Welcome to HelpX
HelpX is an online listing of host organic farms, farmstays, hobby farms, lifestyle blocks, homestays, ranches, lodges, backpackers hostels and even sailing boats who invite volunteer helpers to stay with them short-term in exchange for food and accommodation. HelpX is provided primarily as a cultural exchange for working holiday makers, who would like the opportunity during their travels abroad, to stay with local people and gain practical experience. In the typical arrangement, the helper works an average of 4 hours per day and receives free accommodation and meals for their efforts.
This time range can vary considerably depending on the tasks at hand and the host's preferences. Some hosts may require just 2 hours per day for accommodation only, and ask you to provide and cook your own food.
Others may expect 6 hours per day in return for meals, your own room and sometimes other benefits such as free Internet use, horse riding, kayaking, bikes, local sight-seeing trips, yoga or English lessons, etc. Some will give weekends off, while others might allow you to put in 8 hours one day and later take a full day off. Helpers often live with the host family and are expected to join in and offer a helping hand with day-to-day activities.
Volunteer helpers are required to register for one of two levels of membership, Free or Premier. Helpers must upgrade to Premier membership to take full advantage of all HelpX has to offer. Premier membership costs 20 Euros for 2 years and allows the helper to contact all hosts and read all host reviews. Premier helpers can browse this site and contact hosts directly to see about making arrangements to stay.
Hosts wishing to add a free listing inviting helpers to stay will need to register. Registered hosts may update their details as often as they like and view helper profiles.
We advise both helpers and hosts to ask plenty of questions about each other in order to establish expectations from each party. Helpers should never turn up without prior arrangement.
Helpers can also opt to provide a self description for hosts to view who may then wish to invite the helper to stay with them. We advise helpers to include in their profile any skills or experience they may have, such as gardening, farming, agriculture, permaculture, fruit-picking; trade skills such as building, carpentry, landscaping, sail boat crewing; working with animals or an ability to care for and ride horses. Helpers can also look for travel companions.
HelpX (not helpex), operates worldwide including in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Europe including France.
Where will you go to next?
Australia
New Zealand
Europe
North America
Central America & Caribbean
South America
Pacific Islands
Asia
Africa
Testimonials
We love HelpX! Meeting travellers from all around the world is such fun, and we learn so much from them! Most are lovely enthusiastic folk who really enjoy what the area has to offer, and they fill our home with laughter! Its also great to get projects done so much quicker with their help.
I have had only great experiences with the HelpX people who have come to stay with. It has been wonderful to share experiences with these workers as they travel around Australia. The site is easy to access and people have reported that the site has been useful for them. I highly recommend the whole experience with other people.
We have found HelpX a really good website and have connected with lots of travellers to NZ. Keep up the good work.
I love HelpX! Simple and true! ;) It truly is an amazing idea and I wish that I had discovered it sooner! It is a great way to travel and see the world, especially if you have a limited budget. It has opened new doors for me and helped me to acquire experiences and meet new people that I don`t think would have been possible without HelpX. Thank you!
I remember when I was thinking almost half year ago which web site to choose.. and thank God I have chosen Helpx. I have spent beautiful time with all of my hosts and it is an experience that I wouldn`t change for anything in the world.
Helpx is a wonderful way to share your culture and build bonds with other nations whilst helping people to work whilst they travel to make it a more affordable journey.
We have really enjoyed having the people we have met through HelpX. It is a fantastic scheme benefiting everyone involved. I highly recommend it.
Hi, we have been using Help-X since 2009. Just love the people we have met and are still in contact with most of them!
Thank you for a very rewarding experience. We have loved hosting visitors to Australia from all over the world and congratulate the Helpx organisation for giving us this wonderful opportunity. We would encourage anyone thinking about hosting to do so. Many thanks Helpx.
I love HelpX - could not do without all the lovely travellers we have hosted. We look forward to many more.
We have hosted helpx visitors many times over the years and have loved it! - in fact we are still in touch with some who have returned home years ago. in the past couple of years we have been away so have not been able to host for a while but have updated the listing and we, and our old dog who just loves meeting new friends, are looking forward to welcome new travellers. Thanks for this wonderful site.
We used Helpx in the first quarter of 2016 and it was just wonderful. The people who came stayed, working and living with us were just like our own families and we had such fun, despite some hard physical work. It gives the opportunity for great cultural exchange and in my case, to give a little back to the travelling community, after all the great times I had as a young backpacker. I definitely recommend Helpx!
We love HelpX! Meeting travellers from all around the world is such fun, and we learn so much from them! Most are lovely enthusiastic folk who really enjoy what the area has to offer, and they fill our home with laughter! Its also great to get projects done so much quicker with their help.
I have had only great experiences with the HelpX people who have come to stay with. It has been wonderful to share experiences with these workers as they travel around Australia. The site is easy to access and people have reported that the site has been useful for them. I highly recommend the whole experience with other people.
We have found HelpX a really good website and have connected with lots of travellers to NZ. Keep up the good work.
I love HelpX! Simple and true! ;) It truly is an amazing idea and I wish that I had discovered it sooner! It is a great way to travel and see the world, especially if you have a limited budget. It has opened new doors for me and helped me to acquire experiences and meet new people that I don`t think would have been possible without HelpX. Thank you!
I remember when I was thinking almost half year ago which web site to choose.. and thank God I have chosen Helpx. I have spent beautiful time with all of my hosts and it is an experience that I wouldn`t change for anything in the world.
Helpx is a wonderful way to share your culture and build bonds with other nations whilst helping people to work whilst they travel to make it a more affordable journey.
We have really enjoyed having the people we have met through HelpX. It is a fantastic scheme benefiting everyone involved. I highly recommend it.
Hi, we have been using Help-X since 2009. Just love the people we have met and are still in contact with most of them!
Thank you for a very rewarding experience. We have loved hosting visitors to Australia from all over the world and congratulate the Helpx organisation for giving us this wonderful opportunity. We would encourage anyone thinking about hosting to do so. Many thanks Helpx.
I love HelpX - could not do without all the lovely travellers we have hosted. We look forward to many more.
We have hosted helpx visitors many times over the years and have loved it! - in fact we are still in touch with some who have returned home years ago. in the past couple of years we have been away so have not been able to host for a while but have updated the listing and we, and our old dog who just loves meeting new friends, are looking forward to welcome new travellers. Thanks for this wonderful site.
We used Helpx in the first quarter of 2016 and it was just wonderful. The people who came stayed, working and living with us were just like our own families and we had such fun, despite some hard physical work. It gives the opportunity for great cultural exchange and in my case, to give a little back to the travelling community, after all the great times I had as a young backpacker. I definitely recommend Helpx!