What It’s Really Like Volunteering with Worldpackers: My Experience as a Solo Female Traveller
Introduction
Last October, I spent one month volunteering in Greece through the organisation Worldpackers. You might be familiar with this popular volunteer community that offers tons of experiences all around the world. I volunteered at a Hotel/Hostel that offered yoga retreats. I did a little bit of everything including teaching yoga. I met lots of other solo travellers and explored the beautiful island of Corfu all while spending basically nothing. In this post I’ll break down my entire experience with WorldPackers, from the work, accommodation, and everything I learned.
How I Found the Opportunity (And Why I Chose It)
I had known about Worldpackers for a few years and had met lots of other solo travellers who highly recommended it. I had been interested for a while but you do need to pay for a membership before you apply so I didn’t purchase one until I knew I was going to go for sure. I purchased an entry level membership plan, which costs $59 USD for one year. There are two other plans that are more expensive and have a few added benefits but I just choose the cheapest one. You can still view volunteer opportunities without a membership but you can’t apply until you become a member.
It’s easy to filter through volunteer opportunities on the Worldpackers website and app to find an experience in your location of interest, what type of work you want to do and any requirements you have. For example, I was looking to stay somewhere for around a month, that included 3 meals a day and included accommodation. So I filtered the search and that’s what led me to volunteering in Greece.
There are many different types of work Worldpackers offers their volunteers. I was looking for something in a hotel or hostel because I have experience doing that. And I was looking to teach yoga. I was a newly certified teacher at the time and wanted to get some experience through volunteering. I ended up finding a Hotel/Hostel in Greece that also offered Yoga Retreats. I applied and got a response from the owner saying she’d love to have me teach yoga and do some other tasks around the property. To be honest, I wasn’t totally sure what other tasks I’d be getting up to but I was excited nonetheless.
Arriving in Corfu: First Impressions
My travel day (or should I say days) to Corfu was extremely long. I flew from Tokyo to Guangzhou to London to Corfu and 40 hours later I made it! It was around midnight when I arrived and it was completely dark outside. When I arrived at the property I was shown my room which was a 6 person dorm, but I was the only one there. The busy summer season was over so there were a lot less volunteers than usual. As a solo female traveller, arriving at night somewhere new can always feel a bit sketchy. My room didn’t have a lock either so I felt a bit uneasy that first night because I hadn’t met anybody and was all on my own.
The next morning I woke up and looked out of my room to the most incredible view. I was looking right onto the sea and the landscape was remarkable. It was my first time in Greece and it has always been one of my dream destinations. My anxiety from the previous night melted away. I met the other volunteers and the owner of the hotel who told me I’d be doing a few different jobs until the yoga teacher position became available (I was replacing a current teacher who was leaving about a week later).
They let me have a free day to explore. I spent a lot of my day on the beach reading, doing yoga and soaking up the sun. The area of Corfu was quaint as the peak season had passed. This was perfect because it meant less chaos and crowds of tourists. It was the perfect time of year as I could still enjoy the lovely warm weather.
The landscape was so beautiful and the beach had the nicest sunsets.
What the Work Was Like
The first two weeks I was doing a bunch of different tasks. And honestly communication wasn’t great at the beginning and it wasn’t always clear what I’d actually be doing everyday. My first day of work I helped out at reception for a few hours and they let me have the rest of my day free. That night, I got a new roommate who I became quick friends with. The next day the owner paired us together to work outside and we helped prepare the land for their annual olive harvest. The next day was rainy so we couldn’t work outside so we ended up helping build a cupboard and helped run an art class for the people on the yoga retreat. The next week or so, there was varied work usually outside. I worked in the mornings and then was given the rest of the day off.
The last two weeks were a lot more clear because I started teaching yoga on a consistent schedule. There was a rotation between 3 teachers my first week and then just 2 the last week. If I worked the evening yoga class that meant I would also teach the following morning’s class. The days I didn’t teach I would help guide hikes, help on the kayak tours, check-in guests and show them to their rooms or I would have a free day. I was really lucky with the jobs that I had because they were really enjoyable and I didn’t work too many hours. The workload was very manageable and honestly on a lot of days they were quite light. Most volunteers who weren’t teaching yoga did more hours than I did so I was really lucky.
The view from the yoga classes was amazing!
