Singapore to Bangkok by Rail

Day 1  Singapore  
Welcome to Singapore. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel.  

Day 2  Singapore  
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.  

Day 3  Singapore to Malacca, Malaysia  
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.  

Day 4  Malacca to Kuala Lumpur  
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.

Day 5  Kuala Lumpur  
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.  

Day 6  Kuala Lumpur to Cameron Highlands  
Rise early and enjoy your breakfast before catching the 08.55 service to Tapah Road, taking two hours. Sit for 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.  

Day 7  Cameron Highlands to Penang  
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.  

Day 8  Penang  
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  

Day 9  Penang to Phuket, Thailand
This morning, transfer to the airport for your lunchtime flight to Phuket in Thailand. On arrival, enjoy time at leisure before dinner at the hotel.

Day 10  Phuket  
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.

Day 11  Phuket  
After breakfast, support ethical tourism with a memorable visit to the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary. Observe elephants in their natural habitat of lush tropical jungle, feed them, and learn about their individual stories, followed by a traditional Thai lunch. This afternoon, embark on a Thai street food tour to savour Phuket’s vibrant cuisine. Sample the sweet, sour, salty and spicy flavours of a fresh and tasty Pad Thai, and as dusk falls, head over to the bustling night market, known for its upbeat feel and frequent live music, to round off your day with sticky mango rice and spicy satay skewers.  

Day 12  Phuket to Surat Thani  
This morning, journey to Bang Rong, a peaceful village on Phuket’s east coast. Enjoy a warm local welcome with fruit juice and traditional snacks before trying your hand at Batik painting. Travel by Phothong truck to experience pineapple harvesting, rubber tapping, and coconut picking, then join a cooking class using fresh local ingredients. Later, unwind on a tranquil mangrove cruise by long-tail boat or canoe.

Day 13  Surat Thani to Hua Hin  
This morning, transfer from your hotel to Surat Thani train station. Upon arrival, take a train to Hua Hin – the journey time is approximately 450km / 5.5hrs. Your lunch will be packed for you to enjoy on the train journey. On arrival in Hua Hin, enjoy the rest of your day at leisure.

Day 14  Hua Hin to Bangkok  
After a relaxing breakfast, make use of your morning at leisure as you will be free to explore the beachside delights of Hua Hin. Sit down for a hearty lunch before transferring to Petchaburi Train Station. Take Train No.40 to Bangkok. The journey is around 170km so will approximately take 2.5hrs. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel for check in. Enjoy dinner within your hotel this evening.

Day 15  Bangkok  
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.  

Day 16  Bangkok  
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.

Day 17  Bangkok  
Transfer to the airport for your flight home today.