It might feel hard to know where to start when traveling on your own, especially without access to a network of local connections and resources. Dragons Independent Immersion Programs (IIPs) offer independent-minded travelers a 6+ week deep dive into a single community through homestays, personalized language instruction, and customized learning opportunities. An IIP can be an extension to your Gap Year or a standalone travel experience.

With decades of expertise in cross-cultural education and risk management, we work with students to customize their experience and break away from “tourist traps” and the questionable voluntourism industry. Build authentic connections through Dragons long-established and active networks, and explore your interests while designing your spring semester in Guatemala, Bolivia, Senegal, Nepal, Cambodia, or Indonesia.

Each program site is staffed by a veteran Dragons On-Site Coordinator with expertise in the country and extensive experience working with Dragons students and our standards of excellence. The On-Site Coordinator has weekly face-to-face meetings with each student, acts as a cultural facilitator and mentor throughout your stay, and conducts a multi-day orientation focused on safety, cultural norms, and strategies for engagement.

A Day in the Life – 3 Examples:

• Nepal – Join your Dragons On-Site Coordinator for morning yoga, chai, and an orientation to the ancient city of Patan, where you’ll be spending the next 6+ weeks. Learn essential cultural dos and don’ts as well as integral safety information. Over a delicious lunch of momos (Nepali dumplings), brainstorm ideas for what you’d like to learn—anything from Ayurvedic medicine to Nepali astrology to traditional ceramic-making. Take in a sunset hike to a local temple, and enjoy live music on the terrace once you get there, reflecting on your introduction to Nepal and getting excited for your customized semester.
• Guatemala – Wake up overlooking Lago Atitlán to the smell of your morning cafecito with your homestay family. Walk to a nearby permaculture farm to learn traditional Mayan sustainable farming techniques. After lunch at the farm, head to the local market with your Spanish language instructor, soaking up the language through personalized guidance and conversation. Later on, enjoy a dinner of fresh corn tortillas and frijoles with your homestay family. Sharing what you experienced that day and practicing your new Spanish skills.
• Indonesia – In the cultural center of Yogyakarta, wake up to the call to prayer while your host family readies sweet jasmine tea for the day. This vibrant city known for its concentration of arts and culture is home to a diversity of faiths, museums, and opportunities to explore. Take a tuk tuk to meet your apprenticeship mentor where you are learning the art of batik (wax & dye painting) to create an intricate work of your own. Spend lunch with friends drinking coffee and chatting about the booming street art scene in Indonesia. In the afternoon, head to your homestay to pack your bags for an excursion to Borobudur, the world’s largest Buddhist Temple, with your homestay sister. Help your homestay family prepare dinner and get excited for tomorrow’s adventure.