Rustic Pathways

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.

My son went to Belize with Rustic Pathways summer 2025. He said he had a great time and enjoyed experiencing new things. He said Snorkeling was a favorite. As a parent I felt well informed and I enjoyed the fact they uploaded pictures for us to see

This past summer I traveled on the Hawaii Surf Snorkel and Service program and it was one of the best experiences I've ever had. My group was with 11 other girls and 3 leaders from around the world. We saw an active volcano, sea turtles in the ocean, and many fish with snorkeling off of the catamaran boat... and so much more. We also did service in the farms which allowed me to learn so much about the Hawaiian culture. Not only were there hundreds of opportunities for amazing instagram photos, but most of the time we were so busy living in the moment that we didn't even think to take any photos. And it was okay because our leaders were always taking awesome photos! I met amazing people on this trip, people that taught me lessons about myself that I would have never been able to learn otherwise. I was pushed out of my comfort zone in the best way possible. Everyday we did multiple new and exciting things, but if someone wasn't comfortable one of the leaders were always there for help. Now after 2 months, I still talk with the girls I went on the trip with and they have become my best friends. If you are contemplating whether or not to go on this trip I tell you to 100% book the ticket right now, and that you will not regret it!!!

I really enjoyed the service—teaching English to students and everything that came with it! I loved connecting with locals and learning about their culture. Huge shout out to Chang-Mo, Heeju, Yuri, Annabel, and Amy—they were amazing group leaders and made the whole experience even better!!!!!!!!

Initially, I was scared to go on this trip. Even once we got there I was still nervous. As soon as I met the group leaders and one of the students, I felt right at home. Everyone was so nice, and I genuinely had the best time ever. I loved being immersed in the Korean culture.

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!!

I had a great time there made new friends and had fun experiences. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………:::::::…….:.;.;..;…;………………………:::..:..:.::..::..:::::::..:::…..:….

So fun W trip I had a W time this trip so fun and bussin food I will be returning for the adventure maybe to a more wild location like the wilderness so I had a W time thank you rustic pathways for this

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!

It was so much fun! I tried so many new foods and experiences. The counslers were all super fun and easy to talk to. The service we did was fun and hard work. Overall I loved it and would definitely recommend.

This was the best community service trip ever! I got to learn many new things and skills. I made many new connections and friends along the way. Got to experience white water rafting and zip lining as well!

It was super duper fun made so many new friends! Dani’s so cool and so is Dane, gabbi,Lauren. Dane always brings the dance party💃. I came by my self but leaving with so many new friends and experiences.

it was very fun and i had a great time. i would wanna do this again next summer.its cool exploring costa rica and learning the culture here and exploring with these new connections. dani is cool!!!!!!

I really enjoyed the experience of Japan! It was a big opportunity and getting to do it with my best friend was one of the best experiences. I would totally recommend it and it made me a lot more independent and confident person!

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!!’

My daughter wanted to travel the world, and I can’t thank Rustic Pathways enough for helping us make this possible! From the very first interactions, to the end, Rustic and their team were amazing to work with, while always communicating and keeping us informed every step of the way! My daughter stayed in a castle during her trip to Italy, made homemade pasta, went to lake Garda and volunteered by assisting with town cleanup!

Enthusiasm of the staff. Hike through the snow to the monastery & hiking in the national park. Sleeping in the Gers/Waking up in the ger. Being able to do different things everyday was so cool and got to experience a lot

I loved the service activities we did and learning about the fijian people, community and language. Connecting with the locals and helping the villages and womens shelter was one of my favorite parts

Learning about the history of Mongolia and culture, visiting the local family and understanding how they live Living in the gers was my most memorable experience during my stay with Rustic Pathways in Mongolia.

I loved experiencing in the traditional nomads life in the yurts and hiking on ice and snow. Also getting to spend time with local kids and having time to get closer to people we went together was amazing

It was so much fun, I enjoyed visiting the ger camps and seeing snow!!! I liked meeting new people and building bonds with teachers and the rustic pathways leaders too. It was peaceful enjoying the views

If I have to answer, what my most memorable thing during my stay in Mongolia was, it would be Everything, especially the activities (archery and cultural games, etc) the leaders were amazing (shoutout to Josh and Chimgee)

Seeing the students build new relationships with peers they don't spend a lot of time with. And watching them adapt to new situations and help support each other in times that may have been stressful or overwhelming.

The most memorable part of the program was making friends with everyone in Thailand, especially P Chet and P Nut. They were the main people who always made my day great. Also the whole arrangement whether it?s following up the checklist for the tour or and looking and taking care of each and bit of travelling details with parents and school or it?s taking care of children in the spot, we are fully satisfied with the Rustic Pathways. The hotels arrangements in both Chang mai and Chang dao was amazing. Especially the tree house experience goes the kids were very unique and exciting. The delicious Thai food was liked by everyone. These lovely memories will stay fresh for long time. Thank you Rustic Pathways for the safe and beautiful journey !!!!

The Rustic Pathways Staffs Making playground and teaching in local school. Meeting and learning about Thai culture Thai food The stay hotel especially the tree house experience was amazing Last but not least staying and having good time with friends and teachers ?

This was my first conservation trip and now I'm hooked! Staff was great, work was rewarding. Made friends from everywhere! If you want to learn and make a difference, do this! I had never travelled by myself and now I want to do my next trip

Teaching kids was real awesome! They were so excited to learn English from a native language speaker. A meaningful and impactful experience overall! I will definitely be doing it again, and would highly recommend this program.

I think it's clishay to say life-changing but it really was. If you're on the fence about it, just go for it! You'll make the best memories and want to keep volunteering. It's unforgettable!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I felt so welcome from day one! Conservation work was awesome and the scenery was unreal. If you love adventure and want to make a difference, this is for you! I liked the people (both Rustic staff who are natives and the natives) I worked with

This trip was a good mix of volunteering and exploring. I made amazing friends and really felt like I was making a difference. I didn’t think I would like it but it totally exceeded my expectations. Jared was the best trip leader.

