Southeast Asia & Absolute Oz Jobs

This trip is a combo of two of our most popular trips – Southeast Asia Adventure and Absolute Oz Jobs (up to 12 months).

Southeast Asia Adventure

Day 1: Arrive in Bangkok (Thailand). Touchdown in Bangkok and head to our starting accommodation. Get to know your guide and group at a welcome meeting, before an intro to Bangkok’s incredible food scene on a tuk-tuk foodie tour!

Day 2: Explore Bangkok & night train to Chiang Mai. Spend today getting to know Bangkok. Explore Khao San Road, treat yourself to a Thai massage, or visit the Grand Palace. This afternoon catch a sleeper train to Chiang Mai.

Day 3: Jungle trekking and homestay. Arrive in Chiang Mai and head on a half day jungle trek and visit a secret waterfall, before staying overnight in our rustic homestay in a local community.

Days 4 - 6:  Elephant Sanctuary and Chiang Mai. On day 4 you will visit a local ethical elephant sanctuary where you will observe elephants grazing and speak to mahouts about their extraordinary lives. Spend the next few days meeting monks, visiting local temples, taking part in adventure activities, watching Muay Thai, and dancing the night away at a legendary nightclub. 

Days 7 - 9: Luang Prabang (Laos). Take the flight to Luang Prabang - a charming colonial city with a dreamy atmosphere. We’ll visit the fairy-tale Kuang Si Waterfalls while we’re here. We’ve got a number of exciting optional activities too, from night markets, and a Takbat Lao ceremony, to volunteering with children at a local bookstore and visiting the ethnic villages around the city.

Days 10 - 11: Vang Vieng. Stop for a dip at the crystal clear Blue Lagoon 2 on our way to picturesque Vang Vieng. Spend the next couple of days chilling by the river, hiking into the lush surrounding countryside, or book one of our optionals, including bike rides, rock-climbing and tubing.

Days 12 - 13: Hanoi (Vietnam). Fly to the Vietnamese capital. Dump your bags and head out for dinner, followed by an optional bar crawl. On day 13, visit Hoa Lo prison, or just explore the Old Quarter at your own pace, sampling Vietnamese coffee at one of the street side cafes.

Day 14: Ha Long Bay cruise. Take an unforgettable overnight cruise round Ha Long Bay. We’ll have lunch on deck and spend plenty of time jumping into the sparkling bay from the boat. Share dinner on deck under the stars before being rocked to sleep by the waves.

Day 15: Ha Long Bay to Phong Nha. Spend the morning messing around on the water in kayaks before refuelling with some lunch and transferring to Hanoi. Freshen up in Hanoi and stock up on snacks before hopping on the overnight bus to Phong Nha.

Days 16 - 17: Phong Nha. Nestled at the base of soaring limestone cliffs, Phong Na is surrounded by lush forest and is still very unspoilt. On day 16 take a bike ride to Bong Lai Village and on day 17, just chill in Phong Nha, or join the optional trip to the National Park before the overnight bus to Hoi An.

Days 18 - 19: Hoi An. Hoi An is an ancient town, with yellow-toned buildings and Chinese shop-houses, lit up by hundreds of colourful lanterns at night. It’s an amazing place to chill but we’ve also got trips to the Vietnamese ‘Disneyland’, a coconut basket boat experience, a lantern-making workshop, a local farm visit and a day at the beach on offer.

Days 20 - 22: Ho Chi Minh City. Fly from Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City - a throbbing powerhouse of a city, where the scooters never sleep! Take a walking tour of the city, visit the night market, sing the night away in a private karaoke room, and visit the Cu Chi tunnels and the War Remnants Museum to learn about the impact of the Vietnam War.

Days 23 - 24: Phnom Penh (Cambodia). Tick another country off your list as we head across the border and to the capital city of Cambodia - Phnom Penh. We’ll take a walking tour, visit the infamous S21 Prison and the Killing Fields to learn about the country’s tragic history, and spend a night bar hopping.

Days 25 - 26: Koh Rong Samloem. Leave the city behind and head to the beautiful island of Koh Rong Samloem. We’ll swim with luminous plankton, take a snorkelling trip round the marine park, and spend a night camping under the stars – bliss!

Day 27: Koh Rong to Siem Reap. Join an optional scuba diving experience this morning before a barbecue lunch on the beach. Then hop on the speedboat back to the mainland where we’ll have a couple of hours’ free time before boarding the sleeper bus to Siem Reap.

