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Stanford Alumni AssociationTravel/Study
Travel/Study
Magnificent temples, luxury rail travel, and warm welcomes

Southeast Asia

From Singapore, through Malaysia, and on to Bangkok and the temples of Angkor, travelers experience a journey rich in both ancient history and modern hospitality.

Overview

Enlightening explorations of a vibrant region

Before our three nights on the opulent Eastern & Oriental Express train, we’ll spend a few days in Singapore, enjoying lessons in Peranakan heritage during a dumpling meal and embroidery workshop, as well as taking in the 250-acre Gardens by the Bay—a wonderland of plant and flower artistry. 

Following our time experiencing a taste of the “golden age of travel” as we wend our way through the rural villages of Malaysia, we’ll be immersed in Bangkok, eating fine local cuisine and watching a beautiful traditional Thai dance performance. More enthralling performances as well as world-famous ruins and temples await us on the optional post-trip extension at the temple complex of Angkor.

Dates

February 28–March 9, 2025

Duration

10 days

Price

From $11,695 per person

Trip size

30 participants

Minimum age

18 years
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Faculty leader

A different kind of classroom

With renowned Stanford faculty and scholars leading the way, every Travel/Study trip is a one-of-a-kind educational experience.

Thomas Fingar

Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies

Thomas Fingar draws upon his experience as a senior U.S. government official and on his recent books and courses about Asian policies, economics, and priorities as we travel through Southeast Asia.

Learn more about Tom

“Extremely knowledgeable and an excellent communicator, Tom was always willing to share his knowledge and insights—both informally as well as in his lectures.”

—Chuck Sieloff, MA ’66, PhD ’71

Itinerary

Enlightening explorations of a vibrant region

Begin our journey in bustling Singapore, visiting significant temples and exploring expansive gardens. Spend three nights aboard the luxurious Eastern & Oriental Express train, traveling through the lush Malaysian countryside. Conclude our journey in glittery Bangkok among gold-tipped temples and royal palaces.

  • Singapore

    Upon arrival in Singapore, check in to our hotel, then enjoy a welcome reception this evening.

    Accommodations:

    Singapore Shangri La

  • Singapore

    This morning, enjoy a tour by coach of this glittering metropolis, beginning at Merlion Park and the Esplanade Bridge. Then drive through the Civic District and past the Cricket Club, Parliament House, Supreme Court and City Hall, and visit Thian Hock Keng, one of the oldest and most important Hokkien temples in Singapore. After a lunch sampling Singapore’s popular dishes, embark on a tour of Kampong Glam, a Malay enclave at the mouth of the Rochor River that originated as a fishing village, and continue on to explore Chinatown’s shop houses and Little India’s flower-and-spice market.

    Accommodations:

    Singapore Shangri La

    Included meals: Breakfast and lunch

  • Singapore

    This morning travel to the Katong area, a Peranakan enclave, and learn about the history and preparation of the Chinese rice dumpling. Watch the preparation of dumplings and enjoy a sample. Next, visit a home and workshop and learn from our Peranakan hosts about their traditional form of beadwork and embroidery. Enjoy an excursion this afternoon to Gardens by the Bay, a remarkable nature park with interactive displays. 

    Accommodations:

    Singapore Shangri La

    Included meal: Breakfast

  • Embarkation / Malaysia

    After lunch, transfer to the Singapore railway station and embark the Eastern & Oriental Express, our home for the next three nights. Enjoy an elegant and sustainably-sourced dinner served on board as our train leaves the city and travels into the countryside. Afterwards, enjoy a nightcap while watching our onboard entertainment. 

    Accommodations:

    Eastern & Oriental Express

    Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • Taman Negara National Park

    As our train makes its way through the Malaysian countryside, witness scenes of peaceful villages and water buffalo grazing in rice fields. Enjoy lunch on board then leave for today’s excursion to the Taman Negara National Park, one of the oldest tropical rainforests in the world. Discover the “tiger territory” of the park and meet local villagers and organizations that work to protect this majestic species. Keep an eye out for macaques, tapirs, and hornbills. Have a delicious dinner back on board followed by a local performance in the Piano Bar Car.