This was an incredible couple of weeks! I felt super safe as a solo female traveling without friends. By the end, I felt like I had so many more friends that I had when I came. Lin the camp counselor was amazing!

Best volunteer experience ever! Cris and Emily were awesome leaders. Food was amazing and loved the activities. If you want to help the environment and experience a new culture, do this! Loved every second of it

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.

Everything I hoped for and more! Meaningful work and so much fun. Made great friends too. I learned to adapt to new environments and to think on my feet. Furthermore, it has also been a great way for me to disconnect from my daily routine and to relax and recharge. It has helped me to find a renewed sense of energy and motivation to tackle the challenges of everyday life.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

I had an unforgettable time with sea turtles! Met the best people and the staff was great. It was so hands-on and so rewarding. Met my new friend Katie which was great. My only knock was that sometimes it could feel a little clicky between different groups.

This was an amazing program start to finish. I learned so much about marine life in Greece while helping out. The views were amazing and I loved Darren and Gem, the leaders. Great experience all around.

Great time volunteering at the school! Staff and kids were so welcoming. Be ready to be flexible with schedules. Overall, the program is really good. If you love working with kids abroad, check this out!

This was the best school trip ever. I thought the conservation work was real and I liked trying local food and yak milk. It's a nice combo of doing good and having fun. I hope we can get to go back next year. I want to see different cultures, learn video/tape editing to record experience.

This was a weird trip. It was so short but it was a world away from my home. I liked the horses, but wish we could have ridden them ourselves instead of just looking at them on display. Also, it was cold in the housing but it was fun to go and do

This was a mind-blowing time volunteering in Mongolia! It felt like this was my home from day one. Anna and the team felt like they were really taking care of us from the moment we got there. Plus, Vin was really cool. The whole trip was amazing and I can't wait to go back! If you want real cultural immersion, this is it! I feel more aware of my surroundings and my needs vs my wants

I loved getting up close and experiencing the Mongolian culture. I made memories I'll never forget. If you want a meaningful trip do this. I'd do it again in a heartbeat! I feel like I better appreciate other people and cutlures around the world even people who don't have as much as I do.

I had an awesome week on my trip! There were lots of class options and fun local activities. Blin and Deng were so friendly as leaders. The whole trip was amazing and I can't wait to go back! Thank you for this

I had the best time! I made great friends right away and learned a ton. Can't wait to go back and learn more. I feel like the program has more love & care for others and the world. I felt so energetic and not afraid of doing the right things for myself & others.

OVerall the program was everything I hoped it would be and more. Aiden is awesome. If you love animals and want to grow as a person, you've got to do this! Loved this experience as a whole, very good management

Thailand was amazing! Helping out to clean the beach while exploring was perfect. Plus I got a great tan!!! But seriously, I feel more confident eating in a different place. It was a great volunteering experience

I learned new things about elephants and mahouts and village life in general. I loved the people I worked with and what I want in a future career. Overall the experience was once in a life-time, I loved it.

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.

My brief two weeks in Italy and Greece has been the most humbling and overwhelming experience. Got so close to wildlife and learned tons but also realized the gaps in my own knowledge. I loved the hands-on approach which made it feel exciting.

It was such a rush helping turtles and exploring the area. I loved the hands-on work and checking out local spots and I met the best people too. Life-Changing Experience! Truly loved every second of it

This was my dream come true working with sea turtles! I felt like I was part of something bigger. If you love wildlife and want an adventure, go for it! You won't regret it! ------------ - - - - - - - - - ------------------

Greece is paradise for animal lovers! Helping sea turtles in such a beautiful place was unreal. I learned so much from Kris and Vin as the leaders and it really changed me. Loved the experience overall

The trip was life-changing doesn't even cover it. We got to work with animals and live like a local. If anything there could have beebn more time doing that thought. I loved the trip iwth Rustic. If you want travel with a purpose, look no further. I feel more conscientious of water usage and the need for help in other countries.

Rustic has a great tour for anyone serious about diving deep into a region through the eyes of the locals. My class recently took a trip to Thailand with them, and they nailed it by taking us far from the usual tourist spots, giving us a raw, authentic glimpse of life there. The highlight? Visiting the indigenous community—a rare opportunity we would’ve never had without Rustic's insider connections.

The nature was incredible—buffalo by the road, colorful insects, and the majestic elephants. The villagers were kind and made me feel safe. Outside of the project, I played football with locals, bonded with the children, and made real connections. The elephants and gibbons were unforgettable, and Huay Pakoot became a special place thanks to the people, animals, and landscape.

The place here was always kept clean. I had some concerns with another kid on my tour, but he was send home and then I felt super comfortable everywhere I went with the group, whether that be in the village, the forests, or in the city.

Loved my week with Rustic! I learned so much about myself when I was there. The staff was great and I'm planning to go back for more. If you want to learn to surf and do service and hang out in a beautiful place, this is it! I really loved the trip and was totally exhausted by the end

I learned a lot about conservation and made the best memories. The camp leaders knew their stuff and exploring the area with Bin was great. It was an incredible trip that elevated my confidence and morale.

Rustic delivered an unforgettable experience. I’ve traveled a lot, but never have I connected with indigenous cultures like this. The learning was intense, and I came away a better person. The challenges during the trip only made the rewards greater, especially the interactions with locals and getting to understand their way of life. The team was on point—always checking in, ensuring we were good, and starting every conversation with genuine concern for our well-being.

I loved the hands-on working with sea turtles. It was really incredible. I made great friends at the camp and all of the camp counselours were great. Nik was awesome. Just do it - it'll change your life!

The most memorable parts were the service project with SBP, the alligator tour, and the tour around New Orleans. The guides and tour leaders were amazing! Really patient with us all, and really good people!

