Thai Hilltribes & The River Kwai

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...

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  Nikola Rnjak

  THAI HILLTRIBES & THE RIVER KWAI

  

  Written December 2011

  There were floods, land slides and numerous issues, but the tour went ahead and it was unforgetable. Our guide P.C. was a "force of nature" sorting everything for us. We saw great natural beauty, enjoyed warm hospitality, fought with mosquitoes and leaches and learned the Chang song [ask about it].This is way people love to travel.   

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Attending "the River Goddess" festival in Chiang Mai. Paper lanterns going up the sky in their hundreds, smiling, happy people all around, great atmosphere, Chang beer, Ping-Ping restaurant and ... if I was a cinematographer I would make a montage of all those moments and wrap it up with some sentimental music. Even with all that movie magic it would not come close to the real thing - you had to be there. If you were there you would know what I'm talking about.  So get yourself to Chiang Mai and make sure there's some festival happening. 

  What did you think of your group leader?

   Our guide, P.C. is a great guy. The first rule he told us was: Smile and have fun. He lived up by that rule not letting all the problems caused by flooding get to him. We learned that rule from him and enjoyed every moment. He provided us with cultural background to many things we saw, explained Thai mentality, guided us through restaurant menus and tought us the Chang song.

  P.C. was a great ambassador for Thai people and because of him and the things I experienced I want to return to Thailand.

   

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Pack plenty of insect repellent, buy Tiger balm, and enjoy yorself.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

   

  If you want five star holiday go to five star resort. 

  If you want to discover real Thailand jump in Tsong Tao, clasp your hands, bow your head in gesture of thanks and smile broadly. Thailand will smile back at you.

   

   
• 

  Mike Mosdell

  THAI HILLTRIBES & THE RIVER KWAI

  

  Written September 2011

  This was an amazing holiday, truly the best way to see Thailand at its finest. Exodus have some great tour guides and our tour guide for this trip was one of the most informative guides I've met [Da]. There is alot of travelling involved so be prepared! 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Most likely seeing Hellfire Pass, once you read all about what happened to these POW's and how they were treated it gives you a different look on life and how you must cherish it at all costs. It was very eye opening.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Da was a great tour leader, always ready to answer any questions you had for her and was always integrating herself with the group and getting involved. Would love to have her again as our group leader.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  The flight sucks, be prepared for this! Some of the things that are mentioned in the FAQ for gear you need also isnt required and takes up more room in your bag then necessary. I wouldnt take a sleeping bag if I had to go again, you only need a sleeping bag liner and you're all set. Make sure you take something to listen to music with or a book to read as some of the travelling between places is very long and tiring! 

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  Its a shame they changed the itinery for this trip in 2012 as the old itinery was absolutely amazing, I'd still go again though so dont hesitate to book this!

   
• 

  Ross Bishop

  TRAILS OF THAILAND

  

  Written April 2011

  A really fun trip with a busy itinerary and lots of activities to keep us entertained.  Despite the complex logistics and use of public transport as opposed to private transfers most of the time, the tour didn't feel overly burdened by long travelling days mainly thanks to the use of comfortable, air conditioned sleeper trains, which allowed plenty of time to take in the sights of Thailand, try a new activity or take a bit of time out to relax.   

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Activities included in the tour consist of trekking, bamboo rafting, elephant riding and canoeing.  There were optional activities of canopy zipwires, evening cultural hilltribe show, snorkelling and sea kayaking.  All these excursions were great fun, well organised by the local operators and come highly recommended.  The water based activities in particular were scenically stunning. 

  What did you think of your group leader?

  "James" (as he had the group refer to him as) was a laid back and cheerful guide typical of many Thai people we met on the tour.  All the transfers involved in this trip on public transport took a lot of organising and James, to his credit, got us to our destination every time.  He was also full of great advice and recommendations which were pretty much spot on throughout. 

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  For the hilltribe trek, travellers should be aware that the overnight accomodation is pretty basic consisting of sleeping on the floor in a large communal wooden hut on a thin bamboo mattress with a couple of blankets and large mosquito nets.  The roof wasn't entirely waterproof on one night so it may be worth asking your guide at the village whether the roof can be supplemented by a large tarpaulin.  Toilet facilities are of the squat variety and washing is either via an outdoor tap or in the river nearby.  Sleeping bags and rollmats are available for hire in Chiang Mai, but I didn't bother and used the blankets for padding / insulation and just brought my own sheet sleeping bag liner as it was pretty hot in April.  Porters can also easily and cheaply be arranged for the whole trek if you want to walk unencumbered without all your gear for 3 days in the humid conditions. 

