Southeast Asia Explorer

Your journey starts in Thailand’s northern capital, Chiang Mai. Hidden backstreets, mind-blowing temples and waterfall hikes make this the perfect location to begin your adventure! After exploring the stunning Doi Suthep Temple, you'll head over to Pai, a laidback town in a picturesque valley close to the border of Myanmar. You'll discover centuries-old stalagmites and stalactites in Tham Lod Cave, one of Thailand’s most impressive and accessible caves, as well as enjoy the beautiful local scenery as you float down the Pai River in an inflated rubber ring!

The second week of your adventure will be spent volunteering at an amazing elephant rescue sanctuary! You'll assist local staff in caring for rescued elephants in an ethical and responsible way. With the help of the project owners and local staff, you will get the chance to observe and experience elephants in their natural, safe environment, free from exploitation and abuse. This truly is one of our proudest and most rewarding volunteer experiences – you don't want to miss it!

After a magical week volunteering with elephants, and before heading down to the stunning Thai Islands, you’ll make the journey from Chang Khoeng to Bangkok. Whilst in the bustling capital, a rite of passage for all gap year backpackers, you'll get the chance to really immerse yourself in the hustle and bustle of this amazing city, spending a few days exploring the markets and canal systems. Don't tell anyone, but the Golden Mount Temple is a must!

No visit to Thailand is complete without experiencing the idyllic beaches of the famous Thai islands. Koh Tao is one of the most popular islands for backpackers and it is no surprise – soak up the atmosphere in the beach towns, explore the rural inland island or just kick back and soak up the sun, sea and sand on one of the many paradise beaches!

*For those booked onto the 4-week trip, your programme ends here and you'll be transferred back to Bangkok Airport for your flights home. For those of you on the 8-week trip, the adventure’s only just beginning!

After a flight from Bangkok, Angkor Wat and Siem Reap will introduce you to Cambodia in true style. Whilst Angkor Wat will wow you with its vast complex of intricate stone buildings, Siem Reap is the epicentre of Cambodia's backpacker scene! Get ready for perhaps one of our most rewarding community volunteering projects, working with a local organisation dedicated to providing housing and shelter to some of the most vulnerable people in Cambodia.

After your fantastic work on the community volunteering project, it’s time for a travel week as you make the scenic journey from Siem Reap in northern Cambodia to the nation's capital Phnom Penh in the south. Here you’ll visit the Genocide Museum and The Killing Fields, one of Cambodia's most important historical sites.   

Next you head into Southern Vietnam starting in the incredible city of Ho Chi Minh City, then north to the stunning beaches of Nha Trang.  No trip to Vietnam is complete without a visit to Hoi An (seriously!) This is one of the region's most beautiful places and you will fall in love with cycling around this quaint town, surrounded by countryside and rice paddies.

Continuing north, you will visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Phong Nha-Ke Bang with its remarkable karst mountains, cave systems, and spectacular underground rivers. The final stop on your journey, naturally, is the ancient city of Hanoi. You will have plenty of time to explore and shop and visit the legendary Halong Bay.