"Throw all your expectations out of the window" if you sign up to a volunteer project, says Bryan Bounds, co-founder of i-to-i, the meaningful travel and TEFL company.

Participating on a volunteer project is hard work, Bounds told the Adventure Travel and Sports Show that took place in London on January 13th to 15th.

Volunteering allows you to give something back to local communities and get under the skin of a culture, but you will need to be flexible, he said.

Volunteers are asked to work long hours, sometimes in 'sweaty' conditions, while adhering to local traditions and timeframes.

If you want to switch off your brain and relax, volunteering is not for you. But on short-term volunteer projects, you can meet local people, find out what it is really like to live in a country, gain confidence in your own abilities and learn a local language.