Philanthropic travel
Philanthropic travel: your questions answered
What is philanthropic travel?
Philanthropic travel is luxury travel built around funding a cause you care about, then seeing that work firsthand. With Impact Destinations, your journey includes a direct contribution to a conservation, cultural or community project, and private time with the experts running it.
How is Impact Destinations different from a luxury travel agent?
A luxury travel agent designs a trip. Impact Destinations designs a legacy: each journey is built around a project you fund, from rhino relocation in South Africa to jaguar rewilding in Argentina, with eco-luxury stays and private guides around it. We are a Luxury Travel Magazine Gold List winner 2024, Regenerative Tourism Experience.
Who is philanthropic travel for?
Families, couples and foundations who already give, and who want their travel to count. Most of our guests are legacy-focused travelers in their fifties to seventies, often traveling with adult children or grandchildren.
Can I fund a specific conservation project as part of the trip?
Yes. Every Impact Destinations journey is built around a named project, and your contribution goes directly to the organization running it. You choose the cause; we arrange the access.
Is the contribution tax-deductible?
Contributions go directly to the partner organization, and deductibility depends on that organization's status and your country of residence. We will introduce you to the partner so your advisor can confirm before you commit.
How much does a philanthropic trip cost?
Journeys are fully bespoke and quoted individually, with the philanthropic contribution priced separately and paid to the partner project. Most guests invest from $30,000 per person for a ten-day journey, which includes the contribution to fund the philanthropic experience.
Where do you operate?
South Africa, Argentina, India, Indonesia, Iceland, Mexico, Costa Rica, Italy, Australia, New Zealand and Kenya, with new destinations added only where we have a verified partner project.
Is this the same as a volunteer vacation?
No. Our guests are not asked to do the experts' work. You enable the experts to do what they do best and get privileged access to see it, in comfort.
Can we bring children or grandchildren?
Yes. Many of our journeys are multi-generational, and legacy trips with grandchildren are among the most requested. We advise on the right project for each age.
How sustainable are the trips themselves?
Every journey uses eco-luxury accommodations where available, local guides and carbon offsetting, and is designed with the partner project so the visit strengthens rather than disrupts their work.
How far in advance should we book?
Most journeys are planned six to twelve months ahead, because project access, private viewings and seasonal wildlife windows are limited.
Who runs Impact Destinations?
Founder Christopher Hill, who has designed giving-back luxury travel since 2006 and also founded luxury family specialist Hands Up Holidays.
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