
Singapore to Siam
From Singapore to Bangkok and beyond by rail, road, and rickshaw
Next
Departure
- Overview
- Highlights
- Map & Itinerary
- Trip Inclusions
- Transport & Accommodation
- Reviews
- FAQs
This 19-day fully-escorted rail journey is jam packed with both local rail and heritage train journeys, including the Burma Railway over the famous Bridge Over the River Kwai. Starting in Singapore, you’ll travel through tropical jungles, historic old towns, tea plantations and strawberry farms on your way to Bangkok. You’ll be enchanted by grand colonial-era train stations, discover bustling night markets and golden temples, including the UNESCO World Heritage old city of Ayutthaya, and uncover World War II history in Kanchanaburi.
Departure dates
Per person twin share: $11485
Single Supplement: $2145
Some highlights of your tour
- Ride a heritage steam train to celebrate the Thai King’s birthday and National Father’s Day
- Visit the UNESCO World Heritage ancient city of Ayutthaya, the former capital of the Kingdom of Siam
- Immerse yourself in the futuristic architecture and the multicultural vibes of Singapore and Kuala Lumpur
- Travel by train and tour the Burma Railway and Hellfire Pass in Kanchanaburi
- Go local and travel on the Jungle Railway through the dense forests of Malaysia
- Stroll Penang’s backstreets with colonial buildings, rustic shops, and antique alleyways
- Travel on “The Floating Train” across a series of viaducts above a reservoir to Lopburi
- See the colourful trishaws, home-grown art galleries and Dutch colonial buildings of Malacca
- Enjoy a street food tour through the alleyways of Kuala Lumpur
- Spend two nights in Bangkok, where you’ll find a God in every golden cloister!
Your Journey
Arrive in Singapore and settle into our centrally located hotel, the perfect starting point to explore the city’s dynamic charm. Our Welcome Dinner will be at 7pm, so we encourage you to arrange your flights to ensure you can join us in time. After you’ve settled in, we’ll meet in the hotel foyer and visit the intoxicating district of ‘Little India’ for a celebratory welcome dinner and drinks to get to know your fellow travellers.
Overnight: Overnight: Holiday Inn Little India, Singapore (D)
The island of Singapore is jam packed with 6 million people from across different cultures, making our exploration of the city a truly multicultural experience.
Your tour today, via private vehicle starts by visiting Kampong Glam in the Malay enclave. Centred on busy Arab Street, this suburb is full of picturesque streets with their beautifully restored 19th century shophouses, trendy shops and cafés. Marvel at the golden domed Sultan Mosque and travel to Singapore’s old Tanjong Pagar Station, an elegant 1932 building with both art deco and neoclassical flourishes – which was the city’s main train station until 2011.
Arrive at Chinatown’s maze of narrow roads where temples and hawker stalls exist alongside chic bars and art galleries and learn about how the Chinese have worked and lived here since the days of Sir Stamford Raffles, the founder of Singapore. For lunch, you’ll eat at the largest hawker centre in Singapore, which boasts more than 220 food stalls.
Visit the renowned shopping precinct of Orchard Road, walk along Clarke Quay in the city’s CBD to see the historic Fullerton Hotel and the Merlion Statue before moving on to visit the iconic Supertree Grove and the Cloud Forest at the Gardens by the Bay and the National Orchid Gardens in the Botanic Gardens.
In the late afternoon, we’ll stop by the 19th century Bar & Billiard Room at the historic Raffles Hotel to experience the old world charm of this splendid hotel where you’ll have time to try its famous gin and cherry brandy drink – a Singapore Sling. Then it’s back to the hotel to freshen up before enjoying dinner together at a local restaurant where you can enjoy famous dishes such as Singapore Noodles, Hainanese Chicken Rice and Singapore Chilli Crab.
After dinner, you might like to visit the Sky Bar, an iconic night rooftop bar on the 57th floor of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel. Boasting 360-degree views of the Singaporean port and skyline, it’s a great spot to grab a couple of drinks, and you may even catch the magnificent Spectra Light & Water Show if you’re there by 9pm!
