Cycling Programs Abroad

On my Korea trip, I met some really cool people, had life changing experiences and made so many new connections. I really bonded with everyone on the trip and the group leaders were so amazing. 10/10 would go on another trip!!

Rustic Pathways responded to this reviewAugust 13, 2025

Hey Marlo! We're so happy to hear you had a great time in Korea and that you made genuine connections and memories. It's what travel with us is all about! We hope to see you on another summer adventure next year!

This trip was the best experience ever. As soon as I landed, I met 2-3 other guys and we were inseprrable for the whole trip. But I do want to say that sometimes we could have had more free time to go around and see things on our own. Most of us were 16 and I think we could have more independence when we go around.

Rustic Pathways responded to this reviewNovember 06, 2024

Hey Jonathan! Thanks so much for traveling with us! We're happy you connected with other people on your trip! And thanks for the feedback. We hope you know that your safety is of the utmost important to us.

Amazing time in Seoul and Tokyo Met the coolest people and got to show off my skills. Learned so much about the culture. If you want a unique experience, go for it! This is my third trip with Rustic Pathways and every time I love the experience.

Rustic Pathways responded to this reviewNovember 07, 2024

Hey Hannah! Thanks so much for joining us for your third trip with us! That's awesome! We're glad you had another great experience? See you for a fourth?

I had such a blast with the other volunteers. John and Vin were amazing. Learning dance was so fun! If you want to really experience a culture, this is the one. Absolutely incredible trip that brought us all together as a firm team.

Rustic Pathways responded to this reviewNovember 07, 2024

Hey Mason! We're so happy to hear you had a great time in South Korea. Our Program Leaders are highly trained, supportive, and SUPER fun! We hope you join us again soon!

Trekking Kilimanjaro with them was life changing. Our guides were super nice, very helpful, and made it a great experience. The climb is amazing, can’t recommend it enough. The challenge is worth it, so if you’re thinking about it then definitely do it. They will take care of all the hard logistics so you can just have a great experience climbing.

Kilimanjaro Tanzanite Safaris Ltd responded to this reviewJuly 31, 2025

Thank you Dr. Durrant for useful review, that inspire more people to book adventures abroad with us. Furthermore, your travel review shows trust to more tourists to book Adventure travel, such as Kilimanjaro trekking with our company Kili Tanzanite Safaris Company.

Going to keep this short. I am now 32 and went on this trip when I was 23 or 24. It remains one of the greatest moments in my life. I have traveled a lot since then, largely because this trip made me very comfortable with international travel. I made a lot of friends and have countless memories of the couple of months I spent in Asia. To anyone considering a trip with Pacific Discovery I encourage you to do it. They are well organized and it is very clear they care deeply about everyone having a good experience.

I had an absolutely amazing time in Australia! However I received a lot less guidance than was promised. While staff was very kind and tried to help, the temp jobs try offered were few and far between. I was not satisfied with the money I paid for this company, but I will say that being able to partner with someone was a big reassurance when moving across the world. So for that, I say thank you. Thank you for giving me the little push I needed to get out and go!

InterExchange responded to this reviewApril 13, 2018

Thanks so much for your comments! We're glad the program was able to offer reassurance and even more glad that your time in Oz was amazing. :-) We're always eager to add further value for future travelers so we'd welcome the chance to speak if you feel there's anything specific that you would have liked on your program. Feel free to be in touch and in the meantime, all of our very best to you in your next adventure! ~InterExchange

We were standing on the tip of a boat in our last couple days in Vietnam, watching the silence of the night rush past us, while dancing and singing on the top deck celebrating a birthday...when the girl next to me said the one thing that summed up everything I was feeling, "I have never felt so alive. This is real life, not a dream, this is as real as it gets." We then proceeded to scream at the top of our lungs, "I'M ALIVE". Dramatic, but all too honest. Spending nine weeks in four foreign countries, with 14 strangers, sounds terrifying and unreal. But leaving Bangkok for Pennsylvania, on November 14th was the the hardest day of my life. Southeast Asia became home, and my group had become my family. They had become a part of me. I cried as my taxi pulled away from New Siam II, and a guy friend ran along side waving goodbye. We saw and experienced so much together, we saw hardship, loss, inspiration, happiness, and everything else in between. We met locals that changed our view on our world, we helped each other learn more about ourselves than I ever thought was possible, and we had two leaders that taught us so much about life in general, that I will never stop looking at them as two of my greatest role models. There's a lot to say about the little things you do, yeah you live next to elephants for week, or go to the beach, or live on a boat for a couple nights...but it's all so much more than that. The life I live now is completely different than the life I lived 3 months ago, and I have nothing but Pacific Discovery to thank for that. I would go on this trip 100 times if I could, and I am sure I would learn just as much as on the 100th time as I did the first time.

