OUR STORY & PURPOSE

About Dragons

OUR NAME

Mapmakers once drew dragons to represent lands unknown. Today, going Where There Be Dragons means exploring beyond what’s known to you. When we engage the unfamiliar, we discover new parts of ourselves and the world.

Our Purpose

Simple Yet Bold

Beyond travel, we create experiences that help you engage with fresh perspectives, connect wholeheartedly with new realities and give you space to examine your assumptions, values, and worldviews. Ultimately, we hope that stepping away from the familiar will help you feel more connected to yourself and others, aligned with your sense of purpose, and better equipped to thrive in the world.

We believe in the power of immersive travel to help create a more compassionate, just, and inclusive world.

Our Approach

Our Values

Unwavering in our commitment to responsible, deeply impactful, and unconventional travel, every aspect of our programming is guided by our core values.

– We make time for slowing down, sharing a cup of tea, and listening to another person’s story.
– We challenge ourselves to confront systems of power and privilege and our roles within.
– We celebrate the courage it takes to venture into the unfamiliar and uncomfortable.
– We work to cultivate awe, reverence, and right action for our planet.
– We value curiosity and unscripted spaces to discover, learn, and grow.
– We strive to build community relationships that are reciprocal and sustainable.
– We work to access, hear, and share marginalized voices and perspectives.

Responsible Travel

Our History

Unwavering in our Purpose

Founded in 1993, Dragons began as an alternative to mainstream tourism through rugged exploration across Asia—from the Mongolian steppe to the peaks of Nepal. Early participants were trailblazers traveling before cell phones or the internet.

Over the past 30+ years, we have continuously evolved, leading the industry in risk management, responsible travel ethics, and staff quality while adapting to a hyperconnected digital age.

While our programs have adapted, we remain at the forefront of immersive travel. At our core, we help you slow down, stay open to new realities, and build meaningful connections worldwide.

We invite you to experience this beauty through life-changing travel that fosters a deeper connection to the world.

Video: Our Story

Read stories from our students.

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