Overnight: Holiday Inn Little India, Singapore (B, L, D)
Rise early to enjoy breakfast before travelling the short distance to the Singapore/Malaysia border. We’ll be taking this journey by a private vehicle today, allowing you the flexibility of skipping the hassle of queueing in terminals and the comfort of remaining in your fully air-conditioned vehicle at the immigration checkpoint.
After completing the border formalities, we’ll cross into Malaysia arriving at the Johor Bahru train station in time to board the Southern Shuttle train to Segamat. Bring warm clothing as the air-conditioning on this train (and several trains on this tour) is set to Arctic temperatures! We’ll arrive at Segamat in time to enjoy lunch before travelling the two hours by road to Malacca.
The historic city of Malacca 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 led to 400 years of colonial rule. Today, Malacca’s wealth of historical sites reminds travellers of days gone by, and its multicultural past is revealed in its distinctive Peranakan cuisine. The Malacca old town was declared a World Heritage Site in 2008, and like Penang, the city is a harmonic mix of cultures, a place where colonial buildings sit next to Chinese shophouses and temples.
After checking into your hotel in the late afternoon, our guide will take you on an orientation walk of the old town so you can get your bearings. You’ll then be free to enjoy dinner at one of the many excellent restaurants and wander Jonker Street, Chinatown’s main thoroughfare, known for antique shops and its night market. Alternatively, you may like to return to the hotel for dinner in one of the excellent restaurants there. Our hotel tonight is the 19th century Baba House, a heritage building showcasing traditional Peranakan culture and design.
Overnight: Baba House, Malacca (B, L)
This morning after breakfast, you’ll get to know the town better on a three-wheeled trishaw tour along the narrow side streets of Malacca where you’ll admire 17th century Dutch buildings, unique Peranakan architecture and learn about the ancient spice trade from Asia to Europe. We’ll visit Jalan Tukang Emas – known as Goldsmith Street, but also nicknamed Harmony Street owing to the various places of worship representing Malaysia’s three main religions – Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism, where you’ll also visit the tomb of Hang Kasturi, one of Malacca’s great 15th century warriors.
We’ll end our morning tour with lunch together at a Portuguese Malaya restaurant before transferring to the Tampin train station for the ETS Gold train to Kuala Lumpur, arriving around 6pm. We’ll transfer directly to our hotel and check in.
Cosmopolitan Kuala Lumpur, affectionately known as KL, is the capital of Malaysia with a population of 8 million people. The city’s increasingly modern skyline is dominated by the 451 metre tall Petronas Towers, still the tallest twin towers in the world and an enduring symbol of the country’s commitment to building for the future.
Our hotel for the next two nights is the Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur. Built in the 1930s, it was once ranked as one of Southeast Asia’s grandest hotels and has recently been meticulously restored to its former glory. For dinner tonight, you’ll dine in the hotel’s colonial Contango restaurant with free time after your meal to visit the Colonial Café, the elegant Tea Lounge or The Writers’ Room for tea and drinks and recreate the atmosphere of the halcyon days of early 20th century Kuala Lumpur.
Overnight: The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur (B, L, D)
This morning, start your tour of KL by visiting a British colonial-era landmark, the Kuala Lumpur Railway Station. Originally completed in 1917 and designed by Arthur Benison Hubback, the station is notable for its architecture, primarily designed in a “Raj” styling, a mixture of Western and Moorish and Mughal influences. Visit the magnificent Sultan Abdul Samad Building, a late-19th century building that originally housed the offices of the British colonial administration, before moving on to marvel at theTugu Negara National Monument.
Our tour continues with a visit to the National Mosque of Malaysia and the Istana Negara National Palace. After this dose of national pride, we’ll stroll through Dataran Merdeka Independence Square, and wander Suria KLCC, Malaysia’s iconic shopping precinct where you can enjoy some free time and forage for lunch. In the mid afternoon, we’ll head up to the Skybridge and Observation Deck of the iconic steel and glass masterpiece of the Petronas Towers to get a birds-eye view of this amazing city.
Later in the afternoon, you’ll take part in a guided food tour to savour the flavours of Malaysia and visit famous food stalls, market streets and hidden shops. During this three hour discovery, you’ll get to enjoy a mix of Malay, Chinese, and Indian foods, from sweet to savory as we walk around local neighbourhoods before finishing in the Chinese influenced Petaling Street.
