Rustic Pathways Reviews

I went on the sun, sand and service program July 11th- July 26th and it was absolutely amazing! During the trip we volunteered at local schools and taught lessons there. I taught grades 1+2 my first time teaching and although the language Barrier was a little difficult, I had an amazing time teaching! The following week I taught grades 5+6 and that was my favorite! All of the kids were very smart and so much fun to be around! My favorite service that we did was working at the loloma house and serving them meals. We made them meals and them served it to the families and got to talk to the children. It was so much fun! Other service projects we worked on was building bathrooms and painting schools. After service we did fun activities such as kayaking and going to the mud pools. The staff was all very accepting and friendly. It was the locals working at base that made this trip the most memorable for me. Thank you so much rustic for giving me this experience!

Being one of the youngest on the trip, I was a little nervous. Being only 14 years old, my parents were also very hesitant to let their teenage daughter go without them. But as soon as I stepped into the JFK airport, all my worries went away. While everyone was different from each other, we all had this unbreakable connection. After a long two days of traveling, we finally made it to Tanzania!! We took a 3 hour bus ride up to our new home, Mongla Juu. Mongla Juu was the most amazing place I have ever seen. Everywhere you went, kids run up to you, and hug you, and everyone was so happy to see us!! We slept in a classroom, and there was 13 other girls with me. There was not any running water, or electricity. And while sometimes it was diffcult to live in, it was one of the best things of the trip. You become so much closer with everyone, and it is like having a sleepover for 17 days! We would brush our teeth outside with a water bottle, and used squat toilets. Since its winter in Tanzania, bring jackets and a warm hat! Also, BRING SUNSCREEN. I got the worst sunburn of my life, and really regret not bringing sunscreen and a hat. We eat breakfast around 8am, lunch at 1pm, and dinner at 7pm. The food was so amazing. We had a couple birthdays during our trip, and wow. Tanzanians know how to party!!!! We also taught in the local school, which was the highlight of my trip. We played so many games, and sang/danced a lot. We played against the village soccer team, and even went to church! Church was so amazing, so much singing, dancing, and laughter. I was in tears by the end of the trip. If you even have the slightest interest in Culture and The Crater, please come. Pack your bags, and keep an open heart and you will have the best summer of your life.

When I first signed up for this trip I was slightly apprehensive because my previous Rustic trip, Lake Titicaca service adventure, was so incredible I didn't think it could be topped. I was wrong. This trip was not only fun but also so informative about marine life and our effects on the ocean. On our trip we had many informative talks about sharks, tides, invasive species, coral bleaching, and fish. After our discussions and talks we always had the chance to be hands on in the water. This trip allowed us to see everything we learned about first hand. Throughout the trip we stayed in nice beachfront and marine friendly resorts. We also had the chance to stay at a local village. Here, we stayed in safari style tents and we let on cots. While it was the most rustic sleeping arrangement on this trip, it was the most memorable. Getting to help the locals who hosted us by planting coral and removing invasive species was such a rewarding experience. Some of the most memorable experiences were snorkeling with sharks and planting and cleaning coral. Our leaders were incredibly educated and always teaching us new things. They got us excited in the service we were partaking in. This trip was so eye opening and made me aware of our effects on this earth. I got to see the effects of climate change first hand. It was so fun seeing everyone on my trip get so excited and involved in our marine work. Our leaders did an amazing job educating us and this trip was truly unforgettable.

My experience in Fiji was absolutely incredible - the locals were kind and informative, the group leaders were fantastically matched with our group, and Rustic did an incredible job forming an itinerary with the most activities possible for our two weeks. Our group, focused on environmental restoration in Fiji, snorkeled, planted coral, and so much more, all while learning an immense amount about climate change, local species, and ways we could be environmentally friendly. Do not be turned off by a trip you think focuses more on an educational area! Rustic promotes learning through action and hands-on activities coupled with interactive discussions, a combination that makes for an environment that fosters learning and encourages curiosity and passions. We climbed to watch sunrises and sunsets, jumped off sand dunes, and spent much of our time outdoors - Fiji is, quite literally, one of the most beautiful places you could ever visit in your life. The weather is amazing, the culture rich, and the people friendly and open. My favorite memory was being able to dive in a coral reef about 15 feet and see white-tip sharks up close. Observing animals in their natural habitats and learning about what you can do to help them is a wonderful and eye-opening experience. After my trip, I have gone vegan to save water and prevent pollution, and have decided that I want to go into conservation work when I am older, both as a direct result of my trip. I could not recommend a program more highly.

This trip was everything I could have asked for, but it became even more. Within those three weeks, my mindset on life evolved and I learned values I had never considered. I went with the intention to do community service to better the lives of others, and through this experience I bettered my own. I could go on to tell you my favorite memory, but what is more important is what your future memories can and will consist of: never ending laughter and new friends made, stimulation of your mind and what it means to be who you are, times of fear and even sadness, the growth from low moments, and my favorite, the visible change in your mind and you as a human being from the start of the trip to its finish, because it will happen. Now, all of these may be quite broad, but that's only because I don't want to tell you what I've learned, I want you to experience them yourself. The take away from this rant, quite simply is, go on this trip, and brace yourself for the time of your life! it will change you, and all for the better.

