Singapore Explorer

5 Days / 4 Nights

Day 1Arrive Singapore

Upon arrival, you will be welcomed and transferred to your hotel. Rest of the day is free to rest up from your long flight. 

Take advantage of direct flights between North America and Singapore departing from New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle.

Overnight at Singapore 

Day 2Kampong Glam, Chinatown, Singapore River Sunset

Start the morning at Kampong Glam, the historic quarters of the Malay people and home to the Sultan’s Mosque where the Malay Royalty once resided among Javanese, Sumatrans, Arabs and Chinese communities. At Victoria Street, visit tombs of the Malay royalty in one of the oldest cemeteries in Singapore, dating back to the 1820s. Stop by the Malay Heritage Center, the former Sultan’s Palace, learn about the colorful heritage and culture of Singapore’s Malay community. Take a break with local coffee and snacks before walking through Haji Lane dotted with interesting murals, cafes and shops. 

A short drive to the heart of Chinatown, a 19th century enclave for early Chinese immigrants. Explore the streets lined with shop houses lovingly restored into tempting eateries, tea houses and Chinese herbal stores. Stop by the informative Visitor’s Center for a glimpse of early lives and challenges of early Chinese immigrants. Visit Thian Hock Keng Temple, one of the oldest Chinese temples and the historic Sri Mariamman Temple, a beautiful Hindu temple built in 1827.

At sundown, enjoy a refreshing Singapore Sling Cocktail and light snacks at a rooftop bar for breathtaking views of the city and bustling bay dotted with hundreds of commercial ships. Continue to the Singapore Riverside where Sir Stamford Raffles from the British East India Company establish a trading port in Singapore in 1819. After taking iconic photo shoots of the Merlion and Marina Bay Sands, hear more about the colonial past as you take a stroll from the former General Post Office towards Cavenagh Bridge, Singapore’s oldest bridge. Enjoy a great view of shop houses of Boat Quay that were former canneries, ice houses and godowns that helped Singapore flourished during its early founding. 

Overnight at Singapore 

Day 3Authentic Local Neighborhoods, Evening Ethnic Foodie Tour

Today you will discover the real life of ordinary Singaporeans and some unique customs. 

Starting first at Ang Mo Kio, a typical public housing estate established in the 1970s. Stop by a “Bird Singing” corner, a community garden and meet possibly the last remaining artisan maker of traditional bird cages in Singapore. Continue to a local market for a typical morning snack and fresh brewed coffee or tea in a tin can, local style.   

Then a short drive to Toa Payoh, another historic local neighborhood. Hear fascinating facts about their high percentage of home ownership and see sample units of public apartments built by the government. Take a walk around this area before heading to a famous local restaurant to enjoy a popular national dish, Hainanese Chicken Rice.  

Enjoy some free time in the afternoon to visit the interesting National Museum or National Art Gallery housed in former Supreme Court building, a historic colonial era architecture.  

This evening you will experience a unique foodie tour that reflects the cultural heritage of Singapore. The local cuisine in Singapore is best described as a colorful fusion of various ethnic groups from the Malays, Chinese, Indians, Eurasians and Peranakans. Foodie items that best reflects this culture includes Laksa, rice noodle with thick coconut curry gravy and Rojak, fresh salad tossed with a savory fermented shrimp paste.  

Overnight at Singapore 

Day 4Ubin Island, Evening Spooky Tour

Pulau Ubin is one of the last rural areas in Singapore to experience life in a traditional village surrounded by a lush tropical forest and coastline. Take a 15-min ferry boat ride to this charming island where time has stood still for about 50 inhabitants in their kampong, a Malay word for village. Cycle around the island on well paved roads to Chek Jawa, a large natural intertidal wetland and Ubin Fruit Orchard to see durian trees, the most expensive tropical fruit in Asia. Stop by a 1930 Tudor Style house known to the locals “House No. 1” and a 150 year old Chinese temple. It’s also possible to arrange for a local taxi if you prefer not to cycle.  

At nightfall, explore some of the most eerie areas in Singapore. Head to former WWII battle sites and one of the world’s largest outdoor Chinese cemetery. More than chasing spirits, you will hear ghastly stories of some of the fiercest WWII battles and a local war hero. Visit a coastal gun battery where the Japanese possibly conducted a massacre of innocent thousands. Your final stop is a Chinese cemetery where over 100,000 tombs of early immigrants are housed and abandoned. Here about the different dialect groups from various parts of China and see the difference in tombs between a rich and poor man.  

 Overnight at Singapore 

Day 5Depart Singapore

Transfer to airport for your onward journey.

We recommend arriving at the airport at least 4 to 3 hours before your flight to explore this amazing airport that has won the World’s Best Airport award over 500 times since the 1980s! Early check-in services might be available for your airline at Level 1 Jewel (Terminal 1), your guide can assist you to check. Apart from massive shopping and dining options spread across three terminals, some highlights at Terminal 1 include a 40 meter (130ft) indoor rain vortex, Sky Nets Bouncing, Canopy Park and Canopy Bridge.