After our dinner, our private vehicle will take us to the Bukit Bintang Walkway for a look at the incredible, lit up Petronas Towers by night.
Overnight: The Majestic Hotel, Kuala Lumpur (B, D)
Day 6 • Saturday 23 November: STEAM TRAIN TO IPOH / THE CAMERON HIGHLANDS
This morning, we’ll travel to the Kuala Lumpur Railway Station for the Great Leisure Heritage Rail steam train for a three-hour steam adventure to Ipoh. For those of you who may be interested in the specifics of this marvellous train, it’s a Class 56 KTM steam locomotive and was refurbished in Malaysia in 2023.
You’ll travel in style in traditionally furnished Premium Class carriages and enjoy traditional snacks and light refreshments, while soaking up the evocative smells and sounds of steam haulage and the beautiful scenery of the Malaysian jungle.
Upon our arrival at Ipoh, you’ll be greeted by the old-world, colonial charm of the Ipoh Railway Station, another grand Arthur Benison Hubback-designed train station dating back to 1917. Like the Kuala Lumpur station, it used to house a hotel, but this station has more of a European style to it with loggias and a covered porch for vehicles. Over the years, the old mining town of Ipoh has also built a reputation for being a foodie paradise and an arts hub. Once you’ve searched for the many cool murals in the area, we’ll stop by a kopitiam (a Malaysian Chinese coffee shop) for some lunch and a cup of Ipoh’s famous white coffee.
You’ll have the time to wander the old town before embarking on a two-hour road journey to the cool-climate scenic mountain region and Hill Station of the Cameron Highlands. The area, mostly sitting at 1,500 meters above sea level, is named after William Cameron, a British government surveyor who discovered the area in 1885 during a mapping expedition.
After checking into your hotel, you can enjoy free time and have dinner at leisure in the hotel restaurant.
Overnight: Hotel De La Fems, Cameron Highlands (B, L)
After breakfast, you’ll explore the part of the Cameron Highlands that lies within a 20km radius from our hotel. We’ll stop at a tea plantation for a cuppa before visiting colourful butterfly and honeybee farms, enjoy verdant green hills, pick strawberries at a strawberry farm, visit a rose garden and cool off at a waterfall in Malaysia’s largest highlands resort.
After lunch in a local restaurant, we’ll travel by road to the town of Gua Musang to travel on the Jungle Railway, Malaysia’s last remaining train using diesel-powered locomotives north to Tanah Merah. The Jungle Railway is one of the great historical train journeys of Southeast Asia, spanning the length of Peninsula Malaysia through its rugged interior following the rivers through the mountains. Officially known as the East Coast Railway Line, the Jungle Railway travels from Johor Bahru on the Singapore-Malaysia border, to Tumpat on the Malaysia-Thailand border. We’ll be joining the train for the nostalgic four-hour jaunt across the heart of the Malay Peninsula – for those who love slow travel, the railway immerses you in local history and lush green interiors. The British colonial administration commenced building the route in 1885 to help move freight across Malaya, naming the train the “Golden Blowpipe” in honour of the weapon the indigenous Orang Asli (Malay for “original people”) used to hunt in this once-impenetrable wilderness. The first section of the railway opened in 1910, and the 526 km route was completed in 1931.
The section between Gua Musang and Tanah Merah is regarded as one of the best jungle rail experiences in Asia for its historic viaducts, spectacular limestone hills, village scenery, haunting tunnels and networks of muddy brown coloured rivers.
Upon arrival in Tanah Merah, travel to your nearby hotel where you will enjoy dinner after check in.
Overnight: Humaira Hotel, Tanah Merah (B, L, D)
After breakfast, we’ll embark on a road trip through the rural hinterland to Penang, stopping at a typical roadside restaurant for a delicious lunch en route.
Established in 1786 by British trader Francis Light (whose father William founded the city of Adelaide), Penang became part of the Straits Settlements, a British crown colony also comprising Malacca and Singapore. During World War II, Japan occupied Penang, but the British regained control in 1945. Over the years British rulers invited Chinese, Malays, Indians, Eurasians and Siamese to live in this tropical paradise creating an exotic fusion of cultures that still exists today.
