Journeys Within -- Siem Reap, Cambodia
profile by Shanna Quinn
Journeys Within
Owner: Andrea & Brandon Ross
Location: Siem Reap, Cambodia
Customized travel itinerary – check!
Luxury amenities – check!
Historic locale and giving back to the community – check, check!
Sometimes the best things in life are unplanned. Andrea Ross and her husband, Brandon, set out touring Southeast Asia with no intentions of visiting Cambodia after hearing it was dangerous. Along the way, they heard some many wonderful things from travelers about 
Cambodia; they booked their trip and fell in love with the “hope and excitement” Cambodians have for their country. While other Southeast Asian countries had established resources for tourists, Cambodia sorely lacked. Armed with their travel knowledge from their adventures and their will to make-it-work, Andrea and her husband moved to Cambodia to open their B&B – Journeys Within.
The Journeys Within B&B in Siem Reap, Cambodia coupled with Journeys Within Tour Company, Journeys Within Our Community (JWOC), and Nikaya Handcrafts are philanthropic-focused businesses run by Andrea Ross focusing on travel throughout Southeast Asia. Andrea is assisted in these ventures by her husband Brandon, and local consultants: Jaeb in Thailand, Loan and Van in Vietnam, Dar Le in Myanmar, and Linda in Cambodia. Also on board to assist with the Outreach Community are Nicole and Camilla and April heads up the office on the U.S.
Journeys Within B&B is located near the World Heritage Site Angkor Wat. Offering western amenities (i.e. A/C!), free laundry service, complimentary drinks and a pool this B&B is currently ranked number 1 out of 66 area B&B’s on tripadvisor.com.
Journeys Within Tours offers preset and customizable tours and every year organizes around 200 personalized tours. This year 100% of the proceeds from the first ten Myanmar trips will be donated to JWOC to assist with Myanmar orphanages that are in desperate need after Cyclone Nargis back in May 2008. Journeys Within has also been award Top Travel Specialist by Condé Nast Traveler in 2007 and 2008.
Journeys Within Our Community,See a problem, solve a problemis the philosophy of this not-for-profit program. JWOC is a 2008 Condé Nast Traveler World Savers Award Winner: Hope in Health. Projects range from well building to microfinance to education scholarships. Andrea believes by investing in a community, the community in turn invests in you and your experience. Being able to see the changes your contribution had on a community is a rewarding experience and makes philanthropic travel memorable.
Nikaya Handcrafted – Nikaya which meanscommunityhelps locals generate financial independence. 10% of the profits from each item sold goes directly to JWOC. There is also a special Giving Back section where 100% of the profits help support locals.
Ready to book your trip but worried about galavanting solo in Southeast Asia? Don’t be! says Andrea. She has never felt threatened by her surrounding (though common-sense traveling is important), she does caution that women will be peppered with questions about their romantic status – it’s not people being overly nosy or judgy, but rather traditional. Even if you can’t book your trip just yet, stop by the JWOC and Nikaya Handcrafted websites and give back to the Cambodian community.
You can get in touch with Andrea via:
Email:andrea@journeys-within.com - Phone: 877-454-3672 (toll fee)
Twitter: @AndreaRoss
Site list
Tour Company:www.journeys-within.com
JWOC:www.journeyswithinourcommunity.org
Nikaya Handcrafts:http://www.nikayahandcrafted.com/
Blog:http://www.journeyswithinblog.com
Shanna Quinn