Discover Thailand, Laos & Cambodia -Cultural Holiday

Our Clients’ Reviews

Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It's the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you're interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers. Any feedback collected (Good or bad) from Exodus clients is posted straight onto our website - totally unedited. Read more...

Average Review Rating: from 41 reviews.

christine cottam

DISCOVER THAILAND, LAOS & CAMBODIA

Written March 2013
A varied trip through 3 amazing countries. I did not read trip details properly and wrongly thought there would be walking involved, especially as it is described as 'moderate'. In fact it is an easy trip. I loved Thailand and in fact stayed for a few days extra at the end on my own to visit the beaches, you can fly from Bangkok to Koh Samui very easily.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Loved it all really, the lazy trip along the Mekong, the bustle and food in Bangkok, and of course the sobering visit to Cambodia where one realises again and again that we have never had it so good. Our guide for the Killing fields and the prison was inspirational.
What did you think of your group leader?
We had three different leaders, two at the same time for the visit to Laos, which was not necessary. Our leader in Cambodia was excellent.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
A lot of travelling so be prepared to relax, read and sit around, not a trip for those who want lots of exercise, although there are some opportunities to swim and kayak. Also need clothes for lots of temples, with sleeves and cover the knees.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Excellent food is very cheap. Hotels are generally of a good standard, only one was below par but that was in an undeveloped area of Laos and was only for one night.
Sudhakar Pandit

DISCOVER THAILAND, LAOS & CAMBODIA

Written March 2013
An excellent way to see a lot of Laos and Cambodia in a relatively short time. There is quite a lot of travelling involved but that is inevitable in covering so much ground and is never boring
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The 2 day trip on a slow boat on the upper Mekong; the charming city of Luang Prabang; and, of course, Angkor Wat.
What did you think of your group leader?
Both the Thai/ Lao and Cambodian leaders were very good: knowledgable, helpful, willing within reason to accomodate preferences and with a good sense of humour.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Be prepared for 2-3 days of long road journeys on not very good roads. The hotels were of variable quality but given the overall cost of the holiday I was pleasantly surprised by the qualtiy.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
A great trip. I am glad I did it!
Claire Makin

DISCOVER THAILAND, LAOS & CAMBODIA

Written March 2013
I went to Burma with you last year, and it was a full-on trip. We were up from dawn to dusk, so it was tiring, but we all felt we had seen as much as possible in a fortnight. I expected the same from Laos and Cambodia, but it was much more relaxed with later starts, and I felt that I had not done the two countries justice - we could have fitted in more, particularly in Siem Reap.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Luang Prabang at dawn, watching the monks receiving alms, the Genocide Museum and Killing Fields in Phnom Penh (depressing but a must) and the magnificent Temples at Siem Reap (shame about the crowds - we should have started earlier!)
What did you think of your group leader?
Both team leaders were good, friendly and well organised.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Busy trip, go to Burma
Relaxed trip, go to Laos & Cambodia
Gavin Orton

DISCOVER THAILAND, LAOS & CAMBODIA

Written March 2013
The trip is really about Laos and Cambodia, with Thailand being more of a staging-post. Laos is scenic, rural and sparsely populated, while Cambodia is busier and historically more interesting. The pace of the trip is generally leisurely, especially in Laos.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Two in Cambodia. Firstly, the torture chambers and killing fields of the Pol Pot regime. We had an excellent local guide who had himself suffered as a child under the Khmer Rouge. He also gave an interesting account of Cambodia since the Vietnamese invasion and the fall of Pol Pot.
Secondly, the temples at Angkor. The temples come in a variety of styles and I felt that some of the smaller temples were even more attractive than the grand Angkor Wat.
What did you think of your group leader?
The Thai and Cambodian leaders were competent and friendly. The Thai leader was supplemented in Laos by a local guide who was rather less competent.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Read up about Laos and take a guide book as you will learn very little about the history and present set-up of Laos on this trip. There was not even a guided tour of the historic town of Luang Prabang. The local Lao guide was uninformative, though he was possibly wary of the repressive Communist regime.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
The hotels were generally good and nearly all had free Wi-Fi. Food was plentiful and cheap, and I had no problems as a vegetarian - I declined the offer of fried tarantulas.
Sally Holt

DISCOVER THAILAND, LAOS & CAMBODIA

Written March 2013
Excellent value busy trip. If you are used to "activity" holidays you might find it too relaxing. If you are used to luxury holidays still give it a try as 3 star hotels in Thailand/Cambodia & Laos are in keeping with the countries and with the exception of just one night in a poor guest house (Phetsokxai at Pak Bang) all the accommodation had good showers, firm beds and functioning air conditioning.We were taken to a wide variety of restaurants all of which were able to provide authentic food for those who like to try local dishes and european dishes for those who do not.The two long coach trips pass quickly as there are stops every couple of hours plenty to see and the two days on the Mekong are on a private slow boat so you and your companions have plenty of space to stretch.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Best views:
Angkor Wat sunrise
Best activity: Optional visit to Elephant Village from Lunang Prabang
Charities:
COPE providing prosethetic limbs - the guide will refer to this as "The bomb harvesting" museum - there is more to it than that and you can support the charity by purchases or donations etc, very interesting
Marum restaurant in Siem Reap which trains and employs former street kids - a Cambodian version of Jamie Oliver's "15"
What did you think of your group leader?
NOK in Thailand and Laos was excellent. Humorous, knowledgeable, surperbly oganised and thoroughly enjoying her job. She tuned in to under-currents in the group and gave inspirational low key speeches aimed at anyone not chilled out.