I was my first time traveling alone and going on a trip with my friend. I want to say that they along with Rustic pathways, I made very memorable memories in Mongolia. It was a very special trip for me.

Best Summer Ever! Rock climbing, snorkeling, and interacting with elephants made this the best summer ever. The service projects were rewarding, and the people were so friendly. Trust me everyone should go, you don't know what you are missing.Highly recommend!

Incredible Thai Journey! Playing with elephants and exploring Thai culture was amazing! Loved the hands-on experiences and the beautiful landscapes. Kanta Elephant Sanctuary, Scuba diving, Rock climbing Truly unforgettable!

Best way to experience Thailand! engaging in local life and conservation projects was fantastic. The water activities were fun and varied, and the scenery was breathtaking. Beaches were amazing. Made memories for a lifetime!

Super fun trip, operations people and team was amazing and supportive, the best part was getting to make so many new friends. The food was the best part. I cant wait to come back and try everything I left this time.

I had an amazing time in Cefalonia with the turtle conservation program! Getting up close with the turtles and helping protect them was exciting. The island is awesome, and I enjoyed exploring it. Plus, I made good friends and wonderful memories!

The Greek Island Turtle Conservation program was incredible! I learned so much about marine life and got hands-on experience. Snorkeling and spotting turtles in their natural habitat was thrilling. The food and views were fantastic too!

The trips offer the unique opportunity to immerse yourself in a new culture, while also giving back to the community that you are visiting. The volunteer experience is amazing. It was a great experience overall, I would highly recommend this to anyone who's interested.

Rustic is a great program because it gives kids enough freedom without being overprotective. Overall, the kid's experience was great and he enjoyed the trip thoroughly. Highly recommend this to parents who want to send their kids.

Rustic Pathways provides a unique opportunity to perform service and develop special bonds with community members across the world while still enjoying the incredible things that a different country has to offer.

Rustic Pathways is an oppurtunity to travel in a way like none another. For most programs, such as the one I went one, there is a harmony achieved between service, exploration, learning, and fun. This was definitely obtained during my trip, and I would imagine this to be true for other as well.

I loved almost everything! My experience was life-changing and I enjoyed every minute! HOWEVER.....I one very important critiques. The itineraries on the site are outdated, and while I recognize that you all reserved the right to change things up, it felt dissapointing to have looked forward to things on the itinerary and then not necessarily doing those activities.

If you travel with Rustic you will receive an unforgettable, immersive experience with the community you are working with and the culture you are learning about. It was overall an amazing experience. Quite happy with the management.

I enjoyed the travel around in Korea and Japan and I got a chance to make new friends. What a great trip, I have learned so many things about the Japanese culture during this trip. It was so good to learn and the food was delicious! I would definitely reccoment it to everyone

This has been my favorite program out of the 4 that I've done with RP. Every moment that I spent in Italy was rather unforgettable. I had so much fun and I’ve met people that I consider lifelong friends now. Highly recommend it.

This is a good program for nature lovers and animal lovers. I got to spend time on the sandy beaches, and work with endangered Sea Turtles. The PLs were super nice, and interacting with other kids was cool as well

It's a good mix of adventure and service! Loved every moment of this program! Rafting, snorkeling, and working on service projects in remote villages was the perfect mix of adventure and giving back. Absolutely loved every experience.

It was an amazing experience at summer camp! I learned Muay Thai and did feeding elephants, every part of this program was incredible. It is very well planned. The local food was good, and the people were wonderful.

I must say that it was a Life-Changing Experience! Living with host families and engaging in village life was life-changing. Learned so much about cultures and had an absolute blast! I cannot wait to go back!

Rustic provides a first-hand experience of the community by constant interaction with locals. The main reason to travel with Rustic is to get that true Cultural experience and step out of your comfort zone to encounter new things.

Travelling with Rustic scratches the primal itch to see what lies beyond the horizon. Learn that the world is bigger than the little bubble you live in, and be exposed to a new perspective on so many aspects of your life.

I loved loved loved my time in Greece! One of the best decisions was to go on this program. It was like having a sort of vacation while doing something meaningful. I had the opportunity to make some amazing lifelong friends and realize my passion for conservation. Can't wait to go back!

I am so glad I chose this program and got to work with turtles, it was truly a memorable experience! The program management specially Stefano was amazing, they made the trip amazing. I got to meet many new people and made so many new friends. I would definitely recoomed this program, its an amazing opportunity to make lifelong memories while making an impact!

Had a good time taking care of the turtles. Thanks to stefano and all the team there I liked it a lot. Food was good and service was good too. Best part was probably the castle and the other kids there. See you next year.

I got to travel internationally without my parents and do something all on my own!! My favorite parts of the Costa Rica program were surfing in the rain and the sunset at the catamaran. Best memories :)

I had a great time making friends with not only the other students there but also the program leaders. They were excellent with the supervision and atmosphere. It was a very well organised experience.

Wow, this program is truly an incredible experience! I am sure it would be very difficult to arrange a unique trip like this one. We saw so much of Mongolia. Going in to the program. I didn't know much about Mongolia. Now I know so much about Mongolian culture, traditions and history. We saw so much natural beauty in the country and got to see how locals live out there. Did amazing service in addition to the cool activities too.

The Rustic Pathways program in Greece was something that I will never forget. From the amazing beach and getting to spend lots of time in the crystal clear water to tons of amazing friends that I met along the way. Through this experience I got to see and experience Greece, a new country for me in a whole other way while also being able to make a meaningful impact on the turtle population of the island. Through early morning walks to find and save turtle nests or snorkeling surveys to monitor sea turtles primary food, see grass I got to learn and contribute a lot to helping this species. I know that I will stay in contact with my amazing program leaders and my new best friends from the program for the rest of my life and will probably spend the rest of the summer dreaming of going back. This program was so much fun and as I looking through my thousands of photos I know it was a one in a million opportunity for me. I would 100% recommend doing a rustic pathways program if you are considering it, especially the one in Greece because there is truly nothing else like it!

