Program Reviews

This experience was really fun and overall a great place to learn different cultures and travel the world. I would highly recommend this program to anyone who is open to becoming culturally involved and would like to experience the beauties of nature. This trip was life changing for myself and I wouldn’t want to share this experience with anyone else. This program really changes you and changes your perspective in many different ways. You will create special bonds with people and will never want to leave them. The locals in this country are very kind and caring and you will never meet anyone else as inclusive as they are. If you love the ocean and seeing cool varieties of marine life, this is another place to discover many interesting creatures the oceans have.

This past summer I traveled to Tanzania on Rustic Pathway's Culture and the Crater. I was nervous about the trip, questions such as "what if I become homesick, what if I am too young for this, should I have brought a friend?" raced through my mind as I drove to the airport. As soon as I met my flight leaders and the other kids on my flight, my nerves began to fade. Once we arrived in Haydesh village and met the elders and students, it felt like another lifetime that I was nervous and apprehensive about the trip. I couldn't feel nervous about things like homesickness because the village soon felt like home. My other fears such as being too young also faded. I was one of the younger kids on my trip since I was only 15 and most of the others were around 17; however, the group you travel with becomes a family as you partake in this once in a lifetime opportunity together, and I never felt too young. As for bringing a friend, I couldn't have been happier that I traveled alone. Most of the kids on my trip were sole travelers and it allowed all of us to become closer. It also allowed me to immerse myself in the culture more since I didn't have any attachments to home. The hardest part of my trip was leaving. As cheesy as it sounds, Haydesh became my home and the villagers, my family. Leaving it all behind was one of the most difficult goodbyes I think I will ever experience. That is why, when I got home I became an impact ambassador, and I encourage anyone who is considering getting involved with the Rustic Pathways Foundation to do so. The foundation has allowed me to still feel connected with Haydesh even if I can't be in direct contact with the amazing people who call the village home.

In the summer of 2019, I went to the Dominican Republic on the “Life in the Bateyes” trip. Learning about Dominican and Haitian relations and how the sugar we buy is actually processed was truly eye opening. We visited and worked at a batey called Monte Coca. There we were welcomed with open arms by the whole community. We also learned about the lives of Haitian sugar cane workers. Working almost 15 hours a day, they get paid less than three dollars without healthcare and proper work attire, most of them being undocumented. Even faced with this difficulty, they were willing to talk to us and teach us how to cut sugar cane. Hearing everyone’s story was truly eye-opening and inspiring. This trip has taught me a lot about foreign relations and a different way of life.

I absolutely LOVED my experience with Rustic Pathways. I was fortunate enough to go to Australia for the "You, A 'Roo, and the Australia Zoo" program. I was super worried about going on this trip because I had never been away from home for longer than a few days, and this trip would be 16 days. Not only were the educational opportunities on my trip amazing, but so were the accommodations as well as the staff and activities. I cannot express how incredible this trip was. I grew so much. I gained lifelong friends and memories I will never forget.
The base house where we stayed felt very safe and had a very homey feel to it. The other accommodations were hostels and were very clean and safe as well.
The activities were adventurous enough that I probably would have never done them myself (kayaking, hiking, boat 'thrill ride', nature walk, campfire under the stars) but not so adventurous that I was uncomfortable.
The educational amenities on this trip were insane. I learned so much from working with zookeepers and from informational sessions at the zoo. I feel so grateful I was granted that opportunity.
The staff on my trip were so welcoming and accommodating. Whenever anyone on the trip fell ill or needed anything that their peers couldn't provide, the leaders jumped to help out. I learned a lot from them on my trip.
All I can say is that the trip was not long enough. I thoroughly had an amazing time.

My Fiji trip was an experience I will never forget. Being able to experience Fijian culture and truly understand it is a priceless experience. I was welcomed with open arms and big smiles into the lives of every Fijian I met, and I will never forget how they made me feel at home thousands of miles away from my hometown. The people on my trip and I share a bond unlike any other. We laughed and learned and cried together, and the trip made us such close friends in only 16 days. The people I met on this trip are some of the best I know, and I’m sure I will remain friends with them for years to come. To experience real Fiji, in all its mud and beauty, is something that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. This trip taught me so many lessons that I took home with me, and it made me a better person in all ways.

This past summer I decided to not only try something new by signing up for my first Rustic Pathways trip, but I decided to fly across the world to Cairns, Australia to commence a two-week-long journey on a liveaboard diving in the Great Barrier Reef. I signed up for this trip with a fear of heights, being underwater, sharks, and the dark: a seemingly terrible combination for a trip that involved all four of those. Yet, the second I met my leaders and group members all of my fears washed away. They pushed me to test my fears and try new things which ultimately led to the two most amazing weeks of my life. This trip definitely was constantly action-packed and left us with very little downtime but as an adventure seeker, I was very happy with how it was coordinated. We got a little bit of time to wander around Cairns (and go bungee jumping!) but only a few days into our trip we were in the classroom getting our open-water certificates and getting ready for our trips out to sea. We then packed our bags and headed out to the reef which was, obviously, the highlight of the trip. I saw so many amazing animals and ecosystems that left me absolutely speechless and felt so at home surrounded by a crew of incredibly friendly divemasters and dive instructors. I would say one of the best parts of the trip was being able to swim with Dwark Minke Whales (contrary to their name, they are quite massive) who were beautiful and incredibly friendly.
Coming home from this trip left me pretty sad to see all of my amazing new friends go but ultimately it has left me with countless new passions and a plethora of connections all around the globe!

Rustic Pathways opens your eyes to a world you didn’t think existed. Yes, you knew Tanzania was in Africa, maybe you knew that the city of Karatu existed, but you probably didn’t know that the small school in the village of Haydesh was lacking a kitchen. Being out there in the middle of no where with people you’ve never met before is exhilarating. You can visibly see the change you are making and you learn more about the rich culture of this country than you could in any history class or safari. You see the way they interact with each other, you hear their language with the unique pronunciations that only people who’ve been speaking the tongue since they were born have mastered. It’s an experience that is worth every hard effort put into it and I would recommend it to anyone who wishes to have their life changed.

I traveled to Thailand over the summer for 3 weeks. First, I did the Community Health Trip. I got my wilderness CPR certification and gained real world medical experience. I was able to volunteer in a small village in Thailand where I screened for diabetes and hypertension. Along with great leaders and friends made, this trip further my desire to work in the medical field. Directly after, I did the Southeast Asian adventurer. I learned about culture in Thailand and got to visit some tourist attractions in Thailand and Laos. Some of the highlights of my trip were, going to an elephant sanctuary, white water rafting, hiking and zip lining, and going to the beach. Although the journey to Thailand is very long, I really enjoyed my trip and would highly recommend it.

The experience I had with Rustic Pathways in Fiji was truly once in a lifetime. From the friends I made, to the amazing group of leaders I had, to the community service work we did as a group, the trip most definitely surpassed all of my expectations. It was inspiring to see how hardworking everyone in the community was and how much they appreciated all the work we did. The trip was a perfect combination of leisure activities, down time, and community service. The friendships I formed on this trip will last forever, and I can say with 100% confidence that anyone who goes on this trip will love it. You can expect to be greatly impacted by how happy all the natives are even though they have so little and how openly they accept strangers into their country. I would definitely recommend this trip to anyone considering it because it really is an eye-opening experience.

I participated in the Njoro Village program and it was amazing. I was definitely nervous going into it because it is so far away, but I felt safe the whole time. Days are busy, so there isn't any time to be homesick anyway. It was a lot of work (make cement, digging, etc), but so rewarding. It's amazing to be able to see tangible results of the work you do. But it's not all work, it's really fun too. My group was 7 (I think) people and I shared a room with two other girls, so you definitely get really close with everyone really fast. The program leaders are awesome too, they treat you like equals so it's not like they are your babysitter, they're just like another student on the trip. Obviously they were still really helpful in accommodating meals and making sure everyone is safe and healthy. Apart from working, we hung out with the locals and learned a lot from them too. We learned to cook a traditional Tanzania dinner and how to make clay pots. We also went on a safari where we saw giraffes, monkeys, zebras, and so much more. It was awesome. I had an amazing time and definitely recommend!! And even if this trip isn't for you, Rustic Pathways is an amazing group and has so many other programs to participate in!!