Volunteer in Turtle Conservation in Nusa Penida, Bali

It was such an unique experience what I cannot describe in words correctly! I'm so glad I applied in the end even though I was so scared to do this alone. I've met incredible people, I've got to know a new culture and places with a lot of fun and adventures. I've never imagined I'll ever take care of so tiny and unique creatures, but I couldn't imagine a better place to do so. The local people were so kind and helpful. If you had any question they gladly answered and tried to help if they needed to. So everything was so awesome in overall. The accommodation, the food, the programs, everything. I'll never forget the unlimited pineapple and watermelon at dinner, and gossiping, of course. Thank you that I could be a part of this amazing program!

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I had the most amazing time in Nusa Penida. My family and friends are probably so sick of me because I won't stop talking about it! I met the most amazing people from all over the world and we instantly became best friends. I adored working with the turtles and our coordinators were so funny and kind! Bali is so beautiful and I loved getting to explore the island. This was a life changing experience that I would recommend to anyone! This was more than I could've dreamed of!

i loved volunteering in bali with IVHQ. It was my first time solo travelling and decided on volunteering with the turtles and will never regret it. I grew and experienced more than i could ever had imagined :) thank you truly, i will be volunteering again in the future and can’t wait to make a difference again! mya

I absolutely loved the entire three-week experience, starting with our time in Ubud during culture week, where I got to fully immerse myself in Balinese traditions, daily life, and such a unique atmosphere. It was an incredible way to learn and connect on a deeper level. Afterwards, being in Nusa Penida for the marine conservation part made the experience even more special—working with nature and contributing to something meaningful was truly rewarding. On top of that, I met so many kind and inspiring people along the way who I now genuinely consider my friends 🤍

Bail Turtle Conservation: I have a new found love for baby sea turtles!! I will truly miss seeing their wonderful little faces, feeding them daily, brushing them and catching live turtles for them to eat. What an amazing experience I will never forget. The people you meet while volunteering are people that have like minded passions and are amazing. Thank you Green Lion for your passion & project, and the team at IVHQ for all your help.

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We wanted to engage in a turtle conservation project as a family with teens and found he perfect program with IVHQ. We could do 1 week programs in Lombok, offering private accommodations for our family of 4, the meals were amazing, and the experience was unbelievable. Lombok is a more remote version of Bali and offers a wonderful culture of family and surfing lifestyle. The turtle site offered daily opportunities to engage directly with the baby turtles; feeding, cleaning and engaging with them. And at the end of the week, we were able to release turtles into the ocean. Life changing experience. Our kids have a greater appreciation of combining travel and philanthropy.

This was my first solo trip abroad, and it was absolutely a success. They picked me up from the airport, which helped soothe my nerves about arriving in a new place, and I loved the culture week to help me feel comfortable in a new country. The local team was friendly, supportive and fun. I enjoyed getting to know the other volunteers, and I will treasure the connections I made during my program. I was so glad to have a purpose during my trip. I felt like I was really able to help, and I also had experiences I wouldn't have had access to during a normal vacation. I was a bit nervous about fitting in as an older volunteer, but the whole experience was fantastic, and I'm already planning my next trip with IVHQ!

Volunteering in Bali with the turtle conservation project was such a special experience. The local team is incredibly helpful, always happy, and eager to teach you new things. They do everything they can to make sure you have a great time while also learning and contributing. Another amazing part is meeting people from all over the world—it’s so nice to share the experience with such a diverse group of new friends.

As a participant in this program, the most important thing is to approach everything with an open mind. This has allowed me to learn a great deal about the country and its culture. I've learned a lot about turtles. I've met many interesting people from other countries and cultures. I had to find my way around a foreign country on my own. This sometimes presented challenges. However, when you overcome them, you feel a great sense of pride and have developed. It's up to each individual what they make of their stay. Whether they surround themselves only with people from their own country or whether they approach people of other nationalities. I'm proud of myself for having the courage to participate in this program, for openly facing all the challenges and for getting the most out of every day. As the managing director of a company, I have to make decisions every day and bear responsibility. During my trip, I was sometimes forced out of my comfort zone, which allowed me to discover new sides of myself and grow from it.

I had the most amazing time during my stay in Bali doing the Sea Turtle Conservation project! It was truly unforgettable. The coordinators were amazing and It was incredible to see the true culture. I stayed for 2 weeks and loved every minute of it.

Had an amazing time volunteering in Bali in the Turtle Conservation project. We spent 2 weeks there and I loved the variety of activities and different things they had us doing. It was my first time volunteering and it was such a rewarding experience. I loved feeling like I was doing something productive and also learning about a new culture. The local team was so positive and I loved that we still had enough free time to explore the beautiful beaches and surrounding area. I'd love to volunteer again soon.