I enjoyed getting to see a new place with a new culture and just meeting new friends. it’s a lot of fun hanging with the turtle and going on morning beach walks and seeing a new place for the first time ever!

I had so much fun exploring and being in Italy. I met so many amazing people and loved my PLs. Exploring Italy was better than I had imagined and I loved trying new foods, exploring the cities, and shopping with my friends.

I was worried going into the program since it was definitely outside of my usual comfort zone but it ended up being one of the best experiences ever. I learned new things, ate a life times worth of gelato (you can never have enough gelato), got to try so many new things, and go so many new places. Also there were 3 cute cats and a dog at the castle where we stayed. Lastly one of the best parts had to be the amazing project leaders who were so much fun and so nice. I would highly recommend taking this trip.

The best Rustic trip I’ve been on out of 3. It was just totally awesome and I loved that we had so much opportunity to do and try new and amazing things. My PL’s were awesome and my group was so fun!!

The Andes to Amazon trip in Peru was amazing! I got to meet a ton of new friends while traveling and exploring this amazing country! We got to see such a wide range of places that I got to really understand Peru!

I found my first rustic trip to be very exciting and will definitely look into doing a rustic trip again. The experiences I had whether it was with a group leader talking to my friends or visiting a new place, all were very exciting and made one of the best weeks of my life.

I made so many new friends and had experiences I will never forget. Arriving to the airport day one, I wasn’t sure if I’d get to know anyone or how this trip would pan out. But throughout the week I have made so many friends, laughed, smiles, and had a good time the entire time.

i had the time of my life during my trip to Japan. I met people that i will know for the rest of my life. I love traveling and this opportunity was something I will never forget. So happy that I could spend this time with Rustic

Rustic pathways is a great travel group for teens, you get the chance so make so many great friends and experience different cultures. I also loved Japan very much and I hope to come back in the future.

Awesome trip program leaders are great And you build lifelong friends here I would definitely recommend it to anyone It was really awesome to experience this because it was a once in a lifetime opportunity

I am really liking this experience, I am learning a lot about the marine life. I also really like that we do this in group because I get to bond with different people from different places and countries.

i loved everything about this trip and most of all the experiences. the sights were absolutely amazing and stunning. the people were so incredibly nice and welcoming, i am so glad that u participated in this program because i met amazing people and saw beautiful places.

I enjoyed my time in the DR, however, the people of rustic got on my nerves. There were only four students. One of the counselors was very controlling and rude. I wish phones were taken from us because they really distracted the group and caused a lot of laziness and frustration.

This was a very particular and nice experience , the group could really have an insightful , appreciative and embraced new culture experience . This was amazing for me as I love marine life and could learn many new things about it , I loved this trip but I do whish there was a bit more freedom and water activities .

I loved the staff at all of the places including our main counselors. I had a great time on the excursions. I wish there was more cultural immersion such as more time and more temples and learning, and socially speaking it wasn’t the best with my peers. But everything else was amazing

I traveled to both Italy and Greece with Rustic Pathways. The nothern italy and turtles programs. The most memorable part of my trip was meeting all my new friends and knowing i'll have them for life.

The staff were really kind and welcoming. Especially Chet the First aid instructor. I enjoyed working in the village and engaging with locals furing the activities and downtime. I made new friends and new memories that will last a life time.

Chloe absolutely LOVED this experience in Costa Rica w/ Rustic Pathways. Even with her anxiety, the PL's created a nice balance of service, fun and grounded her well. We can't wait to hear about next years programs.

My son enjoyed the service work with seniors and children that they did in South Korea with Rustic Pathways. He also said the food especially the chicken was delicious and the karaoke was a lot of fun.

All of the activities were well chosen and everyone could have fun enjoying them. The base house was very clean and the meals good. Had a very good time with people that I met in this trip. One of the best summer camp in my life.

I had a good time on this trip. Coming from someone who was extremely nervous, not once here did I really get nervous, and I had been distracted the entire time with different service options and also fun activities.

A truly amazing experience I had! First off, the counselors at the program are so nice, inclusive, and accommodating to your needs. They really make you feel comfortable and at home during this experience. Next the activities and community service you take part in is really amazing once you understand its cultural impact. Finally, cherish the moments you have with the amazing friends you meet on this trip. Be fearless, outgoing, and open, and you will have an amazing time! Thank you rustic pathways for an unforgettable experience!

I had an amazing time on this trip and it was filled with amazing people and I will always remember this trip because it had so many fun activities and opportunities to provide to the community and connect with it.

I met a lot of new nice people and had a blast with them while helping out the community in different ways. It was also a good balance between service and fun and the activities we did I will never forget. (Also meeting the kids)

It was fun, but I wish we did more with the community rather than just paint. I know the weather took that opportunity away a bit, but having more service back up plans would be good. Something that you could only do in this area would make me feel better about coming all the way to Costa Rica to help.

coming to an end of this trip i think it was absolutely memorable and an amazing 8 days where i got to meet so many different people and have friends from different countries than where im from, i had a blast

I had great time. I made so many new friends and was able to immerse myself in a new culture. I loved surfing and all of the instructors were so kind. The guides were all so welcoming and made the experience so amazing.

My experience was supper fun and good! I had so much fun meeting new people on this trip and interacting with others. I loved learning how to surf it was so much fun and I loved the zip line. Overall I loved this trip and the people

The trip to Costa Rica was amazing! I loved meeting the kids that we were working hard for and seeing how our work would change their daily lives. It was important to see how we were making an impact.

