Singapore & Southern Malaysia

You’ve got a couple of full days to get a feel for Singapore, and it’s a brilliant place to start. Singapore is filled with exciting adventures. One minute you’re surrounded by standout architecture, the next you’re in a beautiful neighbourhood lined where the roads are lined with street food stalls and small local shops. You might head up to the Marina Bay Sands SkyPark Observation Deck for a view across the skyline, or visit Gardens by the Bay in the evening when everything lights up.

If you enjoy food, make time for Maxwell Food Centre (Our expert, Ian, really recommends hunting down some prawn gyoza with a soy sauce dip from Sunto Gyoza). It’s busy, a bit chaotic, and exactly where you’ll find some of the best local dishes. There’s no strict structure here. Take it at your own pace and follow what excites you. 

Today you’ll leave Singapore and head into Malaysia, travelling up to Malacca. Crossing the border, the journey takes around four hours. Once you arrive, the pace shifts slightly. Malacca is smaller, more relaxed, and easy to explore on foot. Settle in, head out for a wander, or just take the afternoon slowly.

Today you’ll explore Malacca with your own private guide. We always work with the very best local guides here at HA, so we're confident they'll go above and beyond to make your tour special. They’ll meet you at your hotel and shape the day around what interests you, but it’s a place that’s best understood by just walking through it. You’ll pass old Dutch buildings, Portuguese influences, and streets filled with small cafés and local food spots. You might hop on a trishaw for a short ride, stop to try a few local dishes, or end the day with a gentle river cruise. Explore Malacca and get a proper feel for the place, with a local, who knows it well.

This morning, you’ll meet your private driver and leave Malacca, heading towards Taman Negara Rompin. Once you arrive, you’ll check into your rainforest chalet. It’s a complete change of scenery, surrounded by beautiful flora and fauna. In the thick of the jungle, with the sound of wildlife, and very little else around. Later in the evening, head out on a night walk where the forest feels completely different after dark. Once the sun goes down and the stars come out, the canopy above filters the starlight, creating magical celestial displays.

Today is all about getting out into the national park. Start with a river cruise along the Sungai Kinchin. It’s a slow journey, surrounded by dense rainforest, with a good chance of spotting wildlife along the way. You’ll have the chance to stop for a swim in the dreamy Sungai Kernam, or just sit back and take it all in. After lunch, head out on a hike through the jungle to Mahkota Waterfall. It’s an impressive 50 metres high, and the walk itself is just as much of the experience as the waterfall at the end of it. Back at the lodge, the rest of the evening is yours to relax.

You’ll have a bit more time to enjoy the rainforest this morning before moving on. After breakfast, meet your driver and begin your journey to the coast.

You’ll arrive at Desaru Coast, on the edge of the South China Sea. After the past few days, this is your time to kick back, pop your feet up and slow down. Long stretches of sand, warm water, and space to properly switch off. Spend your time exactly how you want, whether that’s doing very little, or adding in a few activities. If you'd like some ideas on ways to fill your days, our specialist Ian can suggest a few options. Arrange a chat with us, that's what we're here for!

Today you’ll transfer back to Singapore for your flight home.