One of the most amazing experiences of my life!

I absolutely loved my trip with rustic pathways! Getting to travel internationally while being a teenager and getting to do community service is a dream come true. I loved the activities we got to do, the staff was always accommodating and helpful and I loved the program leaders! Every aspect about my trip was incredible and I would definitely recommend this company!

The Rustic Pathways program that I went on was the greatest 2 weeks of my life. I went to Costa Rica, and I instantly feel in love with the country. I loved everything about Costa Rica. Also, I grew great bonds with the people that went on this trip. I talk to them everyday now. I definitely recommend Rustic Pathways to anyone!

The whole experience was 5 stars all around i fell in love with the people the community and the animals. For first time travelers like me it was a big shock to step into a totally new culture and it was a long plane ride to get there but if you open yourself up to the experience it is truly a one in a life time experience unless you sign up to do it again.

My soccer and service program to Costa Rica was life-changing. I would strongly recommend it to anyone who enjoys playing soccer and wants to make a contribution. Highlights included my 6 days with a host family; natural hot springs and zip lining; and bonding with the counselors, Ticos (locals) and other students on the trip. Costa Rica is a beautiful place and the people are so incredibly friendly. I loved the RP staff and felt that they truly wanted us all to have an incredible experience and I most certainly did!

My experience with rustic was life changing. I grew so much as a person and met people that would become my friends for life. I know it sounds cheesy but I found a second family on my trip. We were able to come together from all different parts of the United States, and the world, and build two homes for struggling families. It was the perfect mix of cultural immersion and community service, and i couldn't have asked for a more beautiful and raw country to travel to other than Cambodia. My parents were worried about safety, but I have to say I never felt unsafe or in danger throughout the trip. My leaders were amazing and they were always making sure we were all ok, while giving us the freedom to experience the true Cambodian lifestyle. I can't believe I didn't do this earlier.

Traveling with Rustic Pathways was the greatest experience of my life. From the people, the community service, the activities, even the food, everything was incredible and I would recommend this program to anyone.

I have now done two Rustic programs. To say the least my second one, Come with Nothing: The Mekong, was life changing and far better than my first one, Marine Life in the DR. CWN was way more engaging and the labor intensive community service felt far more meaningful even through I am way more interested in Environmental issues. I highly recommend both programs, but if you are looking for a true “Rustic” experience, I would say go for a program like CWN. I learned way more about the culture, interacted with tons of locals (we stayed in home stays for the majority of the trip), and bonded with my group SO much. Rustic has amazing staff and connections! I never felt in danger. I was pushed out of my comfort zone perfectly. I would recommend Rustic to everyone!! Even though the costs are high, it was life changing and truly shaped how I want to live my life and explore the world.

I have traveled with Rustic Pathways for two summers and I soon realized that when you come home from your trip, your experience doesn’t end. The connections and friendships you made on your trip carry forward into life in ways you would never expect. I found that my trip not only made me a better traveler and roommate, but a more compassionate person and without going out of my comfort zone and doing Rustic Pathways I would have never taken away such valuable lessons from a regular vacation.

It was a great trip.
The activities were super fun and i loved taking care of kids, it was funny.
Thank you rustic for that cool experience.

So amazing experiencing another culture. Very safe, well organized and fun!!! I will be taking another trip next summer!

I went on the Life on the Margin trip in Thailand. The second week was truly life changing. We homestayed at a Karen village and then travelled to a refugee camp and stayed there. Booking with rustic was extremely easy, but as someone who doesn’t come from a lot of money, I wish there was an option not to do the flight lead flight and to book our airfare by ourselves to save money, but get to Bangkok at the same time as everyone else. I am 18 and have travelled alone multiple times so having someone babysitting me through a flight was super unnecessary and I felt a waste of money to me personally. The whole idea around flight leaders is amazing for those parents scared to send their 14-16 year olds off into the world, but I think it should be a choice not a requirement to pay the extra money for that. Regarding my trip, I wish it wasn’t so joined in with the Children’s home group the first week, it limited my ability to get to know my group and program leaders until the second week and I wish I had more time to do that. Other than that rustic pathways has been a truly amazing experience for me and I would recommend them to everyone

I did the come with nothing program, three weeks with total strangers in rural villages. Best 3 weeks of my life! Rustic Pathways made me feel comfortable and safe throughout the whole trip, and I'Ve only been home for a week but I'm already searching for programs for next summer. I would recommend doing a trip through Rustic to anyone interested in having an new adventure.

Rustic Pathways change my life! Every person I met, both in the Rustic group and in the villages we visited, made me reflect on my life and how I can be a happier person. My trip balanced the perfect amount of fun and service and I regret nothing. I connected immediately with everyone in the group and I am so happy I went!

Rustic Pathways goal is a big one but each summer they continue to achieve success within the communities and the youth. I would definitely recommend this company to anyone.

16 year old daughter had a wonderful experience. Staff was helpful during travel delays and in the actual program I have no complaints. She came home a more enlightened person about the world missing her new friends but happy to be back in her air conditioned house.

very fun! i learned a lot and made good friends. however, there was quite a bit of downtime, and many people were on their phones often.

This was an incredible experience for my daughter!
She signed up for the Fiji program- not knowing anyone on her trip. She was a little nervous at first but became great friends with ever person in her group- saying that with the help of the wonderful team leaders the group worked together beautifully. This trip opened her eyes to life on a global scale and the reward of community involvement... and as if that were not enough- she jumped out of a plane on the last day and now says she knows she can overcome any fears she will ever have!

In my trip, "Ramp up your Spanish." Not many activities were done and there was to much time at the host family home with nothing happening.

When I was on my way to my airport at the beginning of July I was having so many doubts. When I arrived in Newark by myself I was scared to meet and talk to new people. Yet, it was so easy with my leaders’ being so kind and outgoing, that it made all of us the same way. I would never change this trip for the world. Thanks to Rustic Pathways I have siblings from all over the US, Canada, Lebanon, and Switzerland.