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— I had so much fun meeting new people, trying new foods, and the cultural immersion. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

I went to Peru this summer with Rustic Pathways and had an amazing experience. Everything, from the amazing staff to the activities and scenery, was absolutely perfect. Couldn’t recommend enough! I have no doubt that any trip with Rustic will be a trip you’ll remember and cherish forever.

I attended the college-aged Rustic Pathways trip to Peru this summer! I had an incredible and life changing experience. The staff was friendly, the other students were extremely kind & the activities we participated in were once in a lifetime! I highly recommend this trip to any student aged 18-22.

This country is gorgeous. I feel like I was opened up into so many amazing things and opportunities. I made friends I will keep with me and I grew love for nature and community service. Thank you Rustic Pathways for this experience!

The housing was very good. All of the food was amazing. The people on the trip with me were very inclusive and we had similar interests. The experience overall was amazing and I had such a fun time.

fun i got to immerse myself w new culture and i had a good time i liked making costa rica a better place and making new friends i liked zip lining and white water rafting those were fun i liked all of the program leaders eric is the best

I had a great time in this program and really enjoyed all activities they made for us!!! Also the non community service activities are also very fun and you get to know costa rica well!! Also I really enjoyed making new friends and spend time with them

This trip was very well organized whether it was the service days, food, and even down to the daily schedule. I loved meeting the community and being able to experience the daily lives of the children especially. I loved meeting new friends also and appreciate the time we had!

Had so much fun exploring the Costa Rican culture and seeing the volcano and trying all kinds of foods. The local community is so kind, my leaders were excellent, the landscape here is so beautiful. Pura Vida Costa Rica!

I enjoyed the people I was with by far the most during my time in Japan & Rustic Pathways. The community that we were able to build was absolutely stellar, and it is very upsetting to me that we are separating.

I loved my trip, it was super adventurous and I met my best friends!! The itinerary was filled with cool activities and I learned so much about Thai culture. The meals were always prepared well for us and I learned a lot about my new friends from the more talkative activity’s we did.

i had so much fun on this trip. we did so many fun activities in only 10 days, and i made some amazing friends. we had so many incredible experiences, and im not going to forget this trip anytime soon.

I had the best week of the year for sure everyone was so nice and funny and I love the activities that we did especially zip lining. I loved the community service we did and kind of wished we did more of it

As a student it was an amazing experience and I met so many great people. The program leaders are amazing and so so kind, when I wasn’t feeling too good bc I wasn’t drinking enough water they made sure I rested and got some electrolytes! I would totally recommend

It was super fun and I made so many new friends. I had so much fun zip lining and white water rafting and I enjoyed doing other fun activities like that besides just community service. I also loved getting to connect with Costa Ricans especially the kids from the school we helped at. It will be an experience I will never forget.

I loved this program, but it was really nice to come with a friend cause it made me less scary. I think the living conditions were nice and overall a great time. I would say it’s great to get outside your comfort zone.

Such a good experience would recommend to anyone definitely go in with an open mind and try to talk to everyone, the community service was such a good experience to have and i made some good connections, I hope to go again! i would definitely recommend pura vida costa rica

This trip was such an amazing experience, every aspect of the trip from the food, to the city’s, people and transportation. Everyone will walk away with life long connections. Everyone should have the opportunity to explore with Rustic Pathways (definitely Japan)

It was amazing. Everything was organized really well and there was a amazing variety of activities for everyone. I would definitely recommend going for this trip as it can be a lot of fun for everyone.

I had a total blast meeting everybody and hanging with the friends I came with. It’s been a great experience that I will never forget. The whole staff was super sweet, helpful and kind. I really hope more people have a chance to enjoy this new program and I am glad we got to be the lab rats for a fun adventure like this!

The leaders were amazing and so was the country. Rustic pathways was truly a once in a lifetime experience! We got to experience the culture up close, while still visiting some of the tourist places.

Japan was a great place to experience, especially in this point of my life. We saw many staples and famous parts of japanese cultures, and experienced mostly if not all we could on this trip. This trip was unforgettable.

While the whole time in Croatia was just amazing, I'll never forget listening to piano music played by my teammates before leaving the accommodation every morning. It was a great start to the day ahead.

The most memorable part of the trip for me was truly immersing myself in the local culture and cuisine. The food was absolutely delicious - from the authentic "snack" to the carefully crafted specialties. The natural landscapes and buildings were also awe-inspiring. Whether it was the panoramic views from the mountain peaks or the serene beauty of the villages, the scenery constantly left me in wonder. However, what really made this trip so special were the local trip leaders.... Dino and Mirna. They were not only incredibly knowledgeable about the history and culture, but also genuinely caring and attentive to our needs as a group.

it was super fun getting to interact with all the elephants and a once in a life experience. it was a very good learning experience and the service work was very fun. i loved our staff like zoe and p teh and kimmy!

I had an amazing time! All three of our program leaders Zoe, Kimi, and Teh were all super helpful, caring, and kind. I also thought the experience both in Chang Mai and the sanctuary was amazing! We were immersed with the Thai culture and that showed a broader view of Thailand for me.

Rustic staff was the best staff ever and I had the best time with them(Zoe)and my friends this was truly an amazing experience!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had a very good time abroad in Thailand. I am so glad i got to experience a mix of mahout village life and city life in Chang Mai. My program leaders Zoe, Kimi, and Teh were great and very fun and helpful. I had a great time and Rustic made me very comfortable traveling abroad.

I have always been on the somewhat negative side of life. After coming to the Dominican Republic I have realized that life isn’t bad. This inspired me to change my attitude and help out the Dominican Republic communities with a better attitude. I will take this back to the US

The interaction with the community was very fun and I got to immerse myself in the Dominican Culture. The work was fun and it made me some much closer with my classmates. Not only that I got to practice my Spanish and communicate with the locals of every community.

