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Peregrine Travel Centre

Cambodia: Women’s Expedition

Cambodia: Women’s Expedition

From $ 2,150 AUD

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Description

Discover the lives of Cambodian women from the 7th century to the 1970s under the Khmer Rouge on an eight-day expedition. With an all-women group and female leader by your side, you’ll roll around the street food markets of Siem Reap and the temple ruins of Angkor on the back of a tuk-tuk with a female driver. Have a home-cooked dinner with a local family at an off-the-beaten-track homestay, go on a private boat trip on Tonle Sap and try your hand at hyacinth weaving at the Rokhak Women Handicraft Centre. Then, toast to your adventure over dinner at a social enterprise empowering local youth with training and employment.

Trip Name
Cambodia: Women's Expedition
Last Updated
1970-01-01
Days
8
Capacity
12
Highlights
  • Learn about the lesser-known experiences of the women living under the Khmer Rouge on a tour of the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21 memorial) and Choeung Ek Killing Fields. Led by a female guide, you’ll learn about this tragic period of Cambodia’s history.
  • Volunteer at Project G – a community-led initiative run by Intrepid Foundation Partner Cambodia Rural Students Trust providing health education and women’s hygiene solutions to girls in rural Cambodia.
  • Live like a local in a rustic, off-the-beaten-track homestay in UNESCO World Heritage-listed Sambor Prei Kuk. Explore the village by bike, then sit down to a traditional, home-cooked meal prepared by your host family.
  • Visit Daughters of Cambodia – a social enterprise empowering the survivors of human trafficking by providing them with training and employment. Settle in for a relaxing hand and foot spa given by the women trained in the program.
  • Watch the sun rise over the sprawling Angkor temple complex, then take a guided tour of this archaeological site on a tuk-tuk with a social enterprise that provides job opportunities to local women.

Itinerary

ITINERARY CHANGES Our itineraries are updated regularly throughout the year based on customer feedback and to reflect the current situation in each destination. The information included in this Essential Trip Information may therefore differ from when you first booked your trip. It's important that you review this information prior to travel so that you have the latest updates. Due to weather, local conditions, transport schedules, public holidays, political unrest or other factors, further changes may be necessary to your itinerary once in-country. Your group leader or local representative will keep you up to date with any such changes once your trip is underway and has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if deemed necessary due to safety concerns. , OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES A selection of optional activities that have been popular with past travellers are listed in the day-to-day itinerary. This isn't an exhaustive list and should be used as a guide only for some of what might be available. Prices are approximate, are for entrance fees only, and don’t include transport to and from the sites or local guides unless indicated. All activities are subject to availability, and maybe on a join-in basis. It may not be possible to do all the activities listed in the time available at each destination, so some pre-planning for what you are most interested in is advised. When it's recommended that travellers pre-book these activities, look for a note in the Special Information section of the day-to-day itinerary. For most, they can either be organised independently on the day, or let your group leader or local representative know you are interested at the Welcome Meeting and they can assist. Where activities are considered medium or high risk, we work with operators whose safety and credentials we have sighted and assessed. Although it is possible that you may find the same activity cheaper with another operator on the ground, we cannot vouch for the safety or quality of that operator. Medium and high-risk activities not listed above have not been assessed by us and as such our staff and group leader or local representative are unable to assist you with organising these activities. Activities that contravene our Responsible Travel policies are also not listed. Please remember that the decision to partake in any activity not listed is at your own discretion and risk.

