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India

India: House Boat Service Adventure — Custom School Trips

Groups of 8+ | Custom Dates | Fully Supported | 4.9 on GoOverseas

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Experience houseboat living on a traditional Ketuvallam houseboat. Engage in service learning initiatives at the nearby school. Take a trip to the beach for swimming or camel rides. Paddle on Vembanand Lake and participate in a mock Onam Festival that welcomes the Gods to Kerala.

Custom School Trip

Contact us for a custom quote

Custom dates & duration. Groups of 8+.

Response within 1 business day

Anna Beckerman

Anna Beckerman

Head of School Group Travel

Dartmouth · 15 years at Rustic

321+ school partners since 2010

Not sure yet?

Email Rustic Pathways

Talk to a personal travel advisor: +1 (440) 975-9691

Schedule a call

View program itinerary

What Does a 8-Day Program Include?

A typical program. Daily activities are subject to change based on group logistics and weather.

1

Welcome to India!

Arrive into Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi Airport (DEL) and meet your Program Leaders who will be with you for the duration of the program. Head to the hotel and settle in, relaxing after your long flight, and join the group for an orientation discussion about the week ahead, expectations for your adventure, and an introduction to the local culture.
2

Experience Houseboat Living

Catch a flight from Delhi to Cochin, then head directly to Alleppey where you will settle into a traditional Ketuvallam houseboat. Once you’re settled in, break into smaller groups and begin lesson planning for an afternoon in a nearby school. Design your lesson plans with help from local staff to make them as fun and impactful as possible. Head to the school for an afternoon of service work, then return to the houseboat for a friendly canoe race among your group and take a stroll through the paddy fields. Tonight, your group will have the first of a series of nightly reflections and discussion periods. Tonight’s discussion will revolve around how we conceptualize “service.”
3

Continue Service

Continue your service at the nearby school, splitting your time between teaching and working on a small construction project designed with the school principal. In the afternoon, hop aboard a rickshaw and visit Santhwan Home for students with intellectual disabilities. Meet the students who call this place home, learn about their lives, and share your own stories over afternoon tea. In the evening, take a dip in the peaceful Kerala backwaters right off the deck of your mobile boat home! Join your group for a post-service debrief in the evening, discussing what you experienced and learned through hands-on work in the community.
4

Swimming and Service

Head back to the school for another morning of service and then visit the Santhwan Home to continue the interactions and activities from the previous day. In the evening, take an (optional) trip to the beach for swimming or camel rides! Then settle back into your houseboat home for a sadya dinner and a chance to reflect in your journal about your experience on the program so far.
5

Paddle on Vembanand Lake

After another morning of service at the school visit Santhi Bhawan, a home for the elderly. Spend time with the residents, help build a vegetable garden, and harvest tapioca. In the evening, paddle in traditional country boats through the secluded waterways of Vembanand Lake. Pass by small villages and see how village life is attuned to the waterways of this area.
6

Experience a Festival and Ayurveda

Focus on cultural immersion today. Participate in a mock Onam Festival that welcomes the Gods to Kerala. Create beautiful patterns from freshly picked flowers on the deck of your boat, dress in traditional Indian clothing, and have a huge feast on banana leaves as you engage with the local culture. You’ll also have the chance to get a massage in the birthplace of the Ayurveda massage. In the evening, enjoy your last sunset cruise through Kerala’s backwater canals, lakes, and rivers.
7

Return to Life on Land

Say goodbye to the waterways and the houseboat that was home. Transition to your ‘land legs’ again! Catch a flight back to Delhi and freshen up at the hotel before heading out to explore a few local bazaars for last minute souvenir shopping. This evening, celebrate with a final meal together at a Delhi restaurant and wrap up the trip with one last discussion and reflection. At the end of each program, students reflect on their experiences and the issues they engaged with, and talk about how to apply this new understanding to their own worlds. During or after their closing discussion, groups participate in Rustic Ties, a unique and powerful activity that allows students to capture the memories and learning moments of their program to process and share with their communities back home.
8

Namaste, India!