    Accommodations:

    Eastern & Oriental Express

    Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • Penang Island, Malaysia

    Today, choose from several different excursions. Art lovers can explore a guided tour of Georgetown Old Quarter, including beautiful temples, a contemporary studio, an opera, and a puppet house. Food aficionados can embark on a discovery of Peranakan cooking, learning about local ingredients and taking a cooking class. If you prefer to explore independently, we will provide a tri-shaw, a driver, and a map, so that you can wind through Georgetown’s enchanting streets and its various attractions on your own schedule. Everyone will reunite this evening for our final night aboard. 

    Accommodations:

    Eastern & Oriental Express

    Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • Singapore / Bangkok, Thailand

    After breakfast, depart the train and board our flight from Singapore to Bangkok. Relax on a night river cruise aboard a converted rice barge. Enjoy drinks and canapes while taking in views of Bangkok’s landmarks at night.

    Accommodations:

     Bangkok Peninsula Hotel

    Included meal: Breakfast

  • Bangkok, Thailand

    Board a private boat this morning for a cruise along the Chao Phraya River and Thonburi canals. Visit the Grand Palace and the 15th-century Emerald Buddha Temple, one of the most important Buddhist temples in Thailand. Experience local transportation with a tuk-tuk ride to Wat Po to see the reclining Buddha. After our lunch consisting of historic local dishes, spend the afternoon at leisure. Savor exquisite local cuisine for dinner and watch a Thai classical dance performance.

    Accommodations:

     Bangkok Peninsula Hotel

    Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • Ayutthaya, Thailand

    This morning, venture out to the Bang Pa In Summer Palace and observe the mixture of Thai, Chinese, and Gothic architecture. Continue to Ayutthaya, capital of Thailand from the 14th to 18th centuries, to explore the massive complex of ruins that marks a once-magnificent metropolis. Embark on a leisurely boat ride on the Chao Phraya River and enjoy a late lunch on board as we head back to Bangkok. Gather for a festive farewell dinner this evening.

    Accommodations:

     Bangkok Peninsula Hotel

    Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • Home

    After breakfast at our hotel, transfer to the airport for return flights home or continue on with our post-trip extension in Cambodia.

    Included meal: Breakfast

Make the most of your trip

Want more time to explore? Get the most out of your stay in this region when you sign up for an optional trip extension.

Post-trip Extension: Cambodia

Travel to Siem Reap, Cambodia and discover the vast complex of Angkor Wat and other ruins; hear a multitude of different languages; savor a variety of tasty local cuisines; take in the bustle of legendary cities; and experience the beauty and serenity of lush rain forests and pristine beaches.

Dates

March 9–12, 2025

Duration

4 days
beautiful sunrise with buildings and gardens

  • Bangkok, Thailand / Siem Reap, Cambodia

    Fly from Bangkok to Siem Reap, Cambodia. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel for lunch and check-in. This afternoon, take a tuk tuk tour of Siem Reap including a visit to an arts and dance center with local artisan demonstrations. 

    Accommodations:

    Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor

    Included meals: Breakfast and lunch

  • Siem Reap, Cambodia

    This morning, explore breathtaking Angkor Wat. Built in the 12th century, it’s the largest temple complex in the world and the crown jewel of Angkor Archaeological Park. Although it was originally dedicated to the Hindu god, Vishnu, the temple eventually became filled with Buddhist elements after the Buddhist religion spread throughout the empire. An extensive gallery of bas-relief murals is one of the highlights of the temple. Later this afternoon, learn how to make traditional rice noodles at the home of a local family. This evening, watch the captivating choreography and hypnotic color of a Cambodian circus performance, an hour-long spectacle that blends riveting theater with folk music and traditional Cambodian stories.

    Accommodations:

    Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor

    Included meal: Breakfast

  • Siem Reap, Cambodia

    Today, roam the grounds of Angkor Thom, a great walled city that was once home to one million people and was the last capital of the Khmer Empire before it fell in the mid-15th century. Afterward, explore the haunting temples of Ta Prohm, built by the same king who directed the construction of Angkor Thom. This Buddhist monastery was once a powerful religious center serving 80,000 people, but after centuries of human neglect, the roots of massive kapok trees have overtaken the temples, courtyards and paths. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure then gather for a festive farewell reception and dinner this evening.

    Accommodations:

    Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor

    Included meals: Breakfast and dinner

  • Home

    After breakfast at our hotel, transfer to the airport for return flights home. 

    Included meal: Breakfast

Trip details

Start preparing for the trip of a lifetime

From top to bottom, we’ve taken care of all the details, so you can enjoy a no-stress, worry-free travel experience.

