Asia holidays

We just got back from our trip and it was wonderful...It's really hard
to adjust back to real life!

We had a great trip and the trek was wonderful. Jatoo, our guide, was an
extraordinary guy, his English was very good, he knew the area very
well, he told us a lot about Thailand and he was a riot over all! I
think he made a big difference to our experience.

I'd rate the overall experience at 4. I think it'd be helpful to be a
little more detailed in the requirement up front, as we thought the trek
was walking around the forest but it was a bit more than that. We
thoroughly enjoyed the challenge, so the last day, the bike ride fell a
little short of expectations, we woke up really early and wished that we
did a bit more at the end. I'd certainly recommend it to my friends and
we'll look at other tours that you arrange in the future.

OyaEcevitt reviewing Hill Tribe Trekking in Thailand

.The trekking experience was great (i.e. day 1 and 2) would rate that a 5, Day 3 was a 4, Day 4 was a 3. Some elements of the trip such as the dancers at Lisu lodge was not really necessary as we prefer to see the Lisu tribe in their village rather than a forced dance in the lodge. Also, the bike trip on day 4 was too short. I think you should look at extending this trip and rearranging some of the other activities.

Having said these, I must point out that we had an excellent tour guide (Jatoo). I would recommend him to all my friends. He was very knowledgeable, and never got tired of our detailed questions.

Overall my main disappointment was that apart from the Lahu Outpost, the "rules" did not allow Jatoo to have dinner with us. I find this very strange at this day and age. This decision should be left to the guide and the visitors, not the owners of the lodges.

Hope these comments help. We had a wonderful time and saw the best part of Thailand.
Thanks for your help.

OzgaUste reviewing Hill Tribe Trekking in Thailand

The Indochina boat Red Dragon III, we stayed on in Halong bay was really lovely, food was delicious and plentiful, and the dinner party in the cave a real treat.

Karen reviewing Halong Bay on the Red Dragon Junk

This was a great trip, although you do need to be prepared for a lot of travel, however that was certainly part of the fun, looking out for motorbikes loaded with livestock, families, kitchen appliances. The landscape was breathtaking, and our guide had lots of information to help us understand our surroundings. The homestay was clean and comfortable, the family fed us extremely well, and were very friendly.

Karen reviewing Ba Be Lake and Homestay in Vietnam

Chiang Mai Thailand –The lush green farm fields of northern Thailand are beautifully framed by the jagged Chang Dao mountains as we spin through northern Thailand on a seven-day cycling trek.
People call out "Sa wa dee kha!" ("Hello!") as we pedal by. The many glittering Buddhist temples (wats) are awe-inspiring, but even more important: The food is mind-blowing. Together, we ride from the city of Chiang Mai, a cool enclave of art and culture, to the northern border that Thailand shares with Myanmar.

Pedalling at 25 km/h (on flat terrain), I can stare into the hills in the distance, eyeball the cows grazing by the side of the road or wave back at the kid sitting on the back of a motorbike who squirms around to laugh and greet the silly tourist on a bike. Going downhill is another matter: reaching speeds upward of 40 km/h scares the hell out of me. At every sharp curve, a blast of cool mountain air, chilly as air conditioning, shocks me into giddy excitement. It's a thrill you can't get from walking or being shut in a car.

Lunch is always a stop at a roadside noodle shop. At first, eating is just the fuel for our pedalling, but with each passing meal, invariably delicious, cycling becomes just the means to the end of having more food. Khao soy, a northern specialty, is egg noodles in a soupy, lightly curried sauce with chicken. Green papaya salad, in its native land, is a revelation, salty and fishy, with bits of crab, crushed peanuts and fragrant herbs. Plates of food leave me reeling with their complex flavours, while Thai snacks are about simple pleasures. Steamed sticky rice and coconut milk is a favourite, whether it comes wrapped in a banana leaf pocket, or stuffed into a rod of bamboo the length of my forearm. Every morsel is swoon-worthy, and the range of food so vast that I forego any Fear Factor bravado and pass on the fried insects and other unfamiliar delicacies available at every market.

By the end of our trip, we have visited temples with grandeur that rivals any European cathedral. We've stayed in luxurious resorts, passed through an elephant conservation centre and marvelled at the traditional dances of hill tribes in the border region of the north.

The whole trip was done at the right pace, the tempo over the 150-kilometre journey set by our pumping legs and growing appetites.
(Hannah Sung, writing for the Toronto Star, March 2010)

Toronto-Star reviewing Cycling Tour of North Thailand

I absolutely loved the Orchard Hut. It was well worth the lovely walk to get there. The air is crisp, the water is fresh and everyone is smiling. The family there is so pleasant and accommodating. The room we stayed in was super clean and so comfortable and though the bathrooms are shared, they are quite clean. I didn't mind it at all. In fact, it adds to the family-share-everything atmosphere. Furthermore, all of the home made, organic food is excellent. I've never had better pickle or eggplant (and I don't usually like eggplant). And yes, the homemade jam is just awesome. Plus, the fresh, clean water is addictive. I couldn't get enough... it just felt so good to drink.

Not to mention the amazing views. Chamba Valley is beautiful and rather untouched by tourists in general. This was definitely a big plus for me. Such a getaway. It was just great reading my book in the hammock, gazing out at the mountains and taking a nap in the breeze and shade.

All in all, you must visit and stay at least 3 days or a week... at the least!

dawnsomebody reviewing Home stay in the Himalayas

I had been traveling in northern india a rather rough way for a little less than a week before I went to Orchard Hut and it felt like heaven by the time I got there. The rooms are cozy and have an amazing view of the valley. The family has a warm and contagious nature that attracted me immediately when I got there making me feel at home. The other truly great thing about Orchard Hut is the food. I think I had some of my most favorite meals while staying there, and you MUST request the home-made (all of the food is grown and cooked on site) plum jam - it is outstanding!
The water was delicious I am still missing the taste of the spring water. In the morning with a refreshing shower(which is kept very clean), full belly and smile on my face my friend and I took a short trek from the home stay and had lots of fun enjoying the views. I absolutely recommend this place ! Thank You orchard hut for such a pleasant experience.

kayleigh_abigail reviewing Home stay in the Himalayas

Went down the Subansiri last year with these guys and It was a trip that makes you wanna come back for more. So hopefully I´ll be in the raft on the Siang pretty soon!

pontusw reviewing River Rafting in India

I have traveled extensively and I have to say that my experience on the RiverIndia expedition marks the best trip I have ever had the privilege of experiencing! From the food to the quality of the guides, this trip was superb. In fact, I still keep in contact with a number of people both rafters and guides, from the trip and I consider many of them lifelong friends. Thanks to RiverIndia for making such an impact on my life, I hope to do another trip again!

acoolidge reviewing River Rafting in India