In sections below are answers to over one hundred different frequently asked questions about our programs. If you can’t find the answer to your question on this page, please contact us – we are happy to chat to you, your family, or advisor.
Pacific Discovery was founded in 2001 by directors Rachel Sanson and Scott Burnett with the express purpose of providing pivotal experiences for young people that would also have a positive impact on the world – life changing experiences that make the world a better place!
In 2018 the reins were handed to another kiwi, Zach Johnston. Alongside continued input from Rachel and Scott, Zach’s varied educational and leadership experience made him the perfect person to continue the focus on authentic and inspiring international travel.
You can read more about us and our journey here.
Pacific Discovery is a small organization and is very personable. Our team takes an active interest in each student’s journey with Pacific Discovery. We deliberately use an overseas adventure travel environment to maximize the educational and life-skills potential for our students. Our programs are made up of six different but interrelated components – experiential education, service projects, cultural immersion, international travel, adventure education, and personal and leadership development. We facilitate these program elements to maximize the educational opportunities making our programs so much more than a travel or traditional study abroad experience. Please read about our points of difference.
Our programs are meticulously researched and individually designed by the Program Directors. We continually refine our programs so that they are cutting-edge in the field of experiential education. Every program is a very special and unique experience. We work directly with each individual student and family to ensure programs are a good fit and help students gain as much as they can from their program experience. The Program Directors and a small team of dedicated staff are involved in every aspect of the programs – from answering phone and email inquiries to developing and running our programs. As a small educational travel organization, we are able to offer some of the most affordable Gap Year programs while maintaining integrity and excellence. If you want to travel with a small organization offering 'real' unsantized experiences; if you want to travel with a group of like-minded people who become family; if you want your sides to hurt from laughing; if you want a program that's like a shot of adrenaline, snapping you into the present moment, engaging you, then holding your interest through a deliberate series of challenging and rewarding experiences, facilitated to enable learning and growth...then cool, join us!
We have undergone and maintain comprehensive accreditations with the Gap Year Association (USA), Year Out Group (UK), and OutdoorsMark (NZ). We have chosen to go through a rigorous accreditation process with these bodies to ensure that Pacific Discovery has cutting edge ‘best practice’ policies in the gap-year and outdoor education fields and to assure the students and families we work with that we maintain the highest safety and program standards in the industry.
Each program varies in physical challenge, wilderness expeditions, and service-learning projects; however, they all are designed to push your comfort zones and facilitate a meaningful experience. If you are unsure of which program you want to participate in, contact us and we will help you to find the right fit. You can also check out our program specific itineraries for a day-to-day schedule for each program.
Yes, we regularly have participants who have dietary preferences (vegetarian, vegan etc) or food allergies on our programs. Please refer to the meals section of this travel information page for more information.
Students on a Mid Teen program have the option to meet their group and at least one instructor at a hub city airport to then fly to the program start location, or, families can purchase flights independently on their own or through our in house travel agent, The Travellist. You are responsible for coordinating and funding travel to and from the hub city.
Our dedicated and experienced instructors will be with the group throughout the entire program. Students will be expected to abide by curfews set by their instructors and nightly check-ins will follow. Students are always expected to be in a buddy system with at least one other person during free time or activities where the group may be more dispersed, but instructors will always remain with the group.
We know that getting a good night’s sleep is critical when you have a busy schedule traveling the world. We ensure that all of the accommodations we utilize are comfortable, clean, and safe. Our groups do not share rooms with non-Pacific Discovery members and in many instances we book private accommodations. Whether you are staying on an exotic Chinese Junk boat in Halong Bay, Vietnam or you are staying at an outback farm in Australia, we ensure that you will be well looked after. Accommodation will vary from simple guesthouses with shared facilities to modern hotels with private bathrooms. Depending on the program, our groups also do homestays in rural villages, camp in stunning outdoor locations, and do multi-day backpacking excursions.
Accommodations will be segregated based on gender throughout the entirety of Mid Teen programs.
Laundry, postal, telephone, and email facilities will be available most days except while on expeditions. There will be times where you will be staying in an accommodation that is outside of your comfort zone such as a rural village homestay. We encourage you to embrace these new experiences with an open-mind and gratitude!
Students are allowed to bring their phones with the option to buy a SIM card in country. We advise against this to promote connection and to be present on their program, especially for only 2-3 weeks. There will be opportunities for students to access wifi in certain locations on program, but at certain times students may be off the grid or unable to access wifi depending on location and their activity that day.
Pacific Discovery will send departure and arrival emails to parents, along with weekly updates from their student’s program to ensure parents are aware that their student is happy and healthy.
