Spend a week at Rustic’s Volcano and Rainforest Service Base in La Fortuna working on a combination of service project and enjoying Costa Rican adventure. Whether helping out with service initiatives or participating in cross-cultural experiences, you’ll contribute to the community, practice your Spanish, and make new Tico friends. After service, experience some of Costa Rica’s best adventure activities like zip lining and whitewater rafting. Visit hot springs and a traditional Costa Rican farm to learn about the local culture. After action-packed days, relax in a hammock or take a dip in the freshwater pool. This program is great for first-time travelers and students interested in making new friends from across the globe.

Spend a week at Rustic’s Volcano and Rainforest Service Base in La Fortuna working on a combination of service project and enjoying Costa Rican adventure. Whether helping out with service initiatives or participating in cross-cultural experiences, you’ll contribute to the community, practice your Spanish, and make new Tico friends. After service, experience some of Costa Rica’s best adventure activities like zip lining and whitewater rafting. Visit hot springs and a traditional Costa Rican farm to learn about the local culture. After action-packed days, relax in a hammock or take a dip in the freshwater pool. This program is great for first-time travelers and students interested in making new friends from across the globe.

Start your journey by heading south to surf the hidden breaks and enjoy the secluded beaches of Dominical. Hike along beautiful trails and canyons to a series of impressive waterfalls where expert guides will teach you how to rappel. Set off on a three-day sea kayaking expedition through the Golfo Dulce in the Osa Peninsula. At night, camp on the beach and enjoy dinner next to a bonfire as you exchange stories about the day’s adventures. Venture into Corcovado National Park, keeping an eye out for monkeys, sloths, and scarlet macaws. When not exploring the jungle, participate in a variety of infrastructure service projects to support the communities you visit. You might work on infrastructure for low-income communities along with local associations to achieve economic development or environmental conservation projects. Conclude your adventure by whitewater rafting the Savegre River.

Experience the mighty Himalayas during this two-week trip through India and Nepal. Start in Delhi and learn about Hindu culture in this historic city before exploring UNESCO World Heritage sites in Amer and Agra, including the incredible Taj Mahal. Travel to Kathmandu to experience some of the region’s famous adventure activities. Raft the Trishuli River and camp overnight. Trek from Pokhara, the gateway to the Himalayas’ Annapurna Circuit. Opt to zip line and bungee jump in this mountain before returning to Kathmandu to conclude your epic journey.

Grab your snorkel gear and dive into a marine adventure to protect the coastlines of the Dominican Republic. Stay in stunning Bayahibe and work with FUNDEMAR, a NGO dedicated to the conservation of marine ecosystems. Learn about threats to local marine and terrestrial life as you gain hands-on experience in scientific conservation methods, including the construction of reef restoration structures, the monitoring of coral growth in a wet lab, and the rehabilitation of mangroves. On remote Saona Island, spend a night helping to protect sea turtles. Share what you’ve learned about marine conservation with local youth during a fun day camp. In your downtime, swim in freshwater caverns, search for sea stars in natural pools, and fall in love with island life.

Adventure to the “Roof of Africa” on this seven-day trek to Africa’s highest peak and the world’s tallest freestanding volcano. Start with an introduction to the unique culture of the region as you engage in community activities, learn tribal history, and acclimate to prepare for your expedition. Considered a non-technical climb, the route up Mt. Kilimanjaro is highly challenging but conquerable by anyone with good physical and mental fitness. Hike along scenic trails each day and spend your nights sleeping in tents under the stars. After several days of climbing, wake before dawn for your final ascent to the summit where you’ll stand above the clouds and look down on some of the finest views in Africa. End in Arusha where you’ll explore the local markets and enjoy a farewell feast with your hiking companions.

Engage in rural Thai life during an exciting blend of service and culture at our hub in Southeast Asia. This program offers six service projects to choose from each week: Welcome Homes, Meals on Flip Flops, Bobbing and Floating, English Exchange, Teaching and Tutoring, and Hands in the Dirt. Developed over many years with our partners in the region, these service projects produce life-changing experiences for our students and long-term outcomes for the communities. Choose from several exciting side-trip options during your stay to elevate your experience and maximize your summer in Southeast Asia.

