I went on the G Adventures Bangkok to Singapore tour last April and it was one of my favourite G Adventures tour I’ve done so far. I’d always wanted to explore South East Asia and this trip allowed me to visit so many places in just two weeks! It was a great mix of culture, history and adventure and I’d highly recommend this tour.
Bangkok
After visiting Bangkok I’ve decided that it’s one of my favourite cities in the world. It’s such a fun and diverse city with so much to see and do. During my time in Bangkok I went to Wat Pho which is one of Bangkok’s most popular temples and a tourist hotspot. I also had a Thai massage which is world famous! You can’t go to Bangkok and not get a Thai massage – it’s an unwritten rule! One of the highlights of my time in Bangkok was the night on Khao San Road. We all spent the night as a group in some bars on Bangkok’s most famous street and had so much fun! The drinks were cheap, the music was good and there was some interesting street food on offer.
Khao Sok National Park
Khao Sok National Park is the Maldives of Thailand – and a must visit for all those Instagram lovers out there. It was truly one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited and by far the most picturesque. After a quick boat ride to Lake Cheow Lan we sat down for some lunch before starting the day’s activities. We had lots of choice including swimming and kayaking. Of course there was the option to just sit, relax and take the scenery in but we all opted for a swim in the turquoise blue warm water. After enjoying a Chang beer whilst relaxing in the water, several of us opted to take the kayaks out to explore the surrounding area. The water was so peaceful and it was so much fun exploring the national park. I felt super lucky to be there.
Ko Samui
We were in Ko Samui for Songkran which marks the beginning of the Thai New Year and is Thailand’s most famous festival. This made our time in Ko Samui even more special. We all celebrated Songkran with lots of local people as well as tourists. It was a massive event in Ko Samui with live music and the biggest water fight I’ve ever been a part of. During our time on the island of Ko Samui we also spent a day on Ang Thong National Marine Park. This day trip was a great addition to our time in Ko Samui and we spent the day kayaking, snorkelling and trekking up to a viewpoint. Once again the water was warm and clear which made for perfect snorkelling conditions. The time in Ko Samui is a fantastic aspect of this tour and it left me wanting to go back and to also visit the neighbouring islands.
George Town/Penang
After our time in Thailand we crossed the border into Malaysia – our first stop was Penang! We had a free day to explore Penang and its famous street art. Our whole group went on a city tour with a local tour guide. We learnt a lot about Malaysia and in particular Penang’s recent history and culture. After the day exploring Penang we went for dinner at a local street food complex. Inside were food stands with a wide range of food including local cuisine, Indian cuisine and Italian cuisine. There was also some live music which was an added bonus. After dinner we went to a party at a local hostel and had so much fun! It was great to meet likeminded travellers and as a group we all really enjoyed the night.
Chenderoh Lake – Homestay
The homestay at Chenderoh Lake was a very unique and special experience. I doubt I would have had the opportunity to come here if I wasn’t on the G Adventures tour. The family we stayed with were very welcoming and gave us a tour of the local village. They also prepared some traditional food for our dinner and gave us some traditional clothing to wear during the evening. It made us all connect closely to Malaysian culture and our time there was one of my highlights of the trip. There were however many mosquitoes at the homestay and although we slept with a mosquito net, I did come away with one too many mosquito bites which wasn’t ideal. Therefore, my key piece of advice for the homestay is mosquito repellent spray!
Cameron Highlands
Next up on our trip was Cameron Highlands. We took a jeep ride to explore Cameron Highlands including a trip to a local tea plantation and a hike up to a stunning viewpoint. Although we didn’t have long in Cameron Highlands, it was a great stop on the tour and it displayed a side to Malaysia that we hadn’t yet experienced.
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is one of the ‘coolest’ places I’ve ever visited. It was a very modern, dynamic and fun city with so much to experience. The Petronas Twin Towers are architecturally genius! I love visiting key landmarks in the places I visit and I’ll have to say that the Petronas Twin Towers are my favourite ever. During our time in Kuala Lumpur we took a trip to the Batu Caves which are located just outside of Kuala Lumpur. The Batu Caves are 100 years old and the temple is considered an important religious landmark by Hindus. The colourful steps were quite tricky to navigate but it was worth it to get to the top! We also visited the Kuala Lumpur City Gallery and the Masjid Negara Mosque. It was fascinating to find out so much about Kuala Lumpur’s past, present and future.
Melaka
Melaka was our stop off point from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore – and what a cool stop off point it was! I went exploring around with some members of the group around a local market and I ended up on a very colourful and decorated tuktuk to get back to the hotel! We spent the evening by the canal, drinking Chang and reminiscing on the trip so far.
Singapore
Singapore had always been on my bucket list so I was really excited when I saw it was on the itinerary for this trip. It was much like Kuala Lumpur, very modern and lots to see and do. There was almost too much to see and do in the short period of time we were there. One of my highlights was the Gardens by the Bay which is one of Singapore’s most popular attractions. The gardens were beautiful and I’m so glad I had the time to spend the whole day there. Another of my highlights was the hop on/hop off bus tour on my final day in Singapore. It allowed me to see all the key landmarks and areas of Singapore within a matter of hours. On the final night of the tour we went to watch the light and water show at Marina Bay Sands and then finished the night with a cocktail at the Marina Bay Sands hotel. It was a perfect way to finish the tour and I’d highly recommend it to those wishing to explore as much of South East Asia as possible, especially if they are restricted to a couple of weeks.
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