FAQs Cambodia Combination Placements

Cambodia has four seasons. 1. November to February is generally cool and dry. 2. March to May is hot and dry. 3. June to August gets hot and wet. 4. September to October becomes cool and wet. The hot season rarely reaches above 35C and the cool season may go as low as 20C. The monsoon rains follow a regular pattern of 1 to 3 hours of rain in the afternoon making them easy to plan around. Dry season can be dusty and in the wet season the countryside becomes spectacularly green. For more information on when to visit Cambodia please see When is the best time of year to volunteer in Cambodia blog?

Globalteer's main office for South East Asia is in Siem Reap. You can see who you will meet there on our meet the team page.

Yes, in fact we actively encourage it! Cambodia is a beautiful country and we wish you to experience it's culture, history and people. Our co-ordinator will give advice and help arrange trips for you to the temples of Angkor, Tonle Sap and various activities in town.

This depends upon your specific placement but you will be volunteering for approximately 5 to 6 hours per day, 5 days per week. We can be flexible with your time as required - for example you may wish 3 consecutive days to visit the temples.

The common language at this project is English. English does not need to be your first language but you will need to be proficient in English if you are on a teaching project. It is also courteous to learn some Khmer and you will be given help on arrival with the basics (Hello, Thank you etc) - We will send you some useful Khmer phrases before you set off!

The majority of volunteers are from the UK, United States, Canada and Australia. We also place volunteers from Holland, Germany, Ireland, Japan and New Zealand although all nationalities are welcome. The majority of volunteers travel alone to the projects, although we also accommodate couples and groups. The project can have anything from 2-20 volunteers at any one time of all ages and nationalities. The project usually has a great range of ages present in Cambodia 18-24(36%), 25-39(39%), 40+(25%).

Yes of course, here is a sample of stories from our volunteer blogs.

There is Wi-Fi internet access in the hotels. Siem Reap caters to many tourists and therefore the town has numerous internet cafes, telephone kiosks and a post office.

Yes of course, in fact we have a page all about how you can fund raise for your trip here.

Volunteers will stay together in a modern, friendly and locally owned guesthouse close to shops and restaurants in the town of Siem Reap. Rooms are single occupancy or can be shared if volunteers are travelling together. The guesthouse has 24 hour security and reception giving volunteers both peace of mind and easy access at all times. Rooms are clean and comfortable, each with hot water, private toilet and shower. The rooms have fans but can be upgraded to air conditioning for a daily fee. Cable TV is available in all rooms with channels in English, and each room has a small fridge for storing cold drinks and snacks. The guest house has a bar area and restaurant, all set in lovely leafy grounds, and Globalteer volunteers also have use of our very own social area - just right for a refreshing drink and snack after a long day working at your project. There are also plenty of Khmer restaurants near the guest house if you fancy "going local" in the evenings. Free computer access is available and WiFi internet is available in rooms and in communal areas. We also have a team of friendly and reliable tuk-tuk drivers on hand with specially negotiated rates should you need transport at any time. Globalteer's guesthouse provides a friendly and social environment for volunteers, and is located near our regional office. This enables us to offer unparalleled support, resources and guidance for volunteers.

Siem Reap is a major tourist town and therefore has hundreds of restaurants, cafes and market food stalls catering to all tastes and budgets. The town provides worldwide cuisine including Thai, Mexican, Indian, Japanese, Italian as well as menus catering to vegetarians and western tastes.

Of course, but we request that you use common sense. Alcohol is not permitted whilst at the projects and smoking must be done out of sight of children if you are at a teaching project as you are role models for the children. There are many bars and clubs in Siem Reap for you to indulge when away from the children.

The currency in Cambodia is the Cambodian Riel although US dollars are widely used. In Siem Reap you will use mostly US dollars with the Cambodian Riel being used a very small change. Many ATMs are available in Siem Reap for all major credit cards. US dollars have to be in good condition to use in Cambodia, no ripped notes! Credit cards are accepted in higher end businesses.

Siem Reap is a very safe and friendly town but, as always when travelling you must take the usual precautions to make sure you stay safe. Common sense and knowledge is the key phrase, and on arrival you will have an orientation meeting to advise you of any precautions you need to take. Most visits to Cambodia are completely trouble free. For more information, visit our International Travel Advice Page

We recommend that you let your health professional know that you will be volunteering with children from impoverished backgrounds and discuss the various vaccination options. For more information, visit our International Travel Advice Page

Finding the right insurance to cover your travels can be daunting, confusing and time-consuming, however – travel insurance is a must. You never know what could happen, and if you are unlucky enough to get ill or find yourself in a sticky situation, being uninsured can be really expensive and downright dangerous. This is why we strongly recommend that all our volunteers take out suitable travel insurance. We also recommend that your purchase your insurance and soon as you book your trip to cover you for all up-front costs in the event of cancellation due to any unforeseen circumstances. Globalteer has formed a partnership with a leading travel insurance provider to help you through this process.

Please visit our page about visas for information about entry visas.

Yes, Cambodia is a conservative country and we ask that you respect them by dressing accordingly especially as you may be in the company of Monks. Do not underestimate the importance of what you wear, Cambodians are very conservative when it comes to clothing and woman should cover up and when teaching you must cover shoulders, cleavage, belly and knees to be respectful and respected. T-shirts, sandals and anything that covers the knees are all acceptable.

Cambodians are very friendly and a smile will go a long way. Be respectful to elders. Shouting, or public displays of over emotion are impolite. Remove shoes before entering a temple or someone's home. Dress respectfully, especially when visiting temples. Do not point at someone with your finger or naked foot, do not touch people's heads (including the children). Do not underestimate the importance of what you wear, Cambodians are very conservative when it comes to clothing and woman should cover up and when teaching you must cover shoulders, cleavage, belly and knees to be respectful and respected.

No, Volunteers always work with full time Cambodia staff. English classes are basic English in small groups of children. Classes follow teaching books there are further resources such as DVD's and educational games.

Yes, on arrival you will receive orientation from our volunteer coordinator, giving local information and advice. Globalteer has many resources at our offices near the guesthouse and at the project locations for volunteers to use. Our volunteer coordinator is available to assist volunteers in helping to achieve the project objectives.

If you arrive at Siem Reap international airport then we will meet you there and take you to your accommodation. If you arrive overland then we will supply you with directions to the guest house and meet you there.

Globalteer is fully committed to ensuring that your volunteer placement is responsible. More information can be found on our Responsible Volunteering Page.

As a UK registered Charity, Globalteer is financially transparent, our accounts are independently audited and posted online. You can read a full report on where your money goes here.

We understand what motivates volunteers and what makes a memorable volunteer experience. We have been placing volunteers at our projects since 2006 and have built up a wealth of knowledge in those years about what makes volunteering rewarding for volunteers as well as impactful for the fantastic projects we work with. You can read here why we think you should choose Globalteer.

Globalteer is a registered UK charity and we are therefore required to abide by UK charity law. We have a robust child protection policy and accounting system that is posted online in the public domain. Any partner projects are required to achieve the same high standards required by the charities commission. We agree with many of the concerns raised about some NGO's in Cambodia and take great care to protect those we serve and those who serve with us from such exploitation.

You can read more about this project on our blogs page.