Cambodia Indigenous People FAQs
Cambodia has four seasons.
1. November to February, cool and dry.
2. March to May, hot and dry.
3. June to August, hot and wet.
4. September to October, 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. Mondulkiri has a cooler climate than the rest of Cambodia.
For more information on when to visit Cambodia please see When is the best time of year to volunteer in Cambodia blog?
Yes, in fact we actively encourage it! Cambodia is a beautiful country and we wish you to experience its culture, history and people. The local staff will give advice and help arrange trips for you. You will also experience field trips and village visits during your volunteering time.
You will be volunteering for approximately 5 hours per day, 5 days per week. We can be flexible with your time as required. This is a very varied project with lots to be done so self motivated volunteers can be kept busy. Weekend activities with the students can also be organised.
You need to be able to speak English as this will be the common language at the project. It is also courteous to learn some Khmer and Bunong and you will be given help on arrival with the basics (Hello, Thank you etc).
The majority of volunteers are from the UK, United States, Australia, Canada and Ireland. 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.
Yes of course, here is a sample of stories from our volunteer blogs.
Sen Monorom has mobile phone coverage. You will not get mobile phone coverage when traveling distances from the town. Sen Monorom has internet access but it is probably not as quick as you may be used to!
Yes of course, in fact we have a page all about how you can fund raise for your trip here.
Volunteers will stay in a clean and comfortable hotel at the centre of the provincial capital of Sen Monorom. Rooms are single occupancy and can be shared by volunteers who are traveling together. The rooms provide hot water, private toilet and a hot shower. The rooms have fans but can be upgraded to air conditioning for an additional charge. Cable TV is available in all rooms with some channels in English. There is no restaurant on site however the town is quite small and local services are only a short walk away.
Sen Monoron has many restaurants and market food stalls with limited choice of western foods in a few restaurants and tourist locations. Those looking for fast food chains or a developed nightlife will be left wanting.
Of course, but we request that you use common sense. Alcohol is not permitted whilst at the project. There are bars in Sen Monoron for you to indulge when away from the project.
The currency in Cambodia is the Cambodian Riel although US dollars are widely used. In Cambodia you will use a mixture of US dollars and Cambodian Riel. ATMs are available in Sen Monoron for all major credit cards. US dollars have to be in good condition to use in Cambodia, no ripped notes!
Mondulkiri is a very safe and friendly province but, as always when traveling 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. Visitors to the area should be aware that UXOs exist in Mondulkiri. It is believed that the area will never be fully cleared in the same way as UXOs are still being found in Europe from the 1940's. There are virtually no land mines in this area of Cambodia. 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 in remote Cambodia 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. The basic rule is to cover your knees and shoulders.
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 peoples heads. For women, it is forbidden to touch a monk or even brush past his clothes. A woman may not directly pass anything to a monk, she must place it on a table for him to pick up. Do not underestimate the importance of dressing correctly.
No, Volunteers will work with full time Cambodia staff and your skills will be utilised to support the project.
Yes, on arrival you will receive orientation from the volunteer coordinator, giving local information and advice. The volunteer coordinator is available to assist volunteers in helping to achieve the project objectives.
Volunteers arrive at Phnom Penh international airport where they will be collected and taken to a hotel for the night. The volunteer is then transferred to Mondulkiri by road.
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.