Singpore to Bankok - 10 Day Itinerary
Discussion
Hi folks
I've booked a week in Bali for me and the OH and want to follow it up with a 10-day trip from Singapore to Bangkok. I've had a look at the guide books and am struggling to make decisions about the stops along the way.
Ideally, we'll travel by train and stay in maybe 4 places along the way. Any ideas?
Thanks
I've booked a week in Bali for me and the OH and want to follow it up with a 10-day trip from Singapore to Bangkok. I've had a look at the guide books and am struggling to make decisions about the stops along the way.
Ideally, we'll travel by train and stay in maybe 4 places along the way. Any ideas?
Thanks
Train or Bus from Sing to KL, Bus is cheaper and I'd say better as there is not much to see on the way, seen one padi seen them all, Aeroline is a good bus and you get a discounted hotel at each end.
You can also break the Sing Kl bit by stopping at Melacca
From Kl North, Second class night sleeper KL to Penang (if you like Penang, I lived there and I think its a dump), sea is sandy from the tidal rip around the island, I'd stay on the train to Hatyai.
If you do stop at Penang then train or Bus To Thailand, Hatyai?, (again get train you need the bus to Butterworth anyway so stay on the bus). This is a Thai/Chines town and is good for cheap shopping, but as a tourist it is about as Thai as S
horp, I'd keep goint to Surit Thani and get a ferry to Kop Somui, If you must stop in Hatyai then Songkla, on the coast about 20 Km north is better, BP Samula Beach hotel is Ok, again this is a local tourist resort good for a weekend, but not the sort of place you travel from Europe for.
So get up as for as Surit Thani and then go to to Ko Sumui, or Hau Hin, or go west to Krabbie, but this is off the train line and you'd need a bus.
When you coming remember the Sing F1 race and then the Moto Gp at Sepang are coming up.
The train does not go to Penang it stops on the mainland at Butterworth and you need to get to the island, ferry/bus. train in Malaysia is narrow gauge so it is slow, better to travel overnight, sleeper is OK but no food or refreshement, so you need to take your own, generally bus is better, but you need to know which bus, the direct express VIP one's can be great the local intertown can be bit hair raising, diffrence in price will be nothing to you.
You can also break the Sing Kl bit by stopping at Melacca
From Kl North, Second class night sleeper KL to Penang (if you like Penang, I lived there and I think its a dump), sea is sandy from the tidal rip around the island, I'd stay on the train to Hatyai.
If you do stop at Penang then train or Bus To Thailand, Hatyai?, (again get train you need the bus to Butterworth anyway so stay on the bus). This is a Thai/Chines town and is good for cheap shopping, but as a tourist it is about as Thai as S
horp, I'd keep goint to Surit Thani and get a ferry to Kop Somui, If you must stop in Hatyai then Songkla, on the coast about 20 Km north is better, BP Samula Beach hotel is Ok, again this is a local tourist resort good for a weekend, but not the sort of place you travel from Europe for.So get up as for as Surit Thani and then go to to Ko Sumui, or Hau Hin, or go west to Krabbie, but this is off the train line and you'd need a bus.
When you coming remember the Sing F1 race and then the Moto Gp at Sepang are coming up.
The train does not go to Penang it stops on the mainland at Butterworth and you need to get to the island, ferry/bus. train in Malaysia is narrow gauge so it is slow, better to travel overnight, sleeper is OK but no food or refreshement, so you need to take your own, generally bus is better, but you need to know which bus, the direct express VIP one's can be great the local intertown can be bit hair raising, diffrence in price will be nothing to you.
mcbook said:
Berw said:
lots if interesting stuff
Thanks for that! Is Koh Samui (and maybe Koh Tao) worth a few nights stay? I get the impression that they are very touristy and would rather explore quieter places if possible.I took the bus down from Kuala Perlis to KL by bus in Feb this year, it took about 12 hours but was totally fine as I had a very comfortable reclining seat and the 50 seater bus had 7 other people on-board.
It cost 12$ from memory and you can do the same from KL to Kuala Perlis, so my route would be something like this....
To be honest, I would do things slightly diffrently if you have money to spend, getting to KL I would then get a trip booked to the Malaysian Interior, get a trip to Teman Negara if you can! It is the Worlds oldest rain forest and is truley amazing, I spent about a week up there exploring and now all I want to do in life is live there! I would then suggest getting a cheap Air Asia flight to Phuket and hitting Malcolms place.
