Dream Itinerary: Twelve Day Introductory Tour of Southeast Asia
Countries Included- Singapore, Cambodia, Thailand
Description of the Destinations- Southeast Asia is a term usually applied to eleven Asian countries stretching from the Philippines and Indonesia in the east to Myanmar in the west. The region includes two large island nations along with the land south of China. It has a total population of close to seven hundred million people with four large countries: Indonesia (277 million), Philippines (117 million), Vietnam (99 million), and Thailand (72 million). The economies of these four countries along with Malaysia and Singapore grew dramatically over the past three decades, despite the Asian financial crisis of 1997, the 2008 world recession, and local political upheavals. During this same time, most of these nations have become increasingly urbanized and promoted themselves as ideal places for manufacturing and assembly plants to locate because of their young labor forces.
Tourism is another growing industry in Southeast Asia. Beach destinations like Bali in Indonesia and Phuket in Thailand have long attracted visitors from around the world, but recent years have also seen increasing interest in the historical and cultural sites of Vietnam and Cambodia along with the entertainment and shopping amenities of Singapore. Southeast Asia has been influenced over the centuries by the culture and religions of India, China, the Arab world, and European colonialists, and the people there show a diversity of thought and beliefs that is quite unique.
The Traveling American recommends that people who have never been to Asia or are seeking to experience the people, cultures, and life there start with a twelve-day tour of three nations. Our sample itinerary begins with the modern financial and entertainment nation--state of Singapore, moves on to the archeological wonders of Cambodia’s Angkor Wat, and then samples Thailand’s popular capital of Bangkok. Travel between these central locations is easy and each place offers distinct activities and slices of life for visitors.
Many travelers feel that their visit to Southeast Asia was the best trip of their entire lives. Here is an itinerary for that journey with recommended activities, hotels, and experiences to consider.
DAY ONE – A LONG FLIGHT FROM THE UNITED STATES TO SINGAPORE
Southeast Asia is a long way from the United States so be prepared to have two full days of your trip consumed flying there and back. In fact, because the time is twelve hours later in Singapore, people flying there sometimes lose a second day on the way to Singapore and then gain back most of that day on the return trip. Fortunately, some of the best airlines in the world serve Singapore and the city’s modern Changi Airport is rated as one of the best. There are currently only two airlines that serve the city directly with flights that take 17 to 19 hours. Singapore Airlines flies there from JFK in New York, Newark Airport, Seattle, and Los Angelese. United Airlines has a direct flight from San Francisco. You can also fly to Singapore in about 25 hours on some other leading airlines including Emirates, Qatar, Cathay Pacific, Turkish Airlines and Korean Airways. These airlines all have one stop connections in their hub cities of Dubai, Doha, Hong Kong, Istanbul, and Incheon respectively along the way. One-way fares to Singapore range from about $1000 to $2000 per person for economy fares, and $3000 to $5000 per person for business class fares.
DAY TWO– SINGAPORE – ARRIVAL AND SETTLING IN TO YOUR HOTEL
Private Guide- A private guide is not necessary for a visit to Singapore. The main attractions are located around Marina Bay and in the downtown section of the city which has wide boulevards and sidewalks. The streets are safe and clean in Singapore and English is spoken by much of the population here. Arriving at Singapore’s Changi Airport and getting to your hotel is a smooth process. Passport control and customs inspections are convenient and within an hour you will be on your way to your hotel with your luggage. Hotel shuttles and taxi services will ferry you downtown in a half hour where the major hotels are located. Most people are going to still be tired after the long flight so the first day in Singapore is best spend settling into the hotel, resting, and taking a walk around the perimeter to Marina Bay to take in the atmosphere and the activities available there.
Hotels- There are many good choices for lodging in the city. Many people pick the Marina Bay Sands Resort and Casino. The $8 billion building is an iconic symbol of Singapore which attracts forty-five million visitors annually. Its three towers rise fifty-five stories above the harbor and are connected on top by a 1120-foot-long park shaped like a ship with an observation deck and infinity pool. This architectural wonder includes a 2,561-room hotel, casino, convention center, a luxury shopping mall, celebrity chef restaurants, and theaters. Another popular hotel is the Mandarin Oriental which is also located on Marina Bay. This property is run by one of Asia’s leading hotel chains and includes a pool and a club room where most guests can obtain appetizers, drinks, and snacks throughout the day.
