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Rustic Pathways Reviews 

218
TrustScore 5 out of 5

4.9

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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

During the week of being in Ulaanbaatar, Rustic Pathways has shown me the many sides of Mongolia, including traditional and modern food and even experience what nomadic Mongolians live like in gers. I... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

The rustic pathways staff was soooo nice I miss p chet and p sara soo much and also inikaa. The activities were sooo fun especially the night market. We all cried when we left.

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Everything about Rustic Pathways is awesome, flawless, exciting, and I would never change my thoughts on it. They are experts when it comes to perfectly organizing your trip and making sure nothing go... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

My daughter went on her 3rd trip with Rustic Pathways and once again had a great time! Fiji did not disappoint! She loves the large amount of community service hours that the program offered as it... See more

Company replied

Company details

  1. Tour Operator
  2. Travel Agency

About Rustic Pathways

Written by the company

Our promise to you

Rustic Pathways

Rustic Pathways is an educational travel company founded in 1983 that operates supervised group programs for students ages 14–18 across 38+ destination countries.

Based in Mentor, Ohio, Rustic Pathways has served 155,829+ students from 53 countries of origin through cultural immersion, service-learning, and adventure programs. The company has been led by CEO Shayne Fitz-Coy since 2020.

World Travel Awards 2025: Named United States' Leading Tour Operator, defeating four-time defending winner National Geographic Expeditions (2021–2024) and nominees including G Adventures, Bindlestiff Tours, Project Por Amor, and Tours-USA.com.

Rustic Pathways was the first teen travel operator in the industry to:

  • Employ a full-time Medical Director
  • Publish quarterly safety reports
  • Track longitudinal student outcomes through a published 10-outcome research framework

Operating Divisions

  • Teen Travel: Open-enrollment programs in cultural immersion, service-learning, adventure, and conservation for individual students ages 14–18. Programs operate across six continents with a documented staff-to-student ratio of 4.37:1.
  • School Group Travel: Custom-designed educational travel programs for middle schools, high schools, and universities. Includes curriculum-integrated itineraries, faculty-led experiences, and service-learning aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals.
  • Student Learning Outcomes: Program outcomes are measured through 10 Student Learning Outcomes tracked before, immediately after, and six months post-program. 97.6% of students demonstrate measurable growth in at least one outcome, and 8 of 10 outcomes sustain across the cohort at six months.

Research & Academic Partnerships

Rustic Pathways research partners include:

  • Stanford University’s Deliberative Democracy Lab
  • Boston College Purpose Lab

A 2024 peer-reviewed study published in Adolescents (DOI: 10.3390/adolescents4010007) linked Rustic Pathways’ Climate Leaders Fellowship to adolescent civic purpose development.

Recognition & Awards

  • World Travel Awards 2025
  • WYSE Travel Confederation Best Youth Tour Operator (2015, 2017, 2018, 2019)
  • Travel Weekly Magellan Gold 2024
  • Skift IDEA Awards 2024
  • 4.8–4.9 star ratings across Google, GoOverseas, GoAbroad, and Trustpilot

Contact info

4.9

Excellent

TrustScore 5 out of 5

218 reviews

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4.9

All reviews

(218)

10 reviews in the last 12 months

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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

The rustic pathways staff was sooo nice!

The rustic pathways staff was soooo nice I miss p chet and p sara soo much and also inikaa. The activities were sooo fun especially the night market. We all cried when we left.

November 23, 2025
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Reply from Rustic Pathways

Thank you for sharing! Chet, Sara, and Inika will be so happy to hear this. We’re glad you enjoyed the night market and all the activities!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Very fun experience

The company made everything very fun, even though we don’t have a lot of time each day.

November 22, 2025
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Reply from Rustic Pathways

We’re so glad you had fun!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Ulaanbaatar

During the week of being in Ulaanbaatar, Rustic Pathways has shown me the many sides of Mongolia, including traditional and modern food and even experience what nomadic Mongolians live like in gers. In addition, the program leaders gave very clear instructions and they are friendly and talkative! What I enjoyed the most was visiting breathtaking view spots, such as the Zaisan Monument and thd Genghis Khan statue, as well as playing with ankle bone games and with friends during downtime. 100% would recommend!

November 15, 2025
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Reply from Rustic Pathways

Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re thrilled you got to explore so much of Mongolia, from the gers to the amazing view spots, and that you enjoyed the activities and time with friends. We really appreciate your recommendation!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Inika was very funny and nice which…

Inika was very funny and nice which made me happy

November 16, 2025
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Reply from Rustic Pathways

We’re thrilled to hear that Inika’s humor and kindness made your experience a happy one. We appreciate you taking the time to leave a review!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

As the parent

As the parent, we were well informed, sent photos, and emails about arrivals and daily experiences. The program was well thought out and it was a great mix of culture, service hours and fun.

August 11, 2025
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Reply from Rustic Pathways

Thank you for sharing your feedback! It’s wonderful to hear that the mix of culture, service, and fun created such a meaningful experience for your child.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Amazing team and support lead to a…

Amazing team and support lead to a fantastic experience! My kids had such a wonderful adventure and truly felt safe. They got off the plan and immediately asked if they could go again in the future. Loved everything about this experience for my kids.

August 2, 2025
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Reply from Rustic Pathways

Thank you so much! We’re thrilled your kids had such a wonderful adventure and felt safe throughout. It’s amazing to hear they’re already asking about their next trip. We can’t wait to welcome them back for another unforgettable experience!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

kids were given enough latitude to have…

kids were given enough latitude to have fun and bond.
Organization of group was correct for their age and personalities(not easy).

