Inspire Change In Cambodia

Volunteering in Cambodia

A country steeped in history

When people think of a gap year in South East Asia, they typically imagine Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia. But Cambodia, the area’s lesser-known gem, is rich with culture, history and adventure and is quickly becoming one of the must-sees on any gap year.

There’s so much to discover in Cambodia, from ancient Buddhist temples to stunning white-sand beaches with dazzling azure waters.

But the people of Cambodia face a crushing poverty cycle.

Volunteer in Cambodia

After a turbulent recent history, Cambodia is one of Asia’s poorest countries. With 17.8% of the nation living under the poverty line and thousands earning under $ 2 USD per day, many still go hungry and lack the proper education to help them break the cycle.

And that’s where you can help.

Our programs are more than just volunteering abroad. You’ll make a real impact on the lives of the community you’re working with, helping them live healthier, better prepare for their future, and give them key life skills to help them live their best lives.

Cambodia Departure Dates

We have the following group departure dates scheduled for Cambodia:

Saturday 14th October 2023
Saturday 24th February 2024

Places on each trip are limited so apply today.

Why Gap Year in Cambodia?

Why GapGuru?

Extensive Gap Year Experience

Over the past 18 years, we’ve guided more than 6,000 students through unforgettable gap year experiences.

Ethical Gap Year Programs

All our programs work towards the UN’s Global Sustainable Development Goals and are backed up by our charity, the FutureSense Foundation.

A community of support

You’ll be guided by our GapGuru Advisors and Mentors before, during and after your gap year experience.

Don’t just take it from us…

Why visit Cambodia

This was an amazing experience

This was an amazing experience, loved every second even through the challenges. Working on improving the environment and volunteering at the park where so rewarding but also the workshops carried out as a team where great to experience.

I loved experiencing new cultures

This was such an amazing experience that changed how I look at the world and taught me more about what it means to be a global citizen. It also made me realise how much I want to travel in the future.

A wholesome, fulfilling experience

I’d highly recommend this experience to any students. Not only does it look great on a CV but it was tremendous fun to do as well. Overall, a really fantastic experience.

learnt so much and had an amazing time.

Absolutely amazing. Any issues I had in organising the trip, eg flights or vaccines, they told me exactly where to go for the best info. I was completely prepared for my trip, what I would be doing, and the expectations. I learnt so much and had an amazing time.

Your Gap Year in Cambodia

All you need to know

Cambodian quick facts

Battambang

When on a GapGuru experience in Cambodia, you’ll be based in the charming city of Battambang. Located in north-western Cambodia on the Sangkae River, Battambang is off the main tourist trail, making it less chaotic than the capital.

This provincial town is full of wonderful French colonial-era architecture and historic pagodas. The surrounding countryside harbours not only ancient temple ruins but also offers some of the most picturesque rice paddy and village scenery in the country. It’s even been dubbed ‘the rice bowl of Cambodia’ due to its vast rice production.

Language

The national language of Cambodia is Khmer. The language dates back to the early 7th Century, originating in South India.

Today, around 18.5 million people speak Khmer, largely in Cambodia but also in areas of Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.

Learning at least a few phrases of a local language can dramatically improve your gap year experience. Locals of any country are usually appreciative of people making an effort as it shows you’re embracing their culture.

Here are a few phrases of Khmer to get you started, but we encourage you to try and learn a few more from our team and the community while in Cambodia.

English	Khmer Pronunciation	Khmer
Good morning	aroun suostei	អរុណសួស
How are you?	anak sokhasabbay te?	សូមអរគុណ
Thank you	saum arkoun	អកសុខសបយេទ
My name is…	chhmoh robsakhnhom ku	េះរបស់ខុំគ

Cambodian History and Culture

History

Cambodia has a dark and troubled past, largely stemming from the reign of the Khmer Rouge, a hard-line communist command that terrorised the country from 1975 to 1979.

Under the Marxist leader Pol Pot, the Khmer Rouge tried to take Cambodia back to the Middle Ages, forcing millions of people from the cities to work on communal farms in the countryside. Swathes of the population died from starvation, disease and overwork, and millions were executed.

Over the four years they were in power, the Khmer Rouge’s mass genocide killed between 1.5 million to 3 million people.

Cambodia’s haunted past is still visible across the country today. However, the resilient Khmer people have pushed forward in rebuilding and reshaping their identity, but there is still much to be done.