Spaces are limited to just 12-14 students per program group. To avoid missing out on a space, we encourage you to apply once you have read through the program information booklet, discussed the program with your family and adviser (if relevant), and are sure you are able to join the program. Places are allocated on a first to register basis, and our semester and summer programs usually fill 3-4 months before departure. However, at any time, you can check availability.
Not all applications are accepted, however by presenting our programs as accurately as possible, we attract students who know what they are getting into, who are willing to be challenged, and to work together as a group throughout the program. Once you submit your application, you will be emailed by Pacific Discovery and invited to arrange a phone/skype interview. Applicants with health/medical issues should contact us prior to application to check upon the suitability of the program. We will not accept applicants who require therapeutic services while in the field. If you apply for a program and you are not accepted, we will refund your deposit in full.
We understand that plans change…
If you decide to cancel your participation in a 2021/2022 program, the following fees apply at the time (prior to departure) we receive written notice of your cancellation:
Students sent home early, or who choose to leave for any reason, including sickness, personal emergencies or injury, will be responsible for all medical costs, and travel costs related to their early departure.
Although traveling is often romanticized, the reality is that it can be bumpy, tiring, and difficult at times. These moments can be some of the most rewarding part of the experience; as your group navigates its unique challenges, you will learn to keep an open mind and come to form a tight-knit Pacific Discovery family. You will form deep friendships with every member of your group and by the end of your journey together, you will have developed invaluable personal, group, and leadership skills. Our programs are a shared group experience. We expect you to join the program with an open mind and a willingness to work together with your group mates to make the program an amazing experience for the whole group. Additionally, the program will be as much about the inner journey of personal growth and learning about yourself as it is about what you will experience in the outer physical journey. We expect you to be open to learning and challenging your ideas and assumptions. If you are interested in a party trip, an independent travel experience, or a relaxing holiday, then we are not the right program for you.
You will find that we strike a good balance between structured group activities and free time. We allow roughly one day a week as a free day. This is always in a town or city where you will have access to laundry, WiFi, etc.
Absolutely. You can combine summer, fall, and spring programs to create a phenomenal gap year experience. Please contact us to discuss your interests so that we can help you plan your gap year with us. Alternatively, you can work with a gap year advisor to help you plan your perfect gap year.
As you already know, it can be very stressful and competitive when applying to colleges and universities. Research has shown that students who take a Gap Year before starting college are:
Many Ivy League colleges such as Middlebury and Princeton now recognize the benefits and importance of taking a gap year, and encourage their applicants to do so before starting college. Many colleges will offer a semester or year deferment for those who plan to take a gap year. In short, colleges recognize the benefits and importance of taking a gap year. Students arrive or return to their campus with renewed passion, focus, and stronger sense of self.
Head to our college credit page for specific information regarding college course options. We offer options for both semester and summer programs.
Some gap year programs have a no-technology policy in place, however we find that this isn’t realistic in today’s connected society. We also find that using a WiFi-enabled device or cellphone is the easiest way to keep in contact with family during the program. We do, however, require all students to use their devices only during free-time in the evenings so that they can remain present and get the most out of their experience. Most students bring their phone to use as a camera and to keep in touch with friends and family over WiFi in the evenings that WiFi is available. Some students bring a laptop, particularly if they are taking credit - this is a personal choice. If bringing a laptop we recommend a protective/waterproof case. Some students have their phone set up for use abroad, our buy local SIM cards.
Vaccinations requirements vary by program. Specific requirements are outlined in the program pre-departure info in the student log-in area.
To make things easy for you, we have partnered with The Travellist Co., a full service travel agency that can arrange everything from flights and pre/post trip accommodation to comprehensive travel insurance for our participants. Partnering with the most recognized, respected and trusted suppliers worldwide, The Travellist Co. can guide and advise you on all aspects of your travel experience. They have all the travel insurance requirements for our programs and offer 10+ years direct industry experience, enabling them to create and deliver independent and expertly cultivated journeys. Learn more about the services or send them an email to discuss your travel insurance needs.
Travel abroad requires a passport. If you don’t have one, you need to apply for one as soon as possible. To do so, please visit the US Government Passport website. If you already have a passport, it must be valid for more than 6 months after program end, otherwise you need to get a new one issued before joining the program. Please do this as soon as possible.
International flights to and from the program are not included. We work closely with The Travellist Co. and suggest that you book your flights with them; they have all of the flight requirements for our programs and we will put you in touch with them when it comes time to purchase your international flights.
We do not have group flights for a number of reasons:
We work closely with The Travellist Co. and suggest that you book your flights with them, as they have all of the flight requirements for our programs and will do their best to get students from the same region on the same flights to/from the program.
