About Us - Hands Up Holidays
Inspiring the next generation of world changers on sustainable luxury family volunteer vacations
About Hands Up Holidays
Our mission is what drives our relentless passion to craft unique, tailored luxury family volunteer vacations that change lives:
Your family’s, and the lives of those you help.
We do that by truly understanding your travel goals and preferences, by focusing on sustainability, and crafting itineraries that enable you to make a positive impact on your luxury vacation.
How Luxury Family Volunteer Vacations Work
Sightseeing
Hands Up Holidays customizes your luxury vacation to your exact preferences
Sustainable Luxury
Minimize environmental impact and retain comfort staying at the finest eco-luxury accommodation.
Serving
Make a tangible, hands-on difference as part of your luxury family vacation.
Click here for inspiration on ways you can help on luxury family volunteer vacations.
LUXURY
TRAVEL
+
HELPING
OTHERS
=
LASTING
CHANGE
Our Story
Our Founder, Christopher Hill, was working in finance in London when in 2002, he took a trip to South Africa which changed his life. In addition to safari and exploring the wonders of this incredible country, he helped build a home for a family.
A New Travel Concept: Luxury Family Volunteer Vacations
The interaction with the family added a whole new dimension to travel for Christopher, and it felt great to make a difference, and he knew he had to create a new luxury travel concept that combined sightseeing with volunteering.
Making It Happen
He left his job, moved to Canada to study some more, and worked on the business plan for what became Hands Up Holidays. He spent the next two years traveling the world, building relationships with communities, formed a team of like-minded people, and launched the business in 2006.
Family Specialists
At first, families weren’t on Christopher’s radar as potential clients, but families quickly made up the majority of bookings, and in chatting with these clients, the reasons they gave for booking with Hands Up Holidays made sense.
Our kids come from pretty privileged backgrounds and we want them to appreciate how fortunate they are. We want a trip where we can bond and connect with our children, and to inspire them to be world changers.
Families doing good on a luxury vacation? It makes perfect sense.
A Word From Our Founder
Hi, Christopher Hill here – I created Hands Up Holidays out of a passion to create a remarkable luxury family volunteer vacations. Here is what that means for you and your family:
- You’ll have a meaningful vacation with us and be gently challenged to view the world in a new light.
- Yes, you can have an incredible family vacation blending luxury, sightseeing, relaxation and serving.
- I am committed to helping you get that experience. Start now, be the change.
- I am so confident that your family will love the Hands Up Holidays experience that I guarantee it.
We are the proud winners of the Travel + Leisure Global Vision Awards, Luxperience Award for Meaningful Luxury Travel, Family Travel Magazine Award, the Travelmole Award for Best Responsible Travel Website, and named one of The Telegraph’s Top 25 Life Changing Adventures.
Why Luxury Family Volunteer Vacations?
Enjoy luxury family travel that changes lives. Go beyond your bucket list with remarkable experiences, bringing families closer together while making the world a better place.
Book your next trip with Hands Up Holidays in order to have:
- Meaningful short-term volunteer projects where you can make a positive difference in a community
- Fabulous accommodation
- Interaction with local people
- Incredible sights
- Superb guides who are passionate about their country
With Hands Up Holidays you can make a positive impact in a short period of time, and still get to explore a destination. You have the unique opportunity to get away from the hordes of tourists and immerse yourself in a local community. Get to know the people and really delve into their culture. Make friends and return with treasured memories.
What’s more, we are committed to environmental and social sustainability.
Love from our Clients
Suzanne Cohen, USA
“The most satisfying aspect of the trip was the interesting, heart warming and fulfilling important community service that was organized for us.”
Sara Martz, USA
“I can speak for my entire family when I say we would not change a thing.”
Kamryn Smith, Canada
“I cannot say enough good things about this company and can't wait to plan my next adventure.”
Margo Vinney, USA
“Chris met my expectations--he outdoes himself when it comes to planning and executing trips for his clients!”
Making Headlines
Travel + Leisure Magazine
This high-end tour operator combines upscale hotels and traditional sightseeing activities with light volunteer work in needy communities around the world, helping to broaden the appeal of voluntourism to a wide group of leisure travelers.
New York Times
Hands Up Holidays combines luxury travel with “a ‘taste’ of volunteering” through tailor-made volunteer vacations in 26 countries, ranging from building classrooms in a Berber village while staying in luxury riads in Morocco
Departures Magazine
Everyone from honeymooners to retirees are rolling up their sleeves for Hands Up Holidays, picking up hammers and nails and changing a life one house at a time.
Forbes Magazine
Check out Hands Up Holidays to explore a variety of voluntourism opportunities. Most Hands Up Holidays trips are one to two weeks.
