Location
Multiple Locations +3
  • Thailand
  • Cambodia
  • Vietnam
Length
4 - 12 weeks
Program Tags
Adventure Travel Cultural Immersion Volunteer Abroad
Payment plans
Health & Safety

Program Details

Activities
Animal Viewing Backpacking City Exploring
Timeframe
Year Round
Housing
Hostel
Primary Language
English
Age Min.
18

Pricing

Starting Price
4200
Price Details
4-weeks: $4200.00

8-weeks: $6300.00
What's Included
Accommodation Activities Airport Transfers Meals Tour Guide Transportation
What's Not Included
Airfare SIM cards Travel Insurance Visa
Jun 06, 2024
Mar 12, 2025
16 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Volunteer and backpack your way through Southeast Asia’s most sought-after destinations!

Travelling to Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, and encompassing both wildlife & community-based volunteering projects alongside traditional backpacking, the Southeast Asia Explorer is perfect for first-time travellers and solo adventurers looking to set out on one of the world’s most iconic adventure travel routes!

Video and Photos

Impact 🌎

We are committed to exert a positive impact on the regions, countries and communities which we visit. For us it is paramount that the local organisations and communities benefit from our cooperation by working with trusted local businesses and project partners who align with our sustainability objectives.
We are passionate about travel and the positive impact it has on young people’s outlook and future prospects. Our mission is to help people become global citizens through authentic, socially and environmentally responsible travel experiences which aid self-discovery and personal development.

As a small team, we are committed to providing a highly personalised service from your initial contact right through to your chosen adventure. We achieve this through our dedicated team of program leaders and support staff, all of whom are passionate travellers united by a common purpose to help young people explore the world.

Program Highlights

  • Explore Bangkok & Chiang Mai.
  • Volunteer at an elephant sanctuary & relax on paradise Thai beaches.
  • Watch the sunset over amazing temples of Angkor Wat.
  • Assist on a vital house-building project in Cambodia.
  • Marvel at the spectacular Halong Bay!

Program Reviews

4.74 Rating
based on 35 reviews
  • 5 rating 74.29%
  • 4 rating 25.71%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Housing 4.25
  • Support 4.8
  • Fun 4.85
  • Value 4.8
  • Safety 4.8
Showing 1 - 8 of 35 reviews
Default avatar
Malachy
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Review

I did so many things and had so many experiences as well as making real friends that I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do if it weren’t for the trip. The tour leader Callum was so cool and we all got along really well. The accommodation was nice and clean and you can just put it down to a cultural experience if anything ever went slightly wrong. I saw areas of the world that I had always dreamed of seeing but never actually thought I would and for a very reasonable price overall. On the whole I had a great and unforgettable time.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
Pigs tongue or crocodile
Pros
  • Actuvities
  • Friends
12 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Freya
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Southeast Asia Explorer

Absolutely incredible trip, I've met some amazing people and it's really really helped with my confidence. I took this trip as I didn't know what to do with my life at all and hoped this would help me figure it out. And it's helped quite alot. I really recommend, it's genuinely been the best 8 weeks of my life. We all loved our group leader Callum, he really ensured that everything would be made more comfortable and convenient for us (getting us early check ins and private transport ect) experiencing all of the culture and history of these counties has been an amazing experience that I will never forget.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
Making the most of every day and every opportunity
Pros
  • The people
  • Accommodation
  • Organisation
Cons
  • Overnight trains
16 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Willow
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

SE Asia Explorer 2025

I absolutely loved this trip, I’m really glad I decided to go!! This trip definitely prepared me to solo travel or travel with a small group in the future, I feel much more self sufficient now and i’m grateful for that. The accommodations are hostels so as long as you go into the trip knowing that and understanding that that it’s no problem. I am a vegetarian and was very nervous about not being able to find food or eat at the same places as the others but it ended up being quite easy to find food so if you have a dietary restriction I wouldn’t worry. Lastly, our group leader, Callum Jenkins, was the best!! He was very helpful and such good fun (not in a way that would be inappropriate for his position). He had a great attitude that rubbed off on all of us. I recommend this trip!!

15 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
beth
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

SEA Explorers Trip!

