The Standard ISV Eastern Europe Program is four weeks in length and consists of a two-week Volunteer Project in either Croatia, Romania, Bosnia or Herzegovina and a two-week Adventure Tour within Slovenia and Croatia.

If traveling to Eastern Europe, you may also choose a Customized ISV Program and select an additional Volunteer Project within Eastern Europe, extending your Program to a total of six weeks.

The Customized ISV Program also gives you the option to travel to a second or third country for additional Volunteer Projects and/or Adventure Tours as outlined in the Customized Program Options under "Terms and Conditions".  Please click on the Terms and Conditions link on this website for specific dates, costs and policies.

Eastern Europe Volunteer Programs & Adventure Travel Tours

Travel to Eastern Europe to volunteer and participate in conservation and community development programs such as:

• Care and education of orphans
• Construction of schools and community centers
• Youth support programs
• Conservation of natural resources
• Preservation of brown bears

Your adventure continues with activities such as:

• Mountain biking around Lake Bled and Bovec
• Hydrospeeding on the Soca River (a white water swimming experience)
• Caving in underground karstic systems
• Discovering the historic Old Towns of Zagreb and Dubrovnik
• Visiting a world of cascades and waterfalls at Plitvice Lakes National Park
• A two day kayaking adventure on the Zrmanja River
• A seven day island hopping adventure on a chartered boat
• Rock climbing on limestone cliffs around Omis
• Canyoning in the Cetina River gorge
• Enjoying local cuisine cooked the traditional way

Don't forget about the great optional extras such as white water rafting, windsurfing and extreme paragliding experiences!

Make a difference to the life of a child and help protect nature in Eastern Europe!

"I would do it a thousand times over! People from all over the world came together to make a difference and I learnt more than I thought possible. It was wonderful getting to know and participating with a community so different from my own and I will hold them with me for the rest of my life." - Alisha Bator, Western Washington University

About ISV's Eastern Europe Conservation and Community Development Projects

Eastern Europe is a dynamic region with a great diversity of cultures and environments. Many regions are still recovering from past conflicts and communities are seeking to re-establish their identities and preserve areas of ecological importance. As a volunteer, you will have an opportunity to work alongside local organizations that have partnered with ISV to direct help to where it is needed the most. Your efforts will focus on hands-on conservation and community development projects and you may find yourself caring for children in orphanages and schools, constructing schools and parks in local communities, helping to preserve wildlife and natural environments or assisting communities to host special events.

Last year's key Achievement: 1700 hours spent directing camp activities for underprivileged children in Romania

ISV's Projects

ISV has projects spread across Croatia, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina. By volunteering with ISV in Eastern Europe, you could find yourself assisting in any of these areas.

• Wildlife Protection: Help care and protect Croatia’s brown bears!
  Croatia's much beloved brown bears are under threat from hunting and increasing human occupation of their natural habitat. Here is your chance to volunteer and provide refuge for endangered brown bear in a relatively natural setting. Primary tasks vary and can include building and maintaining animal enclosures, fence building, vegetation removal, tree planting, surveying, and animal husbandry (daily care for animals). All of these tasks are directly related to the establishment or maintenance of the sanctuary and the promotion of animal conservation.



• Heritage and Habitat Restoration: Volunteer in unique landscapes in Bosnia and Herzegovina!
  ISV is dedicated to assisting with several community heritage and habitat restoration projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina on public and privately owned land. Get ready to get your hands dirty and see the results of your efforts by helping to rehabilitate the natural environment, man-made structures and construct low impact walking trails. The goal of these projects is to support the communities’ efforts to maintain the integrity of their natural environments while promoting responsible tourism. This is a unique chance to volunteer amongst one of Eastern Europe’s most breathtaking landscapes where you may find yourself building trails through natural forest, restoring an ancient castle, or helping to extend the playground at a local school!



• Community Construction: Help create schools and parks for children in Romania and Bosnia and Herzegovina!
  Helping to build a school for young children or a public recreation area for a whole community has lasting benefits. The goal is to create areas where children have an opportunity to participate in learning and to provide communities with areas where they can come together to celebrate. Roll up your sleeves and be prepared for some light construction work, to meet the community and share in village life.



• Children's Development: Teach and inspire children in Romania and Croatia!
  Several opportunities exist to assist at educational summer camps, community centers and orphanages that focus on the education and personal development of children and youth. Many children come from under privileged families, or have no families at all, and are in need of care and companionship. For other children the opportunity to attend a learning center can provide them with a creative outlet for expression, an opportunity to further their learning, and to make new friends. The goal is to promote active participation, cultural awareness and respect. You may find yourself assisting in an art class, organizing sporting games or rehearsing a play.

Project Locations

Projects are spread across Eastern Europe and are constantly being updated according to the changing needs of our host organizations.

"Working with ISV brought me to a classroom halfway around the world, where the children were my teachers, peers my mentors and every interaction my newfound harmony with another amazing culture."
Tania Zaparaniuk, Depaul University

Please note: These are ALL great projects with significant conservation and educational value in phenomenal locations. Please be flexible with your project preferences as project availability is specific to departure date.

More on ISV's Projects

Each project runs for two weeks and is operated in partnership with well-established local organizations including, not-for-profit government and non-government organizations (NGOs), private industries, and local grassroots groups. Projects are based in various locations, from remote village communities to urban settings. Each volunteer team will be supervised and directed by professional staff from the host organization and an ISV project leader. The volunteer team will consist of around 10 - 14 people, depending on the project.

Please Note: Projects in two different countries are offered for each departure date and not all projects run simultaneously.

No prior experience or expertise is needed in order to participate. Accommodations vary with projects, ranging from volunteer houses, dormitory style accommodations to research stations. Meals (three per day) will be provided during the volunteer project.

Eastern Europe - Adventure Tour

Travel through Eastern Europe from its rugged mountains where tumbling rivers give way to rolling plains scattered with medieval castles and villages. Emerging from scented woods to crest the alps, you will coast down through a Mediterranean scatter of vineyards and olive groves to the warm waters of the Adriatic where the ISV boat and sailing adventures await. During the adventure tour you will experience exciting adventure activities, discover history and local culture, and meet the local people who call paradise home. On the ISV Adventure Tour you will have the opportunity to participate on activities such as:

• A seven day island hopping adventure on the private ISV boat
• A two day kayaking adventure on the Zrmanja River
• Caving in underground karstic systems
• Mountain biking around Lake Bled and Bovec
• Hydrospeeding on the Soca River
• Visiting a world of cascades and waterfalls at Plitvice Lakes National Park
• Discovering the historic Old Towns of Zagreb and Dubrovnik
• Rock climbing on limestone cliffs around Omis
• Canyoning in the Cetina River gorge
• Enjoying local cuisine cooked the traditional way

Note: See ISV's Tour Itinerary (below) which specifies the Program's Included Activities and those provided in the ISV Optional Activity Package.

Adventure Tour Locations

"The adventure tour was amazing. I got to try things I never thought I'd do and they were all so much fun. ISV arranged a fantastic trip - it was the perfect way to experience Eastern European culture!"
Jennifer Lamb, Penn State University

Adventure Tour Itinerary – Zagreb to Dubrovnik (Southbound)

Note: Depending on your departure date and allocated volunteer project you may participate on the Dubrovnik to Zagreb (Northbound) tour itinerary which operates in the opposite direction with minor variations