Central Asia Small Group Trips

This was a lovely and varied trip through very beautiful and rural Laos to the amazing temples of the Angkor Wat complex in Cambodia. It was a mix of beautiful hilly countryside and jungle, amazing waterfalls, cultural sights, incredible temples, and monasteries and cruises on the Mekong. We visited small remote villages, and cycled around sleepy and picturesque island of Don Khon in the 4000 islands area. Our guide was excellent and accomodation was good and often very well or beautifully located (but not always quite up to Western standards as Laos and Cambodia are developing countries.) It is a full on trip with some very early starts and long bumpy driving days. Also if you have dodgy knees, please be aware that many of the temples and waterfalls require climbing up and down sometimes a couple of hundred and more rough and uneven steps. But the guides do help you and you can take your time, and you can always opt out but still be in beautiful countryside and view from the bottom. Also take roll- on deodorant and insect repellant as you will not be allowed aerosol sprays on the train journey to Vientaine. I would thoroughly recommend this trip.

A very full on, amazing experience with leader Bibi. Wild camping, luxurious lodges as respite, a lovely if small houseboat. More animal sightings than anyone could imagine. Bibi made sure all ran smoothly, from bush tea/coffee picnic stops to the inevitable bush loo break. He seems to have a 6th sense when it comes to locating eg leopards and hyenas. As for Victoria Falls..just wow, the noise, the spray. It was enough for me just to be there so I didn't do the helicopter ride. Pack your spirit of adventure alongside the bug repellent and book this wonderful tour!

An excellent trip. The tour leader, Tarik, was exceptional. He ensured that everyone in the group bonded well and enjoyed themselves. The itinerary is diverse with plenty of optional activities. Highlights for me were the several Mayan sites, spotting manatees, sunrise at Tikal with the birdsong and howler monkeys, and the wonderful snorkeling from Caye Caulker.

My husband and I have now done several tours with Exodus and there are many reasons why we keep returning to Exodus, not the least of which include: the staff are helpful and available from beginning to end; the group size is small which makes the logistics more manageable; they put together itineraries in various locations that maximize the most interesting places to see and things to do; their trip notes accurately reflect what to expect and how to prepare for your trip; their guides have incredible knowledge about the various areas;  and they listen and respond to reviews. Although some days seemed longer than others, "Belize Reef and Ruins" is one of the most interesting tours I have ever done, and the only tour I have ever done twice (in one year).  There was no shortage of opportunity to further my learning about the history of the Mayan civilization, the flora and fauna of Belize, and the present-day life of the Belizean people.  Wherever we went, we were greeted with "Belizean warmth and kindness".  As I shared with a few of my friends, in spite of the heat, the unrelenting humidity, and the mosquitoes, I wish there were two of me - one to stay in Belize and one to return home.

Two couples and four seasoned single travellers from UK and US soon gelled together as a group. As several reviewers have said before a few advance days in Singapore would have helped with jetlag and acclimatisation. Plus note on this tour, that whilst the Singapore Entry Card can be applied for just prior to travel, the one for Malaysia has to be applied for within three days of crossing border. This is a little more complicated and fiddly on a mobile phone, but our ever helpful local tour guide Sam was there for those that struggled. The Singapore tour was well worth it, even in the hot humid conditions, and the evening light shows are not to be missed. Food experiences and shopping is available for all pockets. Local Malay people are very warm and welcoming, although some other regional visitors can be less polite and culturally unaware of the concept of a queue. Crossing to Malaysia was generally trouble free and currency can be changed just over the border. First stop Malacca is there for your colonial history and the Hotel Puri is a perfect compliment to this. On to KL and again plenty of history and the sort of shopping opportunities that a big city can provide. There is an amount of coach travel between locations, but Sam broke this up by covering several topics and explaining local customs etc. Also at several rest stops he would bring on board yet another tasty exotic tropical fruit or local snack for us to try, but not the durian thankfully. Then moving to the homestay, which although a little sanitised for the visitor, was very enjoyable, but perhaps the accommodation was a little too basic for some. Next the Cameron Highlands then provided respite from the heat and the hotel was pure luxury in comparison. The tea plantation visit was actually very interesting and if the group had not bonded before, they did over the evening Malaysian Hotpot! A pleasant few days in Penang followed, with evening entertainment and dancing for those brave enough, and then on again to Langwaki Island. Here some of the group decided to slowly roast on the beach or swim in the pools, whilst Sam arranged trips for the rest. A highlight was feeding bananas by hand to the local monkeys, as part of a small boats tour in the Northern Mangroves. The last night was a farewell sunset boat trip, a food buffet, and a chance for a swim, water polo, or even a ride in a super speed boat. A varied and enjoyable holiday, resulting from a group of strangers that soon became friends and held together by Sam our guide, who dealt with any issues in a calm and professional manner.

My husband and I had an exceptional trip to Cambodia. Our tour guide, Phe Try, was fantastic- knowledgeable, kind, funny, and incredibly attentive. We genuinely couldn't have asked for a better person to show us around Cambodia. He explained everything with remarkable clarity and generously shared his personal experiences of living under the Khmer Rouge, which added profound depth to our understanding. The itinerary was excellent, offering a wonderful variety of experiences. From Angkor Wat and other beautiful temples to jungle walks with an ex-hunter who taught us to spot animal footprints and recognize wildlife calls we would have otherwise missed- every day brought something memorable. Our drivers were equally outstanding, always greeting us with cold towels soaked in lemongrass oil and fresh water after our explorations. The pacing was perfect. We had ample time to relax and explore Cambodia at our own pace, making the trip rich with fascinating discoveries without being exhausting. If you want to experience Cambodia authentically- not superficially- and gain a genuine sense of what this country is truly about, this is the trip for you.