THAI INDOCHINA EXPLORER

16 days from GBP1,949 to GBP2,299 including flights
Tripcode: AOX

Countries Visited: Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam

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Our Clients’ Reviews

Average Review Rating: from 22 reviews.

brian churchill

THAI INDOCHINA EXPLORER

Written November 2011
A good mix of countryside / Mekon delta and cities. good hotels and excelent positions.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
I loved the Delta boat trip. For me one of the main attractions was the river system and everyday life on the river. I consider the holiday provided a good mix of everyday life and comfort.
What did you think of your group leader?
We had three different leaders and each one was knowageable, friendly and helpful. The leader in Camboda in particular showed his love of his country and people.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Travel light
Is there anything else you would like to add?
It would havd been an even better experence if the flights had been more direct eg london Ho Chi Minh and Bangkok london. Or we could have spent the last days in Kuala Lumpur not Bangkok.
Sharon Forsyth

THAI INDOCHINA EXPLORER

Written November 2011
This was an amazing trip - one of the best holidays we have ever been on. The scenery, the people and the food were all outstanding. The guides were very knowledgeable.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
In Vietnam it was the Homestay on the Mekong Delta.
In Cambodia it was Siem Reap and the Angkor complex - an amazing place. Also the boat trip on Ton Le Sap lake to the floating village was excellent.
Bangkok was a pleasant surprise, surpassing our expectations prior to the trip.
What did you think of your group leader?
All of our group leaders were excellent (Thuy in Vietnam, Chianny in Cambodia and Da in Bangkok).
Chianny's enthusiasm for his country and his people are worthy of special mention.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Travel light - the majority of the hotels have a very reasonable laundry service so be careful not to overpack. Comfortable shoes are essential.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
This was a truly amazing holiday and we would recommend it to anyone who has not visited this area before. The food across the whole region is amazing, although having rice for breakfast takes a bit of getting used to!! There is vast contrast between the hustle and bustle of cities such as Saigon and the slower pace of life in smaller towns such as Siem Reap, but we are very glad we experienced it all.
Holly Quinn-Parsons

THAI INDOCHINA EXPLORER

Written October 2011
This is superb trip which is well varied. You get to see and do so much in two weeks yet the trip is run at a great pace with both busy and relaxing days. I was dubious about the visits to the War Remnants and Genocide Museums and although they are very sobering excursions, I felt they were vital to help understand the countries recent histories.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
I absolutely adored the Mekong Delta in Vietnam - there are so many colourful things to look at and the homestay is a great time to bond with the rest of the group.
It was amazing to visit Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Although there are so many tourists there, it's still unbelievable to see - I had to pinch myself! It was also magical going on an elephant.
What did you think of your group leader?
Our leaders in Vietnam and Cambodia were great. They were so knowledgable about their countries and I learnt a lot. They were also up for a laugh - especially when they got something wrong in English and also when we attempted to learn Vietnamese and Khmer! After very long, hot days they were upbeat and kept the group motivated even when we were dashing off to the nearest ice-cream van to refuel.
Unfortunately we didn't get to spend much time with our Thai leader but she was very friendly and made the most of a bad situation (we couldn't get to Bangkok due to the flooding and had to be re-located to Pattaya.)
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Don't be afraid to buy the strongest insect repellent and use it! The first couple of days I was a bit frugal with the deet and got bitten lots.
Also, make sure you buy the 2-litre bottles of water when you can because the smaller ones just won't last you long.
Other than that just relax, be open-minded and enjoy!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I wasn't really sure what to expect with this trip having never travelled with Exodus or been to Asia before, but it completely blew me away!
I loved Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong Delta, Phnom Penh and Siem Riep and the leaders really made them special. I learnt and saw so much and would love to go back and explore more of Vietnam and Thailand and maybe even sneak in a trip to Laos too!
Our group was fantastic, everyone got along and even on the evenings where we didn't have group trips/meals planned, we often went out for food and drinks together anyway.
Even though this is essentially a package holiday, there wasn't a sense of being hearded anywhere. The leaders took into account what we all wanted to do and I feel that Exodus has really picked out the highlights of Vietnam and Cambodia.
John Marsh

THAI INDOCHINA EXPLORER

Written October 2011
This was a well organised trip unfortunately we did not get to Bankok because of the horrible flooding instead we were sent to Pattaya which is the worst place I have ever been. I appreciate that the change was necessary but it spoilt the end of what had been a wonderful holiday, if Pattaya had been my only experience of Thialand I would be very reluctant to go again. Fortunately I had been to Thialand before and know that Pattaya is not typical.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
There were many inspirational moments. The temples of Ankor Wat were amazing. the Killing fields were moving.
What did you think of your group leader?
Our group leaders (3 in total one in each country) were all very helpful, knowledgable and made the trip.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
avoid Pattaya - it is aweful.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Been with Exodus several times now and would not hesitate to use them again.
Amanda Smith

THAI INDOCHINA EXPLORER

Written February 2011
An amazing holiday which superseeded all expectations, run at a reasonable pace with a well deserved beach day on day 5. Wonderful passionate guides who gave us lots of tips and set our expectations from the start, wonderful food, great company and the local people were so welcoming.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Killing fields and the genocide museum struck a chord with everyone.
Mekong Delta
Chi chi tunnels
Crocodile farm
Angkor Watt
What did you think of your group leader?
Vietnam group leader was exceptional, set all the groups expectations and set time frames at the start of the day so we knew exactly what we would be doing which helped to consider what money to take, clothes to wear etc. Very knoweldgeable and massively passionate about his job. Asked for regular feedback throughout so he could tweak as needed. Crammed in loads of extras.
Cambodian guide was also wonderful, to have been through so much in life and to be able to speak such good English and also to take groups regularly to what is a massive reminder of his own families personnal tradegy is so inspiring. Very knowledgable, massively likeable character whose attempts to tell English jokes are hilarous.
I hope both guides have a job for life with Exodus. Both are a credit to the company.
Thailand guide didn't meet us at the airport and wasn't in attendance until day two so had some catching up to do. Likeable guy but when charging across the chaos that is Bankgok in 1 day hard to judge how good a guide he could be.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Don't worry about tummy troubles, only a couple of the group had any form of upset tummy and then only for 1/2 a day.
Comfortable shoes a must for the temples and boat days
Don't go to any of the sexy shows in Bangkok and expect not to get ripped off.
Don't overpack, clothes are so cheap you will have regular opportunity to get clothes laundered on route for less than 1 dollar per item and loads of chances to buy clothes throughout the trip esp in Cambodia so pack minimally. I took enough for the whole trip but struggled to fit my new purchases in.
Take a swimming cosie - all but 1 hotels have a pool.
Money - £400 is enough for the whole trip for eating well, buying souvenirs, tips and a to regularly have a bottle of wine and cocktails with meals. More if you want to buy handbags etc in Bangkok.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Excellent trip, keen to return to Vietnam/Cambodia on another trip format.
Ideally would have prefered to start in Bangkok, most of the group weren't as keen on Bankok and it seemed strange to have such a tranquil tour and then be thrust into Bangkok at the end.
Unhappy that the return flight was via Kuala Lumpur rather than direect from Bangok costing us half a days travel. The late bookers were luckier than the organised early bookers.
Would recommend changing the itinery on the day of the killing fields - better to go to the genocide museum and killing fields 1st in the morning then onto the palace and the russian market after lunch. Going straight form the killing fields to run around a market for 45 minutes gigling and making fast paced purchases seemed a little disrespectful to the guide after where we had just come from.
Would recommend this trip to anyone who is interested in Cambodia/Vietnam, pace is quite steady and not a lot of walking invovled apart from at Angor Watt.
Roslyn Johnson

THAI INDOCHINA EXPLORER

Written August 2009
Would highly recommend this tour. It combined such a variety of experiences! The guides were knowledgeable and so friendly. Pace was good and the itinerary arranged so that there was adequate free time. Like all tours, you can opt out of planned visits if you so choose. I can't believe how much we did in the time. Organisation was exceptional. The two weeks ran like clockwork. The only suggestion for improvement I could make would be to suggest a tour to see the Bridge over the River Kwai on the final day in Bangkok rather than the optional floating market visit. The latter could have been fitted in on the last morning as we did not have to leave for the airport until 2 PM. Hotels were good. Most had swimming pools, fitness centres and were placed near restaurants and other places of interest if we wanted to explore on our own. Guides were very good at recommending places to eat and places to visit. I travelled with a group of people who were simply " the best! " ( and I have travelled this way for several years ). I have no doubt they made the holiday extra special. I feel privileged to have travelled to this part of the world and to have met such gracious, gentle people. Thank you Exodus!
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Anne Fisher

THAI INDOCHINA EXPLORER

Written February 2009
Really enjoyed meeting and talking to the people especially at chinese new year in Vietnam.The home stay was terrific. The family really made us feel welcome. Cambodia was a facinating experience both for the history and the people who were extremley friendly.Angkor Wat exceede expectations. And Bankok!!!!!!!!!!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Chinese new year in Saigon espcially the flower festival and the drummers.
Met one of the survivors of toul seng prison, listening to his story was very moving.
Ta Phrom with its strange trees amongst the ruins.
What did you think of your group leader?
Cheung was very enthusiastic, even took us home to his mum for lunch,which was great.He was very good.
Rith was excellent,had masses of info on his country and was really helpful in organising trips etc.
Dar was a nice lass but we did'nt have time to get to know her.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Go to Friends restaraunt in phnom penh.
Go to Dead Fish and the restaraunt with the traditional dancing show in Siem Reap.
Go to Saigon at chinese new year
Is there anything else you would like to add?
From an environmental point of view,we could not understand why we flew from Bankok to K.Lumpar for two hours only to fly north again on the same route . This seemed to be 4 hrs unnecessary travel when we could have flown direct from Bankok to London.