I definitely had a great time and would definitely do it again. I would also without a doubt recommend this trip specifically and this service to anyone in interest and anyone in general. It was a great time and despite some hard conditions such as the heat bugs and living, it was very enjoyable and even these things I mentioned were manageable

I feel like a better person and that I truly immersed myself into the communities. The instructors were very smart and they knew how to explain things that the volunteers maybe didn’t understand. They truly touched our emotions.

During the trip to the Dominican Republic I was able to make connections with people I never thought I would make before. Working with the communities in the Beteyahs was one of the best expierwncesnive ever expierwnced in my life. The people of the community were so positive even though they don’t have much. I would one hundred percent come back again.

I had an amazing experience with Holly, Nacho, and Kaitlyn in the DR. I experienced things I will never forget and truly felt the passion of my guides to immerse me into their communities. I’m forever grateful for my experiences and I hope to potentially come back in the future

This program was amazing and has 100% changed my life. Seeing others live in such hard conditions and having the opportunity to help them out was so awesome. The adventures like the waterfall and the beach also made all the hard work that much more worth it. Thank you Rustic Pathways for an amazing week.

An all around great experience integrating with the culture here in the DR and seeing the different sides of the country. Gained life lessons and a new understanding of myself along with the satisfaction of helping the people.

Amazing George is the GOAT (Greatest of all time) he is awsome and so caring. I love George I love George I love George I love George I love George I love gorge I love George I love George I love George I love George I love George I love George

We did a ton of service in great communities and it was a great experience to meet new people. I loved experiencing the new culture and was pleased with the trip as a whole. It was great getting to know the local people and try new foods. I will forever remember this trip as one of the best moments of my life.

I had fun in the Dominican Republic. I was able to use my Spanish that I had learned from school to talk to the locals. We learned much and had a great time with my group. It was an eye opening experience for me and the people around me:

It was great to bond with our leaders Nacho and Holly. They always came full of energy ready to help others. Great hanging with my boys. I really loved learning about the culture and immersing my self in the way that some people live. Very fun!!

When I traveled to the Dominican Republic with Rustic Pathways I loved many of the activities. Helping others get water to their village, the waterfall, beach, and the entire trip as a whole was a great success.

Best: When we did the community service and helped out the community-Interacting with the community during service work. The most memorable part of the Dominican Republic was bonding more with my brothers and seeing the impact we had on the community

I traveled with the Australia Zoo program. My favorite part was working with Trish and the animals. Getting to form personal connections with animals was absolutely amazing. thank you Rustic Pathways!

The country itself was amazing. I never knew there would be a place that represented so many of my closely held values related to the environment, education, and health. Incredible to be there. The flora and fauna are things I will never forget too!

The service work was the most gratifying part of the travel to the Dominican Republic. However, speaking and expanding my Spanish vocabulary was the most memorable to me. It really helped my Spanish spaking skills

I enjoyed everything I did on the program with Rustic Pathways in Fiji. All the memories we made! and the kindness of the program leaders as well as just the people in Fiji general. I'll rememeber forever!

Once, when my team members and I were riding in a van, the music in the car played "baby". My team members and I liked this song very much, so we sang it together. Since then, the driver will play this song as soon as he sees us getting in the car. Also, I really like the atmosphere in momi bay where everyone is chatting together.

Does the pasing count as the most memorable thing during my stay? I thought the first day was the best day, and then the following day happened lol. Each day just kept getting better and better, so idk if I have an exact moment.

The service project in Dominican Republic with Rustic Pathway was impactful. The guides were amazing. Learning about their culture through personal conversations with them really elevated the experience for me.

Our wonderful guides were the best part of the trip. Every site we visited was important to the program, but it would not have been the same without Dino and Mirna. They were excellent--knowledgeable, refined, and entertaining.

The experiences and level of thought put into each part of the trip was incredible. The ability to work alongside local villagers in the community was something I'll never forget. Also loved the soccer game, playing with the kids and the safari.

Probably the 3 nights our group was with the homestay family in the village. The service project allowed our students to connect on a different level and they worked well as a team; developing their communication and collaboration skills. In addition, the other activities while at the village built on those skills, as well as, providing opportunities for leadership, compassion & empathy, problem-solving, and fully engaged our students with the community (ie. volleyball with the local community, cooking lunch, and the cultural dance performance). I saw personal growth in all our students during these experiences.

I traveled to Tanzania with my school, I couldn't be happier with the program experience. Prior to even leaving, Emily was so patient with us and then on the program Penita, Vann, and Dannie were the best!!!

The instructors in Thailand were very thoughtful and soon connected with each and every student. They made us all feel very comfortable during all the activities and made it an amazing program experience.

Rustic Pathways is a great program that offered me a chance to get out of the U.S. and see how other cultures live and help improve their communities through service. The entire experience was amazing from start to finish - better than I ever could have imagined. The kids that participate in this program were welcoming and fun and friendly. I made life-long friendships thru this shared experience. Costa Rica and the place we stayed was gorgeous! The staff was amazing and overall this trip was a 10/10!! I'm looking forward to my next trip with Rustic Pathways.

My daughter spent two weeks in Peru on Rustic Pathways. The pre-trip preparation with RP was amazing - hands down the most sophisticated and thoughtful online application process I have ever encountered. The information given was thorough and practical. My daughter was well prepared. They also provided pre-trip suggestions for her to interview people in her local community about issues related to her program. Once in country, I was never worried about her. RP kept me informed as needed and upon her return, the experience is her own - sharing pictures and anecdotes, but internalizing her experience and planning her next adventure with service and purpose. She loved this critical issues program - the emphasis on learning and helping was a grounding part of her experience. She loved being more than a tourist and Rustic Pathways certainly made this possible in a professional and exciting way.

This experience was life-changing for me and something I will treasure forever. It was an amazing experience to integrate with and help the community. Immersion in and learning about the culture opened my eyes to a whole new world. Thank you for the opportunity.

