Cambodia Impact Expedition: Community and History 6 Days

Discover Cambodia on a 6-day expedition that blends meaningful community engagement with rich cultural experiences and historical exploration.

  • Location Cambodia, Asia
  • Duration 6 days
  • Expedition Type Impact

Your journey begins in Phnom Penh, where you’ll explore Cambodia’s history and culture before travelling to Camp Beng Pae to experience life within a rural community. Work alongside local people on meaningful service-learning projects, develop practical skills, and take part in cultural activities before finishing your adventure in Siem Reap with a guided tour of Angkor Wat and an inspiring performance by the Phare Circus.

A graphic of a map with the logo of Camp Cambodia
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A fully supported expedition, from start to finish

Your expedition cost is comprehensive and covers the incredible activities you’ll be taking part in, as well as the extensive support you’ll receive in the lead up to, and during, your expedition.

Don’t forget you’ll also need your vaccinations, visas, kit and some spending money. You can find guidance on all of these on your personal Traveller Gateway once you sign up.

  • International flights
  • Expedition Leader
  • Comprehensive travel insurance
  • All meals
  • Unlimited drinking water
  • All accommodation mentioned in the itinerary
  • All activities mentioned in the itinerary
  • Entrance fees for all sights mentioned in the itinerary
  • All transfers mentioned are in private vehicles
  • Project costs and management
  • 24 hour support throughout expedition

This sample itinerary will give you an insight into what you’ll be getting up to. Please note, the exact projects, activities and camps may change closer to the time of your expedition.

Day

Activities

More details
Day 1 Morning arrival Phnom Penh Upon arrival in Phnom Penh, you will be met by our local staff and guide, who will take you into the city for lunch and hotel check-in. After freshening up and enjoying a restful afternoon, see the city by night as you head out for dinner on the banks of the mighty Mekong River.
Day 2 S21, Killing Fields, Wat Phnom, Russian Market Spend today immersing yourself in Cambodia’s rich culture and powerful history. You’ll gain a deeper perspective on the country’s tragic past by visiting the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21) and the Choeung Ek Killing Fields. Learn about the millions of lives lost during the Khmer Rouge regime under Pol Pot. Later, visit a local Russian market to feel the hustle and bustle of the city.
Day 3 Transfer to Camp Beng Pae This morning, travel to beautiful Camp Beng Pae. Upon arrival, you’ll be welcomed by the camp manager and team before enjoying lunch together. In the afternoon, you’ll receive a full camp orientation and an overview of your upcoming activities. During your orientation walk around the community, a local Buddhist monk will conduct a traditional water blessing, promoting good energy for your time in Cambodia. After dinner, you’ll settle down for your first night’s sleep in a traditional longhouse.
Day 4 Community service-learning projects Today you’ll work on community service-learning projects, learning traditional and practical skills as you help make a meaningful impact in partnership with the local community. During the evening you will get to relax and spend more time with your local neighbours, and have fun taking part in sporting events and cultural activities.
Day 5 Angkor temples and Phare circus show Today you will head back to Siem Reap to spend the day exploring the UNESCO World Heritage site, Angkor Wat. Enjoy a guided tour as you immerse yourself in the hidden history of Cambodia exploring temples that were ‘lost’ for hundreds of years. Following a tasty dinner at a local restaurant, you will be treated to a show put on by the Phare Circus. The circus is non-profit organisation that helps young Cambodians transform their lives through theatre, dance and music, putting together shows that tell uniquely Cambodian stories.
Day 6 Departure This morning we will say our goodbyes before heading to the airport ready for your flight home.
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See what life is like on expedition

Check out the photos from our previous travellers for a first-hand view into life on expedition.

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travellers in a temple in cambodia
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Traveller and a local from Cambodia posing together and smiling
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travellers in a temple in cambodia
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Traveller and a local from Cambodia posing together and smiling

For more of our travellers’ best photos visit our photo competition gallery. See more

How you’ll make a difference

You’ll work on a range of projects throughout your expedition, each aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and designed to make a significant and lasting impact on the region’s most critical issues.

School improvements

Cambodia – School improvements and jungle garden reforestation

It’s estimated that around 15% of Cambodia’s population never enters the education system and those that do often learn in inadequate schools. You’ll help support a local primary school, through projects such as refurbishing and extending classrooms and constructing a library. You’ll also work on the Jungle Garden at our camp to tackle issues of food production in the dry season.

UN Sustainable Development Goals

No Poverty Icon

No poverty

End poverty in all its forms everywhere

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Zero hunger

End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

3 Good health and well-being

Good health and well-being

Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

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Quality education

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

5 Gender Equality

Gender equality

Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

6 Clean water and santitation

Clean water and sanitation

Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

10 Reduced Inequalities

Reduce inequalities

Reduce inequality within and among countries

13 Climate Action

Climate action

Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

Experience the local way of life in our authentic camps

Our camps are the heart of our expeditions. Built and staffed by locals in the traditional style, and located within the heart of communities, they are the perfect place to relax after a day of project work. You’ll get to stay in a number of camps during your expedition, which could include those featured below.

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Camp Beng Mealea

This delightful rural camp is set on the outskirts of Teuk Lich village within Beng Mealea commune.

Accommodation is in the form of traditional Khmer stilted longhouses positioned in the shade of large banana and papaya trees. The camp is surrounded by paddy fields and pretty amazing views on all sides. On a clear day you can see the impressive ridge line of the Kulen National Park from your longhouse. And if that isn’t enough, there is the ancient ruined temple of Beng Mealea to explore only a short walk away, as well as a large ornate pagoda where the Buddhist monks live. You’d be hard pushed to find a more authentic Cambodian experience.

  • Location: 75 km (1.5 hours drive) from Siem Reap International Airport
  • Accommodation style: Traditional longhouses
  • Bed type: Comfy mattresses & bedding including mosquito net
  • Toilets: Composting toilets
  • Showers: Cold water showers & wash basins
  • Power: Generator (06:00-07:00 & 18:00-22:00) British 3 pin power sockets
  • Social area: Chill out zone, camp fire, hammocks
  • Signature dish: Amok – Mild curry usually eaten with chicken or fish
Find out more

I went on a trip to Cambodia with Camps International. During the trip we learnt all about the Cambodian history and culture through emotional visits to the S21 prison and the killing fields as well as stories from the camps staff who were super friendly and helpful. Our project work included building a toilet and well for a local family and helping in the local schools which was all very rewarding.

Unknown, Camp Cambodia 2016

Our local camp legends

Our camps are staffed by members of the community who will make you feel like a local in no time. These legends will make your expedition spectacular and will show you the very best of their home country.

Han Hoeuy

Camps International provides many jobs for local people like me, enabling us to work together with volunteers on projects which help our communities. Having travellers spend time in camps and surrounding villages helps encourage parents in the community to recognise the importance of education for their own children, paving the way for a bright future for the people of Cambodia.

Meet our Crew

Interested in this expedition?

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