Go Out and Give – Cambodia/Laos
 Join us in two of the most beautiful and welcoming countries in Southeast Asia – Cambodia and Laos – and delve deeper into their fascinating cultures through meaningful service projects in the communities you visit.
Cambodia – A Land of Smiles With a Need for Help
A trip to Cambodia is a rare chance to truly understand the magnitude and nuances of war, communism, and economic sustainability, as well as the challenges and rewards of working in a developing nation. After learning about the Khmer Rouge and Pol Pot, you will visit the killing fields and S-21 for a heavy dose of reality. With a new perspective on this intriguing country, you will travel down rugged trails by bus, tuk tuk and elephant to tiny villages of farmers and buffaloes. Parts of Cambodia are in the midst of modernization, but life goes on as it has for hundreds of years in much of the rest of this spectacular country.
Phnom Penh – Learning of the Past While Looking to the Future
You will begin your trip in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia and a fascinating place full of history and cosmopolitan charm. Staying in a hotel along the banks of the Mekong River, you will walk out the door into the bustling streets and head for a lesson in the recent brutal past of Cambodia’s encounters with the Khmer Rouge. A trip to the S-21 prison, where thousands of Cambodians were held for interrogations prior to being taken to the killing fields, will be followed by a trip to the killing fields themselves. This is an extremely emotional experience and one that will impact and enrich the rest of your time in Cambodia. While in Phnom Penh, you will also shop at the Russian Market and begin to sample the country’s fine cuisine.
Battambang – Rewarding Service at the Rustic Pathways Orphanage
Battambang – Rewarding Service at the Rustic Pathways Orphanage
The need for assistance at the Battambang Orphanage Project is truly endless, and there are countless ways you can help these youngsters. You’ll find yourself surrounded by smiling children, most of them under 10 years old, who are thirsty to learn everything they can from you. Teach songs, art, and English to these eager kids, and help the older students hone their math and computer skills. Work alongside the orphans to maintain the temple grounds, plant flower and vegetable gardens, and paint colorful murals on the classroom walls.  classroom walls. Let them show you Let them show you how to play their favorite games and sing their favorite songs, and help them cook tasty meals that you’ll share together. Head out of town on exciting field trips and show these children things they’ve never had the chance to see. Treat them to ice cream, play endless games of tag, and show them how to ride a bicycle. Every moment you share will enrich their lives and remind you how much you take for granted. Each day you’ll become more involved with the service work and feel yourself sharing more of your heart with your new brothers and sisters. When it comes time to leave, you’ll realize that it’s impossible not to leave part of your heart here with these wonderful kids.
Siem Reap – Home of Angkor Wat
While in Siem Reap, you’ll have plenty of time to explore the famous ancient ruins of Angkor Wat. This vast complex of 14th century temples and buildings is a reminder of the glory days of the Khmer empire and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. When not watching the sun rise over majestic Angkor or scrambling over stone ruins, you will tantalize your taste buds with some of Southeast Asia’s most delicious culinary creations. You’ll also take a boat trip into Tonle Sap or the ‘Great Lake.’ While you will spend ample time exploring ruins, you will also work with nearby villages on waste removal and clean living education while you are here. Siem Reap is a great place to close the extraordinary experience that is Cambodia.
Onward to Laos!
Traditionally, Laos has been the least-visited destination in Southeast Asia. For that reason, it remains one of the most underdeveloped, scenic and culturally rewarding areas in Asia. Known for its idyllic scenery, devout Buddhist population, slow and easy way of life, and generous hospitality, Laos is an ideal country to explore. Over your two weeks here you will travel through the northern half of the country, visiting villages, swimming under waterfalls and hiking up emerald mountains. You’ll also learn about the history of the country with your guide, who has been traveling the back roads of Laos for the past ten years.
Lovely LuangPrabang
You will begin your Laos experience in Luang Prabang, which is one of the most beautiful, welcoming, and relaxing places in Southeast Asia. Rustic Pathways has acquired four acres of land right on the Mekong River adjoining the Luang Prabang World Heritage area – home to our new Luang Prabang Mekong River Base. A fascinating mix of French colonial and Southeast Asian cultures, Luang Prabang is a treat to explore. You’ll swim in cascading waterfalls, explore caves filled with caves filled with Buddha statues, and travel to a  mountaintop village that will provide a view of the entire region. Spend early mornings giving alms to monks streaming through the streets, and pass the evenings walking through the handicraft-laden lanes of the enchanting night market just down the road from the Rustic Pathways Base. This UNESCO World Heritage town will be your base as you explore and join one or two of the ongoing service projects in northern Laos, including working with a local orphanage, building roofs for elderly villagers, providing schools with basic classroom supplies, and teaching in outlying village schools.
Vang Vieng – A Cozy Hamlet Amongst Limestone Karsts
Ethnic minorities are common in Laos, and over 50 different tribes dot the countryside – each with its own language and traditions. The Hmong are the largest of the groups who live among the jagged, limestone peaks of the north. Rustic Pathways has adopted the village of Na Som (about eight miles from the town of VangVieng), and the kind people of this lovely
village have adopted Rustic Pathways. We now have three full-time employees and a 40-acre Rustic Pathways Base set
alongside the stunning mountains that form the natural perimeter of this beautiful village.
Families in Na Som will happily welcome you to their village, and you will participate in several meaningful service projects centered around the village school. The school has dirt floors, roofs that leak, and walls made of woven mats. Students wear threadbare uniforms but sport bright smiles – their excitement and joyful nature is contagious. We have a long-term vision to completely rebuild this school and revolutionize the academic
opportunities for these children. Your service projects will focus on providing essential school materials and clothing for the children as well as completely rebuilding one of the old school buildings. Get ready to learn how to build walls and raise roofs as you work to improve the quality of life for the children of Na Som and change their whole learning environment. You will also work on a village health project that will impact both local students and the elderly people in your village.
Vientiane – Cap It Off With The Capital
Your journey will end on the banks of the Mekong River in the capital of Vientiane. Here, gold-leafed stupas glisten in the sun, and morning markets bustle with the daily activity of buying and selling everything from fruits and vegetables to high-end electronics. Buddhist monks cross the streets in radiant orange robes, and crumbling colonial mansions line the streets. The
scents of brewing coffee and French baguettes are constant reminders of the lasting French colonial influence on this small country. These sights, smells and sounds will be a great way to cement the experiences of the last month firmly in your memory.
For more information on this Gap Year module or any of our other extensive Gap Year offerings, please e-mail us at gap@rusticpathways.com.
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