Upon arrival in the town known as ‘Pearl of the Orient’ to the locals, we’ll go straight to our hotel to check in. In the late afternoon, we’ll head out for an orientation walk around the blend of colonial buildings, tumble-down shops and hawker-filled alleyways. The food here is the best in Malaysia, and you’ll seek out some food stalls with your tour leader and local guide to get a taste of this food paradise and finish with an unforgettable dinner. Sample some local specialties such as Laksa, Nasi Lemak and Char Koay Teow, a must-eat street-side food when in Penang.
Your stay in Penang will be at the UNESCO awarded, architectural gem, Cheong Fatt Tze – The Blue Mansion. Built in the 1880’s, the mansion was one of the homes of Cheong Fatt Tze, the extraordinarily successful Chinese businessman, philanthropist and diplomat known as the “Rockefeller of the East”. You’ll need your two nights here to fully appreciate the history and architecture of this magnificent boutique hotel.
Overnight: Cheong Fatt Tze The Blue Mansion, Penang (B, L, D)
This morning after breakfast, we’ll build on our quick orientation yesterday evening and enjoy a walking tour of Penang to experience the fascinating fusion of East meets West and the mix of cultures on show. Marvel at 19th century shophouses, colourful street markets, and learn about the religious identity still on display in Little India, Chinatown and the Muslim Quarter. We’ll travel to the Chew Jetty part of town and take part in a Clan Jetties tour to learn about the Chinese communities that built stilt houses along the waterfront, clustering into clan villages that still exist today. Then we’ll visit one of the grandest clan houses in Malaysia, built by the Chinese Khoo Kongsi clan more than 100 years ago before weaving our way through rural villages to Kek Lok Si Temple, the largest Buddhist temple in South East Asia.
After arriving back in the Penang old town, there’s free time for you to enjoy lunch before taking the journey up to the former colonial hill station at Penang Hill on the world’s oldest funicular railway system. Based on a Swiss design, the Penang Hill Railway was initially constructed for the British colonial community to enjoy the cooler air of the Penang Hill. The railway first opened in 1923 as a two-section railway, but was overhauled in 2010 into a one-section system.
The rest of the afternoon and evening is yours at leisure – you can either stay in the old town and continue exploring, or return to your hotel and soak up the courtyard. Tonight is a great chance to enjoy dinner at one of the many excellent restaurants in town, or in the hotel.
Overnight: Cheong Fatt Tze The Blue Mansion, Penang (B)
This morning after breakfast and check out, you’ll have the morning free to laze around the hotel or wander the old town of Penang and enjoy lunch. Appreciators of art might like to take a short taxi ride to have a look at the local batik work at the Penang Art Gallery.
After lunch, we’ll transfer to the Penang International Airport for your one hour flight to Phuket in Thailand. The capital of Thailand’s dazzling largest island, Phuket is South-East Asia’s leading resort city, so can be very busy and crowded, which is why we’ve opted to skip it and continue two hours north into the raw jungle beauty of Khao Sok National Park.
Covered by mountains and home to the oldest evergreen rainforest in the world, Khao Sok National Park is quite simply breathtaking. Containing dense virgin jungle, tower like limestone karst formations and the beautiful island studded Cheow Lan Lake, Khao Sok is a nature lover’s paradise. It is believed this lowland jungle dates back 160 million years, making it one of the world’s oldest rainforests and older and more diverse than the Amazon rainforest.
Upon arrival, we’ll check into our hotel and enjoy dinner together.
Overnight: Magical Mountain View Resort, Khao Sok (B, D)
After breakfast, we’ll travel by private coach through rubber and oil plantations and pristine jungle, before boarding a large long tail boat for a ride across the Cheow Lan Lake to one of the remote islands. With limestone karst hills rising almost 1,000 metres into the air and surrounded by beautiful green waters, this area is very picturesque – limestone outcrops protruding from the lake are over three times higher than the famous Phang-Nga’s formations found near Phuket.
Look for stalactites and bats at an island cave, dip your feet in the water and enjoy a delicious lunch in a local raft-house under the rainforest canopy before having free time to relax. Later, your local tour leader will lead you through the jungle past mangrove swamps where you’ll see the rare Rafflesia Kerri, one of the world’s largest flowers, only found in Thailand. En route you will meet friendly Asian elephants and spot hornbills, langurs, gibbons, Malayan tapir and maybe even a tiger to complete your day.