Accommodation and Perks
Throughout my time in Corfu I stayed in two different accommodations. The first one was a shared dorm in an area that was just for volunteers. I ended up getting two other roommates who were lovely and we all had so much fun together. They were in Corfu for a shorter time than I was so once they left I moved into a house just for the yoga teachers. I got a private room because it was nearing the end of season. I loved being in the dorms because they’re more social but the actual accommodation itself wasn’t the best. So, once my roommates left it was nice to move to the other house which was a lot bigger and had nicer amenities.
The balcony of our dorm room and the marvelous view.
They provided meals three times a day which were all so delicious. Breakfast and dinner were big buffets with lots of variety and traditional Greek food. Our lunches changed daily but were also good. I have a few dietary restrictions and they accommodated me no problem.
Another thing that attracted me to this opportunity was all of the free activities that were available for volunteers to do. Hikes, kayaking, paddle boarding, yoga classes, day trips to nearby sights, ATV rides and free shuttles to Corfu Town. Some more perks were free Wi-Fi (questionable at times but for the most part fine), free laundry service, free shuttles to and from the airport, discounted drinks, free water and of course the incredible location 5 minute walk to the beach and small town.
The Social Side of Volunteering
The volunteers were all so friendly and I met some wonderful people while I was there. I spent the most amount of time with my two roommates and am grateful I got to live in the shared room with them. In the busy summer season they can have up to 30 volunteers at once, but there were always less than 10 of us, with new people coming in and out throughout my month there. I enjoyed having a smaller group of volunteers because it allowed us to really get to know each other.
As a sober traveller I’m always crossing my fingers I’ll meet some cool people who don’t just drink to have fun. And luckily, because there were so many fun activities to do throughout the days there was lots of sober socialisation. There was a small bar which I’ve heard can be pretty crazy in the summer but it was pretty chill when I was there. Some volunteers would have a few drinks at the bar every night and I usually just opted out and went back to my room. Also, because most guests were on a yoga retreat the energy was pretty relaxed in the hotel in general.
Exploring Corfu During Free Time
When I wasn’t on shift I spent a lot of time on the beach, reading, hanging out with other volunteers or using the kayaks/paddleboards. We were allowed to join any of the activities so I joined kayaking tours, sunset paddle boarding, yoga classes, guided hikes, day trips to Corfu Town and an ATV ride around the area.
I loved exploring Corfu Town on my free days.
We also had access to the area where the yoga classes were so I did a lot of self-practice and did my workouts there. The balance between volunteering and having time for activities was amazing. Especially for me because a lot of my jobs revolved around these activities. I had so much fun exploring the island and trying new things. Sunset paddle boarding was especially incredible and a memory I’ll never forget.
What I Learned From the Experience
I learned so much from the experience and had such a transformational month. This was one of my first times teaching yoga as a newly certified teacher and it was so incredible to be part of the guests’ experience at their yoga retreat. Hearing positive feedback from the students was so special. I will forever cherish the time I spent teaching there.
The sweetest lady in one of my yoga classes painting me teaching.
As a solo traveller it showed me how quickly you can feel comfortable somewhere. Embracing slow travel really makes you appreciate a place in a different way than typical travel. I felt so at home there and it showed me how adaptable I am and how quickly I can learn new things.
I would love to go back to Corfu and spend more time on this special island. This was my first time in Greece and it did not disappoint. Corfu will always have a special place in my heart because of this incredible month.
Is Worldpackers Worth It? My Honest Review
I think it’s abundantly clear that I loved my experience and think Worldpackers is such an incredible organisation and volunteer community. If you are a budget traveller, gap year student, or curious about slow travel I highly recommend checking out WorldPackers. It’s a great way to learn about a new culture, new place and learn new skills. As a solo female traveller I felt really safe and met lots of other solo female backpackers throughout my experience.
You can read reviews left by other travellers or what I recommend is to message previous volunteers. You can do this directly through Worldpackers! This is a great way to get an inside scoop and learn about what you should really be expecting. When you complete your experience you leave a review and you get a review back. People may not be entirely truthful in their reviews so definitely reach out to previous volunteers! I’ve had a few people reach out to me and I’m always happy to tell them what to expect.
If you are looking for a way to get out of your comfort zone, budget travel, learn new skills, meet new people and overall have a once in a lifetime experience I would definitely check out Worldpackers and see what experiences speak to you!
Conclusion
Volunteering in Greece was unforgettable and one of the most incredible months I’ve ever spent solo travelling. It made me realise how many cool experiences are out there and it left me wanting more! I am hoping to do more Worldpackers experiences this next year and hope you do too. If you have any questions about my experience, Worldpackers or anything else leave me a comment and I’d love to get back to you.
