This trip is the perfect
way to experience South East Asia, starting in
Bangkok and travelling down through southern
Thailand and the Malay Peninsula and on to
Singapore. You will experience beach resorts,
jungle walks, colonial towns, dynamic cities,
tea plantations and much more! And of course
there are the diverse, friendly, relaxed
peoples of the region and lots of tasty local
food. Day 1: Bangkok
Your trip starts today with your arrival in
Bangkok. No activities are planned until your
evening group meeting, so you may arrive at
any time. On arrival on Day 1 please check the
welcome board located on the ground floor of
the hotel for a Welcome Notice for your tour,
this will advise you of your Tour Leaders name
and the time and location of your group
meeting. Until your meeting we encourage you
to get out and discover the delights that
Bangkok has to offer, including Thailand’s
famous cuisine. Please note that your Tour
Leader will collect the Local Payment during
your group meeting so be sure to take the $200
US dollars to the meeting along with your
travel insurance details.
Day 2: Bangkok
This morning we introduce you to some of
Bangkok’s most famous sights, including the
impressive Grand Palace and the adjoining
Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew).
We also visit Wat Po – the temple of the
famous Reclining Buddha. From near our hotel
we jump on board a local khlong (canal) boat,
before catching a public bus to these sites.
This is a great way to sample a couple of the
more popular forms of local transport. You
have a free afternoon to make your own
discoveries or to do some shopping in the many
excellent shops and markets for which Bangkok
is renowned. In the evening we catch the
overnight train to Surat Thani, in the south
of Thailand (approximately 2 hours). (B)
Days 3-4: Krabi (Rai Leh)
Our train arrives in the early morning and we
transfer by bus to the township of Krabi
(approximately 3½ hours) and then onto Ao Nang
by songthaew (approximately ½ an hour), where
we catch a boat to the beautiful and secluded
beach area of Rai Leh. Here, we spend two days
appreciating the peace and tranquillity, as
this is a great place to kick back, relax and
swim in the warm waters of a hidden tropical
paradise. Our accommodation is in comfortable,
but basic, fan cooled bungalows. There are
plenty of optional activities to fill your
time, you can choose from cave exploring, sea
kayaking, diving and rock climbing.
Day 5: Krabi to Penang
Reluctantly, we leave the sands of Railay and
return to Krabi by longtail boat. There may be
time for a quick look around before jumping on
board the bus for the nine-hour drive to
Penang. The first par of the journey takes us
to Hat Yai where we can buses for the onward
journey to Penang. During the afternoon we
will cross the border into Malaysia, so keep
your passports handy. The whole process is
very quick and before you know it, we’ll be
driving down the multi-lane highway on your
way to Penang. We arrive in Georgetown, the
largest town on the island, in the evening.
Day 6: Penang
In the morning we enjoy a walking/sightseeing
tour of Georgetown, following the Heritage
Trail. The city’s population is probably the
most diverse in all of Malaysia, with
influences from Thailand, Burma, Sumatra,
Java, India, South China and Europe. Penang
was the oldest British settlement in Malaya
(1786) and as our tour winds its way around
the busy narrow streets, you witness all the
different elements that contributed to its
rich cultural heritage. We visit Fort
Cornwallis, built on the site where Captain
Francis Light first set foot on the island,
and the fascinating Penang Museum, a small
eclectic collection showcasing the various
cultures. On the ground floor are displays
about the customs and traditions of the
island, whilst the first floor recounts the
local history. There’s free time here for you
to discover the colourful markets, old temples
and historic Chinese clan houses of Georgetown
or to catch the bus to Batu Ferringhi Beach
(bus depot situated at the base of the Komtar
Building). At some stage during your stay, be
sure to hunt down a street stall in Little
India, where you can buy cheap snacks such as
samosas or pakoras - they are a real taste
sensation! Penang’s population is dominated by
Hokkien Chinese and their cuisine is
everywhere to be seen. An optional evening
rickshaw ride to Gurney Drive enables you to
dine at one of the many hawker food stalls
there – local specialities include char kway
teow, Penang prawn mee (noodles) and laksa.
