Itinerary
Welcome to Singapore! After clearing your formalities and luggage claimed, you will be welcomed by an English-speaking driver and transferred to your hotel for check in. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Overnight stay at 4* The Orchard Hotel in a Grand Deluxe room.
After breakfast, a professional private tour guide will have a meet and greet session with you at your hotel lobby to start your History and Culture day Tour!
Begin a day full of historical insight as you depart for Kranji War Memorial, located at 9 Woodlands Road in northern Singapore – ironically the very road Japanese Imperial troops travelled on their final advance into the city. Dedicated to the Allied servicemen and women who died defending Singapore, the memorial’s shape reflects the contributions made to the Allied cause by members of the navy, air force and army. The site’s 12 columns are inscribed with the names of over 24,000 servicemen missing in action while the War Cemetery contains the graves of 4,458 of the fallen.
We will head next to one of our nostalgic battlefield, Bukit Chandu. Also known as Bukit Chandu (Malay for
Opium Hill), this site saw intense fighting on 14 February 1942, during the Battle of Singapore. Led by Lieutenant Adnan Saidi, men of the "C" Company of the 1st Malay Brigade held their ground despite being heavily outnumbered, and fought to their grisly deaths. The only Malay Regiment surviving witness was a Corporal Yaako, who pretended to be dead so the Japanese soldiers wouldn’t kill him. For his bravery, Adnan was recognised posthumously by the British government and his heroic contingent is remembered for defending Singapore.
Next head to Sentosa Island, Fort Siloso was built in the 1880s to help the British protect the western entrance to Singapore harbour. During Japanese Occupation it was used as a concentration camp for Prisoners of War. Today it is the only preserved coastal fortification in Singapore.
Next, learn about the vast history of the Chinese rice dumpling along with the Chinese legend and Dragon Boat Festival. Kim Choo Nyonya rice dumplings has been a mainstay in Singapore’s diverse epicurean tapestry since 1945. Many covet its rich taste, raiment by the fragrance of Nanyang; finely woven around the humble delicacy. But more importantly is its ability to preserve the traditional, unyielding to the hands of time and untainted by the modern.
Today, Kim Choo offers a wide variety of products and services, which seeks to maintain and uplift the Peranakan culture of the Nanyang. Enjoying sampling the Mini Nyonya, Mini Otah, Mini Nyonya Kueh along with demonstration of wrapping Nyonya Rice Dumplings. Various aspects of this hybrid Southeast Asian culture – made up of Chinese, Malay and Indian elements – are brought to life here along the vibrant and colourful Peranakan Houses in Joo Chiat. Joo Chiat area is named after Chew Joo Chiat, a wealthy Chinese landowner in the early 20thcentury. The area’s identity is especially shaped by its unique pre-war architecture – colourful two-storey shop houses and terrace houses with ornate facades, intricate motifs and ceramic tiles. As one of the country’s best foodie destinations, Joo Chiat/Katong is also well-loved by many Singaporeans. We fuel up for the day by exploring cool cafes that sit next to old-world coffee shops selling the famous Katong 'laksa', 'kueh chang' (dumplings) and other Nonya delicacies.
Overnight stay at 4* The Orchard Hotel in a Grand Deluxe room.
Today, Singapore Now and Then Tour is on the agenda (3 1/2 hours).
Thereafter commenced Singapore's struggle to survive and prosper on its own. It also had to create a sense of national identity and consciousness among a disparate population of immigrants. Singapore's strategy for survival and development was essentially to take advantage of its strategic location and the favourable world economy. December 1965, it became a republic, with Yusof Bin Ishak as the republic's first President.
At the Singapore City Gallery, we will take you back in time revealing how Singapore overcame many obstacles and challenges and transformed itself from a fishing port to a cosmopolitan city within a short period of time. You will also get to enjoy an exclusive bird’s eye view of Singapore’s central area at one of the largest architectural models in the world.
Next, enjoy a local cup of coffee or tea with toasted bread before your next stop to have a glimpse of our local housing estate. This is where you will come right close and personal to see how the locals
of different races live side by side in harmony.
The remainder of the day is at leisure.
Overnight stay at 4* The Orchard Hotel in a Grand Deluxe room.
After breakfast, start your Gardens by the Bay and UNESCO Hawkers Culture tour (6 hours).
