Program Reviews

This program was incredible. I got to see parts of the world that I never thought I would, but more importantly, I met people (both locals and those on the trip with me) that I will remember for life. Apart from the actual experience of being in Morocco, the activities we did as a group helped me learn so much about my new friends as well as myself. It allowed me to return home with a new perspective. The fun things we did regarding the Moroccan culture and landscape only accentuated this gained perspective. I still keep in touch with the friends that I made, and the memories that I made in Morocco will stay with me forever. The leaders were also incredible; they were always focused on our safety and enjoyment. They didn't feel separate from the students on the group; we were all one family.

My Rustic Pathways experience was incredible. From the moment I met my fellow travelers in the airport, I was overwhelmed with a sense of community and excitement. Throughout the trip, it was completely life changing to see the different ways of life in these developing communities and it gave me perspective. Not only did my Rustic experience change the lives of the communities we partnered with, it changed my own life significantly. While I was living in this new country for two weeks, learning Spanish from community members, and developing teamwork, I found confidence and fueled my curiosity. I would highly recommend this program to any traveler looking to broaden their understanding and perception of the world, complete deeply meaningful community work alongside new friends, and indulge themselves in a unique culture.

I have traveled with Rustic Pathways for two consecutive summers. They have simply been the best summers of my life. First I traveled to Australia where I was able to work in the famous Steve Irwin Zoo. This past summer I traveled to Thailand. While I was there I met some of the most amazing people and creatures. Although I love the luxuries that I take for granted every day such as air conditioning, comfort foods, and wifi, I did not miss them a bit on this trip. Rustic does not lie when they say that they will get the student on the trip fully enveloped into the local culture. Although for some it might sound gruesome, it is something that I honestly am very blessed to have been a part of. I firmly believe that without some of the people I have met and the experiences that I have had through Rustic, I would not be the person I am today.

My trip to Fiji was one of the most memorable trips of my life! I made countless friends from all around the globe, many of which I am still in touch with months later and I expect to be in touch with many years from now! Rustic provided a safe and comfortable living situation at the base house, while still allowing all participants access to real, authentic Fijian culture in multiple villages-- an experience that not many people who travel to Fiji get. The service aspect of my trip was extremely rewarding and I believe that there is an inherent value in immersing yourself in another person's culture and then working alongside them. The staff was not only welcoming but over the two weeks I was there, they became a second family. I would recommend this trip to anyone and everyone regardless of how out of your comfort zone it is, because there is no doubt in my mind that the Rustic staff will make it comfortable and worth it for you!

Over the summer I went to Thailand for a month and participated in the Intro to Community Service and Children's Home and Elephant Sanctuary programs. Putting together both trips complimented my experience by exposing me to difference kinds of culture and service work. I loved learning how to build homes from the ground up, teach young children how to swim, learn Thai, take care of an elephant (my elephants name was Tongtae and I miss her so much), get to know Thai students my age and share stories, and see part of the world I've never seen before. In the beginning, I was nervous for this trip because I was going without my friends across the world and had never done something so independent. However, once I arrived and got settled I had the best time! Almost everyone on the trip was in the same position as me and we all bonded immediately. Stepping out of my comfort zone was a unique and crucial lesson and has become part of who I am today. My trip is something I wish everyone could have the opportunity to do because it was life changing and something I will remember always.

