Teen Tours in India


RUSTIC PATHWAYS IN INDIA
Our friendly and welcoming staff are as diverse as the Indian subcontinent. From residents of the southern shores of the Kerala Backwaters to families in the northern peaks of the Ladakhi Himalayas, our full-time and part-time staff have been bringing a wealth of local knowledge to our summer, Gap Year, family, and private trips since 2005.

AIRLINE INFORMATION and PROGRAM CONNECTIVITY
Weekly escorted flights for Rustic Pathways students from Newark to Delhi run throughout the summer. U.S. students meet in Newark and travel together with their flight leader to and from India. Please see rusticpathways.com/flights for details. All of our India programs connect together seamlessly. All India programs also connect directly to our programs in Thailand, Burma, Laos, Cambodia, China, Vietnam, and Mongolia. All departure dates show physical departures from the United States.

FACT FILE
 
Population 1.16 billion
Capital City New Delhi
Currency Rupee – 1 U.S. dollar buys about 43 rupees (as of September 2010)
Language Plentiful – 14 official languages and hundreds of dialects, 41 percent of the population speaks Hindi
Well-Known Attractions Taj Mahal – one of the seven wonders of the world The Himalayas – the world's highest mountain range Pushkar Camel Fair – careful, they spit... 20,000 times!

LOCAL LINGO

Namaste Hello
Dhanyevad Thank you
Kam Caro Make it cheaper. (You'll dhanyevad us for this one in the market.)

DID YOU KNOW?
As the world's largest democracy, India prides itself on its rich tapestry of cultures and communities. It is said there is a new language and a different group of people every twenty kilometers. After gaining independence on August 15, 1947 from the British, India has quickly become a unified nation and is an emerging world superpower.

 

THE LOST CHILDREN OF INDIA


9 days from USA
4 departures available
Price: $ 1,695
Ages: 14 and up

Up to 36 Community Service Hours
The perfect introduction to Indian life and culture where you will spend a week volunteering at a heartwarming orphanage. You'll help care for infants, teach introductory English to the younger kids, and practice conversational skills with the older children. More than that though – you'll play with kids, become an older sibling to them, and help provide a meaningful future for these youths.

SERVICE IN THE CLOUDS


16 days from USA
3 departures available
Price: $ 2,495
Ages: 15 and up

Up to 72 Community Service Hours
Experience service in the clouds while you immerse yourself in “Tibet in India.” Live and work with Tibetans in the beautiful mountain town of McLeod Ganj. Teach English and computer skills to Tibetan villagers. Learn yoga, traditional meditation, Tibetan cooking, Buddhist philosophy, and more on this spiritually rewarding service trip in the Himalaya foothills. 
 

Himalayan Photo Expedition


16 days from USA
1 departure available
Price: $ 2,995
Ages: 16 and up

From the novice looking to develop their skills, to the most-experienced shooter, this program is ideal for anyone seeking to improve their photography expertise. Led by experienced photographers, journey through the high Himalaya Mountains on the search for the perfect image while visiting secluded monasteries, staying in traditional yert huts with a nomadic village, and even seeing the famed Taj Mahal!

The North Indian Cultural Experience


16 days from USA
1 departure available
Price: $ 2,995
Ages: 16 and up

Up to 72 Community Service Hours
A wonderful blend of community service, adventure, and a true Indian immersion experience. Work on environmental conservation projects, volunteer at a center for the blind, and assist in rural development projects. Spend part of the program living with an Indian family, plus mix in an overnight camel safari, small treks through the mountainside, and a jeep safari to try and spot the elusive Indian panther!
 

THE SPECTACULAR KERALA BACKWATERS


9 days from USA
3 departures available
Price: $ 1,995
Ages: 14 and up

Up to 25 Community Service Hours
You’ll travel deep into the 900 kilometers of hidden backwater waterways that the Kerala make their homes in, lend a hand through sensational service opportunities, and discover unspoiled villages while living on ketavallums. A place considered by Lonely Planet to be one of the “10 things-to-do-before-you-die,” this service trip will take that a step further and provide you the most unique way to see this spectacular region in all of it’s splendor! 

South Indian Sea and Safari


16 days from USA
1 departure available
Price: $ 2,995
Ages: 16 and up

There is an old saying that traders used to make their money in China, but spend it in Kerala. As soon as you step into the relaxed coastal life on the Arabian Sea, you’ll know why! It is an area with rich religious history, a domino-effect of foreign invasions and occupations that have left a multitude of influences, and is home to one of the world’s largest tea estates, and many of the world’s most sought-after spices. Welcome to the captivating south of India; welcome to Kerala!
 

INSPIRING INDIA ADVENTURE


9 days from USA
3 departures available
Price: $ 1,695
Ages: 14 and up

Seeing India is awe-inspiring, but immersing yourself in this vibrant country’s colorful culture is simply unforgettable. You’ll know what it’s like to walk across the gleaming white marble of the Taj Mahal as the cool morning sun casts its first light; you’ll become familiar with the sound of Delhi’s bustling markets as you master the art of bargaining; and you’ll reminisce about riding an elephant to Jaipur’s famous Amber Fort the way royalty did centuries ago. Don’t miss out on this Inspiring adventure through the best of India.