GVI Reviews 839

Do not give these people your money unless you are prepared to have trips cancelled 5 weeks before departure (resulting in lost flight costs) and receive a refund 180 days later…this is not a company to be trusted despite their ‘snazzy’ social presence

Date of experience: May 27, 2025

Unethical company! If you ever need a refund, good luck because they are strapped on cash! I canceled my trip and requested for a refund in September 2024. I was told I wasn’t entitled to one because I didn’t pay the cancellation waiver fee, which I did. I showed them the receipts and they apologized and let me know that my refund will be sent within 6 months because they need to “maintain a healthy cash flow” and support their staff. Guess what, it’s been over 8 months and I haven’t seen a cent! First of all, are you incompetent or were you lying about me not paying the waiver fee because you didn’t want to pay me? It’s not my problem you need to maintain cash flow. I AM NOT A BANK! Response on this matter has been untimely and communication is lacking. To potential volunteers, please reconsider giving this company any of your money because who knows where it goes. This is a company that won’t deliver on its promises.

Date of experience: September 22, 2024

My son is looking for an overseas internship and GVI kept appearing in my F/B feed as sponsored content. I decided to do some homework:

Firstly, the internships are very expensive and don’t include flights, visas or insurance.

Secondly, GVI has changed its name several times. I asked GVI on F/B who owns and runs the company. I was immediately blocked. I had noticed previous negative comments from others had disappeared.

Thirdly, this made me look at Companies House, the Charity Commission and the directors. Have a look for yourself but the organisation’s financial situation is very precarious. The founder has filed for bankruptcy several times.

Finally, I won’t go as far as saying GVI is a scam (it may be) but this internship programme exists to generate funds for the organisation. It’s not clear where the money goes especially as the charity arm seems to be a small part of the overall business.

Update: Thanks for the response. I think I’ll stick with my original conclusion & my interpretation of “streamlining.” Others may differ, but:

Companies House lists various limited companies over the past decade or so: GVI Travel Ltd. GVI Corporate Alliance. Bushwise. Latest is GVI international Ltd (with accounts.)
GVI is on the Charity Commission register under the new name Action Change (also with accounts.)
The GVI Foundation website you refer to is American. Maybe another iteration?

Date of experience: May 29, 2025

My daughter was booked on a trip doing reef conservation in Mexico. Five and a half weeks out a single line email informs me that the trip has been cancelled due to low participation. We have bought equipment, booked flights and paid in full for the trip.

I am informed that the refund will take 6 months to process whilst we are scrabbling to see if we can get flight refunds etc.

DO NOT TRUST THIS COMPANY. Their behaviour has been bordering on criminal, we are currently seeking legal advice but their inability to communicate is astounding. PLEASE DO NOT BE FOOLED BY A SLICK WEBSITE AND SOME QUESTIONABLE TESTIMONIALS.

UPDATE - Just to clarify, the cut off date for participants to apply is circa four months before the trip. To cancel with less than six weeks to go before the trip due to lack of participation makes no sense, surely the company should have known lack of numbers when the cut off point was passed at which point we were encouraged to book flights!

Also refund policy is 180 days. Six months when you cancelled the trip.

Both these points are completely unacceptable.

Date of experience: May 26, 2025

I had the opportunity to volunteer in Cambodia via GVI and I can say it was one of the best experiences and decisions by far.
The approach from the organisation since the very beginning was really good, I never felt lost about things to do before my arrival. They were always there to answer my questions.
About my experience in Cambodia, I was welcomed in Siem Reap by this lovely and caring team and I loved their approach and commitment with the community, projects and activities. They put passion and devotion on every moment.
Although the weather was extremely hot for me..I will remember those days in the schools where patience and teaching with a smile and love was the key to a memorable experience.

Date of experience: April 12, 2025

I came to GVI Mexico Puerto Morelos, as a National Scholar (My sister had also participated at GVI Mex). When I arrived I knew nothing about diving, and now 8 months later, I'm leaving as a Rescue Diver, with a Coral Reef Restoration specialty.

This experience was magnificent, GVI feels like a family instead of a company. The level of care they provide for their volunteers and staff is just amazing.

I came here to gain professional experience, and I gained way more than that. I would love to be part of this family for longer time, the only downside is, salaries are on the lower end; but it is an incredible opportunity to gain experience in the field, so it's totally worth it to come as a volunteer, field assistant or staff. Plus, the locations are just in such beautiful places, what else can one ask for?

So sad that my time here is ending, but hopefully will be coming back in the future!

