My First Solo Volunteering Experience in Bali’s Turtle Conservation Program

Hello, my name is Emily. I’m 20 years old, originally from Estonia, and I decided to spend two months in Bali volunteering at the Turtle Conservation Program. This is my first time in Asia, my first time traveling alone, and my first time doing volunteer work abroad.

Why I Chose Bali

I had been studying International Business in the Netherlands, but after a while I realized it wasn’t for me. I dropped out, worked for three years, and saved money while figuring out my next step. At some point, I felt stuck. I wanted to grow as a person, try something new, and do something meaningful. That’s when I found Bali Internships, and suddenly I was on my way to Bali to work with sea turtles.

Switching from business to conservation was a complete change. Every day here is different, and that’s exactly what I was looking for.

Arriving and Feeling Safe

From the moment I applied, I felt supported. The Bali Internships team gave me clear information about what to bring, what to expect, and how everything would work. Communication was always fast, whether by email or WhatsApp, and that made me feel safe and prepared.

When I arrived in Bali, Samuel was already waiting for me at the airport. He stayed in touch with me while I collected my luggage, met me at the arrivals area, and drove me to my accommodation. He explained everything and made sure I settled in. As a young woman traveling solo, this gave me so much peace of mind I didn’t have to stress about where to go or who would meet me.

Life at the Turtle Center

My daily work at the Turtle Conservation and Education Center is a mix of hands-on care and education. I help guide visitors around the center, clean aquariums, feed the turtles, and sometimes snorkel to collect seaweed for the green sea turtles. We also do beach monitoring as a team, walking the shoreline to look for nesting turtles and eggs.

The most magical part is helping baby turtles hatch. We carefully move them from the sand to the aquariums, and then release them into the ocean. Seeing the tiny turtles swim off into the waves is an experience I’ll never forget.

Of course, not every task is glamorous cleaning tanks means dealing with lots of mosquitoes but the rewards are much greater than the challenges.

Free Time and Friendships

Outside of volunteering, life in Bali is full of adventure. The volunteers have become close friends, and together we rent bikes, explore different beaches, go shopping, and try surfing. It was my first time surfing here, and I actually sprained my ankle. At first, I worried it would ruin my time in Bali, but the insurance covered everything. After two weeks of rest, I was back on my feet and on my bike.

One thing I love about this program is how spontaneous it feels. We don’t follow a strict plan; instead, we decide together where to go and what to try next. It makes every day exciting.

Why I Recommend It

I would definitely recommend Bali Internships to anyone thinking about volunteering abroad, especially if you’re young and traveling alone for the first time. For me, safety was the most important thing. Having the support and guidance of the team made the whole journey smooth and stress-free.

Coming to Asia for the first time can feel like a big step, but for me it turned out to be an easy and rewarding one. If I had to describe Bali in three words, I would say: spontaneous, hot, and very cheap.

If you are still hesitating about traveling solo, I want to say this: I was nervous too before I came. But with Bali Internships arranging everything for me, I never felt lost or unsafe. As a 20-year-old girl traveling solo, safety was very important for me. With all the support and guidance, coming here felt like an easy step forward.

Now that I’ve done it, I know it was the best decision I could have made.