We want you to get the most out of your time in Uganda.
That’s why we take the hassle out of travel so that you can concentrate on what really matters: your project.
What do we mean by making your experience hassle-free? This is what you can expect:
- More than just basic logistics
- No hidden fees
- Absolute flexibility
- Pay in installments
- Avella Sights Guarantee
- Our expertise
- Going the extra mile
More than just basic logistics
You shouldn’t have to waste your time shopping around for necessities that should be included in every project.
That’s why we take care of everything as standard in our program fee. This includes:
- Airport collection and drop-off
- Accommodation
- Three meals a day
- Transport to and from your placement
- Training and workshops
- Project materials
This is on top of us organizing your placement. You can see everything we provide here.
As you can see, we provide more than the basics. On value for money, we believe we’re unbeatable.
No hidden fees
There are no hidden costs with Avella Sights.
Our program fee is slightly higher because we offer more than many other organizations. We never sneak in hidden fees. Our fees include everything we say they do. This is an important part of our eight-point Responsible Volunteering Checklist.
When you first apply, many organizations charge a ‘registration fee’ in addition to your program fee. At Avella Sights, you pay a deposit to secure your project, which is deducted from your program fee.
We’ll also never charge you more for international banking fees or credit card charges. We don’t charge you extra for visa advice, training courses, extra meals, transport to and from your placement, pre-departure advice, airport drop-offs, or anything else.
These are the hidden costs that add up and end up costing you more than you’d originally budgeted.
Trust and transparency are everything to us. We don’t like surprises and we don’t expect you to either!
Absolute flexibility
We take care of all the arrangements but ultimately, it’s your trip, your rules. That’s why our different travel styles, flexible start dates, and bespoke itineraries give you the freedom to build the trip you want.
Just specify your start and end dates when you apply and leave the rest to us. Our projects run year-round and have participants arriving almost daily.
Our commitment to flexibility means you can choose the experience that works for you.
We also pride ourselves on being able to accommodate nearly all preferences. For example, do you:
- have specific dietary requirements?
- want to stay with a friend?
- want your own room?
- have accessibility requirements?
- need an interpreter?
Let us know and we will make it happen. We can arrange all of these at no additional cost, wherever logistically possible. This is all possible because of our amazing staff. You can trust us to take care of the details.
Pay for your project in installments
We realize that it’s not always possible to pay your fee in one go. That’s why we offer an installment plan. You can spread the cost of your project by breaking it up into smaller payments. Pay as much or as little as you like – whenever you like – as long as your full balance is paid 3 months before you travel. Learn more about our Flexible Payment options here.
Avella Sights Guarantee
We understand that plans can change unexpectedly for a variety of reasons and we don’t think you should be penalized for unforeseen events. As part of our hassle-free approach, instead of losing out on your trip if you cancel, you can postpone it instead.
With our Avella Sights Guarantee, you can cancel for any reason up until the day of travel. We’ll then hold your project for you, at the same price you initially applied for, up to one year from the cancellation date.
We’ve always had this guarantee, but COVID-19 has made it more relevant than ever. That’s why we created our COVID-19 Refund Guarantee, which gives you peace of mind regarding travel bans.
Book with confidence, knowing your money is protected.
Our expertise
We can take the hassle out of travel because we’re experts in what we do. You can trust us to take care of everything.
All our staff, in all our destinations, are trained and vetted to the highest standards.
In addition to our in-destination staff, we also have a central Operations team. They’re in charge of training, program development, risk management, and safety. We have specialist staff covering all aspects of a trip, from finding the right visa to ensuring our projects meet the highest ethical standards.
We even have Project Experts on hand to offer advice on which project to choose or to support your application. You can contact us at any time to get started.
Going the extra mile
The hands-on approach of our staff means that we can cater to your needs. If there’s something particular you want out of your trip, they can help you organize it. Whether that’s advice on sightseeing during your time off or doing a specific task during your project, they can help make it happen.
Being locals ourselves, our staff know the area and community well. While you’re finding your feet, they can organize things quickly and easily. The best part is that they’re always happy to do so.
Going the extra mile is something that comes naturally to us. We believe it makes our projects just that little bit more special.
Now that you know what to expect with our hassle-free approach, start planning your trip!