Singapore’s City Within Nature and Malaysia Aboard the Eastern and Oriental Express

You will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. If you have free time today, perhaps visit the National Museum of Singapore, which is close to your hotel. This evening, enjoy a Welcome Dinner at 6.30pm. There will also be a welcome lecture on Singapore’s ‘City Within a Garden’ plan, presented by a local representative.

This morning you will explore Gardens by the Bay. The 101-hectare complex is situated in the heart of Singapore’s Marina Bay and houses over a quarter of a million rare plants. You will have time to appreciate the many different areas, which include the Flower Dome, the Cloud Forest, and the OCBC Skyway. Enjoy learning about rare plants and the challenges associated with their declining environment. In the afternoon, explore Parkroyal Marina Bay’s Urban Farm at leisure. It produces more than 60 varieties of fruit, vegetables, herbs and edible flowers. The rooftop operation supplies the hotel in true farm-to-table fashion. This evening, enjoy a sunset bumboat cruise along the river before dining along Clarke Quay.

Today enjoy a tour of the Singapore Botanic Gardens and the National Orchid Garden. Wander through virgin rainforest and take in the garden’s collection of 1,000 orchid species and 2,000 hybrids. This afternoon, visit the world-famous Raffles Hotel for High Tea and enjoy the lush gardens surrounding the iconic complex. This evening, we find ourselves mesmerised by the light display at Gardens by the Bay.

This morning, visit Pulau Ubin, an island which remains largely untouched by development. The island is home to one of Singapore’s last remaining traditional villages, or kampongs. The Chek Jawa Wetlands, one of the country’s most biodiverse ecosystems, is also found here. Afterwards, we visit Jewel Changi airport, an incredible glass and steel dome development, open to international travellers and locals alike. Explore the lush green oasis of the Shiseido Forest Valley and marvel at the Rain Vortex. Alternatively, you have the option to visit the Changi Museum.

Check out of your hotel today and visit community gardens as part of the ‘Community in Bloom’ project, a nationwide gardening movement aimed at fostering community spirit and bringing together residents, both young and old. Visit the Kranji War Memorial before sitting down for an authentic ‘farm-to-table’ lunch.

Then bid farewell to your Botanical Guide and board the striking green and cream carriages of the Eastern & Oriental Express at Singapore’s Woodlands Station. Settle into your refined and air-conditioned cabin, adorned with cherrywood panelling, Thai silks and Malaysian embroidery. Our train travels across the region’s lush, green landscapes, setting the scene for our immersion into the untamed terrain that pervades Malaysia’s west coast. Passing through tangled jungle, rubber and palm plantations, we soak up captivating vistas as the train’s steward serves a healthy afternoon tea in your cabin. Soon, evening falls and we dress for dinner, before making our way to the Dining Car. Indulge in regional specialities, expertly enhanced with the herbs, spices and plants that comprise zesty South-East Asian cuisine. Afterwards, enjoy a nightcap and some engaging onboard entertainment.

After breakfast in your cabin, admire the arresting views of the jungle, as our train courses through some of the wildest parts of Malaysia. Following lunch on board, we arrive at Merapoh Station and alight for an extraordinary experience. Conservation is at the heart of the Eastern & Oriental Express philosophy, while the Malayan tiger is the country’s national animal. The Eastern & Oriental Express has an ongoing partnership with Save Wild Tigers. Accordingly, we are invited to explore Taman Negara National Park’s “tiger territory”. Meet local villagers and organisations working to protect this noble, critically endangered wild cat and its habitat. Formed 130 million years ago, Taman Negara is one of the oldest tropical rainforests in the world. Its dense jungle, extensive river systems and lush mountains are home to a variety of wildlife, including water buffalo, macaques, tapirs and hornbills. On our return to the train, a delicious dinner precedes an evening of local entertainment in the Piano Bar Car.

Enjoy breakfast and lunch aboard our train, before we alight for our crossing to Penang Island. Here, we immerse ourselves in Malaysia’s culture. Art lovers can explore the Old Town of George Town with a guide, delving into temples, a contemporary studio, and an opera and puppet house. Food aficionados might like to discover the secrets of Peranakan cooking. Purchase ingredients from spice and grocery stores before mastering the recipes behind delicious local dishes during a cookery class. For those who prefer to explore independently, join your trishaw driver, check the local map, and wind through George Town’s enchanting streets, visiting the city’s attractions at your leisure. We rejoin our train in the city of Butterworth and enjoy a convivial final evening on board, complete with delicious cuisine and outstanding entertainment.

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast in your cabin, or the Dining Car, as we travel through the southernmost Malaysian state of Johor, known for its sublime beaches and rainforest. Soon the train crosses the Strait of Johor to arrive back in Singapore. Here, we disembark with memories of our magical journey.