We keep things as simple and affordable as possible. The only additional fee you may incur is a $150 late fee for information or final payment submitted after the final deadline, however we work closely with each participant and family and can accommodate delays on a case-by-case basis.
You pay a $500 application fee by credit card when you apply.
To confirm your position, 50% of your program tuition will be due within 30 days of acceptance. Late payments will incur a $150 late fee. The final program payment is due on the following dates:
There are 3 payment options provided: Credit Card, Mail in Check, or Wire Transfer
Pacific Discovery is delighted to announce that we now offer a limited number of scholarships every year. Please view our scholarships, financial aid and fundraising page for more information about this. Additionally, through taking the optional credit, or arranging their own 'home school' credit in areas such as ‘internship' and ‘field studies' students have often been able to retain their 'home school' financial aid.
Spending money usually goes towards snacks, personal shopping, laundry, email and entertainment. The amount of spending money you bring really depends on your budget and shopping habits. We suggest budgeting $10-20/day for these expenses. Some days you'll spend more but other days you'll be on expedition and spend nothing. If you buy expensive souvenirs, do optional activities, or don't exercise restraint it is easy to spend much more than the amounts estimated above.
This varies by program and is something you need to look into yourself.
We know that getting a good night’s sleep is critical when you have a busy schedule travelling the world. We ensure that all of the accommodations we utilize are comfortable, clean, and safe. Our groups do not share rooms with non-Pacific Discovery members and in many instances we book private accommodations. Whether you are staying on an exotic Chinese Junk boat in Halong Bay, Vietnam or you are staying at a Maori Marae in New Zealand, we ensure that you will be well looked after. Accommodation will vary from simple guesthouses with shared facilities to modern hotels with private bathrooms. Depending on the program, our groups also do homestays in rural villages, camp in stunning outdoor locations, and do multi-day backpacking excursions. Laundry, postal, telephone, and email facilities will be available most days except while on expeditions. There will be times where you will be staying in an accommodation that is outside of your comfort zone such as a rural village homestay. We encourage you to embrace these new experiences with an open-mind and gratitude.
Programs are designed to maximize comfort and safety while also giving you the opportunity to experience local transport and take part in daily life. We utilize chartered transport for long distances (typically vans or a bus), reducing the length of travel and increasing safety. Then we use a variety of public transport for shorter distances within towns and cities.
We work closely with The Travellist Co. and recommend that you book your flights with them. They have all of the flight requirements for our programs and we will put you in touch with them when it comes time to purchase your international flights.
The Travellist Co. is a full service travel agency that can arrange everything from flights and pre/post trip accommodation to comprehensive travel insurance for our students. They offer 10+ years direct industry experience, enabling them to create and deliver independent and expertly cultivated journeys. Learn more about the services or send them an email to discuss your flight needs.
Our program will give you the skills - and most likely the inclination - for future travel, and you may like to continue your adventures at the program's end, either independently or with others in your group. At the time you make your international flight bookings, it is okay to inquire about the options for extending your time or a stopover elsewhere on your way home.
If you are making your own flight arrangements, please read the following before you do:
“Pacific Discovery is a young traveler's dream. You travel with like-minded people who become some of the best friends you'll ever have.”
You get to do exotic things that most people only dream about like riding elephants, trekking to remote villages and home staying in floating ones, scuba diving with sharks, swimming in phosphorescence - the list goes on. You'll have a fantastic experienced, knowledgeable, and fun leader. Not to mention it's the most affordable company you'll ever travel with. You don't just feel like you're passing through - you get the chance to give back, from speaking with Burmese refugees and Cambodian high school students to improve their English, to building bio-sand water filters so people can have safe drinking water, to taking impoverished kids in Phnom Penh to a water park for a day of fun. You'll learn to appreciate your own culture more through learning about theirs and you will understand that we're all really the same. This trip has made me change the way I see the world, and has made me very thankful for everything I have in life.”
Read more
Kerry Gaiz, 2007
Menlo College
Travel abroad requires a passport. If you don’t have one, you need to apply for one as soon as possible. US Government Passport website: http://travel.state.gov/passport/
If you already have a passport, it must be valid for 6 months after your program's end and return flight, Otherwise, you need to get a new passport issued before joining the program, please do this as soon as possible.
You will have to arrange your own visa, but we will send you clear and detailed information about how to do this.
Prior to program start, we send out comprehensive pre-departure information that clearly explains the arrival details and rendezvous procedure.
“Astonishing, breathtaking, extraordinary, and incredible are all understatements for Pacific Discovery.”
