Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know
About A Koun Khmer Homecoming Experience, pricing, payments, and planning your trip home. Can’t find your answer? Email contact@selarati.com or message us on Instagram @selarati.
The experience
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A 10-day small-group journey, through Phnom Penh, Battambang, and Siem Reap, for the Khmer diaspora to reconnect with our roots, identity, and motherland—together, in community.
This isn’t just a tour or your typical trip to Srok Khmer. It’s an experience intentionally curated to foster healing and reflection for koun Khmer. Whether you don’t feel Khmer enough and want to find a sense of belonging. Whether you want to understand the people and history that your parents fled from. Whether you’re searching for deep connections with other koun Khmer who understand what it’s like to be in between worlds.
AKKHE is a meaningful step in the journey of understanding and claiming your Khmer identity and finding your own community.
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Every homecoming shares the same heart and route. What changes is the season: Khmer New Year (April), Couples Edition (July), Pchum Ben (September), and the Water Festival (November).
Khmer New Year and Pchum Ben trips are held annually. Other themed trips are designed by Selarati around community interest (when you fill out the interest form). All trips are announced in our e-mailing list and social media. -
Yes. Many past homecomers had visited before. What makes this different is experiencing Cambodia alongside koun Khmer on the same journey, with guided reflection and conversations that don’t happen on a regular trip.
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Most homecomers join everything, but you can opt out of activities. There is free time in each city so you can explore and make your own plans. There’s no reduction in price for missed activities, as experiences are arranged in advance.
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Yes. Registered homecomers receive a day-by-day itinerary before the trip. Some details may be adjusted before or during the trip.
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Each group is intentionally small, typically 5 to 10 people, so everyone is seen and friendships form naturally. If a trip is cancelled for not meeting the minimum, your payments are refunded minus processing fees.
Who can join
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Adults 18+ of Khmer heritage, registering individually. Many join solo and leave with lifelong friends.
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Our Khmer New Year, Pchum Ben, and Water Festival homecomings are a shared space for those of Khmer heritage.
For couples, our Couples Edition (July 1–10, 2027) welcomes koun Khmer and their partner, whether their partner is Khmer or not.
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Our current homecomings are for adults 18+. Family and parent experiences are something we hope to offer in the future. Let us know your interest when you join the early bird list.
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Absolutely. Many homecomers are first-timers, and many arrive with little or no Khmer. You’ll be supported every step of the way, with daily Khmer lessons and interpretation throughout.
Pricing & payments
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Prices are per person in USD.
Khmer New Year (April): shared room $2,750 early bird, then $2,950 standard. Private room $3,250 early bird, then $3,450 standard.
Pchum Ben (September) and Water Festival (November): shared room $2,650 early bird, then $2,850 standard. Private room $3,150 early bird, then $3,350 standard.
Couples Edition (July): estimated from $5,300 per couple early bird, then $5,700 standard, with a $1,000 deposit per couple. Final pricing is confirmed before January 4, 2027.
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Each trip has a two-week early bird window when registration first opens. Registrations completed (form submitted and deposit paid) during that window secure early bird pricing and are automatically put on the 3-month payment plan. See each trip page for more details. Join the early bird list to be notified.
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Register with a $500 deposit. Your balance is then split into three monthly payments, charged automatically to the card you use at checkout, with the final payment about 7-8 weeks before the trip. Everyone pays on the same dates.
If you register after a payment date has passed, that payment is simply added to your next one, so you’re all caught up by then. Each trip page shows the exact dates.
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Yes. Choose “Pay the remaining balance in one payment” on the registration form. After your $500 deposit, we’ll email you one invoice for the rest instead of setting up monthly payments.
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International flights
At least 2 hotel nights (1 before and 1 after the trip dates), meals and drinks outside the itinerary, travel visa and insurance, and personal spending. As a rough guide, many homecomers budget $200 to $500 in spending money for the 10 days.
Cancellations
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Within 14 days of registering (and more than 60 days before the trip): your deposit and any payments are refunded, minus processing fees.
After that, until 60 days before the trip: your deposit is non-refundable (or can be saved as credit toward a future Selarati trip). Any other payments are refunded minus processing and administrative fees.
60 to 30 days before: your deposit and second payment are non-refundable; later payments are refunded minus fees.
30 days or less: the full trip cost is non-refundable. In an emergency, please reach out and we’ll talk it through.
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If we cancel due to safety concerns, low enrollment, or other unforeseen circumstances, all payments are refunded minus any non-recoverable vendor costs and processing fees. We’ll communicate as early as possible. See our Terms & Conditions.
Travel & logistics
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You book your own flights into Phnom Penh (Techo International Airport).
Please plan at least 1 night before and 1 night after the trip; we’ll share our Phnom Penh hotel so you can book the same one if you’d like to for convenience. A group chat opens before the trip so you can coordinate arrivals.
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Yes. A travel visa is required and is the responsibility of each participant to obtain.
Many Cambodians may be eligible to apply for a free Visa Type-K (Khmer Visa) if you have legal proof that you or one of your parents is from Cambodia (e.g. your birth certificate + legal document showing your parent’s place of birth is Cambodia).Those who are eligible are highly recommended to apply as the K-Visa can last up to 10-years, and you can enter/exit Cambodia freely. Apply through your embassy or at the airport in Cambodia upon arrival.
Otherwise, you can apply for a Tourist Visa upon arrival or online in advance.
Travel insurance is also required and must include medical evacuation, trip cancellation, and emergency care. Proof of insurance must be submitted before departure. -
Yes! We host an online pre-departure meeting to get to know each other, review the itinerary, cover logistics, and answer questions. A Telegram group chat is also created so you can connect with each other beforehand.
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Shared rooms (double occupancy) and Private rooms (single occupancy) in comfortable 4-star and boutique hotels are available.
Shared rooms are matched by gender/the preferences in your registration form. If you’re traveling with family or a friend, you can request to be roomed together.
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Your passport is used for identity verification and hotel check-in, which is standard for international accommodations. It is kept securely and used only for trip logistics.
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Yes, Sela hosts the full 10 days. Before the trip, a group chat helps everyone connect and plan arrivals.
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Daily life and tourism in Cambodia are safe as usual, and we’ve hosted multiple homecomings since Dec 2025. Our team and local partners monitor conditions closely and will communicate clearly if anything affects the trip.
Still have questions?
We’re happy to help
Reach out anytime, or join the early bird list to get updates on your trip.