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Indochina Venture Venture beyond... Want to know what's over the horizon? Come and find out! Travel through Indochina with VentureCo: learn local languages, volunteer on aid projects and undertake adventurous expeditions. The Indochina Venture Empires of the East... When a Khmer prince declared himself god-king of the Kingdom of Angkor in 802 he founded an Empire that dominated South East Asia. The Khmers became an advanced and prosperous civilisation with successive rulers building successively greater palaces culminating in the12th Century masterpiece at Angkor Wat. The Empire weakened as their marauding Siamese neighbours gathered strength and the sacking of the city of Angkor in1431 marked the final demise of Khmer rule. Indochina Venture traces the legends of the ancient Khmers whilst discovering the reality of life in the modern day Kingdom of Cambodia. Switching from volunteering to adventure, we mount an epic expedition to explore the complexities of Vietnam, Laos and China. Where dynasties once ruled supreme we follow in the more recent footsteps of Mao, Ho Chi Minh and Pol Pot to see how the region is facing up to the challenges of the 21st Century. Cultural Orientation  In the 1970s, Cambodia was placed firmly on the map by Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge. Nowadays, despite this turbulent history, it is the least-known of all the countries of the Far East. To unravel the mystery, we begin the Venture with a three-week exploration of Cambodia’s cultural, historical and natural characteristics; learning the basics of the Khmer language will help with communication and cultural exchange and exploring the temples at Angkor Wat will uncover the legends of an ancient and civilised culture. To access the country’s outlying regions we’ll follow a series of watery highways up the Mekong River where fresh water dolphins head a list of natural wonders. In Phnom Penh we see a city that can trace its history to a 14th Century monastery. Since these humble beginnings it has been the seat of the Royal Khmer Court, an outpost of French colonialism and then the world’s window on the horrors of the Pol Pot era. This city of Royal Palaces, wide boulevards and Killing Fields has much to reveal.  Before joining our Aid Projects we visit the coastline to see if the reports of miles of white sandy beaches and warm blue water are as good as they sound!The Aid Projects The VentureCo aid projects in Cambodia are urban and rural programmes that provide teaching aids, playgrounds and food distribution to disadvantaged children. Each project encourages contact and cultural exchange between the Venturers and the local community. The Expedition The expedition is a journey of discovery through Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and China. From the Mekong River to The Great Wall of China, our route cuts a trail through Indochina that will bring us face to face with the people, culture and landscapes of the region. We can expect an incredible diversity of terrain and all the challenges that come with it! From the hustle and bustle of Saigon to the tranquillity of the mountains, it’s clear that two wheels are still the main way forward in Vietnam. We’ll use pedal power to cross the central highlands passing through tribal areas where indigenous culture and tradition remain an important part of everyday life. The enchanting town of Hoi An and nearby China Beach provide a break from the rigours of travel and are the jumping off point for Laos. In Laos we are drawn once again to the great Mekong River, first at Vientiane and then at the old royal city of Luang Prabang. We’ll board the slow boat upstream to the northern provinces where a three-day trek into the wilderness of this upland region will reveal its wide variety of native flora and fauna.  Entering China we make for the upper reaches of the mighty Yangtze River and embark on a four-day trek into Tiger Leaping Gorge where the surrounding snow-capped peaks soar 3,900m above our heads! There are giant pandas to be seen at Chengdu and our boat trip down the Yangtze will take us past the rapidly filling Three Gorges. Back on dry land we strike north to inspect the ever-vigilant Terracotta warriors at Xi’an and Beijing’s famous Forbidden City before the final challenge - a five-day trek along The Great Wall of China Onward travel The flight ticket that is included with this Venture allows onward travel after the Venture ends. If you would like to travel independently, rather than fly home on the last day, just let us know and we can amend your return date/destination...  Click here >> to find out more about this placement Click here >> to email VentureCo |
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