HANDS ON HOLIDAYS
A Different Perspective
Some of us are not so lucky to be able to
experience another culture on a day-to-day
basis so school holidays are the ideal time
to encourage enquiring minds to look at
the world around them with fresh eyes.
Hands-on holidays are becoming an increasingly
popular option for those keen to escape and get the
opportunity to meet new people, enjoy the local food
and customs, get close to wildlife and understand a
destination’s history.
Hands-on
Family holiday specialists, The Adventure Company,
recently launched ‘Hands On Adventures’ which
encourage holidaymakers to really get under the
skin of the country they’re visiting. Designed for
those eager to combine adventure and sightseeing
with a chance to spend a few days getting involved
in a wildlife conservation or community-based
project as part of their holiday, these trips offer a first
taste of what it is like to be involved in a practical
project. In turn, this experience may have a lasting
impact, encouraging interaction with locals and,
ultimately, a sense of responsibility.
From monitoring monkey behaviour in ancient Sri
Lankan ruins to spending time in remote villages in
a tsunami-affected region of southern Thailand, these
eye-opening experiences enable travellers of all ages
to make an immediate contribution to the country
they’re exploring.
One new 14-day ‘Hands On Adventure’ in Vietnam
and Laos, has been devised for families aged 8
upwards to help fight poverty, preserve traditional
culture and conserve nature whilst discovering some
of the best highlights in the two countries. The trip
includes a stay with a local family in Laos, where
you are taught about local customs and traditions,
cooking lessons, helping out with a lesson at a
local school, learning how to build bamboo rafts
and taking part in a tree planting project to combat
logging in the area. The trip also includes a visit to an
Elephant Park Project, set in a beautiful mountainous
setting in a hidden valley near Luang Prabang –
a happy retirement home for elephants formally
involved in the logging industry.
Don’t forget half term opportunities: during February,
for example, India’s rainfall is low and temperatures
in their mid 20s, making it an ideal time to forego a
traditional ski holiday in favour of something a little
more original. The Adventure Company’s new 8-day
India Insights holiday provides a perfectly condensed
introduction to northern India as you take in some of
this colourful country’s most famous attractions in a
short space of time. Highlights include visits to the
Taj Mahal – one of the new ‘Seven Wonders of the
World’ – and Ranthambore National Park, one of the
county’s most famous wildlife havens where visitors
may even be lucky enough to spot Bengal tigers.
For all ages
These hands-on holidays can all have an enormous
educational impact on children – whatever their age.
Adrian Ferraro, founder of The Specialist Travel
Consultancy (STC), an independent niche travel
agency who specialise in organising adventurous
family holidays, school expeditions and out of the
ordinary holidays across the globe, has put together
some more fantastic ideas for Eds Up that are
tailored for children from as young as 8 through
to teenagers:
Pacuare Reserve/Tortuguero Turtle Conservation,
Costa Rica, 15 days, age 8+
The original indigenous inhabitants of this area
used turtles as a sustainable resource, but the
arrival of Europeans led to major exploitation and
reduction in their numbers. Tortuguero National
Park, was established in 1970 to protect both the
turtles and the natural habitat and is now home
to 13 of Costa Rica’s 16 endangered mammals.
Among them are manatee, ocelot and jaguar, as
well as over 300 bird species. First and foremost,
however, it is the nesting ground of the green turtle,
which comes ashore between August and October
to lay its eggs on the sandy beaches. Highlights
of this trip include: patrolling the beaches with
biologists and research assistants looking for
endangered turtles, protecting their nests,
collecting research data and getting up close to
leatherback and green turtles, white-water rafting
and the beaches.
Zambezi Volunteer Experience, Zambia,
10 days, age 11+
Zambia is an African gem filled with fantastic
wildlife and beautiful scenery. On this trip you
travel down the Zambezi river on a canoe safari
while camping out on deserted islands under
the stars, the perfect way to experience Africa.
You spend 3 nights at a game reserve, with the
opportunity for game viewing, while having the
chance to do some volunteer work: participating
on animal protection walks, or visiting the children
and assisting with the vegetable garden at a local
school. This trip is perfect for any active family that
wants to experience the wilds and wildlife of Africa,
and also leave knowing they gave something back
to the people and the area.
Sanjwani Public Health Mission Upgrade Project,
15 days, age 14+
For families wanting to combine trekking, scenery
and volunteering, this is a wonderful introduction
to the Annapurna region of Nepal. The trek route
follows scenic trails through oak and rhododendron
forest with overnight camps in serene locations
and dramatic views of the mighty Himalaya. The
Sanjwani Public Health Mission, located near the
Hindu village of Ghandruk in the Annapurna region
offers free medical services to approximately 5,000
villagers, but the building is in dire need of repair
and renovation. The mission employs a doctor,
nurse and a lab assistant and handles blood testing
and pathology. Due to the extent of the work that
is required, this project is being completed on two
separate trips with groups working to extend the
existing building, repair the roofing, plaster the
walls, repair the windows, doors, paint each of
the rooms and upgrade the furniture and fixtures.