While gap years and volunteering abroad are often seen as a young person’s game, older travelers are now bucking the trend. More and more people aged 50, 60 and above are turning to ‘voluntourism’, seeking experiences that go beyond the typical all-inclusive holiday to something much more meaningful and life-enriching.
This shift highlights broader changes in how Canadians are approaching travel later in life. National research conducted by Flight Centre Canada and YouGov shows that over 60 per cent of Canadians are prioritizing “slow” or intentional travel – favoring deeper experiences, cultural immersion, and personal renewal over fast-paced itineraries. These preferences tend to be even more pronounced among Baby Boomers and older travelers.
For many later-in-life travelers, volunteering abroad offers a way to rediscover adventure and excitement, to step outside familiar routines, immerse themselves in new cultures, landscapes and ways of life, and even to meet likeminded people. And, what better time to engage in more purposeful travel than when you have more freedom, resources and life experience to both invest in the initiatives and the communities you’re serving and to truly appreciate the experience.
The key is to choose a placement that aligns with your energy, interests and comfort levels. Some programs, like conservation or building projects, are more physically active, while others, such as teaching or community outreach, are more relaxed. The most important thing is good overall health and a willingness to adapt to new environments.
So, if you’re a boomer, retiree, or a 50+ traveler looking for your next adventure, here’s why volunteering abroad could be your most memorable journey yet.
Life experience is a unique advantage
One thing that distinguishes older volunteers from their younger peers is lived experience. Whether it’s having managed a team, taught or mentored, run a business, raised children or kept a home, older volunteers bring the skills, patience and perspectives that younger volunteers are only just beginning to develop.
In fact, many organizations welcome mature adults with open arms because they bring reliability, strong communication skills, and a natural ability to connect with people from all walks of life. A popular volunteering opportunity for those over 50 is teaching English, in destinations such as Vietnam, Cambodia or Madagascar, for example. This type of placement requires plenty of patience and empathy – qualities that come with age and experience.
More free time and flexibility
Maybe your children have flown the nest, work responsibilities are slowing down, or you’ve retired altogether – suddenly there’s space in your life that didn’t really exist before. For some, that slower pace is a welcome relief, but for others, it can feel unfamiliar and strange. Volunteering abroad can fill that newly freed up time with new and rewarding projects, offering a renewed sense of purpose.
A community development and education program in Nepal, for example, is perfectly suited to older volunteers. Whether it’s teaching, mentoring or managing projects, it’s provides the ideal opportunity to work at your own, flexible pace and see tangible results from your efforts.
It’s always worth testing the waters with a short-term one- or two-week program at first. If this then sparks your passion, you can then take the plunge with a longer-term placement and fully embrace a life-changing experience abroad.
You’ll meet people from all works of life
It’s often said that making new friends gets harder as you get older, but volunteering later in life can actually make it easier. You’re more sure of who you are, more confident in what you bring to the table, and far less worried about trying to impress people, which makes forming real connections feel surprisingly effortless.
Volunteering abroad naturally brings likeminded people together – from warm-hearted locals to fellow volunteers, the connections you build can be surprisingly deep and long-lasting.
Picture this: you step off the plane in an unfamiliar country, surrounded by people you’ve never met. You’re put into a group with other volunteers all in the exact same boat, all there for the same reason. You’ll work together on things you’ve never done before, brainstorm ideas, tackle new challenges, swap life stories, and laugh along the way.
This is how genuine friendships are formed, and forms one of the most rewarding parts of the entire experience.
Volunteering does wonders for your mental and physical health
Travel isn’t just food for the soul, it can do great things for your health, too. Being in your golden years doesn’t mean your active days are behind you. Exploring new destinations and cultures keeps the body moving, offers the opportunity to learn new skills, boosts personal growth, and helps lower stress. Whether it’s navigating the cloud forests of Costa Rica or picking up a new language in India, your brain stays active and engaged.
Plus, traveling naturally encourages a healthier lifestyle – you’ll get more steps in, you’ll eat better, and you’ll experience natural mood lifts from doing purposeful work. Many older participants say that volunteering makes them feel young again by taking them out of familiar routines and opening the door to new experiences.
Known for its peaceful elephant villages, a volunteering program in Chiang Mai, Thailand, for example, would give you the chance to work alongside mahouts, collect food from surrounding forests, and assist elephants with walks and baths.
Spending time outdoors is not only rewarding, but it is great for both physical and mental health. Fresh air, sunshine, and active days are beneficial for all ages, but particularly ideal for older volunteers who want a bit of R&R while simultaneously making a real difference.
By Saurabh Sabharwal, founder of Volunteering Solutions, a leading global learning and travel provider.
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