• The chance to explore a thrilling 21st century city and experience some extraordinary natural wonders in one holiday!
• The 5* spa hotels!
• The fabulous food culture!
• The beaches!
• The flora and fauna!

• Visiting two world class gardens - Gardens by the Bay and Singapore Botanic Gardens
• Seeing an iconic Chinese Shophouse
• Eating Michelin-starred street food
• Watching beautiful, rare birds at the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
• Taking tea at the famous Raffles Hotel
• Staying at Gaya Island Resort on Pulau Gaya, the largest of the five islands that form the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. This natural conservation area off the coast of Borneo is a place of golden sandy beaches, rocky coastal outcrops, and magical coral reefs.
• Visiting two important wildlife conservation projects, Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center and Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre 
• The option to go on trekking adventures in primary forest and to visit the traditional Mari Mari Cultural village
   

• Early check in at Oasia Sentosa Resort on arrival in Singapore so you can rest after the flight
• 4x nights bed and breakfast accommodation on twin sharing basis at Oasia Sentosa Resort, Singapore
• 5x nights full board accommodation on twin sharing basis at Gaya Island Resort, Borneo
• 4x breakfasts, 2x lunches, 1x afternoon tea, 2x dinners while in Singapore
• All breakfasts, lunches and dinners while in Borneo
• Services of an ECT Travel Tour Manager throughout the tour
• Services of a Local Guide in Singapore and Borneo
• All transport and airport transfers throughout the tour
• All entrance fees and admissions mentioned in the itinerary, including:
  • Guided tour of Singapore Botanic Gardens and National Orchid Gardens
  • Guided Singapore City-Tour
  • Entrance to Gardens by the Bay; including OCBC Skyway, Cloud Forest, and the Flower Dome.
  • All day expert guided tour of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and MacRitchie Reservoir Park, with lunch
  • Singapore Immersive Food Experience; including a simple dinner at Hawker Chan’s, the world’s only Michelin Star hawkers of cuisine.
  • Entrance to the National Museum of Singapore.
• Afternoon tea at Raffles Hotel.
• Gaya Island Resort Activities including a guided nature walk, sunset cruise and the guided The Tavajun Discovery Trail
• A full day-trip to visit the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre in Sandakan
• All internal flights including connection flights to/ from Singapore Airport/ Kota Kinabalu Airport. (Days 6/9 & 11)

Optional Excursion available on Day 11 

A Bumboat River Cruise followed by a delicious lunch at TungLok Restaurant, one of Singapore's most famous traditional Cantonese restaurants, is an additional option on Day 11, priced at  £145pp

Day One, Saturday 9th March/5th October 

10:55 - depart London Heathrow Terminal 2 on Singapore Airlines, SQ317 for Singapore Changi Airport
11:00 - depart Manchester Terminal 2 on Singapore Airlines, SQ51  for Singapore Changi Airport

Day Two, Sunday 10th March/6th October

07:50 – London Heathrow flight arrives at Singapore Changi International Airport

07:55 - Manchester flight arrives at Singapore Changi International Airport

08:30 - transfer by private coach transfer to your hotel, Oasia Resort Sentosa, 23 Beach View Road, Palawan Ridge, Sentosa Island
09:30 – arrive at Oasia Resort Sentosa* and check in. Located in the heart of Sentosa Island and just 15 minutes from Singapore’s central business district, the Oasia Resort is both an idyllic wellness escape and an ideal base for exploring all that Singapore and this famous island resort has to offer. 

*For a supplementary fee, we can also arrange accommodation at 5* Intercontinental Hotel, Middle Hill or Raffles Hotel, Beach Road, subject to availability. Please get in touch to discuss.

13:00 – welcome light buffet lunch in the hotel bar with a glass of fizz 
13:45-14:00 –meet in the hotel lobby and depart by private coach for Singapore Botanical Gardens. 
14:30 – arrive at Singapore Botanical Gardens. This 160-year-old garden is one of the city's green gems. A tropical sanctuary, it is the first - and only - UNESCO World Heritage listed tropical botanic garden and is a unique example of the informal English Landscape Movement style in an equatorial climate. The National Orchid Garden, with its 1,000 species and 2,000 hybrids, has been part of the Botanic Garden since 1859. 

Your visit here includes a guided tour of the garden’s 6-hectare rain forest. Dating back to 1880, it is the last remnant of the forest which used to cover the whole of Singapore Island, Today the rain forest is home to more than 300 plant species, most of which are endangered, rare, or vulnerable. Your guide will share stories and secrets about these giant trees and rare plants in the context of the fragile and unique rainforest ecosystem, comprising both the plants and animals. 

18:00 – return to the hotel
20:00 – welcome dinner at the hotel

Day Three, Monday 11th March/7th October

Breakfast at the hotel
09:00 – depart hotel for a Singapore City coach tour.

