A jungle escape in Thailand. A heritage stay in Greece. A glamping break in Wales. Bid on one of these fantastic trips and you'll be supporting millions of displaced Ukrainian refugees...
An incredible travel auction has just launched to raise vital funds for refugees fleeing from the current conflict in Ukraine.
The Travel Auction for Ukraine has nearly 50 fantastic trips available to bid on, with all proceeds going towards the Disasters Emergency Committee for Ukraine.
Altogether, the trips are worth over £100k, ranging from UK glamping breaks to some of the most luxurious worldwide destinations.
The trips have been generously donated by those in the travel and hospitality industry, with the minimum bidding price at 40% of their original value.
The brain behind the brilliant initiative is that of Kathryn Brierley, founder and managing director of The Healthy Holiday Company and in:spa retreats. She has encouraged her network of contacts in the travel industry to get involved.
“Like everyone, I’ve been watching the news and feeling that I really wanted to do something to help", Brierley said.
"The sterling work done by the #cookforukraine movement really inspired me to reach out my travel industry partners to see if they wanted to join forces and put together an impressive auction of trips where we could reassure people donating that every penny counts."
Stay in Sri Lanka's mountains at Santani
A city escape to Edinburgh at The Caledonian
Brierley continued: “The response has been overwhelming and I know we have only scratched the surface with the potential for other lots to be added to the auction over the next week. I’m especially grateful for everyone’s support as all these businesses have been hit hard in the last couple of years by the pandemic."
The donations will go towards the 11 million people who have been displaced from their home country of Ukraine. Just £100 will provide food for two families for a month, while £50 could pay for blankets for four families.
There’s a range of trips Wanderlust readers will love in the auction. In Asia, there’s a chance to win an escape in the mountains and rainforests of Sri Lanka with a wellness retreat at Santani, located near Kandy. While in Thailand, you can have a 5-night sustainable stay in the jungle at Soneva Kiri on unspoilt Koh Kood island, a haven for nature lovers.
Also up for grabs is 7-night stay at Elivi Skiathos. Perched on a hilltop with sweeping views of the Aegean sea, this beachfront property is located beside a wildlife refuge and lagoon. Another Greek break which may take your fancy is at xenodocheio Milos in downtown Athens, a historic area which celebrates its Greek heritage, art and cuisine.
A jungle stay at Thailand's Soneva Kiri
Go glamping at Penhein Estate in Wales
There’s also many great trips closer to home. Penhein Glamping is offering a luxury 3-4 night stay tucked into a peaceful corner of South East Wales. For those into city breaks, an overnight stay at one of Edinburgh's most significant landmarks, The Caledonian, with a dinner at Grazing by Mark Greenaway, may whet your appetite.
Some other favourites include an alpine escape in Austria, a week holiday in St Lucia, a fitness break in Italy, plus plenty of UK staycations, including London, Bath, Cornwall and Norfolk.
Each trip in the auction is open up until 23.59 on Sunday May 8, when shortly after the winning bids will be announced.
For the full list of trips with their terms and conditions, and access to the auction, head to uk.givergy.com/travelforukraine/
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