Sea Kayaking Programs Abroad

My son participated in a program with Rustic Pathways in Costa Rica last year, and it was an incredibly positive experience for both him and our family. The counselors updates, looking at the photos and videos gave me a great sense of comfort and connection. He was able to keep his phone, so we stayed in touch throughout the trip. Hearing how happy and even on days focused on community service validated that I chose the right camp. The program was a wonderful balance between meaningful work and fun. He is super excited to go on a trip this year to Belize My son returned home more independent, and inspired to continue to connect with many cultures and see the world.

Rustic Pathways responded to this reviewJune 02, 2026

Thanks so much for your comment, Susie! We're thrilled your son had such a great experience! We love hearing about their transformation post-trip. We hope he joins us for another awesome summer soon :)

I went on the Rustic Pathways Thailand Adventurer trip, and it was the best experiences of my life. The leaders were absolutely fantastic and always there whenever you need them. The company itself was very well ran and organized. The people were all super nice making my time even more enjoyable! All the activities were super fun and I loved my time traveling, exploring, and immersing myself into the Thailand culture!

Rustic Pathways responded to this reviewJuly 22, 2025

Hi Blair! Thanks so much for sharing! We’re thrilled you had such a great time exploring Thailand with us. Sounds like your group, the leaders, and all the adventures made it a trip to remember! See you next summer (*fingers crossed*)!

Going to Thailand was an amazing life changing experience! I met so many amazing people and had so much amazing food!! If I had to option to go back I’d go back any day, and over all my favorite thing was bathing the elephants!!’

Rustic Pathways responded to this reviewFebruary 04, 2025

Hey Alexys! We're so happy to hear you had an amazing time. We love that you had a life-changing experience in Thailand and that you got to see more of the world. Thai food is the YUMMIEST! We hope we see you on another adventure soon!

The location was incredible, the access to amazing climbing and hiking areas. Plus easy access to glaciers. Being trusted to use the skills we were taught was very rewarding. The way we were taught skills and then got to keep building on them was very empowering.

The best part was the group of students I got to do this program with. Each person was unique and special and taught me something about friendship, overcoming challenges, appreciating each other's differences, managing stress and fear, the importance of communication, being a good leader, and building confidence to take on new challenges. I definitely couldn't have gotten through as much of the program as I did without their support and friendship. I also would say the level of challenge was excellent and exceeded my expectations, and forced me out of my comfort zone nearly every day and pushed me to grow personally and in my confidence in the outdoors. Also the location of the program in El Chalten, it became like home to us and is truly a trekking and nature lovers paradise.

Getting to learn rock climbing from some of the best climbers in Patagonia, was an invaluable and inspiring experience. Not only did we spend a bunch of time outdoors learning new skills and visiting cool places, we also built a community along the way that really impacted my overall experience in Patagonia.

The location, the best part of this program was getting to spend three months is this amazing town. Our local guides were incredible and I came away from the course with more than just experience, I made amazing friends and got to feel like a part of the El Chaltén community.

The best part of the program for me in particular would be the final expedition. During this time, I realized how much we have all learned individually and as a group to be able to come together and perform the way we did. It solidified that all of our skills (technical and social) came into place

Pacific Discovery gave me one of the most unforgettable experiences of my life. The 10-week gap year program was a perfect mix of adventure, learning, and personal growth. The staff were very knowledgeable, and always there to encourage us. I left with lifelong friends and memories, plus a newfound appreciation for nature and different cultures. If you're looking for a meaningful, eye opening adventure, I can't recommend Pacific Discovery enough!

This was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever done in my entire life. I would say with confidence that I had learned more during this 10 week program than I have in the two years of college that I have already attended.

The Australia and New Zealand semester was the most amazing trip I’ve ever been on! From the beautiful beaches of AUS to the stunning southern alps of New Zealand, every single activity and view on this trip was amazing. There is nowhere I would rather have spent the last 70 days, and no group I would rather have been with!

I went on the polynesian gap year journey not knowing exactly what to expect. I remember a day before it hit me that i would be spending 10 weeks with complete strangers. However, these were some of the best people I have met and best friends for life. There were many experiences that one would unlikely ever experience without doing a programme as such and i therefore highly recommend it. Many people were put out of their comfort zones and had to take risks which caused them to growth as an individual.

My Polynesian journey with Pacific Discovery has helped me get over a lot of my fears and anxiety around social interaction and relationships as well as my physical fears and it has really helped me to grow as a person

Literally the time of a lifetime, never experienced something like this ever, and even though I’m young this will be something I will 100% tell my kids about. So much happened in only 10 weeks it’s hard to even fathom.

I had an amazing time with amazing people on the Australia New Zealand Gap semester! It was an incredible program that showed us how to live and travel more sustainably, make the most of our time with every experience, and learn from others we meet along the way! I definitely recommend this program!!

The trip was a perfect balance of work and play! Learned about conservation while enjoying beautiful beaches. Made new friends too. We worked as a great team together. Pretty much got closer to nature as well.

Rustic Pathways responded to this reviewNovember 05, 2024

Hey Ryan! Thanks for joining us in Thailand! Beach time and contributing to conservation efforts is a great balance indeed! Hopefully you join us for another trip next year.

Eye-opening cultural experience! Really changed how I see the world. Made a real difference in the community too. Even if you can only do a short trip, it's worth it! Thank you Rustic for giving me this opportunity.

Rustic Pathways responded to this reviewNovember 06, 2024

Hey Isabella! Thanks so much for traveling with us. We're happy that this changed how you see the world! We hope you travel with us again soon.

Really made me appreciate what I have in my own life. No doubt it was an amazing experience that developed by personality and boosted my confidence and morale. A life time journey that let me make new friends. Thank you so much for this incredible trip.

Rustic Pathways responded to this reviewNovember 07, 2024

Hey Aaron! We're so happy that you traveled with us, and that you returned home with a deep sense of gratitude. What's even more awesome is that you got a confidence boost! Imagine all the things you can do now that you thought you couldn't do before? We hope you travel with us again soon!

It was fun that we could connect with locals and other volunteers and make an impact building houses. Hands-on experience that brought us all together to make such an incredible team. Learned so much in this exercise.

Rustic Pathways responded to this reviewNovember 07, 2024

Hey Lucas! We're so grateful that you traveled with us and made a significant impact in the community you visited. That home you helped built will stand for a long time! It's something to be very proud of! We hope you have more positive experiences like this, and travel with us again soon.

This trip was top-notch. The staff went above and beyond—helpful, friendly, and always there when needed. I'd jump at the chance to do it again. I learned so much, and the team’s expertise was clear from the start. They had my back every step of the way, handling any issue I had with genuine care. Absolutely recommend it to anyone. Thank you Istvan and team.

Rustic Pathways responded to this reviewNovember 01, 2024

Hi Gabriel! Thanks so much for joining us. We're thrilled to hear that you felt comfortable and supported by our team. We hope you travel with us again in the near future!