1. Home
  2. Asia
  3. Thailand
  4. Bangkok to Singapore

Take a spicy adventure from Thailand to Singapore, via Malaysia.

Travel from Bangkok to Singapore on a voyage of discovery, soaking up traditional cultures and revelling in the exotic flavours of the region. With golden temples and saffron-robed monks, soft white beaches and bright blue skies, tantalising seafood and a host of shopping spots, our journey from Thailand down to the Malay Peninsula is sure to delight.

Start
Bangkok, Thailand
Finish
Singapore, Singapore
Destinations
Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand
Style
Original
Theme
Explorer
Code
TMSM
Physical rating
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1, Max 12

Why you'll love this trip

  • Discover a different side of KL through the backstreets, and learn about the diversity of culture along with one of the main parts, the food on your half day tour

  • Dive into the nature lover’s paradise of Khao Sok National Park, exploring, hiking, relaxing, and cruising by longtail boat on a limestone cliff-circled lake

  • Taste Thai traditions while learning how to cook an authentic Southern Thai dish with a village homestay host

  • Encounter the fusion of cultures that gives Penang a unique atmosphere; walk down the backstreets where colonial buildings, tumble-down shops and hawker-filled alleyways meld with cool street art. Get up-close and personal with Malaysian food as you eat where the locals do on a Hawker food experience

  • Discover a true slice of paradise on an included sea kayaking trip through the stunning inlets, caves and hidden lagoons of the Ao Thalane mangrove forests

  • Explore the streets of Melaka from a cycle rickshaw

Is this trip right for you?

  • This trip covers quite a bit of ground, and so there are some longer travelling days on public and private buses, as well as an overnight train. Many of these journeys offer a great chance to interact with the locals, soak up the scenery, and even catch up on a book, but make sure you are prepared for the journeys.

  • There is an included sea kayaking trip in Krabi, in double kayaks. The water is usually calm through the beautiful mangrove forests. Please let your leader know if you have any concerns about participating.

  • There is a village homestay with a family on this trip, in simple multi-share accommodation where conservative dress is recommended. There a few better ways to get to know a country and its people.

  • This itinerary travels through multiple countries, each with their respective customs and National Holidays. Please see the 'Climate and Seasonal Information' section for more details.

Map of Bangkok to Singapore including Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand
Green tuk tuks in Bangkok
Sandy beach in Krabi
Fresh produce at a Malaysian market
Fresh thai ingredients
Children swimming in a river, Bangkok
Street noodles, Bangkok

Itinerary
Expand All Collapse All

This itinerary is valid for departures from 01 Jan 2018 to 31 Dec 2018.
 View the 2019 itinerary

Sa-wat dee! Welcome to Thailand. Thailand's bustling capital, Bangkok is famous for its tuk tuks, khlong boats and street vendors serving up delicious Thai food. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6pm on Day 1. Please look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask the hotel reception where it will take place, and have your insurance details and next of kin information ready for collection. Bangkok has so much to offer those with time to explore, so perhaps arrive a day or so early and take a riverboat to Chinatown and explore the crowded streets, uncover the magnificent Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, wander down the tourist mecca of Khao San Road, or indulge in some Thai massage. After the meeting tonight perhaps gather your fellow travellers together and tuck into some into world famous street food.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Bangkok - Tuk Tuk Experience Urban Adventure - THB1790
  • Bangkok - Bangkok by Bike Urban Adventure - THB1913
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

Begin the day with a river cruise down the Chao Phraya River to explore the famous ‘khlongs’ (canals) (approximately 1 hour). Life along these canals seems a world away from the chaotic streets of the capital. Pay a visit to Wat Pho, one of the ‘trinity’ of Bangkok temples, with a 46-metre long gold plated Buddha reclining inside. Even the feet of this statue are incredible, three metres long and intricately decorated with mother of pearl. The temple grounds are equally fascinating, filled with beautifully decorated stupas, halls, and shrines. No trip to Thailand is complete without an overnight train journey. This evening you’ll head south to Surat Thani on an overnight train journey, accommodated in air-conditioned sleeping berths (approximately 12 hours). Multi share compartments have bunk beds, with sheets and pillow provided. Your baggage travels in the carriage with you. There is a food and drink service available on board.
Accommodation
  • Overnight sleeper train (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Bangkok - Khlong boat canal tour
  • Bangkok - Wat Pho
Optional Activities
  • Bangkok - Thai Massage - THB250
  • Bangkok - Chinatown Food Discovery Urban Adventure - THB2149
  • Bangkok - Grand Palace - THB500
  • Bangkok - Jim Thompson's House - THB150
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
There are shared hotel rooms available this afternoon if you would like to freshen up or organise your luggage. One room will be shared between up to 4 members of the group.

