The 8 Best Volunteer Programs in India in 2025

India is a great destination for travelers and those pursuing volunteer opportunities abroad. Volunteers can engage in a plethora of projects like wildlife conservation, teaching English, or providing medical and public health assistance.

With a sea of programs out there, it can be hard to identify reputable and impactful volunteer opportunities in India, so, we’ve compiled this list of the best volunteer programs in India based on past participants’ glowing reviews.

Program length: 1-24 weeks
Starting from: $415 for 2 weeks
What’s included: accommodation, meals, airport pickup, 24/7 emergency support, pre-departure support, orientation

✅ Pros:

• Three healthy meals a day are prepared for the volunteers by local Indian cooks.
• Volunteer housing is comfortable and fully equipped with wifi, filtered water, hot showers, and Western-style toilets.

❌ Cons:

• Work sites are sometimes 20-30 minutes from accommodation.
• If you’re looking for a lighter workload, know that some programs may require volunteers to be on-site up to 6 hours a day.

Volunteer Solutions brings together more than 10 volunteer and internship programs offering affordable programs in India so travelers can find the best program to suit their interests and budget.

The organizations that Volunteer Solutions works with are based in Delhi and Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan state. In Delhi, volunteers can help provide childcare, support people with special needs, and help women gain employable skills, among other things. In Jaipur, you can work on building and restoration projects, teach English, or enrich the lives of children from disadvantaged backgrounds..

If you’re a dental or nursing student, a great thing about Volunteer Solutions is that they have specific volunteer internship programs, especially for healthcare. You can get some real-world work experience and put your hard-earned skills and knowledge to good use.

Program length: 1-24 weeks
Starting from: $500 for 4 weeks
What’s included: accommodation, all meals, pre-departure support, airport pickup, daily transport to volunteer site, 24/7 support, orientation

✅ Pros:

• Volunteer housing is comfortable and equipped with WiFi, air conditioning, hot water, and other amenities.
• Students are eager to learn and past volunteers formed close bonds with them.

❌ Cons:

• If you don’t have a lot of time to volunteer, the women’s empowerment and orphanage projects have a minimum commitment of 4 weeks.
• English levels tend to be very low so be ready to have a plan for teaching complete beginners.

Sankalp Volunteer Society has several volunteer programs focusing on community support and teaching. Work with underserved children and provide enriching educational activities and care or teach English to energetic students ready to learn. Lessons are given through the women’s empowerment program for girls 10-18 or in rural primary schools with children aged 6-10. Volunteers overwhelmingly cherished their interactions with the kids and young adults they taught or supported.

As a very low-cost program whose fees only go toward accommodation and meals, your time outside of volunteering is on your own. Travel around Jaipur with fellow volunteers or hang out at the comfortable volunteer house. If you want to see specific destinations, Sankalp members can advise you on the best way to get there.

If you’re looking for teaching experience or simply a way to connect with warm and friendly people ready to share their culture, give Sankalp a try!

Program length: 1-24 weeks
Starting from: $225 for
What’s included: shared room in the volunteer house, 3 meals a day, airport pickup, orientation, transport to and from project, 24/7 support

✅ Pros:

• Local coordinators stay in touch with volunteers and offer support for things like culture shock.
• Past participants found clinical rotations to be very hands-on and beneficial.

❌ Cons:

• Wifi at the volunteer house can be spotty at times.
• Excursions need to be booked separately.

Plan My Gap Year‘s medical programs are oriented toward students but there are no official requirements if you want to dip your toes into the world of healthcare.

There are two elective tracks, one for aspiring doctors and one for nurse hopefuls, where you can shadow professionals and learn about your future career. Whatever you choose, you’ll be sure to gain experience through rotations that take you to major hospitals and local clinics, giving you insight into the healthcare system in India.

Past participants felt the program was well organized and gave them opportunities to get involved and feel like they made a difference. Of course, your scope of volunteering is limited to your clinical education but even those with no experience or schooling in medicine will find useful tasks to do.

Program length: 1-4 weeks
Starting from: $350 for 1 week ($250 a week after that)
What’s included: host family accommodation, three meals a day, airport pickup, pre-departure support, weekend excursions, in-country transportation

✅ Pros:

• Start and end dates are flexible.
• Volunteers, especially solo travelers, felt safe and supported by staff.

❌ Cons:

• Early morning wake-up times may be hard for some volunteers.
• Staying with a host family might not be for everyone — hotel accommodation must be booked separately, though.

Travelers who want to work with animals can do so with Volunteering with India in the beautiful Elephant Village outside of Jaipur.

You’ll work at a sanctuary, helping with tasks such as preparing food and feeding, bathing, and walking the elephants. The sanctuary, known as Elephant Village, covers 30 hectares of land that support both the rescued animals and local residents. Volunteers are expected to work 3-4 hours, Monday through Friday.

And of course, when you’re not hard at work with the elephants, you’ll go on weekend excursions to explore the beauty of India. Some destinations include iconic cultural sites like the Taj Mahal and Amber Palace as well as a tour of the Golden Triangle which is comprised of the cities of Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur.

