Program Reviews

I had an awesome time with this program. The instructors really worked well together and made sure safety was the main thing during the trip. They made sure there were food options for everyone, including vegetarians and vegans. The families we stayed with and the people in the cities were so friendly and made me feel totally at home. The food was seriously the best I’ve ever had. We talked about what it's like to travel with dragons during the first week. We also did cool stuff every day like boating to see a historic tree, writing in journals during hikes, playing soccer at the places we stayed, and other activities. The first homestay was about 7 days, and the second was 3 days. We got ready for this by having language classes every day for about 3 hours. While we covered specific things, we could also ask whatever questions we had. For anyone who speaks French, there were lots of chances to practice. Sometimes, the instructors had us translate what guest speakers were saying. I was able to talk to my homestay families and other people in the village in French. Your friends will ask you how to say words or phrases in French. I think this is good because it tests your French, and you'll help your friends communicate with their families a little better. Some tough things on the trip were the hikes for some, but mainly communicating with the locals.

I have participated in many summer camps and travel programs and Dragons was by far the best overall experience I've had and I am so grateful for the opportunity to meet many amazing people and learn so much about the culture of Guatemala. My instructors were amazing and my homestay families welcomed me with open arms. While at first it was sometimes hard to communicate, I became more confident making conversation through our daily Spanish classes and the constant interactions I had with locals. My independent study project allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of the mayan culture through their traditional practice of weaving, an experience I will always treasure. I gained so much in the short four weeks I spent in Guatemala immersed in a rich and beautiful culture.

The focus of the trip was sustainability and spirituality. We engaged with people who were working with the land through permaculture, tea making, and agriculture. In each place we stayed, we were able to participate in caring for the land and learned from the community. We tried new fruits and learned how to cook Thai dishes. We visited temples and monasteries, focusing on learning Buddhist teachings and meditation. I found community not just with the people that we met while in Thailand, but with the members of my group. I felt supported by my group throughout the trip as we all got pushed out of our comfort zone. Where There Be Dragons has many connections in the places it travels, and the leaders have great knowledge of their programs. This was evident in the selection of places we traveled, or the instructor's in-depth answers to our questions about anything from fruits to history to language. This program inspired me to think of a future for myself around traveling and exploration. A month in a place lets you settle into a routine, almost like you are living there, even if just for a short amount of time. This trip was an amazing experience for me, and I recommend it to anyone who wants to explore a country, learn from its experts, and travel with intention.

On this trip I had so much fun and I learned so much about the world and about myself. I often found that the hardest and most uncomfortable parts of the trip tended to lead right into the “quote book” moments. Those moments that you just have to write down because you know you never want to forget them. Like when everyone’s last pair of clean pants might have gotten covered in mud from rice planting but that didn’t stop us from singing pitch perfect riff-offs over milk tea right after. Or how I might not have been able to stand up all the way in my homestay house or speak the same language as my family but I had so much fun sitting on the ground building a puzzle with my didi and bhai.
I had the opportunity to experience so much on this trip and every experience taught me incredible lessons, but the most valuable things I learned were those shown to me by the incredible individuals I got to spend this month with. My instructors Shanti, Hemant, and Sushil taught me compassion. Dom and Hazel taught me to laugh at my mistakes and not take life too seriously. Mandira and my other homestay family members taught me that family is so much more than blood.
But with all that there is one lesson that really stuck with me. That life, every single moment, is what you make it. To live in the moment because nothing last forever and even the things that feel hard can become good memories.
If you’re thinking of doing a dragons trip, please do it! Just remember that every second doesn’t have to be comfortable and easy, and everything you do won’t be. So take a breath, laugh at those little mistakes you make, embrace the awkward, be yourself, make every moment count, and find your family. Take the jump, Dragon’s has your back, it’s so worth it!!

