Cycle Indochina & Angkor Wat - Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam

Our Clients’ Reviews

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Average Review Rating: from 67 reviews.

darrell stocks

CYCLE INDOCHINA & ANGKOR

Written January 2012
A trip that takes you to some places you probably wouldn't go on your own, with people you wouldn't ordinarily meet and includes some interesting cycling routes.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Seeing different lives, homes etc as you cycle where often only a local would go allows you to get under the skin of 3 different countries. With all respect to the Thailand section I doubt if we saw the best that Thailand has to offer but nonetheless it was a good way of getting to Cambodia! The Temples of Angkor Wat were fantastic and unless you were incapable of cycling for some reason then cycling around the temples has to be the very best way to see them. The site is huge so you don't want to be on a bus in that heat and humidity! The killing fields and associated museums of death were just awful to visit and learn (in my case) even more about man's inhumanity.
What did you think of your group leader?
The 2 key group leaders were nothing short of terrific and the different support crews in each country were excellent
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
The fitter you are the more you will enjoy the cycling but don't worry if you are an occasional weekend cyclist you will cope. If you really want a cycling holiday with lots of miles then you should probably choose something else - the Rajistahn trip I've done previously nor example. Be prepared to buy an extra suitcase and fill it with locally made branded goods and make a fortune on e-bay or the local car boot sale or just make your friends happy! Shopping in Ho Chi Minh is an experience not to be missed - you should probably leave your wife at home!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
This trip is a really great way of seeing some wonderful things. The hotels are good and the island B&B was great experience for just the one night! Although some of the meals were better than others this isn't a gourmet trip - with the exception of a lunch in Siem Reap. But you won't go hungry.
Mark Hilton

CYCLE INDOCHINA & ANGKOR

Written December 2011
The Cambodia part was great, the Vietnam part really nice too, however the first few days in Thailand (300km or so) was just tiring and a bit uninspiring with little to see - high mileage when everyone was jet lagged and short of sleep. The Mekong delta in Vietnam was lovely although some of the roads were really quite busy and it felt a bit too rushed at times with too few opportunities to take photos. More time in Cambodia and Vietnam to replace the days in Thailand would have suited me, plus more quiet backroads and tracks.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The temples at Angkor, the sunset on Tonle Sap, the homestay / guest house on the Mekong and the friendly local people everywhere.
What did you think of your group leader?
Good fun and well organised but could have been more aware of health and safety issues and less dismissive of customer concerns.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Get bike fit - although it is very flat, the roads can be a bit rough and it is hot and humid! Don't go if you want to have a relaxing holiday. Most of it is quite early starts and some days are quite hard work.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I get a bit tired of the whole tips things. On this trip we tipped staff in three countries. To give an example, $40 to $50 was suggested by Exodus for the main tour leader. While not a lot as an individual, for the 17 people on our trip that was $680 to $850 for 2 weeks. Is that a tip or are we paying a big part of the guy's wages? A hidden charge I would suggest Exodus.
Priya Narayan

CYCLE INDOCHINA & ANGKOR

Written December 2011
Fab way of experiencing new cultures, foods, peoples whilst staying active
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Cycling the paddy fields of Cambodia and Vietnam
What did you think of your group leader?
Absolutely fantastic
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
None really.
Jacqueline Whiten

CYCLE INDOCHINA & ANGKOR

Written December 2011
A tale of three countries! All wonderful and all very different - landscape, people, food, history.   Very very hot and humid though - and the trip is frontloaded with mileage in East Thailand ... which was actually the least scenic or interesting part of the whole trip .
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
All of Cambodia - and do make sure that you make the trip to Tonle Sap.
Having a Thai temple opened up just for us by our lovely Thai guide and then sitting down with him in the temple listening to him explaining all about village life and the life of the village monks and bringing it all to life ... and then finding out at the end that he had previously been a monk for 7 years!   It was also good to have some time in the cool calm in the middle of the day too.
Phonm Penh for the history - our guide for the Killing Fields/S21 was absolutely superb and very humbling. The team dinner in PP was amazing too.
Homestay in the Mekong delta - for the experience, the hospitality and the food.
What did you think of your group leader?
Joe was great - calm, patient and willing to try everything!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
It is seriously humid and hot in November/December and the cycling is flat, flat, flat so very little breeze to keep one cool.    The support crew were great in Thailand in keeping everyone cool with ice and power drinks but bring your own power drink/rehydration tabs too ... they will definitely get used!
You do need to be confident in high volume and erratic traffic (and complete absence of rules of the road!) when cycling in and around Siem Reap and into and out of some of the Thai towns.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
This was an excellent cultural and historical tour in three amazingly diverse countries. If your primary aim is to get under the skin of these countries then definitely go for it!  You will love it.
If you are a really really keen cyclist then you may feel (with the front loaded mileage) that you don't have enough time on your bike over the entirety of the holiday.
ALAN DAWKINS

