Below is the detailed itinerary of the 2018 Cambodia and Thailand journey. Please note that some details may be subject to change closer to the date.

You will be greeted at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy the remainder of day and evening recuperating from your long journey. If you are energised and rearing to get out, join us for an afternoon tour of the magnificent Royal Palace, residence of King Sihamoni. We will stroll through the manicured gardens and discover the ornate temples, libraries and galleries, inside the palace grounds. We will also see the breathtaking Silver Pagoda, a stunning temple complete with gleaming silver floors

Meals: As everyone is arriving at different times we will have an optional team dinner at the Romdeng. Romdeng is one of the most delicious and iconic restaurants in Phnom Penh. Set in a beautiful colonial building surrounded by lush garden it is run as a social enterprise, helping secure bright futures of former street children.

Hotel: The Plantation, Urban Resort and Spa, is a green oasis on a vast expanse of lush gardens, ponds and pools. This hotel is a haven of peace and harmony in the heart of Phnom Penh. It is located within walking distance of Royal Palace, Phnom Penh’s historic Quarter, the National Museum, Royal Pagoda and the riverside with its bustling nightlife and popular shopping area.

After a delicious breakfast, we will have a meeting to get acquainted with our fellow Secret Sisterhood philanthropists and review various aspects of the trip. We will remind ourselves of what we plan to achieve on our journey and also share tips on how to get the most out of our time together.

We will then head to the Killing Fields as well as Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21 Prison) to learn about Phnom Penh’s bloody history under the Khmer Rouge. In order to delve into the importance of women’s empowerment, we first need to understand Cambodia’s dark past. The prison stands as a monument to the thousands that were murdered and imprisoned. While chilling and haunting, it is also an extremely moving and powerful experience.

After lunch, we will return to our resort to enjoy some free time. The resort is located right on the lively riverfront where we suggest you take a stroll to immerse yourself in Cambodia’s everyday life. From street food peddlers to impromptu water-side entertainment, there is always something to see.

After dinner we will venture out into the red-light district of Phnom Penh with Hardplaces Community and see the work they are doing with at-risk street children.

Meals: Cambodian food is often overshadowed by Thailand and Vietnam, however the Khmer cuisine is one of the world's oldest living cultures. For lunch we will be heading to a rooftop restaurant near Tuol Sleng Museum to enjoy breath-taking views. For dinner we will head to Mali's Cambodian restaurant, one of the best restaurants in Phnom Penh.

Hotel: Plantation Resort and Spa.

Today we will head to AUSCAM Freedom project an NGO that tackles trafficking by helping empower young women from impoverished backgrounds through education. They identify at risk girls from poor, urban communities, and provide them with an education scholarship and support structures so they remain in school. We will be guided through the inner workings of the organisation and visits to their development project and local school. We will meet some of the young women participating in their programs and will see first-hand how our journey of love will help empower 140 girls.

In the evening we will head out for an unforgettable evening of authentic Cambodian culture at The Traditional Dance Show. Delight in a variety of Cambodian folk and classical dances as you discover the diversity of Cambodian culture. The dance spectacular is staged in the beautiful gardens of the National Museum.

Meals: Lunch will be held near the AUSCAM Freedom project centre. After the show, we continue our exploration of Cambodian traditions and head to Friends Restaurant for dinner. Friends is a social enterprise that works to build hopeful futures for former street children and marginalized youth.


Hotel: Plantation, Urban Resort and Spa.

After breakfast we will head to Hard Places community and see the work that they do to tackle the issue of trafficking in Phnom Penh. We will visit their Punlok Thmey Prevention and Restoration Centre and hear how they restore the lives of children who have been sexually exploited and abused. Their Punlok Thmey centre is planted right in the middle of the sex tourist district to better reach the children at risk. We will get to understand why their work within prevention is key to disrupting the industry. We will also sit in on some of their daily programs including their mobile kids clubs.

After a late lunch, we will head to the airport where we will catch our short, late afternoon flight to the ancient and quaint Siem Reap. A cluster of villages with a French colonial centre and the gateway to the Temples of Angkor, the Seventh Wonder of the World. Siem Reap is a feast of incredible architecture, Khmer culture and stunning temples. You will notice a change of pace here.

After dinner we will head to the renowned Phare Circus. A stunning performance, Phare performers use theater, music, dance and modern circus arts to tell historical, folk and modern Cambodian stories. The young circus artists will astonish you with their energy, emotion, enthusiasm and talent.

Meals: Lunch will be enjoyed at Century 9 cafe, a social enterprise run by Hardplaces Community to help former victims of trafficking. We will eat dinner at the resort’s restaurant, The Dining Room where you have a choice of traditional Khmer, or French cuisine.

