22 Day Classic South East Asia - A

22 days Thailand - Singapore - Vietnam - Hongkong

Featuring: The Eastern & Oriental Express

Day 1 Wednesday.

Departure from USA home city via Chicago, New York or Seattle
on SAS to Copenhagen, arriving the next morning at 07:30.

Day 2 Thursday.

After arrival at Copenhagen at approximately 0730am, there is a layover at Copenhagen where you will be offered a day room at the Dan Hotel, just outside the airport (or similar category). You can also choose to take a 3 hour city sightseeing tour instead of the day room. It is recommended to take a trip into the city center, only a 20 minute cab ride from the airport, and take a stroll down the famous walking street "Stroeget". There you can find many small bars and restaurants that will offer you a typical Danish lunch, at very reasonable prices. You can also rest at the Copenhagen airport, before continuing the journey to Thailand. If you chose to go to the city, you must go through customs and immigrations at Copenhagen, exiting the transit hall. Make sure you check-in at the SAS passenger service counter upon arrival, before going into the city. They will advise you what time you should be back in the transit hall and they will issue your boarding pass so you are ready to continue the trip bound for Bangkok and Singapore.

Day 3, Friday.

After breakfast on board, you arrive at Bangkok International Airport, at about 2:30pm. you will depart the aircraft during the ground stop and reboard as soon as they call your flight about an hour later. You will continue to Singapore for another 2 hours and 10 minute flight, arriving at 6:55pm. After clearing formalities, you will be met by our guide and transferrred to the Marina Mandarin Hotel where the evening is yours to rest. There will be a meal served between Bangkok and Singapore.

Day 4 Saturday

After breakfast our guide will meet you for a tour of the Harbour. This can be re-arranged for the afternoon if you prefer. After approximately 3 hours you will be returned tot he hotel. The remainder of the day is on your own. If you are up to it you can visit the fabulous Singapore Zoo in the afternoon and have "High Tea" with an Orangutan. That is a very special feature the Zoo has to offer. A drink at the "Long Bar" at the Raffles Hotel may be in order and can be recommended. This is where the world famous "Singapore Sling" was invented.

Day 5 Sunday

After breakfast at your hotel you will be picked up by our guide for a morning city tour, visiting China town and seeing the sights of the former colonial rule. At noon time you will be vvback at the hotel for lunch on your own. The early afternoon can be at leisure for shopping. Mid afternoon you will be picked up for your transfer to the railway station for check-in at the Eastern & Oriental Express terminal for a departure at 14:45pm. You will make the first stop at Kuala Lumpur, where dinner will be served after departure from Kuala Lumpur. (all meals are included on the train).

Day 6 Monday
After breakfast you will arrive into Butterworth - Penang. At near noon you will continue up the Malay Peninsula into Thailand. Enjoy the wonderful scenery from the observation car, perhaps spend some time in the observation car lounge or the library lounge, mingling with the fellow passengers.

Day 7 Tuesday

After arriving into Hua Hin in the early morning, breakfast will be served. You will continue to Bangkok where arrival is scheduled at 2:45pm. Lunch and afternoon tea will be served on this leg of the journey. Upon arrival into The Bangkok Railway Station you will be met by our guide who will transfer you to The Royal garden Riverside Hotel - a Marriott Hotel. Dinner is on your own. It can be recommended to take a dinner cruise on the river, boarding right at the hotel pier.

Day 8 Wednesday

After breakfast you will be met and transferred to the meeting point for a full day tour to The Ancient Capital and The Summer Palace at Ayuthaya. The morning starts by bus from the Oriental Hotel, across the river from your hotel. You will drive up and early afternoon you will board the MS Oriental Queen, or similar, and crusie back to The Oriental Hotel. You arrive back after a 3 hour voyage down river. This is a very relaxing and great excursion, perfect for the day following a long journey. Dinner is on your own.

Day 9 Thursday

After breakfast you may wish the day on your own or take a half day tour to The Grand Palace or the floating market at Damnern Saduak. The afternoon is free. You can chose which time of day you wish to depart for Samui Island - Bangkok Airways operates almost hourly. However we will need to pre reserve seats before leaving the US. Upon the arrival you will be met by the hotel driver taking you to The Central Samui Beach Resort. Dinner is on your own.

Day 10 Friday

After breakfast the day is on your own to enjoy the island. There is an abundance of nature as well as water sports fcilities.

Day 11 Saturday

After breakfast the day is on your own to enjoy the beaches. How about some diving in the Gulf of Siam? The seafood is unparralelled.