DAY THREE- SINGAPORE-Exploring the Waterfront and the Historic Sites
Your first full day in Singapore can be spent taking in landmarks that date back to its colonial era and observing the city’s prosperous business and financial center. Some recommended places to visit and things to do are:
Visit the Merlion Statue- This landmark on the shore of Marina Bay is a thirty-foot-high white marble statue of a mythical creature with the body of a fish and the head of a lion that spews water into the harbor to the delight of thousands of daily visitors.
Take a Singapore River Cruise- Singapore’s original center was along the river that flows north from the Marina Bay past historic landmarks and under pedestrian bridges to the quays and docks that once serviced the Asian, Arab, and European vessels that traded here. Historic bumboats now powered by electric motors provide a pleasant cruise while explaining the city’s key sites and history.
Refreshment Break at the Raffles Hotel- The classic Raffles Hotel located on the downtown shore of Marina Bay remains an elegant place to stay but tourists go there to sample an original Singapore Sling cocktail, eat peanuts, and gaze at memorabilia from the colonial age line up to take a break from site seeing at the hotel’s Long Bar..
Explore the Asian Civilization Museum- This pleasant museum located along the Singapore River contains antiquities and objects that ‘tell stories of the trade and exchange of ideas….as well as the flow of religions” that resulted from Singapore’s history as a port city and center for many cultures.
DAY FOUR- SINGAPORE- Visit the City’s Modern Marvels, Food Markets, and Take a Night Safari
The next day in Singapore will provide an opportunity to explore some of the modern marvels of the city and enjoy several the unique experiences. Here is the itinerary:
Explore the Views from the Observations Deck of the Marina Bay Sands- Guests of the hotel can access the observation deck at their leisure to swim in the rooftop park’s incredible infinity pool, take in a panoramic view of the entire city, dine in one of the rooftop restaurants, or have a drink at the rooftop club. Visitors can experience the observation deck by paying a fee or making a restaurant reservation. An alternative for viewing the city is to take a spin on the nearby Singapore Flyer which is a giant observation wheel with carriages that circle around to allow riders to see the entire waterfront.
Walk Through or Around the Gardens by the Bay- This 250-acre series of gardens and lakes is located within walking distance of Marina Bay and most hotels. It consists of two futuristic domes featuring flowers and plants from a Mediterranean climate in one and a tropical rainforest environment in the other. People also enjoy the cluster of sixteen story high Supertrees connected by walkways which blend natural and artificial materials, collect rainwater, and generate solar power.
Visit a Food Market- When people talk about Asian Fusion food, there are few places that have the reputation of Singapore for offering a variety of cuisines. While there are five-star fine dining establishments, Singaporeans love to eat at food courts, hawker centers, and coffee shops around the city. At popular destinations like the Tiong Bahru market, you will find dishes that incorporate the spices and dishes of Malays, Chinese, French, and Arab residents, and you can even find fish and chips for the British expatriates.
Night Safari – The Night Safara offers visitors a chance to see but not photograph dozens of popular animals from jungle environments including tigers, elephants, anteaters, and hippos in open habitats by riding a tram through different zones or walking on trails. This outdoor attraction is open from 7:30 to midnight.
DAY FIVE- SINGAPORE- Visit the Attractions of Santosa and Shop
After settling into Singapore, it is time for entertainment and shopping. There are festivals going on throughout the year and special events like a Formula One race. However, the place to go is Sentosa Island, an amusement and activity center built along the shoreline a mile or two from Marina Bay. The premier attraction is a large Universal Studios theme park which is part of the Resorts World Casino. This first-class park contains five entertainment zones with different themes such as a Jurassic World, Sci Fi City, Ancient Egypt, Madagascar, and Shrek. It also has two food and entertainment centers with New York and Hollywood themes. Sentosa also has the SEA Aquarium, a complete water park and three beach resorts. Finally, the Sky venture VWT allows people to engage in virtual skydiving in special air chambers.
