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Where There Be Dragons

9.76 (42)Verified27 Programs

Why choose Where There Be Dragons?

At Where There Be Dragons, we believe connecting with others & new parts of yourself are foundational to creating a more just, compassionate, and inclusive world. We have offered immersive and responsible Gap Year and Summer Abroad programs in Asia, Latin America, Africa, and the USA for nearly 30 years. Engaging as travelers, not tourists, programs give students the rare opportunity to genuinely...

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Where There Be Dragons Reviews

Hear what past participants have to say about the programs

Overall Rating

9.76

Total Reviews

42
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A Life-changing 3 Months

by: Rowan Carr - United StatesProgram: Nepal Semester: Himalayan Studies (Gap Year)
10

I spent 3 months in Nepal with Where There Be Dragons. On my trip I spent a week at a buddhist monestary learning philosophy and medication and living alongside monks as they went about their daily lives. I lived for 2 weeks with a family in a rural village. During my time there I experienced life as a local while also having daily language lessons and group activities with the rest of my group. The family I stayed with spoke very little english and, at the time, I spoke very little Nepali, desp...

Yellow tents below 2 snowy mountainscelebrating Tihar with my city family

The trip of a lifetime— immersive and unfiltered!

by: Jennifer W - United StatesProgram: Senegal: Youth Leadership, Arts, & Culture (Summer)
10

The Where There Be Dragons summer program in Senegal was the opportunity of a lifetime to really experience another culture with no filters. Students were really allowed to interact and BE in the culture, rather than just looking at it or learning about it from afar. I'll never forget sitting on a mat under the stars with my homestay family, learning simple words in Pulaar, eating grilled corn, looking at a sky full of thousands of stars, and the last evening with them when we danced late into t...

Trekking near Dindefelo villageGroup picturePlanting mangrove trees

My Himalayan semester

by: Olivia - GermanyProgram: Nepal Semester: Himalayan Studies (Gap Year)
10

My Himalayan semester was one of the best experiences I have ever had. From rural homestays to trekking in the Himalayas, it was full to the brim of adventure, community, culture and collaboration. My instructors were absolutely amazing as were my fellow Dragons students. The space that Dragons creates for self reflection and growth along with building an incredible group environment was something unique and awesome. On a trip like this it is expected that at one point or another you are pushed ...

Trekking in the Himalayas

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Interviews

Read interviews from alumni or staff

Matthew Ambrogi

Participated in 2014

Alumni

First off, it wasn't an easy decision. But, for me, it was something I had to do. I was in my freshman year of college, working so hard everyday for an engineering degree, but I felt that I was missing out of an immensely valuable educational experience: traveling abroad. I knew there was more out there and I needed to see it. I had thought about taking a gap year the previous year but, for one reason or another (fear and a feeling that "no one does that"), I ended up at college. I had done some research and was really excited about my options, so I decided to act.

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Hilary LeBlanc - Admissions Associate

Interviewed in 2018

Staff

What inspired you to travel abroad?

Before starting at Dragons, I worked for a number of years in outdoor and experiential education. I was working with students in the capacity that I loved and this wasn’t something I wanted to give up, but it also wasn’t totally sustainable for me as these were all seasonal positions.

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Megan Fettig

Interviewed in 2018

Staff

What inspired you to travel abroad?

What inspires you to work with Where There Be Dragons?

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Recognitions

Check out awards and recognitions Where There Be Dragons has received