It's funny to remember waking up in the morning and thinking, "What awesome thing are we doing today? This program provided an opportunity for cultural immersion, physical and mental challenges, and personal growth. Through volunteering and traveling around New Zealand and Australia, I've gained an appreciation for the environment and life itself, and I am so grateful for the experiences, memories and new friends as a result of this once-in-a-lifetime adventure.”
Read more
Kurtis Adams, 2013
Daemen College
Travel insurance provides cover in the event of medical expenses due to sickness or accident, and emergency medical evacuation abroad. Travel insurance may also include cover for loss of baggage or personal effects, personal liability, and trip cancellation or trip curtailment.
When buying your travel insurance policy, it’s important that:
To make things easy for you, Pacific Discovery has partnered with The Travellist Co., a full service travel agency that can arrange everything from flights and pre/post trip accommodation to comprehensive travel insurance for our students. They have all the travel insurance requirements for our programs and offer 10+ years direct industry experience, enabling them to create and deliver independent and expertly cultivated journeys. Learn more about the services or send them an email to discuss your travel insurance needs.
Travel insurance is easy to buy but policies can be difficult to understand. The insurance industry would like everybody to read the policy they’ve bought or are about to buy, but insurance companies know that all too often people don’t bother. If you are only going to read one thing about travel insurance, read this now and act on it; it could save you lots of money and distress.
Key considerations/things to ask when speaking with each organization:
* What is the specified time frame for purchasing coverage (must be purchased within X days of initial 'trip' payment)?
* What is the specified time frame for cancellation (e.g. 48 hours prior to scheduled departure)?
* What % of non-recoverable expenses is covered? 75% reimbursement of non-recoverable expenses seems to be the standard.
* Can the coverage be purchased as a stand-alone policy or is it only available as an add-on or upgrade as part of an overarching travel insurance plan?
* Does the policy provide benefits for interruption for any reason (after the 'trip' or program has already begun) or only cancellation for any reason (prior to departure)?
* Is there a cap on the dollar amount for covered expenses?
* Does this policy apply to my state of residence? Policies can vary greatly depending on which State you are from
* Does this policy cover the adventure travel activities listed on my itinerary?
If you have a medical condition before your trip and do not inform the insurance company, your travel insurance is unlikely to pay for medical treatment or the costs to get you home. If you want to be insured for the condition, tell the insurance company before you go and they will advise you if they can cover the condition or not. Relatedly, most travel insurance does not cover claims for expenses related to mental health conditions.
Policies will often pay for you to cancel your trip or come home early if a close relative becomes ill. If you know of a relative's condition before the trip you must tell the insurance company before you travel so they may decide if they will cover this or not. Check carefully to see who the policy calls a 'close relative', as policies differ on this.
Most policies do not cover you for activities such as caving, diving, or bungee jumping unless you have told the insurance company before you go and they agree to cover you. Certain travel insurance policies, such as an AIG Travel Guard policy & World Nomad's Explorer Plan cover all included activities on our programs for example. The best thing to do is to check your policy before you leave to check that it covers all the activities you hope to experience on your travels. If you are unsure, contact the insurance company and ask.
Don’t rely on your insurance. They may not pay your claim if you have not taken enough care in looking after your things. Always act as though you do not have insurance, and look after your possessions. Check the limits on your policy for individual items and money. If you are planning to take expensive items such as cameras, laptops and other valuables with you then you should check the amount covered in your plan. If you cannot afford to lose an item, leave it at home! Don't leave your possessions where you couldn't act upon someone taking them, and don't leave items in a locked car.
Always keep receipts to help you prove your claim. If something is stolen or you lose it, you need to report it to the police. When travelling independently, contact your hotel/hostel and carrier as soon as possible and get a document from them to prove that you told them about the incident. While on the program our instructors will support you in this process.
Every travel insurance policy has a 24-hour assistance helpline. The helpline can provide you with a lot of assistance, so be sure to call if you need it (and have this number on you when you travel). If you have a medical problem abroad, most policies require you to call the helpline to make sure any medical treatment is covered and will be paid.
“As someone who very much expected to have an office job before going on PD Thailand, I am now lined up to teach English for a year in South Korea, then hopefully work on an sustainable, organic farmstead in Hawai'i. Thanks to Pacific Discovery for making all that possible.”
Ethan Blonder,
College of William and Mary
There are no specific health or fitness requirements to participate in our programs, however, our programs are physically active. If you have concerns about your physical ability please contact us to discuss this.
We recommend that you carry a personal first-aid kit as well as any personal medication with relevant prescriptions. Please be aware that for legal reasons, our program instructors are prohibited from administering any type of drug. Please ensure that you are adequately prepared.
Our program orientation will cover information on how to keep healthy – diet, rest, and education about disease vectors, mosquito borne illness and rabies.