I was so excited going into this trip (rebuilding New Orleans) that there was no time to be nervous. Students are greeted at the airport by the happiest program leaders ever! They are so eager to get everyone involved right away which makes it easy for students to make friends. Future participants should expect really rewarding long days. We did all sorts of different service projects, but my favorite was working in the community garden. We spent the morning mulching and weeding to improve miss. Gloria's garden that she shares with the community. There was one moment though that really stuck out. We had spent all week working on rebuilding a home, and then on Friday our group got to witness a welcome home party! This was a house that was just finished, and the owner finally got to return after his home flooded. He was so happy and grateful. Seeing his gratitude made all of our hard work worth it. I would highly recommend rebuilding New Orleans to any student!

Rustic Pathways is Truly amazing. I traveled with a different program to South Africa last year and it was not nearly this life changing. This year i traveled to Cambodia with Rustic pathways on the Off the Map: Cambodia program. On our trip there was 17 students(sold out) 13 girls and 4 boys. From the very beginning our leaders were amazing, they both knew so much about the world and had so many experiences and lessons that i learned so much from. I could not say any more wonderful things about my one leader she literally changed my perspective so much i cant even explain it and I've only been home for 2 days. During the program we went to a lot of the country where we stayed in nice hotels for a day or two to see the temples and museums then for most of the trip we were out in the villages in home stays. That was the most trans-formative part of the trip. I already knew that people didn't have a lot there but i learned so much more that is just indescribable through my peers, our leaders, and the community. Then we went to a few more schools to do some service work and fix up their grounds. Then we went to the elephant valley project which get elephants from their abusive environment either from riding them in tourism, or working in an industry like logging. Then they are brought to the valley of Mondulkuri in the mountains of Cambodia. It was absolutely beautiful and lush but full of a lot of bugs which is just part of the experience. We also went to a lot of waterfalls in between this. Now the drives to these places are long but so worth it. This is because you get to know your peers and leaders so much better and you got to go to so many different places in Cambodia in 25 days. I learned so much from my peers and that was part of the wonderful experience. The food was always great no matter if it was traditional Khmer food or a western or Indian restaurant. Usually by the end of the day everyone was so full we couldn't even eat dinner. Also during the home stays we had our own cooks so the food was always good and safe. At the end of the program we went to the floating villages and built a house there, that was floating! That was my favorite service project and home stay. This was because it was so unique. Then we went to Angkor Wat which was just as great as the pictures. We went to 3 different temples and it was very interesting to learn about it and we got to see many wild monkeys. I don't have enough words to describe my wonderful experience and how much it has changed me. I encourage you to go on this trip or any trip with Rustic because we do so many things that help other people and ultimately help ourselves in the process. Thank you Rustic!

The Turtle Conservation Project was a completely life-changing experience. At first, I thought it would be a bit awkward, but upon arrival at the airport, I was greeted by the staff and other travelers and instantly made new friends. In regards to making new friends, everyone is so welcoming and amiable, and you definitely are given free time to get to know them better. The friendships that were built over the course of the 9 days are strong and definitely life-long. The service work made me feel a different level of appreciation and inspiration for the environment and conservation, alongside with guidance and talks from different park rangers and biologists. Through the 30 hours of service, they definitely breeze through after a while if you make them more fun for yourself and it made my group and I feel a big difference, especially when we released the baby turtles to the ocean. Though the night walks are tiresome, you begin to appreciate them more and more as this would usually be a one person job, and you gain an abundance of knowledge about nests and turtles. Aside from service, we also participated in thrilling activities, such as ziplining, rafting, surfing and canoeing. They overall give you plenty of time to rest in the lodge, which is made out of wood, and even the lodging gives you a better sense of appreciation for nature. The program leaders most definitely made this experience what it was, where them as well as the cook, made it seem like family and home. There are so many moments and experiences that are indescribable, but this trip is definitely worth the money.
Tip: Always stay hydrated and bring a large water bottle, and stay off your phone because it will make the experience so much better! Also, bring extra clothes because you get dirty really easily.

Once I had decided that I wanted to travel for the summer, I had trouble choosing which program to go on! I wanted something adventurous, a little unordinary, and meaningful, and the Sticky Rice Service Adventure was exactly that. There were so many great experiences, one being the community service. First, the community service was challenging, but so rewarding! The children of the village would come up to us and hold our hands everywhere we went, tried to learn English from us and help carry water from the creek as well as playing with us in the water! I really felt a sense of accomplishment when we finished. Also, the amount of interesting activities really gave the program balance. My favorite day was when we went for a hike in the jungle to this beautiful outlook of the entire valley. Then we went kayaking and shopping and got massages! Another fun day was exploring lagoons and jumping from tree branches in to water! In addition, I loved the boat and swimming by the lake resort, the bike rides in Luang Probang, the amazing lunch on the indigo farm (and so much more) really made the trip fun. I also made it a point to communicate with the villagers (mostly through our leaders as translators) to get their perspective on cultural issues like women's rights, the role of the mentally ill, religion and poverty. Those communications helped me to understand the generosity of the Hmong community as well as all those in Laos. None of that would have been possible without our leaders, who all were amazing in respects to their kindness and attention to safety. If you're thinking about traveling to Laos, GO! You will fall in love with a country that embodies ideas of forgiveness, generosity and hospitality!

This summer I went on Rustic Pathways Turtle Conservation Project. The experience was great from the moment I met the Rustic staff at the airport. The volunteer work made you feel like you are truly making a difference. In the down time you get really close with the people on your trip. The off days from service were great. We participated in exciting activities with knowledgable guides. The lodging is pretty rustic so if you're not okay with camping than this will not be the program for you. This trip is truly worth the money. I have memories to last a lifetime, but can't wait for my next trip!
Tips: a full size quick dry towel and an extra large water bottle would have come in handy.