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 Join us in Singapore and Thailand on our fully escorted, deluxe epicurean adventure. Whether you love food, beaches or just shopping, this is the tour that includes it all. Singaporeans live to eat, with a delicious blend of Chinese, Malay and Indian influences. Likewise, the sweet, sour, hot yet fresh meld in Thai dishes will literally blow you away.
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You will be personally accompanied by cookbook writer Robert Carmack (author of Thai Home Cooking, Vietnamese Home Cooking, Fondue and Desserts with Spirit!) and textile authority Morrison Polkinghorne, with private coach, local guide and some of the best hotels around! Daily breakfast and most meals included, plus special banquets, cooking classes, market tours and much more. |
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| Sunday 2 October |
O/N Singapore |
| Arrival Singapore. Welcome to ultra modern Changi airport, gateway to Southeast Asia and the Lion City. If only all international airports were this efficient! These are some of the smoothest customs and immigration clearances in the world, and afterwards you will be met by our representative, whisking you to a delightfully deluxe boutique hotel in the center of Tanjung Pagar/Chinatown. You will be handed your full itinerary and a welcome gift upon check in. Depending on your arrival time, be sure to wander out tonight toward the nearby lights of the Chinatown Complex plus Sago, Smith and Temple streets. |
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| Monday 3 October |
O/N Singapore |
After your long flights, we’ve arranged foot massages for everybody!. Reflexology is a holistic medicine, commonly practiced in Singapore, as in much of Asia, so we’ve added a 20-minute foot workout for you (no tips, please.) Don’t eat too much breakfast at the hotel this morning, because we also begin our day with murtabak – an Indian roti or griddle bread filled variously with lamb, chicken or sardines, and served with a side of curry gravy. We’ll also treat you to “pulled tea” teh tarik or teh-halia – heavily sweetened with condensed milk. (Sorry: Your only option is with or without ginger.) Then, we continue our walking tour through Chinatown, taking in both the Chinatown Heritage- and Bird’s Nest museums, and an introduction to traditional Chinese medicines. Afterwards taste Singapore’s best dan or tan custard tart. If you are still hungry by this time, we’ll shepherd you to a nearby hawker center or food court where we’ll help walk you through all the menus, But the price – admittedly cheap – is not included. Later, we’ve scheduled a tea appreciation course, where you’ll learn the traditional arts of brewing quality Chinese teas – from black to green to semi-fermented oolong.
Tonight’s gala dinner is a very special affair: we dine in the home of a local Indian-Singapore family, whose parentage comes from the minority Dawoodi Bohri Indian community. They have an unusually delicious concept of mingling sweet and savory courses! |
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| Tuesday 4 October |
O/N Singapore |
| Today we head back to school, and no better way to do so, than to first master Singapore modern and efficient MRT subway system. We’ll train to the ultra chic Raffles Hotel Culinary Academy for a class in Peranakan or Nonya dishes (a fusion of Malay and Chinese cooking styles and ingredients), followed by a light lunch. Afterwards, you’re free to wander about this venerable property (perhaps a famous Singapore Sling at the Long Bar (not included), or visit the hotel’s historical museum on the upper floor). We’ll direct you to taxis or the local MRT subway station afterwards, to take you back to the hotel or better yet, go to renowned Orchard Road for some of the world’s best shopping. Tonight we’re been invited to A Singaporean family’s home for dinner. If you like, bring a bottle of a favorite wine from your home state as a hostess gift to share with our group. |
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| Wednesday 5 October |
O/N Koh Samui |
