On arrival in Changi Airport, you will be met by an English-speaking representative and transfer to your hotel. Please note: Early check in is not included. If your flight arrives in the morning and you wish to arrange this, please speak to your reservations consultant. An informal Welcome Dinner will be held on Day 1. If you miss this due to your arrival time, all information will be provided to you at breakfast the following morning. Additional night's before and after your tour can be arranged.

Explore Singapore, the ‘Little Red Dot’ that punches well above its weight. Begin at the orchid garden before a stroll through the Civic District, home to key colonial landmarks such as the former Supreme Court and City Hall. Head to the famous Orchard Road, the city’s famous shopping street, before hopping on a bumboat to get another perspective of the city’s skyscraper-studded skyline. Disembark at Merlion Park in Marina Bay, popular with photographers. Enjoy some free time before this evening’s visit to the Sky Garden, a world-famous horticultural park with an incredible Cloud Forest, featuring the world’s tallest indoor waterfall, and the Flower Dome. Finish at the SuperTree Grove, an orchard of vertical gardens built in tree-like sculptures. As the night draws in, the trees come alive with an enthralling light and sound display.

Depart Singapore via the bridge to Johor Bahru, Malaysia, stopping to pass through customs. Take a road trip to Malacca, passing through the Malay countryside and hearing about the country’s history from your National Escort. Arrive in Malacca in the late afternoon and check in at your hotel. This evening, enjoy an introductory boat trip through the Malacca canals as the sun sets.

Immerse yourself in Malacca’s multifaceted heritage with a tour of its fascinating Stadthuys and Old Town. A blend of empires have left their mark here, including the Portuguese, Dutch and British Empires. Visit the Street of Harmony, where Hindu and Chinese temples sit peacefully alongside a local mosque. Stop by a museum before lunch. Take a one-hour road trip through the Malay countryside to Tampin Station and hop on the two-hour ETS train to Kuala Lumpur, arriving at 17.55. On arrival, check in at your hotel and freshen up before this evening’s street food tour.

Hop on the city metro and head thirty minutes out of town to visit Batu Caves, one of Malaysia’s most important Hindu temples. Return to Kuala Lumpur and see some city highlights, including Masjid Jamek, Kuala Lumpur’s oldest mosque. Admire the old district’s iconic landmarks, including Sultan Abdul Samad Clock Tower, Independence Square, River of Life and Central Market. Finish up at KL Tower, where you can head up to the Skydeck for views over the city skyline, dominated by the Petronas Twin Towers.

The morning is at leisure before taking the 11.32 service to Tapah Road, taking two hours. Enjoy lunch before taking a winding road trip through the Cameron Highlands, with a pit stop at Lata Iskandar Waterfall. Stop by an indigenous Orang Asli roadside shop, selling forest honey and handicrafts. If you’re lucky, the village chief will extend an invitation to visit their village and learn about this indigenous community. Check into your hotel in the Cameron Highlands before dinner.

Take a relaxed uphill hike to see the Mossy Forest, observing fragile exotic plants such as ferns and pitcher plants. Your reward is the beautiful panoramas at the top of the hill. Afterwards, drive to a tea plantation to learn about local tea production. After lunch, drive down through the valley to reach Ipoh, stopping to see the Mirror Lake. Hop on the 18.26 train to Penang, riding through picturesque countryside and even ‘floating’ briefly as the train crosses Bukit Merah Lake. On arrival, transfer to Georgetown, home for the next two nights.

Spend the morning exploring the streets of Georgetown, a city rich in heritage. Admire the intricate woodwork and porcelain décor of the local temples before visiting the Penang Peranakan Mansion, which displays hundreds of fascinating antiques. After lunch, head to the foot of Penang Hill, the famous summer resort beloved by the British colonialists of the 19th century. Take the short funicular train to reach the top of the hill, pausing for a cup of tea and a pastry at the century-old bungalow-turned-restaurant. Continue to the Habitat, on the edge of the protected rainforest. Stroll through the trails and look out for rare flora along with wildlife such as dusky leaf monkeys, macaques, and giant squirrels.

Enjoy a morning at leisure before transferring to the airport for your lunchtime flight to Phuket in Thailand. On arrival, embark on a whirlwind journey through this intriguing island, seeing quirky local gems like a roadside donation-based barbershop and a colourful local temple, before enjoying a Thai street food tour. Enjoy local treats such as ‘Khanom Chin’, rice noodles accompanied by a curry of your choice, and ‘Oh Aew’ (shaved ice jelly). As dusk falls, head to the bustling night market, known for its upbeat feel and frequent live music, to sample sticky mango rice and spicy satay skewers.