Hope my intel helps..
It cost 12$ from memory and you can do the same from KL to Kuala Perlis, so my route would be something like this....
- Bus/Train to Mallaca from Singapore 1 night.
- Bus to KP and ferry to Langkawi. Amazing food eating ops here!!
- Fast Ferry from KP to Thai border and bus to Krabi in Thailand, then get a long tail boat from the jetty to island of Au Nang. If you are in to rock climbing then this is the place!
- Ferry to Koh Phi Phi. I am not sure about this island, it is geographically beautiful but after the horrid Tsunami that hit it, there is a lot of new st creeping in. If you like a few drinks then go, I liked it in a way, it was also humbling to speak to Tsunami survivors and also support them by buying s beer or lunch from their beachfront outlets.
- Ferry to Phuket, forget the town or anywhere else you have been told about on this island, it is commercial. However, there is a legendary English guy who runs some very basic beach huts to the north of the island. You will have a 13 mile long beach almost to yourself, also his wife cooks amazing food! I will be going back here for a winter holiday this year without fail! - The beer is always cold and Malcolm and his wife are great hosts. Ping me for details. You will also be able to get a bus to Bangkok from here.
To be honest, I would do things slightly diffrently if you have money to spend, getting to KL I would then get a trip booked to the Malaysian Interior, get a trip to Teman Negara if you can! It is the Worlds oldest rain forest and is truley amazing, I spent about a week up there exploring and now all I want to do in life is live there! I would then suggest getting a cheap Air Asia flight to Phuket and hitting Malcolms place.
Hope my intel helps..
Now my problem is I’ve lived in KL for years, and in Penang, and Hatyai, and currently I work on Borneo, I can see the rain forest from my office widow, and you can get a bit fed up of it, so going for weekend in the national park is not high on my list, so take what I say with a pinch of salt, you’ve seen one monkey take the washing of the clothes line you don’t go to the national park on the weekend, but if you’ve never been almost anywhere in SE Asia is fantastic, and the weather is not a big problem even in the rainy season.
Flying to Krabbie is a good Idea, Air Asia is cheap, but I thought you wanted a road trip? from Krabbie get to Ah Nang bay, I like the Beach Terrace hotel, at the N end of the bay it is around 30 pound a night with breakfast for two, and you walk down onto the beach, all the 5 star hotels are on the other side of road from the beach and you have to cross the road.
Ko Somoui is a little awkward to get to, but the ferry runs every hour, when you get of the ferry you are on the W coast and you need to get to the east coast for the good places so again bus or taxi.
Express busses in Malaysia are good, in Thailand the mini buses are OK, but get control of the driver if he drives like an idiot. Tell him immediately that you will not accept dangerous driving.
As I say Hatyai is not very Thai, but if you go N and W to Trang there are some good places between Trang and Krabbie, (Ya Ya beach, Pak Meng beach), not much there but great beaches of the tourist track, you may need a taxi.
Ray Lai in Krabbie was great 10 years ago, now it is all built up and just worth going for the day to say you’ve been, it is nothing like the diving/climbing/back packing beach hut place it was even 10 years ago, it is now full of overweight Europeans in hotels. But if you go south of Krabbie toward Trang then as I say above you get quieter beaches, like Krabbie was years ago.
If you use buses then you can normally travel in the Morning and get the afternoon in your destination, as I say the Night train from KL is good, but do not take the bus overnight, road accidents in the dark go up by several orders of magnitude, driving at night outside KL can be a real danger. Driving in KL has its own problems. 12 Hours from Perlies is a long time, must have been from the border in the North, KL to the Thai border is around 6 hours on the bus.
I love taking the bike to Thailand and just ridding stopping in little villages with no English but of course this is not a possibility if you come over from Europe. Decide if you want to get to places fast and stay (in which case Air Asia) or if you want a road/train trip. Stay away from the very S E of Thailand, S and W of the main road from Malaysia to Hatyai, as there can be trouble there, the main road, Hatyai and N are all safe.
PM me if you are in KL, I have an office in the Twin Towers, and If I’m in town I can help you avoid the ticket line to get in.
Flying to Krabbie is a good Idea, Air Asia is cheap, but I thought you wanted a road trip? from Krabbie get to Ah Nang bay, I like the Beach Terrace hotel, at the N end of the bay it is around 30 pound a night with breakfast for two, and you walk down onto the beach, all the 5 star hotels are on the other side of road from the beach and you have to cross the road.
