This weekend, while most people are completing their Christmas shopping, 100 Scouts from around Hampshire will be setting off on an expedition to Thailand.

Along with 30,000 others from around the globe, they will be taking part in the World Scout Jamboree - a 10-day camp combining adventurous activities and international friendship.

"We're looking forward to meeting all sorts of different people and learning about their cultures", said a spokesman for the Scouts at their final training weekend in Winchester.

"The atmosphere at the jamboree is going to be really powerful - 30,000 people all in one place for the events.

"Everything's going to be different from what we expected and that's what makes it fun.

"We're especially looking forward to trying out the Thai food - this year it'll be Thai cold breading and kajustard for Christmas dinner, rather than turkey."

The Scouts will arrive in Thailand just before Christmas and hope to see Bangkok as tourists before celebrating Christmas on the beach with thousands of other Scouts from across the UK.

Then they move onto the World Jamboree site at Sattahip, two hours away from Bangkok. There they will camp alongside Scouts from many other countries and share adventure, meals, and an enormous New Year's Eve party.

The Scouts have been preparing for their expedition for 18 months, including training and fund-raising.

Following the jamboree, the Scouts will then spend a few days in "Home Hospitality", staying with Scouting families in other Asia-Pacific countries such as Japan and Malaysia.

"It's going to be an amazing experience which could easily be a life-changing event for us all," added the spokesman.