Culture

Religion in Cambodia

Cambodia is predominantly Buddhist with 80% of the population being Theravada Buddhist, 1% Christian and the majority of the remaining population following Islam, atheism, or animism.

Cambodian time’

Time is pretty malleable to the locals and you’ll regularly experience delays and cancellations. Adjusting to their way of timekeeping can be frustrating at times, but embracing differences is one of the main reasons for going on a gap year!

Greetings

Like many Asian cultures, Cambodians greet one another with a small bow. The Cambodian ‘Som Pas’ is performed by putting your palms together at your chest as if in prayer, and bowing slightly.

Culture Shock

Culture shock can happen to anyone experiencing a new culture for the first time. It’s the shock your mind and body go through when your daily life changes and you have to get used to a new routine and way of life.

There is only so much you can do to prepare before you arrive in Cambodia. We’ll make sure you have everything you need to know but it won’t be until after your first few days in the country that you’ll better understand the local culture.

Head to our Gap Year Advice section to find out more about culture shock, how to recognise it and the best ways to handle it.

The Community

During your time in Cambodia, you’ll be working with children and their families in the Ek Phnom district of Battambang.

Much of the Battambang community is made up of low-income families who have limited access to education, health services, and valuable life lessons that could increase the family’s income and livelihood.

In Cambodia, we work hand-in-hand with our charity, the FutureSense Foundation to ensure our programs are long-term and create lasting change. You’ll be a part of that, helping the people of Battambang make the changes needed to break the poverty cycle in Cambodia.

Where you’ll be staying

During your programme, you will be staying at our volunteer house. All the rooms are dorm style, so you will be sharing with 4-5 other volunteers in bunk beds. There are fans in the rooms and mosquito nets available. Each room has an ensuite that includes a western toilet, shower and sink.

There is a kitchen and plenty of chill-out spaces where you can relax in your spare time – including a beautiful rooftop!

The accommodation is regularly cleaned and safe, however, the amenities aren’t the same standard that you might be used to. Be prepared for things like putting toilet paper in a bin rather than flushing it and having cold showers (which is refreshing because it’s so hot!).

Meals

All of our meals are served family-style and are vegetarian to ensure that we can provide you with safe food and also reduce our carbon footprint. You’ll eat a lot of the local cuisine which is delicious across the board!

Breakfast

We keep breakfast simple to give you time in the morning. Expect toast, jam and eggs with coffee and tea. In some of our destinations, you’ll have the chance to try local breakfasts like a traditional breakfast curry in Nepal!

Lunch

Lunch will either be back at your accommodation or will be a packed lunch that you will take with you to your project.

Dinner

Dinner is a bigger affair, where our in-house cooks prepare delicious local meals. Be prepared for lots of noodles, rice and potatoes depending on where you are. To give you a taste of home the team might even sneak in the odd western dish like pasta.

Your Typical Day

Though each program differs slightly, most tend to follow a similar routine.

After breakfast at your accommodation, you will usually head to your project location around 8 am for morning activities. After lunch back at the accommodation or at your activity, you’ll head out again for the afternoon session.

Morning and afternoon activities typically last about 2-3 hours each, with time built into the day for resting, planning and group debriefing.

In the evenings, your in-country team puts on group bonding activities and imparts their wisdom about Cambodian culture. The evenings are also time for exploration where you can get out and explore Battambang!

Weekends

Your weekends are your time, but we help you make the most of them. You might stay in Battambang and visit some of the local tourist hot spots like the Bamboo Train or the Ek Phnom Pagoda. Or maybe you’ll go further afield on a weekend excursion to some of Cambodia’s ‘must-sees’, such as the iconic Angor Wat temples.

Budgeting

Although all meals are included in your programme, whilst you are in Cambodia you’ll want to buy snacks and try the local foods.

Here’s a list of a few standard items to help you budget for your trip, however, approximately £5 per day should be adequate for your programme.

Cambodia uses a dual currency – both US dollars and Cambodia Real. The below costs are estimates and are shown in USD.