If you have any questions regarding specific health recommendations before you travel, please contact your doctor, or a travel doctor, to discuss this.
If you have food allergies we recommend that you purchase an allergy information card to carry with you from Select Wisely . Choose the card that matches your allergy and select the language you'd like on the reverse side of the card.
At least 3 months prior to departure, please see your physician or a travel doctor, to discuss vaccinations and your health while on the program. This is also the time to get a prescription for anything you need for your personal first aid kit (antibiotics etc) - refer to the packing list for what you need to bring in your personal first aid kit.
Malaria, typhoid, rabies…they all sound scary but keep in mind that the risk of contracting a serious illness is low. In 15+ years of running programs we have not had a single student contract a serious illness, a mosquito borne illness, or be bitten by an animal suspected of being rabid.
We are not qualified to advise you on what vaccinations you should and shouldn't get. Doctors are also reluctant to say 'get this', 'don't get that', because often a risk is present, even if it is very, very low. Ultimately, you need to weigh the benefits of vaccination against the level of risk and the costs - this is a personal decision. What we can say, is that if you continue to travel, you will not regret investing in vaccination, as most vaccines provide years of protection and these illnesses are prevalent throughout much of the world.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) is the US government agency that all doctors refer to when they are prescribing vaccinations. The CDC have a website with clear information and it is easy to gain an overview of a destination and the risks of various illnesses to make informed decisions regarding vaccinations.
Check routine vaccines are up to date. No other vaccines required.
The CDC highly recommends vaccination for Hepatitis A and Typhoid. It also recommends that your routine vaccinations are up-to-date.
There are other illnesses that you will be at a much lower risk of contracting to also discuss with your travel doctor. These include:
As far as we can ascertain from the Center for Disease Control's online information…
Mexico: Malaria unlikely to be present
Belize: Only risk is Belize mainland, days 27-29
Guatemala: The only malaria risk area is days 29-30
Nicaragua: Malaria unlikely to be present
Costa Rica: Malaria unlikely to b present
The risk of contracting malaria on all these programs is very low but is present. Anti-malarial medication is in the form of oral pills that are taken while in malarial areas. Modern anti-malarial meds have very few side-effects.
Zika virus is present throughout Central America and is now in the United States also. Zika virus is spread to people primarily by mosquitoes. The most common symptoms of Zika are flu-like - fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting for several days to a week after being bitten by an infected mosquito. People usually don’t get sick enough to go to the hospital. Once a person has been infected, he or she is likely to be protected from future infections. The current concern with Zika virus is the potential risk to pregnant women of the virus causing birth defects. This is only a risk if the virus is contracted during pregnancy and has no long term effect (e.g. if becoming pregnant after previously having the virus). The best prevention is insect repellent and not being bitten.
Students are probably at greatest risk of contracting dengue fever, another mosquito borne illnesses for which there is no vaccination. We recommend students bring a good insect repellent and the program instructors will brief the group on best practice to avoid bites. All of our accommodation has insect screens or mosquito nets.
The risk of being bitten by an animal in Central America on our program is low. We brief students to stay away from dogs, monkeys and bats. If a student was bitten by an animal and had not had the rabies vaccination, this would impact their program experience, as they would have to travel urgently to a major center, for a shot of RIG (rabies immune globulin) and then a series of rabies vaccine shots over a two week period. If they have been vaccinated, they would still need a shorter series of post exposure shots (widely available) but would not need the RIG, meaning that their program experience would not be as disrupted. The benefit of vaccination for rabies has to be weighed against the cost as the vaccine is expensive.
The CDC highly recommends vaccination for Hepatitis A and Typhoid. It also recommends that your routine vaccinations are up-to-date.
There are other illnesses that you will be at a much lower risk of contracting to also discuss with your travel doctor. These include:
As far as we can ascertain…
Southeast Asia Semester: Students will be traveling in areas that malaria is present: In Laos and Nth Vietnam – about 15 days in total, on days 18-32 of the program; Possibly in Southern Cambodia for 8 days, days 42-50.
Thailand Summer Program: Very low malaria risk only in Khao Sok National Park portion of program for 4 days, days 21 – 25.
Vietnam & Cambodia Summer Program: Low malaria risk present
The risk of contracting malaria on these programs is very low but does exist. Anti-malarial medication is in the form of oral pills that are taken while in malarial areas. Modern anti-malarial meds have very few side-effects. As you plan your treatment, consider the windows of time before and after exposure that you need to take the medication (varies by option).
