Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

The whole Cambodia experience.  The cycling was amazing, through villages and backroads, to the temples and lakes.  The people in Cambodia were so welcoming and happy. 

Thoughts on Group Leader

Very good, better than "normal" although I think she needs to find her feet a little.  Moh did go out of her way to help with a few problems on the trip, and also dealt with some people situations very well.She also handled the vietnamese guide very well, who was determined to ruin any tranquility with bad microphone momentsThe cambodian guide (Digger) was excellent, a wealth of information and a good cyclist

Advice for Potential Travellers

A really great adventure, don't be put off by the distances this is  holiday with cycling, rather than a cyling holiday

Suggestions

For me this trip was made by the great group, and good leadership.  I am looking forward to the next

Most Inspirational Moment

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.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Joe was great - calm, patient and willing to try everything! 

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.

Suggestions

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.

Most Inspirational Moment

I learned so much - temples of Angkor Wat area were amazing , the scenery of the Mekong Delta fasinating , the food at the homestay was stunning. The history of Killing Fields & S21 prison + Cu Chi tunnels was very sobering. Safely crossing the road in Saigon is always a challenge. Exodus specifically laying on the 'Tet' celebrations in Saigon for us - fantastic flower arrangements! Some restaurants closed but brilliant occasion.

Thoughts on Group Leader

1st time for these leaders as Exodus have been taken over by 'Peak' I believe (please correct me if wrong) , so new local guides. To ensure quality Exodus had provided their own assessor - Rich , who added a lot to the group (& is nowhere near as serious as he looks on the Exodus You Tube cycle 'M' check!)Mo fro Thailand - worked very hard to make sure all went smoothly , stayed with us through to Saigon , arranged 2 birthday cakes for group members too!Dyka- Cambodian , very knowledgable about Angkor Wat area , enthusiastic cyclist but got the speed rightYan (?sp) - Vietnamese - could have cycled slghtly slower  - I would have stopped for more photos (probably spared the family more boredom!)All spoke excellent english & had ready smiles

Advice for Potential Travellers

there are NO hills on this trip! The cycling is easy , frequent breaks , plenty of water / sprite / bananas / other food

Suggestions

for Exodus;1) What about producing some cycling jerseys? Would need something relevant to the trip as 1/2 the point is to stimulate discussion - could say 'I've cycled south east asia with Exodus' - could apply to this trip , Vietnam + Loas trips?2) We booked late & Malaysia airways were full. This was lucky for us - we were passed to Trailfinders , who booked us with Thai Airways. Same price for the dates but the outward journey was much easier - no stops & 5 hours quicker! 

Most Inspirational Moment

Cycling around Angkor Wat and surrounding temple complexes was a way to see the sights that made you feel a part of it in a way that being on a bus would not have come close to.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Superb.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do it! 

Most Inspirational Moment

The friendliness of the people in Vietnam, especially the children who greeted us with cheery 'Hellos' in every village. Not inspirational but memorable were the visits to sights of atrocities in Cambodia and Vietnam. Very upsetting but something that had to be experienced. 

Thoughts on Group Leader

Very professional

Advice for Potential Travellers

No real problems to prepare for on this trip - just enjoy!

Most Inspirational Moment

Cycling the paddy fields of Cambodia and Vietnam

Thoughts on Group Leader

Absolutely fantastic

Advice for Potential Travellers

None really.

Most Inspirational Moment

The temples at Angkor, the sunset on Tonle Sap, the homestay / guest house on the Mekong and the friendly local people everywhere.  

Thoughts on Group Leader

Good fun and well organised but could have been more aware of health and safety issues and less dismissive of customer concerns.  

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.    

Suggestions

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.     

Most Inspirational Moment

Loved the floating village (optional trip).  Can see the appeal of this as an alternative lifestyle!

Thoughts on 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.

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. 

Suggestions

Wish it was all just in front of me rather than a fond memory!

Most Inspirational Moment

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.

Thoughts on 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!

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...........

Suggestions

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!.

Most Inspirational Moment

What inspired me most was the sheer resourcefulness and drive of the less-affluent locals, who seemed very much in harmony with their surroundings.

Thoughts on 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.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Arrive with an open mindLaundry 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.

Suggestions

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.