Ko Somoui is a little awkward to get to, but the ferry runs every hour, when you get of the ferry you are on the W coast and you need to get to the east coast for the good places so again bus or taxi.
Express busses in Malaysia are good, in Thailand the mini buses are OK, but get control of the driver if he drives like an idiot. Tell him immediately that you will not accept dangerous driving.
As I say Hatyai is not very Thai, but if you go N and W to Trang there are some good places between Trang and Krabbie, (Ya Ya beach, Pak Meng beach), not much there but great beaches of the tourist track, you may need a taxi.
Ray Lai in Krabbie was great 10 years ago, now it is all built up and just worth going for the day to say you’ve been, it is nothing like the diving/climbing/back packing beach hut place it was even 10 years ago, it is now full of overweight Europeans in hotels. But if you go south of Krabbie toward Trang then as I say above you get quieter beaches, like Krabbie was years ago.
If you use buses then you can normally travel in the Morning and get the afternoon in your destination, as I say the Night train from KL is good, but do not take the bus overnight, road accidents in the dark go up by several orders of magnitude, driving at night outside KL can be a real danger. Driving in KL has its own problems. 12 Hours from Perlies is a long time, must have been from the border in the North, KL to the Thai border is around 6 hours on the bus.
I love taking the bike to Thailand and just ridding stopping in little villages with no English but of course this is not a possibility if you come over from Europe. Decide if you want to get to places fast and stay (in which case Air Asia) or if you want a road/train trip. Stay away from the very S E of Thailand, S and W of the main road from Malaysia to Hatyai, as there can be trouble there, the main road, Hatyai and N are all safe.
PM me if you are in KL, I have an office in the Twin Towers, and If I’m in town I can help you avoid the ticket line to get in.
As someone who has been living out here a while, would 100% agree with Berw.
Also on Penang, seriously, there 'aint much to see there, Pangkor is a quieter version (water not that great, but desert island, no tower blocks few Chinese)
Also consider one of the resorts on Langkawi if you fancy a little pampering.
There is not much south of KL in Malaysia other than Melakka which can be done on foot in 2 or 3 hours, or Tioman Island etc on the other side for scuba diving.
Also as mentioned, Aeroline is the best coach service with business class seats so very comfy. Leaves from Harborfront every hour i think. Remember to bring your own beer as they do not serve alcohol, but have no issues with BYO. There is a toilet onboard!!
For Singapore, would recommend 2 days (departing on the 3rd)
There is a lot to see and do here, but much of it is same as any other city.
Obviously the Marina Bay Sands is the new big site to see, with fantastic views from the Sky Garden. Raffles Hotel is worth a wander for the history and the colonial atmosphere. Go for a wander along Orchard road to acclimatize yourself to the Asian crowds and zero sense of direction that will only get worse in Malaysia and Thailand. Shopping will be cheaper in Bangers. Night Safari is a good experience and if planning a wander around the real jungle, will introduce you to the indigenous species (and point out the ones that bite and the ones that don't) Otherwise Chinatown and little India can make for nice tours but generally just enjoy the atmosphere, perhaps a beer at Joo Chiat or something. If here on a Sunday book yourself in for a Champaign brunch in one of the big hotels (i like the fullerton), excellent food and freeflow champers for 4 hours at $150 a head.
Depending on your budget I would recommend Marina Bay Sands, Mandarin Oriental, Fairmont and Shangri La (the one on orchard) for Singa.
Also on Penang, seriously, there 'aint much to see there, Pangkor is a quieter version (water not that great, but desert island, no tower blocks few Chinese)
Also consider one of the resorts on Langkawi if you fancy a little pampering.
There is not much south of KL in Malaysia other than Melakka which can be done on foot in 2 or 3 hours, or Tioman Island etc on the other side for scuba diving.
Also as mentioned, Aeroline is the best coach service with business class seats so very comfy. Leaves from Harborfront every hour i think. Remember to bring your own beer as they do not serve alcohol, but have no issues with BYO. There is a toilet onboard!!
For Singapore, would recommend 2 days (departing on the 3rd)
There is a lot to see and do here, but much of it is same as any other city.