Hop in a speedboat and discover Phang Nga Bay, home to some of Thailand’s most spectacular scenery. Stop by Panak Island and canoe into its mysterious caves to admire the many stalactites. Return to the speedboat and zip around Koh Tapu, or ‘James Bond Island’, lair of the Man With The Golden Gun in the Roger Moore 007 film. Bring a camera for the fantastic photo opportunities of the stunning Phang Nga Bay. Return to Phuket.

Check out of your hotel and to Khao Sok National Park, one of the oldest forest ecosystems in the world. Stop for lunch before a wonderful afternoon exploring the National Park’s lush nature trails. Trails are about 3-4 kilometres, taking up to 3 hours on foot. Good shoes and a hat are strongly recommended. The guide will select the best trail on the day, based on local conditions and the needs of each group. Later, check in at your hotel at the edge of the national park, your home for the next two nights. Take some time to refresh before dinner. In Khao Sok National Park, we use a simple 3* lodge property with en-suite chalets. Although this is a simple, rustic property in comparison with the urban hotels you will experience elsewhere, it is the best option in the area for groups who want to be immersed in nature while retaining simple comforts in an accessible location.

Transfer to the Ratchaprapa Dam pier at the edge of the famously beautiful Cheow Lan Lake. Hop in a longtail boat and fly across the water to arrive at the Floating Bungalows, where you’ll enjoy some free time to swim, kayak or relax before lunch. This afternoon, hop back in the longtail boat and explore the lake area, including Khao Sam Kloe, well-known as the ‘little Guilin’ of Thailand. If lucky, you may even glimpse wild elephants on the water’s edge. Return to your accommodation at the edge of the national park.

Transfer 90 minutes across the peninsula from Khao Sok to Surat Thani train station, where you’ll hop on the day train to Hua Hin. A lunch box with a sandwich, seasonal fruit and drinking water will be provided. The train takes around 5.5 hours but offers excellent views as it meanders up the coast to the seaside town of Hua Hin, arriving in the late afternoon. Transfer to your hotel and relax until dinner.

Visit the Thum Rong village community in Phetchaburi, to the north of Hua Hin. Immerse yourself in the lifestyle of the villagers, who will demonstrate how their Toddy Palm cake is made. Afterwards, they’ll invite you to see their local temple and palm sugar plantation, where some of Thailand’s best toddy palm juice is produced. Have lunch with the community before taking the three-hour train to Bangkok, arriving in the evening. Transfer to your hotel and check in.

Enjoy a half-day tour taking in Bangkok’s finest attractions and journey around the city’s fascinating canal network. Start at the magnificent Grand Palace, a sprawling temple complex boasting some of the finest architecture in the country. Explore the vast grounds and dazzling buildings, including the highly revered Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Afterwards, head across the road to Wat Pho, one of the largest and oldest temples in Bangkok and home to more than 1,000 Buddha images. Stop by the amulet market before lunch and hear about Buddhist beliefs in the protection and blessings provided by these charms. After lunch, the afternoon is at leisure to relax or explore more of Bangkok independently.

Take a day trip to Kanchanaburi, made famous by ‘The Bridge on the River Kwai’. During the Japanese occupation of Thailand in WWII, thousands of Allied POWs and Southeast Asian indentured labourers were forced to build the Thai-Burma Railway. Many of the prisoners died under the brutal working conditions, hence the track’s nickname ‘Death Railway’. Learn about their tragic story at the Thai-Burma Railway Museum, then pay respects to the victims at the Allied War Cemetery. Visit Hellfire Pass, a dramatic part of the railway that cuts through the mountain, before taking a 40-minute ride on the Death Railway – a journey that will take you across the famous Bridge on the River Kwai. Return to Bangkok, arriving early in the evening. Settle down to a farewell dinner to mark the end of your tour.

Transfer to Suvarnabhumi Airport or Don Mueang International Airport for your onward flight. Late checkout is bookable in advance for those who have chosen a later flight option. Any time before your transfer is at leisure to explore Bangkok. If you wish to extend your stay in Southeast Asia, please talk to our team about our various private extension packages before your departure. This tour can often also be combined with our Vietnam by Rail group tour – please ask your reservations consultant for more information.