Where There Be Dragons Gap Semester

Founded in 1993, Where There Be Dragons is the leader in cross-cultural education. Dragons offers 3-month immersive and responsible international and domestic Gap Year programs in Asia (including India), Latin America, Africa, and the Southwestern USA. Our approach is simple: build meaningful and long-lasting relationships with local communities, work with the best instructors, and stay true to our responsible travel ethics. Travel with purpose and gain skills. Hear stories, discover fresh perspectives, and engage with critical global issues. Dragons students are travelers, not tourists. Dragon Gap Year Programs are authentic, rugged, and profound opportunities that expose students to the beautiful and complex realities of the countries in which they travel. Programs give students the rare opportunity to genuinely experience the places they travel and create meaningful connections across cultures. Several of Dragons Gap Year programs are available for college credit. Immersive + Well-Rounded: Dragons students are travelers, not tourists. Course itineraries are built around nine Program Components which engage students in a wide range of hands-on activities such as homestays, trekking, apprenticeships, and language learning. Small Groups + Professional Instructors: A typical group consists of 12 students and 3 instructors to ensure each student receives individual support and mentorship. On average our instructors are 30+ years of age, have 4+ years living abroad, and are fluent in the local language. Handcrafted Experiences: We run a limited number of programs because we value quality over quantity. And we never run the same trip twice each program itinerary is intentional and directly infused with the regional expertise and passions of instructors. Safety: Safety is our first priority. Over almost 30 years we’ve built robust risk management systems and have been vetted by key partners including Princeton University, Tufts University, the Gap Year Association, and the US Secret Service. Responsible Travel: Dragons programs are environmentally conscious and committed to building meaningful connections. We run longer programs that maximize time abroad, offset carbon emissions, and empower students to learn service responsibly. Where There Be Dragons Gap Year Dates: Fall Semester: September 15th – December 6th Spring Semester: March 8th – May 26th Cost for programs varies and is listed on each specific program page Where There Be Dragons Gap Year Semester Programs: Rio Grande Semester: Stories of Culture, Identity, & Environment along the Southern Boarder Colorado River Basin Semester: Sustainable Relationships with Land and Water in the Western USA Central America Semester: Spanish Language & Social Justice* West Africa Semester: The Rhythms of Senegal Morocco Semester: Ancient Cities to the Atlas Mountains Madagascar Semester: Cultural & Ecological Diversity Nepal Semester: Himalayan Studies* Bhutan Semester: Environmental Sustainability & Community Happiness Southeast Asia Semester: Spirituality & Resilience India Semester: On the Front Lines of Climate Change* China Semester: South of the Clouds* Indonesia Semester: Community, Culture & Conservation Mekong Semester: Tibetan Plateau to the Heart of Southeast Asia South America Semester: Andes & Amazon* Andes Leadership Semester: Patagonia to Peru Independent Spring Experiences: An Independent Gap Year Experience *College Credit Available Dragons Study Abroad Semester Programs: Nepal: Passages and Peaks of the Himalaya China: Mountains & Megacities India: Mosaic of Culture & Contrast South America: The Spirit of the Andes This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.