While travel for its own sake can be a fantastic thing to do, with its own rewards both for the traveller and those they meet on the road, some travellers want to do more than 'just' travel. After all, there are only so many beers that can be sunk in far-off bars, and only so many beaches to lie on before things start to get boring. Eventually, many people feel the need to do something more fulfilling. Most opportunities consist of either learning or working, although there is of course a huge cross-over between the two.
Palolem Beach © Content Lobby
There are courses in all sorts of things all around the globe that can help travellers master a new skill or practise existing ones. Language courses are available just about anywhere and are a great way to integrate into the country you're travelling in. Just as for those doing English courses London is an obvious destination of choice, many opportunities for learning a language can be found in large cities, but it is possible to find courses in more rural areas too. Beyond languages, there are people willing to teach you just about anything, anywhere you go in the world – and, just as with languages, it's great to learn things in the place they came from. Yoga in India, Muay Thai in Thailand, didgeridoo-making in Australia – the list is endless.
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Work, whether paid or voluntary, is another way to get a little more out of your travels. It's easy enough to pick up casual bar or seasonal farm work in many places, especially in Europe, although you'll need to speak the local lingo. Native English speakers can find work almost anywhere teaching English, even without a TEFL certificate. Paid work is a good way to not only increase your travel funds, but also to really get under the skin of the place you're visiting. There is also a wide range of voluntary opportunities around the world, and while you won't get paid, you may get free bed and board, as well as the satisfaction of giving something back. Charity projects in developing nations will often welcome an extra pair of hands, particularly if you have relevant skills. There are also opportunities to help on conservation projects in many places, from wildlife research in Africa to turtle conservation in Central America.
Whether you choose to study English in London, pick olives in Italy or help out at an orphanage in Vietnam, you'll get much more out of your travel experience if you do something more than prop up a different bar every night.