Days 7-8: Cameron Highlands
In the morning we leave for the mainland and
continue on the hot coastal plains until the
turn-off for the Cameron Highlands
(approximately 4-5 hours). It was here that
the famous silk trader, Jim Thompson, vanished
back on March 26, 1967, when he went out for a
pre-dinner stroll and never came back. No
trace of him was ever found! The bus ride will
take up much of the afternoon, but will take
you through a wide variety of scenery from the
flat lowlands up through mountainous terrain,
before arriving at the scenic hill town of
Tanah Rata. Here you can choose from the many
optional activities (at your own expense) such
as a trek along one of the many surrounding
mountain trails, a visit to the lush green tea
plantations that have made this region famous
(this can be pre-arranged with the local taxi
drivers) or maybe you would prefer a relaxing
day enjoying afternoon tea and scones at a
quaint English-style place of lodging called
‘Ye Olde Smokehouse’. Please note that all
walking trails are numbered and well marked,
so it is relatively simple to organise your
walk.
Days 9-10: Kuala Lumpur
We leave Tana Rata and travel by bus for the
five-hour journey to the Malaysian capital,
Kuala Lumpur. Meaning ‘Muddy Confluence’, it
was settled in the 1860s by tin prospectors
who named it after its location at the meeting
point of the Kelang and Gombak rivers. An
orientation tour will take us past some of its
most famous sights including Merdeka Square,
Lake Gardens, National Monument and the
impressive old railway station, designed in a
Moorish style. KL, as it is commonly known, is
home to the world’s tallest twin-towered
buildings, the Petronas Towers (491 metres),
as well as many impressive colonial
structures. Here you have time to discover and
experience for yourself the diversity of old
and new Malaysia. With its strong Indian and
Chinese influences, the city contains some of
the finest markets and restaurants in South
East Asia. Our hotel is located right in the
heart of Chinatown – all you need do is walk
out the front door and you are spoilt for
choice with a multitude of hawker stalls and
cafes to pick from. For the best views of the
city we suggest you take a ride up the
elevators of the 421 metre tall Menara Kuala
Lumpur (KL Tower).
Days 11-12: Malacca (Melaka)
We continue heading south to 15th-Century port
town of Malacca (Melaka). It all began in 1403
when an exiled Hindu prince from Sumatra
sought refuge in the little fishing village.
The Malay name ‘Melaka’ comes from the name of
the tree the prince sat under when he first
arrived here. Under his rule the little
village quickly became a strong maritime
trading port visited by merchants from China,
India, Arabia and Europe. Due to the spice
trade, it wasn’t long before its prosperity
attracted the attention of European maritime
powers. The Portuguese were first to arrive in
1511, colonising and ruling it for 130 years.
Then in 1641 it was taken over by the Dutch,
who ruled before the British came in 1824. It
remained part of the British Empire until
Malaysia gained independence in 1957. Our
accommodation is located in the heart of the
old town, and is an old Baba home. As we step
out the front door of our guesthouse, we take
a walking tour through these ancient streets
and experience the eclectic cultural mix. We
visit a variety of temples such as Cheng Hoon
Teng Temple, Kampung Kling Mosque and Sri
Poyatha Venayagar Moorthi Temple. We also
visit the fascinating Baba Nonya Museum, which
showcases the history of the Straits Chinese
immigrants, who were the result of the
original Chinese overture dating back to 1405.
In your free time, you can hire one of the
colourful rickshaws and explore the intriguing
Chinese side streets that are dotted with old
churches, antique shops, temples and other
remnants of the past.
Day 13: Singapore
This morning we head off on the four-hour bus
ride that brings us to the Straits of Johore
and then on to the island state of Singapore.
The border crossing from Malaysia into
Singapore is one the largest you will ever
come across, yet it is usually very efficient.
After arriving at our hotel we are soon out
exploring this modern city. Making our way
past modern skyscrapers and bustling street
stalls, we visit Chinatown, Boat Quay, as well
as the Merlion statue - the half-fish,
half-lion icon that became the symbol of
Singapore in the 1960s. The remainder of the
day is yours to sample the contrasts in this
exciting Asian city.
Day 14: Singapore
Your adventure ends this morning and it’s time
to head home. However you may wish to extend
your stay in Singapore, to explore its other
attractions. Singapore has one of the best
zoos in the world, whilst Sentosa Island has
its share of tourist attractions, as well as a
small beach. |
