Cultural & Holy School Expedition to Cambodia & Thailand

Dive into expedition life. Get to grips with the currency (Thai baht) and meet the ground team to discuss your plans. You also need to assign some team roles and buy a SIM card for the group phone. Jobs done, it’s time to explore. You could head to the Grand Palace and the legendary backpacker area of Khao San Road, and there are temples galore, like the giant reclining Buddha at Wat Pho, the golden Buddha at Wat Traimit or the unique temple of Wat Arun. You’ve also got the option of joining a Thai cooking lesson or a yoga class in a city park. As you explore, stop to taste spicy seafood soup and authentic street food, like pad thai (stir-fried noodles with chopped peanuts).

Boots on, backpack loaded, it's time to trek. Travel northeast of Bangkok to Khao Yai, Thailand’s oldest and third largest national park. Meet your expert guide at the park’s headquarters and discuss the trekking routes you’re about to explore, there are more than 50km of trails to discover. Take it in turns to lead the group as you trek through lush jungle and grasslands. Feel the spray of cascading waterfalls, gaze up at the park’s mighty peaks and look for signs of wild elephants, barking deer, gibbons and bears. Trekking through the heat is tough, so support the team and stay hydrated. At night, you’ll camp beneath the stars and cook your own meals on camping stoves, time to get creative with your food supplies!

And relax. Grab a window seat for the journey to Ko Chang island and watch Thai villages and forests whizz by, then swap to a boat and cruise across the blue. With sweeping bays and jungle-clad peaks, Ko Chang is wild and adventurous. Make a beeline for the beach, kick back on the sand and reflect on everything you’ve achieved so far. You could sign up for a snorkelling trip and sail to different beaches and snorkel spots; get ready to swim alongside tropical fish and colourful corals. After a dose of island life, it’s time to pack your bags and travel to Cambodia, your destination is Siem Reap.

Wake up in Siem Reap, meet the Cambodia ground team and get to grips with a new currency, Riels. Stroll along the city’s tree-lined boulevards past old French shop houses and ‘naom banchok’ noodle stalls, these thick rice noodles are served with seafood broth or chicken curry, yum! To experience more, you’ve got the option of a Khmer cooking class or a boat trip on Tonle Sap Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. Now for the moment you’ve been waiting for, Siem Reap sits next to the famous Angkor temples so prepare to time-travel to the greatest city of the Khmer Empire. Maximise your time by watching the sun rise over this mind-blowing complex. Angkor Wat is just incredible, and you may recognise Ta Prohm temple from the Tomb Raider movie. There’s also the Terrace of the Elephants, Palace of the Leper Kings and the 54 towers of the Bayon Temple.

Travel deep into the countryside. Prepare to get immersed in rural life and contribute to an education initiative. Listen carefully to find out exactly what your tasks involve, because it depends on what’s needed most when you visit. Led by locals, you’ll visit a village school and learn about the challenges faced by Cambodian children. Observe, ask questions and compare their school day to yours back home. Living alongside the community you’ll experience far more than most visitors. Rural life can be tough, so be patient and keep an open mind. Connect with your hosts by helping with chores and sharing your own culture through photos and games. On your last night, thank the community with a talent show, put on your best performance with dancing, songs or circus tricks.

It’s a full day of travel to Phnom Penh, so stock up on snacks for the journey. Cambodia’s capital is a full-on city of motorbikes, markets and saffron robed monks. You’ve got two days to get under its skin. Navigate the buzzing streets and grab your first glimpses of its French-colonial architecture and ornate temples. When it’s time for a break, dive into a cafe and seek out some mango salad. Enter the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum to learn about the Khmer Rouge regime and Cambodia’s tragic history, it’s a disturbing but important story. The museum was once a torture centre, where more than 20,000 people were held. Continue to the Choeung Ek Memorial, where the stupa contains thousands of human skulls on the site of the Killing Fields. As the sun sets on your last day, gather the team for a final meal. Share your favourite memories, set your friendships in stone and start planning your next adventure.

After the best three weeks of your life, it’s time to travel home. Cram everything into your backpack and head to the airport. Check in, sit back and let it all sink in. You’ve just experienced something incredible. Thailand and Cambodia have opened your eyes and challenged you more than you ever imagined. You’ve fast-tracked your life skills and connected with locals; you’ve led your team and made new friends for life.