Hotel: Park Hyatt Hotel is the perfect combination of luxury and tranquility set amidst lush tropical gardens. The setting offers the authenticity of traditional Cambodian design, infused with fresh, modern features, creating an inviting, oasis in Siem Reap. This five star hotel is set between the city of Siem Reap and the Angkor Wat Temples, making it a convenient location to access all attractions and entertainment areas. Boasting a huge pool and grounds, it is the perfect place to relax after a busy day.

We will spend half the day temple hopping with our local guide. The world- famous Angkor temples were built between the 9th and 13th centuries when the Khmer empire was the pre-eminent influence in South-East Asia. The temples, including Angkor Wat, the Bayon and the jungle-covered Ta Prohm were believed to represent the cosmic world and were set in perfect balance, symmetry and composition. The architectural designs are truly mind-blowing.

After lunch, there will be time to relax and reflect before we head out for the afternoon to Hard Places Community in Siem Reap. A very different setting to Phnom Penh, we travel down a long dirt road to reach the Punlok Thmey Centre. We will see how Hard Places are tackling the issue of trafficking with Siem Reap differently to Phnom Penh. As they work in different rural slum areas, we will have the opportunity to visit a slum, to see their work first hand. This will allow us to see how trafficking operates differently in different regions.

Meals: A vegetarian lunch will be served at Peace Cafe. We will also have a chance to check out their fair trade shop which is great place to find that special gift for a loved one. For dinner, we will venture to Cuisine Wat Damnak, an innovative restaurant with a modern take on Cambodian cuisine using French culinary techniques. With an outdoor setting in a softly lit garden, it is the perfect way to appreciate the balmy Cambodia evening

Hotel: Park Hyatt Hotel.

We will visit the Grameen foundation and see how they are helping women secure their future through micro-financing. We will visit the chicken farm where former dumpster scavengers are trained to successfully run their own business.

After lunch we will then head to the airport to catch our flight to Chiang Mai Thailand. On arrival, we will head to to our resort to rest and recuperate from the flight. You will have the option of walking to the Chiang Mai night bazaar, one of the most famous markets in Chiang Mai, where you can find their infamous snacks, that must be tried at least once during your stay, as well as browsing local handicrafts for that special gift.

Meals: For morning tea before we will stop at Bloom Cafe for tea, coffee and cake. This is a training cafe that provides vocational training and employment opportunities for Cambodian women. Lunch will be a special experience at Bugs Cafe. The name isn’t a metaphor, the restaurant really does specialise in insect-based dishes, including scorpions, crickets and grasshoppers. The dishes, a fusion of Khmer and French cooking, are a delicious adventure. Equally delicious insect-free options are also available. Dinner will be had at the Ruen Tamarind restaurant, the perfect introduction to the unique taste sensations of northern Thai cuisine.

Hotel: The Tamarind Hotel offers a beautiful Thai escape, boasting a beautiful outdoor pool, and stunning, huge Thai-style rooms. Even though it is located in the centre of Chiang Mai’s old town, this stylish hotel offers guests a tranquil and peaceful refuge. The hotel is in an amazing location, within walking distance of the Wat Chedi Luang temple and the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar.

We will spend the full day visiting ZOE International, the most sophisticated and holistic anti-trafficking organisation, where we will learn first-hand about how the fight against human trafficking is unfolding in Northern Thailand.

We will learn how ZOE has a holistic, strategy to fight trafficking, focusing on prevention, rescue and rehabilitation. We will get an in depth understanding of how ZOE collaborates with Thai law enforcement and other government agencies to help rescue children, and bring the traffickers to justice. With many secret safe houses, aftercare facilities and vocational training programs, Zoe ensures that every survivor is able to fully heal from her past and develop the tools to return to the world.

This will be an incredibly eye opening and emotional day where we will meet some of the women within their aftercare facility and hear their stories.

This is our last evening together as a group as some will not join us for the retreat. We will have a debrief before dinner, recapping and reflecting on the trip as a whole and how it has impacted each of us.

Meals: Lunch will be served at the ZOE organisation, and will include traditional Thai dishes. For dinner we will head to Dash Restaurant and Bar, one of the best restaurants in Chiang Mai, specialists in Northern Thai, Lanna cuisine. The trendy atmosphere, extensive menu and generous use of spices, you will entice you to try every dish. This will be a farewell dinner for those who are not joining our Retreat.

Hotel: The Tamarind Hotel.

For those who wish to head home a personal driver will take you to the airport. The rest will travel to the next resort after a late breakfast.

