Arrive Bangkok, Thailand
Arrive in Bangkok, where you are met and swiftly moved through customs before being transferred to your hotel on the banks of the Chao Phraya River.
Bangkok | Wat Pho’s Serene Reclining Buddha
Take a short cruise from your hotel and continue by tuk-tuk to the Grand Palace — the official residence of the kings of Siam — and later, Thailand. Visit the Emerald Buddha Temple, regarded as the most important Buddhist temple in Thailand. It contains an image of Buddha flawlessly carved from a single block of jade. Tour the temple of Wat Pho to view its gilded, 160-foot-long Reclining Buddha, while the musical sound of coins tossed into brass offering bowls punctuate your experience. At lunch, enjoy a special Thai cooking demonstration. This evening, gather with fellow guests for a cocktail and welcome dinner.
Bangkok | Aboard the Eastern & Oriental Express
Visit a local temple to witness a Thai Buddhist blessing ceremony. After some time at leisure, transfer to the railway station and board the iconic green-and-gold coaches of the Eastern & Oriental Express. Savor a superb dinner in the dining car as the train travels out into the countryside, passing rice fields, villages and water buffalo. Throughout your journey, take in sweeping views of the lush scenery from the colonial-style, teakwood observation car. Retire to your cabin, transformed from a private lounge with banquette-style sofa into a cozy bedroom, all by your steward, who is at your service around the clock.
Kanchanaburi | Bridge on the River Kwai
This morning, arrive at River Kwai Bridge Station in the rural town of Kanchanaburi. Disembark the train to board a boat and cruise down the Kwai Yai River with your fellow passengers. Your guide shares insights into the infamous span built by allied prisoners of war under the command of the occupying Japanese army during World War II. Back on shore, stop by the Thailand-Burma Railway Centre and Don Rak War Cemetery to learn more about the historic events dramatized in the classic 1957 film, The Bridge on the River Kwai. Reboard the train and continue toward Malaysia, gathering in the dining car for an elegant formal dinner.
Kuala Kangsar, Malaysia | Royal Town
Savor a leisurely breakfast in your cabin as the train passes picturesque limestone massifs rearing from rice fields. Relax in the observation car or saloon lounge, watching the passing scenery. After lunch aboard, disembark to board a coach bound for a rural village set among lush rice paddies and rolling hills. Meet the locals and explore their regional cuisine, martial arts and methods of rice cultivation. Next, head to a plantation to learn how rubber, banana and durian crops are grown and harvested. Rejoin the train as it continues southward through the lush rainforests and rural coast towns of peninsular Malaysia. Tonight on board, dress for dinner and enjoy a nightcap in the piano bar on the final evening of your elegant journey by rail.
Singapore | City in a Garden
Upon arrival in Singapore, get your first glimpse of this diverse and dynamic “City in a Garden” as you drive to the National Orchid Garden, a lush oasis boasting a colorful display of 60,000 orchids representing 400 species and more than 2,000 hybrids. Keep a careful lookout for Vanda, or “Miss Joaquim,” Singapore’s national flower. Continue on for lunch at a local restaurant. Then, enjoy an afternoon at leisure exploring the city on your own, shopping an eclectic mix of stores, or relaxing in the hotel. Later in the evening, gather with your fellow travellers for dinner at a local restaurant.
Singapore | Epicenter of Diversity
This morning, sample Singapore’s diverse international flavors with a visit to Arab Street’s Sultan Mosque. Next, take in the harbor-side vistas of Merlion Park. After lunch at a local restaurant, embark on an afternoon bumboat cruise down the Singapore River into Clarke Quay. Continue on to Thian Hock Keng Temple, one of Singapore’s oldest Buddhist-Taoist temples. Later, tour Katong and Joo Chiat, two bustling enclaves showcasing the city’s baroque Peranakan architecture.
Bali, Indonesia | Pulse of an Island Paradise
Fly to Denpasar, your gateway to Bali. Upon arrival, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Then, transfer inland to your resort, driving through lush tropical forests toward the town of Ubud, the cultural heart of Bali. Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure, perhaps exploring surrounding villages by bike or meeting a local rice farmer to learn how they cultivate their crops.
Bali | Holy Water Temple
Begin with an excursion to the Holy Water Temple of Sebatu. Watch as Hindu pilgrims partake in a spiritual cleanse, joyfully splashing in the sacred, curative waters fed by the fountain’s cascading spigots. Next, head to Ubud for time at leisure to explore the village’s tradition of craftsmanship, strolling among artisan shops surrounded by lush rice paddies and sacred shrines. After lunch, your afternoon is free to explore on your own or enjoy the many activities on offer at your resort.
Bali | A Parting Glimpse
Today, travel to the rocky coastal outcropping of Tanah Lot Temple, the most iconic in a chain of sea temples that dot the coastline. Highly venerated by the Balinese, the solemn temple sits atop a striking tower rock that is isolated from the shore by the sea at high tide. Try your hand at capturing this, the most photographed temple in Bali, before continuing to your next resort, overlooking Jimbaran Bay and its stunning beach. Gather tonight for a farewell dinner at one of Bali’s most spectacular restaurants, enjoying ocean views while you dine.
Bali | Sunset Reflection
This morning, embark on a final excursion to Pura Luhur Uluwatu Temple, one of the region’s most revered sites. Perched 250 feet above the water on a sheer cliff, it offers a perfect vantage point to the beach below, one of the island’s best surf spots. Watch the huge waves roll in and crash against the cliffs, keeping an eye out for the playful monkeys that inhabit the area. Back at the resort, enjoy an afternoon at leisure. Reflect on your incredible journey as the sun bathes the sea and sky in the ebbing glow of twilight.
Depart Bali
After breakfast, transfer to the airport and depart for your international flight home.
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