I would recommend this travel abroad experience to anyone and everyone!!! The trips are very very well planned and you get to do so much more than the average traveller! The experiences were incredible. If you are into adventure, I definitely recommend this trip! I got to go on hikes to remote villages, mountain bike the highest pass in Vietnam, rock climing/caving, elephant trekking, and scuba diving! This company is also really cool because a lot (or all) of the guest houses and hostels that we stay at are owned by local families, so you are really helping to support the local communities as well. Your leaders are amazing (love you Hilary!) and you will become close friends with the rest of your group. If you want to explore Southeast Asia and see WAYYYYY more than just touristy stuff, then this trip is for you!!!

I can't possibly explain what my trip to South East Asia with Pacific Discovery meant to me! It was an adventure of a lifetime. It's itinerary is the perfect mixture of adventure, cultural immersion, and volunteer activity. I was introduced to countless new things that have changed the way I experience the world. I am open to new things, confident in travel, and have made life long friends. The leaders were mentors and became amazing friends as well! I would recommend this program for anyone who wants to experience the world, find growth through new things, and make life long friends!

The Southeast Asia Semester Program was the greatest decision I have ever made. Our leaders, Josh and Rebecca, were absolutely amazing! Along with being so knowledgeable, Josh and Rebecca were simply great people with great values. The trip was a perfect balance of cultural experiences, volunteer service, outdoor activities, and free time. There is no replacement for actually traveling to a place and immersing yourself in the culture. I learned so much about the history of Southeast Asia as well as the people. Pacific Discovery has such a terrific thing going and I am so happy that I had the privilege of being apart of it. I made lifelong friends and unforgettable memories. I feel like I grew so much as a person. It was the best nine weeks of my life!

Pacific discovery is more than a tour company. It's a close family embodied with the true spirit of travel. This adventure is unique in that it doesn't fall under any particular category. One day your relaxing on a cruise ship in Ha Long Bay (google pictures), the next your trekking through the Laotian jungle and spending the night with a native hill tribe, forging relationships with locals I will always remember. The variety of activities offered on this trip is incredible. Each day of the itinerary is thoughtfully planned. You can tell that Rachel and Scott really care about the experience they are providing for their participants. This program offers a great balance between group and independent travel. The perfect ratio of structured activities to free time to explore and make the trip our own. For example, while not offered as an official activity with Pac Disco, I found the time to go waterskiing on a river in Cambodia. Many participants feel comfortable enough after the trip to extend their stay, traveling either with someone they met on the trip or independently. I spent a week learning Thai massage living in Bangkok and went on a ten day silent meditation retreat. PD was more than helpful with preparations such as my visa extension paperwork. I remember before leaving to go on the program I was at REI and had a question about a whether I needed something and they responded to my email while I was still in the store. This only one example of their passion and dedication. I'm bringing home a deep understanding of southeast asian culture, great memories, and friendships that will last a lifetime. You will grow in ways you'd never imagine. You will learn what you never could in a classroom. Come for the adventure, you will get so much more.

This trip was truly incredible. It completely exceeded my expectations. The leaders were so much fun. They were caring, knowledgeable, and were more like our peers than our bosses. Every day was filled with several activities that were very organized and well planned out. I was never disappointed with food. This trip was a great mix of cultural immersion, service, exploration, and just having fun. There was also a perfect balance between free time and planned activities. I really have nothing negative to say about this trip, and it was the happiest two months of my life!

The best decision I ever made was to come on the fall Southeast Asia semester with Pacific Discovery before starting college. My leaders, Josh and Rebecca, were so fun and caring and knowledgable. I made lifelong friendships and had incredible experiences. The program was so organized and went beyond my expectations. It balanced activities and relaxation perfectly. We were able to trek through the wilderness, stay in remote villages, bond through group activities like rock climbing, work on service projects with local people and also take a break and explore beautiful places. The amenities ranged from clean, comfortable hotels and hostels to more rugged homestays and villages. I always felt safe and never worried about any sort of health problems. At the same time I was pushed beyond my comfort zone and challenged everyday with new adventures, which resulted in tremendous personal growth. I look back on my journal and pictures from my time in Southeast Asia and wish I could be back there. Truly a life changing trip.