Splendours of Southeast Asia - A Voyage from Phuket to Singapore

Fly by scheduled indirect flight.

Arrive and transfer to the MS Island Sky for embarkation. Enjoy welcome drinks and dinner as we moor overnight.

There will be a choice of excursions today. An island drive will include Wat Chalong, the largest and most strikingly ornamented of Phuket’s 29 Buddhist temples. Its intriguing history features a monk believed to have formidable healing powers. To this day, Thais from all over the country flock to Wat Chalong to pay homage to the monk and regain their physical and spiritual powers. Later see the Big Buddha Temple located at the top of Nark Kerd Mountain before returning to the ship for lunch. Alternatively, join a local speedboat to visit Phang Nga Bay which is renowned for the limestone islands rising dramatically from the sea including the famous backdrop for the James Bond film ‘The Man with the Golden Gun’. Spend the day enjoying the scenery in the bay before we visit Koh Panyi, a settlement built over 200 years ago with houses built on stilts above the water where lunch will be in a local restaurant.

Today as we sail towards Malaysia, we will stop at one of the many tropical islands off Thailand’s coast with their white sand beaches and clear waters. We will go ashore by Zodiac and board local boats to explore one of the islands in more depth, perhaps taking the opportunity to swim or snorkel before heading back to the beach to relax. Return to the ship for lunch and an afternoon at sea.

We start our exploration of Malaysia on Langkawi, where a morning tour will take us through the Langkawi UNESCO Global Geopark to discover some of the flora and fauna that are unique to the island’s wetlands. We will see the caves that are home to Malaysian fruit bats and during a cruise in the mangrove forest we hope to see whiteheaded eagles, herons, red eagles, long-tailed macaques and different species of reptiles. Alternatively, take a short boat ride to Palau Tuba to visit one of the original village communities on the island. Arriving on the island we will head inland through the peaceful countryside and past paddy fields to a traditional village where we will learn about local traditions and enjoy tea and Malay kuih (snacks) with a local family. This afternoon will be at leisure to relax on board or perhaps visit a nearby beach and discover the local area.

Awake this morning in Penang Island, the ‘Pearl of the Orient’, where we have a choice of excursions over the next two days. Maybe explore historic Georgetown, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where we can see the well-preserved cultural and historical heritage of Penang’s capital city. Founded in 1786 by the British East India Company, Georgetown grew into an important trading port and became a melting pot of Malaysian, Chinese, Indian and European influences which we can see as we pass by the town hall, St George’s Church, Sri Mahamariamman Temple and the Kapitan Keling Mosque. Alternatively, discover the island’s natural beauty as we join the Penang Hill Railway which was constructed in 1923 and takes us to the top of Flagstaff Hill, 830 metres above sea level. Here we follow a one mile nature trail through The Habitat, walking across a dipterocarp forest amidst oak laurels and tree ferns. The area’s rich biodiversity includes more than 100 species of birds, endangered endemic plants including the Penang slipper orchid, and a multitude of fauna such as flying lemurs, dusky leaf monkeys and the giant black squirrel. As we make our way along the Treetop Walk, we can take in panoramic views of the city and the Andaman Sea below. Return to the ship for lunch and a leisurely afternoon to explore further at your own pace. In the evening we will enjoy dinner ashore at a local restaurant to experience the delights of Malaysian cuisine. The following day we will continue to explore the island. For those who wish to delve into the rich culinary world of Penang there will be a street food walking tour. With our guide we will explore the back lanes of Penang, stopping along the way to sample local food, snacks and drinks while learning about the history of the island’s cuisine and how different cultures have left their mark on the food enjoyed today. Alternatively, we will visit the botanical gardens that were set out in 1884 by the British and see some of their extensive display of native plants, along with the resident long-tailed macaques. We will also visit the tropical spice garden, a living museum of the spices and tropical plants that have shaped global history. Our final afternoon will be at leisure to relax on board or continue exploring ashore.

Enjoy a relaxing day at sea. Perhaps join a lecture in the lounge or find a spot on deck.

From our berth in Port Klang we spend a full day in Malaysia’s capital city of Kuala Lumpur. Our walking tour begins in Independence Square, also known as Dataran Merdeka. This is the historic site where the Union Flag was lowered and the Malayan flag raised for the very first time on the 31st of August 1957. Continue to the Masjid Jamek Mosque, the oldest Islamic place of worship in Kuala Lumpur. Overlooking the Klang River, it combines Moorish, Islamic and Mughal architectural styles with verdant surroundings and views of the city’s other landmarks. Also see the Central Market, Chinatown and the extravagantly decorated Sri Mahamariamman Temple before ending at the Petronas Twin Towers which were once the tallest buildings in the world.

Spend today in Singapore where there will be a choice of excursions this morning. A city tour will start in Little India where we will stroll along the bustling streets before continuing to Arab Street to see the magnificent Sultan Mosque. From here we will head to Chinatown, a bustling hub for shops and eateries set against a backdrop of rich history and heritage. Here we will visit the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum. Alternatively, visit the National Orchid Garden, which displays one of the world’s largest collections of orchids, including some 2,000 hybrids. The afternoon is free to explore this vibrant city further at your own pace. Enjoy your final evening on board as we moor overnight.

Disembark this morning and transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight to London.

Itineraries are subject to change.