Date of experience: May 25, 2025

The Secret Garden Hotel in Siem Reap is a charming, family-run small hotel in central Siem Reap. I would recommend without hesitation,

Date of experience: May 03, 2025

I think that the staff on base in ghana are brilliant and really good at their jobs, i feel as though gvi global should give volunteers more support on the run up to their program as i wasn’t very prepared/ didn’t know what to expect. overall i have enjoyed my time here but it is a shame for me to be leaving early, i have just struggled so much because it is so different

Date of experience: May 16, 2025

A truly "once in a lifetime" adventure.
The communication and organisation prior to starting the programme (about what to expect, what to pack, how to prepare, etc) could definitely be improved. For me personally, I thought I was doing a specialist intership, as I had discussed with the salesperson, but only once I had started I found out that is not actually possible. Communication between on-site staff and office-based staff, as well as between staff and participants should improve. Likewise, the website could be much more clear about what exactly one can expect from each programme.
However, once you are there and are busy it is a wonderful team of inspiring and motivated people from whom you'll learn a lot! At GVI Kekoldi, Costa Rica, I learned a lot about surveying and ID-ing the local fauna, inputting and working with data, and about different conservation topics. The experience on site is amazing! We also had different workshops in which we learned about local flora, invertebrate diversity, river sampling, and had the occasional Spanish class from the staff. But these workshops are all thanks to the motivation and knowledge of the wonderful staff. Some activities that are listed on the GVI website as included within the programme at no additional cost are not actually available there.
The programme did come with a very big price tag. Though I did not expect a luxurious stay by any means, with the amount of money participants pay to be there (which doesn't include flights) I do think more comfort and better diets should be incorporated.
Overall, being able to see the rich biodiversity in person was truly an unforgetable experience, and made any discomfort and all the hard work worth it! Outside of GVI, the country is beautiful and locals are very friendly.

Date of experience: May 11, 2025

Our daughter Kayla was on an 8 week volunteer course in Puerto Morelos, Mexico getting her PADI and Coral Reef Care licences. She had a fantastic time.
From a parent perspective, Kayla has been looked after very well eg met at airport promptly and then a confirmatory message to say she had arrived safely. The organisation is good so that if bad weather prevents diving, then alternate useful activities eg learning about the coral and marine life are organised in advance. Safety standards are excellent and better than local diving clubs, Kayla experienced this difference.
Volunteers need to be pro active and collaborate to make the most of the great weekend opportunities locally. The local community was so welcoming and easy to get along with.
So an excellent personal development and fun experience.

Date of experience: May 14, 2025

My Time in Limpopo: A Dream Lived
In late February, I was searching for my next adventure. I thought I had it all planned out, heading to Honduras for a couple months to complete my Dive Masters course. But life had other plans. A pop-up on Instagram caught my eye: GVI was offering grants of up to £5,000 for their programs around the world.
For five years, I’d dreamed of joining GVI, specifically their wildlife conservation program in South Africa. Circumstances never quite lined up—until now. I applied for the grant, was accepted, and before I knew it, I was booking the trip of a lifetime: 6 weeks in Limpopo, South Africa, working on conservation at Karongwe Game Reserve.
Why this program? Easy—my lifelong love and passion for wildlife. Since I can remember, it’s been my dream to see elephants in the wild (they’re my absolute favourites), and I couldn’t imagine a better way to experience that than with GVI in Limpopo, learning all about conservation.
GVI Limpopo—you did not disappoint.
The base is incredible, with a stunning view of the Drakensberg Mountains and total immersion in wilderness. It’s not uncommon for wildlife to stroll through base, keeping us on our toes. Massive shoutout to the GVI Limpopo staff: the most caring, passionate, and knowledgeable group of people I’ve ever had the pleasure meeting. Each team member brought their own niche expertise—meaning I got to learn not just about the expected mammals but also botany, invertebrates, astronomy, GIS mapping, and so much more but my new personal favourite—birds. I logged 195 new species I’d not seen before. This team is truly incredible and we as participants wouldn’t be able to learn as much as we do and enjoy this magical place as much as we did without these hero’s so thank you.

This experience changed my life.
A few moments stand out:
* The first time I saw elephants in the wild. I couldn’t take my eyes off them. They were so close I felt like I could hug them (not advised—they definitely wouldn’t feel the same!). I was overwhelmed with emotion and cried tears of joy. I got to see them several times during my stay, and each encounter was magical.
* Darting and relocating a pregnant cheetah, KFC to a Boma(enclosure on the reserve). She had a thorn in her paw and needed help being so vulnerable to predators at this time. We darted KFC and removed the thorn and transported her to the Boma for a safe delivery away from predators. I got to carry her—feeling the cubs in her belly—and sat in the truck monitoring her breathing throughout the journey. It was surreal, I could barely take my eyes off of her. I even got a tattoo of KFC on a day off in town to remember this moment forever.
* Teaching conservation to local school children. We taught 6th and 7th graders about the animal kingdom and spent time with nursery kids learning about bugs. Their energy, excitement, and smiles to have us there teaching them in their school were unforgettable. We ended the day with song and dance, and once again, South Africa brought me to tears, this magical place has really opened up the waterworks.
So, why Limpopo, South Africa? Because it’s the most stunning, soul-stirring place I’ve ever been. You’ll learn so much, see incredible wildlife, and make lifelong friends in fellow participants and staff. Karongwe blew away my expectations. I documented my day-to-day life on a dedicated Instagram account, posting photos and videos—not realizing I’d earn credit toward my next GVI program. That was just a bonus. I did it so I could relive every magical moment.
If you’re thinking about joining a conservation program, I urge you to go. Limpopo changed my life, fulfilled my dream, and gave me memories I’ll carry forever.

