Program Reviews

This was my second Dragons trip, and I had high expectations after a fantastic summer in Nepal the year before, but Ladakh did not disappoint.

The trip was fast-paced which had us moving around a lot. All the moving meant lots of bus rides, but spending time in the bus allowed for a unique view of the beautiful ladakhi landscape and countless views of the powerful Himalays.

We spent time in Leh, the capital of Ladakh, exploring the markets and the Leh Palace. We completed two different treks, one that reached 17,000 feet at the top of our pass! We also did a rural homestay, often a highlight of Dragons trips. Getting to build connections with the local people, often with a heavy language barrier, is one of the most fulfilling and challenging parts of a course.

Another core piece was visiting different monasteries and learning about Tibetan Buddhism. Our instructors helped us understand Buddhist philosophy and practice as we got these new experiences, and it was really interesting to get a ley perspective on Buddhism.

Dragons fosters a very open, caring community, which has allowed me to grow spiritually, emotionally, and intellectually over these last two summers. I am forever grateful for the wonderful relationship with instructors and other students I have built. I have developed a true love for Himalayan culture, and there is no doubt that this course has changed the trajectory of my life.

I came to Nepal expecting nothing and got everything I never could have imagined and more. I have been home for a little over a month now and I can say with certainty that the lessons and experiences I have had will stay with me for the rest of my life. Coming home I have realized how much my world view has been broadened and how positively my morals have been re-evaluated. Although the program is “rugged” at times, there was never a second that I felt unsafe or uncomfortable in my situation. I strongly recommend this program to anyone who wants to experience the rich cultures of the world and learn so much about yourself in the process.

I had a wonderful time doing the Dragons South America Semester. My favorite aspect of the program was that out activities were varied over the course of the semester. We went backpacking, took Spanish lessons, had rural and urban homestays, learned about local social movements, and ate delicious food. It is very structured, so for those seeking more independence, this is not the program for you. However, thanks to that structure, instructors can give us access and introduce us to people and experiences we otherwise never could have learned about. Thanks to these resources, I learned much more about Bolivian and Peruvian culture, politics and life than I even could have as a solo traveler.

I feel so lucky to have traveled with wtbd. The trip was so packed with adventures that it takes a few months post completion to realize what you accomplished. The program was beautiful, challenging and an opportunity to become a better person. I made new friends, tried new food, and visitied places i would never have discovered without the program. I miss the andes so much, the scale of the mountains and the culture and history that lives inside of it is out of this world. I miss hiking up the side of a mountain and taking a boat ride down the river beni into the amazon basin. If you are fortunate enough to find yourself signed up for this program, get excited and take every opportunity that comes your way when in south america. Dont hold back and be yourself.

I've done a few summer and semester programs like Dragons with various other companies, and Dragons really blew me away. I felt guided and supported towards learning the culture, language, leadership, interpersonal skills, etc., and pushed out of my comfort zone to figure a lot of it out on my own, which I really loved. I got to bushwhack in the rainforest, swim in a glacial lagoon in the Andes mountains, sleep in ancient Incan ruins, dance with my host family in a huge parade, and so much more that I never would've dreamed of. By the time I left, I was forgetting words in English.

I had a wonderful time on the trip. At first I was really nervous, I spoke Spanish terribly and I knew very little about Guatemala. Those fears were quickly dismissed. Everyone in the group was nice and everyone had something offer. The staff were very nice and they did a good job of keeping the group together, not letting it form into individual cliques. Our counselors were Jochen, Paula, and Kelly. They worked together to keep us safe and they worked non-stop to making plans for the group. I know this all sounds like insincere hyperbole but it’s true! But that’s not to say there weren’t hiccups. During our 4 day trek we had to send two kids — one by one — by ground transportation to the destination, leaving us with only Kelly for a day. Three of us got sick because they forgot to filter their water. But despite these challenges, we all had a great time. Not to mention that I came back way better at speaking Spanish than when I left. We all grew a whole lot in that summer month. And we all still keep in contact.

I loved my trip with Where There be Dragons to Thailand. I was fully immersed into Thai culture. I learned about their language, customs, and traditions. We even participated in a week long homestay in a rural village. My host mom was amazing and I was so sad to say goodbye. After our homestay we city hopped and visited some super cool monasteries, night markets, and museums. Parts of the trip are definitely challenging and way out of your comfort zone. As long as you keep an open mind to change you will have an awesome time!

This was my first experience traveling abroad in a meaningful way and for an extended length of time. I had zero expectations for what the trip was going to be like and I ended up having the best three months of my life, I’d go back tomorrow if I could. Dragons does a really good job of teaching students how to be travelers not tourists, and I’ve learn so much about international travel from that alone. The instructors on the trip really make the trip as good as it can be, their familiarity with the regions and knowledge of the culture makes them the best people to learn from and lean on for support when traveling for so long and to unfamiliar places. My trip with Dragons changed my perspective of the world in a lot of different ways, I cannot wait to travel abroad again.

I chose this program not only because I knew I would be able to explore the world but because it would give me the opportunity to immerse myself in new communities. Since being home, I haven't gone a day without texting or calling someone from my trip. Not only including my instructors and other students but also my homestay families. I created bonds with so many people who I now consider family. This program and people taught me about who I am, the beginnings of where I fit into the world, and the skills to continue exploring and learning on my own.

Highlights: a night camping on a tiny island in the middle of the ocean, speaking to people in their language, playing with little kids, breaking through to a homestay family member, spending time as a group on long travel days, hearing people's life stories, boat rides, sunsets (most beautiful i've ever seen), running into the ocean after a 12 hour bus ride

Before going on my dragons trip I knew nothing about Cambodia, and if I’m being honest not much about myself either. The instructors for this program were top tier and I found myself learning about cambodia through many different lenses- each which taught me something about myself and the world along the way- this experience encouraged me to open my eyes to parts of the world and life experiences that differ from my own. I learned so much about myself and left the trip a new person. I fully recommend dragons to anyone and everyone, and encourage you to go in with an open mind and open heart.