Thailand to Singapore by train

You will stay in the Empress Hotel or similar, Chiang Mai, the Eastin Hotel Makkasan or similar in Bangkok, the Holiday Inn Resort or similar in Penang, the Dorsett Regency Hotel or similar in Kuala Lumpur and the Peninsula Hotel in Singapore or similar. Hotel standards are extremely high in Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. Gracious and courteous service is a way of life. All our hotels are air-conditioned and bedrooms have private facilities. Hotels will be confirmed in your final documents.

Chiang Mai to Bangkok - The Sprinter railcar offers comfortable reclining chairs for the journey to Bangkok. Air-conditioning or fans are provided along with shared washroom facilities. Refreshments are available.

Bangkok to Butterworth - The International Express train offers spacious seating that converts to comfortable 4-berth sleeping bunks; assembled by the helpful onboard staff. Curtains around the bunks provide privacy with air-conditioning for comfort. Basic washing facilities and refreshments are available.

Kuala Lumpur to Singapore - The Express Sinaran Seletan train offers first class, airconditioned seating on the scenic journey through the palm and tea plantations of Malaysia. Refreshments and washroom facilities are available.

Please note: The trains used on this tour offer a more basic level of comfort than those used in the UK and air-conditioning cannot be guaranteed.

Please note: Due to restricted luggage compartment space on the train, one soft bag per person is suggested.

Day 1: UK/Chiang Mai via Bangkok

Depart on your scheduled flight to Chiang Mai, in northern Thailand.

Day 2: Chiang Mai

Arrival in Chiang Mai followed by transfer to your hotel for a three night stay.

Day 3: Chiang Mai

This morning you will visit the magnificent hilltop Doi Suthep Temple for spectacular views over Chiang Mai. During the afternoon visits will be made to umbrella, jewellery and lacquerware factories.

Meals: Breakfast / lunch

Day 4: Chiang Mai

Morning visit to an elephant camp on the outskirts of the city, where you’ll marvel at their sheer size. During the afternoon, a trip will be made to watch silk and cotton fabrics being made.

Meals: Breakfast / lunch

Day 5: Bangkok

Travel on the daytime train service from Chiang Mai to Bangkok. This fascinating 12-hour journey covers over 470 miles and will afford close up views of Thai rural life. On arrival in Bangkok transfer to your hotel for a three-night stay.

Meals: Breakfast / lunch

Day 6: Bangkok

This morning we include a sightseeing tour of Bangkok, visiting the The Grand Palace and the Reclining Buddha. Bangkok is a sprawling city situated on the Chao Praya River, 30 miles north of the Gulf of Thailand, a fascinating amalgam of saffron-robed Buddhist monks, floating markets on the klongs (canals), street stalls, exotic restaurants and a legendary nightlife. This afternoon you will visit the famous Rose Gardens, where many aspects of Thai culture are on display, including Thai boxing, folk dancing, working elephants and monks’ ordination ceremonies.

Meals: Breakfast / lunch

Day 7: Bangkok

Optional full-day tour to the River Kwai and the allied cemetery at Kanchanaburi - start of the infamous ‘Death Railway’ of World War II.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 8: Aboard the train

Transfer to Hualampong station and join the ‘International Express’ for the journey south to Butterworth in Malaysia. Accommodation will be in comfortable open plan carriages, with a dining car being provided as far as Hat Yai, just north of the Malaysian border. From Bangkok, the train heads through sprawling suburbs then into a vast landscape of rice fields. Major towns passed include Hua Hin, the old royal capital. Overnight on board the train.

Meals: Breakfast / lunch

Day 9: Penang

After alighting for customs and immigration checks at Padang Besar, re-board the train and travel through an increasingly tropical landscape to Butterworth, a further three hours away. On arrival transfer by road across the impressive 8 mile long bridge to Penang Island - Pearl of the Orient, a place of mysterious temples and palm-shrouded beaches. Stay for three nights at your beachside hotel.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 10: Penang

Today, a three-quarter day sightseeing tour of the island is included. You will see traditional batik printing, view a spice estate and a Malay Kampung, where houses are built on stilts. You will also drive around the capital, Georgetown, see Fort Cornwallis, Little India, bustling Chinatown, majestic Khoo Kongsi and the Wat Chayamankalaram which houses one of the world’s largest reclining Buddhas.

Meals: Breakfast / lunch

Day 11: Penang

Free to relax or explore this wonderful island further on one of our optional excursions.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 12: Kuala Lumpur

Morning drive to Ipoh for an included sightseeing tour and lunch. Continue to Kuala Lumpur and an included sightseeing tour of this bustling capital of Malaysia, home to one of the world’s tallest buildings, the Petronas Towers. Colonial buildings nestle beside Chinese shops, both overshadowed by towering office blocks. Other highlights are the Jamek Mosque, Chinatown, the Royal Palace, beautiful Lake Gardens and the National Museum. Transfer to your hotel for a two-night stay.

Meals: Breakfast / lunch

Day 13: Kuala Lumpur

At leisure in Kuala Lumpur.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 14: Singapore

The final stage of your fascinating rail journey is on board the ‘Express Sinaran Seletan’, in first-class air-conditioned seating. Once clear of Kuala Lumpur you travel past oil palm plantations which gradually give way to tea plantations, before arriving at Johor Bahru, Malaysia’s newest economic hub. Then across the causeway to arrive at Singapore Station. On arrival, transfer to your hotel for a two-night stay. Afternoon and evening at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 15: Singapore

Today we have included a morning sightseeing tour of Singapore which was founded by Sir Stamford Raffles in 1819. You will see Orchard Road, Mount Faber, Raffles Place, the waterfront and Little India then walk through Chinatown, and finally the Botanic Gardens. Singapore is the world’s second busiest port, known as the ‘Garden City’. Singapore offers a fascinating insight into the dignity of the old colonial days, mixed with fast developing and futuristic commercial enterprise. It is famous for its astonishing selection of shops, markets and bazaars, all with amazing duty free prices. The city itself is quite compact, and you can explore the narrow streets with their delightful open-air food stalls, stroll through the quiet squares or watch the chaotic and frenzied activity of the harbour area.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 16: Singapore/UK

Most of the day at leisure until your transfer to the airport for the return flight to the UK.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 17: UK

Arrival in the UK.