Unique adventures in Asia, Africa & Latin America combining language, study, service, home-stays and wilderness for authentic cultural immersions in China, Tibet, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, India, Guatemala, Peru, Bolivia, Senegal and Morocco for students 15 and up.

 

In the days before the world had been fully charted, map-makers would draw in Dragons to represent the lands that were still unknown. Bold explorers who ventured beyond the map's edge were said to go “where there be dragons.”

Founded in 1992, Where There Be Dragons (or Dragons for short,) has guided thousands of students on rugged, honest, small-group journeys in the developing world. Dragons courses are dynamic and fun adventures, taking participants to seldom visited parts of colorful lands, and introducing them to unique, illuminating aspects of traditional culture.

Over an extended period of time, immersed in strikingly different physical and cultural landscapes, Dragons courses combine the best in experiential education, travel, service learning, and physically and intellectually engaging experiences. When our students step out of the familiar world and settle into a richly different one, they gain a unique point of reference from which they can look back on their own lives with greater clarity and perspective. On each course we challenge, educate, and provide a forum for deep reflection of our own culture and values, while becoming familiar with the complicated relationships that cross cultures and continents. While courses vary in their focus – with some trekking and wilderness intensive, others strong on service and development studies, and still others language oriented – all Dragons courses are designed above all else to be fun, safe journeys that put a premium on educational experiences.

We believe that the safest, most insightful, honest, and fun travel experiences happen when small groups make the most of the unique assets available to them. As a professional guiding company, with more than 60,000 participant-days of leadership experience overseas, we have found that students' experiences are richest and most rewarding when we work with each leader team to draw on the leaders’ unique strengths and backgrounds, when we reach out to the students and integrate their special goals and interests, and when we pay careful attention to the ever-changing environmental challenges that are common to the developing world. For Dragons, this translates to a core philosophy wherein each course is a dynamic process that is not limited to a static itinerary. In place of a rigid itinerary - set in stone a year in advance - our course plans are ever attentive to on-site realities that can seldom be fully predicted.

By sizing our groups with ten to twelve participants, and ensuring an average staff to student ratio of 1:4, we are able to maintain sensible, responsive dynamism. By focusing on a process rather than an itinerary, we ensure that all partners in course planning are constantly focused on the primary goals of safety and educational experience, and it ensures that we make the most of the unique variables of place, character of students, and experience of staff.

2009 SUMMER YOUTH TRAVEL PROGRAMS

China

China Comprehensive: June 28, 2009 - August 8, 2009 - $6,950

China Internship program: June 28, 2009 - August 8, 2009 - $6200

China, Language Intensive: June 28, 2009 - August 8, 2009 - $7150

China, Language Intensive (4 weeks): June 28, 2009 - July 28, 2009 - $5950

China, The Modern Miracle: June 28, 2009 - August 8, 2009 - $7250

Silk Road, Linking People and Traditions: June 28, 2009 - August 8, 2009 - $6950

Southeast Asia

Thailand, The Spirit of Greng Jai: June 28, 2009 - August 8, 2009 - $5,950

Cambodia, Studies in Peace: June 28-August 8 - $ 6,850

Vietnam, Pearl of Asia: June 28-August 8 - $6,900

Himalayas

North India: Identity in Exile: June 27, 2009 - August 7, 2009 - $6,700

Tibet, Cultural Odyssey: June 27, 2009 - August 7, 2009 - $7,400

North India, Himalayan Adventure: June 27, 2009 - August 7, 2009 - $6,700

Nepal, Arts of the Himalayas: June 27, 2009 - July 27, 2009 - $5,900

Sikkim, Spiritual Traditions of Northeast India: June 27, 2009 - July 27, 2009 - $5,450

Latin America

Brazil, Sustainable Future: June 28, 2009 - August 8, 2009 - $6,850

Guatemala, Mundo Maya:  June 28, 2009 - August 8, 2009 - $6,200

Guatemala, Mundo Maya 4-week: June 28, 2009 - July 28, 2009 - $5,700

Peru, Sacred Mountains: June 28, 2009 - August 8, 2009 - $7,050

Peru, Sacred Mountains 4-week:  June 28, 2009 - July 28, 2009 - $6,650

Bolivia: Culture and Ecology: June 28, 2009 - August 8, 2009 - $6,950

Africa

Senegal, The Warm Embrace of West Africa: June 28, 2009 - August 8, 2009 - $6,350

Morocco, Crossroads of Mountains and Faith: June 28, 2009 - August 8, 2009 - $6,600

Rwanda, The Transformation of Society: June 28, 2009 - August 8, 2009 - $6,350

2009 Semester, Gap Year & College-Accredited Study Abroad Programs

China: South of the Clouds Semester: $10,150

Visions of India Semester: $9,980

Himalayan Studies Semester: $10,375

Andes & Amazon Semester: $10,350

The Rhythm of West Africa Semester: $9,785

Life Along the Mekong Semester: $10,700

All semesters Sept 6 to Dec 8; Feb 9 to May 12

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