Day 1 - Phnom Penh
Sua s'dei! Welcome to Cambodia. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive before then, why not explore Phnom Penh – maybe wander the Central Market in search of traditional handicrafts or street food snacks. This evening, get to know your fellow travellers over a welcome dinner at Sombok Restaurant. Led by chef Kimsan Pol and her all-women team, this upscale restaurant on the Mekong River puts a modern twist on traditional Cambodian cuisine.
Day 2 - Phnom Penh
After breakfast, travel to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and Choeung Ek Killing Fields. Your visit to these tragic but important sites will be led by a female guide. Once a high school, Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (known as S-21 during the Khmer Rouge regime) became a prison and torture centre. It’s been preserved as a powerful memorial of the tragedy that unfolded on its grounds. Here you’ll learn about the less-documented history of women's lives under the Khmer Rouge. Then, continue to the Choeung Ek Killing Fields. Your guide will share the events that unfolded here in the late 1970s, highlighting the experiences of women – many of whom lost their husbands, sons and fathers, meaning they became sole providers for their families.
Day 3 - Phnom Penh
Get ready for a guided walk around Phnom Penh this morning. Start your walk after breakfast, making your first stop at the Royal Palace. Visit the Silver Pagoda, located within the palace complex. Considered the most sacred temple in Cambodia, this pagoda’s floor is covered in 5 tonnes of silver. Step inside to see the extravagant Buddha statues including the Emerald Buddha and a 90 kg solid gold Buddha decorated with more than 2000 diamonds. Later, visit Daughters of Cambodia – this social enterprise provides training and jobs for women who have survived human trafficking. Here, you’ll be treated to a relaxing hand and feet spa from some of the women who’ve trained here. This evening, take a cocktail and mocktail-making class hosted by Friends-International. This organisation started as a life-saving service for the street children of Phnom Penh in the wake of years of genocide and conflict in Cambodia. Now, their services have expanded to support job training and employment access for marginalised children, families and communities in Phnom Penh and beyond.
Day 4 - Sambor Prei Kuk
Drive to your homestay in a rural community located in Sambor Prei Kuk today – a UNESCO World Heritage-listed archaeological site that dates back to the 7th century and is home to more than 100 ancient temples. On the way, stop at Santuk Silk Farm – a social enterprise run by widowed women – for a home-cooked lunch. Here, you’ll see the full silk production process, from the life cycle of the silkworm to weaving. Continue to your homestay and meet your host family. Then, hop on a bike for a guided ride around Sambor Prei Kuk village with your leader. Tonight, watch the sun set over the rice fields and share a traditional homemade Khmer dinner prepared by your hosts. Your stay here supports the Isanborei tourism initiative, which aims to conserve local history and create job opportunities in the community. While tonight’s accommodation will be rustic, this is the best way to learn about what life is like here, giving you a truly authentic experience.
Day 5 - Kampong Khleang to Siem Reap
Say goodbye to your host family after breakfast this morning, then travel to the floating village of Kampong Khleang. The village is built atop Tonle Sap – southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake. Head out on a private boat trip on the lake and see the stilted houses that make up the village, watching the local fisherman and their families go about their daily lives among the mangroves and waterways. This evening, hop on a tuk-tuk with a female driver for a street food tour of Siem Reap. During your stay in Siem Reap, your tuk-tuk transportation will be provided by a local social enterprise that provides employment opportunities for women in the community. Explore the city streets and experience the vibrant local culinary scene – maybe track down some num pang (similar to a Vietnamese banh mi) or a bowl of lort cha (stir-fried rice noodles). For something sweet, how about some num plae ai (coconut sticky rice dumplings filled with molten palm sugar).
Day 6 - Siem Reap
You have an early start today, but it’s sure to be worth it as you watch the sun rise over the Angkor temple complex. Then, start your big day of temple exploration by tuk-tuk at Angkor Wat, the complex’s largest and most intact structure. See the South Gate at Angkor Thom (AKA the Great Angkor City). This extravagant sandstone gate connects to a bridge bordered by sculptures of devas (gods) and asuras (demons) holding up the naga (serpent). You’ll also discover the 54 towers of Bayon Temple, carved with giant stone faces. Go on a short walk to see the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King, then visit an ancient monastery. Here, you’ll take part in a centuries-old ceremony where you’ll receive a blessing from a Buddhist monk.
Day 7 - Siem Reap
After breakfast, meet up with your tuk-tuk drivers again and set off to visit the Rokhak Women Handicraft Centre. Watch traditional weavers at work and have a go at water hyacinth weaving yourself. Then, visit an Intrepid Foundation Partner – the Cambodia Rural Students Trust. Hear from the project manager about how the Project G initiative provides women’s health education and feminine hygiene solutions to girls in rural Cambodia. Learn how this community-led initiative has improved health outcomes for local women, then get involved by helping to pack kits for girls living in rural Cambodia. Tonight, you’ll have a farewell dinner at SPOONS Cafe Restaurant – a social enterprise providing local youth with hospitality training and job opportunities. Savour your final Cambodian dinner and toast to your adventure with your new travel friends!
Day 8 - Siem Reap
With no further activities planned, your adventure comes to an end after breakfast. If you’d like to extend your stay in Cambodia, speak to your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
26-09-202603-10-2026AUD $ 2,150-
24-10-202631-10-2026AUD $ 2,150-
07-11-202614-11-2026AUD $ 2,150-
21-11-202628-11-2026AUD $ 2,150-
19-12-202626-12-2026AUD $ 2,150-
25-09-202702-10-2027AUD $ 2,150-
23-10-202730-10-2027AUD $ 2,150-
06-11-202713-11-2027AUD $ 2,150-
20-11-202727-11-2027AUD $ 2,150-

Accommodation

Hotel (6 nights), Homestay (multi-share) (1 night)

Transport

Private Vehicle, Tuk Tuk, Boat

Map

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