Sweet treats


Chocolate bar	1.50 USD
Ice cream cone	1.20 USD


Chocolate bar	1.50 USD
Ice cream cone	1.20 USD

Savoury snacks


Crisps	1 USD
Fried Banana	0.75 USD
Fried Noodle with vegetables	0.75 USD
Fried Rice with Vegetables	2.50 USD
Fried rice with cashew nuts & vegetables	2.50 USD
Fried Shiitake mushroom with oyster sauce with steamed rice	2.50 USD

Drink & Fruit


500ml Bottled water	0.50 USD
500ml Coke	1 USD
Apple	0.35 USD
Orange	0.35 USD
Hot Chocolate	2.00 USD


Smoothies	2.50 USD
Fruit Juices	1.50 USD
Fresh Coconut	0.75 USD
Espresso	1.80 USD
Banana Cocktail	3.00 USD

Your support

Our Gap Year programs have the best of all worlds: independent, impactful travel with a support network that’s there whenever you need it.

During your stay in Battambang, you’ll be in the care of our dedicated Cambodia GapGuru mentors. Our GapGurus are your family from home. They not only ensure you never feel too far from home but they’re also there to help you make the most of your time in Cambodia.

Here are a few of the friendly faces who’ll be there for you during your time in Cambodia:

Sarah Morgan

Country Manager

Our Cambodia team is led by Sarah Morgan. Sarah’s background in International Development and Service has not only allowed her to travel and live in many countries but has also deepened her understanding of developing strategy and impact in communities.

Rith

Country Operations Manager

Rith values working with people from different backgrounds and is a strong believer in harmony, friendship and making a difference in the world through our attitudes and actions. Rith has a background in teaching, sits on the board of trustees for a local environmental NGO and has over 15 years of experience in the tourism sector.

Kearong

Community Coordinator

Kearong is from Cambodia and graduated in English literature. He likes speaking about world issues and Buddha teachings, enjoys playing volleyball and watching boxing and football.

Cambodia Program Pricing

Though each program differs slightly, most tend to follow a similar routine.

We’ve been doing this for nearly 20 years so trust us – we know how to put together an incredible Gap Year experience. That’s why we keep our pricing simple.

We’ve done the hard work meaning you don’t need to scroll through hundreds of program choices. We’ve cherry-picked the best of the best to help you create your tailored Gap Year.

Our Cambodia programs run for a minimum of four weeks. You can add additional weeks to your Cambodia program or combine it with another one of our destinations.

And if you want to include some independent travel let us know and we can help you organise it around your programs.

Prices Include

A GapGuru Mentor during your stay
Clean and safe Accommodation
3 x nutritious meals from Monday –Friday
Training & orientation
Support before, during and after your trip
Airport pick-up & drop-off
In-country transport
All pre-travel materials

What we can help you with

Things to do in Cambodia

Your Cambodia Bucket List

Angkor Wat Temples

Cambodia is home to the incredible UNESCO world heritage site Angkor which contains the magnificent remains of the different capitals of the Khmer Empire. Dating back to the 12th century, the site includes the most famous temple, Angkor Wat, an architectural masterpiece and the largest religious monument in the world.

There’s no better time to experience Angkor Wat than at sunrise, with the iconic temple silhouetted against a fiery sky. Angkor Wat is a must-see when in Cambodia and we include it as a weekend excursion on most of our Cambodia programs.

Angkor Wat

Ek Phnom Pagoda

Closer by, just outside Battambang sits the Ek Phnom pagoda. This relatively modern structure opens the way to the considerably more ancient ruins of the Hindu temple of the same name. The temple was built in the 11th century and has since partially collapsed and been looted over the years.

Ek Phnom

The Killing Fields

Roughly 11km from Battambang you’ll find a more sobering experience, ‘the Killing Fields’. This site gives an inkling of what life was like under the Khmer Rouge regime.

The Killing Fields were a Khmer Rouge execution site on Phnom Sampeau, a small hill not far from Battambang. The Khmer Rouge executed their victims on top of the cave at the rim of a daylight shaft or ceiling hole and then threw the dead body into the cave.

Bamboo Train

See the local area by train, but not as you know it!

This unique train was historically used to transport rice from the surrounding fields to markets in the centre of Battambang. Since then, modern transportation has taken its place, but it remains as a must-see tourist attraction.

Tuoi Sleng Museum

If you want to know more about the Khmer Rouge, the Tuoi Sleng Museum chronicles the genocide under the regime. Located in Phnom Penh, the site is a former secondary school which was used as Security Prison 21 by the Khmer Rouge regime from 1975 until its fall in 1979.

Tuol Sleng was the site for the torture and execution of tens of thousands of Cambodians and has been preserved to commemorate those that died there and elsewhere during the Khmer genocide. A trip to Tuol Sleng is by no means enjoyable, but it is important in understanding the background of modern-day Cambodia.

