Working in a location-independent job brings many advantages, and being able to travel the world is just one of them. Many people would like to see the world, but don’t want to go alone. Or they are just starting out as a nomad and prefer to be surrounded by like-minded people. Or they already are successful nomads who want to enlarge their network and join other communities. Digital nomad programs are a great way to cover all of that.
The following text shows the biggest benefits, but also downsides of these programs, and gives an overview of 12 of the most popular ones out there.
Table of Contents
Advantages of Organized Nomad Programs:
- Usually, all you have to organize are your flights to the starting point and back home again. The rest of the tour gets organized. You don’t have to worry about accommodation, transport, or itineraries, and can focus on your work and meeting other nomads.
- The internet is very important for digital nomads and can be hard to get in some countries. When you are traveling with digital nomad programs, the organizers make sure you always have a fairly strong internet connection, so you can work properly.
- You will meet many like-minded people. Learn from other location-independent workers and create synergies.
- You don’t only get to work at exotic places, but also have plenty of opportunities to explore the area, go on adventures and make some fantastic experiences.
Disadvantages of Organized Nomad Programs:
- Some digital nomad programs can be quite expensive. Sometimes you even have to pay for the application process, with no guarantee to actually participate. Very often you could do the same trip for less money.
- Most programs take groups of 10-50 people. With that limited capacity, there are more applicants than available seats. So only because you want to join a tour, doesn’t mean that you actually get a placement.
- Another big downside is that you are not exactly free to do what you want. If you don’t like the city you are in, you still have to stay until the next planned change of location. If you like the place and would like to stay longer, you have to leave when the group moves on.
- The programs are no place to find work. You need to have your income sorted before you apply.
Popular Digital Nomad Programs
1. Remote Year
Remote Year is probably the biggest and best-known of all digital nomad programs. A group of 50-80 freelancers, entrepreneurs, and professionals travel together for one year. Every month they visit a new city throughout Asia, Europe, Latin America, and Africa.
The total cost is $27,000, which includes accommodation, 24/7 internet, transport between the countries, and community events.
Update: If you can’t go traveling for one entire year, they now offer tours for 4 or 6 months, too. Definitely worth checking out! Here you can see their products.
2. Venture with Impact
The concept of Venture with Impact is slightly different from that of other digital nomad programs. You travel to the country of your choice, for instance, Colombia, Mexico, Thailand, or Portugal, and join the group on a monthly basis.
During that time you stay in that particular location and work in your remote job. Besides that, you get to work in a pro-bono placement in a local organization, e.g. in education or human rights.
This is a great chance to live abroad with a group of like-minded people, get to know the local culture, do your remote job, AND have a positive social impact.
Prices start from $2,200 and include a private room, cultural immersion, all kinds of support (booking flights, vaccinations, etc.), and volunteering placement.
Update: Venture with Impact now offers theme-based weekly retreats, as well. Head to their website to check them out.
3. CoWorkParadise
CoWorkParadise is located in Bali, where 12 high-level entrepreneurs live together in a villa for three weeks. They have the opportunity to attend high-level workshops, learn new skills, and connect with other successful entrepreneurs. This is a great chance to grow your business even further.
The 3 weeks cost you $4,995, including a private room, 24/7 coworking space, breakfast and dinner, and some cool trips.
4. B-Digital Nomad
As you might be able to tell from the name, B-Digital Nomad is the right place for every passionate digital nomad. You get to see one new country per month and places like Vancouver, Bali, or Durango. This program also includes initiatives that impact the communities and social events with local business owners.
They have options for 1, 4, or 12 months and prices start from $1,250.
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5. Digital Outposts
Here you can find remote working professionals, as well as graduate students, who meet in distinctive coworking destinations. Digital Outposts provide accommodation, workspace, and activities. The program takes you to places like Bali, Thailand, Mexico, and Cambodia.
You can decide if you want to stay for 2 weeks, 1 month, or 2 months and prices start at $1,295.
6. Hacker Paradise
Hacker Paradise organizes work and travel programs from 2 weeks to 3 months. It is designed for people like developers, designers, and entrepreneurs, who either work remotely or focus on personal projects. Participants travel in groups of 20-30 people to countries in Asia, Europe, and Latin America.
Prices vary depending on the length of stay from $1,550 for 2 weeks. You can choose to book the program only or have your housing included.
7. Nomad Train
Nomad Train has grown to be a very popular program for digital nomads. You join a group of like-minded remote professionals on an epic trip with the Trans-Siberian Railway through Russia and Mongolia. On the train, you get plenty of time to network and exchange experiences and skills. Besides that, you also have the opportunity to work on the train and get access to coworking spaces when staying in cities along the way.
The price starts at 1,270 Euro and includes accommodation, food, and mobile data.
8. Project Gateway
Project Gateway is another digital nomad program that brings together hand-selected entrepreneurs in Bali. Here they attend mastermind sessions and business talks and work on growing their businesses even further. The special thing is that you can even bring your entire team to participate in the digital nomad program.
Prices vary from $2,975 for one month. It includes meals, workshops, and different activities.
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9. Refuga
The goal of Refuga is to bring like-minded people together, whether it is an aspiring entrepreneur or someone who runs a big company, and combine them with adventure and experiences that will change their mindsets and perspectives.
Their tours are rather short-term, between 5 and 15 days, and bring you to places like Morocco, Nepal, North Korea, or Russia. Prices vary depending on the trip but start at about $1,100.
