"I would like to thank you for providing me with one of the best experiences of my life...I think what you do for people and communities is absolutely amazing."
Rachael
98% of PoD volunteers rate their experience as good or very good!
Home / Type of Volunteering / School trips / Summer expeditions
Summer Expeditions
| Start date | July |
| Duration | 2-4 weeks (can be extended) |
| Group size | 10-15 + |
| Destination | Belize, Cambodia, Nepal, Peru, Tanzania, Thailand, Vietnam |
A typical expedition
Whilst the experiences taken away by each student will be highly individual, most expeditions include a training phase, a volunteer phase, an adventure phase and a culture & relaxation phase.
The team are encouraged to take responsibility for their expedition from the start and they have ownership of the expedition, from initial planning right through to getting to the airport on the way home. Members of the team will take on roles and responsibilities under the guidance of the expedition leader.
By the end of the trip we aim to ensure that each student feels as though it was their expedition and that they could repeat it themselves with a minimum of support.
| Example expedition options | Tanzania | Peru | Thailand |
| Phase 1 - Training & planning | UK training and preparation pre-departure | ||
| Phase 2 - Volunteer | Teach English | Teach English Orphanage help Amazon conservation |
Teach English Animal rescue |
| Phase 3 - Adventure | Mount Kilimanjaro Mount Meru |
Andes trek Inca Fortress |
Jungle trek Scuba diving |
| Phase 4 - Culture & relaxation | Safari Zanzibar island Beaches |
Cusco Machu Picchu Sacred Valley Whitewater rafting |
Thai temples Thai cooking Beaches Bangkok |
What's included
Expeditions with PoD include:
- Pre-training in the UK
- Support from the UK office
- Visas and airport taxes
- Food and accommodation throughout
- All travel costs
- Adventure activities
- Tourist activities
- Support for parents whilst the expedition is away
- Donations to local causes
- Carbon neutral travel
- Comprehensive travel insurance.
Flights can also be arranged, through an ATOL licenced travel agent.
Expeditions are accompanied by a professional expedition leader and supported by a dedicated expedition manager in the UK.
Costs
The exact costs of the expedition will depend on destination, group size and expedition options. We work closely with schools to come up with a solution that meets their requirements.
Whilst we believe that our expeditions deliver true value for money, we are also aware that the cost of a trip of this kind is high. We provide fund raising training and support and many expeditioners will raise the full amount through sponsored events, organising parties, car washes, grants from local or national organisation, or part time jobs.
Often an expedition team will also decide to fund raise to take donations to help support the local community. At PoD we are careful to ensure that any money donated to support local people or projects is delivered in a sensitive and controlled way to ensure that the money is used to provide genuine and lasting benefit to those who need it. We are also careful to ensure that visits from westerners or tourists do not become equated with cash hand outs.
Please contact us if your school is interested in hearing more or booking an expedition.
WHAT OUR VOLUNTEERS SAY...
