Luxury Rail and Sailing from Singapore to Thailand and Myanmar

Spend your days at leisure in this modern metropolis touring the city. In between tours, dine in the finest restaurants, go shopping in vibrant Little India and head over to the Marina Bay Sands Skybar for outstanding views across the city and some great cocktails too.

Little India is Singapore’s foremost Indian enclave and it is a riot of sights, sounds and scents. Here, you can find rows of shops selling spices, jewellery and traditional Indian clothing. At the heart of Little India is the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple which is dedicated to the Hindu goddess of power, Kali. Built in 1855, the temple is adorned with hand painted statues of the Hindu deities.

Next you'll head to Kampong Glam which has its origins as a fishing village at the mouth of Rochor River. The Malay word 'kampung' means 'village', and the area was known for the gelam tree, or paperbark tree, that grew here and was used for building ships. Visit the magnificent Sultan Mosque - built in 1928, the mosque is one of the most impressive religious buildings in Singapore.

Explore the bustling market at Bugis Street, the largest street bazaar in Singapore. First, let your guide point you to a few oddities in this maze of 600+ stalls, then armed with the necessary knowledge, return at the end to snag the bargains. Your tour ends with a delicious dim sum lunch.

Board the Belmond and Oriental Express and settle into your private cabin as we depart from Singapore, rolling gently through the southern Malaysian countryside. Dinner is served in one of the luxurious dining cars and afterwards you can look forward to relaxing with your fellow travellers in the Bar Car.

Shortly after breakfast, we arrive in Kuala Kangsar. Disembark for a tour of the grand Ubudiah Mosque, the Royal Museum of Perak and the Sultan Shah Gallery. Afterwards, return to the train and enjoy a relaxing afternoon at your leisure as we continue onto Thailand. A decadent dinner is served on board.

Later this morning, we alight at the River Kwai Bridge station for a cruise along the picturesque river with a local historian. We then join a visit to an evocative war museum and optional war cemetery. We'll return to the train for lunch, before ending our journey in Bangkok in the late afternoon.

Bustling and energetic, Bangkok has something for everyone. A haven for shoppers, historians, foodies and culture seekers alike, the capital is an integral part of any Thailand itinerary. It has everything from awe-inspiring temples to bustling markets and high-end shopping malls. And, of course there's the food - some of the best in the world!

Explore the best tucked away alleys, sampling Bangkok’s famous street food and experiencing the Old Town on foot. Stroll through local food stalls and market to enjoy the diversity of local Thai delicacies and Thai culture. Sample various kinds of local food, old-style Thai coffee and Thai sweet desserts, and learn from the shop owners about their secret recipes. Visit Wat Suthat, as well as the tall standing two pillars Giant Swing.

Travel by long tailed speedboat on the picturesque Chao Phraya River and see a fascinating contrast of old and new – revered temples and traditional houses alongside five star hotels. You’ll glimpse an insight into local Thai life and yesteryear Bangkok as you explore some of the Klongs (canals) that lead off into Bangkok’s suburbs, as many remain largely unaffected by modern development. Your next stop is the sprawling Grand Palace, with a wealth of intricate and ornate buildings and temples within the complex.

Spend the following few days in traditional and religious Mandalay. Here you have the chance to visit the impressive pagoda, Mahamuni Paya, head to Mandalay Hill for fantastic views and see the masterpiece of traditional Burmese wooden architecture at the Shwenandaw monastery.

Visit Kuthodaw Pagoda, whose 729 marble stone slabs of Buddhist scriptures have earned it the title ‘World’s Biggest Book’, then walk onwards to Shwenandaw Monastery, the only remaining building from the 19th century Royal Palace.

The Strand Cruise crew will be waiting to greet you on board and welcome you with a generous buffet lunch of Mediterranean cuisine.

After lunch, stop in Mingun, one of the country’s former capitals, at the foot of the unfinished pagoda, one of the largest pagodas ever constructed in the history of Myanmar. Visit the pagoda by tuktuk, a popular local means of transportation, and see the magnificent Mingun Bell, claimed to be the largest un-cracked hanging bell in the world. You will also visit Paya Hsinbyume, an impressive pagoda that rises in seven curved whitewashed terraces representing the seven mountain ranges around Mt Meru, the mountain at the centre of the Buddhist universe.

As the sun sets, admire the magnificent sights over the Ayeyarwady river from the ship’s Sundeck, sipping one of the Strand Hotel’s signature cocktails, before joining your fellow travellers for a Myanmar dinner in the Strand restaurant.

Transfer to the jetty to board the boat and check in to your cabin. This shorter cruise packs a punch with visits to the most revered sites of Mandalay, the former royal city, and the awe-inspiring temples of Bagan.

