Rustic Pathways Reviews

I thought that the trip overall was amazing. I got to experience completely new and unexpected things, ranging from riding an elephant through the jungle, to getting a fish massage in Siem Riep. The only issue I had was the social aspect of it. The group was larger than usual, so there were lots of kids... meaning 2 giant groups with subcliques. But if you're reading this and thinking, 'ooh i better not do this program then', then please consider the fact that every group is different and I may have just gotten a bad combination of kids. Plus, the staff definitely tried their hardest to bond us with games in the first few days. But the trip itself was an experience that I am so grateful to have had, and I did meet a lot of wonderful staff members and friends that will last a lifetime!! Thank you Rustic!!!

Our trip leaders were the best, and we all felt super comfortable with them immediately, which had been a concern for me. No one got seriously sick, and working with the kids at the school, orphanage, and on the streets was amazing. My group was wonderful and we all bonded so much.

I had some of the best, eye-opening experience in my life. Since I've been on Rustic Pathways trips to Australia, Thailand, Laos and now India, I can honestly say that the community service was by far the most rewarding for both the students and the kids. The staff was great and were clearly just as excited as us about being there. This program really changed my life in a positive way and I would recommend it to anyone.

As amazing of a country as Morocco is, the thing that really made my Moroccan Wanderer adventure was the people it was with. The other students were awesome, but that's very subjective. The people that are much less so [subjective] are the guides/counselors. They were, for me, truly incredible. Due to them, this trip was much more educational, in ways that I never would have imagined before it, compared to other trips I've been on.

One of the biggest highlights was spending a night in the Sahara desert. It's the kind of experience that you'd never imagine yourself having: the kind of thing that only exists in movies. Thus, when the experience is actually had, it feels even greater than anything a movie could show. We rode camels in and out of the desert (which, in itself made me feel like Lawrence of Arabia), stargazed from the top of a tall sand dune, and went sandboarding. Combined, these formed an unforgettable experience.

The service project that we did in Zawiya Alhansal was also a vital and memorable part of the trip. We taught English and art in a small school for two days, then spent a lot of time playing soccer with the kids there and helping design a library in one of the schools. While this certainly didn't designate the overall adventure a service trip, it did give it a bit more meaning and impact that distinguishes it from a vacation.

Overall, this trip was something I would recommend to everyone and anyone, with my only advice being to be careful about health, as I did get sick.

This trip has been the most valuable and impactful experience in my life. Helping to rebuild houses for these people and meeting them is amazing. You feel so accomplished by the end. Some schools have been working in trailers for over 8 years. Making an impact on someones life is an amazing thing.

The program was wonderful! We had the chance to get certified in CPR and WFA all while having fun and volunteering. Our normal day-to-day schedule would change, but it basically involved volunteering in the morning, learning in the afternoon, and a fun activity with the rest of the Ricefields base at night. On weekends, we visited local temples and malls. The base was big and beautiful, the staff was very friendly. We also had the chance to make new friends from all around the world.

All my weeks included completely different experiences, yet all were positive ones.Visiting temples in Bangkok, getting to see the beauty, and learning about the culture was a great . So was riding elephants through the jungles of Thailand,washing them, and eating with bugs. Washing dogs, and removing tics from them, and patching up wounds is a completely different, yet no less rewarding experience. Overall I had a great time in all 3 of my weeks there.

Being in the outback was an unreal experience, beyond anything you encounter at home. The leaders were amazing and without their personalities the trip wouldn't have been nearly as good. The wildlife and the people were both unforgettable and someday I would love to come back to the Kimberly's region.

I had such a fabulous summer with Rustic Pathways and can't wait to sign up to go on another program with them!! The local and western staff were amazing. I met so many people from all over the world that I can't wait to visit. I hope that everyone had as great of an experience as I did!

We spent the first few days preparing for the camp. We did team bonding activities such as rafting, hiking, and camping. When the first day of camp arrived, we were faced with a very hyper group of 30 kids. These kids were ages 5-12. At times, they didnt listen to the instructions or wouldnt want to participate, but that is common for all camps. It was amazing seeing these kids get to experience new opportunities. For example, when they saw a shower for the first time all their faces lit up and they were all screaming of joy. We visited their town which really made me appreciate everything I had. After 6 exhausting days of camp, we relaxed on the beach. We took a catamaran out and went to many cool snorkeling spots and beaches. It was an amazing trip.