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4.9 stars from 1,200 reviews 155,829 alumni since 1983

Teen travel programs
for ages 14 to 18

Full refund within 24 hours 24/7 emergency number

Students feeding an elephant at a sanctuary in Thailand Students carry surfboards across wet sand toward the water on a quiet, forest-lined beach

2027 Teen Travel Programs

  1. A student juggles coconuts among palm trees on a tropical hillsideA man in sunglasses wearing a Rustic Pathways t-shirt laughing while working Dominican Republic Beachside Service $1,995Airfare separate Service8 days 2027 departuresJun 22 · Jul 20 See dates and prices →
  2. Students in traditional hanbok pose in front of Gyeongbokgung Palace in SeoulStudents wearing traditional Korean Hanbok stand in a row in front of Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul South Korea K-Everything $1,999Airfare separate Culture6 daysSpring break 2027 departureApr 4–9 See dates and prices →
  3. Students in helmets paddle an inflatable raft through whitewater rapidsA pupil and student volunteer laughing together during a classroom activity in Costa Rica Costa Rica Pura Vida Service $2,495Airfare separate Service8 days 2027 departuresJun 15 · Jul 6 · Jul 13 · Jul 27 · Aug 3 See dates and prices →
  4. Students sit on wooden swings set in shallow turquoise water in Caye Caulker, BelizeA crowd of nurse sharks swims in shallow water in Belize Belize Caribbean Reefs & Mayan Culture $2,795Airfare separate Conservation8 days 2027 departuresJun 29 · Jul 6 · Jul 27 See dates and prices →
  5. A sea turtle crawls across wet sand toward the ocean in Costa RicaA pupil and student volunteer laughing together during a classroom activity in Costa Rica Costa Rica Turtle Conservation Project $2,895Airfare separate Conservation8 days 2027 departuresJun 8 · Jun 22 · Jun 29 · Jul 13 · Jul 20 · Aug 3 See dates and prices →
  6. A student riding a camel across sand dunes in the Moroccan desertA student sits cross-legged in a meditation pose in a tiled courtyard in Morocco Morocco Souks & High Atlas Service $3,395Airfare separate Service9 days 2027 departuresJun 23 · Jul 7 See dates and prices →
  7. Students pose together for a group photo on a wooden deck at duskA student rides a wave on a surfboard, with whitewater and a rocky outcrop behind United States Hawaii: Surf, Snorkel, and Service $3,395Airfare separate Adventure8 days 2027 departuresJul 6 · Jul 13 See dates and prices →
  8. Students sit together in a small boat on turquoise water below a rocky cliffA loggerhead sea turtle swims toward the camera in deep blue water Greece Island Turtle Conservation $3,495Airfare separate Conservation9 days 2027 departuresJun 16 · Jun 23 · Jul 7 · Jul 21 · Jul 28 See dates and prices →
  9. Students in Japan practice kendo with bamboo swordsStudents in Japan practice kendo with bamboo swords Japan Tokyo Fusion (Middle School) $3,495Airfare separate Culture8 daysAges 12–14 2027 departuresJun 9 · Jul 26 See dates and prices →
  10. Students carry surfboards across wet sand toward the water on a quiet, forest-lined beachStudents carry surfboards across wet sand toward the water on a quiet, forest-lined beach Costa Rica Surf and Service $3,495Airfare separate Service8 days 2027 departuresJun 8 · Jun 15 · Jun 29 · Jul 6 · Jul 20 · Jul 27 See dates and prices →
  11. Students stand beside an Asian elephant at a sanctuary in ThailandAn Asian elephant using its trunk to gently touch the face of a laughing volunteer Thailand Thai Elephant Conservation Project $3,995Airfare separate Conservation12 days 2027 departuresJun 23 · Jul 14 · Jul 28 See dates and prices →
  12. Students jump down the Sigatoka sand dunes in FijiA student chats with a local man on a grassy hillside in Fiji Fiji Sun, Sand, and Island Service $3,995Airfare separate Service16 days 2027 departuresJun 16 · Jul 7 See dates and prices →
  13. Students take a selfie above the terraced ruins of Machu Picchu among steep green mountainsA busy open-air market in Peru with vendors and shoppers in traditional clothing Peru Sacred Valley Service $4,195Airfare separate Service12 days 2027 departureJul 6–17 See dates and prices →
  14. A hilltop fortress rises above church domes and a riverside promenade in autumnA calm alpine lake lies between steep forested mountains, seen through evergreen branches Germany & Austria Alpine Adventure $4,450Airfare separate Adventure10 days 2027 departuresJun 23 · Jul 15 · Jul 27 See dates and prices →
  15. A red-eyed tree frog rests on a broad green leafStudents swimming in a pool beneath a waterfall in Costa Rica Costa Rica Spanish Language Immersion $4,495Airfare separate Language15 days 2027 departureJul 6–20 See dates and prices →
  16. Students pose for a group photo in front of the Forbidden City in BeijingVisitors in China gather beneath red walls and golden rooftops in the Forbidden City courtyard China Great Wall to Li River $4,888Airfare separate Culture14 days 2027 departureJun 14–27 See dates and prices →
