On the tracks: Belmond’s Eastern & Oriental Express
Experience the golden age of rail travel on the iconic Eastern & Oriental Express.
Credit: Ludovic Balay
It's Southeast Asia's answer to the Orient Express, and it's every bit as grand as you'd hope. Belmond's Eastern & Oriental Express runs between Singapore and Malaysia, carrying fewer than 70 guests through the Malaysian heartland on three-night journeys that combine first-class service, redesigned cabins and some of the most spectacular scenery in the region.
The itineraries
There are four journeys to choose from, running seasonally throughout the year. Wild Malaysia heads from Singapore up to Penang via Taman Negara, one of the oldest tropical rainforests in the world, with stops in Johor Bahru and Ipoh along the way. Essence of Malaysia takes in UNESCO-listed Georgetown and the island of Langkawi, running from January to March and again from November.
For the festive season, there's Festive Malaysia in December, which includes a Christmas celebration in Penang, and Malaysia Celebration, a New Year's Eve journey through Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi and Penang with champagne and fireworks to see in the new year. Which one to choose? That’s the hardest question to answer.
Credit: Eurthe
Life on board
There are three cabin categories to choose from, but all are lavish. Pullman cabins have a comfortable sofa by day that staff turn into upper and lower berths at night, with ensuite bathrooms throughout. Staterooms are the step up, with a separate sofa and armchair, ready-made twin beds (no ladder required) and more space to spread out.
The two Presidential Suites are the most impressive, with complimentary champagne, caviar and a dedicated 45-minute spa treatment included. None of the cabins have TVs, but why would you need one with the views you can expect in this part of the world? There's also a bell for anything you need.
Credit: Ludovic Balay
The food
The dining programme is led by Chef André Chiang, the train's Culinary Curator, whose menus fuse Southeast Asian and Western flavours using regional herbs, spices and seasonal ingredients. Two dining carriages, Malaya and Adisorn, are finished in elm panelling and hand-painted floral designs, and dinner each evening is a proper occasion, so pack your fancy shoes and save the khaki for the jungle.
Cocktails are inventive, champagne flows freely and the dress code leans formal in the evenings without being stiff. Throughout the year, Belmond also runs a Culinary Series with Michelin-starred guest chefs who join Chiang on selected departures for collaborative menus and four-hands dinners.
Credit: Frankie Lin
Excursions and activities
Every itinerary includes curated off-train excursions that vary by route. On Wild Malaysia, expect open-top jeep safaris through Taman Negara in search of elephants and leopards. Essence of Malaysia brings vespa tours through the colonial streets of Georgetown, Peranakan cooking classes and private snorkelling trips at Pulau Payar Marine Park.
When you're not eating, exploring or watching the scenery change from jungle to coastline, there's the Piano Bar for live music in the evenings, the Saloon Car for a quieter drink, and the Observation Car at the rear of the train, complete with an open-air deck where you can watch tea plantations and coastal villages roll past with a cocktail in hand.
The train also has Southeast Asia's first Dior Spa on rails. Two treatment cabins are finished in the brand's Toile de Jouy motif, with Asian-inspired treatments combining massage, facials and meditation - it’s quite literally a movign spa you can take with you on your holiday.
Credit: Eurthe
All journeys depart from Singapore and are fully inclusive: cabin accommodation, all meals and selected drinks, entertainment, and off-train excursions. Pullman cabins start from around US$5,800 per person. The train operates seasonally, with Wild Malaysia running from roughly March to October and Essence of Malaysia taking over the cooler months. Departures unsurprisingly book out well in advance, particularly during the festive season and the Culinary Series, so it's worth planning ahead.
