Classic Singapore & Malaysia

Upon arrival at the airport today you will be met by a local guide and transfer to your hotel.
A feast for the senses awaits in Singapore – a fantasyland of skyscrapers, lush gardens and an intoxicating mix of cultures and cuisines, from India to China. Singapore is certainly a small country with a population of only 4 million but there are a large number of reasons to spend time here. It is very much a modern garden destination in many respects with its downtown skyscrapers and 50 parks and 4 nature reserves.

However, it also retains its old colourful districts that are influenced by the ethnic mix that exists here. Chinese, Malay and Indian cultures stand side by side and can also be seen individually in neighbourhoods such as Chinatown and Little India, all to be experienced on a Singapore vacation.
On arrival, you’ll be transferred to your hotel. Later meet your WTC host and fellow travellers for a Welcome Reception with Dinner to follow.
Accommodations: Paradox Singapore Merchant Court

Today enjoy an orientation tour that highlights the history, multi-racial culture and lifestyle that is Singapore. See the city’s colonial heritage as we drive around the Civic District past the Padang, the Cricket Club, Parliament House and the National Gallery Singapore. Stop at Merlion Park for great views of Marina Bay and a picture-taking opportunity with the Merlion, a mythological creature that is part lion and part fish. The tour continues with a visit to the Thian Hock Keng Temple, one of the oldest Buddhist-Taoist temples on the island, built with donation from the early immigrant workers from China before driving past Chinatown.

From there we proceed to the National Orchid Garden, located within the Singapore Botanic Gardens (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), which boasts a sprawling display of 60,000 orchid plants comprising of 400 species and more than 2,000 hybrids. Our final stop at Little India will enthrall you with the scent of spices, jasmine, orchid garlands and exotic fruits.
We will coach down to Trishaw Station for a trishaw ride that will take you past the vibrant Bugis Village and the bustling streets. We will then drive to a local Chinese restaurant for dinner. After we will visit a Night Market and wander along the narrow lanes and test your bargaining skills against street vendors selling anything from souvenirs to leather goods.
Accommodations: Paradox Singapore Merchant Court

Today enjoy a market and suburb tour. We drive to Geylang Serai market, which lies at the heart of the Malay community. Rub shoulders with the locals at the wet market and also you can indulge in all-time Singaporean favorites like Roti Prata and Thosai taken with a frothy glass of Teh Tarikin the food center (food cost is excluded and payable by guests to individual stall owners). Continue to the Joo Chiat and Katong enclave, strolling past its pastel-hued pre-war shop-houses. With a bit of luck, you may come across the popiah masters who stand over hot griddles twirling dollops of dough in mid-air to make paper-thin wrappers for fresh spring rolls.

We begin our evening with a bumboat ride along the iconic Singapore River to see beautifully restored shop-houses, modern skyscrapers of the financial district, colonial buildings and the iconic Merlion statue. After we drive to Gardens by the Bay to watch the Super Tree Grove come alive with an exhilarating display of light and sound at night! We then continue on to Marina Bay Sands’ Skypark Observation Deck – it is a roof like no other, perched 200 metres in the air. Be amazed with a birds-eye view of the city from the top.
Accommodations: Paradox Singapore Merchant Court

Enjoy a free day to further explore this amazing city. This is a great opportunity to visit one of the fabulous shopping areas.
Accommodations: Paradox Singapore Merchant Court

Leave the cityscape of Singapore behind bound for Malaysia. Transfer by coach to the Singapore-Jehore border where you say farewell to your Singapore guide and meet your Malaysia tour guide. Your journey begins with a visit to Kampung Cantik village. Admire the distinct Malacca kampong stilt houses and discover the scents and flavors of local fruits, herbs and spices that infuse the delicious regional cuisine. Immerse yourself in the local culture and participate in some of the villagers’ favorite pastimes such as top spinning and silat, a Malaysian art of self-defense. Lunch will be at a local Peranaken restaurant (Nyonya) and then, continue to your hotel in Malacca and check-in for a relaxing evening.

This tour provides an excellent opportunity, to experience the lifestyle and hospitality of the traditional Malacca Malay Village. Upon arrival at Kampung Cantik, you will be shown the tapping of a rubber tree. Next we see the oil palm and learn about the different uses of the versatile oil derived from this palm. On the village walk, we will be passing quaint Malacca kampong houses, built on stilt. Discover the exotic nutmeg fruits, aromatic curry leaves, lemon grass, breadfruit trees and the various seasonal fruits such as the durian, mangosteen and others. Also, within the village, stands a patch of paddy field, where the cultivation of rice is carried out on a seasonal basis. See and take part in some of the favourite pastimes of the village people, like top spinning, the making of ketupat casings with coconut leaves, congkak playing and silat – a Malay art of self-defense. On the return journey, you will have the opportunity to enter a traditional kampong house where an explanation of their customs and tradition will be given. By the end of the trip, we promise, you will learn a thing or two about the simple lifestyle of the Malay kampong folks.
Accommodations: Casa del Rio

This morning, your ‘Local Specialist’ reveals the seamless fusion of Portuguese, Dutch, British and Malay influences that have shaped the UNESCO-listed historic city of Malacca. Embark on an informative walking tour past Dutch Square with its Stadhuys and clock tower, reflecting the multi-cultural heritage of this once vibrant trading port. Ascend to the top of Malacca Hill, and then stroll along the river to Kampung Kuli where you’ll discover colourful shopfronts displaying traditional crafts.

