14 week Indochina Gap Year experience - Vietnam - Thailand - Laos - China - Cambodia

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Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, China: Explore the empires of the East...

As anyone who has travelled there will tell you, Indochina is an indescribably varied part of the planet. The ancient Angkor Wat temples in Cambodia alone make this journey worth your time. Once se en, the Great Wall of China will never be forgotten. Nor do es the region's charm lie solely in its abundant evidence of humankind's cultural riches - the must-see natural landscapes range from the Tiger Leaping Gorge in China to the beautiful central highlands of Vietnam and Laos.

Three phases make one Venture

1. Cultural orientation and the Khmer Language
2. Live and work with Buddhist monks in a disadvantaged Cambodian community
3. Explore off the beaten track from the South China Sea to the Great Wall of China

Venture highlights

- Travel safety course in UK before departure
- Acclimatisation and cultural orientation in Cambodia including basic Khmer lessons
- Cambodian development project in association with the Buddhist Monks of the Life and Hope Association
- Angkor Wat, Cambodia's ancient Khmer temples
- 'The Killing Fields': Cambodia's recent Khmer history, Phnom Penh
- R&R time on deserted beaches
- Sail down the Mekong and Yangtze Rivers
- Adventure activities including mountain-biking across Vietnam's central highlands
- Tackle a three-day trek into China's Tiger Leaping Gorge
- Pandas, walled cities and terracotta warriors
- Great Wall of China trek
- Explore the cities of Phnom Penh, Saigon and Beijing
- New friends and the time of your life! Venture summary

Week 1: Cultural orientation, Siem Reap
- Arrive in Bangkok and overland to Siem Reap.
- Angkor Wat temples.
- Meet the Buddhist monks.
- Khmer language lessons.

Week 2: Cultural orientation: Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville
- Café Culture of Cambodia's capital.
- The Killing Fields.
- Head to the beaches and islands of Cambodia’s south coast.

Weeks 3-5: Community development project: Life and Hope Association, Siem Reap
- Construct houses for impoverished families in villages surrounding Siem Reap.
- Teach English and play sports with the children of the LHA 'English Club'.
- Become a Buddhist monk (or nun) for the day!
- Weekend activities include a three-day visit to the temples of Angkor Wat.

Week 6: Expedition: Mekong Delta and Saigon, Vietnam
- Travel by bus and boat from Siem Reap to Saigon.
- Explore the bustling streets of Saigon: visit the American War Museum and crawl through the Cu Chi tunnels, once home to the Vietcong.
- Try sand-boarding on the dunes of Mui Ne, on Vietnam’s East Coast.

Week 7: Expedition: Mountain-biking across the Central Highlands, Vietnam
- Tackle a mountain-biking expedition across the Central Highlands and along Vietnam’s east coast.
- Explore Hoi An, relax on the nearby China Beach and visit the Marble Mountains.

Week 8: Expedition: Hue to Vientiane, Laos
- Cycle to the imperial city of Hue, explore the palaces of its 'Forbidden City'
- Cross the border into Laos and travel cross-country to the capital, Vientiane.

Week 9: Expedition: Vientiane, Vang Vien and Luang Prabang, Laos
- Discover the French colonial trappings in Vientiane, and the elephants, mountain bikes and water sports.
- Charming old Luang Prabang – for many their favourite city in Asia!

Week 10: Expedition: Northern Hill Tribe Trek, Laos
- Explore the caves of Luang Prabang. Head to the northern hill tribes area for a three-day trek revealing the region’s indigenous fauna and flora. Cross the border into China.

Week 11: Expedition: Tiger Leaping Gorge, China
- Travel north to Tiger Leaping Gorge for a three-day trek through one of the world’s deepest canyons. Snow capped peaks, wild rivers and rural family stays.

Week 12: Expedition: Giant Pandas and the Yangtze River, China
- Watch giant pandas and explore the walled city of Chengdu before taking a boat trip down the Yangtze, past the massive Three Gorges Dam.

Week 13: Expedition: Terracotta Warriors and Great Wall Trek, China
- Time to enjoy the ancient city of Xi’an and visit the ever-vigilant Terracotta Warriors. By train to Beijing, the starting point for six days of walking on the Great Wall of China.

Week 14: Expedition: Great Wall Trek and Beijing, China
Finish the trek in Beijing, and spend the Venture’s final days exploring Beijing and the famous Forbidden City.

Thinking about onward travel?

This Venture is a comprehensive introduction to travelling in South-East Asia so when it’s all over, why not stay on and see a bit more? China itself is a huge country and its neighbours like Hong Kong, Tibet and Nepal are within easy reach when you finish in Beijing. The Trans Siberian Railway opens up exciting options within Mongolia and Russia whilst further afield you can travel on to Australia and New Zealand. Airline connections are available to incorporate South East Asia into a round the world travel plan.

VentureCo staff and leaders have considerable experience of travelling in South-East Asia. Call us to talk through your ideas and develop a travel plan.

This is an all-inclusive trip, with full support and a range of services provided before, during and after the Venture.

The VentureCo Trust: Registered Charity No 1111268

Funding for our development projects comes directly from the VentureCo Trust. For each person that joins a Venture, we as a company, donate $500 to the Trust. 100% of the money the Trust receives is spent on projects. To date, the Trust has funded 70 development projects around the world

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Our users say...
"Day two was an early start. We went to see sunrise at Angkor Wat. A very worthwhile experience. Angkor Wat appears like a spectre, emerging from the night and as it does, it sounds as if the world is reviving from a deep trance. Maybe an overly poetic way to express it, but it left much of the group speechless." - Charlotte Dyer

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