2019 JFK Cambodia Program
| Travel Dates: |
June 12, 2019 -
June 26, 2019
Dates are Tentative
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| Group Organizer(s): |
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| WTT Contact: |
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| Program Tuition: | $4,490 USD - or - $4,390 USD with discount if paid in full |
| Deadline(s): | Enrollment deadline forthcoming |
Tuition Calculator
There are two options for payment, including an interest-free installment plan. Follow whichever works best for your family.
Program Tuition: $4,490
Pay in Full
Pay in full at the time of enrollment and receive a $100 discount off your program tuition! Payment with the discount would be:
$4,390.00
due today
Payment Plan
Pay a $500 deposit at the time of enrollment and establish an interest-free monthly payment plan. If you enroll today, your estimated* monthly payments would be:
$86.74
per month
All prices in United States Dollars.
Cambodia Service Adventure
Landscapes of serene rice paddies, mysterious ancient temples, and lush forests await in the outskirts of Cambodia. Watch the sunrise over the famous city of Angkor Wat, explore winding city streets, try your hand at traditional Cambodian craft-making, and immerse yourself in the multi-faceted culture and history of this fascinating country. The bustling capital city, Phnom Penh, is home to the art deco Central Market, the glittering Royal Palace, and the National Museum’s renowned historical and archaeological exhibits. Cambodia also has a rich culture of arts and a deep, complex history which few have the opportunity to learn about and experience first-hand. This means that every moment here offers the chance to learn something new and make memories that will last a lifetime.
Service Adventures
Service Adventures can combine rural homestays, adventure travel, and meaningful service projects which are guided by our community partners. Living in these small communities provides the opportunity to engage the language and culture from a uniquely advantageous position.
Program Highlights
Check out some of the featured experiences of your program!
Volunteer at a bird sancturay in Tonle Sap Lake
Visit Angkor Wat Temple in Siem Reap
Hike to a waterfall in rural Chambok
Explore the history in Phnom Penh
The Itinerary
We do everything possible to run safe, engaging, and immersive programs for our travelers, but given the unpredictable nature of international travel we must remain flexible in our planning. Changes to a schedule are uncommon but if inclement weather pushes us off course or an unexpected opportunity arises which travelers are excited about, we reserve the right to adjust programming in the best interest of the group.
| Date | Day | Location | Activity | Lodging |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 12 | Wednesday | USA & Phnom Penh | Today we'll depart from Seattle, WA to Phnom Penh, Cambodia | Airplane |
| June 13 | Thursday | Phnom Penh | Arrive at Phnom Penh International Airport where your Khmer facilitator will welcome you and transfer to your locally owned hotel. We’ll dedicate some time to settle, rest, and refresh. Activities will depend on arrival times, but where possible we’ll schedule an orientation meeting to officially welcome you to Cambodia and prepare you for your adventure ahead! We’ll celebrate your arrival with a nice welcome dinner at a social enterprise restaurant. | Starwood Guesthouse |
| June 14 | Friday | Phnom Penh | Today we'll learn about the 20th century history of Cambodia, with a specific focus on the tragedy of the Khmer Rouge period and genocide. First visiting the Toul Sleng Genocide Museum (a.k.a. S21) housed in a former school that was converted into a prison camp during the height of the regime’s brutality. After touring the museum, we'll have lunch on our way to the notorious Killing Fields on the outskirts of the capital. We'll end the day with a peaceful and reflective sunset boat cruise along the Mekong River. | Starwood Guesthouse |
| June 15 | Saturday | Phom Penh and Battambang | We’ll hit the road today for our longest transfer of our trip, heading west to the cultural capital and second city of Cambodia – Battambang! Regular breaks, toilet and snack stops will be scheduled to break up the long journey (approx.7 hours). Upon arrival we’ll soak up the evening rays at the pool and relax before dinner together. | Seng Hout Hotel |
| June 16 | Sunday | Battambang | - A vast majority of Cambodian people live in rural communities and there is no better way to connect with the countryside than at handlebar height. To explore Battambang’s surrounding area we’ll spend the morning with local social enterprise, Soksabike. Led by local students, we’ll learn about local livelihoods and culture by visiting a range of cottage industries, and enjoy a delicious home-cooked lunch at a family home. After we freshen up back at our hotel, we’ll explore the city’s peaceful streets and participate in a fun market challenge activity! | Seng Hout Hotel |
| June 17 | Monday | Battambang | Visitors often refer to Cambodia as one of the friendliest and most peaceful nations; today we’ll learn more about behind the scenes of the people and the Kingdom’s journey to rebuild peace. We’ll spend the morning visiting the newly opened Peace Museum, meeting peace-builders and understanding more about reconciliation after the war. In the afternoon, we will attend a circus skills workshop with Phare performing arts school. | Seng Hout Hotel |
| June 18 | Tuesday | Battambang and Banteay Chhmar | This morning, we’ll learn about how after the war a culture of charity and an increase in poverty has impacted Cambodia today. We’ll connect with the Cambodian Children’s Trust (CCT), an NGO helping to keep families together and transition children out of institutions like orphanages. This afternoon, we’ll transfer north (2-3 hours) to the picturesque village of Banteay Chhmar. As well as being home to ancient temples to rival Angkor Wat, this village has also established an inspiring equitable tourism model and hosts regular visitors. We’ll be spending the next couple of nights in traditional Khmer homes, learning about everyday life in rural communities. | Homestay |
