Eastern & Oriental Express, A Belmond Train: Essence of Malaysia

Board the striking green and cream carriages of the Eastern & Oriental Express at Woodlands Station, Singapore. Settle into your modern cabin and watch as the train travels through lush, green landscapes, setting the scene for your immersion into wild Malaysia. After the afternoon tea, spent soaking up the vistas from your cabin, dinner and onboard entertainment await in the Dining Car.

During breakfast in the Dining Car, soak up the vistas as the train courses past the rice paddies and timeless rural villages of western Malaysia.

After lunch, alight at Alor Setar station for a 25-minute boat trip to Langkawi’s Pulau Payar Marine Park, renowned for its vibrant underwater life, from parrot fish and angel fish to moray eels and grouper. Here, you will be provided with a luxury picnic set and have an array of options to choose from. Unwind with wellness experiences such as a massage, meditation and tai chi, try paddle boarding and snorkelling or stride off on an island walk. With a friendly welcome from the locals and access to a bar for cocktails and a BBQ, this is a true glimpse of paradise.

Returning to the train, an evening of lively celebrations with local entertainers awaits in the Piano Bar Car, accompanied by a delicious dinner.

For the third day of your Essence of Malaysia journey, you’ll arrive in Penang Island. Discover Peranakan cooking, with a visit of a spice shop and traditional grocery stores to purchase herbs and vegetables, before trying your hand at making some enticing local dishes. The second suits those with a passion for culture and art, head to Georgetown Old Quarter to see stunning temples, a contemporary studio and an opera and puppet house. For the independent explorers among you, navigate Georgetown’s picturesque streets at your own pace, along with a map, a tri-shaw and a driver. Your driver will take you anywhere you want to go, from grand attractions to hidden corners.

Rejoin the train at Butterworth for lunch and a leisurely afternoon on board. Then, a final celebratory evening beckons with irresistible cuisine, entertainment and company. If you’re still up shortly after midnight, head to the Observation Car to glimpse Kuala Lumpur as the train passes through.

Linger over breakfast in your cabin or the Dining Car as you travel through the southernmost state of Johor. Soon, the train crosses the strait to Singapore, where your Essence of Malaysia itinerary comes to an end, your head filled with your new, magical memories.