This afternoon, enjoy a leisurely cruise along the Malacca River, sailing past historic buildings, old godowns (warehouses), churches and villages. After a day of exploration, enjoy dinner at one of the local restaurants (Portuguese Seafood Cuisine).
Accommodations: Casa del Rio

The commercial and culinary hub of Malaysia awaits – its skyscrapers and colourful street vendors yours to explore over the next two days. You’ll visit Independent Square and the grand 19th century Sultan Abdul Samad Building, with a final stop to see the city’s landmarks from the Sky Bridge perched between the imposing 88-storey-high Petronas Twin Towers that tower over Kuala Lumpur. The rest of the afternoon and evening is free to explore Kuala Lumpur on your terms.
Accommodations: Melia Kuala Lumpur

We venture into the countryside this morning to visit a village inhabited by the Orang Asli, an ethnic group widely regarded as being Malaysia’s original inhabitants. We’ll delve into their history and traditions during a visit to the Orang Asli Museum, and then stroll around the village with a ‘Local Specialist’, observing first-hand local traditions such as bamboo cooking and weaving. We return to Kuala Lumpur, where we’ll visit Chow Kit Market and watch how the locals haggle to get the best deals.

Our next stop is the central Kuala Lumpur enclave of Kampung Baru, where the ethnic Malay lifestyle has been preserved. Sample traditional Malay sweets and cakes at the local food stalls before returning to the hotel for an afternoon at leisure.
Tonight we will meet for Dinner and Cultural Show in Chinatown, Kuala Lumpur. Wander through the bustling night market in Chinatown where you can test your bargaining skills with the vendors for a wide variety of merchandise spread across the street. Visit the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple located in the heart of Chinatown which was founded in 1873 and is the oldest Hindu temple in Kuala Lumpur. The smell of burning jasmine, incessant chanting of the Hindu priest, and the mystical aura combine to give you a lasting spiritual impression. Afterwards a delicious Malay dinner is served in a local restaurant (The Love Restaurant) while you enjoy a traditional Malay cultural performance.
Accommodations: Melia Kuala Lumpur

Journey deep into the Malaysian countryside, stopping briefly at the Selangor Pewter factory before continuing to Batu Caves, one of Malaysia’s most iconic sights and a popular Hindu shrine. En route to the Cameron Highlands, enjoy a quick photo stop at the Lata Iskandar Waterfall, then continue to Tanah Rata for a highlight – afternoon tea and scones with cream and locally produced jam (pax own account). Discover the region’s strawberry farming heritage during a visit to a strawberry farm, then continue to your hotel for dinner (Steamboat dinner).
Accommodations: Strawberry Park Resort

Lush valleys and tea plantations provide a tranquil backdrop for today’s drive through the Cameron Highlands, Malaysia’s most extensive hill station. Snap a photo of the area’s emerald landscape before driving to Perak Cave Temple, an extensive cave complex in Ipoh. Venture into the cave temple and see its beautifully painted murals and golden sitting Buddha statue, which dominates the temple. This afternoon enjoy a walking tour of the charismatic town of Ipoh and admire the colonial-style buildings that were once home to wealthy tin miners and today house trendy cafés and shops.

Walk through the old town’s narrow laneways and admire the street art that adorn its façades. Spend the rest of your evening relaxing or consider visiting the night bazaar for some retail therapy.
Accommodations: Weil Hotel

Our journey to Penang this morning takes us past the royal town of Kuala Kangsar where we’ll visit the majestic Ubudiah Mosque, ranked as one of Malaysia’s most beautiful mosques with its white marble and massive golden dome. Stop at the Penang Batik Handicraft Center to observe how Malaysian batik is being made. Afterwards we’ll visit the workshop of a traditional keris maker to learn about how these elaborately carved daggers are made and hear all about their spiritual meaning to the local people who believe that they possess magical powers. Later we’ll drive over one of the longest bridges in Southeast Asia before arriving in Penang, which we’ll have an opportunity to explore at leisure after checking in to our hotel.

This afternoon we will experience the majestic Kok Lok Si Temple and ascend Penang Hill by funicular railway.
Kek Lok Si is a temple complex built in 1891 and is considered one of the largest Buddhist temple complexes in Southeast Asia. See the 10,000 statues of Buddha, wander around the temple and discover the Pond of Longevity where hundreds of tortoises can be found year round and see the enormous Kuan Yin Pavilion that is about 80 metres tall. Later, ascend Penang Hill on the Swiss funicular railway passing through hill farms and lush tropical rain forest. During the ride, enjoy breath-taking views of the island of Penang and Mainland Malaysia
Accommodations: Shangri La’s Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa

Immerse yourself in the Asia of yesteryear as you embark on a historical tour of Georgetown. Begin your journey back in time with a quick photo stop at Fort Cornwallis, where Captain Francis Light, the founder of the British colony in Penang, first landed in 1786. Continue with a visit to the small home of the local joss stick maker, a ‘Local Specialist’ who will demonstrate the almost-forgotten craft of making handmade joss sticks.

Your next stop is to the intricately carved Chinese clan house of Khoo Kongsi, where Chinese families of the same surname gather together to worship their ancestors. Later, see the city’s splendid colonial architecture and famous street art from the comfort of a traditional trishaw, followed by an afternoon at leisure.
Accommodations: Shangri La’s Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa

Your epic journey across Singapore and Malaysia almost at its end, enjoy a free day to experience this beautiful beach resort and then you will join your travel companions for a Farewell Dinner to celebrate the highlights of your trip.
Accommodations – Shangri La’s Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa

It is time to say good-bye to this beautiful country and the amazing friends you have made along the way. After breakfast we will transfer to the airport for your flight home.