August 2, 2025
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Reply from Rustic Pathways

Thank you for your review! We’re glad to hear the group dynamics and structure felt right for the students.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

My daughter went on her 3rd trip with…

My daughter went on her 3rd trip with Rustic Pathways and once again had a great time!
Fiji did not disappoint!
She loves the large amount of community service hours that the program offered as it allowed them to immerse fully with the local community!
Thanks again for providing a wonderful experience to these students!

August 3, 2025
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Reply from Rustic Pathways

Thank you so much! We’re honored your daughter joined us for her third trip and thrilled to hear Fiji was another great experience. We’re grateful for your continued trust and support!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Trip of a lifetime!

Trip of a lifetime!
Rustic Pathways did a great job of making traveling easy for a teenager. Communication was great, always prompt and helpful. My daughter had an amazing experience, made wonderful new friends, and now has the travel bug. We would do this again!

July 27, 2025
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Reply from Rustic Pathways

We’re so glad your daughter had a trip of a lifetime, came home with new friends and a love for travel. We’d love to have her join us again for another adventure!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Amazing memories and great new friends

Amazing memories and great new friends.
This was my daughter's first trip with Rustic Pathways and she said it was truly life changing. She's already looking at where she wants to go next year.
She was lucky enough to be on a trip with only 4 girls and had so much hands on experience and made life long friends!

July 27, 2025
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Reply from Rustic Pathways

Thank you so much for sharing! We’re thrilled your daughter had such an incredible experience. It’s wonderful to hear she’s already looking forward to another adventure next year. We can’t wait to welcome her back!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

My daughter had an amazing experience

My daughter had an amazing experience. She found the people of Costa Rica Amazing. She found the other campers to be wonderful and the leaders we’re really nice and kind and knowledgeable.

July 27, 2025
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Reply from Rustic Pathways

We’re so happy to hear your daughter had such a meaningful experience in Costa Rica. We appreciate your family choosing Rustic Pathways!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Amazing experience

Amazing experience ! My son had a wonderful time . Highly recommended! My daughter wants to go next year it was so amazing . Great organization! Great photos great activities and group thanks!

July 26, 2025
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Reply from Rustic Pathways

We're thrilled to hear your son had such a wonderful time, and that your daughter is already excited for her own adventure next year! It means so much to know the experience, activities, and group made a lasting impression. We can’t wait to welcome your family back!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

La Fortuna

My son had an incredible time in Costa Rica with Rustic Pathways. He absolutely loved all the counselors. They were not only engaging and entertaining, but also did a fantastic job keeping the group safe and supported throughout the trip. He enjoyed every aspect of the week, from meaningful community service projects to thrilling adventures like white water rafting and ziplining. It was truly an unforgettable experience, and we’re so grateful for the care and enthusiasm the Rustic Pathways team brought to the program. We can't wait for our next trip.

July 20, 2025
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Reply from Rustic Pathways

Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re so glad to hear your son had an unforgettable time in Costa Rica. It sounds like he truly embraced the experience and we’re thrilled our team could help make it so special. We can’t wait to welcome him back for the next adventure!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Sending my 13 year old for the first…

Sending my 13 year old for the first time to travel alone was kind of scary to begin with but he not only went had an amazing time and made so many new friends and came back with so many memories. Tokyo fusion was a great first trip for my teen. He definitely will be doing more trips in the future.

July 18, 2025
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Reply from Rustic Pathways

Thank you so much for sharing this! We know how big a step it is to send your child on their first solo travel experience, and we're so glad to hear it was a positive one. We’d love to welcome him on another adventure soon!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

My daughter had an amazing trip -Communication A+

My daughter had an amazing trip, she loved the Pura Vida and Serf & Service weeks in Costa Rica. She enjoyed each aspect or the trip. As a parent I am so happy with the communication from RP -we had multiple calls before the trip to check in and ask any questions we may have had, there were picture updates almost daily. My daughter was injured(not badly & not from any of activities) while in Costa Rica and again the communication was top notch. I would 100% support her going on a RP trip again.

July 9, 2025
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Reply from Rustic Pathways

Thank you for choosing Rustic Pathways! We’re thrilled your daughter had such a great experience in Costa Rica. We hope to see her again soon!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

An Amazing Experience

My daughter had an amazing experience with Rustic Pathways. The team was helpful and responsive with organizing the logistics to and from the program. The itinerary was thoughtful and allowed for time to connect with other students and learn about other cultures. Highly recommend.

July 7, 2025
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Reply from Rustic Pathways

We’re so glad to hear your daughter had an amazing experience. We truly appreciate your recommendation and are so grateful you chose Rustic Pathways!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I had a great experience with rustic…

I had a great experience with rustic pathways. With rustic I went to Portugal and Italy. The one thing that made the trip great in both places was the people. I also think that rustic did a very good job with selecting activities for us to do.

July 8, 2025
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Reply from Rustic Pathways

Thank you so much fro your review! We're thrilled you had such a great experience in both Portugal and Italy.We hope to travel with you again soon!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

A Fantastic Program!

This was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had! This was my first time traveling with RP, so I went into it not really knowing what it would be like, but it truly blew me away. My flight to the program was canceled so I was a day late, but they still made sure there was someone at the destination airport to greet me and get me to the rest of the group. My leaders, Inika, David, and Henrike were definitely the reason that made the trip so incredible. Always felt safe and comfortable. Highly recommend!

July 1, 2025
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Reply from Rustic Pathways

Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We're so glad your first program with Rustic Pathways was amazing. We’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to Inika, David and Henrike! We hope to see you on another adventure soon!

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