Days 28 - 30: Siem Reap & Angkor Wat. Arrive in Siem Reap and relax by the pool before taking a walking tour of the city. Over the next couple of days, pamper yourself with a spa experience, tour the city on a peddle pub tour and explore local villages and lotus fields by bike. Day 30 starts with a real bucket-list moment – watching the sun come up over Angkor Wat! Celebrate with your travel buddies this evening over a final group dinner.

Day 31: Back to Bangkok. Hop on the bus back to Bangkok. It’s a long journey so sit back, relax and maybe catch up on some zzzs after last night! We’ll drop you off at Ratchathewi Road. 

Absolute Oz Jobs

Absolute Oz Jobs is the ideal introduction into the world of living and working Down Under. Before you begin your job search you’ll enjoy a week of fun, settling in and making new friends, including amazing activities in Sydney and at our gorgeous Beach Camp in Port Stephens. Once your first week is over you’ll kick-start your job search with the expert advice and assistance of our Sydney jobs team.

Week 1: Sydney & Beach Camp adventure

Day 1: Welcome to Sydney! Take the shuttle to your hostel in the city. Today is yours, so relax, catch up on some zzzs, or explore Sydney at your own pace.

Day 2: Discover Sydney. Meet your guides and the rest of your group this morning and then head out on a guided walking tour of stunning Sydney. We’ll start with lunch (not included) at Darling Harbour, before hitting Circular Quay for the Harbour Bridge, Opera House and Botanical Gardens. This evening, get to know your group better with a welcome meal and drinks.

Day 3: Info session & harbour cruise. Your day kicks off with an info session on working and travelling Down Under. Then we’re off for a private catamaran cruise around the harbour. Take in dazzling views, swim in the sparkling water and enjoy a classic Aussie BBQ lunch on deck. Tonight, hit the bars again with your new friends! Some travellers like to go out in the evenings for a meal and then carry on the party but there is no expectation to do so. If you prefer to chill and wake up with a clear head, then there are plenty of great options too!

Day 4: Head to Beach Camp. Today we’re off to our beautiful Beach Camp in Port Stephens. Nestled in the pristine Aussie bush, 5 minutes from the beach, it’s the perfect escape from the city. Take a wander down to the shore, keeping an eye out for the tame camp kangaroos. Then share a pizza dinner with your buddies before some star-gazing on the beach.

Day 5: 4WD tour, sandboarding & bushwalk. We’re up early to see the sun rise over the ocean, before hopping into our 4WD trucks for an exhilarating tour of the local sand dunes – you’ll be able to try sandboarding too! After lunch, take a guided bushwalk through Tomaree National Park, working up a good appetite for tonight’s BBQ. Tonight you will get a chance to learn more about Australian wildlife and reptiles.

Day 6: Dolphin cruise & return to Sydney. We’ve got one last treat in store before we leave - cruising the bay looking for bottlenose dolphins!  Sun yourself on deck, or sit in the water-skimming boom net while dolphins swim underneath. There’s time for one last swim before we travel back to Sydney. The rest of the afternoon is yours.

Day 7: Job advice session & Sydney bar crawl. Today you’ll can make your appointment for your one-on-one advice session with our jobs team. Tonight we’re going ‘out out’ in Sydney with an epic bar crawl of some of the city’s hottest nightspots!

Day 8: Bondi to Coogee walk. Breathe in the fresh ocean air on the coastal walk from Coogee to Bondi. Comfy shoes and swimmers are a must! We end our afternoon chilling at the famous Bondi Beach - the perfect way to unwind after your first week in Australia!

Beyond week 1 – the job search

After your first fun week of Australian adventures are over you can kick-start your job search properly! We’ve got work available all over the country in numerous different fields, so you’re sure to find something to suit you!

The most common types of employment for working holidaymakers are in hospitality, au-pair / nanny roles, customer service, construction and harvest / farm work (see our downloadable trip notes for full list). Salaries will vary dependent on role and location, but you can expect to earn between £10 and £15 an hour.

The job support programme includes:

• Dedicated jobs coordinator (Mon-Fri)
• 12 months’ access to the online jobs database
• CV review service
• Aussie mobile phone SIM card
• Tax File Number
• Medicare application assistance
• Advice about Australian bank accounts
• Office-based PC and Wi-Fi access
• 12-month mail holding service
• Accommodation advice