After a buffet lunch, head back into Mandalay to walk through the lively marble carving area and see the revered Mahamuni Pagoda, Kuthodaw Pagoda and Shwenandaw Monastery. Return to the Road To Mandalay for dinner and see a play of the Yamayana, a Sankrit epic.

Transfer to the jetty to board the boat and check in to your cabin. This shorter cruise packs a punch with visits to the most revered sites of Mandalay, the former royal city, and the awe-inspiring temples of Bagan.

After a buffet lunch, head back into Mandalay to walk through the lively marble carving area and see the revered Mahamuni Pagoda, Kuthodaw Pagoda and Shwenandaw Monastery. Return to the Road To Mandalay for dinner and see a play of the Yamayana, a Sankrit epic.

Transfer to the jetty to board the boat and check in to your cabin. This shorter cruise packs a punch with visits to the most revered sites of Mandalay, the former royal city, and the awe-inspiring temples of Bagan.

After a buffet lunch, head back into Mandalay to walk through the lively marble carving area and see the revered Mahamuni Pagoda, Kuthodaw Pagoda and Shwenandaw Monastery. Return to the Road To Mandalay for dinner and see a play of the Yamayana, a Sankrit epic.

Transfer from Heho Airport to Inle Lake, visiting Pindaya en route, an impressive cave that is home to over 8000 golden buddha statues.

Enjoy the following days in this peaceful region, watching the renowned leg-rowing fishermen and seeing the lake's floating markets. You can also visit the famous pilgrimage site Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda.

After breakfast, visit the lake’s morning market. The market rotates its location around the lake’s villages in a 5 day rhythm and is visited by lake inhabitants and surrounding hill tribes who come to sell and trade their wares. Continue past villages inhabited by the Intha people who build their houses on stilts and floating gardens built up from strips of water hyacinth and mud and anchored to the bottom with bamboo poles. You will also see the leg rowing fishermen of the lake who steer their boats with incredible balance. The trip will also include some sightseeing at some of the lake’s most renowned sites. Stop at the Nga Hpe Chaung Monastery famous for its dozens of Shan Buddha statues as well as the resident cats which have been trained to jump through hoops. Continue to Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the lake’s main sanctuary, which contains 5 sacred Buddha images, and proceed to the village of Inpawkhone to observe the traditional silk weaving techniques of Innthar people. Inpawkhone is also known for its weaving from the stems of lotus flowers, a time consuming process that results in high quality materials famous throughout the country. We will also visit a cheroot factory where the local Burmese cigars are rolled by hand.

Explore this energetic city with our full list of recommendations and any private tours we've organised for you. From the enormous Shwedagon Pagoda, stroll through shaded parks and lakes and dine on delicious street food in bustling Chinatown at night. Speak to your travel designer about how you wish to spend your time here.

This afternoon you will venture downtown to explore the city centre and its fabulous mix of architecture and sites. The streets are filled with historical buildings many of which have a faded colonial charm not seen elsewhere in Asia. You’ll start at the post office - a lovely historic building- and walk to Sule Paya in the middle of downtown, passing by Strand Hotel, Mahabandoola Garden and Independence Monument along the way. Then visit Little India and Chinatown, a colorful cacophony of restaurants, temples and markets. Reach Bogyoke Market, formerly known as Scott’s Market, where there is time to browse through the dozens of stalls and shops. This is Yangon’s best market for handicrafts and other goods.

From here, continue to Shwedagon Pagoda the most revered Buddhist temple in Myanmar. Although the origins of the pagoda are unclear, the local legend states that the original structure was built 2500 years ago then renovated several times until taking its current shape in the 15th century. The eight-sided central stupa is 99 metres tall and gilded with gold leaf and is surrounded by 64 smaller stupas. Your guide will show you around the massive complex, explaining why this temple is so revered. Enjoy breathtaking views of the golden stupa from this vantage point.

This morning set off with your guide to explore the best of Yangon’s food. Start with a visit to one of downtown’s main morning markets where vendors gather to sell everything from fresh vegetables and fruits to fish and meats. Try out morning treats popular with the locals, such as noodles, pancakes, steamed sticky rice with beans and fried donuts and samosa.

Next, visit Seikkan Tha Street, another morning market area with many stalls selling palata (thick pancakes), flowers and fruits. Having worked up a thirst, make a stop at Maung Aye Tea Shop to enjoy a cup of sweet Burmese tea. Across the street is a popular stall specialising in Burmese tea leaf salad. Finally transfer to Feel Myanmar for lunch, a popular local restaurant, to sample an array of local curries all accompanied by dozens of vegetables, dips and a soup. This is very traditional, tasty Burmese lunch and a perfect way to complete your culinary exploration of Yangon.

This evening you will be taken to the Shwedagon Pagoda to see it glitter in the light of oil lamps. This special lighting ceremony takes place with the locals as night falls and incense and seemingly endless rows of golden light fills the air.