On your last day in India, use your bargaining skills to shop for last souvenirs before heading to a resort in South Delhi to relax in a pool and enjoy a final dinner. Your Program Leaders will take you to the airport for your departure as you say goodbyes and reflect on your adventure.

Total: 8 calendar days / 7 nights. International flights are not included.

How Does Rustic Pathways Handle Safety?

24/7 Support

In-person staff + US emergency line

Trained Program Leaders

Background-checked, first-aid certified, deep local knowledge

Licensed & Insured Transport

Risk management plans for every program

Customizable Itinerary

Custom dates and duration

Learn more about Rustic Pathways safety protocols.

India

What Do School Organizers Ask?

Flights & Cost

How do flights work?

School groups can arrange their own flights, or Rustic Pathways can arrange them as an optional add-on. In either case, teachers fly with students, and Rustic Pathways coordinates airport pickup and handles all in-country logistics.

What's included in the price?

Included: Lodging, all meals, in-country transport, all activities, 24/7 staff.
Not included: International airfare, travel insurance, personal spending ($150–200).

Is travel insurance required?

Travel insurance is not included in the program fee. Rustic Pathways recommends that families purchase travel insurance. Get a quote from our recommended provider →

Supervision & Safety

Who supervises the students?

Rustic Pathways Program Leaders complete a four-month vetting process, and programs maintain a 7:1 student-to-staff ratio. All Program Leaders are first-aid certified, and most have led multiple Rustic Pathways programs. Leaders range from 25 to 35 years old.

Are rooms gender-separated?

Yes. Students room with same-gender peers. Staff stay in adjacent rooms.

What about medical emergencies?

All Program Leaders are first-aid certified. Nearest hospitals are mapped out in all locations. Our health & safety team reviews all medical forms before departure and works with families to plan medications, allergies, and dietary needs.

Communication

Can students contact home?

Yes. Rustic Pathways’ policy is that students can call, text, or WhatsApp anytime. Rustic Pathways is happy to defer to established school policies instead.

How do families stay informed?

Rustic Pathways sends daily photo updates throughout the program.

Group & Logistics

How big is the group?

Group size varies based on the school’s needs. Contact Rustic Pathways for a custom quote.

Can friends room together?

Yes. Rustic Pathways provides a room list prior to travel. Schools can assign rooming allocations or allow students to choose their roommates.

Program Details

Will students have unsupervised time?

Structured independence with staff nearby. No unsupervised time in public areas.

Can Rustic Pathways accommodate food allergies? 

Yes. Dietary needs are collected during enrollment and shared with all meal providers.

How much spending money should students have?

$150–200 recommended. Tipping is included, no extra cash needed.

Support

What if a student gets homesick?

Homesickness can be common during the first few days; Rustic Pathways is well-prepared. See how staff support students through homesickness

Does Rustic Pathways support neurodiverse students?

Rustic Pathways welcomes all students. Read how Rustic Pathways supports neurodiverse students.

What Should Teachers Know?

Which students thrive on this program?
Students who are curious, adaptable, and open to new experiences. No prior travel experience is required.
What will students do each day?
Each day includes a mix of structured activities, cultural experiences, and group time. See the itinerary above for a day-by-day overview.
India offers a unique combination of cultural richness, safety, and meaningful engagement opportunities for student groups. Rustic Pathways has operated programs here for years and maintains strong local partnerships.
How Do Flights Work?
School groups can arrange their own flights, or Rustic Pathways can arrange them as an optional add-on. In either case, teachers fly with students, and Rustic Pathways program leaders meet the group at the arrival airport and manage all in-country logistics from there.
What Meals Are Included?
All meals included. Dietary needs accommodated.
Included:
  • All lodging
  • All meals
  • In-country transport
  • All activities and excursions
  • 24/7 staff support
Not Included:
  • International airfare
  • Travel insurance
  • Personal spending money

What Other Program Types Are Available?

India Asia Service + Adventure
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