NOTE: This is the proposed itinerary and is subject to change. The final itinerary will be confirmed before departure.
DAY 1-4: ORIENTATION IN PHNOM PENH
Following airport pickups, our group will be introduced to the sights, smells, sounds, and flavors of this modern yet distinctively Cambodian city. We'll get an orientation to the country, it's people, it's culture, and begin unpacking the country's turbulent history. We'll visit some of the city's most iconic landmarks, from the beautiful temples and pagodas to the S-21 Prison Museum and the Killing Fields.
DAY 4-7: TEMPLES & TOURISM IN BANTEAY CHHMAR
From one extreme to another, we'll head from the urban jungle of Phnom Penh to the Cambodian countryside and the village of Banteay Chhmar. Here, we'll spend valuable time with our friends at the Community-Based Tourism (CBT) Initiative - a local public history cooperative organization dedicated to preserving a massive 800-year old temple complex located nearby. What a wonderful opportunity to explore alternative tourism, compare it to the mainstream, and examine its potential for local communities. We'll also get to eat local, seasonal food prepared by aunties and grandmas during our homestays!
DAY 7-9: LAND & LIVELYHOODS IN BATTAMBANG
Passing rice paddies and little villages, we'll travel south to the province of Battambang. Here, we'll stay on the Teuk Poh Permaculture Education Farm and join Cambodia's permaculture action team - a group of dedicated activists promoting sustainable farming practices in marginalized communities around the country. For a few days we'll immerse ourselves in the amazing world of permaculture and get our hands dirty making improvements to a farm that is visited by hundreds of local farmers year-round. We'll sleep in hammocks, eat out of palm leaves, and spend our evenings by the fire listening to Khmer folktales.
DAY 9-12: VISIT "OCKENDEN" IN SIEM REAP
Next, we'll journey to Siem Reap province and visit our friends at Ockenden. This community of dedicated activists in committed to promoting and teaching sustainable, innovative, and disaster-resilient farming practices in marginalized communities around the country. So, we'll roll-up our sleeves and join them on one of their many ongoing long-term projects while getting an intimate look at the realities, challenges, and promises of rural development in Cambodia.
DAY 12-14: KINGDOM OF THE ANGKOR IN SIEM REAP
From the heart of rural Cambodia, we'll travel back in time to the magical Kingdom of the Angkor. Passing green flat rice fields dotted with water buffalo and palm trees we'll stumble to the staggering beauty of Angkor Wat and lose ourselves in the genius of this expression of Khmer spirituality and creativity!
In addition to helping us better understand the ancient Khmer civilization, Angkor provides a wonderful space for disorientation. This is an opportunity to reflect on our adventure, think about what we've learned, share stories, assess our impact and connect it all back to our lives at home. Finally, we'll return to Phnom Penh where we will say our fond farewells and board our flights home.