Day 1 (Dinner included)
Buckle up for the most mouth-watering holiday of your lifetime as you depart from London Heathrow on a Singapore Airlines flight to Penang via Singapore. This long haul flight will inevitably whizz by as you sit back and daydream of the delicious flavours you will encounter during this culinary trip. As soon as you arrive in Penang, you will enjoy a private transfer to the Bay View Beach Resort for 4 nights. Once you have checked in – spend the day at your own pace. Feel the stresses and strains of everyday life vanish as you soak in the pool, or take a relaxing walk along the nearby Batu Ferringhi Bay. If you like to be active then play a game of tennis, but if you want to unwind then simply kick back in your spacious guest room which features modern amenities – including a balcony facing either the mountains or the bay. What better way to wake up each morning than to see the beauty of mother nature before your very eyes. In the evening, a tour guide will take you on an evening trip through Penang. Drive through residential areas and past the State Mosque at the foot of Penang Hill. Then take the funicular railway to the summit for a gentle stroll to the Bellevue Hotel which is famous for its exotic bird population. Then top off this wonderful day with a delicious steamboat dinner as you watch the sunset over the city. Finally, end the evening off on a high with a trip down Gurney Street which is famous for its fabulous street-food and evening markets.
Day 2 (Breakfast and Lunch included)
Enjoy a hearty breakfast to set yourself up for a fun day of exploration at the Tropical Spice Garden. Make sure you take your camera to snap photos of the stunning surroundings inside this eight acre valley on the shores of Teluk Bahang. Your day starts with a tour of over 500 species of tropical flora and fauna, as well as a trip through the spice terraces followed by a hands-on cooking class of two dishes. You can choose between Nyonya, Malay, Indian and Chinese food. At the end of the demonstration enjoy the lunch you have just prepared. Desert will be served in a tropical fruit farm with an array of fresh tropical fruits and juices. At the end of your day return to your hotel and spend the rest of the evening as you wish.
Day 3 (Breakfast and Lunch included)
After breakfast, meet your guide for a tour of Georgetown’s wet market which specialises in fresh vegetables, meat and seafood. Relish in the sights and sounds of this busy market before heading on an exhilarating ride through Penang on a Trishaw to the Pinang Peranakan Mansion. Here you will learn how the Peranakans, the Babas and Nyonyas, also known as Straits Chinese, are a prominent community unique to this part of the world. Discover for yourself how these cultured Chinese people adopted selected Malay and British Colonial lifestyles and customs. Enjoy a sumptuous Nasi Kandar lunch at a local ‘mamak’ restaurant. After lunch, return to your hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Day 4 (Breakfast included)
Today you can spend the day as you wish. Feast on a leisurely breakfast, and then do as little or as much as you want. Why not soak up the sunshine, take a dip in the pool or explore Penang independently. Feeling peckish? Then you’re in for a treat at this hotel which has a choice of dining options including a coffee shop and Chinese restaurant. You can even swim up to the pool bar for light refreshments and cool drinks. Or enjoy live entertainment during the evening at Bay Lounge Lobby Bar.
Day 5 (Breakfast included)
Start the day on a high with a delicious breakfast before checking out of the Bay View Beach Resort. You will then be transferred to the airport for your flight to Kuala Lumpur. Once you land, there is another transfer to the Federal Hotel for 4 nights. If you love to be in the heart of everything then rest assured that the Federal Hotel is ideally situated to enable you to explore Kuala Lumpur independently. Once you have checked in, spend the rest of the day as you wish - explore Kuala Lumpur by yourself, or relax by the pool. As the sun sets, you will have a chance to explore the city during an evening tour with dinner. Visit a Hindu Temple in the Little India district of this city, then explore the night markets of China Town. Once you have worked up an appetite - then head towards a Malay restaurant and feast on local cuisine whilst you enjoy a cultural show.
Day 6 (Breakfast and Lunch included)
Enjoy an early breakfast, before meeting with your tour guide for a drive to the ‘Malay House’ for a Malaysian cooking class. The building is nestled in the jungle outside of the city centre, overlooking verdant hills. Here you will have the opportunity of cooking authentic Malaysian, Indian and Chinese dishes, as well as using traditional stone and wooden cooking utensils in a modern kitchen. Then enjoy eating the results of your labours over lunch, before returning to the Federal Hotel to spend the rest of the day as you wish.
Day 7 (Breakfast and Lunch included)
After a big breakfast, gear up for an action packed day. You will start with a tour of the historical town of Malacca which is steeped in history. Learn how this once was a famous trading post for the spice trade with merchants from all over the world. Then discover how it was colonised by the Dutch, Portuguese and the Chinese, and is now a rich melting pot of diverse communities and cuisines. Relish in every part of the day – including the scenic drive to Malacca which takes you past local villages and towns, and oil plantations. Stroll through the narrow Heeren Street with views of the old Dutch houses built in the 17th century, and visit the Baba Byonya Heritage Private Museum.
Enjoy a traditional authentic Baba Byonya lunch at the Peranakan Restaurant, followed by a walk through Jonker Street, brimming with antique shops – making it a perfect place to pick up a souvenir. You will also have the chance to drop by Wah Aik Shoemaker, which is the only shoemaker in the world specialising in shoes for bound feet.
Your tour will continue onwards to the Kampung Kling Mosque, built in Sumatran architecture, then on to the red hued Melaka Dutch Square. Your journey then leads to the remaining ruins of the Portuguese For Call A Famosa, built in 1511, and Porta Santa which is the existing gateway of the fort. Climb up St Pauls Hill to visit St Paul’s Church – this roofless ruin feature a statue and now empty grave of St Francis Xavierhe . Finally return to Kuala Lumpur and spend the rest of your evening unwinding.
Day 8 (Breakfast included)
Spend today as you wish. After a delicious breakfast, feel free to unwind. But for more adventure browse through some of our Kuala Lumpur Experiences on offer which we can easily pre-book for you.
Day 9 (Breakfast included)
Take time to reflect on this amazing holiday, as you feast on the final breakfast of your holiday. Once you have checked out of your hotel, you will be transferred to the airport for your return Singapore Airlines flight back to London Heathrow. Once you land enjoy putting your new cooking skills to good use inside your own kitchen.
If you would like to extend your stay in Malaysia, travel onwards to another Asian, Australian or New Zealand destination, travel in a premium cabin, or upgrade your hotels, please speak with our highly knowledgeable Travel Specialists for more information.
