Program Reviews

On this trip we traveled all over the beautiful country of Morocco, we met so many amazing and kind people who were so willing and excited to tell us about their lives and culture. We got to try some really good food and learn a lot about islamic culture. The leaders were incredibly friendly and helpful. I made lots of amazing friends along the way and grew so much as a person. This trip really gave me great insight into other ways of living and the service really impacted me and I will remember it forever. This trip was great for high school students because it was very active including camel riding and zip lining. It was packed full of adventure and education and really gave you amazing insight into the country that you wouldn't get elsewhere. I am very grateful to have experienced this.

This trip was absolutely incredible; the two weeks wasn’t enough. The friends I made were kind and supportive and our group instantly clicked. The trip itself was rigorous in travel throughout the country but utterly worth it. The people in Morocco are kind and caring, and the culture is beautiful and accepting. I would absolutely recommend this trip to anyone looking for a marvelous adventure and wonderful learning experience about a truly beautiful country. Overall this trip was unforgettable; both the country itself and the incredible people I got to meet along the way. Hearing the stories of the many people we met during the trip were incredible and so eye-opening, there were so many people that I will always remember and cherish. يلا حبيبي!

Traveling to Tanzania with Rustic Pathways was one of the best experiences of my life. The sense of community and friendships I made on the program are incomparable. They made the labor of building a kitchen from the ground up fun. Lifting rocks, mixing cement, and laying down bricks are some of the fondest memories I have from the trip because of the other students and the masons. Music was always playing when we worked and the Tanzanian masons ensured we were both safe and helpful. Another highlight of the trip was the Tanzanian children. Immediately after walking out of the bus, the children greeted us with smiles on their faces. All 40 of them shook our hands and greeted us. The relationship that I formed with 2 children in particular, Regina and Apiyo, were especially significant. Every day they would run up to me with the brightest smiles and ask me to play a game with them. Although it was always a simple game, it was so fun. The unique aspect of this trip was the cultural trips that we took. On the Culture and the crater trip, we were able to hunt with the Hazabe tribe, one of the last true hunter and gather tribes, go on a safari, cook ugali, a traditional Tanzanian dish, with local mamas, and see how the mud houses are made. Rustic pathways truly provided me with a truly unique experience.

Rustic Pathways does an excellent job in bringing groups together to have fun, learn, and ultimately give back to those who really need it. There service programs in Fiji help the country in a variety of ways. On the Sun, Sand, and International Service trip, there is a perfect combination of fun cultural activities and service-intensive projects across a sixteen day span. Your group arrives to Fiji as nervous strangers, but you depart Fiji not wanting to leave the memories you made with your best friends in the country you fell in love with. It’s a trip that will change your every aspect of your life, from perspective and the lessons you learn. This is now my second year being involved with Rustic, and I am going to Tanzania next summer, but there is a reason I keep coming back. The organization offers a rare chance to experience new things and learn about yourself. You learn to use the tools you are lucky enough to have to give back to others. These endless life lessons can’t really be achieved in other ways, making Rustic so unique. I highly recommend signing up for a Rustic program, whether it’s in Fiji or their other wide selection of countries, because it will change your life in unexplainable ways.

My experience on Rustic Pathway’s Moroccan Wanderer was one that offered self-reflection and discovery through adventure and learning about Moroccan culture. Jumping from city to city, we covered what seemed like all of Morocco in only two weeks. Being able to spend time in a different atmosphere every day allowed incredible adventure and experience. We stayed in incredible housing; each place had its own unique Moroccan authenticity and story. We are incredible food that was mostly very authentic, consisting of tajine and delicious khobz (bread). We met many local families and men and women who shared their stories with us and taught us the importance of Moroccan culture. Rustic Pathway’s Moroccan Wanderer is an incredible trip and I highly recommend it.

As a student traveling on the Marine Service and Adventure program I was immersed into the insanely beautiful marine world of Fiji and learned all about how the reefs function and what we as a society can do to help. Before each service project we had a lesson on our task and the impact it would make. The students I traveled with bonded quickly and developed strong friendships that lasted long after the trip ended. It was amazing to experience a different culture and partake in their traditions. Even after being there for a few days each night the sunsets were just as beautiful and brought us all together. This program allowed me to have experiences I would have never been able to do, like diving with bull sharks. From the time we stepped off the plane we never stopped smiling.

This trip was so amazing!! Spending a week with the elephants was a once and a life time opportunity and one of the coolest things I’ve ever done. The first week we stayed at the hill tribe base. We met all the children that lived there and got to talk with them about there lives. We also got to see the beautiful Thailand. We went to temples and on a bike ride around the town. We also went to the local school where we finished the side walk around the new classrooms. We got to talk to the principle and speak with him about his life and the school. It was all so amazing! The second week we were at the sappraiwan an elephant sanctuary. It was stunning there. Everyday they had a new activity for use and it was all so fun!! I defined recommend this program!

The South East Asian Adventurer Program was truly a surreal experience. Spending time in both Thailand and Laos, I zip-lined across waterfalls, went island hopping, got face to face with an elephant, and most importantly met the most incredible people. I didn't imagine the bonds I would form with my group-mates and leaders could be so strong. My group of 9 was extremely close, from singing and dancing on the bus, to telling stories around the fireplace we were always laughing and smiling together. All three leaders were wonderful. One was American, and the other two were local. In addition to just knowing the local language, they introduced us to new foods, taught us about the culture, and told amazing stories. They were always attentive and worried about our well-being. The trip was extremely well organized, and the accommodations were amazing. The one piece of advice I would give students is to not overpack! There are a lot of flights and traveling that take place throughout the program so I recommend packing lightly. I would never get to have the same experiences if I just traveled with my family. I could not recommend Rustic Pathways more highly.

This past summer I went to Thailand with Rustic Pathways. It was a a little bit more than a two week program which combined teaching children english at Thai schools while helping create a foundation for a new kindergarten, as well as an elephant conservation program. Rustic was really good about making our accommodations nice as possible. The food that our chef, Chris, made for us as well as the students and families who lived at the base house was amazingly good. I was able to try so many new foods, including insanely flavorful fruit such as rambutan and mangosteen. During the first week of the program I was able to create really good friendships with not only the students who came to Thailand with Rustic, but the Thai locals as well. I really liked getting to engage with some of the Thai students who were around me age because I was able to get an insight on how life is in different parts of the world. Getting to hear various stories about little parts of different people's lives and how they got involved with rustic were some of the best stories I've ever heard in my life. Then the second part of the trip began and I got to go spend all of my time with elephants. I absolutely loved getting to learn more about how intelligent they really are. Elephants are so emotionally motivated, and they remember who humans are. Knowing that I could make an impact on these creatures lives was very special to me, and it changed my life forever.

Rustic Pathways trips to Australia for high schoolers are very well put together and fun. There are many options for programs some including service opportunities. I went on the Aussie Surf and Service which was an 18-day trip that included 4 surf lessons, whale watching, shopping, and over 25 hours of community service. The program leaders were organized and kind, the housing was amazing, and the service was meaningful. This experience immersed me in Australian culture and introduced me to 6 other kids who are life-long friends. The ability to travel and tour an amazing country while also serving the international community is so unique and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to do so. I would strongly recommend Rustic Pathways to high school students interested in traveling, meeting new people, and helping people around the world.