Students are probably at greater risk of contracting dengue fever or chikungunya, two other mosquito-borne illnesses for which there is no vaccination. We recommend students bring a good insect repellent and the program instructors will brief the group on best practice to avoid bites. All of our accommodation has insect screens or mosquito nets.
The risk of contracting Japanese encephalitis, another mosquito borne illness is very low. There is a vaccine for this.
The risk of being bitten by an animal in SE Asia is low - dogs are placid and we brief students to stay away from monkeys. If a student is bitten by an animal and has not had the rabies vaccination, this would effectively ruin their program experience, as they would have to travel urgently to a major center - Bangkok, Hanoi, Saigon or Phnom Penh for a shot of RIG (rabies immune globulin) and then a series of rabies vaccine shots over a two week period. If the student has been vaccinated, they would still need a shorter series of post exposure shots (widely available) but would not need the RIG, meaning that their program experience would not be as disrupted. The benefit of vaccination for rabies has to be weighed against the cost of the vaccine.
The CDC highly recommends vaccination for Hepatitis A, Typhoid and Rabies. It also recommends that your routine vaccinations are up-to-date.
There are other illnesses that you will be at a much lower risk of contracting to also discuss with your travel doctor. These include:
As far as we can ascertain, students will be traveling in areas that malaria is present for a period of 7 days in the Terai region of Nepal. The risk of contracting malaria is very low but is present. Anti-malarial medication is in the form of oral pills that are taken while in malarial areas. Modern anti-malarial meds have very few side-effects. As you plan your treatment, consider the windows of time before and after exposure that you need to take the medication (varies by option).
Students are probably at greater risk of contracting dengue fever or chikungunya, two other mosquito-borne illnesses for which there is no vaccination. We recommend students bring a good insect repellent and the program instructors will brief the group on best practice to avoid bites. All of our accommodation in lowland areas where mosquitoes are present has insect screens or mosquito nets.
The risk of contracting Japanese encephalitis, another mosquito borne illness is very low. There is a vaccine for this.
We request that students on the Nepal and Tibet Semester are vaccinated for Rabies. The risk of being bitten by an animal in Nepal (monkeys) and Tibet (dogs) is reasonably high. We brief students to stay away from monkeys and to carry trekking poles to ward off aggressive dogs in Tibet. If a student was bitten by an animal and had not had the rabies vaccination, this would effectively ruin their program experience, as they would have to travel urgently to a major center such as Beijing, Bangkok, or Singapore for a shot of RIG (rabies immune globulin), which is not reliably available in Nepal or Tibet, and then a series of rabies vaccine shots over a two-week period. If they have been vaccinated, they would still need a shorter series of post-exposure shots (widely available) but would not need the RIG. We have not had any students bitten by an animal in Nepal or Tibet.
The CDC highly recommends vaccination for Hepatitis A, Typhoid and Yellow Fever. It also recommends that your routine vaccinations are up-to-date.
There are other illnesses that you will be at a much lower risk of contracting to also discuss with your travel doctor. These include:
As far as we can ascertain…
South America Semester: The only malaria risk area is the Amazon Jungle, 10 days, days 39-48.
Peru Summer Program: The only malaria risk area is the Amazon Jungle, 6 days, days 16-21.
Ecuador & Galapagos Summer Program: The only malaria risk area is the Amazon Jungle , 6 days, days 16-21.
The risk of contracting malaria on all these programs is very low but is present. Anti-malarial medication is in the form of oral pills that are taken while in malarial areas. Modern anti-malarial meds have very few side-effects.
Zika virus is present in Ecuador, and is now in the United States also. Zika virus is spread to people primarily by mosquitoes. The most common symptoms of Zika are flu-like - fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting for several days to a week after being bitten by an infected mosquito. People usually don’t get sick enough to go to the hospital. Once a person has been infected, he or she is likely to be protected from future infections. The current concern with Zika virus is the potential risk to pregnant women of the virus causing birth defects. This is only a risk if the virus is contracted during pregnancy and has no long term effect (e.g. if becoming pregnant after previously having the virus). The best prevention is insect repellent and not being bitten.
Students are probably at greatest risk of contracting dengue fever, another mosquito borne illnesses for which there is no vaccination. We recommend students bring a good insect repellent and the program instructors will brief the group on best practice to avoid bites. All of our accommodation has insect screens or mosquito nets.
The risk of being bitten by an animal in Peru or Ecuador is low. We brief students to stay away from dogs and monkeys. If a student was bitten by an animal and had not had the rabies vaccination, this would effectively ruin their program experience, as they would have to travel urgently to a major center - Lima or Quito, for a shot of RIG (rabies immune globulin) and then a series of rabies vaccine shots over a two week period. If they have been vaccinated, they would still need a shorter series of post exposure shots (widely available) but would not need the RIG, meaning that their program experience would not be as disrupted. The benefit of vaccination for rabies has to be weighed against the cost as the vaccine is expensive.