We’ll return to our accommodation in the mid afternoon where the rest of your day is free. Your hotel, the elegant Magical Mountain View Resort is an excellent place to unwind and features a pool, restaurant, lounge, garden and terrace and is meticulously designed with contemporary Thai style both inside and out.
Overnight: Magical Mountain View Resort, Khao Sok (B, L)
This morning after a lazy breakfast and checking out, we’ll take the short drive to the Surat Thani train station for the Special Express to Hua Hin, Thailand’s original beach resort. You’ll travel in air conditioned carriages and see stunning rural scenery and interesting villages along the way. Lunch will be provided on board the train.
Upon arrival at the Hua Hin train station in the late afternoon, we’ll transfer directly to our hotel. The Hua Hin train station was built in 1926 during the reign of King Rama VI and is one of Thailand’s oldest railway stations, and often said to be the most beautiful train terminus in the country. The station building is largely made of wood and designed in a Victorian ‘gingerbread style’ with a striking colour combination of red, white and beige boasting plenty of carved wood pillars and trim. Its most striking feature is the splendid Royal Waiting Room constructed in the Thai architectural style. Because Hua Hin owes its prosperity to the train, the station is a major source of pride and you’ll find imitations of its design all over town.
After settling into our hotel, we’ll transfer to the historic Hua Hin Railway Hotel for dinner. The hotel dates back to the time when the region was evolving into Thailand’s first beach resort. Mr. Alfredo Rigazzi, the State Railways’ Italian architect, designed the Hotel building as a luxurious two-storey European-style resort hotel made of brick and wood, in accordance with Thai royal command and on Thai State Railways land.
Overnight: Ace of Hua Hin, Hua Hin (B, L, D)
This morning after breakfast and check out , we’ll transfer to the Hua Hin train station for the 2-hour “Beach Train” rail journey north to the hectic market town of Samut Songkhram, home of the Maeklong Railway Market. This great route skirts around the Gulf of Thailand, past beautiful scenery, salt flats and seemingly never-ending coconut plantations.
We emerge from the train directly into the Maeklong Railway Market. The name, Maeklong translates to “umbrella pulldown market” and it’s home to one of the largest fresh seafood markets in Thailand, all centred on the Maeklong Railways tracks. Whenever a train approaches, the awnings and shop fronts are moved back from the rails, to be replaced once the train has passed. The Mae Klong Railway opened in 1905, originally as a goods line, transporting produce from the fishing ports of Samut Sakhon and Samut Songkhram to the Bangkok markets.
During our time here, you’ll get to wander around this vibrant market and watch the train passing through it before enjoying lunch together.
After lunch we’ll visit the weekend Amphawa Floating Market to see vendors selling a wide range of items from traditional snacks to locally-grown produce. The waterways here are very lively; boats jostle and zip around offering a variety of goods to the sound of elderly ladies yelling about how tasty their fresh bananas and mangoes are! This is a great opportunity to see an authentic view of the Thai lifestyle away from the tourist hordes. Later, travel by road and arrive in Ayutthaya in the early evening where you will check into your hotel and enjoy dinner.
Overnight: Kantary Hotel, Ayutthaya (B, L, D)
Railway Adventures loves nothing better than off-the-beaten-track travel experiences away from the tour groups visiting temples and beaches, and today we embark on one of them. Thailand’s ‘Floating Train’, across a series of viaducts above Pasak Chonlasit Reservoir could well be one of Asia’s most enjoyable railway journeys. For most of the year, cattle graze underneath the bridge but on weekends between November to January, the water is high on both sides which gives the impression that the train is floating on water! There are five railway viaducts over the reservoir, the fifth one is the longest railway viaduct over a body of water at 1,415 meters.
After an early breakfast, we’ll board the train, which has come from Bangkok, at Ayutthaya Station. During the journey, a stop at a viewpoint in the middle of Pasak Chonlasit Reservoir will provide a brilliant photo opportunity of both the train and the magnificent scenery before continuing to Khok Salung Station for a short-stop before bringing you back across the viaduct to the reservoir.