| After breakfast, we head to the vibrant "wet " and "dry" markets of Geylang and Little India. See how locals shop daily for their provisions, and learn how to identify tropical fruits and vegetables on sight. Although predominantly ethnic Chinese, Singapore has a history as a bustling trading port with significant Malay and Indian minorities-- not to mention traditional Eurasian and modern Western fusion elements. Before lunch, we also visit the new Malay heritage center for a cultural performance, followed by a delicious buffet lunch of Malay specialties in a former prince’s palace. Afterwards, you will again have time to visit the museum section of the centre, before returning to the hotel. We've confirmed late check out, which allows you to keep your hotel room until our departure. Dinner on board the flight. |
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| Thursday 6 October |
O/N Koh Samui |
| Koh Samui is one of Thailand's trendiest island destinations. When you experience its beautiful Gulf waters, you'll understand why. We've chosen great 5-star property on the beach, where you can both tan and eat to your heart's content. Included today is a mid-morning cooking demonstration of typical Thai dishes, followed by lunch. Remaining afternoon and evening free. |
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| Friday 7 October |
O/N Bangkok |
| We've kept the morning free for your personal activities - bathe in the ocean, or at one of the hotel's pools - then we catch a midday flight to Bangkok. Lunch is served on board, and dinner included at the hotel tonight. As our tour includes the nearby weekend market plus island and local village life located away from the city center, we are conveniently straying at the Sofitel Central Plaza, which is connected directly to a shopping mall and department store, plus links by subway into town. The hotel also offers a free shuttle to the nearby sky train station, as well as several free shuttle trips to the centre of Bangkok. Or just take a cab - taxis are cheap and plentiful around Bangkok. Although not included, you may wish to indulge in a traditional 2-hour Thai massage either at the hotel, or even a relaxing reflexology foot massage. |
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| Saturday 8 October |
O/N Bangkok |
| Today we are off to the newly renovated Chachoengsao market, to the east of Bangkok. This is a step back into time, and not surprisingly, these markets often appear as backdrops in period Thai movies. This is an opportunity to discover the “real” Thailand, rarely seen by tourists. A typical Thai lunch is included en route, and the evening free. We’ll supply you with a list of Bangkok’s best restaurants, as well as a shopping guide. Or stay put at the hotel: there are 7 top quality restaurants here, and scores more at the nearby shopping mall. |
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| Sunday 9 October |
O/N Bangkok |
| We begin at the new Aw Taw Kaw vegetable market this morning. Learn to identify Asian greens and fruits, and we’ll also explain and sample typical snacks prior to visiting the island of Koh Gred – a traditional Mon or Burmese immigrant village life frozen in time. Locals here are renowned for their pottery crafts, and you’ll be given a pot of your choosing with the local iced tea. The sugary sweet desserts of koh Gred are also famous, as well as deep fried flowers, all of which you will a chance to sample. Lunch is a very simple khao chair – iced rice served with condiments, plus fermented sticky rice for dessert. Time permitting, we’ll head back to our hotel early enough for you to visit the vast Chatuchak flea market on your own -- make your way back by taxi, although the hotel is within eye sight. We then re-group for dinner. |
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| Monday 10 October |
O/N Bangkok |
After breakfast, we fly to the far northern city of Chiang Mai. This is Thailand's second largest city, but more importantly, home to the kingdom's manufacture of celadon and other ceramics, lacquer ware, silver and jewellery. Independent activities include strolling the streets of old town, to serious shopping along Harng Dong and Sankampaeng roads, or taxi out of town to the parasol village of Bon Sang. We've located a charming boutique hotel in the center of the old town for easy access. After check in, we’ll have an orientation drive through the town, and an optional tour to the craft shop outlets immediately out of town: paper, silver, and a jade jewellery outlet high on the hill with the most stunning view of town. Watch master artisans at work, creating art forms little changed in over 1000 years.
