Gap Year Programs in Phnom Penh,Cambodia

I had an even better time than I could have imagined. I met some amazing people and definitely made the most incredible memories. I feel like the trip was a good mixture of fun and also cultural enrichment. It was the perfect start to my gap year travels.

I did so many things and had so many experiences as well as making real friends that I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do if it weren’t for the trip. The tour leader Callum was so cool and we all got along really well. The accommodation was nice and clean and you can just put it down to a cultural experience if anything ever went slightly wrong. I saw areas of the world that I had always dreamed of seeing but never actually thought I would and for a very reasonable price overall. On the whole I had a great and unforgettable time.

It was good fun. A good mixture of relaxing and busy, good to experience the culture and do things off the tourist track. I really enjoyed the volunteering part as it was good to experience more of the culture and do something which will actually benefit the community

Honestly was the trip of a lifetime, and something I will never forget! Gapforce were brilliant in addressing any concerns before and during the trip, and managed to create an itinerary which was fab (including most of the activities I wanted to do in South East Asia anyway!!). It was so lovely meeting people from all over the world and making friends for life.

this trip is the best thing I've had in my life so far, full of laughter, happiness and joy! on We had an unforgettable time with the locals and learnt an enormous amount about ourselves and about other countries and ways of life! We weren't forced into anything, we were safe and we had lots of free time! and for me, as I don't normally speak English, I learnt a lot and excelled myself! I can't see anything negative about this trip apart from the fact that I had to go back at the end... Best experience of my life!

This trip was so much better than I ever thought it could be! I was so nervous to travel across the world and meet a bunch of new people from all over - but it turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve ever taken. This trip was the perfect balance of exploring, cultural immersion, relaxing, adventure and so much more! It was planned really well and I’m so happy I was able to take part because without it I’m not sure I definitely would not have been able to see and experience the same things as I did. The tour guides were all so informative and fun and all the day trips were so interesting. I also loved that we were able to have days off to do whatever we wanted every now and then whether that was relaxing, shopping, exploring ect. Like I said before - the trip was balanced just right! I loved travelling in a group and I’m so happy to have met these wonderful people and hope to keep in contact and meet again soon! I highly recommend this to anybody who wants to explore the world without the stress of planning every single detail alone. I’m returning home with a more open mind, 15 new friends and a lifetime of stories to tell<33 Thank you so much! - Heba

the best 8 weeks, such a balance of culture, adventure and making amazing friends. such an iconic guide in Stefan as well, who really made the trip! would do again in a heartbeat and I know everyone else in the group would too

Out of the organizations I’ve worked with, I don’t feel any have done as thorough a job with travel safety, reliability, cultural immersion, and incorporating education and FUN as ARCC has. I can’t recommend ARCC highly enough!

I was unlucky to start my trip already under the weather with a stomach bug and felt overwhelmed arriving into such a different atmosphere, however our leader Magnus was super reassuring and got me all the right medication/support to quickly get me back on my feet and able to enjoy the experiences around me! That remained the same throughout the trip, whether you had a query big or small he would approach the situation with no judgement and a level head to ease any worries. I chose this trip due to its organised nature and group aspect as I had concerns about travelling solo for my first backpacking style trip. It definitely met my expectations in that regard as I didn’t have to do any planning of activities or transport but it also made me realise I would’ve liked more freedom because there were activities we missed out on due to the tight schedule. Overall a really rewarding trip, with amazing people and lots of really cool new experiences - you won’t regret going!

I chose this trip because of my initial worries about being a solo female traveller with no experience. The description of the expedition in the brochure detailed a mixture of volunteering, exploring and relaxing and I can confidently say the trip ticks all three boxes. You truly get an authentic experience as you volunteer at the amazing elephant sanctuary (a real highlight of the trip), explore temples or visit waterfalls, celebrate local traditions and appreciate a new culture and cuisine. For someone who wants to gain proper travelling experience and exposure to an entirely different way of life whilst simultaneously staying safe, with the guarantee of making friends and lifelong memories, I really can’t recommend this trip enough. Our team leader Magnus really made the trip, consistently making everyone feel at ease and comfortable, and often going over and above to make you feel reassured in nerve wracking situations that will naturally come with being in an entirely new and different country. His support and knowledge was the best safety blanket as a first time traveller, whilst also a good insight into how to manage mix-ups and what to do when things go wrong. Overall, the trip is the perfect springboard for those looking to gain confidence and experience proper backpacking travel, and by the end of it, you’re ready for the freedom to lean away from a tight group itinerary and embrace the spontaneity of solo travelling that you’re impatient to start it all over again by yourself, or even with the friends you made along the way!

I went to Southeast Asia for 2 months and the the trip was we really something not to forget . We got given a really detailed tour of Thailand Cambodia and Vietnam : the culture , food etc and had a great aray of different activities . My personal favourites were the jungle hike in pai and temple visits in siem riep . We also had a tour guide who was really good and organised and took us on all these activities and made sure everyone was safe . Would definelty recommend the trip

It was an incredible experience that will never be forgotten. We discovered a lot of new things in the group: breathtaking places, a new culture, new food, etc. We were given a good impression of the whole country and I was very convinced. The local people in Thailand, but also in the group were very nice. An experience you should have made!

