Fifteen days across three cities. You start with a week at children’s projects in Delhi, spend three days at an elephant rescue center near Agra, and finish among the palaces and forts of Jaipur. Trains, local guides and the sightseeing are arranged for you.
The elephants at the center are rescued animals. Trained keepers and vets look after them, and volunteers help with the work around them: preparing food, building enrichment and keeping the grounds. There is no riding and no performing, at the center or anywhere else on the trip.
At a glance
- A week with children at day-care centers and shelter homes in Delhi.
- Three days at a rescue center for elephants near Agra, with no riding anywhere on the trip.
- The Taj Mahal, and a guided day and a half in Jaipur.
- Trains between the three cities, guides and transfers arranged for you.
- Open from age 17. Starts on two Sundays a month.
The trip, day by day
- Day 1, Sunday: we meet you at Delhi airport and take you to the hostel.
- Day 2, Monday: orientation on the program, the city and staying safe.
- Day 3, Tuesday: a guided tour of Qutub Minar, the Lotus Temple, Humayun’s Tomb and India Gate.
- Days 4 to 6: volunteering with children at a day-care center or shelter home.
- Day 7, Saturday: a free day in Delhi.
- Day 8, Sunday: an air-conditioned train to Agra, then the Taj Mahal and a look at local marble inlay work.
- Days 9 to 11: the elephant rescue center. After an on-site briefing you work from about 9am to 5pm: chopping fruit and preparing food, making and repairing enrichment, gardening and tending the plant nursery, handing out fodder, walking alongside the elephants with their keepers, and helping in the visitor center.
- Day 12, Thursday: the train to Jaipur, where we meet you at the station.
- Day 13, Friday: a Jaipur tour: the City Palace, the Monkey Temple, a stop at Jal Mahal and time for the bazaars.
- Day 14, Saturday: an early start for Hawa Mahal and Amber Fort, then the evening train back to Delhi.
- Day 15, Sunday: time to head home.
About the elephant center
The center gives rescued elephants space, a natural diet and medical care, with keepers and vets who know each animal. The aim is the elephants’ welfare, not a show for visitors.
Volunteer work is practical and often messy. Elephants eat a great deal, so much of the day goes on preparing food and fodder, and the rest on enrichment, the grounds and helping visitors understand why the animals are there. You watch the elephants walk and bathe with their keepers, at the distance the keepers set.
Working responsibly
In Delhi, center staff stay responsible for the children, and you are never left in sole charge. Every volunteer shows a clean background check before starting.
At the rescue center, trained keepers and vets handle all care and treatment of the elephants. You follow their instructions at all times and keep the distance they set. There is no riding and no performing.
A typical day
- In Delhi: breakfast at the hostel at 9am, then 10am to about 4pm at the children’s center, with lunch nearby at your own cost and dinner back at the hostel.
- At the elephant center: breakfast at the volunteer house, a 9am start, lunch on site, and work until about 5pm, with quiet evenings in the countryside.
- On travel and tour days: breakfast, then the train or a guided day, with lunch and dinner at your own cost.
Where you stay and eat
The first week is spent at our base in South Delhi, sharing a room with other volunteers. In Agra you have one night in a hostel before moving into the volunteer house at the elephant center, out toward the countryside, where you share a room and the evenings are quiet. The last two nights are in a hostel in Jaipur.
Breakfast and dinner are included in Delhi on most days, all three meals at the elephant center, and breakfast on travel and tour days. Meals not listed are at your own cost.
Included
- Airport pickup in Delhi on Day 1
- Accommodation throughout the trip
- Train tickets between Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, with transfers
- Guided sightseeing in Delhi, Agra and Jaipur
- Your childcare and elephant center placements
- Meals as listed above, and support from our team day and night
- A certificate of participation, if you ask for one
Not included
- Monument entry fees
- Meals not listed above
- Your transfer back to Delhi airport (we can arrange it at extra cost)
- Flights, visa and travel insurance
- Local transport to the Delhi project, and personal spending
Before you apply
- You are 17 or older on your start date (under-18s need a consent form signed by a parent).
- A clean criminal background check, issued within 12 months of your start date, because you will work with children or vulnerable adults.
- Happy to work outdoors in the heat, with animals and with children.
- Travel and medical insurance for your whole stay. Your own policy is fine.
- An open mind, patience and reasonable health. Tell us about any medical condition before you travel.
What volunteers say
4.3 from 44 reviews
From volunteers on our childcare projects in Delhi.
The projectStreet children project and Teaching English/Games to underprivileged children was a difficult task but very satisfying. Children were very keen to learn.
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Before the tripContact by email and then phoned the coordinator .Very helpful and informed me on how program will run.
ArrivalPickup was smooth. Coordinator took us to family on first day and showed us the project site.
Food and accommodationHost family were very welcoming and helpful.
Our teamHe was very helpful and gave me all the relevant information when required.
Would you recommend us?YES
Pooja Patel, United KingdomTeaching English
The projectProject was very fulfilling and definitely worth experiencing.Would do something like this again but maybe a different project.
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Before the tripHad good contact via email with staff.
ArrivalWas picked up straight away by the coordinator and had no problems at all.
Food and accommodationHost family was lovely and friendly.I was made to feel very welcome and the meals were delicious.Would definitely like to stay with them again.
Our teamWas friendly .