I was very excited to be the test group for this program! Vietnam was one the most beautiful places I have ever been. People living in the USA have this misconception that it is this dangerous place. When the word Vietnam comes to mind, people can not get past war however, there is so much more to this magical country than what is seen from the blind eye. One thing that I loved about this trip was that we got to experience city life, village life, jungle life and boat life! I was able to learn a lot about the history and rich culture that Nam has to offer through various museums and pagodas that we got to visit. It was really cool for me to take what I learned from AP World History and see it in real life.
Our first stop in Hanoi was super cool. Walking through the capital city, I was overwhelmed with the different cultures that are all so incorporated into one place. The smell of the Vietnamese cuisine consisting of pho, different meats and fruit smoothies. Seeing and smelling these things while adventuring through the tiny, extremely crowded streets with moped drivers that do not obey traffic laws in the slightest, is what made me so excite for what else there was to come.
Next, we got to spend a week in a village which was my favorite. Our week consisted of mixing and making concrete by hand to pave a road along with working in the corn fields. This was the time where we really got to make connections with the people and eat amazing food!
Our third stop was Ninh Binh. We stayed at a beautiful Eco Lodge and got to visit pagodas, see beautiful scenery and take a hike as well as a bike tour! This was for sure one of the highlights of the trip because of the beautiful scenery. Also, we got to drive to a local village and plant rice in the rice fields! It was incredible.
Ha Long Bay was where we got to stay on a junk boat. It was the best way to close out the trip, making great memories with friends and swimming in the blue water surrounded by mountains. We got to go out and kayak as well!
Finally, we went back to Hanoi. We went to a ceramics village and got to make our own pottery which was amazing. We also got to see a water puppet show and shop in the night markets!
Overall, this trip was phenomenal. I would 10/10 recommend it to anyone who is ready to jump a little bit outside their comfort zone.

Going to the Dominican Republic is a truly amazing experience. It was by far the best two weeks of my summer and I have met friends that I will have for a lifetime. We took part of many educational activities, but we had so much fun. Service was balanced perfectly with fun activities. We worked hard but we would always look forward to coming back to our base house and swimming in the pool, or playing with the dogs. We visited beautiful beaches and spent a day touring a major city. The trip was the perfect length of time and at the end we all wanted to stay longer. The accommodations were very comfortable. The program leaders were so fun and were one of the best parts of the whole trip. I would completely recommend taking part in this enriching experience.

The program that i did was marine life and costal restoration which was focused on cleaning up the beaches and helping out a local nonprofit. I was really nervous going into the trip but as soon as I met the other people in my group, I was really excited because everyone was so cool. Our trip leaders were really friendly and helped you with any issue you could have had, and they made sure everything was really safe for us. The trip was 16 days long, and even though it wasn’t that much time, my whole group bonded and become so close and we had the best time together. The travel process was really easy because of all the instructions and procedures that the the trip leaders follow, so that wasn’t stressful at all. This trip was the one of the highlights of my summer and I loved it so much that I’m going on another trip with rustic pathways again this summer! I 10/10 recommend doing one of these trips because of how meaningful the work is that you do, and you reflect back on the trip knowing that you made an impact somewhere and tons of fun doing it too!

I began my trip to Costa Rica with the mindset of saying yes to everything. I did not want to miss out on any opportunity I could have while I was there. I went on every hike, even hikes where only 4 of us went on in the rain, did every activity, and was always helping out. I think the best way to go into a trip would be by following that mindset. By saying yes to everything I got so much out of the trip and would not change it for the world. Also, I went in wanting to make new friendships that would last a lifetime. I made so many friends from all over the United Sates and even from other countries. I still keep in contact with these people all the time as well. It might seem scary to go away from your parents and go on a trip, but it was such a great experience and everyone there was great. The counselors are so fun and help you out with everything and anything and are always looking out for you. I would 100% recommend this trip to anyone looking for adventure and looking to make an impact on someone and something bigger than themselves.

This trip is truly the best one rustic has to offer. Not only did I go to 4 different countries in a month, but I experienced unforgettable and life changing experiences. The people and organization of the program allowed it to run seamlessly while still allowing us to have input on what we want to do. The cultural immersion in the home stays and just living in Asia for an entire month gave me the opportunity to change the way I look at a lot of things in life. Not only regarding wealth but also who I am as a person. The people are genuinely happier than the majority of America and yet they live with so little materialistic goods. I have learned to shift my source of happiness from consumer goods to experiences and the people around me. I honestly believe that I have grown as a person since attending this trip.