Osjar Cambodia Expedition: 14 Days

Discover Cambodia through a powerful blend of community-led projects, cultural immersion and historic exploration. From rural villages to world-famous temples, this expedition offers meaningful impact alongside unforgettable learning experiences.

  • Location Cambodia, Asia
  • Duration 2 weeks
  • Expedition Type Service Expeditions

Begin your journey in Phnom Penh, gaining vital insight into Cambodia’s recent history before travelling to rural community camps where you’ll work alongside local families on essential infrastructure projects. Experience life in traditional longhouses, take part in hands-on service learning projects, and immerse yourself in daily village life. The expedition also includes visits to Tonlé Sap’s floating villages, the awe-inspiring temples of Angkor Wat, and a conservation-focused experience at Kulen Elephant Forest, offering a well-rounded understanding of Cambodia’s past, present and future.

A graphic of a map with the logo of Camp Cambodia

A fully supported expedition, from start to finish

Your expedition fee covers not just the incredible activities you’ll experience, but also the extensive guidance and support you’ll receive every step of the way. From the moment you sign up through your safe return home, our team ensures everything is organized and supported.

You’ll also need to plan for essentials like vaccinations, visas, personal gear, and a bit of spending money. Don’t worry—we make it easy. Once enrolled, you’ll get access to your personalized Traveller Gateway, with clear guidance and resources to help you prepare with confidence.

  • Round-trip international flights
  • Expedition Leader (qualified and experienced)
  • Accident and health insurance
  • All meals
  • Unlimited, safe drinking water
  • All accommodations listed in the itinerary
  • All activities listed in the itinerary
  • Entrance fees for all included excursions
  • All in-country transfers by private, approved vehicles
  • Project materials, costs, and management
  • 24/7 support throughout the expedition

This sample itinerary will give you a preview of what your expedition could look like. Please note that specific projects, activities, and camp locations may vary depending on local needs and conditions at the time of your expedition.

Day

Activities

More details

Day 1 Arrival in 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 a restful afternoon, you’ll see the city by night as you head out for dinner on the banks of the mighty Mekong River.
Day 2 Cultural Exploration 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. Set the scene for your expedition by learning about the millions of lives lost – a quarter of Cambodia’s population at the time – during the Khmer Rouge regime under Pol Pot from 1975 to 1979. Later, visit a local market to feel the hustle and bustle of the city while picking up any forgotten supplies.
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 4-6 Community Service Learning Project Spend the next several days working alongside local community members on meaningful projects that are designed by and for the community. You will help improve living conditions by working on essential infrastructure projects, such as building wells and constructing toilets.
Day 7 Transfer to Siem Reap Today, you’ll travel to Siem Reap. Along the way, you’ll visit Tonlé Sap Lake and a fishing village that appears to float during the rainy season. There are no roads here; the school, temple, shops, and houses are all built on floating structures. After checking into your hotel in the late afternoon, enjoy dinner and a visit to one of Siem Reap’s lively night markets – perfect for souvenir shopping and sampling local snacks.
Day 8 Visit to Angkor Wat An early rise and a short transfer will bring you to sunrise over the world-famous temples of Angkor Wat. Learn more about Cambodia’s ancient past as you explore a variety of iconic temples. After dinner in the city, you will be treated to an evening watching the incredible Phare Circus, where talented acrobats and jugglers will amaze you with their daredevil show.
Day 9 Cultural Exploration & Travel to Camp Beng Mealea A visit to the APOPO Visitor Center on the outskirts of Siem Reap offers a unique learning opportunity. This non-profit organisation trains African giant pouched rats to detect tuberculosis and sniff out landmines. Their work saves lives and returns safe land to farmers, allowing local communities to thrive once again. In the afternoon, travel to your second community at Camp Beng Mealea. You’ll receive an orientation of both the camp and the community before settling in for dinner and an evening reflection.
Day 10 – 11 Community Service Learning Project Over the next couple of days, you will be working on more worthwhile community projects. This includes building traditional-style clay water jugs from scratch. These jugs have been crafted using the same methods for millennia; once finished, they will be gifted to a local family for immediate use.
Day 12 Kulen Elephant Forest Elephants hold close ties with Cambodian society and culture. A visit to the Kulen Elephant Forest will encourage you to engage in the conservation discussion. This protected forest serves as a sanctuary for elephants that have retired from working in the nearby Angkor Wat tourism industry. You can assist with preparing healthy snacks, walk with them through the forest, and witness how they choose to spend their time. The passionate staff will share valuable insights as you observe these magnificent creatures. Afterward, return to camp for your final night in a longhouse.
Day 13 Journey to Phnom Penh Say a fond farewell to the staff at Camp Beng Mealea and head back to Phnom Penh. Time permitting, you may have a chance for last-minute souvenir shopping at the Russian Market before enjoying a final celebration meal on the waterfront.
Day 14 Departure After checking out of the hotel, you will be transferred back to the airport in time for your flight home.

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.

cambodia_encouragment-from-local-children_projects_leanne-wrightson-copy-2

Cambodia – Food and Water Security

Tuek Lich village in Siem Reap province has a longer dry season than the more southerly areas of Cambodia and does not have easily accessible ground water. One of our projects here is to make large water storage pots based on the traditional Cambodian design and to distribute them to the houses in the village and surrounding area to enable them to store as much rainwater as possible. We are also building chicken coops to enable families to raise chickens to supplement their food and to provide a source of income.

You’ll also work on the Jungle Garden at our camp where we’re developing growing techniques to help 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

2 Zero Hunger Icon

Zero hunger

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

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

classroom-kids

Cambodia – Reforestation and English Teaching

Take part take part in a reforestation project in Beng Mealea to counter some of the vast deforestation that has happened throughout Cambodia.

Get involved and support the English teacher with English lessons to the local children in Beng Mealea at our purpose built English school near our camp.

 

 

UN Sustainable Development Goals

3 Good health and well-being

Good health and well-being

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

4 Quality Education

Quality education

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

14 Life below water

Life below water

Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

Experience the local way of life in our authentic camps

Our camps are at the heart of every expedition. Built in traditional styles and staffed by local community members, they offer an authentic place to rest and recharge after a day of service learning project work.

Depending on your itinerary, you’ll stay in several of our camps. These could include those featured below.

Camp Beng Pae

Camp Beng Pae

Beng Pae is located in the village of Ta Lek and within the Beng Pae Wildlife Reserve. Surrounded by impressive pine trees, the camp is designed and built in the local hill tribe house style.
The camp is set at the edge of the village and so all your project sites are only a short walk away, allowing you to become a local in no time!

  • Location: 220 km (3 hours drive) from Siem Reap International Airport
  • Accommodation style: Traditional longhouses
  • Bed type: Comfy mattresses & bedding including mosquito net.
  • Toilets: Flushing toilets,
  • Showers: Showers & wash basins
  • Power: Mains electricity. 2 flat pin style power sockets
  • Social area: Chill out zone, camp fire, hammocks
  • Signature dish: Beef Loklak, Stir fried, grilled aubergine.

My time in Cambodia with Camps International was an incredible experience, I was able to learn so much about not only Cambodia but myself.

UNKNOWN, CAMP CAMBODIA 2018

Our local camp legends

Our camps are staffed by local community members who will quickly make you feel at home. These amazing team members bring each expedition to life and share the very best of their country with you.

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.

Interested in this expedition?

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