Given the humidity sometimes experienced in Singapore, most people will want to relax after experiencing the rides and beaches of Sentosa. So, a good way to complete your Singapore experience is to visit one of Asia’s premier shopping malls – The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands. This 800,00 square foot high end retail complex has 270 stores and restaurants including many stores selling premium goods for international brands and restaurants created by celebrity chefs. Despite the architectural wonders of the facility, the shoppes have a quiet and relaxed feel to them accented by a canal that runs down the center of several wings of the mall.
DAY SIX – TRAVEL FROM SINGAPORE TO SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA
On day six of your trip, it is time to move on to the exotic country of Cambodia and experience the majesty of one of the world’s epic destinations – Angkor Wat. The most efficient way to travel to Siem Reap is to fly on one of Singapore Airlines daily flights. The flight takes about three hours and costs about $200 per person for economy seats and $700 for first class.
Private Guide- It is highly recommended that travelers to Cambodia retain a licensed and experienced private guide to serve as a driver, companion, and expert assistant for your visit. Pin Vannak of Angkor Special Tours speaks excellent English and knows the best ways to present the ruins to a family or small group of travelers. He will pick you up at the airport and help you get checked in at your hotel in preparation for touring the ruins. His profile and contact information is set forth in this article from The Traveling American.
Cambodia has a long and complicated history. The Khmer Empire controlled a substantial portion of Southeast Asia from 800 to 1450 AD and built large cities with elaborate architecture, religious monuments, and stone carvings. The capital city of Angkor was built near a huge inland lake known as the Tonle Sap. Its builders relied on an elaborate series of waterways to provide irrigation, water, and transportation for an estimated 500,000 residents. After the Khmer Empire collapsed, their buildings were abandoned and overgrown by the jungle. The remaining people were colonized by the French in the 1860s and then suffered further after the monarchy fell in 1972 and the nation became controlled by the radical communist Khmer Rouge. But in a few short decades, Cambodians have reemerged with a new spirit of pride over the achievements of their medieval ancestors and a plan to share their achievements with the world. Siem Reap, the city adjacent to Angkor Wat, has developed into a major destination with close to four hundred modern hotels, Asian and French cuisine, and a reputation for welcoming the millions of fascinated people who come to see the spectacular ruins.
Hotel- The Victoria Angkor Resort and Spa is located close to the city center on Royal Park square. This three-story hotel captures the best elements of Cambodia’s colonial traditions and local culture. It is an attractive place with air-conditioned rooms placed around a central courtyard filled with gardens, a spectacular pool, shaded lounge chairs, gazebos, and local musicians. By the time you return from a hot day seeing the ruins, the pool, spa, drinks and excellent cuisine of the outside lounge and dining room will satisfy the most discerning customer. You can read more about this hotel here.
After you get to the hotel and get unpacked, it will be tempting to go with your guide to watch the sun set over the ruins. The alternative of having a swim and a relaxing dinner before bed and dreaming about the adventures to come is also enjoyable.
DAY SEVEN – EXPLORING ANGKOR WAT
At a special place like Angkor Wat, it is important to design your trip to enhance your experience. Pin Vannak knows how to organize your visit to avoid group tours and maneuver around the sites to avoid the hot sun and large crowds. Most visits to Angkor Wat start with an introduction to the main temple complex. The 200-acre site is surrounded on all four sides by reservoirs called borays. It can only be reached by walking across a large causeway with snakelike figures called Nagas on each side. At the center of the square complex is a stone temple with five tall spires that symbolizes the Hindu universe. The initial views of the complex are overwhelming. It will make you want to take a picture every minute but try to sit in the shade from time to time and allow yourself to think about the talented artisans that built these temples and the world in which they lived.
People find the murals of the temple to be fascinating. All four of the corridors and some of the temple’s chambers contain engravings telling elaborate stories. The walls of one long corridor depict a story of the world’s creation by various deities. Another corridor shows a judgment day where good people are rewarded in paradise and the wicked are sent down into a special hell where demons administer gruesome tortures. A third corridor displays a military procession by the army of King Suryavarman who built Angkor Wat in 1150. The architectural complexity and grandeur of Angkor Wat was never equaled but there are plenty of other sites to see which are also full of beauty and mystery. So be sure to enjoy a relaxing swim or nap and sample the interesting cuisine of Cambodia during the rest of your day.
