Location
  • Laos
Length
1 to 12 weeks

Program Details

Language
English
Timeframe
Short Term Spring Break Summer Winter Year Round
Housing
Guesthouse
Groups
Small Group (1-15)
Travel Type
Budget Family Older Travelers Solo Women

Pricing

Starting Price
285
Price Details
Fully hosted experience from only $285 for 1 week - this includes accommodation, meals, airport pick-up, orientation and 24/7 in-country support.
What's Included
Accommodation Some Activities Airport Transfers Meals
What's Not Included
Airfare Travel Insurance Visa
May 01, 2024
Mar 12, 2025
9 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Trusted by 136,000+ volunteers, IVHQ offers the world's #1 rated volunteer programs in Laos and 50+ destinations worldwide.

For the past 6 years, we've won the "Top Volunteer Abroad Provider Award" from GoOverseas, so you can trust that you're in the safest hands with IVHQ in Laos.

Our affordable projects start from $21/day for your accommodation, meals, airport pick-up, project placement and local support. Projects run year-round, with durations from 1-12 weeks. Choose from 3 projects, including Teaching, Childcare and Construction and Renovation in Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage Center in northern Laos. Plus, you’ll stay with other like-minded, impact-focused travelers from around the world (private room options available).

With IVHQ’s superior pre-departure support services, you’ll gain exclusive access to your own Volunteer Travel Specialist, comprehensive preparation tools and volunteer training before you leave home.

Video and Photos

Program Highlights

  • Cheapest volunteer programs from $21/day for your accommodation, meals, airport pick-up, project placement & local support.
  • Volunteer for 1-12 weeks, year round start dates most Mondays.
  • 15+ years experience & only B Corp certified volunteer travel organization.
  • Get free changes up to 14 days before you start with our flexible booking policy.
  • Affordable way to earn college credit - gain 5 credits for only US$500!

Popular Programs

Childcare Volunteer in Laos

Join our Childcare volunteer program in Luang Prabang, Laos and help provide care, attention and education to local children. As a volunteer, you'll assist with daily jobs, arrange games and activities, teach English and discuss hygiene and Laotian traditions. Get involved in creative activities like painting, drawing, origami or dancing and even organize visits to the river or local villages.

Construction and Renovation Volunteer in Laos

Volunteer in Laos to help maintain community services such as schools, medical and childcare centers. Your role will include light construction, renovation and maintenance tasks to make these services functional and attractive. Duties may include building, renovating, painting, carpentry, restoration and landscaping. Be flexible and adaptable to the priorities of the local community.

Teaching English Volunteer in Luang Prabang, Laos

Volunteer as an English teacher in Laos and make a meaningful impact on the lives of disadvantaged students. Teach at monasteries or local high schools and help them improve their language skills. Get involved in the school curriculum and spend time preparing your lessons.

Program Reviews

4.88 Rating
based on 25 reviews
  • 5 rating 88%
  • 4 rating 12%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Impact 4.6
  • Support 4.95
  • Fun 4.75
  • Value 4.7
  • Safety 4.85
Showing 9 - 16 of 25 reviews
Default avatar
Clare
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Teaching English in Laos

My time volunteering in Laos was absolutely incredible! The program was so well organised! From the moment I expressed my interest in volunteering, I was provided with the support that I needed to take the next steps to go abroad. Once I was in Laos, the local team gave me so much support and guidance about the country, the program, and places to explore.
The volunteering program I completed was Teaching English in one of the local schools. What was so great about this program is that the teachers and students genuinely needed the help of volunteers and were so grateful that we were there. This was so impactful as I knew my contribution was actually making a difference on the lives of others.

Pros
  • Incredible support from local team
  • Volunteering program had a meaningful impact on the lives of others
  • Laos is an incredibly beautiful country
Cons
  • Pre-depature costs with IVHQ can add up
94 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Roey
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Volunteering with IVHQ

I was looking to volunteer my time while traveling abroad but was pretty flexible with my dates and type of program. IVHQ provided structure giving me ideas of how long I should volunteer for, where, and what to do in order to have the biggest impact. Once choosing the program they helped coordinate everything with the local organization and answered all my questions promptly. I had a life changing experience volunteering and having things like accomodations, food, and transportation all figured out for me allowed me to focus on volunteering. I highly recommend doing this, you won't regret it for a second!

