Eastern & Oriental Express: Malaysia Celebration

It is a three-night journey from Singapore, boarding at Woodlands station and returning there on the morning of day four. The route runs north past Kuala Lumpur towards Langkawi and Perlis, then crosses to Penang Island before heading south again through Johor. Your cabin is yours for the whole journey.

This is the year-end departure, timed so you close the year on board amid festive spirit, fine dining and celebration rather than on an ordinary date. Seasonal celebrations are built into the programme alongside the curated excursions in northern Malaysia. The mood on board is noticeably more festive than on a standard departure.

Yes. The journey boards on 29 December and spends three nights on the train, so 31 December is spent on board and you step off on the morning of 1 January. The final evening is the celebration this journey is named for. Cabins on this date are among the first to sell each season.

Departures are scheduled for 29 December 2026 and 29 December 2027, both from Singapore. The departure list on this page shows each date with the cabin grades open for it and the fare that applies. With one year-end departure per season, availability is tight and does not reopen later in the year.

Day two gives you a choice: 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 a cultural immersion in Perlis including batik-making. The morning beforehand is spent watching rice paddies and village life from the window. Evening celebrations follow in the Piano Bar Car.

On day three the train reaches the west-coast line and you cross to Penang Island for expert-led excursions: George Town by Vespa, a market visit and cooking experience up Penang Hill, or independent exploration. George Town's UNESCO-listed core is a dense mix of shophouses, temples, mosques and street-food stalls. You return to the train at Butterworth for the final evening of dining and entertainment.

Boarding is at Woodlands train station in the north of Singapore rather than a city-centre station. Complimentary return transfers between your Singapore accommodation and Woodlands are included in the fare. Your pick-up time arrives with your travel documents before departure.

The train offers Pullman Cabins, larger State Cabins, and the Presidential Suite, all with en-suite bathrooms and 24-hour steward service. Each cabin is arranged as a sitting area by day and made up as a bedroom while you dine. The grades still open for each year-end date are shown on this page.

Fares start from about $6,100 per person for two travellers sharing a cabin, rising with cabin grade and date. The exact fare for each departure and cabin type is shown on this page. Meals, house beverages, excursions and transfers are all covered by that figure.

Yes. A cabin held for a single traveller is priced at twice the per-person sharing fare, from about $12,200 on this journey. Sole occupancy is subject to availability, which is unusually tight on a year-end date. Ask a travel specialist to check before you arrange flights.

Three nights on board with dedicated 24-hour steward service, all meals - four-course dinner daily, continental breakfast in your cabin, three-course lunch and afternoon tea - and house beverages throughout. Seasonal celebrations and the curated excursions in northern Malaysia are included, as are return transfers to Woodlands station. Onboard entertainment is part of the fare as well.

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

Dinner runs to four courses each evening, with a three-course lunch, afternoon tea and continental breakfast in your cabin. Menus are authored by chef Andre Chiang and drawn from the region the train is crossing, with seasonal touches on the celebration departure. Share dietary requirements when you book so the galley can prepare.

Yes, the train carries a Dior Spa, which is a welcome pause between excursion days. Treatments are booked and paid for separately once you are aboard. Over a busy festive departure, the slots fill fast, so reserve yours on the first afternoon.

Daytime remains smart casual and light for a hot, humid climate, with closed shoes for the excursions. Evenings are dressier than usual on this departure - many guests treat the final night as a black-tie-adjacent occasion, so a jacket for gentlemen and a cocktail dress or equivalent for ladies will not feel out of place. A light layer helps against the air conditioning.

A deposit of 15 percent of the fare confirms your cabin, and the balance is due 56 days before departure. A booking made inside 56 days of the departure date is payable in full at once. We confirm the exact amounts in writing before taking payment.

Children are priced by their age on the departure date, with one band for under fives and another for ages five to under twelve. Cabins are compact and the celebration evenings run late, which suits older children better. Email travel@palacetours.com or call 786-408-0610 for a precise family quote.

Singapore Changi Airport has direct flights from most major cities and is about twenty minutes from the centre. Transfers from your Singapore accommodation to Woodlands station are included, so all you need is a hotel in the city for the night before. Flights over the year-end period fill early, so book them as soon as your cabin is confirmed.

Late December is warm and humid, around thirty degrees Celsius, and falls within the northeast monsoon, so short heavy showers are common in the afternoon. It rarely rains all day, and the west-coast route is less affected than the east. Pack light clothing, a compact rain layer, insect repellent and sun protection.

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 select the 2026 or 2027 date and your cabin grade and confirm online. If you want to weigh it against the other festive departures, just ask.