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  This is a really well organised and comprehensive tour around Thailand.  If, like me, you like to fill your days with activities, this trip makes for an exotic multi-activity holiday that Thailand is well set up for given it's long standing popularity with backpackers from all corners of the world.  As such, if this sounds like your kind of thing, I strongly recommend this tour, but don't come expecting wilderness and lots of wildlife in the main touristy areas, as Thailand is quite commercialised these days, but still good value and great fun. 

   
• 

  Stephen Slater

  TRAILS OF THAILAND

  

  Written April 2010

  Adventure travel reproduced in miniature: So much to do, so many things to see - and never enough time!  A very enjoyable attempt to take a varied and balanced selection of different aspects of Thailand and cram them all into half the time needed. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  For "nspirational" it would have to be the Grand Palace in Bangkok.  It is very well maintained and the amount of intricate colourful decoration and gold plating all over most of the buildings is mind boggling  What I enjoyed most was watching out for wildlife as we explored Khao Sok NP in the inflatable canoes and on foot with the ranger, and going out and exploring the many different urban and countrryside areas visited on foot just to find out for myself what was there.  The elephant ride was good too.  I like elephants.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  James took great care of us.  He was a walking encyclopaedia when it came to showing us round the tourist sites. He was well prepared for the excursions with leaflets for us to look at in advance.  When we weren't eating out he made sure I was supplied veggie food without me having to ask.  However he mostly didn't do the usual Exodus daily briefings to prepare us for the schedule the next day, and it was sometimes a struggle get him to understand questions.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Advice for vegetarians and vegans: Often it looks like there's nothing vegetarian on the menu, but there are a whole list of dishes with a choice of pork chicken or shrimp to be added when they cook it - ask for one of these with no meat.  Watch out with tofu - there seems to be an egg version in Thailand as well as the soya one I knew about.

   

  I recommend the "Flight of the Gibbon" excursion (not mentioned in the trip notes) at Chaing Mai - there are too many screaming tourists to see any wildlife but if you've never tried sliding down zip wires this was great fun.  The Phi Phi islands boat trip option at the end is also well worth it with lots to see both above and (with a snorkel) below the water.

   

  I was worried about going down the river in a canoe as I've never paddled one, but it turned out to be just an inflatable one with two group members in each one and a guide in the back to do all the work.  A relaxing time looking out for wildlife and one of the highlights of the trip.

   

  I found the hot season is HOT (38 C), and it sounds like the wet season is wet and the cold season is cold - so decide which you prefer before you pick a date to go!

   

  I flew Eva Air as the group flight was full - they are amazingly efficient and organised and I highly recommend them

   

  The accommodation was all surprisingly good.  At the end we stayed in Phu Pha Ao Nang Resort, Krabi, which I gather is a change from earlier dates, and this was one of the best - clean, bright and comfortable.

   

  Sleeping in the villages the bamboo matting gives no padding and the mats for hire are a few mm of foam sheet - take a thermarest.  Be prepared for cocks crowing all through the night.

   

  Be aware that this trip involves a LOT of travelling about!  The worst was an hour in a songtheaw, the overnight sleeper, a few hours in an overcrowded local bus then more in a songtheaw at the end.  But the sleeper trains are a good idea.  They are air conditioned, clean and comfortable and allow you to do the long distance travelling while you sleep keeping the daytime to do stuff.

   

  When we went at the end of March, the hilltribe museum in the itinerary was closed until the end of August so don't expect to see that before then.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  I usually do trekking trips, so the small amount of walking was a disappointment.  The 3 day hilltribe trek was 2 and 5 hours respectively on the first two days and no walking on the third day.  At Hellfire Pass there's only time to do part of the walk.  At Erawan falls you have to choose whether to use the short visit to walk to the top or to take a swim.  At a number of places, for me, there was too little time see everything that I would have liked.  Overall, though, the trip was packed to bursting with different activities and places and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

   
• 

  Ben Reeve

  DYNAMIC THAILAND

  

  Written September 2009

  When they say'no frills' they ain't kidding! Sleeper trains, bamboo beds, basic accomodation. But if, like me, that doesn't bother you in the slightest, it is a FANTASTIC holiday. Amazing sights, beautiful waterfalls, elephants, rafting, wonderful food. The pace is fast, but it all comes to a relaxing end with the 3 days at the beach.  

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Getting a picture of me sitting on an elephant's knee with his trunk wrapped round my neck - a slightly scary yet wonderful moment. Because we had a fairly large group of us (16), we hired a speedboat and went island-hopping for the day - saw some amazing beaches, went snorkelling in a beautiful bay - it was wonderful. The waterfalls were AMAZING, swimming with the fish under the waterfalls was the ultimate in relaxation. I also got a Thai oil massage - 1 hour of heaven (for about a fiver!).

