Explore Cambodia’s Ancient Ruins and Beaches

Cambodia, with its tropical climate and beautiful beaches, is known for its rich culture and ancient temples. Travelers will begin this trip in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, and enjoy a night out before driving to Siem Reap, Cambodia the next day. Siem Reap has numerous examples of Cambodian tradition as it is home to various temples, including Angkor Wat, a monumental Buddhist temple and the largest religious monument in the world. While in Siem Reap, travelers will also have the opportunity to attend the Phare Circus, a cultural performance with theater, music and dance, and go on a tour of Tonle Sap (Southeast Asia’s largest lake). Travelers will also get to visit Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. The city is known for its historical architecture and cuisine. Travelers will experience the largest city in Cambodia with a street food crawl and will also have the chance to visit the Silver Pagoda, another famous Buddhist temple. One of the last stops in Cambodia allows travelers to enjoy the country’s warm weather with a visit to a private beach in Koh Rong, the biggest island in the Gulf of Thailand. Here, travelers get a break from the hustle and bustle of the cities; with no transportation on the island except for taxi boats, travelers can enjoy Cambodian seafood and Koh Rong’s gorgeous underwater ecosystem. At the last stop in Cambodia, Chambok Village, travelers will get one more glimpse of Cambodian nature by getting to explore the village and see its beautiful waterfalls. This trip ends in Ho Chi Minh City—also known as Saigon—in Vietnam, where travelers will depart after enjoying some time in the country’s economic hub.

This is an eight-day G Adventures trip for people ages 18-Thirtysomething. All G Adventures trips are led by a local guide, a CEO, Chief Experience Officer, and trip revenue is driven to help the local community. This trip is ten days long and costs $522 and includes transportation between locations, accommodations, and some meals.

Travel From Phnom Penh to Bangkok

Having emerged in recent decades as two of the most alluring destinations in Southeast Asia, Cambodia and Thailand now attract millions of visitors each year who come to enjoy their tropical scenery, electric nightlife, delicious local food and awe-inspiring historical sites. On this Roamie trip hosted by G Adventures, travelers will make their way from Phnom Penh to Bangkok over the course of five days, while staying in hostels and partaking in an exciting array of activities. Beginning in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, travelers will spend the first two days biking through the city and sampling local delicacies before driving to Sambor Prei Kuk. These ancient ruins, now recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, date back to the 7th century and were once the royal sanctuary and capital of Chenla Empire. After witnessing the temples, travelers will stay a night in the Siem Reap, the second largest city in Cambodia. On the third day, travelers will be free to explore the city and participate in any activities they desire — go on a guided nature tour, eat at a Khmer training restaurant, or even visit the world-famous temple of Angkor Wat. Built in the 12th century, this temple complex is considered to be the largest religious structure in the world, encompassing over 400 acres. Travelers will cross the border into Thailand on the fourth day, stopping at the Rong Kluea market, a popular site for trade between Thailand and Cambodia, which boasts of nearly 1400 individual shops. Travelers will arrive in Bangkok and be led through the city, experiencing the lively party atmosphere and vibrant nightlife for one final evening before returning home the next day.

This 5-day experience starts at $319 per person and includes accommodations, transportation, various activities and a few meals. Roamies are small-group trips organized by G Adventures for travelers ages 18-35, who stay in hostels and receive an immersive travel experience.

Volunteer to Help Rebuild Cambodia

Cambodia has a long, violent history of war and genocide, but since the mid-90’s, peace has come to the country and is a safe place to visit.  The years of war, however, left a lasting impact on the Cambodian people, leaving most of them in extreme poverty and with a countryside strewn with unexploded landmines.  As a volunteer time will be spent in Siem Reap, near the famous Angkor Wat temples, helping with a variety of projects—from teaching English at the Buddhism Association School to distributing wheelchairs to the Cambodians who are left injured by the leftover mines.  Upon arrival on this trip, volunteers will receive a set itinerary that will include different projects to participate in, depending on the need for volunteers at the time.  During downtime, volunteers can explore the Angkor Wat temples and the floating village on the Tonle Sap Lake, or simply wander the streets of Siem Reap. 

Practice Community Development in Cambodia

This trip gives enrollees the opportunity to participate in community development projects in Samraong, Cambodia. As a volunteer, time will be spent working on a variety of projects, from teaching English to establishing environmental awareness among locals. Samraong is located in northwestern Cambodia along the Thai border and is just over two hours away from the Angkor Wat temple complex. 

Upon arrival, travelers will receive a list of projects in need of help. Volunteers will then go through an orientation complete with cultural workshops, a Khmer language lesson, and introductions with the host family. In free time, volunteers can visit local Buddhist temples or head to the West Baray reservoir for a swim. The maximum number of volunteers is 10 and enrollees must be prepared for busy days. The price of the trip varies depending on the length from $590 for a one-week trip to $2,340 for eight.

Provide Social Work in Cambodia

The “Social Work Volunteering in Cambodia” trip is an opportunity to work with nongovernmental organizations in Siem Reap that employ local social workers. Siem Reap, home to the renowned ruins of Angkor Wat, is located in northwestern Cambodia. This area is in huge need of assistance since many people struggle to feed their families. Many organizations in the area aim to provide creative solutions to help these households. Subjects such as parenting, sexual behavior, healthy relationships and violence prevention can be addressed with the help of communication and social workers. You must have a degree in social work and at least two years of experience working in the field to be able to go on this trip. The trip lasts for a minimum of four weeks and costs $1,976.