Mekong River Cruise

The mighty Mekong River dominates Cambodia’s geography and a cruise along any length of it offers a relaxing alternative to Cambodia’s cramped local bus routes.

A sunset cruise is a must. At dusk, the Mekong comes alive with boats of all shapes and sizes hitting the water for an evening of cruising. Many include food and drink options.

As well as being home to some of the region’s last remaining freshwater dolphins, the Mekong River winds its way through untouched jungle scenery and traditional village communities, making a cruise along it a great way to experience authentic Cambodia.

Siem Reap

Cambodia’s capital is primarily known as the gateway to the Angkor Wat Temples, but the city itself has a lot more to offer. More geared up for tourists than Battambang, you’ll find a wealth of tours, from cycle trips around the lush countryside to tours of the city’s food markets. You can also cruise the markets in central Siem Reap to barter for traditional crafts.

For evening entertainment in Siem Reap, don’t miss Phare The Cambodian Circus. This internationally-renowned circus troupe and social enterprise put on dazzling shows where performers combine theatre, acrobatics, and music.

Kampot and Kep

Kampot is a sleepy town featuring charmingly dilapidated French colonial architecture set on the Kompong Bay River. The area is known for pepper farming, boutique hotels and riverfront relaxation.

If getting active is more your thing, you can rock-climb through Cambodia’s largest cave system or rent a scooter and ride up Bokor Mountain for amazing views (cloud-cover permitting). When in the area, nearby Kep, a French colonial-era coastal retreat is worth a stop too. Dine at Kep’s famous waterfront crab market for the freshest and cheapest crabs you’ll find in Cambodia.

Cambodia’s Southern Islands

If you want to kick back on powder white sands and azure waters, take a few days on Cambodia’s relatively tourist-free southern islands. The largest of the islands is Koh Rong.

Don’t expect much in the way of infrastructure on the islands. Electricity and Wi-Fi is limited, but it’s the perfect place to unwind and relax.

The FutureSense Foundation

Be a part of something bigger

When gapping with us, you’ll be supporting our partner charity, the FutureSense Foundation.

Through our programmes and initiatives, the FutureSense Foundation works towards achieving a ‘Fairer World’, a world in which each person has the opportunity to meet their aspirations for a better future.

On your gap year, you’ll see first-hand the work that the FutureSense Foundation does and be a part of our long-term, sustainable programs.

Cambodia volunteer programs

How do you want to make your impact?

On our programs, you’ll be immersed in our community development projects to help increase our impact in the area. That could be through health promotion workshops, teaching conversational English and life skills to school children, planting trees with the community, or building new classrooms.

However you want to make your impact, we’ve created the best programs to help you leave your handprint in Cambodia.

Health & Wellbeing

Help bring awareness of vital health issues to improve the lives of the children and adults of the Battambang community.

Education

Work with local schools to deliver workshops on a range of topics, from conversational English to Environmental Awareness.

Climate Action

Work with children and adults to raise awareness of climate change and turn that awareness into action.

Expression

Become an activity leader to give the local children skills that they can take on into adulthood for a better chance of employment.

How it works

The GapGuru Way

At GapGuru we have the experience to keep things simple for you. With close to two decades shaping over 6,000 trips, we know exactly what makes an impactful, meaningful and memorable gap year. Simply choose your start date then follow these three simple steps:

STEP 01

Choose where you'll make your impact

Pick from five incredible destinations, electing the number of weeks you want to spend in each. You’ll be playing your part to help create a brighter future for some of the most disadvantaged communities around the world.

STEP 02

Decide how you'll make a difference

Select from four activity types that have been designed to be as impactful as possible. All of our programs are built off the back of the FutureSense Foundation, ensuring you’ll be a part of creating lasting change for our communities.

STEP 03

Choose your add-ons

Select additional programs to add to your gap year experience. These can be in the same country as your core activity or in any of our other unique destinations across the globe.

What to learn more about Cambodia?

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Contact Us Todays

Chat to our Gap Gurus

If you have any questions at all about what to do, where to go, or how to plan your gap year, get in touch with our GapGurus today. With nearly two decades in the business, we’ve probably had the question before!

Need Gap Year Advice?

Whether you’ve already booked a gap experience with us or are still looking, get in the know about everything ‘gap year’. Our comprehensive Gap Year Guide covers everything you need to know, from why you should take a gap year, to information for parents, travel tips, and more.