DAY EIGHT – EXPLORING ANGKOR THOM AND OTHER SURROUNDING RUINS
On your second day of touring there are other special places to see. After the death of King Suryavarman, other rulers continued to expand the city and its monumental structures. Jayavarman VI built an entire city down the road from Angkor Wat known as Angkor Thom. This city and all these later structures were dedicated to Buddha rather than to Hindu gods. Angkor Thom features thirty-seven towers, and each tower contains four huge stone faces of a smiling Buddha looking out in each direction, as well as hundreds of carvings of dancing female spirits known as apsaras. Pictures of these benevolent figures provide exotic backdrops for photos and contemplation.
A third set of temple complexes close to Angkor Wat are other must-see destinations. Ta Prohm and Preah Khan were built by King Jayavarman VII in the early 1200s and dedicated to his mother and father. Preah Khan served as a Buddhist monastery and university for several hundred years. Stone pillars discovered there state that thousands of priests, teachers, servants, and workers were required to run the temple. Ta Prohm is only semi-intact, but it became quite popular when it was used as the setting for the movie “Tomb Raider” and for several other Asian films. At Ta Prohm, there are dark chambers to peak into along with some huge silk cotton trees growing right through the buildings. In places, the weight of these stonelike trees and their vine-like trunks have cracked open the roofs and walls. As you walk through both sites, or along the wide causeways leading to them, it is ironic to see that some of the original Buddhist shrines and carvings have been either destroyed by nature or smashed during a brief revival of Hinduism that took place under a later ruler of Angkor.
DAY NINE- ENJOYING THE CULTURE AND HIGHLIGHTS OF BANGKOK
On day nine of your trip, it is time to leave Cambodia for the city of Bangkok to experience life in Thailand. There are inexpensive direct flights daily from Siem Reap to Bangkok provided by Thai Air Asia and Bangkok Airways.
For many years, Bangkok has ranked as one of the world’s most popular destinations for tourists drawing large crowds of visitors from Europe, Australia, and China. Bangkok has many diverse activities and cultural experiences to offer visitors. Wherever you go in Bangkok, you notice the pleasant nature of the people and their enthusiasm for life. Although political rivalries have created tension in recent years, Thais are united in their reverence for their King and the royal family.
Water is at the heart of all life in Bangkok. The Chao Payra River is well traveled by water taxis, ferries, and private boats. In addition, there is an intricate network of canals that run inland for miles. Tens of thousands of city residents live along the canals on dry patches or in elevated houses. This water orientation reflects the historical roots of the city which was founded after the conquest and decline of the Siamese kingdom of Ayutthaya located about fifty mile north of modern Bangkok. That settlement evolved into the independent nation of Thailand which was never colonized by the west.
Hotel- The Peninsula Hotel and Resort on the western bank of the river provides an excellent location to experience the spirit of Bangkok while still being able to escape the manic pace, humidity, and crowds of the city several times a day. It is known for having exceptional service and offering excellent views of the entire city from most of its rooms. In addition, the Peninsula provides a complete resort experience in the center of the city because of its infinity pools along the river, large buffet breakfast on the waterfront, first class spa, and fine dining restaurant.
Private Guide- Many of the attractions in Bangkok are in the central city and can be reached by water. However, this huge city of eleven million can be confusing to get around and has frequent traffic jams and crowds to contend with. One private guide that has been serving small groups in and around Bangkok for over 15 years is Nok Thai Tours. Her team will help you decide which temples and experiences you would like to pursue in the city and bring you to the best locations for pictures, meals, and breaks. Her contact information is linked here.
After arranging with your hotel or guide for transportation to your hotel, you can relax there for the rest of the day by taking a swim, getting a massage, and having a genuine dinner of Thai cuisine. Alternatively, you can have your guide, or the hotel concierge get tickets for one of Bangkok’s unique cultural experiences. One is to visit the Lumpiness Arena or Rajadamnern Stadium to see an evening of unique Thai boxing which is a combination of martial arts combat, ritual dancing and music, and furious betting. Another is to see the remarkable Siam Niramit Show (if it reopens after COVID) which presents Siam’s history in a multimedia display featuring over one hundred performers, elephants, music, dancing, and even a river that runs through one of the world’s largest stages. A third is to take a dinner cruise on the river to get a relaxing introduction to the city.
