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Have you ever dreamed of visiting the ancient temples of Angkor? Are you looking for an itinerary that is unique and packed with a variety of activities that allow you the opportunity to experience a country, rather than just pass through it? give.com.au has partnered with Intrepid Travel to design a rewarding journey through one of our favourite destinations - Cambodia. Departing Bangkok on 14 November 2009, the trip will be escorted by give.com.au Founder, Tina Jensen, and is guaranteed to enrich your life through its vision of creating change through experiential travel. No other itinerary captures Cambodia in all its rawness. Infused with the flavours of the country's people, culture, wildlife, culinary delights, environment and scenery, the trip has been designed to encounter all Cambodia has to offer, as well as to inspire, move and challenge all those who take the journey. The itinerary combines good old fashioned fun with sightseeing and hands on experiences as we support 15 local projects and organisations that are creating change in a country scarred by war, famine and rebuilding. A great itinerary combined with Tina's unique ability to connect with the locals and inspire, ensures that this trip is a rare opportunity to encounter Cambodia in a truly remarkable way. If you have ever wanted to experience a country rather than just pass through it, this is the opportunity to immerse yourself in a country that offers so much more than a passport stamp. Itinerary | 14 November | Arrive Bangkok. Meet your fellow travellers and join Tina and your Intrepid leader for a group meeting and local Thai banquet. | 15 November
| Overland to the Cambodian border to complete immigration procedures. Commence your Cambodian Encounter with a project visit. Enjoy a bicycle ride around local villages, lunch and some organic farming. Continue on to Battambang. | 16 November
| Enjoy a tuk tuk or motorbike tour of the beautiful countryside surrounding Battambang. The afternoon will be spent in a half day circus and art workshop with local project, Phare Ponleu Selpak. | 17 November
| Travel by boat to Siem Reap via Tonle Sap Lake. Learn a little more about this UNESCO listed ecosystem and life on one of the world's most productive bodies of fresh water. | 18 November
| Commence our explorations of the Angkor complex, including Angkor Wat and the Roulos group. Enjoy lunch at Sala Bai, a training school for underprivileged young Cambodians. | 19 November
| Visit Bayon and Ta Phrom (Tomb Raider) temples. Enjoy a half day in the Siem Reap countryside with photographer Deborah Groves. Learn more about her Helping Hands Project and work with the locals on a hands on activity. | 20 November
| Travel through the countryside to Kbal Spean. We will then enjoy a forest hike to the River of a Thousand Lingas. Visit the Angkor Conservation Centre to learn more about wildlife trafficking. After lunch, head to Banteay Srey which displays some of the finest examples of classical Khmer art. On the way home, stop at the Landmine Museum which supports mine-clearing and Cambodian people affected by UXO. | 21 November
| Leave Siem Reap for our journey to our homestay in the village of Baray. Enjoy local Khmer food for lunch and then tour the village by pony cart visiting a weaving and woodcarving centre and some local cottage industries. | 22 November
| After breakfast, travel to Oudong, the ancient capital of Cambodia. Travel onto Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital, boasting some fine examples of French-inspired architecture. Tonight we enjoy a talk by the Buddhists for the Environment at Romdeng Restaurant. | 23 November
| Explore Phnom Penh by tuk tuk including a visit to the Khmer Rouge torture centre, Tuol Sleng and the Killing Fields of Choueng Ek. For lunch we head to a restaurant run by local organisation, Nyemo. | 24 November
| Travel to Kampot via a picnic on beautiful Tonle Bati lake. Visit Phnom Tamao and learn more about the care and rehabilitation undertaken at the centre of victims of trade in wild animals. Enjoy some delicate tunes at the Kampot Traditional Music School, where orphans and disabled children are taught to play instruments, sing and dance. | 25 November
| Enjoy a day in some of Cambodia's unique and beautiful scenery. | 26 November
| Travel to Tatei to our unique eco-lodge accommodation. Swim in the local river and enjoy an afternoon of rest and relaxation. Anyone up for an overnight camp out? | 27 November
| Enjoy a trek and barbecue lunch followed by an afternoon of relaxation. Enjoy an evening sunset cruise and reflection of our journey with give.com.au Founder, Tina Jensen. | 28 November
| Today we head back to Bangkok. Time for an afternoon siesta, massage or perhaps a canal tour on one of Bangkok's famous khlongs. Enjoy a farewell dinner, Thai style. | 29 November
| Farewell new friends and return home - inspired and challenged by your Cambodian Encounter.
