Program Reviews

The program was amazing! There was a perfect blend of experiencing culture, backpacking, spending time in towns and cities, and seeing the natural wonders of Peru and Bolivia. I became connected with people from both countries through homestays and classes. I spent two weeks with a family in Peru and 2 weeks with a family in Bolivia, during which we had Spanish classes, and classes with local mentors where we learned things such as pottery, weaving, and cooking. It was amazing to share meals with a host family, and to become connected to the place and community there. I also formed incredibly close bonds with my friends in my program group. We spent so many days traveling, exploring, hiking, and just hanging out, sharing so many experiences, memories and laughs. This program thought me how to be a conscious traveler and gave me the confidence to do solo backpacking trips in other parts of the world, something I would have been terrified of doing the year before. I would highly recommend doing a program with Where There Be Dragons!

Where There Be Dragons Andes and Amazon was a once in a life time trip. I am forever pining for that type of immersive and genuine travel experience. Dragon's local connections and understanding of the culture, people, social and political climate, and every day life of the places changed the way I thought about the world and my role in it. The instructors were thoughtful and fed our curiosity. To learn like that is an incredible privilege. Seven years later, three of my 11 trip-mates are still some of my dearest friends and travel companions.

Pure magic! An ineffable experience that changed how I see myself, others, and the world we live in. I contribute much of my experience to my instructors- Alena, Uttura, and Hemant. Their place based insight and understanding of the region was immensely helpful as we navigated new environments. The program wonderfully balanced group instruction, independent exploration, and local homestays. I strongly recommended this program to those who are pursuing about an active travel experience with a large trekking component.

I loved my trip to India. I went in highschool and still think about it almost every day. I grew in ways I never imagined and my eyes were opened to new cultures and experiences. Some of my my favorite memories were climbing up to 17,000 ft, visiting villages only accessible by foot, and interacting with Ladakhis. My instructors were incredibly knowledgeable and they helped us through this incredible experience. During our homestay, we were able to truly experience living in a very different culture. The whole thing was amazing!

In the summer of 2022, I traveled along with 3 instructors and 10 students in the West.
It was my first time backpacking and camping experience. But Where There Be Dragon instructors made my transition as smooth as possible. In Colorado, Utah, and Arizona, we went backpacking in the backcountry, learned the water usage of the Colorado River from different guest speakers, homestay on a farm, white water rafting on the San Juan River, visited the Grand Canyon, and most importantly explored the "unknown world" and challenged me.
After this four-week experience, I found out I love the simple life of backpacking and camping, which I had never known before. Thanks to Where There Be Dragon, I was able to find my love of nature and camping. I will definitely join another program in the near future.

This program was even more amazing than I could ever imagine. My instructors were all incredible, and they were very well equipped to handle any situation. They helped foster a great environment which made the trip 10x better. Every aspect of the trip was well planned, fun and very interesting. The way the program was structured helped me become immersed with the culture and feel a connection to the things and people around me. We were introduced to so many amazing people that gave us insight on the land and it’s rich history. One of my favorite moments from the trip was our Markha Valley, an experience I will never forget.

The Where There Be Dragons program is unparalleled to any other travel program. My six weeks in Guatemala was truly transformative and filled with opportunities to grow. The instructor team was experienced and cultivated opportunities that encouraged a broad spectrum of learning. The relationships developed both with the communities and among our group are still among the most memorable connections I have. Dragon’s program components create an intentional framework for travel yet each program is unique. I couldn’t recommend Dragons enough for anyone seeking to travel and I will forever remember the lessons and people from my trip. My six weeks in Guatemala allowed me to see the world in a new way, and I am incredibly grateful to Where There Be Dragons.

My experience with Dragons six years ago now continues to change and challenge the way I think even to this day. I consider myself a global citizen and a group member and I believe that my experience with Dragons oriented me to think culturally at a young age. I took calculated risks and made amazing friends, both in my group and in the field. I really stand behind the Dragons organization and I’ll blab about it to anyone that will listen. I’m so proud to be an alumna of an organization that functions with intent, care, and grit. My time in Peru really challenged my westernized way of thinking and my default exotification of other cultures. I tried many new things and had experiences much more unique than visiting touristy sites. I even went back to visit my homestay family earlier this spring.

There are no words in the English dictionary that can describe this odyssey. It was the most amazing experience in my entire life. I tried new foods I never thought I would love, learned things I was never particularly intrigued by, met people I never thought would leave such an impression, discovered things about myself I never knew, and was led by four incredible instructors who guided me on my journey. I never thought that one trip to Cambodia could drastically impact my life for the better.

The trip helped me grow as a person and learn while being culturally immersed. Truly unique and worth it! Despite going on a trip during a period of political instability, the staff and program leaders ensured the safety of the students while prioritizing having fun and thoroughly learning. There were daily lessons and the instructors really helped bridge the language gap we experienced and allowed us to have a level of independence in our learning while being safe and mindful. At the end, the company also provides great support beyond the trip.