Kimphak in Cambodia was brand new to Exodus and now has been educated about the "tipping kitty" which avoids the need to make daily judgements on fair amounts to tip all and sundry. He was very educated and amiable.

Sam who only had us for one night in Bangkok was able to round us up and make sure we left his native soil safely!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
If you are prone to a lot of insect bites try Incognito available from Holland & Barratt - I used this throughout the trip and was not biten at all whereas some people covered in DEET stil got bitten.
Freeze bottled water as apart from the long day at Angkor it will stay frozen most of the following day
LADIES; Consider wearing a loose short sleeved dress as this avoids the heat of having a waistband and layer over the top. You will be allowed in all Royal Palaces and temples as long as you have little sleeves & covered knees. Take a shawl or wrap which can be used to cover arms in one of the cave temples on the Mekong. Also one lady soaked it in water and wore as a veil when she was suffering from the heat and also wore it to ward off insects at night
MNEN: If very tall bes careful at Villar Rakhangthong hoel in Luang Prabang as one chap cut his head badly on a low beam over the stairs. ALl men: Take shorts that cover the knees as these are acceptable in many temples/palaces - you will need long trousers in Bangkok for the Royal Palace.
Take a lot more money than the tripnotes suggest - we had a small one course lunch with a drink and one course dinner with two alcoholic drinks each day at a cost of around £20 pp per day. I used a debit card successfuly in Laos. In Cambodia the machinrs sometimes give you $100 bills so you will need to change these down.
You will only need a warm top on the early morning start on the 2nd day of the slow boat along the Mekong - it's never cool at night or in air conditioning so save room inyour lugguage.
If you are not willing to compromiose don't share a room - some members of the party were constantly complaining about their room mates which spoiled the atmosphere at times.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
As Nok our guide told everyone:

You have worked hard to pay for this holiday so you must enjoy yourself! Aimed at some fussy or inexperienced travellers expecting western standards etc I suspect
Think like a Budhist: Smile serenely, stay calm count your blessings andyou will feel contented and not too over-heated!
Josephine Mitchell

DISCOVER THAILAND, LAOS & CAMBODIA

Written February 2013
The best of over 10 holidays we've had with Exodus. Organised like clockwork, plenty of variety, good hotels and excellent local guides.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Riding elephants through jungle and river rather than round a field. Cayaking down river. And of course the truly amazing temples.
What did you think of your group leader?
2 local group leaders, both well informed and informative. Both looked after us well.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
An extra 2-3 nights in Bangkok at the end was worthwhile (stay in the same hotel) - plenty of local markets, trips on the river, the evening Siam Niramit evening show of music and dance very worhtwhile. Or you could add on a bit of sea and beach.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Go for it!
William Newman

DISCOVER THAILAND, LAOS & CAMBODIA

Written February 2013
This was an outstanding trip. If you want variety, this is for you. Every day became an adventure, but planned seemlessly. So much to see, so much to take in ( or try to !)
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Our wonderful guides, the bustle of Phnom Penh, the muddy Mekong swirling past us... elephants early morning, lines of monks, bowls in their arms... Huge bowls of deep fried spiders, lunch overlooking a calm lake, the funeral temple for the late King of Cambodia. The list could go on and on.
Perhaps most lingering were the scenes on the Tonle Sap River, houses perched on stilts, children performing Gangnam Style in rocking dug outs... or, was it what we heard as we silently tiptoed through the Killing Fields ?
What did you think of your group leader?
What a caring, gentle man. Noi, our guidein Thailand and Laos was a friend...He talked sensitively, masses of information at his fingertips. We had no cause to bother about any details, all was in hand. How sad we were to leave him with a hug, at the airport in Laos. I certainly hope Exodus keep hold of this treasure.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
If you spot anything you like, buy it there and then. Do not take too much luggage, you will want to buy so much.We found long sleeves a trial, it was so hot. Deet seemed to work well with short sleeves.
Sandals are ideal, I wore mine continuously... no need for any other footwear.
Ensure you have lots of memory cards for your camera...
The elephant trek was superb, early starts to donate food to monks, or watch sunrise at Angkor were not to be missed.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
An adventure that will linger.. Three wonderful and different countries. I loved the modes of travel, the two "long" days by bus were excellent. The guides advice eg, where to eat, how to change money, things to try, places to see in our "free" time... all was superb.
I think this was our best Exodus trip ever, even though we loved the previous 8 !!