Hands up for volunteering experiences

Hands Up Holidays, the operator who blends travel with meaningful volunteering experiences, has launched its new brochure and revamped website announcing eight new trips and bringing the number of featured trips to 158 in 35 destinations.

NEW TRIPS FOR 2008 include:

• helping at an orphanage or school in Ghana
• helping with building work, skills and sports teaching in Zambia
• helping with tsunami relief on the Andaman coast in Thailand
• helping on a Maori-owned organic farm in New Zealand
• helping a South Australian Aboriginal community with activities such as painting and landscaping.

The choice of volunteering options is varied and includes building work, administration, medical, teaching, disaster relief, repairs, renovations and restoration, and village-based projects. Itineraries can range from four to 23 days on set departure dates, whilst bespoke itineraries of any duration or content are available on request.

The updated website meanwhile includes new functions that allow people to search for holidays in different categories including ‘family’; ‘honeymoon’; ‘in style’ and ‘community based’’.

SAMPLE ITINERARIES

‘GOING FOR GHANA’ - This is a 15-day trip, priced £1,450, whose highlights include visiting the Shai Hills, Bobiri butterfly sanctuary, Elmina and Kumasi, and enjoying beautiful beaches and local craft villages. Four days are spent supporting AIDS/HIV awareness programmes in schools and assisting with sufferers.

The price includes most meals, accommodation, internal transfers, entrance fees and guiding but excludes international air fares. The next set departure dates are 1 November and 20 December 2008.

‘NEW ZEALAND IN STYLE’ - This 18-day trip that shows travellers the very best of the North and South Islands and includes fine wining and dining experiences. Highlights including America’s Cup sailing, Bay of Islands, helicopter flight down the North Island to Rotorua, wine tasting, whale watching, heli-hiking on the Franz Josef Glacier plus three days organic farming and native tree planting in Pelorous Sound.

This trip is priced £12,850 and is perfect for couples who want a honeymoon with a difference, marking their first holiday as a married couple with a totally new experience. This five-star trip is set to depart on 3 May, 9 August, 15 November and 13 December. Couples however can select a bespoke trip with a departure date to tie in with their wedding plans.

This price includes most meals, accommodation, internal transfers, any entrance fees and guiding but excludes international air fares.

IN SUMMARY - All Hands Up Holidays trips are designed to offer incredible sightseeing experiences as well giving something back by enriching the lives of the local community with short volunteering projects. Accommodation is usually at a four-star comfort level, but guests can also opt for a five-star luxury ‘in style’ or community based trip that includes simple guesthouses and homestays in order to be truly immersed into the culture.

For more information, visit handsupholidays.com.