Gulf of Siam Explorer

Day 1 Singapore / Embark

The British East India Company established a strategic trading post on the island of Singapore in 1819, which was to become an important post along the Spice Route. Although a thriving and modern metropolis, remnants of these early colonial days can be enjoyed in many traditional pursuits such as a rickshaw ride and Singapore Sling at the famous Raffles Hotel. A compact and efficient city, Singapore offers easy access from most international airports.

Day 2 Tioman Island, Malaysia

Lying only 30 odd nautical miles off Malaysia's east coast, Tioman Island (or Pulau Tioman) has everything one would expect from a tropical island paradise; mile after mile of coconut palm lined white sand beaches, crystal clear water teeming with marine life, friendly villages and smiling people. In local folklore Tioman is said to be the resting place of a dragon princess. Whilst flying from China to Singapore the dragon princess was lured by the charms of the crystal clear water of the South China Sea, upon entering the water she decided it was so good she would discontinue her journey and stay in the sea. Taking the form of an island she promised to offer shelter and comfort to passing travelers for eternity. The interior is not without its own natural splendor either. Part of the island is covered in thick forest and is home to much wildlife. There are several protected species of mammal on the island, including the Binturong, Long-Tailed Macaque, Slow Loris, Black Giant Squirrel, Red Giant Flying Squirrel, Mouse Deer, Brush Tailed Porcupine and the Common Palm Civet, from a total of 45 species of mammals and 138 species of birds. Moreover, Tioman has species that are endemic to its shores, such as the soft-shelled turtle and the Tioman walking catfish.

It should be noted the Tioman was the setting for the filming of Bali Hai in 1958 and as early as the 1970's TIME magazine selected Tioman as one of the worlds most beautiful islands.

Included Expeditions: Explore the island of Tioman with your expedition team. Several walks are available into the interior of the island, or simply sit back and enjoy the beautiful beach. The expedition team will run snorkel tours and our sea kayak fleet will be available (weather/conditions permitting). Depending on conditions you may have several landing sites to choose from today.

Day 3 Kuala Terrangganu, Malaysia

At the mouth of the Terengganu River, this city of 350,000, is surrounded by the the South China Sea on three sides. Despite it's size, the pace of life here seems unhurried. the Waterfront of Kuala Terengganu is a must sea and you will be in awe of and fascinated by the hustle and bustle of activities taking place there. Stroll down the waterfront and watch fishmongers haggling for the price of fish and other seafood. The local market is another must see, locally known as Pasar Payang and located by the Terengganu River, it is one of the most popular tourist spots in Kuala Terengganu. Housed in a modern building complete with a shopping arcade, it offers visitors a variety of traditional handicrafts such as batik, silk, songket, brocade and brassware, along with other fresh produce such as fruits, vegetables and 'Keropok Lekor', which is a special local delicacy made from a mixture of fish and sago. Visitors to this market will have a delightful experience shopping in local fares at reasonable prices.

Included Expeditions: Your planned landing site is right in the middle of the city, beside the famous market and a short walk from the historic buildings of China Town. You will easily be able to access this hustling market city throughout the day.

Day 4 At Sea

At Sea

Day 5 Ko Samui, Thailand

Surrounded by sixty other islands in the Gulf of Thailand, Ko Samui is Thailand's third largest island. Appearing on maps since the time of the Ming Dynasty the island was probably first settled by Malay fisherman and people from Southern China. Historically Ko Samui and its people survived in a subsistence style but that has steadily changed since the 1980's as tourism took over as the predominate industry on the island. Despite the dominance of tourism Ko Samui has not lost its charm, there are still undeveloped quiet beaches (as well as the more well known busier ones) the people are friendly and the villages welcoming.

Included Expeditions: You will Zodiac ashore and land on the less populated side of Ko Samui. From here you can explore the beaches, take a swim, snorkel or wander through the beach side village with its small restaurants and cafes. Take the inclusive shuttle to Chaweng Beach the main tourist strip on the other side of the island for shopping if that takes your fancy.

Day 6 Ang Thong Marine Park, Thailand

Ang Thong National Marine Park is made up of 42 islands featuring lime stone massifs, tropical rainforests and deserted beaches. This fascinating group of islands, within sight of Ko Samui to the north and west, is geographically different from the other islands in the region. The Ang Thong islands rise from the sea as dramatic walls of rock soaring hundreds of metres high. Besides the many small coves and beautiful beaches, erosion has shaped some interesting formations.

Included Expeditions: Orion II will anchor just outside the Marine Park and your Zodiac fleet will allow you to explore the reefs and islands for the day. There are walks to be had in the Marine Park and ample opportunities for snorkeling.