Here, you’ll have free time to wander the markets, enjoy some lunch and even visit a sunflower field before we travel one hour overland to the Prang Sam Yot temple in the town of Lopburi. The temple, built by King Jayavarman VII of the Khmer Empire in the 13th century, is featured on the 500 Thai baht note and is just as popular for tourists as it is for its resident population of monkeys!
We’ll return by road to our hotel in Ayutthaya, arriving in the late afternoon, after which your time is yours to relax and enjoy dinner in the hotel or venture further afield for a more local experience.
Overnight: Kantary Hotel, Ayutthaya (B)
This morning, you’ll tour the UNESCO World Heritage site of the ancient city of Ayutthaya. Ayutthaya became the second Siamese capital after Sukhothai and it is estimated that by the year 1700, it had a population of some 800,000 making it one of the world’s largest and wealthiest cities at that time, sometimes being referred to as the “Venice of the East”. Sadly, in 1767, the city was brutally destroyed by the Burmese army, resulting in the collapse of the Ayutthaya kingdom.
Today you’ll see former treasure-laden palaces built in different architectural styles from Thai, Chinese and European design, marvel at gilded temples and wander the ruins to learn about this period of thriving trade and art when international merchants were left in awe at the riches in front of them.
Before we leave this magnificent site, you’ll have some free time for lunch before we drive to Kanchanaburi, home to the Thai-Burma Railway, also known as the ‘Death Railway’. Upon arrival in Kanchanaburi, we’ll go directly to our riverside boutique hotel, check in and relax. Tonight is at leisure, so stay in and enjoy the hotel’s riverside dining options with the unique backdrop of the River Kwai bridge, or go for a walk along the river and explore what else is on offer.
Overnight: U Inchantree, Kanchanaburi (B)
This morning after breakfast, we’re going to take you back in time to a rather dark period in Thailand’s history that heavily impacted Australians, to reflect and honour those who were forced to give their lives in the process of bending the environment to man’s will in wartime. Your first stop will be the iconic Bridge Over The River Kwai. This iron bridge, part of the infamous Death Railway to Burma, was immortalized in Pierre Boulle’s novel of 1952 and David Lean’s famous 1957 movie of the same name.
From the bridge, we’ll travel by historic train alongside the Kwai Noi River, enjoying the most beautiful panoramic scenes of the river from the curves of the wooden railway line hugging the mountainside. Passing through Tham Krasae station, we’ll travel on the Wang Pho Viaduct – a railway bridge made of wooden trestles, and Nam Tok Train Station, which were both constructed by the allied POWs.
Travel to the infamous Hellfire Pass memorial, built to honour the 16,000 POWs, including almost 3,000 Australians, plus 90,000 Asian workers who died while constructing some of the most difficult stretches of the railway. Known by the Japanese as Konyu Railway Cutting, the pass is noted for the harsh conditions where POW labourers were forced to cut through solid rock 18 metres deep. It was named Hellfire Pass because the sight of emaciated prisoners labouring by burning torchlight and the noise from the drilling of the rock resembled a scene from Hell. While here, we’ll visit the plaque in memory of Sir Weary Dunlop, an Australian surgeon who was renowned for his leadership as the Australian mountain camp leader while being held prisoner by the Japanese.
Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and enjoy some free time. After lunch, we’ll take the late afternoon local train back to Kanchanaburi, crossing the Bridge on the River Kwai one more time, returning to our hotel late afternoon. For dinner tonight, you will head into Kanchanaburi’s famous night markets and try a variety of Thai dishes.
Overnight: U Inchantree, Kanchanaburi (B, L, D)
This morning, you’ll visit the Thai-Burma Railway Centre, a museum and research centre funded and run by an Australian, Rod Beattie. Beattie, considered an expert on the history of the Thai Burma Railway has spent over a decade living in Kanchanaburi and uncovering abandoned sections of the railway. We’ll also be visiting the JEATH War War Museum and Kanchanaburi War Cemetery.
The JEATH War Museum which was built from 1942 to 1943 by Allied POWs under the direction of the Japanese, a part of the Thai-Burma Railways. The acronym JEATH stands for the primary nationalities involved in the construction of the railway – Japanese, English, Australian, American, Thai and the Dutch from Holland. You’ll get a chance to tour the museum and see a replica of a Japanese POW camp and afterwards, take a long-tail boat along the River Kwai to have lunch at one of the floating restaurants on the river.
