From Lois Friedland,
Your Guide to Adventure Travel.
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Company Profile

Hands Up Holidays runs many high-end volunteer adventure trips, with lodging in 4- and 5-star accommodations. Since the company was launched in 2006, Hands Up Holidays has provided meaningful volunteer adventures for singles, families, seniors, corporates, school groups and even honeymooners. The company runs trips to 32 countries throughout Africa, Asia, Latin America, Eastern Europe and the Pacific.

Almost all scheduled trips depart with just two people, but if there are two or more people in a group, it’s possible to choose your own departure date. The maximum group size is 12 people, in order to keep things intimate, facilitate group bonding, and to tread lightly in the places we travel to. Tailor-made trips are a specialty, as are incentive and team building trips.

The Boss’ Pitch:

" I set up Hands Up Holidays to make it easy for travelers to have similar experiences to myself – experiences that changed my life, that blend sightseeing with volunteering. We are committed to providing amazing vacation experiences that enable travelers to explore the scenic highlights of a destination, and also dig a little deeper into a local culture and give back through a ‘taste’ of meaningful short-term volunteering." explains founder Christopher Hill.

"We are committed to environmental and social sustainability, and as such consult with local communities to find out what sort of volunteer projects (if any) would be of benefit. We also only employ local guides - who are passionate and knowledgeable about their country, and all flights trips are carbon offset. Our volunteer projects include repairing an AIDS orphanage, being a reading partner in an under-privileged school, building a library, and conserving sea turtles."

Popular Adventure Travel Trips:

Morocco (Marrakech, trekking in the Atlas Mountains, helping build a classroom in a remote Berber village, relaxing on Essaouira beach). India (Delhi, teaching in a slum school, Taj Mahal, tiger reserve, Jaipur). Thailand (Bangkok, Ayuthaya, Phuket, helping at a tsunami orphanage in Khao Lak). Namibia (Etosha National Park and the ‘Big 5’, Damaraland, Sossusvlei’s towering dunes, helping build a house in Kaokoland with the OvaHimba people). South Africa (Cape Town, Table Mountain, Cape Peninsula, winelands, luxury ‘Big 5’ game park, helping repair an AIDS orphanage). Peru (Lima, Cusco, hike the Inca Trail, Amazon jungle, helping renovate a school near Cusco)

A trip is also scheduled to assist at the Homeless World Cup in Melbourne, Australia, Nov 29 to Dec 15, 2008. Guests can help at this inspiring event and then explore Sydney, Blue Mountains, Cairns, Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef!

Where to Learn More

For more information visit Hands Up Holidays, or call 201 984 5372 from North America, 06 347 1189 from New Zealand, or 0800 783 3554 from the United Kingdom.