Program length: 1-12 weeks
Starting from: $350 for 1 week
What’s included: accommodation, 3 meals a day, airport pickup, in-country transportation, visa support, 24/7 assistance

✅ Pros:

• The volunteer house has wifi and hot showers and you will be provided with three healthy meals a day (including filtered water).
• The program is based in a safe and friendly village — the perfect location to spend some time in nature and recharge.

❌ Cons:

• Your day is long, with constant activity from 8 am to 4:30 pm (with breaks for meals, though!).
• Most popular excursions must be booked separately.

If you’re venturing abroad to volunteer on your own, iSpiice is a great choice for solo travelers. Women and first-time travelers felt especially safe and supported by staff. All projects are based in a village an hour’s drive from Dharamsala. The region has breathtaking mountain views and captivating natural beauty making it an amazing location to volunteer.

Projects include teaching English, skills training for women’s empowerment, childcare, and community development. Your days are filled with hard work but there’s room for fun, too. Outside of your daily classroom duties, you’ll have evenings and weekends free to enjoy time with other participants at the comfortable volunteer house or trek around the local area. For an additional fee, tours can be arranged to places like the Taj Mahal and the Golden Temple.

Program length: 1-24 weeks
Starting from: $340 for 1 week
What’s included: accommodation, all meals, orientation, pre-departure support, 24/7 support

✅ Pros:

• IVHQ is happy to accommodate a range of dietary needs.
• Participants have plenty of time outside of volunteer work to socialize and explore the local area.

❌ Cons:

• Your participation in some healthcare volunteer programs may be limited based on your education and/or experience.
• Some volunteers experienced a language barrier at their project sites.

International Volunteer HQ is a leading provider of volunteer experiences around the world, and offers four different types of programs in Delhi. You can choose from childcare, public health and medicine, teaching, and women’s support work.

Unlike many organizations that offer shorter programs (which may perfectly suit your plans, of course), International Volunteer HQ provides programs from one to 24 weeks. Volunteering for a more extended period is often more beneficial to you and the people you’re working with, as you will have time to put your skills to good use. You’ll have the time to work past any initial culture shock and move beyond superficial engagement with the people you’re working with to really make a difference.

Program length: 7 weeks
Starting from: $5,950 for 7 weeks
What’s included: accommodation, all meals, in-country travel, 24/7 support, all activities and excursions, predeparture support, airport pickup, Whatsapp group for participants

✅ Pros:

• All of your major expenses are covered in the program fee.
• Volunteer experiences are immersive: you’ll work alongside local residents in the community.

❌ Cons:

• You will need a good level of fitness for hiking, trekking, and swimming and will need to be prepared to be on your feet for around 6 hours a day.
• This trip is limited to young adults between the ages of 18-22.

Get ready for an exhilarating experience in India and Nepal with Gapforce. Over 7 weeks you’ll travel, volunteer, and be culturally immersed in the two countries.

You’ll travel with other like-minded people, spending weeks 2 and 4 volunteering at worthwhile community-led service projects like working with Tibetan refugees or teaching children at a local monastery. The rest of the time you’ll be jetting off on outdoor and cultural adventures like visiting the famous Golden Circle and enjoying the beaches of Goa.

According to past volunteers, Gapforce puts together a varied and exciting program. They felt welcomed and encouraged to embrace new and different experiences.

Program length: minimum of 10 days
Starting from: $80 for 10 days
What’s included: accommodation

✅ Pros:

• Volunteers couldn’t say enough good things about the inclusive sense of community.
• Learn sustainable growing and living practices in this self-sustaining community.

❌ Cons:

• If living off the grid isn’t your idea of a good time, consider this program carefully.
• Transportation in the local area can be hit or miss.

Sadhana Forest is a unique community of volunteers from both India and abroad who work together to promote sustainability and protect the environment. Located in the experimental township of Auroville in Tamil Nadu, the program is currently reforesting 70 acres of land and practicing water conservation. As a volunteer, you’ll be planting trees, mulching, and learning about eco-friendly living with a friendly, international group.

Volunteers interested in unplugging from the chaos of the world can join this off-grid community. You’ll be expected to commit to clean living, including abstaining from tobacco and alcohol during your stay and eating an exclusively vegan diet. Accommodation is free and volunteers are only required to pay for food, which amounts to about $8 USD a day. Come, stay, and enjoy the simple life!

All travelers need a visa to enter India, except citizens of neighboring countries Nepal and Bhutan. The good news is, that getting a visa to volunteer in India is relatively easy and can be done online, too.

Most volunteer programs in India charge a program fee for participation. By volunteering in India as a paying volunteer, your financial contributions support local organizations and guarantee the continuity of their projects.

Additionally, many volunteer projects include food and lodging in their fees and may provide other perks such as weekend trips and/or transportation to and from the project. The fees you pay have as much impact on local communities as your on-ground efforts.

You can also apply for volunteer abroad scholarships and grants to fund your volunteer experience in India.

Whatever your skills, experience, and travel goals, one of these great programs for volunteering in India is likely to suit your needs. For a truly rewarding experience, go into your volunteer program in India with a humble and open mind. Be willing to step outside your comfort zone, work hard, and learn as much as you contribute. You’re in the for the adventure of a lifetime!