Voluntourism in Dharamsala, India

Vacations built around opportunities to give something back to the world are referred to as voluntourism. Opportunity is the best description because in reaching to help others it is possible to learn about new cultures and to see parts of the world that otherwise might only be visited through pictures or dreams.

Cross-Cultural Solutions offers voluntourism packages to Dharamsala, India. Dharamsala is a favored starting point for hikers in India as well as those who wish to visit the Dalai Lama who lives only a few miles away. The town is found in a forest with the beautiful snow covered Himalayan Mountains in the background. CCS has three home-base areas in Dharamsala. Traditional Indian meals and transportation are provided as part of the packages. Volunteers can spend their free time in Dharamsala communing with nature, visiting temples and monasteries, and learning about Tibetan culture. Opportunities for charitable work in Dharamsala are centered on care-giving, teaching, community development, and health care.

Volunteers for Peace is a reputable organization that has many voluntourism packages to India. They are one of the lower priced voluntourism organizations, offer student credits, and are well worth looking into. Accommodations will be provided in a local guest house. One upcoming Dharamsala, India voluntourism package they offer lasts twenty days with the first two weeks spent in camp will give volunteers the chance to learn about Tibetan culture and history. The third week offers an opportunity to take a four day trek around the mountains of Dharamsala and Triund.

Other packages offering India voluntourism opportunities present many types of experiences for volunteers. Aidscamp.org is in the process of building a primary school in Tamil Nadu for the children of India's lowest social caste.

I-to-i has around thirty reasonably priced voluntourism packages to different parts of India. Many of i-to-i's packages focus on community work, and teaching children. Trips last from two to twelve weeks. Accommodations are offered in home-stay, guesthouses, and shared volunteer houses. If other accommodations are desired i-to-I welcomes inquiries about more comfortable accommodations. Meals, airport pickup, in-country acculturation, and 24 hour emergency support are included in i-to-i's India packages. The flights to and from India, insurance, visas, and local transportation are not included in these voluntourism packages.

Helping others while on vacation and at the same time experiencing India travel opportunities can be an experience that brings challenges and joy both to those helping and those being helped.

Sources

Cross-Cultural Solutions, Volunteers for Peace, i-to-i