Pros
  • Connecting with students
  • Food
Cons
  • Paying extra for a room vs dorm style
109 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Lynley
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Teaching English in Laos

I have always wanted to volunteer abroad and finally “just did it”. I chose to go to Luang Prabang, Laos, to teach English. The school, the teachers and the children were absolutely wonderful and so grateful for my help. I fell in love with every Laos child, so polite, respectful and keen to learn. The location was perfect and I loved the culture of Luang Prabang and it’s people. I felt very welcome and very safe and there was so much to do outside of school hours, I spent a total of 4 days seeing the sights and enjoying my visit. I can’t recommend this project highly enough, such a rewarding and special experience.

Pros
  • Learning about a new culture and helping others.
  • Spending time with such beautiful children.
  • It’s very rewarding helping the children to learn English.
Cons
  • Not being able to help every single child.
  • Seeing some children miss out on going to school.
  • Seeing how little these people have and how hard they work.
106 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Laura
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Unforgettable experience!

I volunteered in Laos for two weeks. I wish I could have stayed longer! Laos is a beautiful country that has so much to offer. The Green Lion Team is extremely nice and always willing to help you with any problem you encounter. From riding a bicycle to school to teaching the lovely kids at school or hanging out with other volunteers at the bonfire, everyday was extremely enjoyable. This experience was really enriching and exceeded my expectations. I can't wait to volunteer again in the future. =)

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Be sure to visit the COPE Centre and learn about Laos history!
123 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Armerleigh
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Lovely Laos

I would highly recommend IVHQ to anyone and everyone! They are incredibly organised and always willing to answer questions no matter how big or small! I was feeling extremely nervous before leaving for my volunteer trip in Laos but I felt reassured knowing that IVHQ would help me out with anything I needed! Once I was over in Laos the volunteer group ‘Green Lions’ went above and beyond to make sure I felt comfortable and ready. I couldn’t recommend visiting Laos more highly, the people and the culture is amazing.

I believe this program is ideal for solo travelers as it allows you to focus on making a good impact within the community as well as giving you chance to learn new things about yourself! I’m saying that, this program is certainly ideal for EVERYONE

What would you improve about this program?
This program is amazing, but I wish it was available in more places across Laos
150 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Nicole
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Laos teaching for a week

I took part in a one week volunteer program in Laos teaching English to primary aged students. IVHQ was so helpful every step of the way! They were by far the cheapest volunteer program I found, their website was clear, helpful and easy to navigate and signing up to the program was such a simple process. Once signed up, IVHQ clearly set out steps to help you understand everything you needed to do to prepare for your volunteering and customs of the Lao culture. Any question I had I was able to ask Sean Markham, the IVHQ program manager, and they were answered promptly. I was also able to ask about weekend travel and getting around Laos. Upon signing up for the program, I was given login details to IVHQ's website and was given all the information I needed including what do about visas, travel insurance, flights, what to pack and how to prepare.

Once in Laos I was contacted by Sean again to ensure that my placement was going well and there were no issues. There was constant support every step of the way and any issues or questions were quickly answered and resolved. The program itself was amazing and worth every single cent. Being able to help out in a small community even for just one week was an amazing experience. Getting to know locals in a different way and really immersing yourself in the local culture was a great way to visit Laos and get an experience that not many other tourists have the chance of having. There was an option to do a culture week which was three days of language lessons, cooking, vegetable planting, making offerings for monks and several other activities. I personally chose not to partake in the culture week as I only had one week on the program and wanted to make the most of spending my time in a local school. The fact that this was offered as an option was amazing and really made my time there even more worthwhile.

IVHQ is an excellent organisation and I will 100% be booking through them the next time I wish to volunteer overseas!!!!!

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
I would have loved to have been able to volunteer for longer than a week. I really felt like I could have aided the students English if I was there for a longer time period. I am currently studying to be a teacher and putting what I had already learnt to use was such a great opportunity!
123 people found this review helpful.
Response from International Volunteer HQ - IVHQ

Thanks for supplying this informative review on the IVHQ Laos Program, Nicole. It's great to hear you loved the support offered by IVHQ and the local team. We're stoked to hear you enjoyed having the option of a 1 day or 1 week orientation, and we can't wait for you to volunteer with IVHQ again. Sean - IVHQ Program Manager.

Default avatar
Francesca
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Laos. Unmemorable experience.

