10 of the best conservation holidays

Forget boring beach holidays and do something useful

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1) Monitoring wolves, Slovakia

Picking up wolf poo is just one of the highlights of this eco-expedition, which takes participants to the snow-capped Carpathian Mountains to monitor lynx, wolf and bear populations.

Based in a cosy chalet, volunteers will work with scientists to track the carnivores and may even be involved in capturing and radio-collaring them. It’s great fun and all for a worthy cause: the ultimate aim is to deepen our understanding of the creatures and create a sustainable future for them.

Cost: £1,290 (excluding flights)
Expedition length: 7 days
More information: www.biosphere-expeditions.org

Study these magnificent beasts in the Carpathian Mountains
Bereez / Thinkstock

2) Conserving the Devonshire coast, UK

Working with North Devon’s hardy wildlife rangers, volunteers signing up to this expedition will find themselves helping out with all manner of tasks: from rounding up ponies to repairing coastal paths.

It’s not all work, though. As well as assisting local rangers, participants will also hit the waves with two gnarly surf lessons delivered by Devon’s finest board riders.

Cost: £295 (excluding travel)
Expedition length: 7 days
Further information: www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Surfing and conservation work? Count us in
Gary Newman / Thinkstock

3) Preserving Britain’s newest national park, UK

Legend has it that the Devil’s Dyke – a scenic gorge in East Sussex – was dug by Satan himself, who wished to channel the sea inland and flood the local churches.

All we know is that this picturesque valley is Britain’s newest national park and that its rangers are looking for willing volunteers to help erect fencing, maintain walking paths and burn scrubland. A fine way to while away the English summertime.

Cost: £155 (excluding travel)
Expedition length: 7 days
Further information: www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Help keep up Britain's newest national park in East Sussex
Creative Commons / Gareth Williams

4) Rehabilitating wild animals, Bolivia

As well as lobbying the government to get tough on wildlife trafficking, the venerable Comunidad Inti Wara Yassi (CIWY) in Bolivia works tirelessly to rehabilitate wild animals, including big cats, which have been confiscated from markets or illegally kept as pets.

Operating in three centres across the country, the CIWY are always looking for volunteers. The schedule is gruelling, but it’s also extremely rewarding: as well as working with some incredible animals, participants can explore parts of Bolivia most tourists never get to see.

Cost: From £105 (excluding flights)
Expedition length: From 8 days
Further information: www.intiwarayassi.org

Help keep Bolivia's wonderful wildlife wild
Communidad Inti Wara Yassi

5) Treating injured birds, Greece

Located on the picturesque Paros Island in Greece, the admirable Aegean Wildlife Hospital is a non-profit organisation set up to rehabilitate birds and other animals that have been harmed by illegal hunters.

Volunteers can stay for as long as they like here, helping care for the sick and injured animals, which include pelicans, flamingos and kingfishers. Spend your days off exploring the island’s rugged coast, sandy coves and whitewashed fishing villages.

Cost: N/A
Expedition length: Unlimited
Further information: aegean-wildlife.parosweb.com

The Aegean Wildlife Hospital rehabilitates injured wild birds
Bridge99 / Thinkstock

6) Researching coral reefs, Malaysia

Dive on previously unexplored coral reefs and help scientists develop a better understanding of these endangered ecosystems, by signing up to this research expedition to Tioman Island, Malaysia.

The idea of the trip is to gather more information about coral reefs, which scientists will present to governments in the hope of securing better protection for the world’s reefs. It’s hard work, as our reporter found, but the rewards are great and the diving second to none.

Cost: £1,590 (excluding flights)
Expedition length: 8 days
Further information: www.biosphere-expeditions.org

Citizen scientists survey a reef in Pulau Tioman
Reef Check

7) Pampering rescued elephants, Thailand

Like its African brother, the Asian elephant is having a torrid time of it with habitat loss and illegal wildlife trafficking taking its toll on the species. Cue Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, which provides a refuge for displaced, distressed and disabled elephants from all over Thailand.

As well as bathing and feeding the resident behemoths, volunteers can help restore Chiang Mai’s rainforest and pamper homeless dogs, which were handed into the sanctuary after the 2011 floods. It’s a beautiful place to be benevolent.

Cost: From £46 (excluding flights)
Expedition length: From 1 day
Further information: www.elephantnaturepark.org

Yes, that is an elephant eating a volunteer's head
Elephant Nature Park

8) Protecting endangered turtles, Cape Verde

Cape Verde is one of the world’s most important breeding sites for loggerhead turtles, but these poor creatures face a dangerous start to life on this African archipelago.

However, SOS Tartarugas, an NGO based on the island of Sal, is helping to make life a little easier for these sea creatures by protecting them from hunters, clearing nesting sites of rubbish and educating islanders about the importance of turtles. Volunteers are always welcome.

Cost: N/A
Expedition length: From 1 day
Further information: www.sostartarugas.org

Help these critters get the best possible start in Cape Verde
Elena Tyapkina / Thinkstock

9) Restoring habitats, Malawi

We weren’t built to sit in offices looking at spreadsheets; we were built to be wild and free, which is probably why this expedition seems so appealing.

As well as roaming the Malawi bush admiring the wildlife (zebra, giraffe, impala, etc), volunteers get to help out on anti-poaching patrols, restore local wetlands and work on important community outreach projects. It’s fascinating work in a stunning location.

Cost: From £935 (excluding flights)
Expedition length: From 2 weeks
Further information: www.responsibletravel.com

Volunteers can help restore Malawi's biodiverse ecosystems
dave_valler / Thinkstock

10) Researching endangered species, Botswana

Join a WWF-supported research trip to the spectacular Okavango Delta in Botswana, which aims to get a better understanding of the endangered species living in this World Heritage Site.

Expect plenty of variety if you’re signing up to this expedition, which requires volunteers to do anything from monitoring wildlife, logging poaching incidents and removing invasive plant species. It’s hard work, but when your office is the Okavango Delta, who cares?

Cost: From £1,570
Expedition length: From 4 weeks
Further information: www.responsibletravel.com

Relax after a hard day's work at the Okavango Delta
Chris Jackson / Thinkstock

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