Location
  • Cambodia
Length
2 - 4 weeks
Need-based funding, General grants/scholarships, 529 Plan eligibility, BIPOC funding
Health & Safety

Program Details

Program Type
Student Tour
Timeframe
Summer
Housing
Host Family
Language
Khmer
Age Min.
16
Age Max
18

Pricing

Starting Price
7950
Price Details
The land cost for Cambodia Summer program is $7,950 for 4 weeks. Need-based scholarships are available!
What's Included
Accommodation Activities Meals Transportation
What's Not Included
Airfare Travel Insurance Visa
Oct 30, 2024
Oct 11, 2023
6 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Gain insight into Theravada Buddhism, engage with grassroots youth movements, and unpack how Cambodia can serve as a model of optimism and resilience. For students interested in understanding the nuances of international development, engaging in ethical service work, and applying Buddhist principles to daily life.

Video and Photos

Diversity & Inclusion 💙

Unfortunately, discrimination based on race, ethnicity, national origin, and skin tone exists in different forms all over the world. In some destinations, especially rural or ethnically homogenous areas, people may not have had much exposure to racial diversity. As such, people with certain physical characteristics may experience unwanted attention. Most commonly, this might include staring, insensitive comments, people taking your photo (with or without asking), or attempts to touch your skin or hair. Black students traveling in parts of Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and North Africa have often reported higher levels of unwanted attention than their peers. White students traveling in parts of Asia and Africa have also reported receiving unwanted attention. Students are encouraged to communicate with staff if they feel their personal boundaries are being violated or if they feel unsafe or uncomfortable in any situation. We encourage you to believe your peers if/when they share experiences like this with you.
Social, cultural, religious, political, and legal attitudes toward the LGBTQ+ community vary around the world. According to the Global Acceptance Index, average levels of acceptance for LGBTQ+ people around the world have been increasing since 1981. However, many countries where Dragons operates programs may have social discrimination or even laws against being LGBTQ+. We have safely supported LGBTQ+ students in all of our program areas, and provide specific cultural and geographic advice to help students stay safe on course.

In some cases, students may be advised not to speak about their sexual orientations and/or gender identities with local contacts (such as homestay families, ISP mentors, language teachers, and guest speakers) due to safety concerns. Likewise, transgender and non-binary students may have to choose to present outwardly as male or female in certain contexts during the program. In other cases, “coming out” to some or all host community members may be a safe choice.
For students with neuro-differences (such as dyslexia, ADHD, ASD, TS, and dyspraxia), it is important to be aware that neurodiversity is likely viewed differently abroad than at home. People might not be familiar with labels or terms that are very common where you come from. If you struggle with lots of external stimuli, you should be prepared that you will be in some environments that are louder and busier than what you are used to.
If you are a student with a physical disability, you might encounter challenges around accessibility than you have at home. Many of the places we travel at Dragons don’t have building codes or other regulations in place to support people with visual, hearing, or mobility impairments. You may need accommodations or support that you don’t usually require in your life at home.

Impact 🌎

Dragons defines responsible travel as travel that is culturally conscious, environmentally responsible, and focused on developing meaningful connections and mutual respect in the communities to which we travel. Over the course of Dragons 25+ year history, we have cultivated long-standing relationships with respected community leaders, academics, social entrepreneurs and professionals involved in environmental and cultural preservation. In the more than 20 countries in which Dragons has operated, we have steadfastly adhered to minimum impact travel, an accurate and informed understanding of place, and the realization of maximum benefit for the communities we visit.
Dragons believes that we need to shift the way we think of volunteer travel. Instead of focusing on “service work”—on the idea that short-term volunteers can contribute to communities abroad—we advocate a paradigm shift: we choose, instead, to focus on “learning service.”

Learning Service is a holistic experience that combines an intimate and authentic engagement with the local community, the study of effective development, and the contribution to an established community-driven project. It is the process of living, working alongside, and humbly absorbing the culture of those being served while coordinating closely with project managers to understand the trajectory of the project, from inception to completion and beyond. It is an acknowledgment that often it is the volunteer who stands to gain as much or more from the work. And it is a commitment to making contributions that create positive impacts in the communities coupled with the humility to always listen and learn first.

Program Highlights

  • Gain 20 hours of service and learn what ethical and responsible service means and how to incorporate a service mindset into your life back home
  • Build in-depth insights into human rights issues, international aid, and sustainable development
  • Speak with local and international NGO representatives in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap to learn about contemporary issues ranging from land rights abuses, women’s rights issues, the garment industry, access to education, LGBTQIA+ movement, harmful voluntouris
  • Gain a deeper understanding of Buddhism and how to apply principles such as mindfulness, self-compassion, and presence into your day-to-day life
  • Catch the sunrise at Angkor Wat before cycling around the temple complex to understand the millennia of history that have shaped Cambodia.

Program Reviews

5.00 Rating
based on 6 reviews
  • 5 rating 100%
  • 4 rating 0%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Growth 4.85
  • Support 4.7
  • Fun 4.5
  • Housing 4.85
  • Safety 5
Showing 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
Default avatar
Kathryn
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Eye-opening, transcending, and most of all unforgettable

There are no words in the English dictionary that can describe this odyssey. It was the most amazing experience in my entire life. I tried new foods I never thought I would love, learned things I was never particularly intrigued by, met people I never thought would leave such an impression, discovered things about myself I never knew, and was led by four incredible instructors who guided me on my journey. I never thought that one trip to Cambodia could drastically impact my life for the better.

91 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Mia
5/5
No, I don't recommend this program

Cambodia- best experience of my life!

Before going on my dragons trip I knew nothing about Cambodia, and if I’m being honest not much about myself either. The instructors for this program were top tier and I found myself learning about cambodia through many different lenses- each which taught me something about myself and the world along the way- this experience encouraged me to open my eyes to parts of the world and life experiences that differ from my own. I learned so much about myself and left the trip a new person. I fully recommend dragons to anyone and everyone, and encourage you to go in with an open mind and open heart.

Pros
  • Fun and engage
  • Diverse opportunities within Cambodia
  • Moments for self reflection and growth
Cons
  • Expensive
  • 5 weeks goes by fast!
  • Small group
121 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Alexa
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Eye opening

I have done two programs with Where There Be Dragons, and both were incredible. This program is definitely not for the weak of heart, but it taught me so much about ethical travel and how to be a responsible global citizen. I have never felt so comprehensively immersed in a culture so different from my own. A combination of rugged travel, home stay, cultural immersion and historical education made the trip truly informative, exciting and productive. Expedition phase, in which students plan a small portion of the trip, is also useful for cultivating life skills in travel.

120 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Jameson
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best Experience Ever

Going to Cambodia with Where There Be Dragons was one of the most transformative experiences of my life thus far. The group leaders were all better than I could have imagined (A norm for Dragons), and their knowledge and thoughtfulness was incredible. I've been on study abroad programs prior, and I can say with pretty much absolute certainty that Dragons is the best organization out there. I literally have no cons to talk about, it was amazing.

However, if you are not someone who is adventurous and willing to "rough it" a little bit (ex. Bucket showers and limited electricity), this program might be more challenging for you.

119 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Alexis
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Learning to be comfortable being uncomfortable

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156 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Grace
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Authentic Discovery of Self and Country

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152 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers