Program Reviews

I had the most amazing experience with Dragons Nepal. The homestay experiences were incredible. The families were great, locations made for a rich experience, and amazing memories. I thoroughly enjoyed the treks. They were a good challenge, but I felt very supported the whole time. I felt very emerged in the culture, and I felt my instructors did a great job at guiding us through the country. I thought the orientation process was a good introduction to the culture, I felt prepared to go into cities and interact with locals. Nothing but good things to say about the program.

Indescribable experience. I participated in WTBD two years ago and still think about my times there and the lessons learned frequently. WTBD changed me for the better and I am so grateful. I am still very close to the members of the group and feel connected to the place and the people. This program was well-designed and very thoughtful about ethical travel and meaningful connections. Language was a huge emphasis that I found profound and exciting. I learned and appreciated all there was to offer. Go on a WTBD course.

My semester in Nepal with Where There Be Dragons was probably the best 2.5 months of my life. I made an incredible group of friends learned so much while abroad. We traveled to so many interesting and different places within Nepal and met so many interesting and kind people. It was definitely challenging at points, but my instructors and group mates were so supportive and wonderful. I feel so much more comfortable with the idea of solo traveling and existing as a global citizen. I am so glad that I took the leap and decided to take a gap semester with Dragons.

The program’s structure encouraged us to embrace challenges, both physically as we trekked through the Andes and culturally as we engaged with local communities. Staying with homestay families felt like a warm reunion with the people and lifestyle. I was able to put my Spanish skills to good use, communicating and learning from our hosts in a way that felt authentic and natural. It was heartwarming to share meals and stories, gaining a richer understanding of Peruvian life and traditions.

The program instructors brought out the best in us by encouraging respect, open-mindedness, and curiosity. They guided us through conversations about Peru’s environmental challenges and taught us to approach each experience with mindfulness and a sense of purpose. We discussed sustainable practices, participated in community projects, and learned what it means to be responsible travelers.

For anyone looking for a life-changing adventure, Peru: Sacred Mountains is a truly transformative experience.

At 16 I spent the summer in Guatemala with a group of students I had never met before. I had no idea what to expect. In the end, I learned more in my four weeks of travel than I did in my first two years in high school. The instructors were incredibly caring and helpful, and made the experience so much better. They were able to calm down students feeling homesick and answer all of our questions about language, history, and culture. The food during the trip was authentic and delicious, and we even had the opportunity to learn to cook some dishes.

I really like that I thought I really engaged other people who went with me. I really liked my leaders and I definitely feel like I learned more about China the language and just life in China. I also got some of my questions answered and I got to experience with a lot of what I was looking forward to. I felt like some of the accommodations were a little bit below average, but I’m not upset about them at all. I thought I really learned how some people are trying to live and I got to see another side of China that a lot of Americans don’t know about. I also got to experience a lot of cuisine in China that Americans don’t really eat and they got to experience real authentic Chinese food.

I joined Dragons on a trip to Indonesia the summer after my junior year of high school and it was a life-changing experience. My brother did a semester with dragons so I had an idea of what I was getting into but I was still blown away by how comprehensive the dragons experience is. I learned more about myself than I ever thought I could have. Dragon’s does an amazing job of immersing their students and part of this is attributed to the no-phone policy. I would 100% make another trip and if you are considering doing a program DO IT.

The greatest lessons we learn are ones we don't remember learning. Traveling alone as a teenager is already nerve-wracking, not to mention being phoneless in Guatemala only furthered my path to self-discovery and pushed me outside of my comfort zone.
As I ventured out into the unknown I discovered new things about myself including my ability to think quickly on my feet and my love for sharing stories. Our lives back home were unimportant now. Forging deeper connections with the environment and others around me blinded my initial discomfort which led me to be more open. Whether it was tumbling up the mountains or hurting hands from kneading tortilla dough I was reminded of the effort it took to build something meaningful.
These challenges pushed me to thrive in any circumstance and make meaningful relationships. Being exposed to unfamiliar situations pushed me to discover things about myself, including my passion for fostering a better community that is inclusive of all.
Upon my arrival differences, I realized aspects of my life I had taken for granted which My host family jokingly poked fun at me for. Now I was a stranger in new surroundings, aiming to gain more knowledge. Through weaving clothing and learning how to make traditional dishes, I acquired a deeper consideration of the little things in life. Activities like eating at the dinner table together contrasted with my busy life in America as long shifts usually hindered my household's ability to accomplish. No matter how occupied they were, it was a daily occurrence. It was bonding through laughter during late-night Uno games and screaming at the TV when our fútbol team missed a goal that I earned connections that could transcend language. Teaching my host siblings more English while they taught me Tz´utujil reminded me of life back home of helping my brothers. Assisting others with their goals has always been a passion of mine.
Taking what I learned and applying it to clubs I lead like Spanish Honor Society and Black Girl Summit has helped amplify the message of service and giving back to underrepresented communities. This year we have implemented menstrual kits and donation boxes to aid those who cannot afford necessities during their period. In the Spanish honor society, we host activities such as toy drives and educational events to inform our students about ways to give back to the world around us.

I loved my dragons Nepal experience! It was an amazing three months of travel, learning, and challenging myself. I'm so grateful I chose dragons instead of a typical tour. In three months you get to live in and explore both a rural village and an urban city, participate in a Buddhist monastery retreat, go trekking in the Himalayas, and more. You get to really immerse yourself in Nepali culture, live with host families, learn the language, and see amazing things too. My instructors were incredibly kind and supportive and I made so many memories with my group. Because of dragons after I finished my degree I came back to Nepal to teach English for a year. Thank you!

This program, and all Where There Be Dragons programs, are incredible immersive experiences that support locals, foster reciprocal exchanges of knowledge, customs, and livelihood, and, as a student, help you grow and develop skills that will benefit you in college, the workforce, and life. I am still in touch with my host families, Spanish teachers, and mentors from Guatemala and Mexico. After leaving this program, I felt more mature and prepared to begin college and continue with life after gaining knowledge and wisdom from the people I learned from, including my host moms and host siblings, instructors, mentors, and program peers.