10. Unsettled
The goal of Unsettled is to bring together entrepreneurs, artists, designers, CEOs, and other ambitious young professionals. For one week, two weeks, or one month they spend time together to take a break from the normal daily routine and to get new inspirations.
There are many programs scheduled throughout the year and in places all over the world, such as Lima, Tuscany, and Bali. Prices start at 1,600 USD per week.
11. WiFly Nomads
WiFly Nomads brings you to Bali for 5 days. In a series of hands-on workshops, participants learn the basics of a remote career. Aspiring nomads find out what remote jobs is the right one for them and join a global community.
In interactive workshops, you will learn all you need to know to confidently start your location-independent life. So this is the perfect digital nomad program for beginners!
The price is $3,997 and includes accommodation.
12. Work Wanderers
Work Wanderers is another great organization that brings entrepreneurs, digital nomads, freelancers, or any type of remote professional together to travel the world. You can join one- or two-month programs to places like Bansko, Cape Town, and Tbilisi, to participate in masterclasses, skillshares, or even volunteering opportunities.
Prices start at 2,200 USD for one month.
Join Like-Minded Digital Nomads
As you can see, you have plenty of digital nomad programs to choose from. Whether you want to join a retreat for a year or only 2 weeks – there are many experiences to choose from. Make sure to also google a few reviews before applying or booking a trip, to find out if this particular program is the right one for you.
In case you are not too interested in traveling with a group, but still want to meet other remote workers, check out some coworking or coliving spaces. Alternatively, have a look at these popular digital nomad communities to connect with like-minded people.
Have you ever participated in one of the mentioned programs? If so, how was it? Would you recommend it?
Hi Denise,
Great list of programs. They all sound amazing! One more that you may want to add to your list is Stay Awhile ().
It’s a digital nomad program for all the self-proclaimed food lovers out there.
If you’re thinking of refreshing the blog post, I think it would be a great one to add to the list.
Thanks a lot, Joe! Remote work options for families are not different from single nomads. The flexibility is one of the greatest benefits of online jobs :) Or do you mean articles on traveling as a nomadic family? If so, not yet but I’m currently working on it. Stay tuned ;)
Great blogpost you put together here. Thanks! Was wondering if you have any articles on remote work options for nomadic families
Hi Brigitte, thanks for letting me know! I’ll update this post for 2020 in a few weeks anyway and include the new information.
Hi,
I am the owner of CoworkParadise, number 3 on your list
We updated our program, it is now 3 weeks, 4,995 euro.
If you want to join, we recently are open for 11 spots February 25th or May 8th 2020.
Hi Laydell, most of these programs are for people who already work online and want to connect and travel together with other remote professionals. They usually don’t intend to help people become digital nomads. I don’t have any experience with a legit program or course that teaches you the “full package”. I can only recommend you to read books, blogs, join Facebook groups or Meetup groups (if there are any near you) to connect with others. You can check out this guide for a start: How to Become a Digital Nomad. Hope that helps!
These all sound like great groups but I don’t know anything about how to become a digital nomad but I am curious, So which one of these groups can show me the ropes and get started? even if its none of the groups listed here.
Thanks for your comment Ashok! If you do, have a great time during the program!
No I haven’t participated in any of the above mentioned programs. But it is really infromative and I do wanna go for 2 weeks program. Thank you for this insight.
Hi Prasant, 900 days on the road is definitely a long time! I think at some stage everyone needs a little break and has to slow down on the constant traveling part. Until you feel the urge to do so, enjoy your trip to the fullest! ;)
Constant travel is not easy, we’ve only been on the road a little over 900 days and it can be tiring and hard especially if you are constantly camping, living outside in all the climate zones that exists. I can totally understand that you wanted a “base of operations” We’ve talked about the same thing and will probably do it too at some point
Thanks a lot, Kaz, glad you find it helpful! And thanks for your add, sounds interesting indeed. I will definitely check them out! x
Gday and aloha, DNS!
This list is very helpful and diverse – thank you! I’d like to add wanderistlife to your list of fantastic Digital Nomad travel experience options. They focus on diversity, stay in each location for three months so you can “feel and live like a local”, allow children over the age of eight, and have tremendous flexibility within the group and travel. Also, it is really affordable!
I look forward to continuing to follow your blog and posts as they are great!
xx Wandering Kaz
Happy to have helped :). Looking forward to the new post!
Awesome, thanks a lot, Arthur! :) A few of them I have already mentioned in this post: https://www.digitalnomadsoul.com/digital-nomad-programs-and-retreats/
I will publish another one about digital nomad programs and retreats soon and will definitely keep these ones in mind!
Thanks for creating this overview! Very helpful. I found a few more you might want to add to the list?
Nomad House, Venture with Impact https://www.venturewithimpact.org/,
Awesome, thanks a lot for your ideas, Sara! I’ll have a look into both NomadTrain and Flystein :)
NomadTrain is another great program and they have the second edition in few months.
>Usually all you have to organize are your flights to the starting point and back home again.
This is true, but you could save time and money with nomad-friendly service Flystein:
https://www.flystein.com/ which partner with many digital nomad communities.
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Thank you, Becky! :) And the mentioned programs and retreats are just a few of them. Clearly shows the growing demand for digital nomad services and products. Love it! And good luck with your blog! Hope to hear from it soon. x
This is really interesting, I have never heard of such programmes before. I’m like years away from even considering anything like that, just started my Blog a few months ago. But thanks for the information :)