The Eastern & Oriental Express ranks among the world's most luxurious train journeys, offering travellers a four-day escape through Malaysia and Thailand aboard restored 1930s art deco carriages. Operating between Singapore and Bangkok, with extended routes to Chiang Mai, the train delivers white-glove service and five-star accommodation that transforms the journey itself into the destination.
Passengers board in Singapore and travel northward through Malaysian palm plantations, rubber estates, and coastal landscapes before crossing into Thailand. The train features just 132 suites across 22 carriages, keeping capacity intimate. Each cabin includes en-suite bathrooms, fine linens, and period furnishings that evoke colonial elegance. Dining cars serve multiple courses daily, with chefs preparing meals using regional ingredients sourced along the route.
A four-day journey from Singapore to Bangkok costs approximately USD 2,000 to USD 3,500 per person depending on cabin category and season. Extended trips to Chiang Mai run seven days and command higher prices. The operator offers themed itineraries, including murder mystery nights and wine pairing dinners, adding theatrical elements to the voyage.
The experience appeals to affluent travellers seeking alternatives to conventional tourism. Passengers spend daytime hours in observation cars watching landscapes roll past, while evenings feature live music, cocktails, and socialising in the bar carriage. At designated stops, travellers disembark for guided excursions to temples, markets, and local villages, though some prefer remaining aboard to simply relax.
The train operates select dates throughout the year, with peak demand during November through February when temperatures remain moderate. Booking requires advance planning, often months ahead for preferred departure dates. Solo travellers, couples, and small groups all find appeal in the leisurely pace and curated route that skips the chaos of major cities.
The Eastern & Oriental