Program Reviews

This was my first experience traveling abroad in a meaningful way and for an extended length of time. I had zero expectations for what the trip was going to be like and I ended up having the best three months of my life, I’d go back tomorrow if I could. Dragons does a really good job of teaching students how to be travelers not tourists, and I’ve learn so much about international travel from that alone. The instructors on the trip really make the trip as good as it can be, their familiarity with the regions and knowledge of the culture makes them the best people to learn from and lean on for support when traveling for so long and to unfamiliar places. My trip with Dragons changed my perspective of the world in a lot of different ways, I cannot wait to travel abroad again.

I chose this program not only because I knew I would be able to explore the world but because it would give me the opportunity to immerse myself in new communities. Since being home, I haven't gone a day without texting or calling someone from my trip. Not only including my instructors and other students but also my homestay families. I created bonds with so many people who I now consider family. This program and people taught me about who I am, the beginnings of where I fit into the world, and the skills to continue exploring and learning on my own.

Highlights: a night camping on a tiny island in the middle of the ocean, speaking to people in their language, playing with little kids, breaking through to a homestay family member, spending time as a group on long travel days, hearing people's life stories, boat rides, sunsets (most beautiful i've ever seen), running into the ocean after a 12 hour bus ride

Before going on my dragons trip I knew nothing about Cambodia, and if I’m being honest not much about myself either. The instructors for this program were top tier and I found myself learning about cambodia through many different lenses- each which taught me something about myself and the world along the way- this experience encouraged me to open my eyes to parts of the world and life experiences that differ from my own. I learned so much about myself and left the trip a new person. I fully recommend dragons to anyone and everyone, and encourage you to go in with an open mind and open heart.

This experience was absolutely fantastic! The Spanish lessons were super helpful and informative, and the home stays we did were such a good way to become completely immersed in the culture. The Sacred Valley is a beautiful location and the outdoors and natural aspects of the landscape are mind blowing! All the instructors were fantastic and super helpful when we needed some extra support and advice. The program is not for the faint of heart though. It will definitely come with its trials! Would highly recommend this program to anyone.

This trip changed my life. I had not idea what to expect going into this program, but I was blown away by who I was at the beginning and who I was at the end. It’s been five months since I returned, and I still think of Nepal everyday. The impact of my summer spent has not diminished.
This is a really good opportunity to discover what it is like to disconnect from technology and the familiar, and really learn to connect with different forms of communication and communities.
I made many life long connections and memories within the four weeks in Nepal with eleven strangers around my age. If you’re not sure whether this is worth it, I’m telling you it is. There was never a moment where I wasn’t learning, growing, or having fun.

This program was amazing! I felt like it was the perfect balance of exploring the beautiful landscapes and interacting in local communities. We traveled through Peru and all over Bolivia, trekking, living in cities, and staying in communities. I also loved how close I got with all the people I was traveling with. We lived together through thick and thin, through sickness and through cold nights. We went to Spanish classes, climbed countless mountains, and experienced Peru and Bolivian culture all together. I loved living with families, during the two homestays we did. It was really cool to get to spend so much time with another family, only speaking in Spanish. I loved always moving around and being somewhere new every week, seeing as much of these two countries as we possibly could. These past 3 months I’ve travelled to the coolest places I’ve ever been and I’ve made life long friends!

As a lover of travel I was over the moon to discover these summer programs. Throughout my month in Guatemala I learned more about myself and the world than I did in two years of high school. Learning Spanish from locals was also a really interesting way to learn and I found that having one on one instruction helps me grow more than group classes do. My instructors on the trip were three of the most intelligent, kind, and loving people I've ever met. At times being away from your family can be hard but I received so much love and support the entire time. Having finished the trip I can say that it was the best experience of my life and I can't wait to travel more next summer.

As a Nepali-American, this program allowed me to understand the cultures and peoples of Nepal to a much deeper extent than what I have been exposed to in the United States. I made so many amazing friendships during this program, both with my peers and the different communities we lived with during our stay. I am beyond grateful for this amazing opportunity to have learned from the local people in the various places we stayed. I also trekked for my first time ever and now feel a much stronger connection to the Himalayas. Our stay in the Kathmandu Valley was so enriching for me because we learned of the history of these ancient cities and kingdoms. I will never forget the many things I was able to learn from this trip.

I have done two programs with Where There Be Dragons, and both were incredible. This program is definitely not for the weak of heart, but it taught me so much about ethical travel and how to be a responsible global citizen. I have never felt so comprehensively immersed in a culture so different from my own. A combination of rugged travel, home stay, cultural immersion and historical education made the trip truly informative, exciting and productive. Expedition phase, in which students plan a small portion of the trip, is also useful for cultivating life skills in travel.

February 2022 I thought the next 5 years of my life was set in stone, go directly to college. Then the next week I no longer had a plan. I decided to go on this course because I wanted to get out of my comfort zone and try something new. This was my first time traveling by myself, going trekking, learning skills like navigation and wood carving. I was super nervous at first, but everyone in my group was stoked, ready to grow, and learn! You can take the dragon out of Nepal but you can never take Nepal out of the dragon! I met so many new people and have made a new home for myself half way across the world.