Southeast Asia Explorer with Gapforce

This trip has brought so much knowledge and joy into my life. From the people involved, to the places traveled it was an amazing experience.

We traveled all around Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam for 2 months, staying in 14 different hostels. We visited beaches, temples, elephants, major tourist attractions, and went on hikes leading to beautiful waterfalls. There was always something to do or something for us to see!

Although the people in the group had chatted online, I was still nervous spending two months with people I barely knew. Luckily, I enjoyed spending time and learning about different cultures within the people in the group.

We had events that included everyone in the group, as well as free days that we could explore the cities by ourselves, and optional activities that we would pay out of pocket to participate.

Our guides were awesome! They were supportive at all times, and people could go to them with any problem they had. They were proactive and did everything in their power to make the trip fun for everyone!

Okay so you know when you read those super cheesy reviews and you’re like “oh, they’re probably being so over dramatic” well no I’m not, I’m being damn straight with you. This trip was incredible. I’ve not only become more equip to deal with traveling (solo or group) but I’ve learned a bucket load of life lessons. (If your piss is orange please drink more water) Oh and don’t forget the life long friends I’ve made who I can now crash at their houses while traveling ;) #budgeting but for real, like Ellie said in her comment and I believe Kate said it too, this trip changes you, you come out of it more humble, experienced and damn well more confident. I really do recommend this trip for anyone willing to take that screw it leap of faith because I promise you, you will have the time of your life.

P.S.
-Bring good reliable water bottle
- Do your research, I mean going in blindfolded can be fun but probably not the best choice when entering a foreign country....
-Don’t over pack, you will be angry at yourself
-Air con will make bus/train rides cold so please bring a jumper and warm pants (or a travel blanket)
-There is never such a thing as too much bug spray or sunscreen
-Highly reccomend 3 pairs of head phones because if you’re like me you will lose 2
-Group trips are so much more fun with a speaker ;)

The Southeast Asia Explorer trip has been one of the best experiences of my life so far! We have seen some AMAZING things like Elephants, waterfalls, mountains, halong bay, temples and so much more. There is a multitude of things to do here that you can never be bored!
This trip has given me the confidence to travel on my own and to navigate my way around any situation. I feel like I’ve become a more strong, confident, independent woman who can face the world.
In conjunction with that, this trip has also made me a more open minded person. There are so many ways of life that people don’t see on tv so it’s a bit shocking at first but seeing how others live gives you the drive to want to change the world. For example in Cambodia there was an obscene amount of garbage and there were children begging on the streets. It was something I’m not used to but it’s how things are. The situation in Cambodia (and many other parts of the world) is not helping global efforts to stop Climate change. We as a whole world need to stop producing so much waste and leaving it to rot on the ground or in the ocean but it’s a group effort that will get us to our goal.
Back to the trip: I would recommend bringing more money that was suggested on the website since there are many optional activities that cost a bit more money. We went on a hike that cost 900 baht ($27 or £21) and that took a chunk out of the $100 per week. Maybe bring $150?
Another reccomendation is research where you’re going beforehand since there was some flexibility in the itinerary so we were able to go where we wanted. Like in Cambodia we went to the palace and some other places that I don’t believe were on the original itinerary.

Basically this trip is amazing as a stepping stone to becoming a solo traveler. It gives you confidence, perspective and love for the world around you.

I really enjoyed this expedition overall, it was an amazing experience and a great way to start my gap year off. I would really recommend this expedition to anyone who is looking to learn about different cultures, ways of living and try some amazing food! This expedition is definitely for people who love the outdoors and who love being active. The rest days you have will be very much appreciated! I felt that going through a company like Gapforce was really beneficial as it meant I was able to experience these 3 amazing countries with no stress about travel or accomodation. The safety of the trip was pretty good overall. Some areas felt more safer than others but that is the beauty of travelling. As the trip progressed I found I was embracing the local cultures more and more and I felt a lot more comfortable. Being with such an amazing group of people really made it easy to settle in and avoid homesickness. To give some highlights, I really enjoyed our trip to Angkor Wat and our trip to Koh Tao island in Thailand. The volunteering was also an amazing experience and learning about the education system in Cambodia. Halong Bay in Vietnam was also an amazing experience and a great way to end our trip!

Highly recommend this trip especially if this is your first time traveling alone. I was able to meet so many new people from all of the world and explore beautiful places without worrying about planning my explorations.

I would recommend bringing more money then advised because there are so many optional activities that you do not want to miss out on. One of the more expensive optional activities on the trip was scuba diving in Koh Tao island but paying the extra amount was so worth it!
Also pack minimally! You will buy way more things than you think. Or at least I thought.
Our guides Terence and Laszlo were super helpful throughout our journey. They Always had fun activities planned for us. One of the highlights of our trip was white water rafting and hiking in Chiang Mai!
This trip is the perfect chance to discover more about yourself and come out of your shell. The best advice I could give someone going on this trip is to always say yes because you won’t want to miss out on anything South East Asia has to offer.

This was my first time leaving North America and it was a great way to step out of my comfort zone. I had an amazing time learning about each of these unique countries and their cultures. The staff made me feel safe and comfortable ever step of the way. This is an extremely valuable trip for anyone wanting To experience different culture and make friends from all over the world. The time I spent here allowed me to explore who I was independent from the comforts of home and gain a better understanding of who I am. I would highly recomend this trip to anyone who is unsure of what to do out of high school or just looking for a break. For me the highlights of the trip where the Thai islands, Angkor Wat, and all of Vietnam. The best part of the trip however was probably all of the different foods. There are options for every kind of diet and all of them delicious. Over all great experience. Thank you Gap Force!

This program was an extremely fulfilling experience, in which I was able to learn about a different culture, enjoy exciting activities, and make a large group of friends. There were ups and downs, as there is with any trip, but the positives that the trip provided far outweighed the negatives that I personally experienced. The only thing that I wish was different was that we spent some time in the jungle as was advertised on the website. Despite this, there was still a good variety in terms of what we did; we visited cultural landmarks, participated in high energy activities, and also had time to relax. There is something for everyone. Overall, I believe my 4 weeks away was a character-building life experience, and I would recommend this program to others who are unsure, or lack the confidence to travel independently for the first time.

I've wanted to go travelling on my own or just without family for the past 10 or so years.
Mental illness has played a big part in stopping me from following that dream. A friend of mine told me she was going on this trip with a company called Gapforce to Thailand, Vietnam + Cambodia. In the time I had, I worked out I had enough money to go to Thailand for the first 4 weeks of this adventure.
Skip forward to now. I'm packed and ready for my flights home tomorrow. The one thing I'm not ready for are the goodbyes. This trip has helped me in ways I couldn't have imagined. I've met a lot of beautiful people. I've eaten a lot of amazing food and I've toured around such a stunning country.
The kindness shown by the companies employees, from the manager right the way down to our team leaders has been such an uplifting experience! Honestly couldn't have asked for better leaders!!
Nothing but positivity has stemmed from this trip and I'm all the better for it.
Thank you helping me find a better me.