Eastern & Oriental Express, Singapore & Sentosa Island

Enjoy complimentary airport lounge access before boarding your overnight flight from the UK to Singapore. 

On arrival in Singapore, a private transfer will be waiting to take you to your grand, Neoclassical-style hotel on the banks of the Singapore River. Once housing the General Post Office, this impressive landmark pairs a prime location with luxurious amenities ranging from an opulent spa to a sleek infinity pool with wonderful views looking out across the city’s skyline. The next day presents an opportunity to explore Singapore on a guided city tour, taking you between the vibrant neigbourhoods of Chinatown and Little India as well as futuristic marvels such as the Supertree Grove and the Flower Dome at the Gardens by the Bay. Don’t miss the chance to visit the city’s hawker markets – these buzzing street food courts are some of the best places to sample authentic Singaporean cuisine.

After breakfast, a private transfer will pick you up from your hotel and take you to Woodlands Station, where you’ll board the iconic green and cream carriages of the Eastern & Oriental Express. With cherry-wood panelling, intricate embroidery, plush sofas and atmospheric lighting, the train exudes an ambience of timeless elegance. Settle into your air-conditioned cabin as your journey begins, heading north into the wild, green landscapes of rural Malaysia and enjoying an afternoon tea as you take in the ever-shifting scenery. Later on, head to one of the restaurant cars for an exquisite dinner inspired by the flavours of Southeast Asia, followed by evening entertainment and perhaps a cocktail or two before calling it a night.

This morning, you’ll wake up to views of Malaysia’s tropical wilderness as you enjoy breakfast in the comfort of your cabin. Alighting at Merapoh station, you’ll have the opportunity to venture into Taman Negara National Park, one of the oldest tropical rainforests in the world, home to a rich variety of wildlife including Malayan tigers, water buffalos and macaques. As part of Eastern & Oriental's partnership with Save Wild Tigers, you’ll get to meet local villagers and organisations who are working on the ground to protect these noble, critically endangered tigers and their natural jungle habitat. You’ll then return to the train and enjoy a leisurely afternoon as your journey continues past rice paddies, palm trees and rural villages, followed by another delicious dinner and an evening filled with live music in the Piano Bar Car. 

Breakfast and lunch are served onboard as you head west towards the coast, alighting for a crossing to Penang Island, renowned as one of Malaysia’s most diverse cultural melting pots. Here, you can choose from a raft of excursions, from a guided walking tour of George Town’s Old Quarter to visiting ornate temples and learning the centuries-old traditions and techniques of Peranakan cuisine in a cooking masterclass. There’s also the possibility to explore independently with a tri-shaw, a map and a driver who’ll whisk you through the colourful streets of George Town as you please, stopping wherever and whenever you like along the way. You’ll then rejoin the train at Butterworth for your final evening onboard, once again with delectable food and live entertainment to look forward to. 

Enjoy breakfast in your cabin or in the Dining Car as the final leg of your Eastern & Oriental Express journey takes you back south, via the Malaysian state of Johor, to Singapore. Here, you’ll disembark and take a private transfer to Capella Singapore, a luxury hotel spread across two beautifully restored 19th-century bungalows on Sentosa Island. Although just a 10-minute drive from downtown Singapore, the island has a much more laid-back, tranquil feel to it. Featuring a state-of-the-art spa, pools nestled among tropical gardens, direct access to the palm-fringed Palawan Beach and restaurants covering authentic Cantonese cuisine and Italian classics, this is a delightful place to relax and recharge for the final three nights of your trip. Beyond the resort itself, there’s no shortage of things to see and do on Sentosa Island, from theme parks and aquariums to golf courses and cable cars. 

A private transfer will collect you from Sentosa Island and take you back to Singapore Changi Airport to catch your flight home.