Sample Itinerary 3
Day 1: Welcome to Cambodia!
Arrive at Phnom Penh Airport (PNH) and meet your Program Leaders who will be with you for the duration of the program. Head to the hotel and settle in, relaxing after your long flight, and join the group for an orientation discussion about the week ahead, expectations for your adventure, and an introduction to the local culture. Have a Khmer dinner and head back to the hotel for a good night’s sleep.
Overnight: Hotel, Phnom Penh
Day 2: A Lesson in Cambodia’s History
Start informal Khmer language lessons during breakfast to show respect for the local culture. Head to Tuol Sleng, a former school that was used as a prison and has since been converted into a museum to educate visitors about the country’s genocide. Visit the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek and walk through the quiet and peaceful fields that were the setting of mass killings and burials. Fly to Siem Reap and prepare for your trip to the floating village of Prek Toal.
Overnight: Hotel, Siem Reap
Day 3 - 5: Floating Village Homestays
Experience a completely different way of life in Cambodia's floating villages where families do everything on their boats, from cooking their morning meals to reeling in their fishing nets at the end of the day. Settle into homestays in Prek Toal and explore this unique community before your service work assisting with a housing improvement initiative begins. Spend time getting to know the community and swapping stories. Contribute to infrastructure and education projects in the community, depending on the needs and seasons. This will give you a deeper look into village life in Prek Toal and allow you to engage in deeper immersion with students and community members who come by to help out. In the evenings, have dinner with your host family and join your group for a post-service debrief in the evening, discussing what you experienced and learned through hands-on work in the community.
Overnight: Homestay, Floating Villages
Day 6: Cambodia Circus in Siem Reap
Say goodbye to Floating Village and take the boat back to Siem Reap where you’ll explore the famous night markets and shop for some local souvenirs and enjoy the different pace of city life. See the Cambodian circus for an inspiring show of acrobatics performed by students from Phare Ponleu Selpak, an organization that supports disadvantaged youth through arts education.
Overnight: Hotel, Siem Reap
Day 7: Ancient Cambodia and Angkor Wat
Wake up early for a morning exploring Angkor Wat and the ancient Khmer Empire. See the intricate carvings of Angkor's historical battle scenes and climb the top of the highest tower to see the temples from a new perspective. Then travel to Bayon to see the huge, carved faces in rock, and make your way to the shady temple of Ta Prohm where massive trees have given this ruin a fairytale-like feel. After a day of ancient adventures, enjoy a final Khmer dinner and spend time browsing the night markets.
At the end of each program, students reflect on their experiences and the issues they engaged with, and talk about how to apply this new understanding to their own worlds.
Overnight: Hotel, Siem Reap
Day 8: Lee hi, Cambodia!
We genuinely hope your time spent here, the experiences you’ve shared, and the things you’ve reflected on will stay with you for a lifetime. After some final group photos with Team Cambodia, your Program Leaders will take you to the airport for your departure as you say goodbyes and reflect on your adventure.