Malaysia, Borneo & Singapore

Arriving in the afternoon, we'll transfer to our hotel on Batu Ferringhi Beach and enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure - the perfect start for anyone who prefers to fly and flop.

Of course, any trip to the Far East cannot be complete without trying out the delectable flavours of one of the world’s most varied cuisines. The best-known Malaysian dish is satay – meat skewers marinated with turmeric, grilled over charcoal and served with a mildly spicy peanut sauce.

But there’s so much more: nasi kandar, steamed rice soaked in a variety of flavourful curries; asam laksa, a tangy fish broth listed on CNN’s ‘world’s 50 most delicious foods’; beef rendang, a rich meat dish seasoned with a mouthwatering mix of spices; chicken rice, a Hainanese-influenced dish of steamed or roasted chicken served with fragrant rice cooked in chicken broth – the list is almost endless! Don't be afraid to dive right in - tonight is your first opportunity to try the country's mouthwatering cuisine.

This morning we'll enjoy a walking tour of the beautifully preserved colonial centre of George Town. A UNESCO World Heritage site, George Town is perhaps unique in Southeast Asia in having over 30,000 pre-war buildings. Francis Light built Fort Cornwallis, which still stands to this day, and promoted it as a free port, vastly increasing trade and attracting large numbers of Chinese and Indian settlers. 

The same successful tactic was followed in Malacca to the south and both cities, developed their unique mix of cultures which is still evident today. What is particularly fascinating is that despite being bombed by the Japanese in World War II, George Town still has thousands of pre-war buildings, mostly Chinese-owned ‘shophouses’, many fine colonial-era villas and public buildings, which have helped it attain UNESCO World Heritage status. George Town represents a fascinating glimpse into 18th-century colonial life.

Cheong Fatt Tze Blue Mansion
We'll visit Cheong Fatt Tze Blue Mansion House, a timeless grand mansion built at the end of the 19th century by a powerful Chinese tycoon. In this famed George Town landmark, we'll learn more about a life of grandeur in 19th-century Penang and gain insight into its eclectic architecture and heritage.

Free time in George Town
After a fascinating ride by cycle trishaw through the winding back streets, you’ll enjoy an included lunch. The afternoon is at leisure to enjoy the many facilities of your hotel. In the evening, the local night market is an easy stroll from the hotel and a great chance to try the local street cuisine or hone your bargaining skills.

Boarding the Penang Hill Funicular Railway, we'll climb to the top of Penang Hill - some 833 metres above sea level - travelling on the steepest tunnel track in the world.

Once a cool retreat during the British colonial period, many prominent bungalows built here still stand today as well as the post office and police station, built in 1894 and 1929 respectively. Here you can enjoy the heritage ambience of the picturesque, antiquated century-old colonial-style buildings, discover the unique plants (like tropical pitcher plants, tree ferns, and tropical oak trees) and look out at unobstructed views of George Town and both Penang Bridges.

Free time
After an included lunch sheltered from the crowds by the lush greenery at the top Strawberry Hill on Penang Hill – a hill on a hill if you will – you'll be free to enjoy the afternoon at leisure.

Taiping
We'll leave the city by crossing the eight-mile Penang Bridge to Butterworth on the mainland of Malaysia. From there we'll take a scenic drive to Taiping Town, which is known for its well-preserved colonial architecture. Where we'll stop for a tour, starting with a visit to a traditional charcoal factory in Kuala Sepetang. In this family-run factory, the ancient methods used to produce charcoal by baking local mangrove logs in kilns have been passed down from father to son since the late 1930s.

Continuing on, we see the Perak Museum - the oldest museum in Malaysia - which chronicles the area's history. Before setting off again, we'll have the option to stop off for a caffeine fix at the Aun Tong Coffee Mill, the oldest coffee mill in Malaysia, founded in 1933. As well as the chance for a well-earned coffee, we'll learn how coffee is produced, roasted and processed.

Free evening in Ipoh
Our journey continues through the picturesque countryside of Malaysia until we reach Ipoh, in Perak State, arriving late afternoon. The rest of the evening at leisure to explore the city. The charming Ipoh is famous for its sweeping landscapes, stunning temples and colonial architecture. It also holds the unofficial title of Malaysia’s second food capital. Ipoh is best known for its hawker fare — so don't miss the delicious dishes waiting to be savoured.

Today is at leisure. You could enjoy the large sandy beach and extensive swimming pools at your hotel. There is also a 400-acre nature reserve with its own walking paths adjacent to the resort, as well as an 18-hole championship golf course and a superb spa. And for dinner, choose from five restaurants and two bars – these are the best spots to watch the spectacular sunset over the South China Sea.

This morning we say goodbye to Borneo, as we fly to Singapore for a two-night stay in the Garden City - a moniker earned for its flourishing parks and gardens, rainforest and nature trails. In fact, green is woven into the landscape here at every opportunity with botanical outdoor spaces nestled between futuristic skyscrapers straight out of sci-fi, historical museums, modern galleries and art installations and so many shops (shopping is virtually compulsory here, but there’s so much more to do in Singapore than retail therapy).

Get a jump on seeing the city with an afternoon at leisure to explore near our hotel, ideally located at Clark Quay. Alternatively, you could venture slightly further out to visit Gardens by the Bay (book pay/ local), a scenic paradise for nature lovers spanning 101 hectares beside the Marina Reservoir. This colourful, futuristic park is full of a wide array of plants creatively displayed and punctuated by the famous Supertree structures.

Singapore
Singapore racks up a lot of superlatives - cleanest, best planned, and, quite possibly, most entertaining. Here, you'll find the largest rooftop infinity pool, the world's first safari park for nocturnal animals, some of the oldest temples and, of course, some of the best food on the planet.

To make the most of our time in the Garden City, we'll take an informative half-day city tour soaking up Singapore's diversity as we explore its range of cultures, dive into its history and admire the seamless blend of old and new. First, we pass by the colonial district to enjoy views of the Padang, Esplanade and Theatres on the Bay. We'll see an icon of Singapore, the Merlion fountain - a mythical beast, half lion, half fish - which is a nod back to the city's origins as a fishing village. Next head to Thian Hock Keng temple, one of Singapore’s oldest Hokkien temples. The elaborate architecture has a traditional Southern Chinese style with dragon and phoenix sculptures and Fujian-style broken porcelain roof ridges.

We'll take a drive to colourful Chinatown and then on to Little India, both vibrant ethnic enclaves with a unique heritage and plenty of temples and shops to explore. In Chinatown, you'll find the largest hawker centre - with over 260 food stalls - and Little India has a tantalising blend of restaurants serving South Asian dishes (something to remember come dinner time).

Singapore’s Botanical Gardens
And finally, our tour ends with a guided tour of the Botanical Gardens, a 164-year-old tropical garden and the city's first UNESCO World Heritage Site. The gardens are designed on a Four Core Concept, there’s Taglin, which is a heritage core retaining the historic charm of the gardens; Central is the tourist belt; Bukit Timah, the education and discovery zone; and Tyersall-Gallop, which integrates existing rainforests to form an enlarged forest habitat.

Free time
Then enjoy an afternoon at leisure exploring this large city-state.

Transfer to the airport for your flight home.

Arrive back in the UK with unforgettable memories of your incredible tour.