I chose this trip because of my initial worries about being a solo female traveller with no experience. The description of the expedition in the brochure detailed a mixture of volunteering, exploring and relaxing and I can confidently say the trip ticks all three boxes. You truly get an authentic experience as you volunteer at the amazing elephant sanctuary (a real highlight of the trip), explore temples or visit waterfalls, celebrate local traditions and appreciate a new culture and cuisine. For someone who wants to gain proper travelling experience and exposure to an entirely different way of life whilst simultaneously staying safe, with the guarantee of making friends and lifelong memories, I really can’t recommend this trip enough. Our team leader Magnus really made the trip, consistently making everyone feel at ease and comfortable, and often going over and above to make you feel reassured in nerve wracking situations that will naturally come with being in an entirely new and different country. His support and knowledge was the best safety blanket as a first time traveller, whilst also a good insight into how to manage mix-ups and what to do when things go wrong. Overall, the trip is the perfect springboard for those looking to gain confidence and experience proper backpacking travel, and by the end of it, you’re ready for the freedom to lean away from a tight group itinerary and embrace the spontaneity of solo travelling that you’re impatient to start it all over again by yourself, or even with the friends you made along the way!

Pros
  • gaining proper travel experience in a safe but fun environment
  • great balance of volunteering, exploring and relaxing
Cons
  • group travel means a tighter, less flexible itinerary
  • budget doesn’t always take into account higher prices in capital cities or touristy areas so prepare to spend a little more for some meals
102 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Phoebe
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

South east Asia 8 week trip

I had a wonderful time on the south east Asia 8 week trip, I’ve met some amazing people that I will continue to stay in touch with. There were lots of adventurous activities led by our leader, Magnus, who would always ensure our safety as well as support us when we were ill. It is an amazing first trip to introduce travelling if you are nervous, but it has a rigid and set schedule with not much room for leeway. I really enjoyed the time and the people I met so I would enjoy for any first time travelers.

Pros
  • Good for first time travels
  • Meet lots of people
  • Take part in lots of adventurous activities
Cons
  • Not much room for schedule adjustments
103 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Rachel
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

South east Asia explorer

I had a fantastic time on the sea 8 week program!
Had the most amazing experiences, meeting many new friends and doing stuff I would never have done if traveling on my own. From spending a week at the elephant sanctuary, building a house for a family in need, to hiking in the most magnificent caves.
Our leader Magnus organized everything for us, which made the trip stress free.
This trip had a great mix of cities, beaches and hikes in the mountain, so would definitely recommend this trip for any one in their gap year looking for an adventure, you won’t regret it!!

Pros
  • You meet a lot of likeminded people
  • Volunteering
  • Everything is organized for you
Cons
  • Not a lot of flexibility
  • Food budget wasn’t enough for most days, so be prepared to spend about €60 a week extra
99 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Abigail
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

SEA 8 week trip

The SEA 8 week programme is a great trip full of activities to experience new cultures, foods and people! I have thoroughly enjoyed every moment, especially because I have been surrounded by a great group of friends and an amazing leader, Magnus. He has been very organised and supportive whilst providing us with the freedom to do what we want in our free time. If any one of us were ill, he was quick to respond and provide the necessary measures to support us. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone wanting to travel and be adventurous in their gap year- you definitely won’t regret it!

Pros
  • Meeting new people within similar age range
  • Volunteering to help the local communities
  • Having a leader as support in case you are sick/something goes wrong
Cons
  • No flexibility in the itinerary
110 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Marlene
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

South east Asia explorer

I loved the 4 weeks ! It was an amazing once in a lifetime adventure and the perfect way to spend a gap year. You feel young, wild and free :) being in a group made it a lot easier, because you know someone and have an itinerary that gets you to the best places in a certain amount of time. I liked the amount of free time, but sometimes it didn’t feel quite flexible enough. For instance if you would have liked to stay in one place for a bit longer that wouldn’t have been possible. But overall there is really not much negativ to say. I loved it and I would totally recommend.

Pros
  • Meeting new people
  • Experiencing a new culture
  • Easy especially for first time backpackers
Cons
  • Not too independent
122 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers