Thai Indochina Explorer

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 25 reviews.

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.
Chris Green

THAI INDOCHINA EXPLORER

Written January 2009
A relaxed and enjoyable tour of South Vietnam and the cultural highlights of Cambodia.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Probably the people of Cambodia were the most inspirational having gone through what the country did in the 70's, and to some extents are still recovering from, and to still be as welcoming as they were. This was especially true for our guide in Cambodia, Rit. Having had first experience of the Khmer Rouge period he was able to add the personal influence to our tours but did so without self pity.
What did you think of your group leader?
Our Vietnamese leader was okay but not excellent: he was certainly a nice enough chap but lacked the real excellence you expect with Exodus.
The Cambodian leader was excellent; concientious, friendly, informative. Everything you need.
The Thai leader, although only with us a day, was fantastic. I understand he was only filling in for the regular leader but think he should be used again.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
This trip is not really a hard tour in anyway (the food is excellent and safe; hotels were all comfortable; tours were all arranged; journeys were not too long) so there is little you need to worry with. I would suggest more money than is advised in the trip notes: Bangkok especially is very expensive at current times (January 09)
Is there anything else you would like to add?
My major disappointment of the trip was going to the Angkor Temples: they are very beautiful but my enjoyment was tempered by the fact at times it actually felt like any other package tour! Getting to the temples at 9am and fighting with other large tour groups does not make me think of Exodus Adventures. Get us up at 4:30am so we can beat the rush (it gets very busy), the heat (it gets hot) and let people see the temples with some degree of solitude and quiet.
suzanne robb

THAI INDOCHINA EXPLORER

Written January 2009
Vietnam was amazing and Cambodia beautiful...would've liked to have explored the central and southern provinces of Vietnam - maybe on another trip! The stay in Kampot was not particulary interesting, I would've preferred more time in Sihanoukville. Overall I had a really fun time and great memories of my first experience of a guided group tour with Exodus.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Visiting the War Remnants museum in Vietnam and the Sien musuem along with the Killing Fields in Cambodia.
What did you think of your group leader?
Both our Vietnamese and Cambodian group leaders were fantastic - always enthusiatic and upbeat!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Take plenty of mosquito repellent or citronella for your visit to the Homestay in Vietnam!
Helen Luff

THAI INDOCHINA EXPLORER

Written November 2008
A really fantastic and rewarding holiday. Jam packed with amazing experiences.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
I absolutely loved Vietnam and would like to go on a longer trip to explore more of the country. I wasn't ready to leave after five days. My favourite part was the optional boat trip to the floating houses near Chau Doc including a trip to the Cham village. Say yes when you are asked if you want to do it! Otherwise the most inspiring aspect was not one moment but the people we met on our trip in both Vietnam and Cambodia. The guides and local people were warm and welcoming and startlingly open about their experiences. It was humbling to listen to.
What did you think of your group leader?
Our guides in Vietnam and Cambodia were both brilliant. Special mention particularly for our Cambodian guide who we obviously spent longer with. The fact that they both had personal experiences of living in times of conflict really enriched the trip and gave us invaluable insights to the people and places we visited. Through Exodus and the knowledge of the guides we were able to experience the countries in ways we would never have been able to if we had travelled independently given the amount of time we were in each country.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Enjoy it! In terms of practicalities Exodus and the guides provide you with all the information you need.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
It was difficult not to let the location of the hotel in Bangkok tarnish my view of the entire city since we were there for such a short period of time. It is a glorified stop over and doesn't quite fit with the rest of the holiday but was enjoyable all the same. I personally would have preferred an extra night in Vietnam and then travelled from Siem Reap to Bangkok for connection only. Overall it was a fantastic holiday, thoroughly recommended.
Julian Gunnell

THAI INDOCHINA EXPLORER

Written September 2008
Overall a good holiday though the southern Vietnam was very disappointing. In this area, only the Cu Chi tunnels were of interest, including for the ladies on the party. The old palace and war museum were drear. We then spent a day and a half around the Mekong delta. For what? There was nothing there! It was the Thames estuary with warmth. The "homestay" was a waste of time. It was not homestay only a glorified backpackers flop. Nothing to do except play cards or board games. There was nothing local to get involved with. Next day a glorified "garden centre" then back on the delta! Cambodia was totally different. The guide made it exceptional. However, I cannot see the point of the stop at Kempot. The hotel was diabolical and extremely dangerous! No fire protection, barred windows and motorcycles with their petrol in the tanks, stored in the only staircase at night! There was nothing at Kempot to see. The only other downsidewas the small bus. No luggage storage and the bags had to be stored on the back two rows. This meant we were crowded. The time in Ankor Wat was spectacular. Very spiritual and awe inspiring. Local guide good and knowledgeable. The begging was a bit heavy but not unmanageable. Sianoukville, Phnomn Penn and Siam Reap great and a good chance to explore on your own.Bangkok was terrific but not enough time. It might have been better to delete this from the trip, start in North Vietnam (more beautiful) onto Saigon, bypass Mekong and then to Cambodia, bypass Kempot. Fly home from Cambodia.We love SE Asia so will return but not to S. Vietnam.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The temple complex in Angkor Watt was superb. Spectacular sunsets over the temples. Cambodian and Thai food great.
The old school prison and killing fields very sobering and emotional. We wouldn't have missed it as it makes you thinkdeeply about the horrors that occurred. Our guide had been through it so his info was from first hand experience.
What did you think of your group leader?
1. Vietnam - Diabolical. A waste of oxygen and skin. The guide was disinterested, unhelpful and frequently sat for long periods in silence. We had to pump him for every bit of info about the area. Couldn't wait to get rid of us at the Camdoian border with just quick instructions where to walk and then he and the bus driver were gone!
2. Cambodia - He was an absolute diamond. One of the nicest persons you could hope to meet and also very knowledgeable. He became a friend as well as our guide. Never failed to have an answer or get one if he didn't know. When we met him the whole mood of the party lifted immensley.
3. Thailand - A very caring pleasant girl, always smiling but we were not with her long (1 1/2 days) so difficult be be anything other than superficial. Answered all my questions and was very helpful.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Always make sure you have some anti bacterial hand cleaning gel. If you do get an upset tummy, Diarelyte or similar sachets are good to get you back on an even keel. In Cambodia be ready for beggars and those maimed in the war. It doesn't hurt to have a pocketful of $1 bills for the genuinely disabled. Don't buy flowers from the kids in the cities, generally they are controlled by gangs. If you go in the wet season expect rain and don't moan as I heard a another tour. It's part of the fun!
Try Khmer Kitchen in Siam Reap. Huge menu, very clean and great food.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Overall a good holiday but the itinerary was fragmented. Exodus organised it well beforehand but the Vietnamese guide was rubbish and the Cambodian bus not up to the job. This has been mentioned by other travellers.
We will still check with Exodus for another holiday but the organisation must take on board these and similar criticisms, especially the dangerous hotel in Kempot.
Exodus Response

I was sorry to read Mr Gunnells review
Before this review was written we had altered the trip itinerary for 2009 following customer feedback in 2008 on the hotel in Kampot. The trip will no longer be spending the night in Kampot but in Sihanoukville. The Kampot hotel meets local health and safety standard, and is the best available hotel in town.
Nick Nikolsky
Exodus Trip Manager

- Exodus Staff