Local Cuisine: An essential part of any travel is to experience the local culture through cuisine, which in itself may be daunting for many students to leave their regular food comfort zone. We encourage students to understand that their regular snacks and meals may not be available in the country they’re traveling to. We encourage our students to join us with an open mind to trying new foods. Also, keep in mind that the variety of foods you’re used to eating at home might not be available in some of the areas we visit, so you might be eating the same kinds of foods each and every day.
Student-led cooking: On some of our Pacific Discovery programs, the group will be involved in student-led cooking for a portion of their time. In small groups the students plan, budget, and cook for the others, teaching them planning and cooking skills, as well as managing a budget. Our instructors will be there to lend a hand with the planning and suggest recipes suitable for the group. We find that the student-led approach is a great step in personal growth and development, especially in preparation for college life.
All meals are included in the program cost. Special dietary requirements and vegetarians can be accommodated.
Vegetarian or vegan – No problem, we will happily cater to your dietary needs.
Food allergies – We are happy to work with students with food allergies. However, we cannot guarantee non-exposure to allergens and require students to be involved in menu planning to ensure they are not inadvertently exposed to allergens.
Picky eaters - It is easy to work with you if you don’t like tomatoes or don’t like cheese, but on occasion we have had students who basically only eat pizza, or don't eat vegetables, or only eat fried chicken the way their mom makes it. If you are one of these people, please be aware that you will need to step outside of your comfort zone and expand your diet while on our program… Start practicing now ;)
“I had such a great experience growing and learning about myself. I got an in-depth view of what it’s like to live in Thailand and be apart of a new culture, especially during home stays and visiting rural villages.”
Not only did I get to travel for almost 3 months and see all the beautiful things that Thailand has to offer, I have also seen the hard truth of a developing country and was able to deepen my global perspective. I was challenged and pushed out of my comfort zone and I’m so grateful I got to experience everything I did.
I would say this program was life-changing and exciting. Not only did I grow as a person, I made lifelong friendships and learned how to deal with situations in group settings. I’ve learned how to be a leader and how to adapt in a new setting, as well as how to be a global citizen and accept new cultures and values. This was a life changing experience not many people will get to have in their lives, and I’m so happy I got to be a part of the lucky few.”
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Tanner Barnes, 2021
Thailand Semester Program
Spending money usually goes towards drinks and snacks, personal shopping, laundry, internet and entertainment. We recommend that you budget approximately $10/day. Some days you will spend more but other days you'll be on expedition or on a service project and won't spend anything. The amount of spending money you bring really depends on your budget and shopping habits.
We recommend that you bring US$200 cash with you, and have the rest of your spending money on two cards (it is essential to have a back-up in case your first card gets lost or damaged). Debit cards, credit cards, or prepaid travel cards can be used to withdraw local currency from an ATM.
You need to bring this money yourself. You don't need to buy any foreign currency before you leave home.
We strongly recommend that students bring two cards carried separately to access money from ATM machines in case a card is eaten by an ATM, damaged, lost or stolen.
Debit cards: If the ATM card from your home bank isn't connected to the worldwide Cirrus or PLUS networks (look on the back of the card for one of these logos), you will need to look into getting a MasterCard or Visa debit card. While they look and can be used like regular charge cards, they actually debit your checking account the same way your ATM card does.
Credit cards: Avoid American Express cards for overseas travel. They are not widely accepted.
Pre-pay travel cards from Visa or MasterCard: These may be offered through your bank and can be used to withdraw cash from ATM’s abroad. If you get one of these, set it up and try it at an ATM before you leave home.
If you are ordering a new card, make sure to allow sufficient time to get it set up, get a pin loaded and test it, prior to program departure. We have had many families rushing to arrange cards a few days ahead of program departure and many students have problems trying to use new cards that have not been properly set up.
With all cards, call the issuing bank and let them know that you’ll be abroad, so that they don’t block transactions.
During program orientation our program instructors discuss budgeting with you and share advice and tips on how to be prudent with money.
They also talk about strategies for keeping money safe, avoiding pick-pocketing, checking for skimming devices inserted into ATM’s and withdrawing funds in a secure location.
In the event that a student loses their wallet, Pacific Discovery can charge a parents credit card and then have the program instructors advance cash to the student, less bank fees and currency exchange losses.
“The past two months have taught me more about travelling and camping and hiking and adventuring than I ever dreamed possible. However, I am ten times as grateful for the things I've learned about myself. At times I was challenged, frustrated or scared and these lessons will never leave me. Thank you for an amazing two months that I will remember for the rest of my days.”