Would you recommend us?YES
Heeral Patel, United KingdomChildcare
The projectWorking at my daycare was a rewarding and challenging experience. The kids were very young and naturally had short attention spans. I am glad to have had the experience, and I hope that my presence brightened their days a little bit.
HighlightThe highlight of my volunteering experience was a little girl in my daycare named Swati. She was so adorable and always smiling. She was never mean to the other children and was a joy to be around. The whole trip was a highlight for me. This being my first time in India, I enjoyed taking in every moment. I particularly enjoyed riding on a motorcycle in Delhi, a meal at Swagath (restaurant in Delhi), trips to McLeod Ganj and Manali, and spending time with my fellow volunteers.
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Our websiteFrom what I remember, the website was fairly concise, but informative and helpful. The orientation week was described on a day-by-day basis, which was nice; it gave me a good idea of what to expect during my first week in Delhi. I also remember watching a video of a past volunteer talking about his experiences in the program, as well as photos of past volunteers with kids. Both of these were good additions to the website.
Before the tripThe pre-departure booklet was nice and was very helpful to my mother. I got some good tidbits about Indian culture from it, but apart from that, I would have been fine without it. The staff was excellent in answering all my questions through e-mail promptly and completely.
Food and accommodationNo complaints whatsoever with the accommodation. Bobby, you have a beautiful home and family, and it was an honor to be your guest for 3 weeks. All of the food served was good, Lekh Raj was very kind and did an excellent job. My only request would be a little more variety in the meals, but I also understand the need for caution in serving anything that might upset a volunteer’s stomach.
Our teamBobby, it has been such a pleasure to have spent these few weeks with you and Amit. You have both been very kind to me, and have made me feel like a good friend, not just a volunteer. I am as sad to leave you both as I am my fellow volunteers. Thank you both so much for everything, and I hope to come back and see you again sometime in the next few years. Until then, we’ll keep in touch online!
Would you recommend us?Yes!
Grant Austin, USAChildcare
The projectI did enjoy working at my placement. I was placed at a day care center which was very nice and I really enjoyed volunteering with the children.
HighlightThe highlight of my volunteering experience was when I was helping a little boy read a book and he could read the story on his own after. It really made me feel as if I helped the boy and the day care center. Also, just working with the teachers at the day care made me very happy.
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Our websiteI liked that the website was easy to work through. It was nice to see the pictures and read some of the testimonials on the website because that helped me and my parents in picking India to volunteer at.
Before the tripHow did you find the Pre Departure Booklet given to you and the service of the staff in regards to answering your questions and helping you prepare? The Pre Departure Booklet was pretty helpful in telling me about India and the weather and surroundings. Email responses were quick and helpful and every time I called the staff was helpful in answering my questions.
Food and accommodationAccommodation was wonderful. Living with the family was really nice. The meals were nice.
Our teamBobby was an amazing coordinator. He was always helpful and was making sure we were all taken care of. I could not have asked for a better coordinator. He was great and always made me feel as if I could ask him for anything.
Would you recommend us?Yes, I would recommend the volunteering placements in Palampur to other people.
Avni Shah, USAChildcare
Questions volunteers ask
Will I ride the elephants?
No. There is no riding at any point. You work with the keepers on food, enrichment and the grounds, and all elephant care and treatment is done by trained staff.
Do I need experience with animals or children?
No. Staff at both projects show you what to do. You need to be fit, flexible and happy to get your hands dirty.
How physical is the work?
At the elephant center, fairly: carrying fodder, chopping fruit and gardening outdoors for most of the day. Bring a hat, sunscreen, a refillable bottle and clothes you don’t mind ruining.
Can I combine it with another program?
Yes. Tell us when you apply and we will plan the dates so one program follows the other.
What should I pack for the trip?
Light layers for the trains and temples, sturdy closed shoes for the elephant center, a hat, sunscreen and a refillable bottle. Pack light: you move between three cities in the second week.
How much spending money will I need?
Less than you might expect. Lunch near your project, Metro and auto-rickshaw rides and the odd coffee cost little each day; Sunday meals out are cheap too. Budget more for weekend trips, monument tickets and shopping, which is where most volunteers spend their money.
Which visa do I need?
Most volunteers come on an Indian e-Visa, applied for online before you travel. Your passport needs at least six months’ validity after your return and two blank pages. Rules change, so check the official Indian government e-Visa website; we send guidance after you book and can write a supporting letter if you need one.
Do I need vaccinations?
There are usually no compulsory vaccinations for travelers from most countries, but keep your routine ones up to date. Travel clinics commonly recommend hepatitis A and typhoid, plus protection against mosquito bites. See a clinic six to eight weeks before you leave.
Is Delhi safe for volunteers?
Yes, with sensible precautions. You are met at the airport, you live where our team knows the area well, and orientation covers how to get around, what to wear and what to avoid. Use the Metro, pre-booked taxis or ride apps, keep valuables out of sight, and go out in groups at night. Our team can be reached at any hour.
What should I wear at the project?
Light, loose clothes that cover your shoulders and knees, and closed shoes. Cotton kurtas cost little at Delhi’s markets and are cooler than most Western clothes in the heat.
Can I stay longer or combine programs?
Yes. Delhi programs run for up to 18 weeks, and many volunteers start with the Hindi & culture week or add a placement in Jaipur. Tell us your plan when you apply and we line up the dates.
Can I come with a friend, partner or family?
Yes. Tell us who is coming when you apply and we place you together where we can. Ask us about group prices and which programs suit younger travelers.