Arrive into Surat Thani in the morning and then and travel by minivan to Khao Sok (approximately 2.5 hours). Set amid hectares of thick jungle, waterfalls, limestone cliffs and topped off with an island-studded lake, the national park of Khao Sok is a nature lover's paradise. Here you’ll have free time to explore one of the oldest rainforest in the world. Walk along the dirt trails that snake through the quiet park, looking out for wildlife as you head for rivers and waterfalls. The flora is also top-notch, with the rare Rafflesia Kerri, one of the world’s largest flowers, only found in Thailand here. There are longer hiking trails also available and in the rainy season there's an option to take to the water in inner tubes and float down the river through the rainforest. Spend a night in a rustic hut amid ancient gnarled rainforest trees.
Accommodation
  • Guesthouse (1 night)
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

Travel through pristine jungle, rubber and oil plantations before boarding a long tail boat for a ride across stunning Cheow Lan Lake, with one of its island as your destination. With limestone karst hills rising almost 1,000 metres into the air and surrounded by beautiful green waters, the area is incredibly picturesque. Trek to the an island cave and discover its eerie stalactites and bats hanging from the celling, with subterranean streams at your feet. You’ll enjoy lunch in a local raft-house before having free time to relax, swim or kayak around the lake to search for wildlife – the water is clear and teems with aquatic life, and you might spot hornbills, langurs, macaques or gibbons above water. Return to your accommodation for the night.
Accommodation
  • Guesthouse (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Khao Sok - Cheow Lan Lake tour
Meals Included
  • Lunch

Sit back and enjoy a local bus ride to Krabi province – you’ll travel by private minibus to your village homestay (approximately 3 hours). When you arrive, enjoy a walk with your homestay host around the village, try out rubber tapping and enjoy the great food and hospitality of the region. Thailand is one of the world’s three largest producers of rubber, and you can try your hand at ‘tapping’ a rubber tree – skimming the bark off the tree to create a path for the milky white latex to run down. There is also an opportunity to assist with the preparation of tonight's meal – learn some of the delicious secrets of southern Thai cooking and enjoy a dinner that tastes all the better thanks to your handiwork! This is a wonderful opportunity to absorb some of the daily rituals of Thai culture.
Accommodation
  • Homestay (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Homestay - Village walk
  • Homestay - Thai cooking demonstration
Meals Included
  • Dinner
Special Information
Please be aware that this is a Muslim region so conservative dress standards are appreciated. Your homestay is located in a small friendly village, in basic multishare rooms with mattresses and mosquito nets provided. Bathroom facilities are shared.

Make the short journey by private minibus to the stunning surrounds of Krabi and your base at Ao Nang (approximately 30 minutes). Famous for the incredible limestone karst scenery of the headland, sun-seekers will fall in love with Krabi's unspoilt beaches, the spectacular cliffs will tempt avid rock climbers, while scuba fans can embark on a Krabi diving adventure. If you love getting out on the water and exploring islands, then consider taking a trip by boat to explore Phi Phi and Khai Nok, islands surrounded by white sandy beach perfect for swimming and snorkelling. The area around Krabi is also home to some of the most spectacular climbing routes around. Whether you're a novice or a pro, being securely tied high up a limestone cliff-face looking down on jungle and crystalline seas is unforgettable. In the evening, look out for a beautiful sunset and consider dining on seafood in a beachside restaurant, followed by a drink in one of the many clubs and bars along on the beach.
Accommodation
  • Guesthouse (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Ao Nang - Rock Climbing - THB1800
  • Ao Nang - Scuba Diving (3 dives) - THB4000
  • Ao Nang - Phi Phi Island Day Tour - THB1600
  • Ao Nang - Thai Cooking Class - THB1300
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

This morning you’ll enjoy an included half day sea kayaking trip to the mangrove forest of Ao Thalane. About half way along the coast between Than Bok Khoranee and Krabi town is a bay of mangroves that might just be the most beautiful bay in Thailand. Surrounded by towering karst formations and many small offshore islands, let the waterways become your pathway as you move slowly through the bays and canyons, discover inlets, caves and hidden lagoons, and check out the local wildlife up-close – the birds overhead and monkeys in the trees. If you do see a monkey, make sure you secure your belongings and any food! If you have time today in the afternoon, you could explore the beautiful underwater world around Ao Nang with some scuba diving, which includes three dives, or maybe absorb Thai culture through the tastes of a Thai cooking class. In the evenings, you can stroll the beaches, sample local fare at a seafood restaurant, enjoy a relaxing massage on the beach, or simply sit back with a good book and a cool cocktail to watch the sun slip beneath the waves.
Accommodation
  • Guesthouse (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Ao Nang - Sea kayaking
Meals Included
  • Lunch