Assist in the ongoing rebuilding efforts in New Orleans. Damages from Hurricane Katrina in 2005 can still be seen throughout the city. Work with local organizations to rebuild homes and participate in community-building initiatives. After work, explore the French Quarter, try some spicy jambalaya, snack on beignets, and relax and unwind as you listen to live music in the birthplace of jazz. Live bands, fresh jambalaya, and friendly locals will show you the true meaning of Southern hospitality. Learn more about New Orleans history, culture and people, and laissez le bon temps rouler!

Enjoy elements from two of our most popular programs—Thai Elephant Conservation Project and Amazing Thailand—packed into one incredible experience. Spend your first week at an elephant conservation center attending classes, gaining hands-on experience with Asian elephants and their mahouts, and earning a formal certificate of participation. Starting the second week, visit ancient temples, swim under waterfalls, and experience village life in the mountains. Then, hop down to Phuket to get a taste of Thailand’s world-famous beaches and turquoise waters. Finish your journey in Bangkok by visiting the Grand Palace, attending a championship Muay Thai match, and experiencing a nighttime dinner cruise along the Chao Phraya River.

Explore the incredibly diverse landscape of California and visit locations that are among the most beautiful in the United States. From stunning mountains to delightful beaches, the Golden State is home to limitless opportunities for outdoor adventure. Visit impressive tufa towers at Mono Lake. Camp in the world-renowned Sierra Nevada mountains and Yosemite National Park—ending each evening by sharing meals and stories around the campfire. Participate in restoration and conservation in these beloved areas. Then head west and up the coast along historic U.S. Highway 1 through Big Sur, Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Francisco. Explore the incredible natural wonders found across California and leave with an experience you’ll dream about forever.

Wander around ancient stupas, browse eclectic markets, and check out the mountain temple of Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai. Head for the hills, where the road snakes through lush mountains and terraced rice fields. Explore a waterfall and a holy cave, learn about local cultures, and enjoy the view of the mighty Doi Chiang Dao peak. Then, catch the quick flight down to Phuket for a couple of days at one of Thailand’s most famous tropical beach destinations. The final stop is Bangkok, where you’ll visit the Grand Palace, see a championship Muay Thai match, and hop on a chartered long-tail boat ride.

Explore hidden valleys, stunning scenery, and rural villages on our most popular program in Peru. Rooted in service, this program pairs students with local communities on sustainable projects designed to address economic development, public health, and educational needs. Alongside the physical service work, play fútbol with new friends and practice Spanish with locals. Experience adventure while whitewater rafting and biking through the valley. Hike to the ruins of Machu Picchu for an awe-inspiring end to your incredible journey.

Become a savvy, adventurous backpacker on this life-changing trek through Peru’s many natural wonders. This is a unique Rustic experience designed for experienced travelers that puts the journey in your hands. Living out of your pack, manage your budget, negotiate with locals, and learn to travel like a pro. Camp under the stars in the magnificent Andes, trek to stunning turquoise lagoons and glaciated peaks, and explore one of the greatest archaeological landmarks on the globe—Machu Picchu. After an intense yet rewarding three weeks, return home knowing how to find hidden spots off the tourist track, meet fascinating people, and truly interact with local culture.

Partner with Fundación el Futuro es de Todos, an organization dedicated to providing access to sustainable income to youth with Down Syndrome through vocational skills development. In Costa Rica, recent graduates with Down Syndrome often struggle to find sustainable employment. Further compounding the challenge, access to vocational education is often limited. Work alongside this organization to build a vocational skills training facility donated by the National Institute of Agrarian Development. After participating in service, explore the ecological diversity of Costa Rica with a hike in Juan Castro Blanco National Park and a heart-racing zip line adventure through the rainforest canopy. Learn about coffee cultivation at a local farm in Naranjo and tour the picturesque town of Zarcero.

Journey to a secluded beach on the Pacific coast to help protect Costa Rican sea turtles. These majestic creatures face threats to their nesting grounds from hunting, pollution, and development. While we can’t guarantee you’ll see a sea turtle, you’ll be certain to contribute to the conservation of this endangered species. In the mornings, join beach cleanup projects and help construct a hatchery. At night, monitor the beach for turtle nests, record the number of eggs you collect, and carefully transport them to the hatchery or a safer place along the beach. With help provided by expert volunteers, many of these eggs will hatch into healthy baby turtles and contribute in the preservation of sea turtles. In your free time, raft the Savegre River and take trips to the beach town of Jaco to learn how to surf the incredible waves of the Pacific Ocean.