I didn't know a lot about Laos, I had never been in Asia before and I had never had experience with kids too. Eventhough all these factors my three weeks in Laos as a volunteer in the childcare programme has been an amazing experience that has enrichened me a lot due to the discover of a completely different culture and the people that i have met( locals, the kids and the other volunteers). During the days of orientation,that were well organized by the local staff, I used to feel a bit worried about which activities i was expected to do with the children in school but once I entered in my class it came so easy as a duck to the water. I used to prepare lesson everyday for the day after and"head, shoulders, knees and toes", "five little ducks" stucked in my head!! The kids are amazing and they have a strong willingness of learning and playing with you. They are really smart and are full of enthusiasm. After the shower time i had the opportunity of improving my braiding skills thanks to the little girls because, eventhough i was supposed to braid them, there was no game. When i had to say goodbye for me has been a really touchy moment even if i didn't stay that long, and when i was about to cry there was a moment similar to a scene of the movie "Dead poets society" , the kids started repeating all the things that i have taught them. In that moment i realised that i had made a good job. The local staff is incredibly organised and helped me with everything even to recuperate my passport that i forgot on my way to Van Vieng ( a cool city to visit on the weekend)!! So i couldn't ask for anything better!! The food was exceptional and some days a week there were also western meals but I could happily swim in noodles and sticky rice! The accommodation was cool and we had cleaning once a week. I loved meeting the other volunteers and I'm sure that I'm going to keep in touch with them and for real we were from all around the world:Italy (that's me), Australia, China, Netherlands, Spain, France, China ecc! Laos is a wonderful country , it was difficult not to find myself in front of stunning and green landscapes and on the weekends , thanks also to the help of the local staff with organsing the transport, I had the possibility of travelling a bit with the other volunteers and we had a lot of fun! If you are an open mind person looking for an unmemorable experience from any point of view (humanitarian, social, cultural ones and so on) this is the perfect one. I left for Loas alone and for three weeks I have never felt alone and i 've made memories that i will always keep deeply in my heart.

98 people found this review helpful.
Response from International Volunteer HQ - IVHQ

This sounds like one awesome trip Francesca! Thanks for sharing your experience with us and upcoming volunteers! Volunteering is certainly an amazing way to see the Laos and make friends while giving back to the local community! We're so glad you enjoyed your experience and we look forward to having you join us again soon! Will - IVHQ Program Manager

Read my full story
Default avatar
Yixin
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Childcare in LAOS

I started the childcare program in LAOS on July 23,2018 and lasted for 2 weeks.
The first week is about orientation and learning. We learnt language (LAO &greeting gestures), cooking (fried spring rolls), Buddhism culture in LAOS (seeing the temples and do the obeisance and meditation), and the childcare program internship.
We started the childcaring formally the second week. We teach them English in the morning including numbers, alphabets, colors, body parts, clothes, months and weekdays. They are easily learning but as well as forgetting, so it’s OK to repeat to make them more familiar. And we also invent some learning games such as circle the number and point out the colors. Different lessons should be prepared for different ages. Songs are really good to make kids concentrate and happy. Try body-part song and wheels on the bus song. They love dancing and singing. At 10:30, kids have their first lunch. We just help the older kids wash hands and feed the youngers. Then play again till 11:30, when they go to bed. We go to the school again at 1:30 to wake them up and help them to take off clothes before shower and dress them after shower. Then feed them the second lunch and make hair for girls. The afternoon is the game time and don’t worry they can’t understand the rules when trying a new game, they can play well after 2~3 rounds later. They are really clever. At about 3:30pm we leave, and the parents come to pick them up.
The kids are so different so be patient with everyone. Some of them are outgoing, he or she can hug you the first day but some are really shy. If he/she wants to be alone, just let him/her go. And he/she will be fine later.
The teachers and the local team members can translate and assist you so don’t worry about the language.
And the great part besides childcare is meeting friends. The volunteers come from different countries and culture and become friends. We made the weekend travel plan to Vangvieng and prepare the class (always drawing) or playing in the evening. I was so lucky to meet these guys and hope wo can see each other again in the future.

87 people found this review helpful.
Response from International Volunteer HQ - IVHQ

What an awesome insight in to the program Yixin! Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with upcoming volunteers! The local team and I really appreciate all of the hard work you did in Laos! We look forward to having you join us again soon!
- Will Rowland - IVHQ Program Manager.

Questions & Answers

Hello! not exactly a retiree here though i am a mid-career finance professional in my early 30s. I first started volunteering overseas when I turned 30 (probably considered a late-starter) and there were indeed lots of volunteers still studying or just graduated from university, most of them are 18 to 24 year olds. It did take me a while to get over the fact that I'm at least a decade older than...