Obviously the Marina Bay Sands is the new big site to see, with fantastic views from the Sky Garden. Raffles Hotel is worth a wander for the history and the colonial atmosphere. Go for a wander along Orchard road to acclimatize yourself to the Asian crowds and zero sense of direction that will only get worse in Malaysia and Thailand. Shopping will be cheaper in Bangers. Night Safari is a good experience and if planning a wander around the real jungle, will introduce you to the indigenous species (and point out the ones that bite and the ones that don't) Otherwise Chinatown and little India can make for nice tours but generally just enjoy the atmosphere, perhaps a beer at Joo Chiat or something. If here on a Sunday book yourself in for a Champaign brunch in one of the big hotels (i like the fullerton), excellent food and freeflow champers for 4 hours at $150 a head.
Depending on your budget I would recommend Marina Bay Sands, Mandarin Oriental, Fairmont and Shangri La (the one on orchard) for Singa.
XJSJohn said:
Also as mentioned, Aeroline is the best coach service with business class seats so very comfy. Leaves from Harborfront every hour i think. Remember to bring your own beer as they do not serve alcohol, but have no issues with BYO. There is a toilet onboard!!
I can't claim to be an expert, having never taken a bus, but outside the Golden Mile Complex in Beach Rd there are many coaches to Malaysia and beyond. Varying in comfort levels from normal coach seats through to lie-flat beds with personal entertainment screens. Started from about $25 one-way to KL.Thanks for the excellent advice guys... there's a lot to consider.
The trip into central Malaysia sounds good (no previous experience of rainforest) and the suggestions of flying have made me think.
The original idea was one week of 5* luxury in Bali (this has already been booked) followed by a more adventurous trek up to Bangkok - hence the road/train-trip idea. I still like the idea of trains/comfortable buses but am now considering whether part of the journey may be better done by plane.
Thanks again for the suggestions!
The trip into central Malaysia sounds good (no previous experience of rainforest) and the suggestions of flying have made me think.
The original idea was one week of 5* luxury in Bali (this has already been booked) followed by a more adventurous trek up to Bangkok - hence the road/train-trip idea. I still like the idea of trains/comfortable buses but am now considering whether part of the journey may be better done by plane.
Thanks again for the suggestions!
OP, You have to go to Malacca, I did the same Singapore to KL trip and was advised to stay there for a night to break up the journey, was well worth it! You have to go for ice tea in a cafe called the Baboon house, its a delapodated building that some mature art students purchased and tarted up, its the coolest place I have ever been for a drink! Get trains wherever possible not the bus, and if possible get a Coach, NEVER a minibus, NEVER NEVER a minibus! I caught a few and every time they ran redlights at speed without hesitating, took the racing line on the wrong side of the road on blind corners reached speeds of 110MPH over blind crests (one of which had a broken down lorry with no lights on on the other side which led to evasive manuvering which, had it been wet, would of killed all on the minibus without doubt). Ill see if I can dig out some pictures from my trip between the two...this was Dec 2009 by the way.
Na Mark the mini bus is ok if you slap the driver around the head first time he steps out of line, you want to see my wife do it!
But as I said you do have to stamp on the bad driving from the begining, I've been here to long maybe because jumping red lights dosn't worry me any more, so that one doesn't wind me up.
If you want to save money then and get abit of a feel for the country, Coach KL to Mallaca, express bus to KL, Air Asia to Krabbie (Ah Nang) Air Asia to Bangkok.
You should get good hotel in all those places for around 30 pound bed and breakfast for two, clean air con, but a bit local, as I said Beach Terrecce in Ah Nang, there will be a few Sweeds or Germans 'backpacking' for a few days in the middle of 2 weeks in Phucket and the rest will be well to do Thia's.
But as I said you do have to stamp on the bad driving from the begining, I've been here to long maybe because jumping red lights dosn't worry me any more, so that one doesn't wind me up.
If you want to save money then and get abit of a feel for the country, Coach KL to Mallaca, express bus to KL, Air Asia to Krabbie (Ah Nang) Air Asia to Bangkok.
You should get good hotel in all those places for around 30 pound bed and breakfast for two, clean air con, but a bit local, as I said Beach Terrecce in Ah Nang, there will be a few Sweeds or Germans 'backpacking' for a few days in the middle of 2 weeks in Phucket and the rest will be well to do Thia's.
Berw said:
Na Mark the mini bus is ok if you slap the driver around the head first time he steps out of line, you want to see my wife do it!
