Give a little, Get a Friend

You’re on the plane with your backpack full of eco-travel swag, ready to meet and mingle with other globally minded nomads. A great way to jump in the mix is to volunteer! Here are five places to give back on the go while growing your own voyage from the seeds of your fellow wanderers experiences.

Headed down under for some antipodean antics? Spice it up at Lentil As Anything in Melbourne, Australia, a donation based restaurant. It’s the perfect watering hole to meet other budget travelers and locals who come for the delicious vegetarian nibbles, friendly community atmosphere, and rockin’ tunes on the weekends!

Go native with some friendly Asian pachyderms, and their riders, the Mahouts. You’ll get to listen to the soothing purr of an elephant, and save a little on travel costs.

WWOOFing (Volunteer work on organic farms) is a global way to glow! Especially in New Zealand, which can get a bit pricey for those of us Vantastic vacationers.  If all you have is gas money, then stop by an organic farm for a few weeks to soak in the lord of the rings scenery, drink straight out of mountain springs, and grow organic relationships with other campers.

The best teachers are students. Teach English in a new country, and you never know what hidden mysteries you’ll discover.

If you’re a summer chaser headed to a land of surfing Santa’s and other topsy-turvy seasonal escapades in South America. Kick -start your travel karma with these free to super cheap volunteer opportunities.

Written by Perri Kraus

Image via Flickr