Grand Tour of 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.  

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.  

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. 

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.

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. 

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.

After breakfast, we'll explore Ipoh where colonial architecture stands side-by-side with rickety kedai kopi (traditional coffee shops). During Perak's tin mining boom, the British exerted a strong influence over Ipoh, and you'll see this reflected in the historic colonial buildings, including St Micheal's Institution - one of the best catholic schools in Perak - and the old Railway Station. 

We'll also stop to visit the Sam Poh Tong cave temple. Despite being built into a limestone hill, the Chinese temple doesn't hide from view. Its ornate front facade piques the interest of visitors who flock to the picturesque temple due to its cultural and religious significance to the Buddhist faith. Set on the southeastern edge of Ipoh among the limestone hills of Gunung Rapat, the ornamental garden and koi pond, it's a serene location to explore before we continue on to Kuala Lumpur - commonly known as ‘KL’.  

This morning we'll explore the contrasting city of Kuala Lumpur, with a fascinating mix of skyscrapers, upscale shopping malls, colonial buildings and atmospheric street markets. We'll see the world's tallest twin towers, the Petronas Twin Towers. It’s beautifully decorated with Islamic motifs and finished with a sky bridge that connects them at a knee-knocking 41 storeys up.  

Continuing on our tour next up will be Istana Negara - the King's Palace - the official residence of the supreme King of Malaysia to get a glimpse into the intricate royal residence. We'll stop to visit the manicured grounds of the National Mosque and its dome of blue and green tiles standing in contrast with the modern city centre of glass and steel that surrounds it. Then on to pay our respects to those soldiers and civilians who died defending Malaysia against the Japanese occupation during WWII and during the Malayan Emergency. And we'll pass the old Railway Station, the Tudor-styled Cricket Club, and the Moorish-style Federal Court. 

There'll then be some time at leisure during which time you may wish to take a short ride out of KL to explore the impressive cave temples of Batu Caves. This series of limestone caves combines a fascinating natural landscape with a popular place of worship. You can climb the 272 vibrantly coloured steps to Temple Cave, the largest of the five caves, and visit various temples within this sacred Hindu shrine.  

Today is a free day to explore KL at your leisure. You could wander through the colonial-era landmarks of the Sultan Abdul Samad Building or the Kuala Lumpur Railway Station. Perhaps discover the history and process of pewter craftsmanship at the Royal Selangor Visitor Centre. Alternatively, you may wish to take our optional full-day tour to historic Malacca (bookable locally), one of Southeast Asia’s greatest trading ports in the 15th century. 

One of the more famous of the Straits Settlements, it was originally colonised by the Portuguese and later taken over by the Dutch before finally succumbing to the might of the British East India Company. There’s plenty to see in the many old shophouses, now converted into attractive boutiques and cafés, but many are still family homes as well. 

Another option back in Kuala Lumpur is the Perdana Botanical Gardens. Located just southwest of Chinatown and spread over 220 acres, it is an area of verdant calm far removed from the bustle of the surrounding city. The park features a beautiful hibiscus garden, devoted to Malaysia’s national flower, and a stunning orchid garden with 800 species.

Later, we’ll escape the soaring skyscrapers and state-of-the-art shopping malls this evening and experience a quieter side of the city in the historic district of Kampung Baru. First opened in the 1880s, this is the last Malay enclave in the city centre and families have lived on these bougainvillea lined streets for four generations. Get a glimpse into the Malay lifestyle as we browse Chow Kit Market where the stalls are piled high with fresh local produce. Then we’ll experience typical Kampung Baru hospitality and Hi-Tea in the welcoming surroundings of a local home. Later, we'll step into the peaceful surroundings of the Kampung Baru mosque and Tatt Khalsa Diwan Gurdwara Sikh Temple, the biggest temple in Southeast Asia – truly a multicultural melting pot.

Today we’ll fly to Sandakan for a two-night stay. Founded in 1879 by the British North Borneo Company, Sandakan is a charming small port town with a fascinating colonial history on the eastern side of Borneo. Borneo is Malaysia’s shining verdant jewel in the crown, the third-largest island in the world. 

Its luxuriant tropical forests teem with thousands of extraordinary endemic plant and animal species. There are long-tailed macaques, proboscis monkeys, gibbons, flying squirrels, sun bears, the world’s largest snake, no fewer than 102 types of bats and, of course, the remarkable red-haired ‘man of the forest’ – the orangutan. Borneo is also known for the Rafflesia, the world’s largest flower, named after Sir Stamford Raffles, founder of Singapore. 

We’ll have a short orientation tour of the city on arrival, also stopping by the Sandakan Memorial, which commemorates the Australian and British soldiers held by the Japanese as prisoners of war between 1942 and 1945. The memorial is adjacent to the original location of the Sandakan Prisoner of War Camp.

This morning we’ll visit two centres of conservation and rehabilitation. First up is the Bornean Sun Bear Centre, which aims to provide care and rehabilitation to the rescued sun bears - the world's smallest bears, found only in Southeast Asia. We'll see the adorable ex-captive sun bears and learn more about the centre's efforts to protect and rehabilitate them. 

Next is the Sepilok Orangutan Centre which rehabilitates and provides a safe haven for orphaned and injured orangutans, one of the world's most endangered primates. Here around 60 to 80 orangutans live independently in the rainforest reserve and approximately 25 orphaned orangutans are housed and cared for in the nurseries - so there are plenty of opportunities to see them enjoying their freedom in the safety of the reserve. 

After an included lunch, we’ll visit the Agnes Keith House, a rare survival of post-war colonial wooden architecture. The museum here is dedicated to the American writer known for her autobiographical accounts of life in North Borneo before, during and after the Second World War.

This morning, we’ll catch the short flight to Kota Kinabalu on the western side of Borneo and transfer to our luxurious home for the next two nights, where all our rooms overlook the beautiful pool and gardens. 

On the way, we’ll stop at the living museum that is the Mari Mari Cultural Village. You’ll be able to experience the intriguing traditions, history and culture of five of the local indigenous tribes, including the feared Murut head-hunters, right in the middle of the rainforest. 

After an included lunch at our hotel, we’ll spend the afternoon at leisure. You could embark on an optional visit to Klias Forest Reserve. Here, we’ll enjoy a river cruise in search of wildlife, like the big-nosed Proboscis monkey, as well as abundant bird species – you'll want to keep your binoculars handy, and your eyes peeled. There’s also a traditional Malay buffet dinner before a final river cruise to observe a flickering display of fireflies as they light up the riverbanks (book/pay local).

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 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). 

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.  

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