It’s not about someone making a difference on their own; it’s about everybody pulling together to make a difference.

- Paolo Nutini

Humanitarian Tours

Through “Humanitarian Tours”, World of Difference offers adults and older students, accompanied by a guardian a sightseeing tour led by an experienced Cambodian Rotarian that will take you beyond the experience that most traditional tours are able to offer.

World of Difference is able to take you to villages off the beaten track allowing you to activate your senses of sight, touch and feel.

“World of Difference” is part of Rotary International and is managed by Rotary Clubs in District 9800. Rotary is a worldwide team of every day people that accomplish extraordinary outcomes because they choose to share their knowledge, skills, experience and time for the advancement of other communities.

World of Difference has a strong track record of working with Cambodians to break the cycle of poverty that has been thrust upon them through historical events. “Humanitarian Tours” allow you to be a tourist with a conscience because we add opportunities to participate in community building activities with Cambodians in Cambodia as part of your sightseeing adventures.

January 2024 outline

Cambodia’s Siem Reap is charming, culturally exquisite and is home to the ancient wonder Angkor Wat.  In this impoverished country tourism is Siem Reap’s life line and COVID severed it.  It would be my great delight if you would consider joining me as I lead my 14th tour on behalf of Rotary in support of Siem Reap tourism and wider Cambodia support.  The 12 day tour starts on Monday 15th and the cost for all hotels, meals, insurance, entry fees, transport and other land costs is $1499.00 ex flights.  

 We will enjoy a mix of volunteering and supporting remote villages with water and sanitation projects, and school education/infrastructure needs as identified by local teachers, commune leaders and the district governors.  All World of Difference projects are locally identified and community relationships critical to their success. The cultural and fun aspects on a tour are second to none, and accommodation and food are of a great standard.  

If you would like to be kept informed about
future tours please email us

What to expect

You will see the extraordinary difference Rotarians make through sharing their skills, knowledge and experience in community building activities that are part of Cambodian communities building sustainable change. If you so choose, you can go beyond the boundaries and actually participate for a day or part of day in these projects. This participation will help you understand how easy it is for you to make a global difference.

Community building activities range from sitting with students and speaking in English to help them learn a new language, through knowledge transfer, explaining what something means or how it works or why it is done – body hygiene, sewing garments, servicing a pump, to skills transfer by showing how something is done, such as making a cake together, designing a footing for a toilet, treating a wound.

You might identify a new project opportunity for Rotary to consider and discover a passion to do more by joining a future “Working Together Tour” that World of Difference leads.

Tour Features

  • Rotarian as the Group Tour Manager

  • You will be a member of a tour group about 20 to 25 people

  • 50% of your time will be spent as a tourist and 50% on Community Building Activities 

  • Group accommodation at 3-4 stars is included

  • Meals, travel insurance and transfers between airport and accommodation in Cambodia are included.

January 2024 Tour Itinerary

Monday 15th January Meet in Siem Reap.

Tuesday 16th January We will enjoy a slow, relaxed start. This will give us a chance to get our mobile phones organised, acquire some local currency, have fun in the local markets and settle in. We will also meet our Khmer translators. A tour of Siem Reap town will set the scene for visiting the local villages, which even though only 5km from the town centre, have no running water or toilets.

Wednesday 17th January Kok Benh Village

The temple precinct so close to the jewel in Cambodia’s crown, Angkor Wat, would perhaps seem wealthy. Not so for the villagers that live in the area. When “Dunny Darrel” visited there 5 years ago he was shocked that none of the 200+ families had toilets, and females had no private space to wash themselves. Darrel set about providing people with clean water that was also safe to drink.

We will meet the local people, learn their stories, and assist the construction of toilets and washrooms. We will meet Darrel’s right-hand man, Ratana, who will tell us about his life-story and we will work alongside him – what a privilege!

Thursday 18th January

Morning - Thom Chol school

Remote village schools have a system of education resembling Australia in the 1950s. They are supplied one textbook and a curriculum starting at page one at the beginning of the year and ending at the end of the book (end of the year). This school of 280 students is supported with infrastructure through World of Difference (WOD).  Inadequate and leaking toilets in the school are currently being replaced with proper toilet blocks, a ‘dining hall’ with a tin roof (complete with its huge hole and no side walls) is being replaced with a multi function space that will double up as an open-air classroom, and the veggie garden which supports the meal program requires tender loving care. Moreover, we will provide a day of joy amongst ourselves and the locals and ease the load for the hard-working teachers.

 Afternoon - Demining Apopo Rats

You will learn about the period of the Khmer Rouge and the terrible legacy that remains, especially the undiscovered land mines. This incredible project uses rats in demining landmines and these brave, clever critters, are not hurt in their endeavours

 Friday 19th January

 Srey Vibol Ker High School

This is an exemplar school. Linda Sok, Teacher, is a remarkable and dedicated professional in Cambodia. This school of almost 500 students has been supported by WOD since 2012. It has improved enormously over the years, yet many students still walk more than 10kms just to get to school.

To assist, we donate bicycles to them. There is no dental hygiene offered so we provide this too, along with donations of toothbrushes and toothpaste. The pupils enjoy sharing their Khmer cultural dance and sanscript with us, which is amazing!

 During the afternoon, a Khmer cooking class will have us creating Cambodian delights.

Saturday 20th January

Angkor Wat and Angkor Tom

These are breathtaking religious monuments built at around 1100AD in a time of Khmer prosperity. They were initially Hindu, now Buddhist, and tell stories of the history of the Khmer dynasties, and they cover vast hectares of land. Together, we will take the day to explore the height, breadth, and grandeur of them. You may enjoy sunrise in a peaceful space at Angkor Wat.

 Sunday 21st January

Kulen Mountain

We travel to this sacred site and the ancient capital of Cambodia where Kings and temples abounded through generations. Breathtaking waterfalls, mountains and jungle give way to gigantic statues. The historic understanding of ancient Khmer culture continues today in a relaxed setting.

 Monday 22nd January

 Kok Benh Village

In the morning, we will return to Kok Benh Village to finalise construction of the toilets and washrooms. The afternoon will be free time where you can relax or pursue an adventure of your choice (suggestions below).

Tuesday 23rd January

Kampong Speu

During the 6-hour drive to Kampong Speu province you will enjoy the beauty of Cambodian countryside. We make a stop at a memorable roadside to rest, where you can purchase traditional tentacled delicacies! On route, we visit the site of RC Hawthorn’s hospital project.

Wednesday 24th January

Kro Boa and Bosala villages

These remote villages in Kampong Speu provide opportunity for conversation with the locals, many of whom live in the most primitive conditions. The progress is from disease, destitution and despair to health and sustainability. More than 15 Rotary Clubs have assisted this community for more than 10 years, culminating in limited support required for the past 5-years. They are well and truly on their feet and a school was built by WOD in 2012, which we visit and will volunteer in the classrooms.

Thursday 25th January

 Phnom Penh

In the morning, we head to the capital, Phnom Penh. After checking into our hotel some of you may opt to visit S21, known as Toul Sleng Genocide Museum or Torture detention during the Khmer Rouge regime of 1975-1979. Following this, we travel one hour to visit the ‘Killing Field’, known as Choeung Ek where victims were transported from S21, executed, and buried, and then placed in mass graves totalling 129.

 Friday 26th January

 Today is a free day until we depart Phnom Penh.