THAI INDOCHINA GRAND TOUR

30 days from GBP2,799 to GBP3,199 including flights
Tripcode: AOG

Countries Visited: Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam

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Our Clients’ Reviews

Average Review Rating: from 18 reviews.

stuart dickinson

THAI INDOCHINA GRAND TOUR

Written December 2011
Exhausting but in a stimilating way. Much to see- historical, cultural and political differences, but an opportunity for landscape and history to come alive.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Cu Chi tunnels , the Killing Fields and the gut-wrenching ossuary memorial there. Also the school-turned-prison Site21 with the staring photos of the tortured and murdered. Also the slow river trip on the Mekong and the inspirational temple complexes around Siem Reap. I have come back inspired to learn more through further reading on French colonialism in Indochina, the Vietnam War and the archaeology of the Angkor Wat cities and temples. So the trip lives on in words and photographs- travel leaves a legacy!
What did you think of your group leader?
The leaders were extremely good, but on occasion they could stand back to allow the traveller to experience his/her own sensory reaction to place rather than filling the spaces with auditory information.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Get as much information about currency and visas. In some ways the trip information could be more helpful about what to expect at borders. We were told to change $50 dollars on entering Vietnam- not enough in the first instance. Travellers should know that hotels will exchange dollars for local but not traveller's cheques (bank only)
Is there anything else you would like to add?
A very worthwhile trip and on the whole handled with the customary efficiency we've come to expect from Exodus trips. Cerainly one to recommend as a well-organised cherry-pick of Indochina's sights.
Roger Westerman

THAI INDOCHINA GRAND TOUR

Written December 2011
An excellent journey which exceeded my expectations. As a newcomer to organised tours I was fearful of being herded around en masse but this seldom happened and there was plenty of free time for individual adventures. ( The night life in some of the cities is amazing).
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Inspirational? Probably the war museum in HCMC.
Enjoyable? Tubing down the river in Vang Vieng, stopping at bars for beer etc. The slow boat down the Mekong to Luang Prabang, wandering the streets looking for the evening's resteraunt, bargaining with the amazing Cambodian street kids...... and on and on.
What did you think of your group leader?
Thailand -Kai was a little dizzy, good fun, ok spoken English.
Laos - Kam was serious and knowledgable about religion and places of worship - an ex monk and a good laugh. Well organised and helpful at the border crossing from Thailand. Very good English
Vietnam - Huey liked a laugh and joined in the fun. He was knowledgable and enthusiastic about the country.
cambodia - Dorn was great : very laid back , there if you needed him , otherwise unobtrusive.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Take US dollars in cash as your main funding source. Use ATM's as a back up but I found some issues in using these. In Cambodia and Thailand each transaction costs $5 in many machines in addition to whatever your own bank charges. In Laos and Vietnam the ATMs are free to use.
Consider taking the land only option and organising your own direct flights to and from Bangkok. The Exodus flight was via Kuala Lumpur and involved an 8 hour wait there on the return leg.
I'd advise paying the single room supplement if you can possibly afford it.
Don't worry too much about the long journeys. There were regular breaks and only gruelling section between Vang Vieng and Vientienne lasted just a couple of hours. Do expect some early starts though.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
The standard of hotels was higher than I expected. The group cohered well and looked out for each other.
It was an excellent adventure. Highly recommended though only for those without any mobility problems.
Martin Brown

THAI INDOCHINA GRAND TOUR

Written November 2011
A great introduction to South East Asia, packed with sights,and sounds, and experiences. Well organised, and a real insight into this fascinating part of the world.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
For me it's a tie between Hoi An, a world heritage site, and Angkor wat and all it's temples.
What did you think of your group leader?
Different leaders in all 4 countries so:
Thailand--good
Laos---competent,no more
Vietnam--above average
Cambodia---excellent,the best of the trip
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Dont take too many clothes, they are so cheap to buy, and laundry can be done cheaply anywhere. Be prepared to rough it on some of the coach trips;long journeys on poor roads.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Two things would have improved the trip. First, lunch should ahve made available on the mekong boat trip in Laos on day 1,as it was on day 2. We were left to buy a sandwich..other tours had lunch provided.
Second, more information should have been given to us as to what was needed to get our Cambodian visas at the land border. We were left in the dark, and had to queue twice as no on told us there were two offices to negotiate.
Martyn Pass

THAI INDOCHINA GRAND TOUR

Written November 2011
well organised , as other exodus trips have been . Did all the good bits & well strung together . Accomodation was appropriate for the environment & experience we had . guides good , overall a great trip .
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Anything to do with the Mekong
What did you think of your group leader?
All leaders were good but as always some better than others . No complaints though .
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
You get whats in the trip notes !
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Sometimes thought odd activities or places were put in to fill the time . ie climbing up 300 steps in dark & wet [ slippy] to see another temple / cave at da Nang . As we were already late we could have skipped that bit .
Richard Knighton

THAI INDOCHINA GRAND TOUR

Written November 2011
A lifelong dream holiday realised. Could not have asked for more
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Tubing dwn the River Song.
Angkor wat at dawn
What did you think of your group leader?
All excellent
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
With hindsight I would have investigated booking my own flights out to Bangkok and from back Siem Rap since the flights that we asked for took us to Kuala Lumpur and we then had a three hout wait on the way out for a comnnecting flight to Bangkok and an 8 hour wait on the way back
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I think a ballon ride over Angkor Wat would be a hugely successful addition
Sheila Pope

THAI INDOCHINA GRAND TOUR

Written November 2011
The whole trip was well organised and all four local guides were excellent. I loved the mixture of activities, sight-seeing, culture and the hotels were well above my expectations.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The 2 day boat trip along the Megong River in Laos, evening walk through paddy fields and village in Laos, tubing down the River Song, swimming in mountain pool in Kuang Si national park, citadel in Huy, Saigon, Chu Chi tunnels and Killing Fields were very emotional. Homestay in Mekong Delta,Angkor Wat, Tah Phrom.
What did you think of your group leader?
All 4 were excellent, informative and good company.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Travel light, participate in every activity on offer.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Would have preferred to fly direct to Bangkok. Going out was not so bad but 7 hours in Kuala Lumpur airport spoilt the end of the holiday.
Anthony (Tony) Pope

THAI INDOCHINA GRAND TOUR

Written November 2011
An excellently balanced mix of culture, history, sight-seeing and activity, in great company, through four interesting and contrasting countries in a part of the world which was entirely new to us.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The insight gained (albeit inevitably rather limited) into the economies, cultures and politics of the countries visited and the contrasts with our own/European/Western - I will certainly view this part of the world (and recent modern events there) differently from now on.
Particular highlights were too numerous to list but for me include: cruising the Mekong in Laos; driving through the Laotian mountains; Halong Bay; swimming at Kuang Si Falls, tubing at Vang Vieng, cycling in Hue and Hoi An; Cu Chi, War Remnants Museum, S21 and the Killing Fields (very sobering!); and of course Angkors Wat and Thom.
What did you think of your group leader?
Group leaders were excellent - all were informative, knowledgeable, and personable, yet very different in character which added to the enjoyment and variety of the trip.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Travel light; we thought we were with a medium sized hold-all each, but could easily have managed with 2/3 of the clothes we took leaving more space for locally purchased items.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Malaysia airlines very good, but consider direct flights to Bangkok/from Siem Riep if at all possible, rather than via Kuala Lumpur. Outward (daytime) flight was tolerable, but 7 hours at KL on return was a real downer!!