I absolutely loved this program. It was life changing and I met some amazing people, had incredible experiences i never would have had otherwise, and grew in so many different ways. I met two of the best friends
The challenges i faced, both inner and outer pushed me in ways I’d never experienced before—new country, new culture, new people, no phone…all well worth it!!
The most important thing on a dragons program is your attitude and mindset. If you’re willing to open your mind and heart to new experiences you’ll find everything so much richer and more wonderful. you get out what you put in.
Dragons will change you, if only you let it.
I will never forget my dragons experience❤️

Going on this program was one of the best decisions I made. The Indonesia Summer Program became a transformative, impactful and very special experience for me. While exploring different parts of Indonesia I was able to fully immerse myself in the culture and language of this country as well as to learn more about the values and beliefs of the locals. The whole itinerary was very well planned and each day was fun and interesting. The homestays offered in this program were definitely the highlight for me. Although worried at first, I was able to quickly adapt and enjoy the lifestyle of each family. I also felt loved and welcomed since the first days of my homestays. This experience with Dragons was truly special and shaped me in a lot of ways. I would highly and truly recommend joining this program as it offers lifelong memories and meaningful connections.

I had a very good experience on this trip. Where There Be Dragons is very intentional about traveling and experiencing other cultures in the right way which was something that I really appreciated. My instructors and group members were incredible and we were all very close by the end of the trip. There was a good ratio between doing fun things like getting outdoors and visiting places that are difficult to visit like Potosí, a mining town in Bolivia. My Spanish improved significantly and I had incredible experiences with all of my homestays.

My experience with wheretherebedragons was extremely transformative. Not only did it exponentially improve my Spanish speaking, but it challenged me to become a better version of myself. I was pushed both physically and emotionally during the trek, and emerged a stronger and more resilient human because of it. Being away from technology was particularly impactful, as it challenged me to refocus my priorities and reflect on my core values. My instructors were incredible, and I bonded closely with all of my peers. I would 100% recommend this trip for any young adult, not because it was “fun” or “easy”, but because it taught me more about different cultures, people, and myself.

My time in Southeast Asia was a very intense journey with ups and downs and turnarounds...

From deep within the rainforest in quiet villages to vibrant cities, my experiences covered a wide spectrum of accommodations—moving from the warmth of local family homes to the convenience of hotel stays. Getting around involved a mix of travel methods, from hopping on public and private buses to tuk-tuks (no motorbikes!), mini tractors, sitting in the back of trucks, boats of different sizes, sangtaos, and even exploring by bike or strolling on foot.

Gestures spoke volumes, and our mother tongues couldn't have been more different. I picked up stories from monks, shared moments with mothers, and had laughs with same-aged youth and people from different backgrounds than mine. Chatting with bomb removal workers, specialists from various walks of life, farmers, and fishers—each encounter painted a richer picture of the journey.

Venturing beyond my comfort zone, I immersed myself in hands-on experiences like cultivating rice and weaving bamboo, cooking, and learning from locals, and forming bonds with families and cultures previously unknown to me.

Embracing the simplicity of daily life, including the joy of sticky rice, hammocks, re-packing my backpack countless times, and saying goodbyes became a cherished part of my routine.

The absence of a phone heightened genuine connections, helping me to learn to navigate moments of boredom and discomfort, just observe and take in present moments more consciously.

Traveling along (and swimming in) the Mekong, I explored spirituality (eg. visiting countless temples) and environmental awareness, witnessing their impact on locals in villages and vibrant cities alike.

This Dragons journey exposed me to cultural richness, and personal growth through challenging norms gave me a glimpse into the Southeast Asian world, and ignited the curiosity of a young traveler, setting the stage for their future global adventures.

What an incredible semester! Not only did this expand my views on the world but also my capabilities to live within it! I experienced amazing insights surrounding culture, art, religion, history and more! It was great experiencing all of these places without a phone as well because I was even more out of my comfort zone and it forced me to stay present and utilize interpersonal resources. Our group felt like a family by the end as we had experienced so much with one another, and grew incredible relationships along the way as well!