This trip has been the best 8 weeks of my life and I have extremely enjoyed experiencing different cultures and meeting new people. My expectations were completely exceeded and I never thought that I would see as much as I did. I would recommend this trip to everyone thinking about travelling. Throughout this trip I felt that the money was well distributed, however in Thailand I felt budget money for food was slightly restricting. Furthermore, I also felt that visiting Kampot was slightly unnecessary as there was not a huge amount to do. However, the leadership on this trip was amazing, a great balance between being professional and engaging and socialising with the participants. Overall, I had thoroughly enjoyed this trip and I would definitely consider doing another trip similar.

Loved the activities, cycling, visiting waterfalls and snorkelling. The hostel, white rabbit, in Siem Reap was incredible and felt safe and happy throughout my stay. Liked it how we had a variety of hostels and continuously moved about it made it feel as if we saw everything. Personally, I didn't see the point of seeing Kampot, it was a lovey hostel but the town itself didn't make an impact on the group, and the mountain tour was a little bit on the dull side. Nonetheless, loved the rest of the trip and would highly recommend to others. thank you.

I joined the 8 week program. I would definitely suggest to do the whole program, cause Vietnam was one of the best parts of the trip. I also really enjoyed the “house building project“. It is such a good experience to build something with your own hands and seeing the result just after 5 days. I had a really good time in Asia and suggest it to everyone who likes to have a look into new cultures and a different kind of living.

I participated in the six weeks excursion of South East Asia! Facing the longest flight and furthest I’ve ever been away from home, saying I was nervous is an understatement. However, once I had landed in Bangkok and met one of my team leaders (Terence) all of the nerves melted away, he welcomed everyone with open arms and reminded us all of the adventure we were about to embark on. I would say that the two team leaders Callum and Terrance made the trip! Straight away they were both so welcoming and encouraging and offered a lot of support throughout the trip, from being the biggest motivators to giving all types of advice as well as provided a lot of laughs. But in conclusion I loved every second of it and was gutted I couldn’t continue on with the group to Vietnam. I honestly achieved so much more than I anticipated and packed so much into such a short space of time which I know, would have been impossible on my own as a first-time traveller. My biggest piece of advice is to just book it!!!

I did the 6 weeks tour of both Thailand and Cambodia and had the most amazing time ever. I had never done anything like that or been anywhere like this so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect but as soon as we got greeted at the airport by Terence I was at ease, he was very welcoming. Him and Callum both made the experience what it was, incredible. They both were very easy to talk to, fun and supportive. We saw amazing places, including beautiful beaches and views, mountains and waterfalls, get up close to elephants, I did things I never thought I’d do, activities like hiking, rafting, kayaking, rock climbing, building a house for a family in Cambodia, and even when I found it challenging, the support from Callum and Terrance helped allot. I would really recommend this trip to anyone who is looking for an adventure and to meet amazing people!

My tour leaders Callum Jenkins and Terence Kuan were able to maintain professionalism while still managing to make me feel comfortable as well as gave me ample opportunity to have fun. I really developed a lot as a person over the past two months from the cultural immersion, the independence and freedom I got from being able to go out on my own on our free days and having to figure things out on my own, Ive swam through caves, summited the highest mountain in Thailand, been blessed by monks, and built a house!!! Im very thankful to gap force for giving me these opportunities.

Costa Rica's Turtle Conservation Project was one thing I will never forget! Such an eye opening and amazing experience. The IHQV program is an amazing way to explore the world in a feasible way. Not only is it affordable but I would have never experienced anything like it! IHQV Brings so much more, more ham any guided tour, more than a resort, and more than anything you could experience on your own. They have demonstrated such strong dedication to make sure every part of the trip is a great learning exprenice while keeping it fun. One of my most memeroble moments would be seeing the indangered leather back turtle lay her eggs. Because the leather back is in such danger it is critical that her eggs are gathered and re-nested in the hatchery where they can be taken care of and monitered to keep them safe from predators. I was lucky enough to be able to personally collect her eggs and dig a new nest to place each egg carfully. It was truley an amazing experience. I wish I could go back to see them hatch! Not only was this such an amazing experience, but every single person I met on this trip through the program m, I will dearly miss. IHQV brings everyone with similar ambitions together and from all over the world. I loved to meet people from the UK, Australia and Italy. Never could I go anywhere and meet such amazing people in one single place. I would recommend this program a million times. Leaving was hard, I'll miss my friends I have made and most importantly all the work that was done everyday to help such a wonderful project!

International Volunteer HQ [IVHQ] responded to this reviewMay 21, 2018

Hi Drew, thank you for sharing your incredible experience on the Turtle Conservation project in Costa Rica! It's amazing that you were able to help in the protection of the leatherback turtles eggs as this is such an important task in the conservation of the turtles. We would love to have you join us again in the future! ^Rachel - IVHQ Costa Rica Program Manager

My time volunteering in Portugal was the most amazing experience. It gave me the comfort and growth to travel and experience new adventures on my own. The staff, locals and coordinators ensured my stay was the best possible experience.

International Volunteer HQ [IVHQ] responded to this reviewApril 09, 2018

Hi Andy - It's awesome to hear about your time on the program, and I'm so glad you enjoyed your experience in Ghana. Our local team is awesome and I'm thrilled to hear you felt supported by them in every capacity during your time on the program. I wish you all the best! ^Caroline - IVHQ Portugal Program Manager