In the evening, we head to a traditional khan tok dinner and theatre. Yep, its touristy, but we’ve found one of the best for food, and the traditional dance is not to be missed. |
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| Tuesday 11 October |
O/N Chiang Mai |
| More exploring of the northern capital of Chiang Mai. So remote that no Thai monarch ever set foot here until the 1920s, the northern Lanna capital of Chiang Mai is a mouth filled blend of Thai, Burmese and Chinese flavours. Following breakfast at the hotel, we begin our day at the local markets shopping for our cooking class. Watch how coconut milk is made from scratch. Beginning with an explanation of northern Thai ingredients, the class then gathers to pound heavy granite mortar and pestles to make their own curry paste. This is followed by demonstrations of other northern specialties, and lunch. Each student has their own table, stove and stool. Get ready to take plenty of notes, and have lots of fun. This is a class where nobody fails! Lunch is included, and the remaining afternoon and evening free. We’ll provide you with a list of top Chiang Mai eateries to try on your own, each easily accessible by tuk tuk or taxi. Or visit the bustling night market and graze along the street or the nearby Galare hawker stalls. |
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| Wednesday 12 October |
O/N Chiang Mai |
| We've kept this morning free for more personal exploration, then at noon we re-group for a delicious lunch of khao soi noodles, described by Saveur magazine as one of the 10 best dishes in the world. In the afternoon we head out of town for elephant rides - always a highlight on any tour. We trek through the highland jungles, then back to our final night in Chiang Mai. Tonight its fancy dress under the star light, sampling some of the best northern dishes. |
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| Thursday 13 October |
O/N Sukhothai-Phitsanulok |
| Today, we fly to the 800 year-old Thai capital of Sukhothai. Sukhothai is a designated Unesco world heritage site, and its graceful Thai ruins dot a landscape many miles square. After arriving at Sukhothai's airport - often described as one of the world's most charming -- we briefly view some of the local sites, then head to the nearby city of Phitsanulok for a delicious noodle lunch at a locally famed "dangling legs' restaurant. (Patrons sit facing outward along the open walls, with the legs dangling free. We'll give you a translated menu, to order by!) Afterwards, we visit Thailand's second most sacred Buddhist temples, Wat Yai (or Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat) built in the 15 th century, then to one of the most unique private museums in Thailand, specializing in folk crafts, plus a nearby Buddha brass factory. Tonight, we've arranged a banquet dinner floating on the majestic Nan river. Our accommodation is Phitsanulok's newest - and best -- river-front hotel. |
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| Friday 14 October |
O/N Sukhothai-Phitsanulok |
| After breakfast, we head to a working farm resort for a cooking demonstration of central Thai dishes, followed with lunch. You'll also have a hand scything rice from the paddock. By special request, our host is preparing gai ob fang - a rare treat available only during rice thrashing season. A young farm chicken is doused with local spirit, then covered in a large tin can, and set ablaze under intense heat of burning dried rice chaff. In the afternoon, we head off to the ruins of imperial Sukhothai, before returning back to our hotel. Nothing is scheduled tonight, although you can join Robert and Morrison as they explore the evening markets in town - including one where the chef literally throws scalding hot stir fried water spinach up into the air. Try your hand at caching it from a 20 foot platform! |
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| Saturday 15 October |
O/N Bangkok |
| We arrive back to the City of Angels, leaving the afternoon in Bangkok free for you to head again to the Chatuchak flea market, or in to town for some last minute shopping. As we return to the same 5-star hotel, there is again easy access to the adjacent mall, and to the subway into the city center. Our final evening is a gala dinner cruise along the Chao Phraya river, and a beautiful farewell to one of our favorite cities. |
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| Sunday 16 October |
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| For those with dawn departures, we've arranged complimentary room service breakfasts along with your wake up call. (This is only available prior to 6 a.m.) Let us know your flight details, as we've included transfers back to the airport. |
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 Airline Information: Fares ex the US to both Singapore and Bangkok are very similar, and travel agents using North American airlines can easily arrange an “open jaw” allowing for arrival in Singapore, but departure direct from Bangkok. Our tour package price does not include return passage Bangkok-Singapore, although we can offer this to you for a surcharge. European and Australian flights ex Asia depart throughout the day and evening, but US carriers usually have dawn departures. Consequently, if you are returning home via Singapore, you will require an additional night there, as morning flights from Bangkok arrive too late in Singapore for connecting onward to America.
| Visas: Americans, Australians and most Europeans do not require a visa for travel to Singapore and Thailand for stays of less than 30 days. |
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