Date of experience: March 14, 2025

the best experience of my life I would do it a million times again! I went to thailand for three months and learned more than i have in 20 years!

Date of experience: August 19, 2024

Horrible!! Cap Ternay is the last place you want to be on this earth!! It’s a complete SCAM!!!
You are trapped in nowhereland, the accommodation is disgusting, worn down and just waste of time and Money!!
For €120/day you have to clean the bathrooms and to eat worthless frozen food in a kitchen that smells like rotten food!!!
You can’t close the doors of the dorm during nighttime so the rats can enter..
For €120/day the Team there IS not able to remodle the place in 20 years!!!
It was a school decades back and everything IS still there from the moment the school was left..-it’s like a place where they produced a Horror-Zombie-Movie!!!
GVI did not even remove the chairs, beds, mattresses, blackboards, fitness-gear or anything you can think of after the school moved out!!!
The locals do not know what IS happening there..-after 20 years in Cap Ternay?? On an Island like Mahé??? Every local I was talking to was asking ME about the activities there..-some didn‘t even know there were human beings!!!
There IS no project that had a documented impact during 20 years, there IS no transparency and the locals still hunt and eat green turtles..-that’s Not the imagination I have from a trustworthy non-profit-organisation!!!

Date of experience: May 10, 2025

Very organised on the base in Puerto Morelos Mexico, and lovely staff! The diving was amazing. Not many volunteers whilst I was there. But had a great experience, always felt safe, and had some truly incredible dives :)

Date of experience: May 09, 2025

Excellent course , gaining much knowledge about Marine Conservation. All the supporters were really helpful.
Thank you so much.

Date of experience: May 08, 2025

Gvi is a scam organisation

Takes your money
cancels the young person's trip itself
and barely returns 30% of the money
GVI is an organization that should be banned

Date of experience: May 02, 2025

Please look carefully before choosing GVI. Whilst the local staff were very friendly and welcoming (as was everyone we met in Nepal), they weren’t appropriately trained by GVI, and there was no structure to their activities. GVI has been running in Nepal for many years so I expected a needs analysis and some outline curriculum to be in place, to ensure we met local needs. Unfortunately there was very little in place. I couldn’t see how their activities aligned to the UN goals in terms of long term sustainability and impact. I was there for 6 weeks, and my friend and I tried to develop a teaching programme that would be more impactful. However, based on the permanent staff skill set (no fault of their own), I don’t see how it will be sustained. I am an older volunteer, in retirement, so there was no real impact on my career, I was however working with younger people who had gone on internships to strengthen their CV. They didn’t appear to be getting the experience they had been promised, with limited exposure to NGOs and little mentorship, guidance or development. Personally I think there are better volunteering organisations out there - GVI is pure Voluntourism and they spend a huge amount on marketing. If you do choose them, make sure you negotiate the price you pay. I thought it was a fixed price but subsequently found out that others had paid a lot less (I felt somewhat stupid for not realising this). I will be volunteering again as I think it’s a very worthwhile venture and would encourage anyone to do it. However any future volunteering won’t be with GVI

Date of experience: March 15, 2025

GVI Ghana is a wonderful NGO. My experience here will be unforgettable and I will miss it so much. During my time here I have been involved in a wide range of projects including Greenclub, Bookclub, SRH, Public speaking and GirlGuides. After projects there are plenty of things to get involved in, such as swimming in the ocean, relaxing at the beach, walking up the local mountain, playing games on base and having movie nights. The staff team at GVI Ghana are lovely and incredibly supportive throughout your stay here! They work hard to ensure your safety and wellbeing is kept. Kokrobite is a beautiful, lively place to be.

Date of experience: January 04, 2025

Awful company. Awful communication. Such a shame that the staff and leaders can do this shamelessly. Promised me a refund 2 years ago over £1965, (26th nov 2023). After chasing them up they gave me £250, said they have a payment plant but I never got said payment plan. scam company. They always cancel trips I’ve spoke to many people going through it. Very suspicious-they are always changing office bases, also think they have money issues hence why everyone is waiting on a refund.
Such a shame. It was all my savings.
Been really in a poor situation recently and I just need my money back. I’ve been so patient with the company. I will begin taking further action now as I can’t afford to not have the money anymore.
Shame on you gvi.

Date of experience: November 26, 2024

This programme is exceptional in Mexico. If you want to get a very special qualification to become A coral reef restoration diver course, this is the place to go!! The staff are very kind, and extremely knowledgeable. The accommodation and base are very organised with well thought out safety measures and protocols to keep everything up to par. Thank you to all of the GVI Mexico Team, you made my experience so so special!!!

Date of experience: April 12, 2025