I was astonished by how amazing and unknown Fiji is. I have never met such warm, loving, and genuinely kind people as Fijians are. The experiences in this country are like no other. Every day is an adventure whether it is snorkeling, kayaking, Island hopping, jumping off a waterfall, or skydiving. Felt safe every minute, guards even sleep outside your room. Food is great even for picky eaters.

Wonderful trip to every corner of Peru which allowed all 14 girls on the trip to experience all aspects of the culture. We made connections with women of all walks of life, learned about the empowerment of weaving, the importance of fair trade, and the availability of education. Great trip.

My trip to Thailand through rustic pathways was a life changer. I went from home to home when arriving in south east Asia. From the rustic staff to the community you are working with everyone has something to offer making the trip a success.

I can honestly say hands down that this trip was the best, most rewarding experience of my life. The culture was vibrant and the natives were extremely welcoming. Being able to help kids that have very little left a lasting impact within me. Everything from the housing to activities was perfect. I am confident that I will continue to take part in Rustic Pathways trips!

This was the second trip our son has gone on with Rustic Pathways. We were afraid the second time around wouldn't be as fun or exciting. But we were wrong. He said it was better! We love that he not only had a great time, did community service work, met new friends, but also had a chance to be independent. His two trips have given me the confidence that he will be just fine on his own when he goes off to college!

My Rustic Pathways trip was great!! Not only did i snorkel in coral reefs and get a great tan, but I met and developed bonds with amazing friends from all around the world!! I travelled to Key Largo, which is very beautiful, and my trip was only a week long and the time passed so quickly. I enjoyed the new experiences and quickly learned how to snorkel. I think that Rustic does an excellent job with their programs, and I look forward to traveling with them again next summer. I want to go out of the country and explore one of their many programs abroad. I am very glad that I partook in a Rustic trip this summer:)

Our daughter had the opportunity to participate in this program. She was a bit anxious as she had never traveled abroad alone. The Rustic Pathways team was able to reassure us she was in good hands. She had an amazing experience with the culture, environment, people who lived in the village, the staff and the other students. She bonded with so many people; she will forever treasure the experiences of this program.

LOVED this trip! This was my first Rustic trip, and it was a great experience. Location was beautiful, and we lived on our work site, so there was a lot more flexibility in the schedule- we could jump into the ocean after service to cool down! All staff members were enthusiastic and such great people, and the food was delicious! Weekend rafting, surfing, and zip lining trips were fun and great opportunities to bond with peers. Holding baby turtle eggs and releasing newly hatched ones were definitely amazing, once in a lifetime experiences. The week flew by!

My experience with Rustic Pathways was very up and down. There seemed to be a lot of down time, which drew in many negative moments. That being said, the time we spent doing service and exploring the country held many of the highlights of my trip. I was disappointed in many of the leaders and their ability to interact and monitor us and thought that their organization was sloppy and unprofessional.

loved this trip because it allowed me to immerse with the culture and learn more. i also met so many people and have lots of fun. i would definitely recommend this trip to anyone that is looking into it.

During my experience on the Lake Titicaca Service Trip, I was able to immerse myself in a new culture and create relationships with people in the Perka Norte community during my homestay. I loved how everyone in our group connected and felt comfortable with one another within the first few days of the trip. From visiting Machu Pichu to staying with a host family for 5 days along Lake Titicaca, our rustic experiences were unforgettable. Our leaders, Marcie, Andrea, and Frank, were the true MVPS and made my experiences throughout the trip go very smoothly. Even when their bumps (people got sick), they tried their best to make sure people got proper medical care and felt at home. A few suggestions for the future are edit the packing list so their are some more warm clothes (leggings or jeans) as well as keep the food during the trip more authentic. No need to americanize our meals, experiencing the cuisine of a foreign country is an important aspect of embracing and engaging in a new culture. All in all, the Lake Titicaca Service Trip was an unforgettable two weeks of my life. The people and adventures were priceless!

I had a wonderful time in Costa Rica, I wish I could relive it one million times. It was a trip I will never forget and the people I met on the trip and in the community were amazing. Not only were the accommodations clean and tidy, but the food was great! I hope to go on another Rustic Pathways trip in the future.

I met awesome people during the trip and had some amazing experiences. Most of the people we met along the way were super nice and welcoming. Our guides were awesome and really cared about us and our safety. The program was nicely organized and it seemed like the people who organized it care about our safety and had our best interests in mind.

This trip was an experience that is unforgettable. I made friendships with people in the Bateyes and with people that came on my trip with me. It changed my view on life because I now value everything I have and realize, none of it is necessary for happiness. Seeing the people in the Bateyes and interacting with them, you realize that they live in extreme poverty, yet they are happy people. I felt like I truly emerged in the culture and learned a lot about their living conditions. I am excited to share what I learned with my community at home, to make the world more aware of the human rights violations.

