How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Our Thai tour leader Ning was completely exceptional. She was prepared to go the extra mile to give us new experiences like buying fruit from the local market for us to try, and giving us advice about  new foods in restaurants and cafes. Her knowledge of local cultures was profound, and she had noted my declared interest in wildlife and was able to point out birds and plants I might be interested in.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

I would strongly recommend not travelling to this area at this time. Our stay was marred by the pollution caused by the burning of the jungle to prepare for the new rice crop. There was a constant haze over the Mekong and ash regularly fell. I have a mild asthma and needed to use my inhalers very regularly throughout northern Thailand and Laos

Do you have anything else to add?

This trip was made exceptional by our tour leader. I have been on several trips with various companies and have never had a guide with her depth of knowledge and people skills combined

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Ning was an exceptional tour leader and I have provided feedback in my nomination for her as tour leader for 2013

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

The amount of smoke we had to endure during our days along the Mekong was problematic. One of the tour participants was using her 'puffer' on a frequent basis and would warn any future groups of this potential hazard, especially at this time of the year when the 'slash and burn' practice is at its most prevalent. Please provide a notation of this hazard given the number of possible asthmatics who may join the tour and number of children who form part of the group.

The highlights include going on the elephants, going down the boat, the Jungle temple and the villages along the Mekong. I'd say before you go on this trip you need to prepare for a lot of long bus journeys and insect bites especially!! ( FBM - 28th July 2011)