.
that takes balls because ive seen them snap before now too!...best to just avoid it. and if its a night minibus, you cant sleep if you have to watch them, where as in a train you can have a bed and sleep for the same cost!.
Mark.H said:
Berw said:
Na Mark the mini bus is ok if you slap the driver around the head first time he steps out of line, you want to see my wife do it!
.
that takes balls because ive seen them snap before now too!...best to just avoid it. and if its a night minibus, you cant sleep if you have to watch them, where as in a train you can have a bed and sleep for the same cost!.
Yep Mark but you a westerner, my wife is local they don't know what to do when locals apply western standards, they are more afraid they know how to complain, if you know where to complain they are afraid to lose their lobs.
as I said i wouldn't dream of a bus a night, it is bad enought at night when you drive yourslf in a well maintained car, let alone being driven by an idiot with no head lights.
Actually I think the not at night is more importenat than not in a mini bis, but it i all down to our personnel experience.
Joun looks like the wife will pick up the Porsche on Saturday, so sunday blat to Ganting for her.
as I said i wouldn't dream of a bus a night, it is bad enought at night when you drive yourslf in a well maintained car, let alone being driven by an idiot with no head lights.
Actually I think the not at night is more importenat than not in a mini bis, but it i all down to our personnel experience.
Joun looks like the wife will pick up the Porsche on Saturday, so sunday blat to Ganting for her.
Don't bother with koh tao. unless you really, really like diving, oh, and backpackers. We went and it was a waste of time, should have just stayed the extra 4 nights at Langham Place on Samui and rounded out the week.
Samui is nicer, alot better than phuket ( which I wouldn't touch again with a friends stick ), but if you are going to Bali, they are essentially the same thing, but with different food and a different view from your poolside lounger ( you said this was your luxury part ).
I would go to Krabi if you have to be near the water in thailand. If you don't, I would suggest ( and i must say I havn't read the entire thread to see if it's been suggested, or if it's feasible time wise ) you get up to the north of thailand for a few days at least, Chiang Mai etc.
Samui is nicer, alot better than phuket ( which I wouldn't touch again with a friends stick ), but if you are going to Bali, they are essentially the same thing, but with different food and a different view from your poolside lounger ( you said this was your luxury part ).
I would go to Krabi if you have to be near the water in thailand. If you don't, I would suggest ( and i must say I havn't read the entire thread to see if it's been suggested, or if it's feasible time wise ) you get up to the north of thailand for a few days at least, Chiang Mai etc.
Samui is nicer, alot better than phuket ( which I wouldn't touch again with a friends stick ),
[/quote]
I haven't been to Samui, but there are some stunning places in Phuket. If you go south then yes you will find all the fat sunburnt chav types. To the north of the island are some stunning places. The photo below is a 13km long beach with hardly a person on it and it is like this everyday. One day I sat there on the beach and saw just 3 others on it and they were just local kids fishing.
One other place I forgot to mention which I really like was Railay Beach and also Koh Lanta, both islands on the way to Phuket.
vtgts300kw said:
Don't bother with koh tao. unless you really, really like diving, oh, and backpackers. We went and it was a waste of time, should have just stayed the extra 4 nights at Langham Place on Samui and rounded out the week.
Oi nobber! I spent 4 months on Koh Tao, was brilliant! ...although I was working as a Dive Master and technically backpacking at the time...3 days was the longest I went without a shag from a different girl...till I got the clap from one particularly drunken night. 
good times
Mark.H said:
vtgts300kw said:
Don't bother with koh tao. unless you really, really like diving, oh, and backpackers. We went and it was a waste of time, should have just stayed the extra 4 nights at Langham Place on Samui and rounded out the week.
Oi nobber! I spent 4 months on Koh Tao, was brilliant! ...although I was working as a Dive Master and technically backpacking at the time...3 days was the longest I went without a shag from a different girl...till I got the clap from one particularly drunken night. good times
Jackleman said:
Samui is nicer, alot better than phuket ( which I wouldn't touch again with a friends stick ),
I haven't been to Samui, but there are some stunning places in Phuket. If you go south then yes you will find all the fat sunburnt chav types. To the north of the island are some stunning places. The photo below is a 13km long beach with hardly a person on it and it is like this everyday. One day I sat there on the beach and saw just 3 others on it and they were just local kids fishing. One other place I forgot to mention which I really like was Railay Beach and also Koh Lanta, both islands on the way to Phuket.
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