First Time Travelers

Beginner-friendly trips designed for students new to international travel

15 HOURS+ COMMUNITY SERVICE

Programs offering 15+ service hours through immersive, on-the-ground projects

Limited Space

High-demand programs with limited spots for early applicants

Browse the full collection of travel programs

AMERICAS

AFRICA

EUROPE

PACIFIC

ASIA

Start with our three most-loved regions for first-time travelers. Perfect for high schoolers and parents who want a balance of adventure, safety, and meaningful impact.

SERVICE & IMPACT

Hands-on service programs focused on meaningful community impact

CULTURAL IMMERSION

Deep-dive travel experiences centered on language, culture, and local connection

LEADERSHIP & MORE

Programs that build global leadership, confidence, and real-world skills

Browse the full collection of Rustic Pathways travel programs.

TRENDING
Japan Greece Costa Rica
Italy Fiji Korea

Elizabeth Cortese

Elizabeth Cortese
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Social Media and Influencer Marketing Manager

Liz first developed a passion for travel while summiting Mount Kilimanjaro as a Rustic student. This taught her at an early age the importance of experiential education for students around the world. She has since graduated with a bachelor’s in marketing communications from Emerson College in Boston. When Liz is not hopping from restaurant to restaurant in San Francisco or buried in a New York Times bestseller, she can be found packing her bags to spend time with family and friends.
Published

Latest

And the Winner of Rustic's First Student Design Contest is...

December 19, 2017 · 3 min read

After receiving more than 40 fantastic sticker design submissions, which were narrowed down to nine finalists, we’re excited to announce that Bella Strang received the…

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Rustic Pathways students hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro

Travel Alone At 16: My Teenage Holidays Without Parents

October 19, 2017 · 4 min read

Discover why to travel alone at 16 is one of the best things you can do. Hear from a student whose experience as a teen traveler helped her become independent!

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Serengeti plains in Tanzania

Essential Carry-on Items For Teen Travel

October 12, 2017 · 3 min read

Whether I’m going away for a long weekend or a few weeks on the road the staples in my carry-on are always the same.…

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How I Picked a Topic for My College Application Essay

October 5, 2017 · 3 min read

Riely McCullough, of Seattle, Washington, traveled with Rustic in 2015 and used her experience as the topic for her college application essays. Read about how…

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Why I Keep Coming Back: The Benefits of Traveling Abroad a Second Time

February 9, 2017 · 5 min read

Have you heard? Star Alumni is BACK and we're beyond excited! We love providing our stand-out alumni with the ability to join us again because a second (or third, or maybe even fourth!) Rustic experience gives you the opportunity to improve both the cross cultural and personal skill sets you started to build on your…

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