Get out your best book or find your entertainment at the scenery out the window, as today’s a long day of travel (approximately 9 hours). The journey by private minibus sees you say goodbye to Thailand and wave hello to the cultural melting pot of Malaysia. The fascinating island of Penang was the first destination of the colonial British in 1786. They invited the Chinese, as well as others from all over Asia, to live on this island in the tropics. Today, this exotic fusion of cultures still exists and the World Heritage site of Georgetown contains a fascinating mix of religious places of worship. When you arrive, you’ll take an orientation walk around the blend of colonial buildings, tumble-down shops and hawker-filled alleyways to get your bearings. The food here might just be the best in Malaysia, so seek our some food stalls with your leader, and get a taste of this food paradise. Sample some local specialties such as Nasi Kandar, Penang Laksa, and Char Kway Teow.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Penang - Georgetown walking tour
  • Penang - Hawker food experience
Optional Activities
  • Penang - Tastes & Traditions of Penang Urban Adventure - USD52
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

This morning you’ll take a half day sightseeing walking tour around Penang and Georgetown, soaking up the relaxed pace of life and the mix of cultures on show in this heritage area. See the original 19th century shophouses, the street markets, and the strong cultural and religious identity still on display in each neighbourhood – Little India, Chinatown or the Muslim Quarter. Check out the street art that adorns the walls and stop by a clan jetty. Clans were formed by 19th century immigrants, banding together based on the area of China that they came from, and they built rival waterfront societies on wooden jetties. You’ll also pay a visit to Thai and Burmese temples, and see Kek Lok Si Temple, the largest Buddhist temple in South East Asia. You’ll have this afternoon free and, aside from sauntering along the interesting streets (or hoping in a trishaw for a ride that will take you back in time), you might see the clan house of Khoo Kongsi. Check out the ornate carvings on the walls, roof and pillars, and maybe see more Chinese architecture in the memorably blue Courtyard House of Cheong Fatt Tze, a fabulously wealthy merchant. Don’t forget to feast on the island’s culinary delights tonight.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Penang - Clan Jetty & Kek Lok Si Temple
Optional Activities
  • Penang - Khoo Kongsi - MYR10
  • Penang - Funicular Railway - MYR55
  • Penang - Teluk Bahang National Park - MYR9
  • Penang - Trishaw Ride - MYR50
  • Penang - Chong Fat Tze Museum - MYR17
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Continue south on a local bus to Kuala Lumpur (approximately 5 hours). This is a great opportunity to try and chat with the locals and maybe get some tips out of them for your next destination. Kuala Lumpur, the cosmopolitan capital of Malaysia, is affectionately known as KL and you'll almost always hear locals refer to it by its acronym. Communities of Indian, Chinese and ethnic Malay people mingle peacefully, allowing travellers to get the best of all three worlds. KL has grown from a sleepy little village to a skyscraper-lined multi-million-peopled metropolis. The city can seem vast, but the main focus is the traditional core of the old town (the former colonial centre), the luxury hotel and shopping mall district of the Golden Triangle, and bustling Chinatown and Little India. Once again, you’ll be incredibly spoilt with the breadth and quality of dining options on offer. From simple-street side fare that attracts queues of customers eager to try the latest dish said to be the best around, to seriously high-calibre, world-class cuisine.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Jump on the local metro (MRT) this morning, and take a half-day guided food tour that will let you absorb the fascinating multicultural mix of Malay, Chinese, and Indian cultures through sampling some of it's best food. Walk around local neighbourhoods and visit a Chinese Temple, local grocers and street vendors, and finish up in the Chinese influenced Petaling Street. Eat your way around through Kuala Lumpur and learn about the history of the city through it's dishes.

