Program Reviews

Dragons set me up with life-long skills for compassionate travel and cultural immersion, which I have carried since my gap year into university life. Despite being an extremely thoughtfully designed travel experience for my age group, which it was, it would be an understatement to cast it among other gap year/ summer programs out there. I did this program in the summer before my university and it positively transformed how I connected with the world around me. This certainly grounded me and massively helped in my transition to university. The group felt like its own community and the instructors tremendously helped facilitate moments of intentionality which we might have gone past amidst the chaos of travel. All in all, I couldn't recommend this program enough as it was deeply rooted in contextual knowledge of Nepalese culture and local traditions which provided an authentic travel experience which I will cherish for life.

My Dragons experience was absolutely life changing! From seeing new places to creating lifelong friendships and memories the time will be held close to my heart for the rest of my life. My favorite part of my trip was a group hike in Parque de las papas. The scenery was breathtaking. My family that welcomed me into their home were very friendly and welcoming and fed me some DELICIOUS meals. For people that are looking to do this all I have to say is. DO IT! You won’t regret it :) Drink lots of water and try every food you can!

Summer with Dragons was easily the best summer I have ever had. Travelling so far from home was completely new to me, but the people around me made it feel like I belonged from the very beginning.

Looking back, the experience was truly life-changing. It taught me to appreciate the small moments – watching sunsets with friends, sharing meals, and enjoying simple experiences that somehow meant the most. It reminded me that the little things are often what stay with you.

The programme also connected closely with my future goal of studying medicine. I had the chance to explore a project focused on alternative medicine, which opened my eyes to new perspectives on health and care. One of the best parts was that no matter your interests, there is an ISP tailored to you, giving everyone the chance to explore what they’re passionate about and grow from it.

For me, Dragons was about personal growth – stepping outside my comfort zone, broadening my horizons, and seeing the world differently. I didn’t expect to change as much as I did, but I left more confident, open-minded, and curious than when I arrived.

What truly made it unforgettable was the incredible group of students and instructors who supported and inspired me throughout. It wasn’t just a summer programme – it was an experience that will stay with me for life.

Going on a trip with Dragons was such a positive experience for me. I learned so much and became so much more independent. I was able to get out of my comfort zone with the help of the instructors. They were incredibly supportive. All three of my instructors were very kind and interesting. They spoke both English and Spanish which made learning and communicating easy. Meeting locals while traveling was also a highlight, and I was welcomed into so many homes. It was a great way to learn more about another culture.

I chose Dragons as part of my gap year between high school and college. Best decision I could have made. Traveled with a great group of people and made lasting connections in the various communities I lived in. Gave me the tools to affordably travel solo in the future. You will have to be flexible with plans changing on the fly and experiencing some discomfort. Hearing about the things you will experience may sound daunting, but as long as you are willing the rest will follow. Spent a lot of time learning about conservation on multiple different scales and in different settings. Snorkeling, light trekking, and language learning throughout the trip.

I absolutely loved my time with Where There Be Dragons. I learned a lot about hiking and safety in wilderness. Through my home stays, I interacted with locals who I will now always keep in touch with as well as improve my Spanish skills. I came into the program not being able to speak a word of Spanish and left at level A2. I received immense support from my instructors guiding me to through any challenges I faced. I developed life long friendships with my fellow dragons on the program. I am so grateful for my time with Dragons.

I loved my four weeks in Guatemala traveling with Where There Be Dragons. I went into the program scared, it was my first time traveling by myself, and I was not very confident in my Spanish skills. But I knew I would regret not taking the chance when it was given to me. Being able to wake up, and help make tortillas before walking to the Chico Mendez Reforestation project was life-changing. Treking for three days in the highlands and sweating my butt of just to watch the sunrise over Lake Atitlan was worth the price of the hiking. My most memorable time was my homestay in San Juan La Laguna, where I made friends with my six-year-old homestay sister, Willa. We played Uno, watched YouTube, and went on late-night tortilla runs down the street. I was accepted into the family first by my homestay mother, then my siblings, then the sister, then my grandparents, then even more family and friends. I felt so loved and cared for while learning Spanish and getting ice cream with the other students, and walking down the streets at night.