The next three days are a chance for you to reflect, relax and rejuvenate after the week of challenging, eye-opening and life changing experiences. We highly recommend taking this time out for yourself as it is important to digest the experiences you have had before you head home back to your everyday life. Self-care is paramount for your wellbeing so we allow each retreat package to be fully customised to make the most of your time.

Here is a sample retreat schedule:

Before lunch you will head to a Thai Herbal Steam. This treatment uses steam and herbs to soften your skin, cleanse the body’s impurities and relax the muscles. This is the perfect way to begin your retreat as it completely relaxes your mind and body.

After lunch and an afternoon to lounge by the pool or roam the resort grounds, you will receive your Anantara’s Signature Massage that combines Eastern and Western techniques and their unique oil blend to stimulate the circulation and deeply relax muscles, clearing energy blockages and helping to coax your mind to unwind.

Meals: Meals are at your leisure. We highly suggest visiting the Service 1921 Restaurant where you will experience the one of the best fine dining experiences in Chiang Mai. One of the most sophisticated restaurants in Chiang Mai, the quality of the food, service and interior design is impeccable, making it a not to miss dining experience.

Hotel: Anantara Chiang Mai Resort is the ultimate five-star luxury resort. Edging the Mae Ping River, this resort offers a tranquil escape from your journey of love, learning and leadership. From the moment you arrive you will be transported into an exotic haven, with the endless spa treatments and wellness options, huge swimming pools and countless bars and restaurants. Anantara is the perfect place to truly look after and treat yourself.

An early morning (or late morning for those who prefer to sleep-in) Yoga or Tai Chi class with a personal instructor on the lush grass overlooking the water. Late morning you will head to the Spa for a detoxifying green tea scrub and wrap which will purify and oxygenate your skin. The bubbly wrap with its’ effervescent effects, helps eliminate liquid toxins and impurities accumulated on the skin.

Following the scrub you will be treated to a special spa lunch; delicious fresh food and detoxifying juices.

That afternoon, you will have the option to lounge around the crystal waters of the pool or you can head into town to have a once in a lifetime experience of washing some of the elephants at the Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary. You will have the opportunity to feed the elephants, give them a mud bath and then head with them, into the river to rinse them off. A truly magical day to be up close to these huge and majestic animals.

Meals: Meals are at your leisure. For those wishing to venture out of the resort we suggest David’s Kitchen, a French-Thai fusion restaurant that has long held the position of best restaurant in Chiang Mai. It has the perfect combination of the cuisine, atmosphere and service paying special attention to detail. This is a dining experience that you do not want to miss.

Hotel: Anantara Chiang Mai Resort

Spend the morning participating in a private fitness class of your choice such as aerobics, muay thai boxing or fit ball.

Then spend the day lounging around the pool or experience the Spice Spoons Thai cooking class. Here you will master the Thai culinary arts, perfecting the balance between salty, spicy and sweet. You will join the chef and take a guided tour of the local markets where you will get a sense of the Thai customs and culture. Then it’s into the kitchen to try your hand at creating a Thai dish of your own.

If cooking is not your forte, we suggest you head to the city’s most famous mountain temple, Wat Phra Doi Suthep. The temple towers 1,600 metres into the sky, a climb to the top offers you the chance to take breathtaking photos of the city.

In the early evening, you can indulge in another traditional massage or luxuriant facial. After dinner, try the option of a meditation session to completely clear your mind, reset your body and prepare for the journey home.

Meals: Meals are at your leisure. For those wishing to venture out of the resort for lunch or dinner we suggest you head to Rustic and Blue, a farmhouse chic restaurant with farm-to-table dishes in a rustic setting. Each dish is made from fresh, local, seasonal ingredients that will truly tantalise your senses.

Hotel: Anantara Chiang Mai Resort

After a leisurely breakfast, spend the morning packing. Your personal driver will take you to the airport.

If you are interested in making a bigger impact and taking this life-changing Philanthropic Journey, we welcome you into our close knit community of women philanthropists, leaders and changemakers; the Secret Sisterhood of Philanthropists.

We would like to gift you with a beautifully designed and deeply symbolic Sisterhood bracelet or necklace of your choice. Wear your Secret Sisterhood symbol with pride, to represent our unity as powerful women helping end gender inequality. After we contact you, we will send you your jewelry along with a friendship bracelet, compliment card pack, a gorgeous itinerary booklet and special invitation to our upcoming Journeys

Please fill out your details below and Jacquie Love will be in contact shortly to welcome you into the Secret Sisterhood of Philanthropists: