A fascinating tour which encompasses the highlands and beaches of the south, Thailand’s northern cultural heritage and the vibrant centres of Bangkok, Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. The tour begins in the financially successful island of Singapore at the southern end of the Malay Peninsular. A night train takes us to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s capital, with its old colonial architecture set among the gleaming new high-rise office blocks. Travelling through the Cameron Highlands brings us to the scenic island state of Penang with its original Chinese atmosphere. Explore the town by rickshaws, travel on a funicular train, and shop in brightly lit night bazaars. We start early for the long journey to Thailand and drive to the sparkling waters and white sandy beaches of Krabi or Koh Samui, with opportunities for snorkelling, diving and cruising offshore. Then we head north to the Khao Sok National Park to explore its tropical rainforest, before stopping off in the Thai capital Bangkok. We journey by night to Chiang Mai in the north for trekking by foot and elephant back.