Duration: 7 DAYS
Type: VOLUNTEER – Tax deductible donation included in cost.
Minimum Age: 18 (or with a parent or guardian).
Service Level: STANDARD – Comfortable accommodation with character and a mix of public and private transport.
Physical Rating: 
– Nothing too strenuous, you don’t need to be especially physically fit.
Program cost excludes flights.
For your program you will need to arrive and depart from the following airport/s.
Arrival: Siem Reap International (REP) – you can arrive at any time between 8am and midnight on the first day of program and we’ll pick you up from the airport. We recommend arriving on the Saturday (extra day needs purchasing) to maximise your time at the elephant sanctuary. For those arriving prior to 12pm Sunday (day 1), you will be transported to the elephants Sunday afternoon. All later flights will be transferred Monday morning (day 2).
Departure: Siem Reap International (REP) – you can depart at any time between 8am and midnight on the final day of program and we will drop you off at the airport with time for your flight home.
If you haven’t travelled much, or booked flights before we also offer a flight assistance service in which we help you in booking your flights for program. We’ve booked hundreds of flights for our volunteers, and will make sure you get to where you need to be on the right date. After ten years of international travel we’ve gotten pretty good at it. For more information please take a look on your volunteer profile in the add ons section.
Overview
You will be staying in bungalows at the Cambodian Eco Sanctuary that is home to elephants, monkeys, dogs, ducks and more! These animals have been rescued, and are living at the sanctuary to be rehabilitated with your help. The sanctuary is situated in a jungle north of Siem Reap and attempts to be self-sufficient. There is a vege patch where much of the food served for your meals is cultivated.
What's Included
- All on ground transport incl. airport transfers
- All main meals & drinking water
- All accommodation
- ROV Project Leader
- All building materials for ROV project
- Farewell dinner in Siem Reap
- ROV t-shirt
For more details see your Program Booklet.
Why ROV?
- Your safety is our first priority
- Our Charity is not for profit
- Tax deductible donation included in price
- Projects with integrity driven by village needs
- 24/7 access to your Team Leader & ROV Head office
- No "surprise costs" on program
- Year round funding for the ROV schools & crèches
International volunteering in Cambodia, it's an experience like no other!
Working alongside parents, teachers, kids, grandparents (and grateful elephants), welcomed with open arms in the local community you will find more happiness than you ever imagined.
Basic Itinerary
Subject to change
NB: due to the early departure on Day One to the Sanctuary participants are urged to arrive on the day prior to commencement (Saturday). There is an Add On with meals and accommodation included if you require.
Please note Itineraries are subject to change. For this program it is advisable to arrive on the Saturday before as this ensures you can travel to the eco sanctuary first thing Sunday morning. For those arriving before 12pm Sunday (day 1) you will be transported to the sanctuary in the afternoon. All arrivals on Sunday after this time will be transported Monday morning (day 2)
Breakfast at accommodation before departing for the Cambodia Eco Sanctuary
On arrival you will settle in to your bungalow and have some time to relax before lunch.
You’ll enjoy a vegetarian lunch which is cooked on site. All meals at the sanctuary are vegetarian, and are absolutely delicious!
After lunch you will have orientation and meet the animal residents. The sanctuary is home to an assortment of rescued animals including elephants, dogs, geese and monkeys. You’ll have the opportunity to meet them all during your stay.
There will be free time before dinner followed by evening activities such as trivia, card games, watching documentaries etc.
Please note over the coming days you will be involved in a variety of tasks at the sanctuary. These will change from time to time and are reflective of the current needs of the eco sanctuary and the animals there. Groups will rotate throughout the various tasks.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be on site at the sanctuary each day.
Each day you will be involved in the following: preparing food for the elephants, feeding the elephants, taking the elephants for walks in the jungle, forest regenerations projects, visiting a local school, harvesting and planting food, assisting to care for the animals at the sanctuary, and the occasional building project when needed.
Breakfast at the eco sanctuary.
Your morning will be spent engaging in the normal morning activities such as feeding the elephants, preparing food, cleaning enclosures etc.
There will be lunch and final goodbyes at the sanctuary before travelling back to Siem Reap.
You’ll into the accommodation and have some free time – relax by the hotel pool, read a good book, play games with the other volunteers or catch up on some Netflix.
Enjoy your final night in Siem Reap with a farewell dinner at a local restaurant, followed by a night out in Siem Reap. We’ll even treat you to a cocktail / mocktail.
- Breakfast will be at the accommodation venue, and lunch at a local restaurant. Volunteers will be departing at various times of the day and will be dropped at Siem Reap International Airport (REP).
(If you want to see Angkor Wat or Kulen Mountain on the Saturday you will need to stay an extra night. See Add Ons section)
For more details see your Program Booklet.
Stay connected with us!
Elephants
Most memorable part was watching the elephants in the water, it was so amazing to see them splashing around in their own environment and it was so incredible to see them happy.
I really enjoyed the work we did in the elephant sanctuaries however I feel as though we could have helped more and made a bigger difference. There were so many volunteers yet we only did small amounts of work for the elephants benefit each day and we had heaps of breaks. I feel as though I would have liked to help more and feel like I made more of a difference and this program didn’t make me feel that why however it was still a great experience.
I really liked Jane, he was super good with his English and you could tell that he had a big heart for the elephants which is someone I loved to surround myself with on the trip! It was so nice to talk with him about the culture and the elephants as he made me feel really passionate.
Cam Eles
I loved the elephants and I enjoyed most of the work. The school trip was also great. There was not much variety in the food. It was mostly ehat I expected although I thought we would be with the elephants a little more.
I feel like during the time I was at the Cambodian elephant sanctuary I helped out a lot in respect to the daily jobs that have to be done at the sanctuary. This made it easier for the workers. However, I’m not sure how most of the work that we did will benefit in the long run. It would have been nice to complete a project like a dam rather than just scoop poo every day.
The school trip was amazing and really made the trip so much better. It was nice to be fully emersed in the food aspect as well.
Rameth was great! He was so kind, welcoming, and fun while still being professional.
Do it. You won’t regret it.