Beijing,
Hong Kong, and BangkokTour OR
Day 1 (Sat.) Board
your transpacific flight and skip a day as you cross the International Date
Line.
Day 2 Singapore. (Sun.) Upon your
scheduled evening arrival, rooms are available for immediate check-in.
Day 3 Singapore. (Mon.) Meet your
Tour Director and traveling companions for a morning briefing before your
sightseeing tour of a modern city that retains so much of its cultural and
architectural history. Singapore is home to a variety of cultures–Malay,
Chinese, and Indian just to name a few–which have blended over time. Visit
an Indian Hindu temple and the spice shops nearby, the colonial district, and
Chinatown. Tonight join your traveling companions at a welcome dinner hosted
by your Tour Director at the famous Raffles Hotel. (B,D)
Day 4 Singapore. (Tue.) A free day
for independent activities. You may wish to consider taking the cable car to
Sentosa Island where there are many things to see and do. Tonight we recommend
the Night Safari optional tour, after which you might stop at Lau Pa Sat,
Singapore’s
famous food court, to sample some local favorites. (B)
Day 5 Singapore-Malaysia. (Wed.)
This morning an unforgettable journey commences aboard
the Eastern & Oriental Express. With its elegant cream and green
carriages, exquisite interiors and nostalgic atmosphere, the Eastern &
Oriental Express recalls a more romantic era of travel. Glide along in
air-conditioned luxury through rubber plantations and lush forests as you pass
through the exotic landscape of Malaysia with a brief stop at Kuala Lumpur’s
main station before continuing on overnight. (B,L,D)
Day 6 Malaysia-Thailand. (Thu.)
Your full-day train journey continues as you see first hand all the mystery
and splendor of the East. Following a morning stop at colonial Georgetown near
Penang, the remainder of the day is free for you to enjoy the relaxed
atmosphere of the train. Visit the fortuneteller and enjoy afternoon tea in
the colonial manner prior to experiencing the best of Eastern & European
cuisine over dinner with your traveling companions. Train journey continues
overnight. (B,L,D)
Day 7 River Kwai-Bangkok. (Fri.)
This morning, after breakfast, take advantage of the stop at the River Kwai to
visit the famous bridge and cemetery dedicated to the heroic WWII Allied
Prisoners of War. Your magnificent rail journey experience continues on to
Bangkok where, upon arrival after lunch, you will be transferred to your
hotel. (B,L)
Day 8 Bangkok. (Sat.) WAT ARUN, the
Temple of the Dawn, is first on your sightseeing agenda. Next are the GRAND
PALACE, the truly grand seat of the court of old Siam; and the adjoining royal
temple, WAT PHRA KEO, housing the 31-inch Emerald Buddha and the RECLINING
BUDDHA. You might want to visit the famous Jim Thompson Thai Silk House. The
afternoon is at leisure. This evening enjoy dinner aboard a luxurious teak
barge, the Tassaneeya Nava, cruising the broad Chao Phraya River past
Bangkok’s splendid temples and palaces. (B,D)
Day 9 Bangkok. (Sun.) A full day
free for you to explore this fascinating city or its nearby attractions.
Perhaps join a full-day tour to the ancient capital of Ayutthaya. Or see the
floating markets with a stop at the Rose Garden and a folkloric performance.
You may choose a delicious Thai dinner with classical dancing. (B)
Day 10 Bangkok-Ho Chi Minh City,
Vietnam. (Mon.) Fly to Ho Chi Minh City, once referred to as Saigon.
Tonight experience a piece of history with dinner at the Rex Hotel, made
famous for its use by U.S. senior personnel and journalists during the Vietnam
war. (B,D)
Day 11 Ho Chi Minh City. (Tue.)
This morning, enjoy a walking tour of famous and historic city landmarks. The
tour will take you through the heart of the city along Dong Khoi Street
(formerly Rue Catinat), past the Rex Hotel, Ho Chi Minh Square, the Municipal
Theatre, and Notre Dame Cathedral. Finally, a tour of the REUNIFICATION PALACE
(formerly the Presidential Palace) and War Remnants Museum. Then drive to
Cholon, the city’s Chinatown district, for a visit to the bustling BINH TAY
MARKET and the ornate THIEN HAU PAGODA. This afternoon you may wish to take an
optional excursion to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, an extraordinary network of
tunnels more than 120 miles in length that were used by the Viet Cong as a
hideout and secret village during the war. Tonight try some of the local
cuisine, an interesting blend of French and Asian flavors. (B)
Day 12 Ho Chi Minh City. Mekong River
Excursion. (Wed.) The Mekong River is one of the world’s great rivers.
Originating in China, it makes its way through Myanmar, Laos, Thailand,
Cambodia and concludes its enchanting journey to the South China Sea in
Vietnam’s Mekong Delta. Known as the "rice bowl" of Vietnam, the
Delta is the most fertile region in the country and Vietnam’s main source of
rice and tropical fruits. You’ll board a boat and travel to one of the
islands in the middle of the Mekong River where you will visit a fruit orchard
before boarding a smaller sampan that winds along narrow canals. Visit a local
family’s home, enjoy their hospitality, and share some tea or rice wine. (B,L)
Day 13 Ho Chi Minh City-Shanghai,
China. (Thu.) Transfer to the airport for your flight to the port city of
Shanghai, China’s most populous city and premier center of trade and
industry. (B)
Day 14 Shanghai. (Fri.) Your
sightseeing tour today includes a stroll along the Bund, the city’s
riverfront boulevard; visit the SHANGHAI MUSEUM; and experience the YU YUAN
GARDENS. Later visit the CHILDREN’S PALACE, one of China’s famous
kindergartens. Tonight you will witness the excitement of the famous SHANGHAI
ACROBAT SHOW. (B,L)
Day 15 Shanghai. (Sat.) This
morning, visit the ornate TEMPLE OF THE JADE BUDDHA prior to lunch. Plenty of
time this afternoon to do some shopping, with over 400 shops on Nanjing Road
and its famous Friendship Store on the Bund. Shanghai is noted for bargains in
linen, basketware, pottery, porcelain, and ceramics. This evening your Tour
Director hosts a lavish farewell dinner including Peking Duck, a fitting
finale to your exploration of some of Asia’s most chronicled cities. (B,D)
Day 16 (Sun.) Homebound flight arrives the
same day. (B)
Eastern & Oriental Express
Friendly and courteous service is the hallmark of a journey
on the Eastern & Oriental Express, from the moment you are welcomed
aboard. A quarter of a mile in length, the train has air-conditioned gleaming
green and cream carriages that evoke the great age of luxury train travel and
are a world of opulence and fine craftsmanship.
Time aboard the train is full of diversions. In the dining
cars, waiters present gourmet Asian and European dishes and fine wines in
gleaming crystal and silverware.
The bar car with its resident pianist and variety of local
entertainment provides a special opportunity to meet fellow travelers.
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