Volunteer in Cambodia for Temple Preservation

Please Note: This program is temporarily unavailable. Check out our alternative programs in Asia or schedule a one-on-one call with one of our expert volunteer advisors.

Join GoEco in Cambodia to restore the archeological complexes of the ancient temples of Banteay Chhmar!

Program Highlights:

Journey to an ancient temple complex to restore culturally and historically significant temples
Help preserve the local history and culture
Explore Cambodia’s amazing sites with a Culture week add-on
Engage in positive cultural exchange by staying in a local village
You can enhance your Cambodian experience by adding our “Cambodia Culture Week” for an additional cost. If you book together with this program, you will receive a 50% discount off the culture week’s full price! *Discount will be applied to your final balance.

Your Schedule at a Glance (Minimum one-week commitment):

Arrival Day, Sunday: Arrive at Siem Reap International Airport (REP). You will be picked up by the local team and transferred to a local village in Banteay Chhmar.

Day 1, Monday: Volunteers will receive an orientation, complete with a culture lesson, Khmer language lesson, tour of Banteay Chmar and a visit to a local handicraft center.

Days 2-5, Tuesday-Friday: Volunteer work at the temple sites.

Day 6, Saturday: Departure day for volunteers only staying for one week. Volunteers staying longer than one week will have both Saturday and Sunday free.

Remaining Weeks: Volunteers staying longer than one week will work at the site Monday-Friday and have weekends free.

Location of the Project: Banteay Chhmar, Cambodia

Project length: Minimum 1 week – Maximum 12 weeks

Arrival Airport: Siem Reap International Airport (REP)

Volunteer Work: Temple renovation, clearing debris, removing overgrown vegetation

Age: 18-50 (This project may accept volunteers who are younger than 18 years old with a letter of consent from a parent or guardian)

Number of Volunteers: Up to 30 international volunteers

What’s Included

Accommodations: Shared room in a local homestay

Food: Three meals per day are provided during the week and two on the weekends

Airport Transfers: Airport pickup is provided upon arrival

Orientation: Volunteers will receive an orientation, complete with a culture lesson, Khmer language lesson, tour of Banteay Chmar and a visit to a local handicraft center.

Support: Comprehensive and professional pre-departure travel guidance, 24/7 GoEco emergency hotline, experienced local field team.

What’s not Included

Flights, visas (if required), travel health insurance, personal expenses, lunch on the weekends, transport back to the airport upon departure

Location

Banteay Chhmar is a commune located in the Banteay Meanchey province in Northwest Cambodia. The commune includes 14 villages, four of which surround the large temple of Banteay Chhmar.

Cambodia is arguably best known for its astounding temples, especially that of Angkor Wat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest religious monument in the world. Cambodia’s impressive temple complexes, fertile rice fields and rich history are what make it an attractive tourist destination today.

Volunteer Work

The ancient temples of Banteay Chhmar are among of the most significant, yet least understood, archeological complexes. The temples date back to the Angkor period, which ended in the late 14th century. Sadly, the Banteay Chhmar complex was severely looted throughout the 1990’s because of its remote location and proximity to the Thai border. Now considered one of the most endangered sites in the world, the complex is in desperate need of renovation

The restoration of Banteay Chhmar temples is crucial as it has the potential to draw more tourists to the region, giving a much-needed boost to the local economy. In addition, the temples serve as symbol of the precious history of the area, which would otherwise be lost if not for the preservation efforts by volunteers and local organizations.

As a volunteer, you will work in the temple’s ongoing renovation and preservation sites.

Some of your tasks may include:

Cutting back overgrown bushes, trees and grass in the surrounding area.
Cleaning up the temples
Picking up trash
Removing stones
Planting trees in the temple compound
Writing and posting informational signs

A typical day: After breakfast at 8:00 AM, you’ll begin your morning project, which may include any of the above activities. Your two-hour lunch break will be at 11:00 AM, after which you will continue volunteering until 5:00 PM. After dinner, you can spend your evenings however you like. Saturday and Sunday are also free to spend as you wish.

Holidays: Volunteer work does not take place during national holidays, but you are always welcome to join in the local celebration.
Please note these consecutive holidays, which may impact short-term placements, before registering:

September 27 – Oct 6, 2020

Living Arrangements

Internet icon Internet: Internet facilities and WiFi are not available.

Laundry icon Laundry: Laundry facilities and services are not available.

Accommodations icon Accommodations: During your placement, you will stay at a home stay in the village in an original wooden Khmer-style house with up to two volunteers per room. Each room has a fan and electricity is available 24 hours a day. Please note that toilets are flush ‘bucket style’ and no hot water is available.

Food icon Food: Three meals are provided during the week. Meals typically consist of typical Cambodian fare. Breakfast and dinner are provided on the weekends.

Travel Highlights

Culture Week (highly recommended):

For an additional fee you can extend your stay for a week with a program designed to introduce you to a great stay in a new country. As part of your orientation week, you will receive basic language classes to help you get around the country without a hassle. You will also have the opportunity to take some traditional cooking classes as well as travel to some of the finest temples in the area, engaging in Q&A sessions with monks to enhance your understanding of Buddhism and its customs. Throughout the week, there will many opportunities to interact with the local residents, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the community.