Program Reviews

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!!

Ever since my older sister first traveled with Rustic Pathways in 2013 and told me of her fun and rewarding experience, I had been eagerly awaiting my turn to make lasting memories in new countries and with new friends. Flash forward to today, and I am a three-time Rustic alum, having traveled to Costa Rica (2016), the Dominican Republic (2017), and Thailand (2018). While I initially chose to travel with Rustic because of my sister's experience, I continue to dedicate my summers to this program because I learn new things each year and always return home a more thoughtful, empathetic, and curious human being. My specific program in Thailand was called "Introduction to Community Service." I spent 11 amazing days in Udon Thani, where I helped build a house for a woman with epilepsy living in the community, construct a preschool playground, and teach swimming lessons to children. We worked alongside locals to collaborate and create meaningful change, which I think makes Rustic Pathways the unique and exceptional travel and community service organization that it is. My leaders were dedicated to creating a safe, fun, and educational space for all students. To this day, some of my closest mentors and friends were program leaders and fellow peers from my Thailand trip. I love Rustic because I get the opportunity to meet other students from around the world and immerse myself in different cultures and ways of life.

I had an amazing time in Fiji with Rustic Pathways this summer. I have traveled with Rustic to other countries like Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, and Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. Rustic Pathways developed a love and desire for traveling within me. The staff always manages to keep everyone safe, comfortable, and happy throughout the entire trip. Over the summer, I went on the "Pacific Adrenaline" Program with Rustic. This trip was by far one of the best experiences of my life. The way that we are able to see so much culture and lifestyle in only a few weeks is truly one of the best parts. Rustic also encourages not only me, but hundreds of others to get involved and help out the communities and environment as much as possible. Along with the amazing opportunities we get to be involved in to help other people, Rustic also provides an amazing experience to have fun and truly enjoy the beautiful countries we visit. I was accompanied by 5 other girls and 3 boys and we bonded in literally only a few days. We participated in so many memorable activities together like skydiving, bungee jumping, long sunrise hikes, and so many more. I also went onto a connecting trip called "Intro to Community Service". It was only a short week, but I got to participate in helping out the community with community service like building houses for the people who needed it. I really would recommend this trip and to so many people. My trip definitely is full of memories I'll never forget.

Words cannot describe how excited I was for my trip to visit Australia Zoo with Rustic Pathways when I first saw it as a program option. This was my first time traveling with Rustic, but I will definitely be doing it again. Being able to see the Australian East coast was incredible, and I loved staying in the base house and hostels since I felt apart of the community, and experience you don't get by staying in a hotel. Working alongside Australia Zoo's incredible staff and eventually Trish at the WRREA was truly surreal and amazing whether you are an animal lover or not. From start to finish, this trip was incredible, even when we where just exploring a small town. Australians are super friendly, and the country is beautiful. It was amazing

This past summer I went to Thailand for 18 days. This experience expanded my horizons by making me globally aware. I taught English in Locals schools to elementary school children, helped build a school in an under privileged community, and learned the ways of the mahouts my by taking care of an elephant on the elephant conservation center. The service I did on this trip made me feel accomplished knowing that I made an impact on the local communities. I feel so lucky that I got the opportunity to experience the unique culture of Thailand. One of my favorite things on this besides the unless activities was just talking to the local people. This not only improved my communication skills but helped me create new relationships with people who were different than me. Thailand is truly the land of smiles.