The journey from India to Thailand wasn't that long. But for scholarship student Apurva Anand, the travel program would take him to another world - one where he'd learn more about elephant conservation and himself.
Mark Scaglione first traveled with Rustic Pathways when he was 14 years old. Years later his journeys helped spark an interest in journalism and a career at NBC News.
Kristen grew up in a rural community where stories about international travel weren't common. She would change that when she journeyed to Thailand for a trip that was both quite different and yet remarkably similar to the travel programs of today.
Madeline Moore was nervous when she first traveled with Rustic Pathways. But with each new experience she grew more confident as she saw how different life can be in various corners of the globe.