Day 7 Ko Kut, Thailand

Ko Kut, whilst officially part of Thailand, sits right on the maritime border with Cambodia. What draws visitors and many locals to come to this island is its completely pristine nature, both inland and underwater. The rugged hills inland are home to several waterfalls and fast flowing streams whilst the coast has the white sand beaches and surrounding reef life one would expect of such a pristine island. The original inhabitants were Thais and Cambodians who fled to the Thai territory when the French took over the city of Padjantakiri in 1904. Many of the local residents still make a living out of planting rubber trees, coconut trees and from basic fisheries, just as they always have. The island is a well known shelter for fisherman from all around the region.

Included Expeditions: Your Zodiacs will take you an exploration into the interior of Ko Kut following a meandering mangrove river all the way to a small waterfall. Some walking is required to get to the base of the falls over potentially slippery ground. After returning from the falls the ship will relocate to a small offshore coral island, just of the coast of Ko Kut, where a beach BBQ is planned. Snorkeling and swimming over the fringing reef is possible here. Your expedition team will conduct snorkeling tours here this afternoon (weather/conditions permitting).

Days 8-9 Sihanoukville (for Angkor Wat)

Kompong Som or Sihanoukville is home to some 18,000 people and sits on a headland ringed by pristine beaches. In a land with thousands of years of history, Sihanoukville is a colorful but tragic upstart. A mere fifty years ago, a French-Cambodian construction company carved a camp out of the jungle and started building the first deep-sea port of a newly independent Cambodia. Named Sihanoukville in 1964 after the ruling Prince of the kingdom, the booming port and its golden beaches soon drew Cambodia's jet setting elite, spawning the development of a brewery and the modernist seven-story Independence Hotel which (apparently) even hosted Jacqueline Kennedy on her whirlwind tour of Cambodia in 1967.

Alas, the party came to an abrupt end in 1970 when Prince Sihanouk was deposed in a coup and Cambodia descended into civil war. The town, which under the new regime no longer desired to reflect the name of the deposed Prince was renamed Kompong Som and much like the rest of Cambodia fell on hard times. The victorious Khmer Rouge used the Independence Hotel for target practice and when they made the mistake of hijacking an American container ship, the port was bombed by the U.S. Air Force. Even after Pol Pot's regime was driven from power, the bumpy highway to the capital was long notorious for banditry and the beaches stayed empty. Peace returned in 1997 and in the ensuing ten years Sihanoukville has been busy picking up the pieces. First visited only by a few intrepid backpackers - guidebooks still talk of walls pockmarked by bullets - any signs of war are hard to spot in today's Sihanoukville, whose new symbol seems to be the construction site. More and more Khmers and expats have settled down to run hotels, bars and restaurants and the buzz of what the New York Times dubbed "Asia's next trendsetting beach" is evident in this region today.

ANGKOR WAT OVERNIGHT
A two day package including overnight accommodation in Siem Reap is available for guests wishing to visit the world renowned temples at Angkor Wat. Undertaking the Angkor Wat component will take up all the available time stretching over the two days Orion II is berthed in Sihanoukville.

This morning disembark Orion II to begin your coach journey to Phnom Penh where you will board your plane for the short flight to Siem Reap and the amazing Angkor Wat. Upon arrival in the afternoon guests wishing to undertake their own separate program can depart and meet up with the group again at any point during the day. Partake of lunch at the Angkor Café right next to the main temple area. It has interesting artefacts and quality handcrafts for sale. Guests who have pre-booked the optional Angkor Wat Scenic Flight will be transferred to the flight and returned to rejoin the group prior to viewing the temples.

Spend the afternoon until sunset touring the awe inspiring temples of Angkor Wat. After which you will be transferred to your hotel, Le Méridien. Enjoy traditional Cambodian fare at dinner this evening followed by a cultural performance.

Early next morning, guests who have pre-booked the Early Morning Elephant Ride will depart and rejoin the group for breakfast. After breakfast your experience continues - exploring the nearby temples in and around the Angkor Thom complex. If you have pre-booked the Ton Le Sap Floating Village half day optional tour you will rejoin the group after their temple tour today.

The group will split for the flight back to Phnom Penh and one group will have lunch on arrival at the Sunway Hotel and the other in Siem Reap before departure at the Sugar Palm. Your coach will be waiting to transfer you back to Sihanoukville to embark Orion once again.

Day 10 At Sea

At sea

Day 11 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

We will take our time making our way into this dramatic city. The Song Sai Gon (Saigon River) will take us on a remarkable journey of several hours into Ho Chi Minh City. The 60km of river that we will travel to get to the city is an attraction in itself. Fisherman, traders, floating markets, the river is the life blood of the city. Once in the city itself, the influence of the former French colonial masters is still evident with wide elegant boulevards and historical colonial buildings. The markets are jumping with life and items such as the stylish lacquer ware found throughout Vietnam are on display everywhere to tempt those looking for local souvenirs to take home. The reunification museum is a popular attraction, the reminders of the turbulent and violent history of this vibrant nation are never far away.