Eastern & Oriental Express: Essence of Malaysia

It is a three-night journey that boards at Woodlands station in Singapore and returns there on the morning of day four. In between the train runs north past Kuala Lumpur towards Langkawi and Perlis, crosses to Penang Island, then heads south again through Johor. You unpack once and keep the same cabin from start to finish.

Day one boards in Singapore and settles into the rhythm of the train, with afternoon tea, dinner and entertainment in the Dining Car as green landscapes slide past. Day two brings rice-paddy and village views before your choice of excursion around Langkawi and Perlis, followed by evening celebrations in the Piano Bar Car. Day three crosses to Penang Island for expert-led excursions, and day four is a leisurely breakfast through Johor before the train reaches Singapore.

Boarding is at Woodlands train station in the north of Singapore, not at a city-centre station. Complimentary return transfers between your Singapore accommodation and Woodlands are included in the fare. Your pick-up time comes with your final travel documents before departure.

Day two offers three choices: a speedboat cruise to a secluded Langkawi beach with wellness activities and a boat ride through Kilim Geoforest Park; an adventurous cycle through Perlis Geopark taking in a former tin mine; or an immersion in Perlis art and culture, including batik-making. All three are led by local experts and include the transfer from the train. You tell us your preference in advance and confirm on board.

On day three you cross from Butterworth to Penang Island and choose between George Town by Vespa, a market visit followed by a cooking experience up Penang Hill, or independent exploration at your own pace. Each option is designed to get beneath the surface of the island rather than tick off monuments. You rejoin the train at Butterworth for the final evening of fine dining and entertainment.

George Town is the UNESCO-listed heart of Penang, where Chinese shophouses, clan jetties, temples, mosques and colonial arcades sit within a few walkable blocks. It also has one of Asia's most celebrated street-food cultures, which is why so many of the excursions here revolve around eating. The old quarter is compact enough to absorb in an afternoon.

There are three grades: the Pullman Cabin, the more spacious State Cabin, and the Presidential Suite. Each has an en-suite bathroom, air conditioning and a steward on call 24 hours a day, and each converts from a daytime sitting area into a bedroom while you are at dinner. The grades available on your chosen date are listed on this page.

Fares start from about $5,500 per person for two travellers sharing a cabin, rising with cabin grade and departure date. The exact fare for each date and cabin type is shown on this page. Meals, house beverages, excursions and transfers are all covered within that figure.

Yes. A cabin held for a single traveller is quoted at twice the per-person sharing fare, from about $11,000 on this journey, because the whole cabin is reserved for you. The train is a sociable one, with communal dining and bar cars, so solo travellers are well looked after. Ask us to check availability for your preferred date before you book flights.

Three nights on board with dedicated 24-hour steward service, all meals - a daily four-course dinner, continental breakfast in your cabin, a three-course lunch and afternoon tea - and house beverages throughout. The excursions and wellness experiences in Perlis Geopark, the cultural visit to George Town and your choice of activity on Penang Island are included, as are return transfers to Woodlands station. Onboard entertainment is part of the fare too.

Flights, hotel nights in Singapore before or after the journey, and travel insurance are not included. Spa treatments are charged separately, as are beverages outside the house selection and personal purchases ashore. Gratuities are left entirely to your discretion.

Menus are authored by chef Andre Chiang and built around the produce of the regions the train is crossing, with dinner running to four courses and lunch to three. Afternoon tea is served as the landscape passes, and a continental breakfast is brought to your cabin each morning. Tell us about dietary requirements when you book so the galley can plan properly.

Yes, the train carries a Dior Spa, so treatments can be taken while it is running between stops. They are booked and paid for separately once you are on board. Over three nights the slots fill fast, so choose your time on the first afternoon rather than leaving it to the last day.

Daytime is smart casual and light, because the climate is hot and humid and the excursions involve walking or cycling. Evenings in the Dining Car and Piano Bar Car are dressier - a jacket for gentlemen, a dress or equivalent for ladies. Bring a light layer for the air conditioning and comfortable closed shoes for the excursions.

Departures run from 9 November 2026 through to 13 December 2027, covering two seasons. Every bookable date, with the cabin grades open for it and the fare that applies, is listed on this page. The train runs on set days rather than daily, so it is worth choosing your date before booking flights.

A deposit of 15 percent of the total fare confirms your cabin, and the balance falls due 56 days before departure. Bookings made inside 56 days of the departure date are payable in full at the time of booking. We confirm exact amounts in writing before any payment is taken.

Child pricing is based on the traveller's age on the departure date, with one band for children under five and another for ages five to under twelve. Cabins are compact and the dining hours run late, so the journey suits families with older children best. Email travel@palacetours.com or call 786-408-0610 and we will price your party exactly.

Singapore Changi Airport has direct flights from most parts of the world and is about twenty minutes from the city centre. Because transfers to Woodlands station are included from your Singapore accommodation, plan to stay in the city the night before you board. Arriving a day early also gives you a buffer against flight delays.

Malaysia is tropical and warm all year, typically around thirty degrees Celsius with high humidity, so there is no bad season, only wetter and drier spells. Showers tend to be short and heavy rather than all-day, and the west-coast route is less exposed than the east. Pack light clothing, a compact rain layer, insect repellent and sun protection whichever month you choose.

Email travel@palacetours.com, call 786-408-0610, or message us on WhatsApp at https://wa.me/17864080610, and a travel specialist or our AI assistant will help. The departure list on this page is bookable directly, so you can choose your date and cabin grade and confirm online. If you would like to compare this route with the rainforest itinerary first, just ask.