This afternoon enjoy some free time. Perhaps visit the National Monument
(commemorating those who died in Malaysia's struggle for freedom and based on the Iwo Jima Memorial in the USA), the vast National Mosque, featuring a bold and modern design, or the Istana Negara (National Palace). You might like stroll Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square), or shop in Suria KLCC (one of Malaysia’s premier shopping destinations) and then head up to the Skybridge & Observation Deck of the iconic Petronas Towers to gain another view on this cosmopolitan city. Those with a head for heights can also climb up the KL Tower at dusk and watch the city lights come to life. Lake Gardens is home to a number of sights, including the National Planetarium and the superb Islamic Arts Museum, home to a standout collection.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Kuala Lumpur - KL Food Experience Tour
Optional Activities
  • Kuala Lumpur - KL Tower - MYR52
  • Kuala Lumpur - Petronas Towers Skybridge & Observation Deck - MYR86
  • Kuala Lumpur - Planetarium - MYR12
  • Kuala Lumpur - Islamic Arts Museum - MYR12
Meals Included
  • Lunch

Transfer by local bus to the old port town of Melaka (approximately 3 hours). Back when Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore left little impression on a map, the historic city of Melaka was the most important trading port in Malaysia, attracting Chinese, Indian, Dutch, Portuguese and British traders. These visitors sought wealth or an opportunity to control the Straits of Malacca, a vital trading route between the Indian and Pacific oceans, which lead to 400 years of colonial rule. Today, Melaka's wealth of historical sites remind visitors of times gone by, and its multicultural past is revealed in its distinctive cuisine. Like Georgetown, the Melaka was declared a World Heritage Site in 2008, and like its Penang sibling, the city is a harmonic mix of cultures, a place where colonial buildings sit next to Chinese shophouses and temples.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

Today you’ll get to know this port city better with a quaint trishaw tour along the narrow winding streets. You’ll admire Chinatown's unique Peranakan architecture, get a taste of old Melaka, and learn about the ancient spice trade. Take in sites such as Harmony Street (so called because it contains the prayer houses of Malaysia's three main faiths), and stop by a mosque, Chinese Buddhist Temples, and a traditional Muslim house-museum. In your free time this afternoon there are plenty of historic sights and museums to check out. From 17th century Dutch buildings and ships, to museums that showcase the local history of ethnic Chinese-Malays, the travels of diplomat and explorer Zheng He, and even a museum that focuses on concepts of beauty in different cultures. If you’re looking to get more active then you could perhaps jump on two wheels for an Eco Bike tour around the city, or see Melaka from a different perspective with a boat tour along the river.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Melaka - Guided Orientation Walk
  • Melaka - Trishaw sightseeing tour
Optional Activities
  • Melaka - Stadhuys - MYR10
  • Melaka - Taming Sari Tower - MYR22
  • Melaka - Cheng Ho Museum - MYR20
  • Melaka - Eco Bike Tour - MYR100
  • Melaka - Museum Of Enduring Beauty - MYR1
  • Melaka - River Tour - MYR17
  • Melaka - Half day cycling tour - MYR200
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Travel by local bus to your final destination of Singapore (approximately 5 hours). Singapore has few areas untouched by modernisation, but wandering the streets of Little India and Chinatown is a great way to see the old parts of the city. To explore further, check out the renowned shopping precinct of Orchard Road, or stop by Raffles to experience the old world charm of a Singapore Sling. An evening in Singapore is not complete without a stroll along Clarke Quay, or even a river cruise to learn more about the fascinating history of this city. Your accommodation tonight is a centrally located hotel, perfect for easy exploring. Whatever you choose today, maybe gather together your fellow travellers for a celebratory drink or meal as your Bangkok to Singapore adventure comes to an end.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Some rooms in tonight’s accommodation are located internally within the building and do not have windows.

There are no activities planned for the final day and you are able to depart the accommodation at any time.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Meals

6 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 1 dinner

Transport

Overnight sleeper train, Private minibus, Public bus, Taxi, Van

Accommodation

Guesthouse (4 nights), Homestay (1 night), Hotel (8 nights), Overnight sleeper train (1 night)

Included activities

  • Bangkok - Khlong boat canal tour
  • Bangkok - Wat Pho
  • Khao Sok - Cheow Lan Lake tour
  • Homestay - Village walk
  • Homestay - Thai cooking demonstration
  • Ao Nang - Sea kayaking
  • Penang - Georgetown walking tour
  • Penang - Hawker food experience
  • Penang - Clan Jetty & Kek Lok Si Temple
  • Kuala Lumpur - KL Food Experience Tour
  • Melaka - Guided Orientation Walk
  • Melaka - Trishaw sightseeing tour

Dates & availability

Trip search is unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our Bangkok to Singapore trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

Prices may change, so secure your trip today!
Jump to a departure month
Travel lightly with Intrepid. We’ve offset the main sources of carbon emissions from this trip on your behalf, including transport, accommodation & waste. Read more

Important notes

1. A Single Supplement to have your own room is available on this trip and excludes Day 2 (overnight sleeper train) and Day 55 (homestay) where you will be in shared accommodation.

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

View Essential Trip Information

Reviews

Go to dates