Singapore to St Petersburg

Itinerary

Day 1 Singapore

Sip a Singapore Sling in the hotel where it was born - the Raffles - or look for a sari in Little India.

Day 2 Melaka

Admire the unique Peranakan architecture of Chinatown or toss a coin into the ancient well on Bukit China to ensure your return.

Days 3-4 Kuala Lumpur

Lose yourself in KL's multicultural mix. Stroll Dataran Merdeka, shop in Suria KLCC or scale the 272 steps up to the temple at Batu Caves.

Days 5-6 Homestay

Sample succulent tropical fruits such as rambutan or durian before seeing how traditional Malays live. Sit cross-legged on the floor for meals and be sure to eat only with the right hand.

Days 7-8 Penang

Visit the butterfly farm for an insight into the enormous variety of Malaysian insects, take a rickshaw tour through the streets of Georgetown or tuck into local treats at the street stalls on Gurney Drive.

Day 9 Nakhon Si Thammarat

Famous for its shadow puppets, Nakhon Si Thammarat also has a great night market where a first taste of Thai hawker food is a must.

Days 10-13 Ko Samui/Overnight Train

Dive beneath the surface with a snorkel to discover the underwater treasures of Ang Thong National Marine Park.

Days 14-16 Bangkok

Glide through Bangkok's canals on longtail boats and gaze at the world's largest reclining Buddha at Wat Pho.

Day 17 Chiang Mai

With over 300 temples, a whole host of restaurants and wonderful night and day markets, there's something for everyone in this cosmopolitan city.

Day 18 Chiang Khong

Get a final taste of Thai food in this frontier town before crossing the river to Laos.

Day 19 Pak Beng/Mekong River

Ride a barge down the majestic Mekong, cruising into the revered Pak Ou Caves.

Days 20-22 Luang Prabang

Take a jumbo (tuk-tuk) to the spectacular Kuang Si Falls, before exploring lovely Luang Prabang.

Days 23-25 Vang Vieng/Vientiane

Trawl the vibrant morning market for local treasures or visit Phat That Luang, Laos' most important national monument.

Day 26 Lak Sao

Set amid strikingly beautiful forests, mountains and karsts, Lak Sao is a scenic place to stop before crossing into Vietnam.

Days 27-29 Hanoi

Wander the wide streets of Hanoi taking in pagodas, lakes and French-style cafes or head to the Old Quarter for some serious shopping.

Days 30-31 Halong Bay

Explore caves and discover quiet bays dotted with fishermen and pearl farmers while cruising among the majestic limestone islands.

Days 32-33 Hua Shan

Enjoy a peaceful first night in China, staying in Hua Shan, accessible only by boat.

Day 34 Liuzhou

Admire the dramatic karst scenery while travelling to Liuzhou.

Days 35-36 Chengyang

Step back in time and cross into the Dong village of Chengyang over one of the many 'wind and rain' footbridges.

Days 37-38 Longji Terraces

Enjoy the incredible views from the 'Dragon's Backbone' of rice terraces.

Days 39-41 Yangshuo

Explore the magical countryside around Yangshuo, where spectacular limestone mountains surround quaint market villages.

Days 42-44 Hong Kong

Dynamic Hong Kong offers a world of options from ancient temples to modern shopping megastores.

Days 45-47 Yangshuo

Immerse yourself in the rustic villages and rice paddies of this sublime region with an optional cruise down the Li River.

Days 48-50 Yangzi River

Take a journey along this truly magnificent waterway and become a part of the evolving landscape of the Three Gorges and Yangzi River. Show some daring and try the interesting snacks sold by locals at stops along the way.

Days 51-52 Chengdu

Visit the Giant Panda Reserve to witness conservation efforts to save this endangered species.

Days 53-56 Leshan/Emei Shan

See the big Buddha at Leshan before journeying to the holy mountain of Emei Shan. Stay in an isolated monastery and make a morning visit to the mountain summit.

Days 57-59 Xi'an

See the ancient Terracotta Warriors and get an aerial view of the city from atop the old city walls.

Days 60-67 Beijing

Take in the best of imperial Beijing with a visit to Tiananmen Square and the impressive Forbidden City.

Days 68-71 Ulaanbaatar and Ger Camp

Cross the Chinese border and journey into the grasslands of Genghis Khan. Enjoy traditional Mongolian hospitality with an overnight stay in a ger tent.

Day 72 Trans-Mongolian Railway

A train ride north through the vast steppes of Mongolia takes us towards the heart of Russia: Siberia.

Days 73-74 Irkutsk/Lake Baikal

Once a gold rush town and place of exile, Irkutsk is full of 19th century architectural charm. Enjoy a homestay visit on the shores of Lake Baikal.

Days 75-77 Trans-Siberian Railway

The famed Trans-Siberian railway covers vast terrain, crossing the taiga and travelling through five time zones on its way from Asia to Europe.

Day 78 Suzdal

Visit the past in Suzdal, once the capital of Russia. Admire the glittering skyline of domes in a town that feels untouched by time.

Days 79-81 Moscow

Wander the streets of this exciting city and take in the famous Red Square, St Basil's Cathedral and the magnificent Kremlin, a name that conjures up images of the glory of tsars and the power of the Soviets.

Days 82-84 St Petersburg

The elegant city of St Petersburg is the final destination of this epic journey.

Winter itinerary for trips that commence between 15 November 2008 - 1 Mar 2009 and 15 Dec 2009 - 1 Mar 2010

Due to bad conditions along the Yangzi river during this time (it is cold, rainy, foggy and most of the boats are in dry dock getting a renovation) we have altered the itinerary. Please see the notes below for the day by day schedule.