India Teen Travel Programs

Rustic Pathways began operations in India in 2004. Our programs here expose students to a wide spectrum of culture and scenery. From the warm southern waters of Kerala to the bustling streets of New Delhi and up into the Himalayas and the mist-shrouded peaks of McLeod Ganj, our local staff members delight in sharing their country with students.

Your Child’s Safety in India: What Sets Rustic Apart

Every Rustic Pathways program in India operates under the same safety infrastructure we’ve built over 43 years across 38 countries. Rustic Pathways has operated in India for 22 years.

On the ground with your child:

4.37:1 staff-to-student ratio, nearly double our 7:1 promise and 83% better than ACA standards
Staff are 100% CPR/First Aid certified, with 40% holding Wilderness First Responder credentials
Each program has at least one leader with 3+ years of field experience

When something happens:

8 minutes to full crisis team activation
27 minutes average to parent notification
Updates every 3 hours during active situations
24/7 emergency hotline: +1-440-220-4565

Medical oversight:

Full-time Medical Director Dr. William R. Smith, board-certified emergency physician, U.S. Army Colonel, 20+ years wilderness medicine
Parents can contact Dr. Smith directly

Our track record:

55,702 travelers since 2014. 88% of all logged incidents are minor: headaches, scrapes, stomach bugs
Only 9 in every 1,000 travelers experience anything beyond basic first aid
We publish quarterly safety reports, the first teen travel company to do so

Read our full safety record, including 12 years of published incident data