  17. An ancient stone amphitheater with rows of arches stands beside terracotta rooftopsStudents pause on a hillside trail above a valley town, smiling for a photo, with mountains in the distance Italy & Greece Culture, Food & Exploration $5,395Airfare separate Culture12 days 2027 departuresJun 17 · Jun 24 · Jul 1 · Jul 8 · Jul 15 · Jul 22 See dates and prices →
  18. A student rides a small wave on a blue surfboard in PortugalStudents carry a long white surfboard across sand toward the ocean Portugal & Spain Coastal Conservation $5,395Airfare separate Conservation12 days 2027 departuresJun 24 · Jul 1 · Jul 8 · Jul 15 · Jul 22 · Jul 29 See dates and prices →
  19. Students standing beside a rockpool beneath a waterfall in ThailandA student smiles while fastening helmet straps before river rafting Thailand Adventurer $5,495Airfare separate Adventure16 days 2027 departuresJun 16 · Jun 30 See dates and prices →
  20. A student writing on pink paper at a table covered in colorful craft suppliesStudents in helmets and life jackets cheer with raised paddles on a blue raft in whitewater Costa Rica Summer Camp Leadership $5,745Airfare separate Academic/Career15 days 2027 departuresJun 22 · Jul 13 See dates and prices →
  21. Students sit on red seating built into a large outdoor staircase in Seoul, in South KoreaStudents in colorful traditional hanbok pose beside a pond in front of a palace hall in Seoul South Korea Korean Language Immersion $5,995Airfare separate Language14 days 2027 departureJun 30–Jul 13 See dates and prices →
  22. Musicians doing a street performance next to the equestrian statue at Puerta del Sol in Madrid at duskDancers perform flamenco while onlookers clap Spain Spanish Language Immersion $5,995Airfare separate Language15 days 2027 departuresJun 14 · Jul 22 See dates and prices →
  23. Student travelers wearing traditional Korean hanbok walking past a historic building in South KoreaA student volunteer gives a young boy holding a drawing a fist bump Japan & South Korea Tokyo to Seoul $6,490Airfare separate Culture14 days 2027 departuresJun 17 · Jun 24 · Jul 8 See dates and prices →
  24. A student pushes a wheelbarrow of sandbags down a dirt path with local childrenTeen travelers pose on the steps of the White Temple in Thailand Thailand Come With Nothing $6,995Airfare separate Service23 days 2027 departureJun 23–Jul 15 See dates and prices →
  25. A curved sandy bay with fishing boats, turquoise water and forested hills seen from aboveSunset over a quiet beach with a pink and orange sky and a few walkers on the sand Thailand The Land of Smiles $13,000Airfare separate Gap year40 daysAges 17–22 2027 departureMar 29–May 7 See dates and prices →
  26. The Jewel Changi indoor waterfall pours from a glass dome into a garden of palms and tropical treesMarina Bay Sands towers above the Singapore waterfront at dusk beside the lotus-shaped ArtScience Museum China & Singapore Two Models of Innovation $13,680Airfare separate Academic/Career13 days 2027 departureJun 27–Jul 9 See dates and prices →
  27. A group of students lined up on a sandy beach in Australia holding surfboardsA smiling student carries a surfboard along the shore in late afternoon light Australia Queensland Ecosystems and Wildlife Conservation $6,250Airfare separate Conservation14 days 2027 departuresJun 16 · Jul 14 See dates and prices →
  28. Students smile in a gondola gliding down a narrow canal lined with old brick buildings in VeniceStudents gather behind a long wooden table spread with platters of local food Italy Mediterranean Marine Biology in Italy $3,395Airfare separate Conservation12 days 2027 departuresJul 1 · Jul 15 See dates and prices →
  29. Brightly painted row houses in front of a large church in Cobh, County Cork, IrelandGreen hills and rocky cliffs slope down to a turquoise bay with waves rolling onto a small beach Ireland & Iceland Ecovillage to Glacier $6,250Airfare separate Academic/Career13 days 2027 departuresJul 7 · Jul 22 See dates and prices →
  30. Rice terraces and tall palm trees spread across a green hillside in BaliA carved red-brick temple gateway flanked by tall yellow and white banners and stone guardian statues Bali Culture and Adventure $2,195Airfare separate Adventure10 days 2027 departuresJul 5 See dates and prices →
  31. A red torii gate with a woven rope stands at the edge of a calm blue lake with mountains beyondStudents walk through a green cornfield with a greenhouse and mountains behind Japan Countryside Farms & Samurai Villages $3,295Airfare separate Service8 days 2027 departureJul 15–22 See dates and prices →
  32. Students wearing colorful tunics gather around a table to pound ingredients in a large red mortarStudents wearing colorful tunics gather around a table to pound ingredients in a large red mortar School Groups A Trip Built With Your School Per groupQuoted, not listed 38 countriesCustom itinerary TimingYour school calendar Plan a school trip →
Rustic Pathways students with local partners in Costa Rica Students in helmets and life jackets paddle a raft through whitewater in Costa Rica
Rustic Pathways students on program in Costa Rica