CYCLE INDOCHINA & ANGKOR

Written November 2011
What a unique fusion of culture, cycling and great company!-This holiday had everything that can be fitted into two very full weeks. A classic experience.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
What inspired me most was the sheer resourcefulness and drive of the less-affluent locals, who seemed very much in harmony with their surroundings.
What did you think of your group leader?
Wassan oversaw the holiday in an apparently seamless manner, always at hand if necessary. His knowledge of the locals proven invaluable in securing a great holiday.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Arrive with an open mind
Laundry can be done on route.
Don’t be put off with the amount of cycling-its paced with plenty of breaks-and there are contingencies.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
The local guides were brilliant. If I have to have a favourite it would be our last one in Vietnam.`Mr Lamb` as we called him-He never missed a opportunity for a photo stop whilst pacing the cycling effectively. Lunch in his home village is a memory I will cherish forever.
Jim Whyte

CYCLE INDOCHINA & ANGKOR

Written November 2011
523.3km cycled in 30+ Degree heat (Im pretty sure that was the number! Definetly the 500 and .3km is correct thanks to Colins GPS), phew, luckily snacks and juice and wet icy towel always available at every stage. This was due to first class organisation and the talent and expertise of our trip guide Wasan who always made Plan A work out, but also always had Plan B up his sleeve just in case! If anything I wish we had cycled more as this was the best part of the holiday. Merit is also due to the more mature ladies of our group who kept up throughout. When I am 75 (the oldest of them) I will dream of being able to do half off what they did. Hotels were also better than I expected and good quality throughout. It appears the trip is about to go through a reorganisation of local staff though so I cant vouch for its future maintenanence of the allready extremely high quality.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Cycling around the temples of Angkor Watt were worth the price of the ticket alone. It was a truely magical experiance the first day there in the afternoon sun at the end of a long and hot cycle ride heading back to the hotel just stumbling through one wonderfull sight after another.
This is not to say that the myriad other wonderfull cultural wonders that litter the trip were of no significance as our emotions were sobered by the experiance of the recent past of cambodia and Vietnam but raised again by the wonderfull optimism and energy of the people.
What did you think of your group leader?
What can I say about Wasan! His deft use of humour to keep us on track was masterfull and his organisational abilitities second to none.
The only black mark was the huge hug he gave me at the end of the trip. I am an engineer so such blatant shows of emotion are anathema to me, yuech!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
At the home stay watch your Mosquito control. I made the mistake of too many beers and must of set the Mozzie net incorrectly and forgot to spray my deet. 40 bites in the morning later...........
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I could have spent and enjoyed as long as I liked on this holiday but alas it was as long as it was only 14 days!. Thanks Wasan. If only there had been a couple of lads on the holiday it would have been complete, though my liver would have been less so. Special mention also to Ann the 21 year old with her life ahead of her, try not to be so cynical about it all!.
Anne Connolly

CYCLE INDOCHINA & ANGKOR

Written November 2011
A great way to see and experience 3 countries in 2 weeks. Good weather, good food, good company. Well managed by local guides
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Loved the floating village (optional trip). Can see the appeal of this as an alternative lifestyle!
What did you think of your group leader?
Simply the best. I've been on several guided trips and Wasan is a real star. Kept us on schedule "you can have as long as you want as long as it's not more than 10 minutes". Led us well, looked after us well, made sure we regularly fed and watered.... Nothing seemed too much trouble. Trying to manage a group age range from 20's to 70's is a real challenge, my impression is that no-one was disappointed.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Just do it!
Need minimal amount of clothes as regular low cost laundry available. And of course you can stock up on cheap clothes in Saigon.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Wish it was all just in front of me rather than a fond memory!