my full .can you help me.