Thai Indochina Grand Tour

Our Clients’ Reviews

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Average Review Rating: from 27 reviews.

Philip Simpson

THAI INDOCHINA GRAND TOUR

Written April 2012
difficult to put into so few words - something different every minute - not a holiday but an adventure and a first class one - up there as one of our best holidays (and we've had a lot of holidays) !!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
cant think of any one - loved giving alms to the buddhist monks very early in the morning in Luang Prabang; loved listening (through an interpretor) to the young nun, after we'd had our lunch cooked by the nuns in Vietnam; the peace of the Mekong; the madness of the traffic in Hanoi; the strange feeling of Ta Prohm with all the trees growing through the ruins; riding the bicycles through the paddy fields in Hoi An .....oh, so many lovely moments !
What did you think of your group leader?
NOK (Thailand and Laos) was EXCELLENT - very caring; always putting us first; became 'one of us' which we loved; had so many laughs; she took hundreds of photos which she put onto a disc and gave everyone a copy (never had that before!) very thoughtful.
LINH (Vietnam) very knowledgeable, but sometimes this was too much - we couldnt take it all in - lacked people skills.
FILA (Cambodia) EXCELLENT - caring; passionate about his country & gave us lots of information but not overload (like Linh) - became 'one of us' - Fun loving - excellent guide who took us 'round the back' of temples etc so that we would be 1st there and miss the crowds, or took us in a different way, or a different time so that again we were there without lots of other tourists. He also went out of his way to make sure that those of us who wanted to, could sample the local foods
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
On the money side - you can very easily change US dollars cash and sterling cash for Bahts (Thailand) Kips(Laos) & Dongs (Vietnam).    US dollars used extensively in Cambodia
Dont feel that this holiday is for the very young ! The leaders made sure that the pace suited everyone. Our group consisted of age range 34 - 74 !
Is there anything else you would like to add?
We would highly recommend this holiday to anyone
Evelyn Jones

THAI INDOCHINA GRAND TOUR

Written March 2012
This was a really good holiday rich in experiences. We both thoroughly enjoyed it.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The boat trip and palace in Bangkok, giving to the monks in Laos and then visiting the early morning market, Luang Prabang and the waterfall. Halong Bay, Hanoi which must be the craziest city anywhere, watching the workers get on and off the ferry at Hoi An and cycling to the beach (were they had the best toilets in SE Asia!), Mekong river and the homestead, Cu Chi tunnels, which were very narrow even though they have been widened. The killing fields and genocide museum were very moving and upsetting, Ankor and the floating village. Just sitting and drinking delicious fruit drinks in the shade. There were so many highlights!
What did you think of your group leader?
All our leaders were very good and gave as much information as they could. Sometimes it was obvious that they felt unable to answer some questions frankly, but that was telling in itself.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Be prepared for some long road journeys, particularly to Vang Vieng and beyond, where the road was just terrible and the 'coach' (very small for 17 passengers) seemed to have little or no suspension.
Take dollars in cash or on a card. Money is easy to change.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Go for it!
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