We will pass highlights of the Civic district, including the Padang, Singapore Cricket Club, Parliament House, and the National Gallery Singapore before stopping at Merlion Park to take in the impressive views of Marina Bay. (Be sure to take a photo of The Merlion, a mythological creature that is part lion and part fish.) We will then go on to Chinatown to visit the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple & Museum where the richly designed interiors and comprehensive exhibits of Buddhist art and history tell stories of this culture. (The temple gets its name from what the Buddhists believe to be the left canine tooth of Buddha which was recovered from his funeral pyre in Kushinagar, India and is displayed in its grounds.)

After the temple, we will visit one of the iconic Chinese Shophouses before exploring the historic Chinatown district with its a bustling mix of traditional shops, markets, cool stores, and cafes. The tour then moves on to the vibrant district of Kampong Glam, home to the colourful Haji Lane with its quirky boutiques, cafes and bars, and Arab Lane, a pretty, bustling street at the heart of Singapore's Islamic community. This the place to pick up traditional wares such as Persian carpets, kebaya dresses and handmade perfumes. 

13:30 – visit Gardens by the Bay. This landmark attraction is one of the Top 10 Indoor Gardens of the World and is home to more than one million plants from more than 5,000 species. Visit the Flower Dome with its ever-changing floral displays, the mysterious mountain world of the Cloud Forest and, of course, the towering vertical garden Supertree Grove. Those with a head for heights may like to stroll along the 22m high Skyway built in these iconic 'trees' and enjoy panoramic views of the Gardens and Marina Bay skyline.

17:00 – return to the hotel by private coach 
Evening at leisure

Day Four, Tuesday 12th March/8th October

Breakfast at the hotel
09:00 – depart hotel by private coach for the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
10:00 – arrive Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. The wetlands are a dream come true for birders. As well as many resident species, including Pink-necked Green Pigeon, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Common Flameback, and Great-billed heron, the Reserve also hosts over 2,000 migrant birds, from over 30 different countries. We will spend the morning here with an expert guide, visiting the Mangrove boardwalk, main birdhide and the bridge. 

13:00 – depart the reserve and drive to MacRitchie Reservoir Park where we will have lunch at a local restaurant 
14:30 – short nature walk along the Lornie Trail to the MacRitchie Reservoir with a local guide. The MacRitchie Reservoir is Singapore's oldest and largest reservoir. Part of the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, it is surrounded by some of the last remaining bits of Singapore's primary forest where many rare and endangered species of plants and birds can still be found

16:00 – return to the hotel by private coach
18:30 – depart hotel for an evening walking tour of Chinatown to enjoy some of Singapore’s famous street food. We will have a simple dinner at Hawker Chan, the world’s first Hawker to be awarded a Michelin star, and then move on to Buddha Tooth Relic Temple for dessert. Our gastronomic evening ends in the bustling street food hub of Southbridge and the Maxwell Food Centre.  
21:00 – return to the hotel

Day Five, Wednesday 13th March/9th October

Breakfast at the hotel
09:30 – depart hotel by private coach for The National Museum of Singapore 
10:00 – arrive at The National Museum of Singapore where you can wander the galleries at leisure. Dating back to 1849, when it was known as the Raffles Library and Museum, this fascinating museum seeks to inspire with stories of Singapore and the world. 
12:00 - depart museum and stroll through Fort Canning Park. One of Singapore’s most historic landmarks, this site has witnessed Singapore's golden age, when Malay Kings ruled from its peak, and seen the island transform from a sleepy fishing village into a vibrant trading hub. During World War II, the hill was instrumental in Singapore's war efforts with numerous military buildings located there. One of these was the Fort Canning Bunker or Battle Box, where the British made the decision to surrender Singapore to the Japanese. Many war relics from Singapore's colourful history have survived on the hill and are still visible today.

13:00 – depart Fort Canning Park and walk to Raffles Hotel (approx. 1km) for afternoon tea. 
Named after Singapore’s founder, Sir Stamford Raffles, this iconic hotel epitomises the island’s colonial history. The 1899 building, designed by R. A. J. Bidwell of Swan & MacLaren, boasted a dining room with a marble floor, electric lights, and powered ceiling fans—a first for any hotel in the region. It soon became the place to be - Charlie Chaplin, Queen Elizabeth II, and Rudyard Kipling were just some of the illustrious names who stayed under its roof. Today, the Raffles Hotel Singapore is a heritage icon. Following restoration works in 2019, the hotel now boasts a whole suite of new amenities and a fresh new look by the acclaimed interior designer Alexandra Champalimaud.

