Pacific Discovery ~ Insightful Small Group Adventures

Custom student programs

The experience of exploring a culture different to your own and adapting to alternative methods of living greatly contribute to personal growth. While traveling abroad students learn almost as much about themselves and their own culture as they do about their host culture. They discover strengths and weaknesses, how to overcome challenges, and how to be flexible and sensitive to various perspectives.

In addition to our scheduled student program itineraries and departure dates, we offer customised student programs. We have many years experience developing and running international travel-based experiential education or volunteer programs for university students, high-school students, and adults alike.

We can offer one of our existing itineraries to your students, or we can work with you to develop an itinerary tailored to your subject/area of interest.

The Process

We work with you to design an itinerary to the country/s of your choice. Once we have agreed upon itinerary, dates and price, we produce an information and registration packet for you to hand out to your students. Your school will have a procedure which we will follow for getting the program approved.

You would accompany the group (if you wished to) and your travel costs would be built into the program fee.

We are also happy for faculty to offer their own classes/credit on our programs and we can support you with ideas for site visits to reinforce your class content.

What we offer to you

Customised itineraries.

Complete transparency with regard to the price charged to the students, supplying you a breakdown of what the program fee is spent on.

A timeline leading up to program departure of when payments and information is due.

Clear information for your students to prepare them for their program, including, health and vaccinations, travel insurance, spending money and a recommended reading list.

We will make all logistical arrangements including air tickets, transportation, accommodation, activities, local guides and project planning. Plus payments for all of the above.

One of our experienced program leaders accompanies your group to facilitate their experience, provide insight, handle trip logistics, deal with local operators and manage group safety.

We will provide all students with a program handbook which has a detailed itinerary, background information to every destination, excerpts from literature relating to the itinerary, responsible travel guidelines.

Peace of mind

We hold comprehensive public liability insurance and require all participants to hold a travel insurance policy for the duration of the program.

We maintain a robust risk management system and emergency contingency planning.

You are dealing with an operator that emphasises social and environmental sensitivity and sustainability.

A proven track record of giving our clients the time of their life.

Advantages to you

Local knowledge – up to date, on the ground information. We know what is new, what is possible and what is overrated.

A unique opportunity for your students - you can offer your students the opportunity to explore your area of focus in a different setting.

Personalized programming - we will develop our programs to highlight your focus and goals.

Full-time support 24/7 - one of our program leaders will be with you at all times to assist you in the host country/s.

We pride ourselves on being professional. This means we are easily contacted. We are always available for assistance and help.

Affordable programs - due to our local connections and business ethics we are able to keep our programs affordable to students.

Travel with a purpose - give your students the opportunity to not only have an adventure and study, but to feel they have made a contribution to another culture as well.

If you are interested in a customised program, please contact us.

Case Study

Mary Greenland, head of department of social sciences at Nayland College, contacted us to put together a program to Cambodia for her senior students.

We worked with Mary to develop a program that included visits to development organisations, time with students at primary and secondary schools, and arranged for her students to do volunteer work on three different projects. Mary had this to say about us:

“In January 2007, I was fortunate to take 15 senior students on a 13 day tour of Cambodia with Pacific Discovery. This was not just a tourist trip but a chance to see first hand how the people live and what agencies are working to help with the development of the country. The students actually got several opportunities to do some voluntary work. It was a wonderful chance to introduce youth to the realities of the developing world and the potential for future adventures.
Pacific Discovery planned, organized and led the trip. I cannot fault their professionalism. It was a wonderful trip and I highly recommend it to other schools.”
Mary Greenland
HOD Social Sciences
Nayland College
Nelson

Students on this program had the following feedback:

“You will have the time of your life – not a dollar will be wasted. I would never have dreamed of travelling to this part of the world but I’m unbelievably glad that I did. Thank you so, so, so, so, so much for this amazing opportunity.”
Catherine Cumpstone

“Wow!! I have never had such an eye-opening experience!”
Ashleigh Geddes

“Pacific Discovery offers an amazing opportunity to see Cambodia in so many different ways – a life changing experience.”
Freya Stocker

“Thanks so much for an awesome, eye-opening, exciting and amazing trip.”
Sashi Eggers.

“As a first time visitor to Southeast Asia, this trip has fully prepared me for a lifetime. I have been completely taken by both Thailand and Cambodia, and I will definitely be returning. Thanks to Scott and Rachel.”
Steffi Lilleby

“The whole experience was life-changing and without Pacific Discovery the trip wouldn’t have been half as good.”
Tracey Taylor

“Grass roots travel like this is the way to go. You really get to make a difference.”
Samantha Fleming

“I had never considered travelling to Cambodia before but believe that it was the best decision of my life. I feel I am now more conscious of what is happening in Southeast Asia.”
Rosemary Patterson

“Was absolutely fantastic and above all expectations.”
Holly McGee

Nayland students reading to primary school class, Cambodia.

Teaching in Cambodian high school english class.

Mixing concrete to build water filters for Trailblazers a grass-roots NGO.

“In January 2007, I was fortunate to take 15 senior students on a 13 day tour of Cambodia with Pacific Discovery. This was not just a tourist trip but a chance to see first hand how the people live and what agencies are working to help with the development of the country. The students actually got several opportunities to do some voluntary work. It was a wonderful chance to introduce youth to the realities of the developing world and the potential for future adventures.

Pacific Discovery planned, organized and led the trip. I cannot fault their professionalism. It was a wonderful trip and I highly recommend it to other schools.”

Mary Greenland
HOD Social Sciences
Nayland College

“I couldn't have imagined a better quality experience for my students. Pacific Discovery have exemplary ethics, humanity and organizational skills. They have introduced my students to the world in an sensitive and empowering way that will influence them forever.”

Rachel Hawthorne

Dean English Department

Hagley College