I was extremely unhappy with the New Orleans program for several reasons. First, my daughter was supposed to be in New Orleans. Instead, the kids in her program stayed in New Orleans and were driven 1.5-2 hours EACH WAY to work in Baton Rouge each day. If they had told me that, I would not have signed her up for the program. That is misrepresentation and it is unacceptable. She did not need to sit in a car for up to 4 hours every day, on top of driving places at night. Second, the students did not have nearly enough sleep. On top of having to get up at 6 am every day (probably to drive to Baton Rouge), the Rustic Pathways people dragged the kids all over the place at night so they could see New Orleans. The students were sleep deprived. After hearing from my daughter about how exhausted she was, I emailed the program leader, complaining about the lack of sleep. She said that the kids were back at the house by 10 pm every night, which is too late on a regular basis. The kids needed to wind down, get ready for bed and go to bed. That takes time. And then get up at 6 am again – day after day. That is too much and the kids were exhausted. And then they had to get up at 5 am one morning to drive to the airport (see the paragraph below) when they were already dragging from the lack of sleep. The kids had no choice but to go everywhere, whether they wanted to or not, and they were out too late. My daughter started getting sick, and one of the Rustic Pathways reps became sick – I’m sure because of sleep deprivation. It’s one thing to do that for 3-4 days, but not for 2 weeks. Third, one morning when the kids were already exhausted, everyone in the program had to leave the house at 6 am (and get up at 5 am) to take one of the students to the airport. That is unbelievably poor planning. Why in the world did every single participant need to leave the house at 6 am to take 1 participant to the airport? My daughter emailed me after 11 pm the night before since they were ‘required’ to go to yet another evening event, and she had to get up at 5 am. I cannot tell you how angry I was. I had already emailed the program director about the lack of sleep, and then this. My daughter has traveled extensively, and attended college programs for the pasts few summers, yet she hated this experience. If she did not need it for school, I would have picked her up after the first few days. She was not alone. Most of the kids felt the same way and it wasn’t because of the work – my daughter enjoyed the building part of it. It was zero choice with activities, way too much driving for no reason other than poor planning, too many activities and sleep deprivation. After I spent thousands of dollars for the program and even more importantly, taking 2 weeks of my daughter’s summer. Never again.

The tour itinerary is well planned. The tour starts off with a team bonding and planning, and then transitions to running the summer camp. During the summer camp, the kids are happy to be spending the day with the volunteers. The volunteers run group activities ranging from outdoor events to indoor events like art. Most of the kids had some to none English language skills, so Spanish skills would be helpful but not completely necessary. Gestures and patience will be fine. After a quite exhausting week of running camp, volunteers will be treated to a couple days of enjoying Costa Rica's beaches before going home. This camp option is great for: - Getting a massive chunk of community service hours (~60) - Spanish language immersion - Developing/refining team collaboration skills - Breaking your fear of bugs - Eating lots of rice and beans

This program was great! super well organized, definitely pack more pants/leggings than the packing list says. i never used my long sleeves, its super hot in the Dominican Republic so be prepared! the leaders and group were great, i highly recommend this trip for anybody interested in public health or just issues in the Dominican Republic.

I recently returned from the 16 day trip to the Dominican Republic called Introduction to Public Health in the Caribbean with Rustic Pathways. Even before I set out for the trip, I felt welcomed and cared for by Rustic Pathways staff. They consistently sent out emails and mail to keep me informed and excited about my upcoming trip. Additionally, they were very easy to get into contact with and to answer any questions. This continued throughout the whole trip. My program leaders were absolutely amazing. All three of them were not only kind, funny, smart, and welcoming people, but they were all very experienced leaders and had strong backgrounds in both Spanish and public health, making them the ideal leaders for the program! Their enthusiasm and passion for public health was clearly evident throughout the trip, and had a major impact on me. The beginning of the trip was spent visiting local hospitals, clinics, and NGOs in the Santo Domingo area. These visits were very informative and were a great way to kick off the program. We learned a lot about maternal health and the overall healthcare situation in the country through these visits, and this information we would then take with us throughout the rest of he trip. We then went to our base camp in San Pedro which was a beautiful house about 30 minutes away from where we would be doing all of our community service. Working with leaders living in this part of the Dominican Republic, we went into several different bateys to complete our 30 hours of community service. In the primary batey we were doing community service in, we helped build two latrines and a few cement cement floors. Both children and adults alike from the bateys came out and helped over the three days were we working there. The locals were extremely friendly and inviting and seemed genuinely happy that we were there. As a Spanish learner, it was also a great immersion oppurtunity. Perhaps my favorite part of the community service period was the kids' clinic and camp we put on over the course of two days. As a group, we went into four different bateys over those two days. Half of the day we would spend doing a clinic type activity. We set up several tables and divided ourselves up into small groups. Children and their parent(s) would then come through each station we had set up, and receive vitamins and antiparisite medications, in addition to being weighed and measured if they were under five years old. The other half of the day was spent putting on games for children ages 3-9. We got to come up with a variety of games and activities surrounding the idea of health that we would then play with the local children. These two days felt incredibly hands on and also felt incredibly applicable to what we had learned about during our Wildreness First Aid training and our visits to healthcare orginizations. Outside of learning and service, the trip was also super fun! Trips to the market, time spent in the base camp's pool, and endless group games meant that we were able to catch breaks from our busy days of learning and service just to relax and have fun. Additionally, there was a beach afternoon at an amazing beach following our wilderness first aid training, which was a great oppurtunity to relax before starting our community service. The last few days of the trip were amazing as well. We took a ferry ride to Samaná and stayed in a really nice hostel for the last two nights, and spent one day hiking to la cascada del limón, and the other day at another amazing beach, both of which were a great way to close up the trip! I would absolutely recommend this trip to anyone who loves medicine, learning, service, Spanish (though you definitely don't need to speak it to go on the trip), and anyone thinking about pursuing a career in the medical field. I am super happy I did this program!

The turtle conservation trip was a blast! This was my second time traveling with rustic pathways and I loved it again! Rustic provides amazing leaders and I loved everything you did here! You had a good balance of hard work and fun activities such as surfing and rafting. I totally recommend to any hard worker who cares about the environment!

Overall a really memorable adventure during which I made great new friends and experienced Peru in a way not many other people have. Rustic Pathways enabled me to interact with the people of Peru in a way that no tourism company can provide because the Sacred Valley Service program is so much more than tourism.

Really cool trip. Learned a lot and will never forget about the experiences I had here. The Amazon was incredible and the people I met including all of the locals were amazing. Seeing so many incredible animals and learning about so many cool people who do so much to help out the areas we visited was very exciting.

This was without a doubt the most amazing thing I have ever done. An incredible adventure despite failing to make the summit. I would highly recommend this program to any one with an adventurous spirit who is willing to put in the effort to train and go without a shower for a week. This trip changed my life and I continue to reflect on it each and every day.