Dominick Baruffi, 2009
Eastern University
There are many ways in which you can keep in touch with your family and friends while on a program. There will be a group photo album and blog posts on Facebook that your group will post to during the program for family and friends to follow. We will provide instructions for this ahead of your departure.
Wi-Fi is available for free at many of the places we stay. During our programs you should be able to access free Wi-Fi at least once a week. You may like to consider bringing a compact Wi-Fi device, such as a smartphone or tablet. Expect the Wi-Fi to be limited – there may not be enough bandwidth for Facetime or Skype calls. Instead, we recommend you use a messaging app for most communication with family and friends.
Tip: Before you leave, go to the website of the airport that you are traveling to and look at the instructions for connecting to the airport Wi-Fi. Most airports have Wi-Fi but some have strange or extensive login procedures For instance, you will see the Wi-Fi link available, but it will ask for a user name and password. If you look it up before you depart and screenshot the instructions, it will be easier to access when you land.
There are two main ways to use your phone abroad. One is to sign up for a ‘global roaming’ plan with your carrier. The other option is to use a local SIM card for each country. We will look at these two options in more depth below. Note: Please look into this information ahead of travel – your program instructors do not have time to sort out phone connection issues for students in-country.
Find out from your carrier:
Per minute call and per mb data usage can be VERY expensive. The Verizon Global Plan, for instance, costs $40 /month and gets you 100mb of data, 100 SMS texts and 100 minutes of voice calling. Using the ‘Pay as you go’ option, data costs are $2 per Mb and calls are $1.79/min.
Make sure that you know how to turn mobile data off and on, so that you don’t inadvertently use a lot of data. An average young adult with an iPhone will go through several gigabytes in a month at home and will have to drastically alter their device usage habits while abroad.
SIM cards are the link from your handset to a local carrier and take the form of a small chip that is inserted into an unlocked handset. Ask your U.S. carrier if your phone is unlocked and can take a SIM card. Generally, Verizon is locked, T Mobile is unlocked and AT&T may or may not be.
The way SIM Cards work is that you buy a SIM package that contains a SIM card, a phone number (which will be your phone number once installed) and potentially some bundled minutes and data. Activation varies by country but most vendors can assist you to get up and running. These packages usually work on a pre-pay system and you can easily buy additional calling minutes or data from 7-11 type stores and gas stations etc.
It is very easy to buy a SIM card in New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia. However it is more difficult in Nepal, Tibet, Ecuador and Peru as they have to either be registered to a passport or to a local person. This can be both time consuming and impractical given how little time you spend in these countries on our programs.
If you have a locked phone, you can choose to:
(Thanks to Amie Rukenstein for her assistance in compiling this information).
Please note that your program instructors will establish clear guidelines around device-use at the program orientation. This is for safety, cultural sensitivity and group dynamics reasons. You will be discouraged from using your device during activities, service work, expeditions, meal times, and group time.
“The Ecuador/Galapagos program was hands-down the most incredible thing I've ever experienced. When trying to pick a program, I read many reviews. They all seemed too good to be true ("life changing" "time of my life" "made lifelong friends"). I was skeptical to say the least, but I was so wrong.”
I live in Hawaii and have travelled a bit, but nothing compared to what I saw, learned, and experienced on this program. From day one, everyone was hanging out in each other's rooms and getting along wonderfully. You'll be amazed at how close you become with your group in such little time. At the end of the trip, walking each other to our gates at the airport was heartbreaking. Your group members will be incredible, but so will the people you get the privilege of helping. It was so humbling and rewarding. The culture and language immersion was also something that I loved.”
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Tobi Watanabe, 2014
University of Hawaii
An advantage of our semester programs is that they are 10 weeks rather than a full 12-13 week semester which gives students time for independent travel at the conclusion of our programs. Many students choose to continue their own independent travel adventure once our programs finish, putting into practice travel skills, confidence, and independence learned over the course of our programs.
For each program we have an extension options document with ideas for different post-program experiences and all the information you need to arrange them. We can help with ideas about where to go, what to do, and give some suggestions if you have a particular interest or field that you would like to explore.
Students sometimes struggle to clarify their post-program travel plans ahead of program departure. What we suggest is that students have a flexible return ticket, not lock anything in, and make post-program travel plans with other group members during their Pacific Discovery program.
“This experience was a roller coaster of once-in-a-lifetime experiences and unforgettable fun. It was a perfect mix through cities and incredible discovery through the wilderness. This was truly an amazing experience I can't say enough good things about it and how it changed my life.”
Emily Vicks, 2012
Middlebury College