A combined expedition to Cambodia and Thailand provides the perfect blend of adventure, history and an unbeatable cultural experience; the Khmers and Thais are wonderfully friendly and welcoming people.
Tucked to the east of Thailand, Cambodia has only recently emerged after many years of conflict as a destination to explore. It has much to offer, not least the majestic temples of Angkor; Angkor Wat itself being one of the most impressive man-made sights in the world.
By contrast, neighbouring Thailand has long been a popular destination for travellers. However, this expedition will spend only a fraction of the time visiting popular tourist sites and instead teams will head into areas that are rarely accessed, visiting remote hill-tribe villages, enjoying some rafting and elephant riding and at the end of the expedition relaxing on an exotic beach!
It is recommended that teams fly into Cambodia’s capital city; Phnom Penh, and out of Thailand’s; Bangkok, though it is possible to do the reverse. The two capitals couldn’t be more different; Phnom Penh offering a delightfully serene contrast to the buzzing streets of Bangkok. Thailand’s capital might well come as a shock to the senses, but there is plenty to see for anyone prepared to put up with the heat and the frantic pace of South-East Asia’s most cosmopolitan city.
Some possible expedition objectives are given below, please note these may alter between now and your expedition. The Expedition Programme Manager for Cambodia and Thailand will agree a suitable expedition itinerary for you, to best match the abilities and aspirations of your team.
Acclimatisation
Erwan National Park
50km North of Kanchanaburi, set against a backdrop mountains and caves, the Erawan National Park is famous for its 7 tiered waterfall which teams can trek to in half a day. There is also the possibility of visiting a wild elephant camp. This option would also include a stopover in Kanchanaburi and the surrounding area to visit the area’s infamous WWII historic sites including the ‘Bridge on the River Kwai’.
Khao Yai National Park (Thailand)
Containing one of the largest intact monsoon forests in mainland Asia and also the Hew Suwat Waterfall as featured in the film "The Beach", Khao Yai is considered by experts to be amongst the world’s best National Parks. Khao Yai is also a possible location for a challenging main trekking phase.
Main Trekking Phase
The team will head for the lush jungle in the northern highlands of Thailand for their main trekking phase. Possible trekking areas include the Um Phang region near Mae Sot, and the region north-west of Chiang Rai. All these trekking itineraries could include an elephant ride and stopovers in remote hill-tribe villages. In some itineraries it may be possible to do some white-water rafting, although such options would incur an additional cost.
Projects
Being one of the poorest and neediest countries in the world, the project possibilities in Cambodia are fantastic, providing a wonderful opportunity for teams to get off the tourist trail and experience Cambodia’s rich culture. There are some excellent community development projects to choose from in Cambodia; from assisting in orphanages to helping to build houses and digging wells in local Khmer villages.
Rest and Relaxation
Due to Thailand’s extensive coastline there is no lack of beautiful beaches and islands. Basic beach huts are available or the team may wish to simply sling their hammocks from the trees along the beach. In Thailand teams could visit one of the islands close to Bangkok such as Ko Samet or Ko Chang (which is very close to the Cambodian border). A visit to Angkor Wat will be included in all itineraries.
