The Eastern & Oriental Express first ran in 1993, built from carriages bought in Japan and refitted in the spirit of its sister train, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. Belmond has brought it back on round trips from Singapore's Woodlands Station into Malaysia, usually over three nights. Routes vary. One reaches into the rainforest of Taman Negara, another runs north to Penang and Perlis, and some include a stay at The Datai Langkawi. On board there are 32 sleeper cabins: two Presidential Suites, 20 State Cabins and ten Pullman Cabins. Chef André Chiang oversees the cooking in the two dining cars, Malaya and Adisorn, with wines chosen by a sommelier. There is a piano bar, an observation car at the back of the train and a wellness carriage with the first Dior Spa in Southeast Asia. Off the train, short excursions with local guides bring the towns and forests along the line to life. The whole train can also be chartered, with the route and evenings planned around one group.
- Rooms
- 32 cabins: two Presidential Suites, 20 State Cabins, ten Pullman Cabins
Insider tip Choose a State Cabin over a Pullman if space matters. At 7.8 square metres it is about a third larger, which you feel over three nights.
Why I choose it It is the most comfortable way to see the Malay Peninsula slowly, and it fits neatly before or after a stay in Singapore.