| June 19 | Wednesday | Banteay Chhmar | Today we’ll immerse ourselves in village life. There are several opportunities to learn about rural life – including informal interview projects, or spending time with a local farmer and participating in agricultural activities, or both. To celebrate our final evening in Banteay Chhmar, dinner will be served by candlelight with live traditional music! | Homestay |
| June 20 | Thursday | Banteay Chhmar and Siem Reap | This morning we’ll explore the rest of the community’s beautiful temples and enjoy a picnic lunch together. We’ll hop on our bus and travel (approx. 3 hours) to Siem Reap, the city of Angkor. En route, we’ll stop by a silk farm to discover how silk is produced and processed through traditional techniques. As a special welcome to Siem Reap, tonight we’ll celebrate by attending the Phare circus! Performers are graduates from the arts school in Battambang and come from a range of marginalised backgrounds. | Kourprey Hotel |
| June 21 | Friday | Siem Reap | Following years of war, Cambodia continues to be affected by landmines that litter remote parts of the country. We’ll have a guided tour of the world-famous Landmine Museum, founded by child-soldier turned anti-landmine activist, to learn more. After lunch, we’ll visit the unique NGO APOPO, a landmine clearance organisation that works with rats to identify their locations. | Kourprey Hotel |
| June 22 | Saturday | Siem Reap | In a nation where almost 70% of the population are under 30, learning about the challenges that face Khmer youth is important. First we’ll participate in an eye-opening workshop about education in Cambodia, and then we’ll spend the afternoon with a local NGO working to address these challenges and empower disadvantaged youth. | Kourprey Hotel |
| June 23 | Sunday | Siem Reap | - Today will be an early one! We'll wake up to see the sun rise at the famous Angkor Wat Temple. We'll ride around on tuk-tuks to reach the rest of the Small Circle Complex, and visit Bayon and Angkor Thom, best known for it's remarkably realistic human faces carved into the rock. In the late afternoon, we'll have free time to explore the city market. | Kourprey Hotel |
| June 24 | Monday | Siem Reap | Siem Reap sits on the northern shores of the region’s largest freshwater lake, and to learns more about this fascinating ecosystem, we’ll spend the day with OSMOSE, a communitybased eco-tourism NGO that provides tours through the Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary on the mighty Tonle Sap Lake. Our day will include an informal Khmer cooking class, a weaving workshop with a community handicraft centre, and a paddle-boat tour around the incredible floating village. | Kourprey Hotel |
| June 25 | Tuesday | Siem Reap - Phnom Penh | This morning we’ll take a short trek (2-3 hours at a leisurely pace) through the beautiful wooded slopes of the Kulen Hills to the enchanting Kbal Spean. Unlike other nearby places of worship, Kbal Spean is not a physical temple, but rather a section of intricate riverbed carvings. Our trek will take us uphill through beautiful forest, past a string of small waterfalls (please note: during dry season water levels can get very low), and ancient spiritual etchings. We’ll spend the afternoon with conservationists at the Angkor Centre for Conservation and Biodiversity, learning about rescued wildlife, environmental pressures, and endangered species. During your visit, expect to learn more about beautiful creatures like the leopard cat and slow loris. We will take an evening flight to Phnom Penh prior to our international departure to the USA tomorrow. | Starwood Guesthouse |
| June 26 | Wednesday | Siem Reap | After breakfast, we'll head to the airport for our mid-day flight back to the USA | Your Own Bed... Eventually. |
Accommodations
In order to provide a safe and memorable experience, we follow strict guidelines when choosing program accommodations. Walking Tree partners with locally-operated, three-star equivalent hotels and guest houses which are centrally located, clean and safe.
Bou Savy Guesthouse
One of the highest quality budget guesthouses in Siem Reap, the Bou Savy Guesthouse a is family owned and operated tropical paradise. With modern comforts, a pleasant and courteous staff, and a quiet setting, it is the perfect place to relax after visiting the temples of Angkor.
Safety and Support
EASY FUNDRAISING & PAYMENT
24/7 GLOBAL EMERGENCY LINE
HIGHLY VETTED PARTNERS
EXPERT LEADERSHIP
PRIVATE GROUP GUARANTEE
COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM SUPPORT
DEDICATION TO CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT
ALL-INCLUSIVE PRICING
This was a great opportunity for [my daughter]. Thank you for being so professional and for teaching her things we never could. It was awesome to work beside Smithsonian scientists and learn. Travel is such an education that cannot be taught in a classroom.
Kim
Parent of Emily, traveler on 2017 program to Panama
Your Adventure Includes
Program Tuition Excludes: Premiere travel insurance, baggage fees, airline minor fees, passport/visa fees, laundry, souvenirs, and activities not listed on itinerary.
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Resource Center
Why should high school students travel abroad? What happens if a participant gets sick? How quickly do we need to enroll? We’re sure you have plenty of questions and we’ve got you covered! Visit our Resource Center to discover the answers to your most pressing questions and contact us anytime with additional questions.