I got to learn Spanish, culture, history, friendship across language barriers, and more about myself, even through all the hard moments.

This Bolivia trip was without a doubt one of the most enriching and beautiful experiences of my life. I traveled with a group of 7 other students and 3 instructors, staying in home stays for two weeks, camping for a couple nights, and staying in hostels and hotels the rest of the time.

I often feel out of place within a dominant American society that doesn't want to challenge the status quo. I traveled to Bolivia in part because I wanted to learn about the country's social movements and different political/cultural traditions and systems. I learned a lot about different ways of being and knowing on this trip, and we learned about social movements and protests such as the Water Wars in Cochabamba. I found the culture of Where There Be Dragons to be perfectly fitted to the critical lens I like to look at the world through-- during mid-course and orientation, we got to reflect and frame our trip and discuss what we'd experienced so far in the context of the wider world and our home countries. These discussions were some of the most powerful I've ever been part of.

I am beyond grateful for the group I traveled with. The 7 other students are some of the most interesting, passionate, and engaged people I've ever met. Through the intense travel and long van rides, we all bonded so much and it was so beautiful to be part of such a tight-knit community. Our instructors were super amazing too, and really knowledgable about Bolivian culture and customs-- they helped us out but also gave us more and more independence as the trip went on, which is intentional because that independence culminates in students planning a few days of the trip during X-phase. They also facilitated discussions and reflections on the trip that helped us all think more deeply about the implications of the land we were on.

I always felt very safe in Bolivia; our instructors and our host families and our fellow students were always there for us, but traveling and learning travel skills also gave me the confidence to feel capable and safe in many new kinds of situations.

I never thought I was capable enough to do an adventurous trip like this. But this program looked so amazing, I decided to give it a try-- and I am so so grateful I did. If you are considering this program, I will say: what matters most is that you are INTO IT and fully engaged, ready to think critically, and give your all for this precious month. If you are worried about other challenges you anticipate having on the trip, but feel super excited about the idea of going, reach out to the Dragons staff-- they are really helpful and reassuring. For example, I'm a vegetarian, and had a conversation with a Dragons person before even applying for this trip about Bolivian food and if I can bring food (you can; I had a giant ziplock of protein bars but rarely had to use them because Bolivian food is delicious and homestay families are really good at cooking.)

Overall, the feeling I take away most from this trip is this amazing feeling of unconditional love: for my group, my Bolivian families, the mountains that held us and the forests that let us wander through, the activists and artists and permaculture specialists we learned from, and for myself-- because I decided to push through my fears by going on this trip, and found the most wonderful experience of my life on the other side.

When else would you get to stay in a stilt house far from an average mainlanders life while exploring the uncharted sea with your spears as you dive for fishes? When else, other than Sampela ofcourse! Thanks to the incredible experience with WTBD in Indonesia this summer, I've managed to backpack across many cities and mountains and even had the lucky opportunity to stay in homestays with a family in the village of Sampela, Wakatobi Islands. I've seen a side of culture so unexplored and hidden and been able to dive into many parts of Indonesia that have been unexplored or not talked about enough! Really a unique experience 10/10 recommend!!!!

My study abroad trip to Senegal was one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. At first, I was nervous about the language barrier and living with a host family, but over time, I learned how to communicate through a mix of French, Wolof, and body language, as well as simply being open and willing to learn. My host family welcomed me with so much kindness and patience, and I grew really close to them. We shared meals, laughs, and stories that helped me feel truly at home. I also connected with many people in the community—neighbors, classmates, and local shopkeeper. who always made me feel included. Being in Senegal made me feel genuinely happy. I loved the rhythm of daily life, the warmth of the people, and the deep sense of connection I felt everywhere I went. It was more than just a trip. it changed the way I see the world and myself.