Legends of the East by Rail: Bangkok to Singapore & Bali

Arrive in Bangkok, where you are met and swiftly moved through customs before being transferred to your hotel on the banks of the Chao Phraya River.

Take a short cruise from your hotel and continue by tuk-tuk to the Grand Palace — the official residence of the kings of Siam — and later, Thailand. Visit the Emerald Buddha Temple, regarded as the most important Buddhist temple in Thailand. It contains an image of Buddha flawlessly carved from a single block of jade. Re-board your boat for a visit to peaceful Kudi Jeen, one of Bangkok’s most diverse communities. Walk to a family bakery where you taste a local specialty cake. After a visit to the community’s church, pause for lunch at a local restaurant. Then, cruise back to your hotel for an afternoon at leisure. This evening, gather with fellow guests for a cocktail and welcome dinner.

After a relaxing morning, transfer to the railway station and board the iconic green-and-gold coaches of the Eastern & Oriental Express. Savor a superb dinner in the dining car as the train travels out into the countryside, passing rice fields, villages and water buffalo. Throughout your journey, take in sweeping views of the lush scenery from the colonial-style, teakwood observation car. Retire to your cabin, transformed from a private lounge with banquette-style sofa into a cozy bedroom, all by your steward, who is at your service around the clock.

This morning, arrive at River Kwai Bridge Station in the rural town of Kanchanaburi. Disembark the train to board a boat and cruise down the Kwai Yai River with your fellow passengers. Your guide shares insights into the infamous span built by allied prisoners of war under the command of the occupying Japanese army during World War II. Back on shore, stop by the Thailand-Burma Railway Centre and Don Rak War Cemetery to learn more about the historic events dramatized in the classic 1957 film, The Bridge on the River Kwai. Reboard the train and continue toward Malaysia, gathering in the dining car for an elegant formal dinner.

Savor a leisurely breakfast in your cabin as the train passes picturesque limestone massifs rearing from rice fields. Relax in the observation car or saloon lounge, watching the passing scenery. After lunch aboard, disembark to board a coach bound for a rural village set among lush rice paddies and rolling hills. Here, meet the locals and visit their homes, wander past a village spice garden, and stop at a local coffee shop to sample local delicacies. Next, head to a rubber plantation to learn how Malaysia became one of the world’s largest rubber producers. Rejoin the train as it continues southward through the lush rainforests and rural coast towns of peninsular Malaysia. Tonight on board, dress for dinner and enjoy a nightcap in the piano bar on the final evening of your elegant journey by rail.

Upon arrival in Singapore, get your first glimpse of this diverse and dynamic “City in a Garden” as you drive to the National Orchid Garden, a lush oasis boasting a colorful display of 60,000 orchids representing 400 species and more than 2,000 hybrids. Keep a careful lookout for Vanda, or “Miss Joaquim,” Singapore’s national flower. Continue on for lunch at your hotel. Then, enjoy an afternoon at leisure exploring the city on your own, shopping an eclectic mix of stores, or relaxing in the hotel. Later in the evening, gather with your fellow travellers for dinner at a local restaurant. After dinner, take in the dazzling light show at the city’s waterfront Gardens by the Bay.

This morning, sample Singapore’s diverse international flavors with a visit to Arab Street’s Sultan Mosque. Next, take in the harbor-side vistas of Merlion Park. After lunch at a local restaurant, embark on an afternoon bumboat cruise down the Singapore River into Clarke Quay. Continue on to Thian Hock Keng Temple, one of Singapore’s oldest Buddhist-Taoist temples. Later, tour Katong and Joo Chiat, two bustling enclaves showcasing the city’s baroque Peranakan architecture.

Fly to Denpasar, your gateway to Bali. Transfer inland to your resort, driving through lush tropical forests toward the town of Ubud, the cultural heart of Bali. Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure, perhaps exploring surrounding villages by bike or meeting a local rice farmer to learn how the crops are cultivated.

Begin with an excursion to the Holy Water Temple of Sebatu. Watch as Hindu pilgrims partake in a spiritual cleanse, joyfully splashing in the sacred, curative waters fed by the fountain’s cascading spigots. Next, head to Ubud for lunch. Then, enjoy time at leisure to explore the village’s tradition of craftsmanship, strolling among artisan shops surrounded by lush rice paddies and sacred shrines. After lunch, your afternoon is free to explore on your own or enjoy the many activities on offer at your resort.

This morning, visit beautiful Taman Ayun, a sprawling, moat-ringed temple complex woven together by tranquil gardens. The expansive main courtyard gives way to an inner courtyard dotted with meru (tiered shrines) and lotus-fringed reflecting pools. Continue to your next resort, overlooking stunning Jimbaran Bay. Gather tonight for a farewell dinner at one of Bali’s most spectacular restaurants, enjoying ocean views while you dine.

This morning, embark on a final excursion to Pura Luhur Uluwatu Temple, one of the region’s most revered sites. Perched 250 feet above the water on a sheer cliff, it offers a perfect vantage point to the beach below, one of the island’s best surf spots. Watch the huge waves roll in and crash against the cliffs, keeping an eye out for the playful monkeys that inhabit the area. Back at the resort, enjoy an afternoon at leisure. Reflect on your incredible journey as the sun bathes the sea and sky in the ebbing glow of twilight.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport and depart for your international flight home.