DAY TEN- SEEING THE SITES OF THE OLD CITY OF BANGKOK
Your second day in Bangkok will focus on seeing some of the unique sites of the old city located on the east bank of the river and the riverfront where there are some spectacular shrines and buildings such as:
The Grand Palace- This palace served as the royal residence for several hundred years and includes dozens of gilded pagodas, galleries with paintings of the life of Buddha, throne rooms, and statues of various mythical beasts.
Wat Phra Kaeo- This temple shrine features a carved emerald image of Buddha high atop an altar and is located adjacent to the Grand Palace.
Wat Arun – This stunning Buddhist temple built on the western side of the river in the 1800s stands majestically by the water and has glistening spires that are silver in color. It has steep sides and stairs that can be climbed for a better view of the building and the surroundings.
Temple of the Reclining Buddha – This temple contains a 150-foot-long, gold plated Buddha embroidered with jewels and dusted with gold. It is also a traditional medicine institute served by several hundred monks where visitors can enjoy a Thai massage.
Longtail Boat Ride- Tens of thousands of city residents live along the canals on dry patches or in elevated houses with their own boats. The classic vessel in Bangkok is the longtail boat made famous by James Bond in a chase scene from the movie “The Man with the Golden Gun.” While you will not have to elude any pursuers, it is fascinating to race through the canals to see how people live in elevated housing there, feed bread to the huge fish that swim in the waters and watch the river traffic.
DAY ELEVEN- EXPLORING ATTRACTIONS AROUND BANGKOK
There are some unique day trips available from Bangkok that are worth looking into with your guide if you want to see some more of Thailand on the last touring day of your trip. Here are some of the most popular side trips to consider unless you want to relax at the hotel or go shopping at one of the many air-conditioned malls and vendor alleys in Bangkok:
Visit Ayutthaya- Ayutthaya served as the capital of a powerful Siamese Kingdom that dominated large portions of Southeast Asia for several centuries starting around 1450 AD. Full of ornate temples, a formidable fleet of trading barges, and royal gold, Ayutthaya was known as the “Venice of the East. Today, there are several dozen large bronze-colored temples, bell-shaped stupas, and small palaces on the World Heritage Site there, with murals depicting the history of past battles. Most of the Buddha statues were decapitated by the Burmese when they conquered the city in 1767 but their heads have now been restored and their bodies are usually dressed in flowing yellow robes. Visitors also enjoy the elephant stockade which is a large rectangular enclosure surrounded by high stakes.
See the Floating Market - The Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is a popular day trip to a canal area outside of town where vendors sell produce and about anything you can think of to visitors who come by their platforms on longtail boats. The flowers and brightly attired boats and people create energetic exchanges.
Experience Pattaya – This city located about two hours south of Bangkok is mostly known for its vibrant nightlife and beaches, but it also has some unusual monuments such as the ornate Sanctuary of Truth, a huge carved wooden interdenominational temple that has been under construction for decades on a beach near the city.
Elephant Sanctuaries- There are several elephant camps near the river Kwai outside of Bangkok that offer opportunities to view elephants, and sometimes ride or help them enjoy mud baths along the river.
DAY TWELVE – THE LONG FLIGHT HOME
For twelve days, you have been traveling in some of the most interesting and diverse areas of southeast Asia and seen both ruins of past civilizations and the modern marvels of the emerging economies found in this part of the world. Now it is time to go home. Although there are no longer any direct flights to the United States from Bangkok, the same airlines that service Singapore have flights back to the west coast and the New York area through their hubs which generally take about 25 hours to complete and cost between $1100 and $2000 per person for a premium economy fare and $2300 to $3000 per person for business class fare. These include Cathay Pacific (with a Hong Kong connection), Korean Airlines (with an Incheon connection), China Airlines (with a Taipai connection), Emirates (with a Dubai connection), and Qatar (with a Doha connection). Because of the time differential, most flights arrive back on the east coast 8 to 12 hours after they leave so a morning flight out of Bangkok should land in the evening of the same day on the west coast or the east coast.