At 3.00pm we’ll take the train from Kanchanaburi to Bangkok, considered to be one of the most pleasant slow train rides in Thailand. Some of your journey today will be on the original Death Railway, passing through a peaceful area of rural Thailand with green fields, small towns and hills in the distance. Stopping frequently at small stations with quaint wooden station buildings, most of which have been well maintained and painted in bright colours.
Arrive at Thonburi Railway Station at 6pm and transfer to your hotel for check in and dinner.
Overnight: Salil Hotel Riverside Bangkok (B, L, D)
Today is a special day, as it’s the birthday of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Father’s Day in Thailand. To mark this occasion, after an early breakfast, we’ll take a State Railway of Thailand chartered steam locomotive train from the World War II era on a historic journey from Bangkok to Chachoengsao to celebrate his life and Father’s Day.
HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej was the ninth King of Thailand, titled Rama IX and reigned from 1946 until his death in 2016. He is the third-longest reigning sovereign monarch in world history after King Louis XIV and Queen Elizabeth II and his reign of over 70 years is the longest reign of any Thai monarch, and the longest native rule of any Asian sovereign.
Departing the hotel after an early breakfast, we’ll arrive at Bangkok Hua Lamphong station, a Neo-Renaissance terminus dating back to 1916, early enough to take in the festivities and to take some photos of this train before boarding and departing at 8am for the two-hour journey to Chachoengsao. For those interested in railways, our air conditioned carriages will be hauled by Pacific steam locomotives No. 824 and No. 850, built by Japan’s Nippon Sharyo Co. Snacks and drinking water will be provided throughout the journey. When we arrive in Chachoengsao, you’ll have time to enjoy more of the colour and celebrations of this great day in Thai culture and have time to wander the town where you can enjoy lunch at leisure.
After lunch, we’ll return to Bangkok by private coach before visiting the famous Wat Pho temple, also known as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, the Grand Palace, and Wat Arun. Tonight, we will come together for a grand farewell dinner at a local restaurant, where we can reflect on our amazing journey and share memories with our fellow travellers and tour leader.
Overnight: Salil Hotel Riverside Bangkok (B, D)
Your tour with us comes to an end after breakfast this morning. Transfer to the airport for your flights home or onward for other journeys. (B)
What's included
-
18 nights’ accommodation in comfortable, 3- or 4-star hotels
-
18 breakfasts, 11 lunches and 12 dinners
-
Complimentary drinks with welcome and farewell dinners
-
Comprehensive sightseeing with expert local guides
-
Excursion/entrance fees, except those listed as optional in the itinerary
-
Heritage, charter and local train travel
-
An Australian Railway Adventures tour leader throughout
-
A local tour guide throughout
-
Private air-conditioned vehicle transfers
-
Economy flight from Penang to Phuket
-
Tour support from the Bangkok and Australian offices
-
Tipping and gratuities
What's not included
-
Arrival airport transfers in Singapore and departure airport transfers in Bangkok
-
Excursions and entrance fees listed as optional in the itinerary
-
Beverages with meals, with the exception of the welcome and farewell dinners
-
Personal incidental expenses such as telephone charges, laundry services, and minibar usage
-
Travel insurance
Some ways you’ll travel
The best train trips possible, private luxury coach for off-train travel, guided walking where suitable, and other appropriate and appealing options to make exploration easy

Penang Hill Funnicular
Malaysia
Train from Malacca to Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
Captain train from Surat Thani to Hua Hin
ThailandSome places you’ll stay
Hand-picked hotels and resorts based on location, customer feedback, value and atmosphere. Please Note: Hotels of a similar standard may be substituted.

Baba House

Cheong Fatt Tze The Blue Mansion

Majestic Hotel

U Inchantree
Our track record
Hear from some of our adventurers that have already ridden the rails with us.
FAQs
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Tincidunt convallis magna eu ac eu cursus. In duis fusce risus nec eget habitant massa pharetra. Eros a gravida faucibus lorem.

Download the brochure: Singapore to Siam
Ready to book your adventure in Singapore to Siam
Reserve your place on this exciting exploration of Singapore to Siam.
Other Tours