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Partnership  give.com.au has partnered with Intrepid Travel to develop this unique itinerary encompassing all Cambodia has to offer. Why? In 2004, give.com.au Founder, Tina Jensen, took a two year sabbatical as an Intrepid Travel tour leader. Her hope was to be inspired to find a new direction - one in which she could follow her vision of making a difference.
The inspiration for give.com.au certainly came from the people Tina had the opportunity to meet on her journey. Over two years, Tina absorbed the courage, empathy, motivation, dedication and commitment that radiated from passengers and customers alike. "I certainly developed a passion for life that I had never experienced before. It was a privilege to be in a position where you could motivate others to step outside their realms of what is expected, and encourage them to live a life filled with everything they desire. But importantly, and something I think we so often forget, to enjoy the experiences this life provides us with. Travel provides us with the freedom to explore, discover and challenge - traits that should not be forgotten once we tuck the boarding passes away on our return. We should stick the passes up on the mirror to ensure we have a constant reminder of continual discovery, challenges and experience. To challenge one's self by travelling outside of our self-imposed boundaries, enables us to not just have vision, but to really create a unique and passionate life".
Tina thanks Intrepid Travel for their support in developing the Cambodia Encounter. Experiential travel Tina is passionate about introducing others to experiential travel and will be conducting limited tours each year to her favourite destinations. These trips will not only include the must see tourist sites, but will provide you with a unique itinerary to meet some of the people that have inspired give.com.au. On our journeys, we will also provide you with the opportunity of meeting some of our producers and artisans, and sharing in their personal stories of how your support has changed their lives. You will also leave a permanent footprint of change, as the itinerary will include the opportunity to work with our partner projects. Don't miss out
Places are extremely limited on this once in a lifetime journey. To receive a copy of the full Cambodia Encounter itinerary and further trip details, please email us . You can also keep up to date with future itineraries and departures by signing up to the Give and Receive newsletter.
Hear what others have said "I would not have wanted to travel with anyone else. Tina's empathy with the locals and their situation was an inspiration." Sue, Australia "My experience was both eye and mind opening, made more so by our leader, Tina. She encouraged us to live the trip, not just enjoy the ride and led by example. I saw everything I went to see but had so much more of an adventure than I had ever anticipated. I could not be happier." Glenda, Australia "Who didn't wonder what our leader would be like? I think she has deserved her Ministry of Magic and we would all like to thank her very much. She allowed us to enjoy this special country, its special places and we will have so many special memories with us always. Thank you for weaving your magic." Hans, New Zealand "Tina's love for the country shone through, and her suggestions and willingness to share her 'special spots' with us made the trip more magical. She is a fantastic leader, and somebody that we'll never forget." Sonia, Australia "I was very impressed by the trip in terms of its organisation and the skill and enthusiasm of Tina. She was outstanding in terms of her warmth, sensitivity and spontaneity. It really was a memorable experience for me and provided me with memories that I will cherish for a long time. I came away with a much greater knowledge and appreciation of the history, culture and political economy. In addition there are wonderful memories of the contacts with the local population. Thank you doesn't seem enough." Charles, Canada "Tina is a fantastic leader full of enthusiasm, very organised and very inclusive. Her ability to relate to all ages, fitness levels and personality types was indicative of her skills. Her passion for the local experience made our trip all the more richer. 10 out of 10." Rhonda, Australia "My first experience with any of your leaders was in the lobby with the leader of another tour. When she found out who our leader was, she only had absolutely excellent things to say. Quoting her 'there are a lot of great leaders, but there are only a few leaders who are truly beautiful people... Tina is one of them'. I could not have said it better. Amazing and emotional, the trip of a lifetime! I had no clue what I was getting myself into. My emotions were challenged to the extreme and at times I was overwhelmed. In the end, I wouldn't trade the experience for anything in the world (with the exception of giving the world to the children). Thank you for the experience." Trever, USA
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