Teen travel tuition from $1,995

Plus a $100 enrollment fee. International airfare extra.

$1,995–$13,680
2027 tuition range
17 of 32 programs
Tuition under $4,000
$3.6 million
Need-based scholarships and aid through 2025
Included:
Lodging, meals, in-country transport, activities, and Program Leaders housed on site and available overnight.
Not included:
International airfare, medical insurance (required), travel insurance (optional), passport and visa fees, or immunizations.

Choose a session on the program page to enroll. Tuition and the enrollment fee are due at checkout.

See all 32 program prices · Financial aid and scholarships

Who looks after students, and how

Supervision, including overnight

Program Leaders are housed on site and available overnight.

The median student-to-staff ratio was 4.37:1 across all 2025 and 2026 programs, with a maximum of 7:1. How the ratio is measured →

Risk-management training

Rustic Pathways staff members completed Viristar’s month-long Risk Management for Outdoor Programs certification course.

Read Viristar’s account of the training →

A safety record you can review

Our published incident data covers 13 years, with annual figures, incident classifications, and methodology.

Review our safety record →

What is a teen travel program like?

Small groups, shared experiences

Students explore new places, share meals, and meet local people through hands-on experiences. Groups average 15 students, and most programs cap at 20. Downtime is built into the itinerary.

Independence, with support

Program Leaders manage safety, supervision, and logistics while students take on new experiences and responsibilities. That is structured independence.

No need to bring a friend

Most students join without a friend. First-time travelers can choose programs designed for a first independent trip abroad.

Rustic Pathways students running a camp activity with local children in Costa Rica
On Costa Rica: Summer Camp Leadership, students plan the camp schedule and run six days of activities for local children.

Rustic Pathways service programs are shaped by local communities

Local communities decide what matters. On service programs, partners determine what gets built, planted, taught, or repaired.

No orphanage tourism. No poverty tourism. No résumé-first voluntourism.

Read our service approach →

1.3M+ service hours
Completed by students since 2013.
$93 million spent in-country
With local organizations across 38 countries.
3-year minimum
Length of every community partnership.

What families say about Rustic Pathways

Video thumbnail: a smiling woman holds up a large photo of a traveler riding a camel in the desert

Two children. Ten Rustic Pathways programs.

“Our kids are now world travelers.”

Laura’s two children have completed 10 Rustic Pathways programs between them.

Laura · Parent · Boulder, Colorado

Read Rustic Pathways reviews →

GoAbroad Innovation Awards, 2026 · Skift IDEA Award, 2024 · Awards, memberships, and credentials →

Questions before booking student travel programs

Browse all frequently asked questions →

Who can parents contact at Rustic Pathways, and who is responsible for students on its programs?

  • Patrick ZiemnikPatrick Ziemnik, Leader of Global Operations, Rustic Pathways Patrick Ziemnik Leader of Global Operations Patrick Ziemnik has been with Rustic Pathways since 2012. He previously served as Country Director in Costa Rica, Mongolia and Tanzania and now helps schools choose programs he knows from firsthand operating experience. Patrick is a graduate of Harvard College.
  • Scott IngramScott Ingram, Director of Admissions, Rustic Pathways Scott Ingram Director of Admissions Scott Ingram is Director of Admissions at Rustic Pathways. He answers parent questions directly, helps families understand their options, and can provide firsthand guidance on programs in Japan.
  • Emily GreenEmily Green, Admissions Counselor, Rustic Pathways Emily Green Admissions Counselor Emily Green has been with Rustic Pathways since 2022. A former Program Leader, she now guides families through enrollment for teen travel and gap year programs.
  • Dr. William R. Smith, Medical DirectorDr. William R. Smith, Medical Director, standing beside a Search and Rescue helicopter Dr. William R. Smith Medical Director Dr. William R. Smith is a board-certified emergency physician, U.S. Army Colonel (Ret.), and Rustic Pathways Medical Director since 2015.