Voyage Through South East Asia

DAY 1  DEPART THE UK

Depart the UK on an overnight flight to Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand.

DAY 2  CHIANG MAI

Arrive in Chiang Mai where your guide and driver will meet you for your private transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day can be spent at leisure. 

DAY 3 CHIANG MAI

Visit mountain temple of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, the most famous landmark of Chiang Mai situated 1,676 metres above the city. You can either climb up the staircase adorned with imposing looking Nagas - the mythical Thai water spirits - to visit the exquisite golden pagoda or take a cable car. In the afternoon you will be driven further up the mountain before switching to a local songtaew – the local taxi which is a semi-open red truck with two rows of seats opposite each other – for the drive to the Chang Kien Hmong village. It is about a half hour drive on a single-track road to this small village where the 800 inhabitants still wear their traditional hill tribe clothes and practice a culture that dates back 500 years. There's a great opportunity to  stop for a local cup of ‘Arabica’ coffee which is grown locally as part of the Chang Khien Coffee Research Project before returning back to Chiang Mai.

DAY 4   CHIANG MAI

Today we include a visit to the Elephant Nature Park where you have the chance to interact with elephants in the wild.

DAY 5   BANGKOK

Today you head down to Bangkok, just 1 hour by plane. On arrival your local guide and driver will meet you for your transfer to Ariyasom Villa, in the same spirit as Tamarind Village, this hotel is a calm oasis in the heart of the city.

DAY 6  BANGKOK

Take an exhilarating traditional long-tail boat ride through the canals, or klongs, of Bangkok. Cruise past teak houses, local noodle shops, fruit orchards and rice fields, then visit a bustling local market and discover a riverside temple far from the tourist crowds. In the afternoon you will have a personal guide at your disclosure to advise on anything you want to do in Bangkok; from the best markets on a given day, to the most delicious hawker stands to sample local street food, and of course, Bangkok's highlights. 

DAY 7   BANGKOK

Today’s highlight is the Bangkok Food Tour which gives you the chance to sample some delicious food and explore temples, side streets and cultural sights in a part of Bangkok you would be unlikely to come across alone.

DAY 8 THE EASTERN AND ORIENTAL EXPRESS TRAIN  (BANGKOK)

Most of the day is free for some last minute shopping or simply to relax around the pool at the Peninsula. 

In the evening your exciting journey aboard the Eastern and Oriental Express train begins. Your guide will transfer you to Bangkok station where you’ll be welcomed onto your carriage and given time to settle into your cabin before dinner is served.

DAY 9  THE EASTERN AND ORIENTAL EXPRESS TRAIN (THE RIVER KWAI)

We’d advise waking early this morning to take in the views as the train makes its way along a wooden viaduct beside beautiful limestone cliff scenery as it travels through Kanchanburi province. Soon after, you leave the train for a day excursion to the River Kwai; here you’ll take a tour of the area during which an experienced guide will give you an informative historical overview. Learn about the Thailand-Burma railway and visit the Don Rak War Cemetery. The evening is spent back on the train where you’ll enjoy cocktails on the observation deck and dinner on board as you snake down into Thailand’s Southern jungles.

DAY 10  THE EASTERN AND ORIENTAL EXPRESS TRAIN (PENANG)

After breakfast you’ll cross the Thailand/Malaysia border and arrive into Butterworth; here you’ll disembark and cross to the island of Penang.  Spend some time exploring Penang’s colonial capital Georgetown. In the afternoon you’ll rejoin your carriage for the journey on down through Malaysia. 

DAY 11 THE EASTERN AND ORIENTAL EXPRESS TRAIN (SINGAPORE)

Enjoy a final breakfast on the train before arriving in cosmopolitan Singapore; here you’ll disembark the train and transfer to Traders. This is a larger hotel than some of the others included on the tour in a great location to explore the city during your short stay.

DAY 12   SINGAPORE

Today you’ll take a guided tour of Singapore. Highlights include the beautiful Botanical Gardens, bustling China Town and cosmopolitan Orchard Road. Singapore is a great crossroads of cuisine so in the evening we’d recommend trying out some of the excellent Chinese, Malay or Indian food available.

DAY 13 – YOGYAKARTA

Today you leave Singapore for a flight down to the vibrant and mystical island of Java and to the historic capital Yogyakarta. You will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel, where the rest of the day will be spent at leisure.

DAY 14 – YOGYAKARTA

On today’s tour of Yogyakarta, visit the Kraton, the traditional home of the sultan and the royal court. Next visit the Taman Sari Complex, also known as Water Castle, built in 1758 as an elaborate retreat with a two story mansion built on an elevated mound rising out of an artificial lake. Other attractions include the underwater tunnel, sunken bathing pools, meditation chambers and 18 lavish tropical gardens.

After lunch in town your guide will take you to visit the tenth century Prambanan temple. While it has not yet been fully restored, it is undoubtedly a magnificent piece of architecture and the sculptures and reliefs on the main Shiva temple are amongst the best examples of Hindu art to be found. The best time to visit the temple is at sunset, when you can climb one of the eastern temples and watch as the sun sets in between the three largest temples to the west.

DAY 15 – YOGYAKARTA

Depart your hotel before the sun rises to explore Borobudur temple, a Buddhist temple built sometime between AD750-850 by the rulers of the Sailendra dynasty. The temple itself was constructed using two million individual bits of stone that were wrapped around a small hill and the resulting structure has six square terraces that lead up to three circular terraces on top. While the major attraction is the temple itself, the light that the rising sun brings to the stunning surroundings is worth the early wakeup call in itself.

After witnessing the sunrise and explore the temple in the misty morning light, your guide will return you to your hotel, where you will be able to enjoy breakfast and take a few hours to get over the early start! In the afternoon, your guide will return to take you to Candirejo, a traditional Javanese village in a beautiful natural setting.

Day 16 – Bali

Transfer to the airport and fly to the naturally beautiful and culturally fascinating island of Bali. Your guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel, where the rest of the day will be spent at leisure.

Day 17 – Bali

In the early morning visit a local market to look for and purchase ingredients and then return to a local restaurant for an authentic Balinese cooking course, introducing you to the techniques and methods used in traditional Balinese cuisine. Spend the morning cooking and building up your appetite and then lunch will be had testing your creations.

Day 18 & 19 – Bali

Have two full days to relax and enjoy the beautiful beaches of Bali from your hotel. The island is small and easy to explore alone should you wish to visit any more of Bali’s natural and cultural wonders.

Day 20 – Fly home

Transfer to the airport for your flight home. 

Your bespoke proposal with Experience Travel Group will include:

• International Flights (we can omit if you prefer)
• Accommodation as described
• Privately guided tours and transfers
• Tips for guides and drivers
• Original Experience Travel Group "signature" experiences 
• Full financial protection (ABTA and ATOL bonding.) 
• 24-hour in-country backup while away
• Your dedicated travel expert in the UK