Helping jungle wildlife in Thailand, exploring the temples of Angkor Wat and learning about the Cambodian genocide.

These were just some of the activities that the group of Explorer Scouts were involved with during their expedition to Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand.

Taking part were Explorer Scouts Kyle Stevenson, 18, Ollie Brew, 17, Flynn Allinson, 18, and Sam Bentham, 17, from the Northern Explorer Unit and a young leader from Onchan, Sam Lancaster, 20.

Mike Southall, assistant island commissioner international for the Isle of Man Scout Association who oversaw the expedition, described it as a ’fantastic cultural experience’.

The three-week expedition started with a four-day journey through the jungle of the Ton Pariwat National Park in southern Thailand, guided by the park’s head warden and a Thai Scouts training officer.

Ton Pariwat, which was established in 1992, is a wildlife sanctuary with densely forested hills and a jungle within the southern regions of the Phuket mountain range.

Mike said: ’During the expedition, the team undertook a conservation project to help provide wild animals with additional nutrients washed out of the soil by monsoon rains.

’This involved carrying 25kg sacks of salt deep into the jungle to spread and dig it in at predetermined locations.

’The weather during their jungle visit was rather wet, in fact it was like monsoon rain for most of the time there.

’Tracks became like rivers and the going was sometimes difficult off-track when machetes had to be employed to clear a path through the dense undergrowth.

’However, on the third day the weather did clear enough for the team to ascend to the summit of Phutajor mountain, the highest point in the National Park where the views over the jungle canopy were magnificent.’

It was in Thailand that the group enjoyed one of the highlights of the trip, being introduced to more than 600 Thai Scouts at the QSI International School in Phuket.

Seam Reap in Cambodia was next, where the five scouts explored the famous temples of Angkor Wat and the Temple of Ta Prohm, where the film ’Tomb Raider’ was made.

The team trekked along the Tonlé Sap River and later to the Mekong River.

Along the way, the Scouts noticed that the inhabitants of the riverbank lived in wooden houses built on stilts, including a school that was accessed by a long wooden ladder.

Mike, who is the leader that oversaw the expedition, said: ’The team’s midday meal of crocodile was consumed in a rather up-beat restaurant boat beside a mangrove swamp. Disconcertingly, next to the restaurant boat was a cage full of crocodiles.

’After a six hour coach journey the team arrived at Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital city. The Explorers embarked on a project about the Vietnam War which spilled over into Cambodia.

’They visited the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum in Phonm Penh which chronicled the Cambodian Genocide.

’The site is a former high school which was used as the notorious Security Prison 21 (S-21) by the Khmer Rouge regime from its rise to power in 1975 to its fall in 1979,’ he explained. Tuol Sleng means "Hill of the Poisonous Trees" or "Strychnine Hill".

’In 1979, the prison was uncovered by the invading Vietnamese Army. In 1980, the prison was reopened by the government as a historical museum memorialising the actions of the Khmer Rouge regime.’

The group later visited the Cambodian Killing Fields where more than a million people were killed and buried.

In Vietnam, the group visited the Cú Chi Tunnels of the Viet Cong, and the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City, which was formerly known as Saigon.

’The tunnels were used by Viet Cong soldiers as hiding spots during combat, as well as serving as communication and supply routes, hospitals, food and weapon caches and living quarters for numerous North Vietnamese fighters.

’It was an amazing experience to actually crawl through some of the tunnels.’

Visits were also paid to royal palaces and temples in Bangkok and Phnom Penh, where the scouts took many rides on the iconic tuk tuks.