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Bandito! Was a very funny, lovely chap. His knowledge of everywhere we went was incredible. He could have been a little more concise when advising us over gear we'd need for the day - otherwise he was great. He sent me to a superb tailor in Chiang Mai - got a lovely suit :).

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  YES I DO! If you go in the rainy season - IT WILL RAIN! So an absolute MUST is a waterproof for the trekking, and a torch! In terms of how many clothes to pack - you'll get a couple of opportunities to get your clothes washed (very cheaply), so there's no need to pack 2 week's worth of clothes - it can be a real pain lugging around a heavy suitcase when you know that you're not going to use half of the stuff in there! Everything there is sooo cheap - I took around £400, spent £100 of it on a suit + shirts - yet still had enough money to have a great time and eat very well.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  I went as a solo traveller - it was my first ever solo holiday - and I had a fantastic time. Don't be nervous about it - take the plunge!

   
• 

  Pamela Slorach

  DYNAMIC THAILAND

  

  Written September 2009

  Great holiday, an excellent trip which packed in a wide variety of activities and gave you the opportunity to see many parts of Thailand in a short space of time.  

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  I had a very simple inspirational moment during the trip which will be a lasting memory. We were on our 2nd day of trekking and half way through the day it started to rain, I'm not talking about your standard UK downpour, this was torrential tropical rain. We were all soaked within minutes however standing there under the trees, dripping wet just watching and listening to the rain was amazing. Traveller's tip.. take a good poncho and have a raincover for your rucksack.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Bandito, was our group leader. He was a very sociable, funny guy who made everyone feel comfortable in the group. His organisational skills were very typical of the Thai culture which for British people who live by time and 9 o'clock means 9 o'clock not 9.30, took a bit of getting used to, but all part of the experience!

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  This is a full on trip, with lots of travelling, you are literally always on the go, except for the last few days  in Railay Beach. If you are looking for a relaxing, chilled out holiday then this is not for you. I would recommend adding a few days on at the end of the holiday in Railay Beach, if you can, to give you some extra wind down time. Exodus can sort this out for you and it's not expensive. If the company is still using the Ya Ya Resort, book in somewhere else as you can get a lot better accommodation in a more upmarket resort for £20 a night (B&B, big double room, off season rate).

  As mentioned if you are going in the wet season take a poncho, a rain cover for your rucksack and plenty of plastic bags. Ear plugs are good for the night trains & an eyemask (keep the one from the plane).

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  Before you book this trip ask your Exodus advisor if the are still using the Ya Ya resort in Railay Beach. This accommodation was the one big disappointment of a great holiday. Awful place, dark, dirty rooms, unfriendly staff, and the resort smelled of sewage. I hope the feedback that we submitted (& the rest of the group) will have resulted in Exodus changing to somewhere better.

  Exodus Response

  We are currently looking into alternative hotels at Railay beach to replace Yaya resort due to recent negative feedback. For our next trip in November we will be using another hotel.

  Nick Nikolsky - Trip Manager

  
  

  - Exodus Staff

   
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  Thomas Nutt

  DYNAMIC THAILAND

  

  Written March 2009

  This was a great experience that more than lived up to expectations. The range of activities, sights, different types of travel and above all the knowledge and experience of our guide made the trip unforgettable. We saw a lot of Thailand in two weeks. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  There were many and it is difficult to choose. The trek in the north and staying amongst the hill tribes was wonderful, descending in to the valley of the first village, arriving at the second village by elephant and departing by bamboo raft the next morning was magical.  The contrast of of the bustle of the floating market compared to the poignancy and sadness of the museums, war cemetery and Hell Fire Pass. The peacefulness and scenery of the raft rooms we stayed at on the river Kwai. The beauty of the beaches, early morning swims and snorkeling in the south. Bangkok at night.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  We were very lucky in having Samart as our leader. Nothing was too much trouble and he looked after us making sure we had a good trip from beginning to end. His local knowledge was invaluable and his openess and friendliness both with the group and local people made everyone feel relaxed. When the group wanted to do something different either together or apart he happily accommodated their requests. He was great fun, a smashing sense of humour and very inclusive of everyone in the group.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  We travelled in the dry season. There is no need to take too many clothes or too much equipment. Most things are available and you can get clothes laundered very cheaply. Make sure you have comfortable light weight walking boots and trekking sandals. We were not sure whether to take suitcases but found medium sized wheely suitcases from which we could decant in to small rucksacks (35 litre) for the trek worked well. Read the trip notes, this is a busy, active no frills trip with lots of different types of transport and accommodation which we found added positively to the whole experience.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  This is probably one of the best holidays we have had to date. We will be looking at Exodus again for future travels.

   

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