Discover what travelers and press are saying about our life-changing journeys. From personal transformations to unforgettable experiences.
DuPont, WA
“The trip I took to Japan with WanderRock was one of the best experiences of my life, I was able to make so many new friends that have similar struggles to me which was so exciting. The guides were great enabling us to experience a new culture which might otherwise be overwhelming, and in a way that made us feel comfortable.”
What others are saying about WanderRock trips
“Guides are skilled in leading tours and promoting self-confidence while traveling. Kempf explains that these are groups ‘comprised of young adults that recognize and accept each other as true peers.’ He adds that ‘WanderRock creates unique spaces and life-enriching experiences for those that want to safely step into the unknown.’”Read Full Article →
“Kempf and Raede, along with their team of trusted tour guides, have put careful thought into every aspect of each trip. Choosing simple and predictable accommodations means travelers have a safe place to recharge, for example. ‘The support is the curation,’ says Kempf.”Read Full Article →
“Unbelievable. I use that word a lot because that describes most of the trip to Europe. It was just unbelievable.
My family goes on vacation about once or twice a year, and I've been suggesting Europe for as long as I can remember, and we've never gone. I never really was confident that I'd be self-sufficient enough to make it over on my own. And now having gone, it was just as amazing as I'd always imagined.”
Wyatt Dunkerly
Novato, California
“All the guides were super helpful and friendly and always willing to answer any questions we had on the trip. It was my first time traveling abroad without my parents. My favorite part was Kinosaki I loved the onsens and it was so relaxing and therapeutic.
I also loved all the different foods, I got to try and experience for the first time. It definitely brought out my confidence in myself I know I can do anything I set my mind to. My biggest lesson I learned is that I need to listen to my body whether it be mentally or physically. I also learned that I can travel on my own. I just need to trust myself.”
Nora Lewis
Concord, California
Doing some of the best things in my life with wonderful people in a stress free environment and getting away from the frustrations of everyday life was amazing.
Having had the best two consecutive weeks literally ever transformed my life and it has made me do a lot of reflecting. This reflection has really made me appreciate how competent and caring all of you guides were.
“I've always had low self-confidence, and never really held any belief in my capabilities. All of that changed after this trip. This trip gave me a peace of mind about myself I'd never known. I learned what I was capable of when put in an environment that fosters growth and learning, and found a place I felt like I belonged.
I found a new sense of confidence in myself that I don't know if I would've found without going on a trip with WanderRock. If you're on the fence about taking this trip, I highly recommend going out of your comfort zone for it. This trip changed my life for the better, and I'm sure it can change yours too if you let it.”
Len Lawler
Millersville, Maryland
“With my trip with WanderRock to Japan I experienced a sense of inner peace and silence even with autism that I had never had before in my life. I learned to see what's in front of me rather than trying to prepare for the next cataclysmic event that was going to be stressful to me. In my opinion, I was given the right amount of freedom to make my own decisions and the right amount of rules and control to not feel overwhelmed.
Help or support was never far away from me on any of the other individuals traveling with me. I'm the kind of person that struggles making any plans without planning it to death. This was the freedom and safety I needed to truly experience and jump right in. The connections and opportunities I was able to be apart of on my trip in Japan was nothing less then stunning.”
Remington Shindel
Monument, Colorado
Going to Japan with WanderRock was perhaps the best decision I ever made. I have saved lives, human and animal. I have inspired and uplifted dozens of children through my work in childcare over the last few summers. I've loved, and laughed, and lived through experiences that many would wish for, and that has been fortunate for me. And of everything I've done, going to Japan with WanderRock is still perhaps the best decision I've ever made.
I got to climb a mountain and feed monkeys, I played at shooting galleries and arcades, put coins in a frankly inadvisable amount of gachapon machines, and ate the most delightful food. Kinosaki is a slower leg, but exploring all the shops in a smaller, more rural town, wearing a rental yukata in the streets, and coming back to enjoy a bath in a private natural hot spring was a level of peace I haven't felt in my entire life, until that trip or since I came home.
While there were plenty of opportunities to engage in modern nerdy culture, and I did partake in my share of that, I much preferred the traditional culture. In Tokyo alone I purchased authentic wood block prints, second hand kimono, and explored quite a few shrines and temples. I keep a good luck charm on me at all times now, at least when I'm out of the house. If you're on the fence about going on this trip, do it. Without hesitation I can vouch that you will love it more than you can possibly imagine. My life is drastically better from having gone on this trip, and I'm sure yours will be too.
Want to ask a traveler directly?
Past travelers regularly answer questions in the WanderRock Discord.
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