Worldpackers: My Experience Volunteering in Bali

I first heard of Worldpackers about two years ago, around the time I started travelling solo. The concept immediately appealed to me — work a few hours a day in exchange for food and accommodation, and in return get to live like a local in a destination you've always wanted to explore. I filed it away as something I'd do one day, and in October 2024, I finally signed up.

By January 2025, I was teaching kindergarteners in the east of Bali. It turned out to be one of the most meaningful experiences of my entire travel life.

This post covers everything — how Worldpackers works, what the application process looks like, what my days actually looked like on the ground, and whether it's worth it. If you've been curious about volunteering abroad but aren't sure where to start, I hope this helps.

What is Worldpackers?

Worldpackers is a subscription-based platform that connects travellers with hosts around the world who need help in exchange for accommodation and, in many cases, meals. The opportunities span an enormous range — teaching, hostel work, farming, social media, surf camps, animal sanctuaries, yoga retreats, and more. Hosts are located all over the world, from Bali to Brazil to Greece.

How much does it cost? A Worldpackers membership costs around USD $49 per year (prices may vary slightly). That's your only fixed cost — everything else depends on the position you choose. Some positions include both accommodation and meals; others just accommodation. Some positions may also require you to pay an additional fee to cover your food and living costs. So check the listing carefully before applying.

How to Find and Apply for Positions

Once you sign up, you can browse all available opportunities by destination, type of work, language, and dates. Each listing shows what the host offers (accommodation, meals, free days) and what they need from you (hours per day, specific skills).

When you find a position you like, you submit a short application answering a few questions about yourself and why you're interested. You can apply to as many positions as you like simultaneously, which I'd strongly recommend — hosts have up to four days to respond before the application expires, and some take longer, so having multiple applications running gives you more options.

Once a host accepts you, you have up to seven days to confirm the placement. Most travellers plan ahead, so you can apply up to six months before your intended start date.

My tip: Look carefully at the host's reviews from previous volunteers. This is the most reliable indicator of what your experience will actually be like. Pay attention to reviews that mention communication, accommodation quality, and whether the workload matched the listing.

I applied for teaching positions across Bali, Lombok, and East Java. I heard back from the Bali host almost immediately, and given Indonesia was already at the top of my bucket list, I confirmed that position without hesitation.

My Volunteering Position: Teaching in East Bali

I volunteered at Sekolah Alam Cempaka Kids, a kindergarten in Padang Kerta, Karangasem — in the quieter, more rural east of Bali, away from the tourist crowds of Seminyak and Ubud. The school was founded 17 years ago by Teacher Suri and follows a Neo-Humanist educational philosophy, which emphasises nurturing the whole child — emotional, physical, and intellectual development together.

The school has 130 children between the ages of two and six, including 30 special needs students. Volunteers assist teachers in conducting classes and help introduce the children to different languages and cultures.

What My Days Actually Looked Like

I volunteered for about three hours each morning, which left the rest of the day completely free — one of the things I loved most about this particular position.

The school day begins with a morning meditation, which I found quietly beautiful to be part of. After meditation comes light exercise and dancing — picture 130 tiny children doing stretches and wiggling around to music, and you'll understand why this was the highlight of my morning every single day. Breakfast follows, with freshly prepared meals of rice, vegetables, and fruit. The children are encouraged to wash their own dishes afterwards, a small but meaningful habit that felt very aligned with the school's philosophy.

After breakfast comes playtime — fifteen minutes in a small playground that also has a chicken coop and a rabbit coop, which the children absolutely adore. Then classes begin, and that's where I came in — helping teachers with activities, interacting with the kids, and introducing them to a little bit of my own language and culture.

Being done by late morning meant I had full afternoons and evenings to work my remote job and explore. I visited temples, spent time at the beach, explored local markets, wandered through rice fields, and ate my way through as much Balinese food as I possibly could!

The Accommodation

My accommodation was at a local family's home, a short 15-minute walk from the school. I shared the house with four other volunteers from different parts of the world, which made the whole experience far more dynamic and fun than I'd anticipated.

The host — a warm, generous local woman — cooked traditional Balinese meals that were some of the most delicious food I had during my entire time in Indonesia. Living with a local family gave me a completely different kind of access to Balinese culture — the daily rituals, the food, the pace of life. That alone was worth the experience.

What Did It Actually Cost?

Beyond the Worldpackers membership fee, my main costs in Bali during the volunteering week were:

• Transport: Getting a Grab to go explore places

• Activities and entrance fees: Temple visits, day trips, and sightseeing

Overall, my daily spending outside of accommodation and the provided meals was very modest. Bali is genuinely affordable if you stay away from the tourist-heavy areas, and being based in the east of the island helped enormously with this.

The Honest Pros and Cons

Pros

• Dramatically reduces your accommodation costs — in a place like Bali, this is significant

• Forces you to slow down — instead of rushing between tourist spots, you're living in one place and actually getting to know it

• The people — fellow volunteers, host families, and the communities you work with are often the most memorable part

• Flexibility — with only 3-4 hours of work per day, you have plenty of time to explore

• Genuine impact — especially in educational or community settings, the contribution you make feels real and meaningful

Cons

• Some positions require more hours than others — always read the listing carefully and check reviews

• Some positions require you to pay an additional fee

• Host communication can vary — some hosts are very responsive; others less so. Apply to multiple positions as a backup

• It's not free travel — you still have flights, transport, activities, and personal expenses to cover

• You need flexibility — if your travel style is highly planned and fast-moving, the slow-travel nature of volunteering may feel constraining

Is Worldpackers Worth It?

Absolutely, without hesitation — yes. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. What surprised me most was how much I received from the experience. I went in thinking about what I'd give — my time, my energy, my teaching experience. What I didn't expect was how much I'd come away with: a deeper understanding of Balinese culture, a genuine sense of connection to a community, and memories that feel entirely different from anything I'd collected on a regular holiday.

The love and warmth I experienced at that little school in Karangasem in a single week left a deeper impression than places I've visited for much longer.

Tips for First-Time Worldpackers Volunteers

• Apply early — the best positions fill up fast, especially in popular destinations like Bali

• Read reviews thoroughly — they tell you everything the listing doesn't

• Apply to 3–5 positions simultaneously — don't put all your eggs in one basket

• Be honest in your application — hosts appreciate genuine, specific answers over generic ones

• Pack light and be adaptable — flexibility is the single most important quality for a successful volunteering experience

• Use the discount code when signing up — Worldpackers frequently offers discounts through travel bloggers and partners, so search before you pay full price

Final Thoughts

If you've been sitting on the idea of volunteering abroad and wondering whether it's actually worth it — it is. Worldpackers makes the process accessible, affordable, and surprisingly straightforward.

Whether it's a kindergarten in Bali, a cat sanctuary in Greece, or a surf camp in Costa Rica, there is an opportunity out there that fits your skills, your interests, and your travel style. The hardest part is just taking the first step and signing up.

Have questions about my experience or Worldpackers in general? Drop them in the comments below — I'm happy to help!