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India

India: Wildlife Conservation — Custom School Trips

Groups of 8+ | Custom Dates | 20 Service Hours | Fully Supported | 4.9 on GoOverseas

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Work with Wildlife SOS to improve the lives of rescued sloth bears and Asian Elephants in Agra. Experience an incredible Indian wildlife adventure and participate in animal conservation and rehabilitation practices. Shop in bazaars, visit marble workshops, and dance in a snake charming village. End your program with a sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal.

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

New Delhi

Arrive in New Delhi and meet your Rustic leaders for the week! Enjoy the sights and sounds of New Delhi, India’s exciting capital city, and get to know your Rustic leaders during an evening discussion about India and your upcoming adventure!
2

Agra

After breakfast, drive from New Delhi to Agra for your first day at the Agra Bear Rescue Facility (ABRF). Once you’ve settled in, meet the Wildlife SOS members and watch a documentary about the history of dancing bears and the rehabilitative work of Wildlife SOS with both the sloth bears and the Kalandar community. Enjoy a cup of chai as you discuss your responsibilities over the next few days. See the sloth bears and elephants in their homes as your tour their rescue facilities.
3

First day of Service

Today your service starts! Your main tasks will include monitoring bear behavior, washing and preparing food, feeding the bears, and cleaning bear dens. Your group will also have an opportunity to design and construct an enrichment structure for a bear enclosure. After lunch and a midday nap, participate in the evening bear routine followed by your group’s orientation at the elephant facility. On your way home, stop by a local fruit stand before a traditional Indian dinner. After dinner, prepare bear popsicles with the fruit you purchased earlier!
4

Walk the Elephants

Rise early and walk the elephants! Each student will be paired with an elephant to walk and feed through the beautiful Indian landscape. Learn about the unique challenges the elephants face prior to their rescue. Later, you’ll learn to feed and bathe the elephants. Everyday, lunch will be an array of vegetarian Indian dishes served by the ABRF. After lunch, your group will participate in an evening bear routine. Then, head back to the base house for a delicious Indian dinner followed by a movie night with popcorn and ice cream!
5

Yamuna and Safari

Today, you’ll hop on a boat for a bird watching tour down the serene Yamuna river! Afterwards, hop on a safari vehicle in search of antelope, hyenas, porcupines, deer, and more! Head back to the ABRF for lunch and make final adjustments to your enrichment structure design before construction. Your group will build the enrichment structure in one of the bear enclosures with the help of Wildlife SOS staff. Once complete, take joy in seeing the bears play on your structure! Tonight, your group will tour a marble factory, wander the local market, and enjoy dinner out in Agra.
6

Sapera Village

It’s your last day of volunteering, so soak up every minute with the elephants before you say goodbye. You’ll then tour the ABRF hospital and gift shop before participating in your last bear routine. It’ll be hard to say goodbye to the bears, but there will be no bear hugs. In the evening, head to Sapera village for a special event. The tribe of the Sapera village used to work as snake charmers, which kills snakes, and is a practice now banned from the Indian constitution. Wildlife SOS helped put an end to this practice and now the village works as snake rescuers.
7

Taj Mahal Trip

After a week of volunteering, it’s time for a treat -- visiting the Taj Mahal! Get up early and catch the Taj Mahal at sunrise. After, you’ll visit the Agra Fort and learn about the Mughal Empire and Shan Jahan -- the emperor who constructed the Taj Mahal. After driving back to New Delhi, explore the bazaars one last chance for the perfect souvenir. End with a farewell dinner and get ready for your transition home.
8

Goodbye India!

Say goodbye to your Rustic team. We hope to see you soon!

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 Conservation
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