Travel in Southeast Asia

Average temperatures in Southeast Asia range from the low 50s (°F) to the upper 80s, with humidity at more than 70%. Although all of our accommodations and motor coaches during this program are air-conditioned, other traditional means of conveyance and most of the museums, temples, pagodas and ruins we visit are not air-conditioned.

Activity level

We consider this program to be moderately strenuous and at times physically demanding and busy. Participants should be able to walk unassisted for extended excursions (typically two to three hours) over uneven, unpaved surfaces; up and down narrow staircases; and over high thresholds in high heat and humidity. In some instances, such as at temples and ancient sites, steps are a necessary part of the tour and may not have handrails.

Although our time aboard the train will be much more relaxed, embarking and disembarking the train will require stepping up and down several steep steps, and participants should feel comfortable walking through and between rocking rail cars while the train is in motion. Participants must be physically fit, active and in good health.

About our train

Revel in the golden age of travel aboard the Eastern & Oriental Express. The signature cream and green exterior gives way to polished wood-panelled corridors and silken furnishings with a hint of multiple Asian designs. Once inside, take your seat at the Bar Car where a jazz club ambience reigns with music lingering in the air, while stewards serve champagne and signature cocktails. The observation car at the rear of the train is also an ideal spot for cocktails and offers open-air views of the surrounding countryside. This exquisite train features three different levels of sleeping compartments: Pullman Cabins, State Cabins, and Presidential Suites (available on request and subject to availability). During the day, all cabins are configured as sitting lounges with banquette-style sofas that are converted by train staff to twin-size beds at night (note that Pullman Cabins have an upper and lower berth). Interior walls are elegantly crafted in cherrywood and elm burr paneling and adorned with decorative marquetry and intricate inlays. Every cabin is fully air-conditioned with private, en suite facilities (shower, wash basin and toilet). Large picture windows offer excellent views of the passing scenery from the comfort of your cabin. A breakfast of pastries, fruit, coffee and juice is delivered to every cabin each morning, while a tantalizing array of dishes made of fresh seasonal ingredients is served at gourmet lunches and dinners in the two restaurant cars, each lavishly decorated with rosewood and elm paneling.

Pricing

Secure your spot today

The price of your trip covers a comprehensive educational program in addition to meals, accommodations, tours and excursions. Continue reading for a full list of what’s included.

Choose the room that’s right for you

This exquisite train features three different levels of sleeping compartments to choose from: Pullman Cabins, State Cabins, and Presidential Suites (available on request and subject to availability). Please review the cabin descriptions below to aid you in making your decision. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to give us a call at 650-725-1093.

Please note that Stanford Alumni Association nonmembers should add $450 per person to the prices below.

Pullman

Pullman cabins aboard the Eastern & Oriental Express feature two picture windows, an upper and lower berth, two lower berths, and fully en-suite facilities. Cabins are furnished with a table and a sofa that converts into twin beds for nighttime use (62 sq. ft.).

  • Double: $11,695 per person

  • Single: $15,795 per person

State

State cabins aboard the Eastern & Oriental Express feature two picture windows, two lower berths, and fully en-suite facilities. Cabins are furnished with an armchair, a table, and a sofa that converts into twin beds for nighttime use (84 sq. ft.).

  • Double: $13,595 per person

  • Single: $17,795 per person

Optional Cambodia Extension

Double: $2,795 per person
Single: $3,495 per person

What’s included?

  • Educational program with lecture series and pre-departure materials, including an education resource list and travel information

  • Services of our professional tour manager to assist you throughout the program

  • All meals, tours and excursions as described in the itinerary

  • Gratuities to guides, drivers, and train crew for all group activities

  • 6 nights of deluxe hotel accommodations (3 additional nights for participants on the optional extension)

  • 3 nights of accommodations aboard the Eastern & Oriental Express

  • Internal flights: Singapore/Bangkok

  • Transfers and baggage handling on program arrival and departure days

  • Minimal medical, accident and evacuation coverage

You are responsible for your personal travel expenses, including flights to and from the program.

Deposits, payments and cancellations

A $2,500-per-person deposit is required to reserve space on this program. An additional $500-per-person deposit is required for the optional post-trip extension. Final payment is due 150 days prior to program start. Deposits and any payments are refundable, less a $1,000-per-person cancellation fee, until 150 days prior to program start. After that date, refunds can be made only if the program is sold out and we resell your place(s), in which case a $2,500-per-person cancellation fee will apply.

Join us in Southeast Asia

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