| | | | | Arrive | Depart |
| 19th19 | DecDec | 202020 | Phuket, Thailand, embark on the Star Clipper | | |
| Though few tourists linger here, Phuket Town, the provincial capital, is one of the more culturally interesting places on the island to spend half a day. About one-third of the island's population lives here, and the town is an intriguing mix of old Sino-Portuguese architecture and the influences of the Chinese, Muslims, and Thais that inhabit it. The old Chinese quarter along Talang Street is especially good for a stroll, as its history has not yet been replaced by modern concrete and tile. And this same area has a variety of antiques shops, art studios, and trendy cafés. Besides Talang, the major thoroughfares are Ratsada, Phuket, and Ranong roads. Ratsada connects Phuket Road (where you'll find the Tourism Authority of Thailand office) to Ranong Road, where there's an aromatic local market filled with fruits, vegetables, spices, and meats. Phuket, Thailand’s largest island, lies in the Andaman Sea and is joined to the mainland by a causeway. The landscape is one of lush green hills, coconut groves and rubber plantations, with a coastline dotted with a dozen spectacular beaches. Phuket is a holiday paradise with the lively area of Patong providing the up-beat resort life with its many shops, restaurants and bars, leaving the rest of the island to show off her natural beauty and unspoiled culture. |
| 20th20 | DecDec | 202020 | Ko Miang, Thailand | | |
| The Similan Islands, or Nine Islands as they are also known because of their number, nestle in the Andaman Sea to the north of Phuket and are world-renowned among diving enthusiasts for underwater sightseeing. Accessible only by sea, The Similan Islands are stunningly beautiful with scenes straight out of your dreams of a tropical paradise. |
| 21st21 | DecDec | 202020 | Koh Hong, Thailand | | |
| Ko Hong ('hong meaning room'), part of the Ko Hong archipelago is so named because of its large internal lagoon. One of the prettiest bays in the area, huge monolithic rocks provide shade all day long on a beautiful white silica sand beach. |
| 21st21 | DecDec | 202020 | Phang Nga, Thailand | | |
| The sheer-sided sea mountains that rise vertically out of Phang Nga Bay form some of Thailand’s most spectacular scenery. The islands in this region feature wonderful white sandy beaches and superb coral reefs. |
| 22nd22 | DecDec | 202020 | Ko Adang, Thailand | | |
| The Butang Group of islands is about as far south as you can go on the western coast of Thailand. Protected by the Ko Tarutao National Park, this 61-island archipelago is only a stone’s throw from the Malaysian border and way, way off the radar screen of tourist groups. The only habitations on Ko Adang are the Park offices and since there aren’t many visitors, the pristine beaches and deserted coves are all yours. |
| 23rd23 | DecDec | 202020 | Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia | | |
| An island off the northwest coast of peninsular Malaysia, Penang is blessed with a multicultural history that's led to a fascinating fusion of East and West. Claimed by the British East India Company in 1786, the island's city center of Georgetown—listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site—is filled with colonial architecture, temples, and museums. The island has also attracted many Chinese immigrants, who now make up the majority of the population. On Penang you'll find an exciting mix of jungle, coast, farmland, and fishing villages, along with the country's largest Buddhist temple. "The Pearl of the Orient" lies off the northwestern coast of Malaysia and is linked to the mainland by one of the longest bridges in the world. The capital, Georgetown, bears the stamp of a mixture of foreign influences and boasts a 65 story skyscraper called the Komtar, a complex of department stores, restaurants, theatres and squash courts. In total contrast, this beautiful island is home to one of the finest Buddhist temples in south-east Asia, Kek Lok Si Temple. |
| 24th24 | DecDec | 202020 | At Sea | | |
| 25th25 | DecDec | 202020 | Malacca, Malaysia | | |
| Malacca. The Spice Trade. The two are inseparably associated. From the time of the early Renaissance explorers onward, it was the control of the Malaccan Straits that dictated who would own the most precious treasures of the Orient, its spices. The Portuguese, the Dutch and the British ruled Malacca at one time or another. Explore opulent private mansions built in the distinctive Peranakan colonial style and filled with priceless Chinese antiques. |
| 26th26 | DecDec | 202020 | Singapore, Singapore, disembark the Star Clipper | | |
| The main island of Singapore is shaped like a flattened diamond, 42 km (26 miles) east to west and 23 km (14 miles) north to south. Near the northern peak is the causeway leading to West Malaysia—Kuala Lumpur is less than four hours away by car. It is at the southern foot where you will find most of the city-state’s action, with its gleaming office towers, working docks, and futuristic "supertrees," which are solar-powered and serve as vertical gardens. Offshore are Sentosa and over 60 smaller islands, most uninhabited, that serve as bases for oil refining or as playgrounds and beach escapes from the city. To the east is Changi International Airport, connected to the city by metro, bus, and a tree-lined parkway. Of the island's total land area, more than half is built up, with the balance made up of parkland, farmland, plantations, swamp areas, and rain forest. Well-paved roads connect all parts of the island, and Singapore city has an excellent, and constantly expanding, public transportation system. The heart of Singapore's history and its modern wealth are in and around the Central Business District. The area includes the skyscrapers in the Central Business District, the 19th-century Raffles Hotel, the convention centers of Marina Square, on up to the top of Ft. Canning. Although most of old Singapore has been knocked down to make way for the modern city, most colonial landmarks have been preserved in the CBD, including early-19th-century buildings designed by the Irish architect George Coleman. Singapore is a city dedicated to business. The spires of its skyscrapers look like a big bar graph pointing to the sky. It is incredibly clean and crime is virtually unknown. But amid this obsessive neatness is a madly chaotic welter of peoples and cultures, drawn to Singapore in pursuit of the almighty Singapore dollar. Get a taste of colonial Singapore at Raffles, where the Singapore Sling was invented, Emerald Hill, with its charming pavilioned pre-war homes, the Victorian botanic garden and the green lawns of the Padang Cricket Club. And lest you forget, be sure to visit Orchard Road for non-stop shopping. |