15:00 - depart from Raffles Hotel and return to the hotel by private coach
Late afternoon and evening at leisure 

Day Six – Thursday 14th March/10th October

Early breakfast at the hotel (or picnic breakfast – TBC) and check out  
07:00 – depart hotel by private coach for Singapore Changi Airport 
08:55 – depart Singapore on Scoot flight TR490 for Borneo
11:20 – arrive Kota Kinabalu Airport and transfer by private coach to Jesselton Point ferry terminal
14:00 – ferry transfer to Gaya Island Resort. Set on an island within the protected Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, this beachfront resort offers a peaceful sanctuary nestled in the hillside of an ancient rain forest with a stunning outline of Mount Kinabalu on the horizon. You will spend five nights here, full board. 
14:30 – check in
15:00 – Welcome cocktails and canapes at one of the hotel bars 
Rest of the afternoon and evening at leisure. 

Day Seven – Friday 15th March/11th October

Breakfast at the hotel
09:00 - depart hotel for a Guided Nature Walk with the hotel’s resident naturalist. You will discover an exceptional botanic reserve and a rare, undisturbed dipterocarp forest which is unique to this Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. (Dipterocarps are a family of hardwood, tropical trees comprising about 500 species.) You will be given a full safety briefing before setting off and mineral water will be supplied.
11:00 - return to hotel 
Free time to enjoy the hotel facilities and the beach
17:00 – meet at the jetty for a Sunset Cruise on board a yacht. You will sail to neighbouring islands to see the sun set and the distant city skyline light up. Beer, wine, soft drinks, and canapes will be served. 
19:00 – return to the hotel. Evening at leisure

Day Eight – Saturday 16th March/12th October

Breakfast at the hotel
This is a free day to enjoy the hotel and the beach.
Alternatively, you can opt to join the Tavajun Discovery Trail, which departs from the hotel lobby at 13:30. This is a vigorous trek with the hotel’s naturalist through the densely tangled vines, looping rattans, palms, shrubs, and massive hardwood trees of the primary rainforest. The trail ends at Tavajun Bay, a private sandy beach backed by forested hills and a mangrove area with its own unique ecosystem, where you will enjoy lunch and time to laze on the beach or discover the marine initiatives at Gaya Island Resort Marine Centre. 

Day Nine – Sunday 17th March/13th October

Early breakfast at the hotel, or a packed breakfast (TBC)
Today is a full day excursion to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre
06:30 - depart Gaya Island Resort on private boat transfer and transfer by private coach to Kota Kinabalu Airport for your short flight to Sandakan
08:45 – depart Kota Kinabalu on for Air Asia flight AK6490 to Sandakan
09:35 – arrive Sandakan Airport and transfer by private coach to Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre.
10:30 - visit Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre where orphaned and injured Orangutans are brought to be rehabilitated and returned to forest life 
11:30 - depart Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and travel to a local restaurant for lunch 

12:30 - visit Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, a place dedicated to increasing protection and guaranteeing the survival of the world's smallest bear. There will be a talk here so you can learn more about this important conservation project. 
13:30 - depart Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre and return to Sandakan Airport 
14:55 – depart Sandakan on Air Asia flight AK6495 to Kota Kinabalu
15:50 – arrive Kota Kinabalu and return to Jesselton Point ferry terminal
18:00 – ferry transfer back to Gaya Island Resort
Evening at leisure

Day 10 – Monday 18th March/14th October

Breakfast at the hotel
This is a free day to enjoy the hotel facilities and the beach
Alternatively, you might like to visit the Mari Mari Cultural Village where five different Borneo tribes offer an authentic insight into a traditional way of life that no longer exists. If you would like to this, the hotel will be able to help you with transfers.

Day 11 – Tuesday 19th March/15th October

Breakfast at the hotel and check out
09:00 – transfer by scheduled speedboat to Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal
09:30 - depart Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal and drive to Kota Kinabalu Airport for return flights to UK (via Singapore)
12:10 – depart Kota Kinabalu Airport on Scoot flight TR491 for Singapore
14:20 – arrive Singapore Changi Airport
23:45 – London Heathrow flight departs Singapore Changi Airport on Singapore Airlines flight SQ322 
Singapore Changi Airport boasts an array of attractions to keep you amused while you wait for your flight. Alternatively, you could head into the city for a Singapore Bumboat Cruise. These vessels have been a feature of the Singapore River for over a century and a cruise aboard offers a unique view of the city, past and present. If you would prefer to rest, we can book a by-the-hour room at the airport hotel YOTELAIR. Please let us know.

Day 12 – Wednesday 20th March/16th October

02:10 – Manchester flight departs Singapore Changi Airport on Singapore Airlines flight SQ052
05:55 – London Heathrow flight arrives at Terminal 2
08:35 – Manchester flight arrives at Terminal 2

Tour ends