One of the top places to visit in Asia, Gardens by the Bay spans over 100 hectares and is a highlight for any visitor to Singapore. Built at a cost of over one billion dollars, the gardens opened June 2012 and
have already been billed as an unmissable attraction. The gardens house two domes or conservatories, Cloud Forest and Flower Dome, which are climate-controlled indoor glasshouses.
The Flower Dome (the larger of the two) replicates the cool-dry climate of the Mediterranean and South Africa, whilst the Cloud Forest replicates a cool-moist climate found in Tropical Montane regions such as Mount Kinabalu in Sabah and high elevation areas in South America. Within the gardens, there are also 18 impressive-looking Supertrees (tree-like structures), which are vertical gardens up to 50 metres tall and perform a multitude of functions. Along with providing a bird’s eye view of the entire gardens, they also collect rainwater, generate solar power and act as vending ducts for the park’s conservatory. During our visit to Gardens by the Bay, we shall visit the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest, as well as the, an
elevated walkway situated between two of the larger Supertrees. Here we can enjoy an impressive aerial view of the gardens.
Next, take a break and enjoy the street food, the authentic taste of local food. However, Singapore’s street food version comes in the form of hawker food, where hawkers serve delicious local treats and specialties in a cleaner and more comfortable environment. One of the most famous food street markets is the Lau Pa Sat. Due to its history and location, Lau Pa Sat is one of the most famous hawker food center in Singapore. Situated in the heart of the financial district, the market’s distinctive octagonal shape and ornamental columns were first conceived by British architect George Coleman. He also designed many of colonial Singapore’s prominent buildings that are still standing today, such as Old Parliament House. When the market had to be moved from its original waterfront location and rebuilt in 1894, Municipal Engineer of Singapore and Scotsman James MacRitchie retained its essential shape, but added a graceful clock tower and a new cast-iron supporting structure. The frames were cast in Glasgow before being shipped to and assembled in Singapore.
The remainder of the day is at leisure.
Overnight stay at 4* The Orchard Hotel in a Grand Deluxe room.
*Food Sampling only
After breakfast, start your Full day Cultural Kaleidoscope. (5hrs from 0900hrs till 1400hrs)
At Kampong Glam, admire the quiet majesty of the Sultan’s Mosque with its unmistakable golden dome, explore colorful food eateries, and browse through old-fashioned shops selling batiks, carpets, rattan basket-ware and exotic perfumes. Take a stroll along Arab Street, which was well known as a textile haven in the 1950s and 1960s. You’ll find bales of silk, batik, lace, organza and other materials here, where customisation and tailoring services are also available. Bring home a ready-made traditional or modern Malay costume or browse through the endless variety of traditional games such as the Congkak (a game
involving marbles and a wooden board), carpets, antiques and rattan handicrafts such as wicker baskets to spruce up your home.
Next stop will be one of the oldest and most important Hokkien temples in Singapore, Thian Hock Keng
Temple. The temple was built in traditional southern Chinese architectural masterpiece of stone, tiles and
dragons and phoenixes, amazing cravings, intricate sculptures and imposing columns. Next, travel to the heart of Chinatown and experience the old and the new, the traditional and the modern, in the rows of streets where old traditional shophouses have been lovingly restored into tempting restaurants, teahouses and shops selling Oriental arts and crafts, popular souvenirs and even traditional Chinese medicinal herbs.
Take a break over at Maxwell Food Center where you can taste local hawker food with the recommendation of our experienced guide. After lunch, visit the Sri Mariamman Temple – this stunning Hindu temple is the oldest and perhaps the most active in the city. Built in 1827, it’s dedicated to the goddess Sri Mariamman, known to help heal people from diseases.
Little India completes the cultural kaleidoscope with its bustling streets showcasing aromatic and exotic spices, colourful flower-garland shops, vegetable vendors and busy curry houses. Head over to Tekka Centre, part wet market, part food centre and part shopping mall, where several ethnic communities converge to create a multicultural shopping fiesta. The centre is used by Chinese vendors, Indian stall owners and Malay retailers, and sells everything from casual clothing, hardware tools and religious paraphernalia, to traditional Indian fashion and watches.
Overnight stay at 4* The Orchard Hotel in a Grand Deluxe room.
After breakfast, enjoy a day at leisure and discover what the city has to offer.
Overnight stay at 4* The Orchard Hotel in a Grand Deluxe room.
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After breakfast, check out of the hotel and transfer back to the airport.
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