Backpacker hostels

Volunteering opportunities on Backpackers Hostels

Help at Backpackers hostels around the world and get free hospitality in exchange. This is the “Backpackers hostel” volunteer section page

What is Backpacking?

Backpacking is a simple and popular form of travelling. Here is a brief summary of what backpacking means in its most original and authentic sense.

Backpacking IS:

A way of travelling on a tight budget, that favours close contact with the local culture and an immersion in the lifestyle of the place in order to better understand its most authentic aspects.
Flexibility: the traveller is completely open to variations in itineraries and programme changes according to the opportunities that may arise during the trip.
it favours extremely light and essential luggage to facilitate movement and travel.
Economic: based on the assumption that by reducing your expenses you can extend the duration of your trips.
it favours off-beaten tracks and “slow journeys” by unusual means.
A sometimes stationary activity. If you find a place that fascinates you deeply, in which you feel comfortable and which you want to get to know better, why not stay there for a couple of weeks, months or even years if you have the opportunity?
A learning experience. Backpacking allows you to get to know yourself, your surroundings and the people you have the opportunity to meet. Stay open and allow yourself this chance to grow.

Backpacking is NOT (necessarily):

A hippies way of travelling.
A way of travel exclusively for those who search “the meaning of life”.
A form of group travel. As a matter of fact most backpacking journeys are “alone” or together with another person (a couple). Travelling in groups often limit “flexibility, mobility, adaptation to situations and easy programme changes”.
It is not just fun. It’s an adventure, for better or for worse. It’s very common to get lost, get dirty, get robbed, get stranded in a rainstorm and feel homesick.
It is not a touristic way of travelling. A backpacker usually is not interested in the main touristic attractions.
A waste of time or a hole in your resume. Travel for the backpacker is a life experience, it’s training, it’s growth, a way to discover one’s strengths and weaknesses.

How to use this page.

Click on the announcement you’d like to read. Check the date of the publication (some opportunities might be already expired). If the announcement is still valid, look for the ‘contact details‘ section (you can usually find it at the end of the announcement before the comment section). There you can find free ways to get in touch with the hosts (look for websit and e-mail addresses, phone numbers, application forms, etc…). Send the host a message and wait for a reply.

Please do not be offended if you don’t receive any reply. Some hosts might be very busy or they live in areas where internet connection is somehow scarce. In some cases, they might not reply to you if they think your profile doesn’t correspond with their requisites.

Benefits: Food and accommodation and…?

Some of these opportunities are completely free (you receive food and accommodation in exchange for your voluntary work – wwoof style). Others might only offer accommodation.