Justin, social studies teacher
Justin views educational travel as a way to help his students experience faraway places they probably couldn’t visit on their own. “I like to choose destinations that are outside of Europe—a little less conventional,” says the veteran group leader who has logged successful tours all over the globe. In 2015 Justin reached out to his Explorica program consultant, Emma, and they designed a dream itinerary to India and Nepal.
Then, disaster struck.
The April 2015 earthquake in Nepal devastated the tiny nation, leveling entire villages and knocking out infrastructure. Realizing that his tour might not be possible, Justin reached out to Emma. “She told me, ‘We’re willing to do this if you are. We’re staying with you.’’’ With that hurdle cleared, Justin held an emergency meeting of his trip participants and proposed a new focus for their tour: providing aid. They were on board, and so was Explorica.
Justin and Emma began redesigning the trip. “We removed tourist excursions to give us
time for our humanitarian efforts and to drop the price, so we could extend the opportunity to local Nepalese who wanted to go back and help family,” he relays. Then they worked to increase the group’s baggage limits, so they could bring the necessary supplies.
“This is why I choose Explorica for these more exotic locations,” Justin explains. “Other companies I’ve worked with wouldn’t touch this trip, but Explorica is making it happen. Besides clearing the logistical hurdles, they’ve extended deadlines and adjusted our itinerary to meet the goals of my group. They have stood by me at every turn. This is a very different tour than the trips I usually lead, but one thing is the same: Explorica is right by my side.”
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