Day 12 Sunday

After early breakfast transfer to the airport for your Bangkok Airways flight to Bangkok, connecting directly to Thai International flight TG680 to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) departing at 1115am from Bangkok. You will be met upon arrival, scheduled to land at 12:45pm, and taken to The Century Saigon Hotel. An afternoon city tour is scheduled visiting Cholon and the China town district, The old Imperial Palace and the war Museum. Dinner is recommended at the French Vietnamese restaurant VY. The hotel contact: 141 Nguyen Hue Ave. phone (848) 829 6046 and fax (848) 829 2732.

Day 13 Monday

After breakfast take a full day tour to Tay Ninh, via teh Chu Chi Tunnels. You will arrive back into Saigon early evening and have dinner at Madam Dai's restaurant. Madam Dai is a personality from the war period, when she served the South Vietnamese governmnet as a senator, the U.S. government as a liason and probably the North in some capacity. We will try to get you an audience with her as she is extrememly interesting, although nothing can be guaranteed.

Day 14 Tuesday

After breakfast take a full day excursion south to the Mekong Delta. You will now experience the end of the Mekong River after it has passed through Laos, Thailand and Cambodia. This territory is the rice bowl of Indo-China, and an area heavily contested during the Vietnam War era. On return to Ho Chi Minh Cityyou will enjoy a dinner on the river, the floating restaurant, unless you decide to change that arrangement. Anytime you wish to make changes, please arrange that with your local guide. Since this is your last night in Saigon, you may wish to take a dring on the roof top terrace bar at The Rex Hotel. This is another unique property in Saigon.

Day 15 Wednesday

After an early breakfast tarnsfer to the airport for your Vietnam Airlines flight VN320 departing at 0755am for Danang. Upon arrival at Danang you will be met by our guide and tak a city tour, visiting the Museum of Cham Sculptures before continuing the drive up the coast to Hue. After checking into the Century Inn Hue and having lunch you will visit Tu Duc and Kjhai Dinh's Tombs. Your dinner will be at the hotel located at 49 Le Loi St., phone (8454) 823390 fax (8454) 823 399.

Day 16 Thursday

After breakfast you will take a boat trip on the Perfume River, visit the Thien Mu Pagoda and teh Old Royal Palace. Lunch will be served. You will have a little free time for shopping before going to the airport for your flight VN246 departing at 4:20pm arriving into Hanoi at 5:30pm. There you will be met by our guide and transferred to the Hotel Metropole, if space is available, or similar. Dinner will be at the hotel. The hotel is located at 15 Ngo Quyen St
phone (84 4) 266 919 fax (848) 298076.

Day 17 Friday

After breakfast you will have a short city tour, visiting Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, One - Pillar Pagoda, Sword Lake ruins of Co Loa Citadel. Lunch and afternoon is on your own to stroll around the city.

Day 18 Saturday

After breakfast your guide will pick you up for transfer to the airport for your 09:55am departure on Vietnam Airlines flight VN790 to Hongkong. There you will be met by our guide and transferrred to The Kowloon Hotel. The rest of the day is on your own.

Day 19 Sunday

After breakfast explore Hongkong on your own. We can arrange a variety of tours to The new Territories, Victoria Island with Victoria Peak and much more.

Day 20 Monday

After breakfast you may wish to visit the old Portugese Colony of Macau, by hydrofoil boat. They have lots of interesting sights and scenery including the casino. As you may know the Chines love to gamble.

Day 21 Tuesday

After breakfast you will transfer to the airport for your flight on SAS SK992, departing Hongkong at 11:10am non-stop to Copenhagen arriving at 4:10pm. There you will transfer by taxi to Dan Hotel, near the airport, or similar, for your overnight. Should you wish to visit downtown Copenhagen, take a stroll down the famous walking street "Stroeget", enjoy one of the many fine restaurants in this city that is more than 850 years old, the distance from the hotel is only 10 to 15 minutes by taxi. A dinner at St. Gertrud's Kloster or Egoisten is highly recommended. If you wish to visit a local jazz club or just go to an up-scale cafe, then Cafe Victor is a good choice. Copenhagen is a 24 hour city.

Day 22 Wednesday

After breakfast transfer back to the airport by hotel car or taxi for a 10:35am departure non-stop to Chicago, on SAS flight SK941. You will arrive at O'Hare at 12:50pm. Welcome home.


return to S.E Asia page
return to Eastern & Oriental Express

The program offers you Air transportation from the US, four and five Star hotel accommodations, based on two persons sharing a twin, breakfast daily, all transfers to and from the airports. Tours as described, meals as mentioned.