I feel I have gained confidence and experience with meeting new cultures and people from all over the world, I learnt a lot about my volunteering project and learnt a lot about the culture. I have gained many friendships and memories that I wished lasted longer. Advice I would give to someone who is hesitant, I would say trust IVHQ and just go for it.

This summer I took part in IVHQ’s Turtle Conservation volunteer program for two weeks. A friend of mine had joined the same project the year before and highly recommended it to me. After doing some research, I chose IVHQ because of the strong ethical values it promotes. At first, I was quite scared about organizing such a long trip by myself, especially to a place so far and so different from home. But IVHQ provided all the steps needed to prepare for the experience, leaving nothing to chance. They gave me plenty of information about the location and alerted me about possible complications. I was also able to join several Q&A sessions to ask further questions. And thanks to the short training videos, I felt aware of how to behave responsibly once on site. As a volunteer in Nusa Penida, I carried out various activities: feeding turtles, cleaning tanks, catching crabs, and cleaning beaches. I won’t lie — it’s work that requires commitment, but that’s exactly what made me feel like I was truly contributing to the cause! Activities took place in the morning and afternoon, rotating among the different tasks, but it was also possible to take time off during the week to explore — and believe me, it’s worth it: the landscapes are breathtaking. On the last day, we released the turtles who were ready to begin their life in the ocean. I’m not exaggerating when I say many of us were moved to tears. It was a priceless moment — something I never imagined I’d witness in my life. It truly warmed my heart. My coordinator was always clear in giving instructions about the work and was also happy to offer advice on exploring the island, local traditions, and what to do during free time. Their kindness and enthusiasm made everything easier and more enriching. Through this experience, I feel I not only supported an important environmental and animal cause, but also fully immersed myself in Indonesian culture. I discovered what life is really like on the other side of the world. I came back with the awareness that it’s truly possible to make a difference — even in small ways — and that there are endless opportunities beyond our daily lives, if we’re willing to take a leap. Now I feel more aware of the world, and more eager than ever to be useful for global causes. I learned to face challenges and situations that I’d never encounter in my daily routine. I recommend this experience to anyone looking for a real adventure and personal growth — someone ready to take on challenges and leave a positive mark. I’m immensely grateful for this journey, which rekindled a spark within me and filled me with energy for life, even back home. If I could, I would leave again tomorrow! Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart!

I was able to meet amazing people with who I stay in contact even after returning back home. Besides I got to discover many new experiences and places, as well as things about the local culture that I probably wouldn’t know if I didn’t do the program. Overall, I loved to make a difference for the turtles and the planet, but I was also amazed to live and feel like a local person.

I would like to emphasise that this was my first experience as a volunteer. And it has been a great experience in every way. The experience of sharing a few days in a location like Lombok has been very interesting for me because I have been able to get to know a part of the world and a continent that I didn't know before. Also being able to live with people from all over the world has also been very important and enriching for me. Also, the participation in the turtle conservation project has been very interesting and the local people in charge of the project did a very good job.

16yr old son just had the trip of a lifetime. We were well supported before he left by our coordinator. He made friends as soon as he arrived and had a lot of fun. Learnt a lot about the turtles and the second week was able to show new volunteers what to do. Affordable way to have a supported overseas experience.

I had the best time! I was nervous when I first booked. I had never travelled solo and at 16 it was quite daunting. But with the support from IVHQ I felt comfortable with each aspect of the project. I made many friends from all over the world. And absolutely adored the turtles we were helping.

after spending 4 weeks in the turtle conservation project in Lombok and reading mixed reviews I was able to make my own opinion on my experience. Working with the amazing local team was rewarding as I was able to learn about their culture and feel more confident on how to act around the island and above. I was placed in a great environment with volunteers from around the world that all were here to make an impact and discover a new culture which created a safe and comfortable space for everyone. In regards to the turtle project itself, the variety of tasks was small but it felt useful and impactful such as beach cleaning or fish cutting but also cleaning the turtle tanks and monitoring the hatchings. Lastly the small but effective introduction to the project and the species of turtles present at the conservation really helped us to understand our impact and how we can help in our daily life for the entire oceanic environment. I would recommend this volunteering experience to young adults looking to make an impact while feeling welcomed within other volunteers and local coordinators.

I spent 3 weeks in Indonesia, I'm so grateful to have done my best in my little way, I met so many beautiful people that I can't wait to meet again, including the local team, to whom I thank very much, I had a really good time!

It was such a rewarding experience and I would highly recommend to anyone thinking about volunteering or travelling. I met some amazing people and was immersed in a new, interesting culture. The turtles were incredible and Lombok is a beautiful island with so much to offer